Children’s Health & Nutrition Initiative

The Initiative was launched on January 17, 2007 to build a broad-based coalition of diverse stakeholders that are passionate about Canada becoming a world leader in making safe and healthy food available to all children and reshaping social, cultural, economic and environmental influences to optimally support child health. Founding supporters include Olivia Chow, MP (Trinity-Spadina), Breakfast for Learning, Foodshare and the Center for Science in the Public Interest.

As a first step, the Initiative calls for a nutritious breakfast, snack or lunch to be available to any Canadian child under eighteen years of age in the form of nutritious food programs. This would be based on a fl exible made-in-Canada community development model building on the existing knowledge base of local organizations and parent groups.

Funding support would be provided by the Federal government to expand pre-existing programs and build efforts in parts of Canada where independent programs aren’t in place. Programs would be created and managed locally by parents, educators, public health and local government representatives to meet the needs of local children and families. The Federal government will be required to develop national program standards for healthy foods, with an emphasis on nutrition education, cooking and growing skills, and inclusion of locally and sustainably sourced foods. Long-term monitoring and evaluation of standards and implementation will also be critical.

The second component of the Initiative calls for innovative ways to protect children from manipulative marketing messages that encourage poor nutritional habits, relying on the best examples from other jurisdictions. For example, all commercial advertising directed at children under the age of 13 years has been prohibited by the Consumer Protection Act in Quebec since 1980.

A proposal to make safe and healthy food

FAQ - A proposal to make safe and healthy food available to all of Canada

Summary - A proposal to make safe and healthy food available to all of Canada

Supporters - A proposal to make safe and healthy food available to all of Canada

Public Budget Consultation

Stephen Harper doesn’t want to hear about the issues affecting Canadians, that’s why he locked the doors to the House of Commons.

Olivia Chow wants to listen to your ideas and suggestions for the upcoming federal budget. Join Olivia and a panel of experts at her Public Budget Consultation.

Let your voice be heard, so Olivia can fight to make sure your needs are fully represented in the upcoming budget.

Join us on Thursday, February 18 from 7-9 pm
Jewish Community Centre
750 Spadina Avenue (southwest corner of Bloor and Spadina)

Light refreshments will be provided

RSVP: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Olivia-Chow/15535160141#!/event.php?eid=277616287047&index=1

E-News - January 2009 - Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! I wish everyone peace, good health and success in 2010, and look forward to continuing to stand with you for the issues that matter most.

 

Everyone is resuming work in January and so should Parliament. While I am eager to roll up my sleeves and work hard to create jobs for the new economy and expand pensions for seniors, Stephen Harper has put a padlock on the House of Commons till March 3, and in the process, stopped all Parliamentary laws, businesses, committees, studies and debates.

Read more…

Olivia Chow Immigration Forum

Have questions about how to bring your loved ones here for a visit?

Want to find out more about what we can do together in order to make it easier and faster for you to be reunited with family from overseas?

Looking for updates about the immigration process following the devastation in Haiti?

Join Olivia Chow for an Immigration Forum

Tuesday, February 23 from 7-9 pm
Centre for Social Innovation
215 Spadina Avenue (between Queen and Dundas), Suite 120

RSVP http://www.facebook.com/pages/Olivia-Chow/15535160141

Light refreshments will be provided

Olivia Chow’s Letter to Minister Kenney: Bring Adopted Haitian Children Home Immediately

Dear Minister Kenney:

I urge you today to commit to bringing adopted Haitian children home to their new families immediately.

I understand the need for due diligence, preventing child trafficking should always be a priority.  However, these children have been through this process, they have been approved by Haitian Social Services. They are known to us, and should be brought to their parents where they will be safe while the rest of the adoption process is completed. Read more…

Olivia Chow Questions Unfair HST Tax Grab

Ottawa, Parliament of Canada - December 7, 2009

    Ms. Olivia Chow (Trinity—Spadina, NDP): Madam Speaker, tomorrow morning at 10 o’clock, the House of Commons will be debating Bill C-62, the harmonized sales tax bill. If passed, the federal government will give permission to the British Columbia and Ontario governments to proceed with the HST starting in July 2010. It would also give permission for the $6 billion transfer to these two provinces. Read more…

Harper wrong to lock out MPs

As a Canadian, you have every right to be upset that Stephen Harper has once again locked MPs out of Parliament. His move weakens our democracy. And it’s a direct offense to you—who elected MPs like me to work for you. Read more…

Harper Shuts Down Democracy



Harper can’t stop us from working hard for you on 12seconds.tv

Everyone is resuming work in January and so should Parliament. While I am eager to roll up my sleeves and work hard to create jobs for the new economy and expand pensions for seniors, Stephen Harper has put a padlock on the House of Commons till March 3, and in the process, stopped all Parliamentary laws, businesses, committees, studies and debates.

 

Why is Harper shutting down Parliament again and what does he have to hide? Perhaps he is afraid of accountability. Accountability on climate change (Canada has to submit a concrete plan by the end of January per the Copenhagen Accord), on jobs (youth unemployment is over 15 percent), on pension protection and the war in Afghanistan.

 

While I’m locked out, I will use this time to talk with many of you who have written in with ideas on how to make life more affordable and improve our country.  Even though Parliament is locked up, our team is here in Trinity—Spadina to serve you. If you have any suggestions, issues, or concerns, please contact us.

Climate Change Update

In December, I had the privilege of being in Copenhagen for the United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP 15. To give you a feel for what I was experiencing, I invite you to take a look at the tweets both Jack Layton and I sent from Copenhagen:

http://twitter.com/oliviachow (start here http://is.gd/5xNfb)

http://twitter.com/jacklayton (start here: http://is.gd/5xNrV )

While the outcome was extremely disappointing, there was tremendous energy generated from the huge team of environmentalists there. Let’s make a pledge to renew our commitment to take action on climate change this year.