Bill 93 2006

An Act to amend the Education Act

Note: This Act amends the Education Act. For the legislative history of the Act, see Public Statutes - Detailed Legislative History on www.e-Laws.gov.on.ca.

Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, enacts as follows:

1.  Subsection 170 (1) of the Education Act is amended by adding the following paragraphs:

course on nutrition standards

7.3 require every pupil in every school year who attends a school under the jurisdiction of the board to receive instruction that the board provides on nutrition standards that it considers necessary for healthy eating, which shall include instruction on Canada's Food Guide to Healthy Eating and Canada's Guidelines for Healthy Eating, both published by Health Canada as they are amended from time to time;

advisory committee

7.4 establish a committee composed of the persons that the board appoints to advise the board on what nutrition standards should form part of the subject matter of the instruction described in paragraph 7.3;

posting of nutrition standards

7.5 if the board operates a cafeteria in a school under its jurisdiction for the use of the staff and the pupils under paragraph 37 of subsection 171 (1), post a copy in the cafeteria of Canada's Food Guide to Healthy Eating and Canada's Guidelines for Healthy Eating, both published by Health Canada as they are amended from time to time;

Commencement

2.  This Act comes into force on the day it receives Royal Assent.

Short title

3.  The short title of this Act is the Education Amendment Act (Nutrition Standards in Schools), 2006.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Bill amends the Education Act to impose three new duties on school boards. First, school boards must ensure that pupils receive instruction in nutrition standards for healthy eating. Those standards include the standards set out in Canada's Food Guide to Healthy Eating and Canada's Guidelines for Healthy Eating, both published by Health Canada. Secondly, school boards must establish a committee to advise on what standards should form part of the subject matter of the instruction. Thirdly, school boards must post a copy of the two publications of Health Canada in cafeterias that they operate in schools.