Hundreds of boxes of food sent North
Nunavut MP recognizes 'generosity,' Valcourt pledges to track subsidy money
Michele LeTourneau
Northern News Services
Published Monday, January 12, 2015
NUNAVUT
Nunavut MP Leona Aglukkaq last week acknowledged the efforts of southern Canadians who are sending boxes of food to hungry Nunavummiut, an effort which food activist Leesee Papatsie has previously called "a band-aid solution to the bigger problem" of Nutrition North.
| Fixing food problems
Here is a list of actions taken by Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development (AANDC) to improve Nutrition North in response to recommendations from the Office of the Auditor General
- Identifying community eligibility: AANDC has been examining this matter for the past year and is conducting a detailed review of the requirements for eligibility.
- Contribution agreements: As of April 1, for greater clarity, a new clause will be added to funding agreements with retailers. The new clause will specify that retailers must provide all the information on eligible items, including current profit margins and profit margins over time.
- Compliance reviews: For retailer compliance reviews undertaken in 2014-2015 and beyond, there is a clear requirement for audit firms contracted by AANDC to ensure that they review all relevant information including profit margins and confirm whether or not the subsidy is being passed on to consumers.
- Managing the program: An updated performance measurement strategy has been in place since September and has been posted to the AANDC website.
- Cost containment strategy: AANDC will continue to apply cost containment in a manner that supports the program objective.
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"The generosity of Canadians is what makes this such a great country," stated Aglukkaq in an e-mail to Nunavut News/North.
Humanitarian Jennifer Gwilliam of Victoria, B.C., started the Facebook group called Helping Our Northern Neighbours, an offshoot of Papatsie's Feeding My Family group. Gwilliam estimates 200 boxes of food have been sent to Northern families in food crises, with a total of approximately 430 families in need on a list to receive help.
Gwilliam was especially appalled after watching a report that elders were scavenging for food at the Rankin Inlet dump.
"I am shocked by the degree of need and the number of people who are going hungry and seeking help," said Gwilliam.
Aglukkaq stated she has "been clear that I agree with the auditor general that the program needs improvement and I will work with my colleagues in Ottawa to see that his recommendations are implemented.
"Further, I will continue to advocate for other enhancements to the program, such as the additional investment of over $11 million in 2014-15 as well as ongoing annual increases, to help the program better keep pace with consumer demand for healthy food."
However, according to Derek Reimer, director of business development for The North West Company, which owns Northmart, the extra funding announced Nov. 21 will only 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," Reimer said in December.
Meanwhile, Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (AANDC) Minister Bernard Valcourt said his department is moving forward on improving the program as a result of the report by the auditor general.
He says his government remains "committed to providing Northerners with access to perishable nutritious food.
"Our government welcomes the report issued by the office of the auditor general. We accept the five recommendations in the chapter on Nutrition North Canada. In fact, various initiatives, including the addition of a new clause in the funding agreements that will ensure recipients provide all the information on eligible items, including profit margins and profit margins over time, are already under way," Valcourt stated in an e-mail to Nunavut News/North.
Valcourt insists that the program, operating since 2011 as a replacement for the Food Mail program, "has already proven its ability to increase access to healthy, perishable foods in isolated and remote Northern communities."
Valcourt did not respond to a question about southern Canadians shipping food to hungry Nunavummiut.
"This program is proving that it is helping to meet the needs of Northerners and the results are clear," Valcourt said, citing the 25 per cent increase in nutritious food shipped to Northern communities.
However, Canadians have seen at least some of that food end up at the dump because Nunavummiut can't afford it in the first place. Affordable food is one of the program's goals, along with nutritious food.
The auditor general's report also slammed AANDC for not defining affordability. Papatsie's Feeding My Family group presents a parade of images showing food selling at outrageous and unaffordable prices.
Improvements to Nutrition North noted on the AANDC website include adding a new clause to contribution agreements with retailers effective April 1, which will be verified in compliance audits. Retailers will, in future, need to "provide all the information on eligible items, including current profit margins and profit margins over time."
Future audits will be required to "confirm whether or not the subsidy is being passed on to consumers."
The department is also currently completing a review of community eligibility requirements.
Finally, consultations are promised.
"In the coming months, our government will also be engaging with Northerners, retailers and suppliers on ideas to keep improving the program for Northerners." said Valcourt.
Affordability is not mentioned by the minister in his e-mail, nor is it addressed in the list of initiatives for program improvement.
