Toronto District School Board Trustees are urging the province to pause any reductions to funding of Toronto Public Health through the 2019-2020 school year.

During a Special Board Meeting this evening, Trustees voted to have the Chair write a letter to the Minister of Health and Long Term Care, the Minister of Children, Community and Social Services, and the Minister of Education as well as Toronto Members of Provincial Parliament urging them to hold off on implementing the cuts until there can be further consultation and a full discussion about the known impacts.

Trustees also voted to have the TDSB take steps to notify all parents of the funding at-risk for Toronto Public Health programs and the possible impacts that any service reductions will have on students in our schools.

Quick Facts

• Every day, over 208,000 Toronto students participate in breakfast, snack, morning meal and lunch programs.
• Toronto Public Health immunizes approximately 100,000 students annually against Hepatitis B, Meningococcal disease and Human Papillomavirus (HPV). They assess over 322,000 Senior Kindergarten to Grade 12 students' immunization records in over 800 schools.
• Toronto Public Health’s Preschool Speech and Language Program provides help for children (from birth to when they start Junior Kindergarten) with speech and language concerns at no cost and conducts more than 52,000 intervention sessions each year.

“Toronto Public Health funds important programs that TDSB students need for their health, achievement and well-being. Before the Province makes any cuts, it is imperative that we know the possible impacts they will have and have the opportunity to offer our input.”

- Robin Pilkey, Chair, TDSB