Comments sought on Nutrition North
Federal government plans engagement meetings in Nunavut communities
Michele LeTourneau
Northern News Services
Monday, June 6, 2016
NUNAVUT
The federal government is seeking comments aimed at improving the Nutrition North program, which subsidies the cost of shipping nutritious food to retailers in remote, isolated communities.
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There are four ways to participate in the Nutrition North engagement process
- Attend a community meeting.
- Send a letter to Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada or Health Canada
- Send an e-mail to nutritionnorth@aadnc-aandc.gc.ca.
- Send a tweet using the hashtag #haveyoursay
Source: Government of Canada
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The Nunavut communities of Baker Lake, Kugaaruk, Pond Inlet and Iqaluit are so far included in public engagements scheduled to take place in June.
Specific dates have yet to be announced.
"The objective of the public engagement sessions is to better understand the needs of Northerners and to determine how the program can keep pace with the growing demand for healthy foods in the North.
The input gathered through this process will be used to develop options to update the program and to help it stay on a sustainable path, according to the news release.
The engagement process will focus on six themes, according to department officials -- program sustainability and cost effectiveness, fairness and consistency, expanding program capacity and improving program efficiencies, transparency, and visibility related to communications, outreach and engagement innovation.
Changes to the freight subsidy program were a Liberal campaign promise and, six months into their term, consultations are beginning.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also promised to increase funding to Nutrition North by $40 million over four years, if he was elected. He kept that promise and exceeded it in March when the new government released its budget, investing an additional $64.5 million over five years, starting in 2016-2017.
But throwing cash at the flawed program has hardly put a dent in food costs for Nunavummiut.
When the Conservative government added $11.3 million to the subsidy budget for 2014-2015, along with a compound escalator for future years, one of the North's major retailers said it would hardly have an impact.
Speaking to Nunavut News/North in December 2014, Derek Reimer, the director of business development for The North West Company, which operates Northern and NorthMart stores, said the increase would address already existing volume increases in the program but not actual subsidy rates.
"If there's no change in subsidy rates, the consumer will not see the impact on retail prices," said Reimer.
"You've had volume increase, you've had inflation in a number of different areas, but you haven't seen overall subsidy rates change. Our recommendation is we need to see a significant increase in funding levels."
It was in November, 2014 that a scathing report by the auditor general stated the federal department in charge of Nutrition North had failed at making nutritious and perishable food more accessible and affordable in Nunavut and the rest of the North.
"One concern that I have in looking at these audits is that departments need to have a clearer understanding of whether the services they are providing are truly meeting the needs of Canadians," said auditor general Michael Ferguson.
"When departments do not fully consider the on-the-ground impact of their activities, they are missing opportunities to verify that they are hitting the mark for Canadians."
Aside from not identifying eligible communities on the basis of need, the auditor's report stated the department "has not defined affordability nor has it verified that Northern retailers are passing on the full subsidy to consumers."
A recent change to the program saw retailers having to install a point-of-sale system, showing on customer receipts how much the price has been reduced because of the subsidy program. However, that didn't clear up transparency issues around actual freight costs.
Community engagement, it is hoped, will lead to changes to the program that will benefit Northern consumers struggling with the cost of food.
"Northerners need to have a direct voice in the Nutrition North Canada program. I encourage Northerners to participate at the upcoming sessions to have their say and to contribute ideas about how to make the program work better for them. Together we can update the program so that families have access to affordable, healthy food," stated Indigenous and Northern Affairs Minister Carolyn Bennett in a news release.
The Northern tour by federal Indigenous and Northern Affairs and Health officials were scheduled to begin in Old Crow, Yukon May 30, followed by a stop in Ulukhaktok, Northwest Territories June 1. Stops are scheduled for the week of June 6 and the week of June 20 in Quebec and Newfoundland respectively.
Officials also plan on engaging with communities in northern Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario.
During this engagement process, officials wish to gather information from residents of isolated Northern communities, Nutrition North registered retailers and suppliers, Northern transportation companies, indigenous communities and organizations, local regional, provincial and territorial governments, as well as experts involved in areas such as food security, Northern transportation and Northern infrastructure.
"A nutritious diet is essential to good physical and mental health. We are committed to working with Northerners in isolated communities, indigenous partners, and provincial and territorial governments to improve access to nutritious food," stated Health Minister Jane Philpott.
