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Ernie Hardeman MPP For Immediate Release
McGuinty Government Reverses Ban QUEEN’S PARK – Today in a response to a question from Ernie Hardeman, MPP for Oxford and PC critic for Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, the Minister of Education reversed a ban on 500 ml containers of chocolate milk in schools that was to go into effect in September 2011. “The Dairy Farmers of Ontario are working hard to get fresh, nutritious milk into our schools,” said Hardeman. “The McGuinty government has gotten so carried away with their bans on everything that they are actually banning 500 ml containers of chocolate milk in our classrooms. What’s next?” Hardeman cited a study which has shown that student consumption of milk drops 30% when chocolate milk is removed as an option. The Premier referred the question to the Minister of Education who did not comment on the upcoming ban on chocolate milk but said: “We want to ensure that students will be able to access that fine dairy product in whatever container they would like to purchase it. That’s our commitment.” Hardeman also questioned the McGuinty government on why they were banning the 500 ml containers of chocolate milk when the government published reports on healthy living recommend that as one of the options children should consume each day. The report, Eat Right, Be active is available at http://www.eatrightontario.ca/pdf/Eat%20Right%20Be%20Active%20Eng%206-8.pdf “Premier, I have a copy here of a document paid for by the provincial government and I quote from the document: “Children need two cups—500 millilitres—of milk, chocolate milk or fortified soy beverage every day,” asked Hardeman. “Can you explain why you are spending taxpayers’ dollars to tell parents that their children should drink 500 millilitres of chocolate while banning the same thing from your schools? Is it just because you can’t resist banning things?”
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For more information, contact: DRAFT HANSARD SCHOOL NUTRITION PROGRAMS Mr. Ernie Hardeman: My question is to the Premier. Today is World School Milk Day and I want to commend the Ontario dairy farmers who have joined with people and organizations around the world to give students nutritious, fresh milk free of charge. Can you explain to them why you are banning 500-millilitre containers of chocolate milk in schools, even though studies have shown that doing so will reduce student milk consumption by 30%? Premier, I have a copy here of a document paid for by the provincial government and I quote from the document: “Children need two cups—500 millilitres—of milk, chocolate milk or fortified soy beverage every day.” Can you explain why you are spending taxpayers’ dollars to tell parents that their children should drink 500 millilitres of chocolate while banning the same thing from your schools? Is it just because you can’t resist banning things? Hon. Dalton McGuinty: To the Minister of Education. Hon. Leona Dombrowsky: First of all, I would like to say that our government very much appreciates the very good work of the Dairy Farmers of Ontario and all of their efforts to promote milk within our schools. They have a long history of that. We know that many students right across Ontario have benefited from that. I can say to the members of the assembly today, for all families in Ontario, we are going to do everything—first of all, chocolate milk is available in our schools. We want to ensure that students will be able to access that fine dairy product in whatever container they would like to purchase it. That’s our commitment. |
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