{
  "id": 12197737,
  "title": "Olivia Chow pledges universal school lunch program, says families could save up to $1,800 per child",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/05/olivia-chow-pledges-universal-school-lunch-program-says-families",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-05T17:25:14.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "CityNews",
    "slug": "citynews",
    "url": "https://toronto.citynews.ca/2026/10/05/olivia-chow-universal-school-lunch-program-toronto-election/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Toronto mayoral candidate Olivia Chow has pledged to provide lunch for every student in the city's schools if she is re-elected, claiming the initiative could save families up to $1,800 per child annually. This proposal would build upon the existing school food program, which was expanded under Chow's leadership to reach all schools in Toronto and provide a mid-morning meal to around 330,000 students. The plan, announced on Monday, aims to gradually introduce full lunches for all students, reducing the burden of daily lunch preparation for families. Chow asserts that the program will be funded similarly to the Morning Meal Program, with phased implementation, testing, and collaboration with provincial and federal governments to achieve its goals by 2030. She cites her and former Toronto city councillor and federal NDP leader Jack Layton's long-standing advocacy for universal school meals dating back to 1990. Chow argues that universal school lunches would not only ease grocery costs for parents but also help children focus on their studies rather than their hunger. The program would be funded through a similar model as the current school food program, involving contributions from the City of Toronto, other government levels, and private donors. If enacted, Toronto would join other Canadian and international jurisdictions that have expanded publicly supported school meal programs to tackle child hunger and alleviate financial pressures on parents.",
  "summary": "Toronto mayoral candidate Olivia Chow is promising to provide lunch to every student in Toronto schools if re-elected, a move she says could save families up to $1,800 per child annually while helping ease household grocery costs. The proposal would build on the city’s existing school food program, which was expanded under Chow’s administration to […]",
  "key_points": [
    "Olivia Chow pledges universal school lunch program for Toronto.",
    "Initiative could save families up to $1,800 per child annually.",
    "Plan aims to reduce lunch preparation burden for families."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}