IQALUIT - After their first public meeting, members of the Nutrition North Canada advisory board have got lots to chew on because Iqaluit residents are not satisfied with the changes the program promised them.

Approximately 60 people went to the first public meeting of the Nutrition North Canada advisory board on May 31 in Iqaluit. From left are Iqaluit residents Caroline Anawak and Monica Ell. Ell was curious if the shipping of country food was going to be subsidized. - Emily Ridlington/NNSL photo

"Saving 10 cents a dozen, that's not going make me rush to any store to buy eggs that are less fresh than I can buy through Food Mail or it's not going to make me support a program that's going save me $2 on a $100 grocery bill. I don't see where the subsidies are coming to me at 10 cents for a dozen of eggs," said Lzoya Martin, an Iqaluit resident at the meeting in the city on May 31.

Approximately 60 people turned up to voice mostly their complaints about the Nutrition North Canada program, which replaced Food Mail.

The new program is designed to direct freight subsidies to retailers instead of Canada Post with savings geared toward the consumer. It is now up to the retailers and suppliers to find the cheapest method of transportation.

Full implementation of the program began on April 1, but on May 9, the federal government announced all items that had previously been removed from the eligibility list, like bacon and sour cream, would be on the list until October 2012.

The meeting started at 6:30 p.m. and was cut short at 9:30 p.m. with many more people still having questions.

Mike Gardiner brought along two small packages of raspberries to the meeting to show the board. One box he purchased in Iqaluit for $4.99 and the other he bought in Ottawa for $1.67.

"How is it I'm paying $3 (per package) in freight?," he asked.

Monica Ell wanted to know why transportation of country food from community to community is not subsidized.

"Can some of the service providers perhaps be some of the hunters in the communities like the HTOs (Hunter and Trappers Organizations)?," she asked.

After several attempts to answer the question, the bottom line was no, because if country food is exchanged and does not come from a federally inspected plant, it falls to the territory to regulate.

Resident Linda Gunn and others wanted to know about how stores are going to be held accountable if they do not pass the savings onto the customers.

Stephen Van Dine, director general, devolution and territorial relations, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, said periodic audits will be done and subsidy rates could be adjusted depending on the circumstances.

"We're trying to make sure we have an active and dynamic program, it's not static," said Van Dine.

Residents kept saying the number of southern suppliers they used to place orders with is down.

While INAC officials repeated the fact they made the changes to the program so the most number of people could benefit, they did say the number of service providers is down to 30 from 40.

"A number of former southern suppliers have not signed onto the program or dropped out because the paperwork is bloody awful and is quite onerous," said Kenn Harper, owner of Arctic Ventures Ltd. in Iqaluit.

A reduced number of suppliers participating in Nutrition North was not a surprise for INAC, said Leo Doyle, acting director with Nutrition North Canada.

"There were some that specialized in shipping machine parts such as tires and the program was becoming more focused on subsidizing access to nutrition foods," he said, adding, "Clearly there were some suppliers that weren't going to fit within that framework."

Harper said since his company has only one store it is difficult for him to compete with the larger chains when negotiating freight rates with the airlines.

"The big guy gets the best volume, the smaller guy gets the poorer price," Harper said.

Advisory board chair Elizabeth Copland from Arviat said while she was surprised at the number of wide-ranging comments, most things she said she has heard before.

"We all want to see it work," she said.

Copland compared the new program to a new building that is not complete with many obstacles to overcome.

"Hearing some good wise criticisms and offerings will help us make sure that we're trying to do the right thing," said board member Wilfred Wilcox from Cambridge Bay.

Resident Caroline Anawak blamed government officials for making an advisory board take the heat.

"Picking Northerners on a panel is not fair to them because Northerners will skin them alive," she said, a comment which garnered a fair amount of applause.

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