Nutrition North Gaining Traction on Premiers Radar

Wednesday, 19 July 2017 15:46

Chronic problems with the federal food subsidy program, has NWT offering to take it over.

EDMONTON-Canada’s Premiers are taking a greater interest into the Nutrition North program, as more communities are getting access to subsidized foods. The latest community to join the list was Churchill Man. after the rail line to the community became unusable.

The 12 provincial and territorial leaders say they “recognize the need to reduce the high cost of food and ensure availability in isolated northern communities.” They urged Ottawa to make the program more accountable and transparent and to ensure the “subsidy directly reduces the cost of food for residents of isolated communities.”

In the Northwest Territories Premier Bob McLeod says he has offered to the Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs that his government will take over the administration of the program, so long as the money from Ottawa is allocated. “We’ve offered to Minister Bennett that we would be prepared to take it over, as long as the associated funding for the 15 communities identified under the Nutrition North program, [is there] we haven’t had a response.”

McLeod says the biggest problem with the program is that it’s users don’t feel they are getting any value. “The big problem still, is that the people in the communities, don’t see how they are benefiting from it.”

Here in the Yukon, Old Crow is the only community on Nutrition North, due to no road access, but they are unique, compared to other Eastern Arctic communities, in that they have access to daily flights. Most Arctic communities are barge only.

Premier Sandy Silver says there are recommendations from Nunavut on how to improve Nutrition North, but he first wants to consult Old Crow on a proposal to see if the North Yukon community would benefit. “We of course have to talk to the community of Old Crow, to make sure their [Nunavut] recommendations match up with the needs of our community.” “It’s a very distinct situation in Old Crow compared to Northwest Territories, compared to Nunavut. We’re going to work with our three counterparts in the three territories to come up with a solution to the problems.”

McLeod admits that Northerner’s diets have changed, due to the lack of traditional or country foods, but says communities are trying to combat that by increasing food security through local greenhouses. He says technology has changed to allow people to buy goods online, with direct shipment to their residence, often substantially less expensive than through a local merchant. As for what his government is trying to do to lower the cost of living, McLeod says his government subsides the cost of living, $200 million a year, stressing the GWNT is doing its part.

(Dan Jones July 19, 2017)