IKPIARJUK/ARCTIC BAY - On Oct. 22, Arctic Bay's mayor went to the Northern store to buy some Maple Leaf bacon.

Items such as whole pumpkins are no longer subsidized under the Nutrition North Canada program, which replaces the Food Mail program. Pumpkins and other foods were removed from the list on Oct. 3. Pumpkins at Arctic Ventures in Iqaluit right before Halloween were between $41 and $56. - Emily Ridlington/NNSL photo

He did not expect it would cost $16.

"I knew some of the prices would be going up but that's a lot," said Niore Iqalukjuak adding he didn't really question why.

Many residents are aware prices of some foods they purchase will be lowered, could be higher or not subsidized at all under the Nutrition North Canada program, replacing the Food Mail Program.

The federal government announced the changes to the program in late May. On Oct. 3,certain products once subsidized under Food Mail were removed from the list. The rest of the changes will not come into effect until April 2011.

The price of the bacon Iqalukjuak purchased was higher because bacon is one of the items no longer subsidized. Other products no longer on the list include garlic bread, cream, cream cheese, hard and hydrogenated margarine and whole pumpkins.

In Iqaluit, at Arctic Ventures, a pumpkin to decorate your steps to greet trick or treaters would have set you back between $41 and $56 right before Halloween.

"When we hear about forklift skids of pumpkins being flown North, we weren't trying to be cheeky but we want to focus on lowering the cost of traditional food people eat," said Leo Doyle, acting director, Nutrition North Canada with Indian and Northern Affairs Canada in Ottawa.

He said certain food or products had to come off the list and officials found it would be acceptable to do this rather than getting rid of the program entirely.

Some complaints have been received as individuals felt they did not get enough notice about the upcoming changes. There has also been confusion as to what is and what is not subsidized.

In June, Kivalliq Inuit Association president Jose Kusugak said some of the food subsidies provided by the federal government didn't reflect the needs of Inuit.

"Whoever made the list was definitely from the south and used to those kinds of foods," Kusugak said in June. He was referring to the fact that food such as tofu and veggie burgers received high subsidies while things such as lard and flour used to make bannock – which Kusugak referred to as a staple of a well-round diet for many Inuit, especially while out on the land hunting and camping – did not.

Doyle said his department consulted with a number of groups and organizations including the Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada for advice on foods and their cultural aspects.

Under the new program, the shipping subsidy which went to Canada Post will be passed on to retailers and then, it is planned, to the consumer.

Early last month, Doyle said letters were sent out to retailers and wholesalers in the North inviting them to be part of the Nutrition North Canada program. INAC is also waiting for Canada Post to respond with the subsidy rates relating to how much it costs them to ship food. These figures should be obtained by December.

According to Canada Post, it handled 19,836,378 kg of Food Mail in 2009. That would be approximately equivalent to the weight of 13,225 large beluga whales. Food for the Baffin region is shipped from Val-d'Or, Que., anything going to the Kivalliq from Winnipeg, while food destined for the other communities comes from Yellowknife.

A representative from Canada Post said they anticipate that once people understand the changes to the program there will be a reduction in the number of kilograms of food shipped. They estimate it will be reduced by 150,000 kilograms between Oct. 1 and March 31, 2011.

Back in Arctic Bay, Iqalukjuak said there are signs up at the Northern store letting customers know about the changes.

In May, when then-Indian and Northern Affairs minister Chuck Strahl announced the overhauling of the Food Mail program, he said customers would be able to see how much their food was being subsidized at the cash register. The amount subsidized would depend on the location of the communities.

Showing the discount to the consumer is proving to be more challenging.

"I think people will feel they are getting price fairness from the retailers when they understand how it works," said Doyle. Savings will be calculated by kilogram. Stores will assume more of the accountability and have to provide information on what foods are subsidized to help customers understand the changes.

Strahl also promised an advisory board composed of people from across the North would be set up to ensure accountability. Doyle said 25 applications were received and the names have been passed onto the current INAC Minister John Duncan. The decision regarding who will sit on the committee will be made later this fall.

While he had to pay $16 for bacon, Iqalukjuak said turkeys seemed to be more reasonable this year than last, recalling a turkey tagged at one of the stores was $200. This year, he said many turkeys were around $75.

As to what he thinks of the new program so far, Iqalukjuak said: "Ask me when they make all the changes."

We welcome your opinions. Click here to e-mail a letter to the editor.