Idlout, Bérubé weigh in after federal minister announces review will start in 2025
Two MPs whose constituents buy groceries subsidized by Nutrition North Canada say they support carrying out a review of the controversial program.
In Iqaluit Friday, federal Northern Affairs Minister Dan Vandal announced he will appoint a ministerial special representative next year to lead an external review.
A final report with recommendations on how to improve the program is expected sometime in 2026.
Nunavut NDP MP Lori Idlout said Friday that her constituents don’t need to wait for the findings to be convinced the program is broken.
“It’s been well known for years that the prices of groceries are too high in the Arctic and that Nutrition North is not working,” she told Nunatsiaq News.
“While they are doing their investigations, it will be my constituents that are suffering the costs of high grocery prices.”
Idlout criticized the federal government for waiting until 2025 to appoint an arm’s length special representative with a final report not expected until the year after that.
“I do like the idea of a special representative being hired that’s independent from government. I just hope that position is hired much sooner than what the plan is,” said Idlout.
“I’m frustrated that they are taking a delayed approach to addressing such an important issue as alleviating poverty. It is definitely a major issue impacting the mental health of Nunavummiut.”
Nutrition North was started in 2011 as a subsidy to help reduce the cost of nutritious food and some essential items for people living in remote, mostly northern communities. It’s a joint initiative between Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada and Health Canada.
Critics, though, have questioned whether customers in those areas are getting the full benefit of the funding the government puts into the program.
A University of Toronto study published last year in the Journal of Public Economics concluded only 67 cents of each dollar invested in Nutrition North is reflected in lower prices at northern grocery retailers.
Idlout suggested one reform that could be carried out immediately would be to open a line where complaints could be sent to the government, rather than allowing grocery chains to self-regulate and respond to customer complaints.
“I definitely feel the urgency of addressing [high Northern food prices],” she said.
“What I will do is to try to see if we can get improvements much faster than what the government’s delayed response is.”
Bloc Québécois MP Sylvie Bérubé, who represents Nunavik, said she’s optimistic the review will reveal ways to improve Nutrition North.
“It is good news that [Nutrition North Canada] is being revised to improve food safety and prevent loss of food transported over long distances,” she said, adding she’s glad national and regional Indigenous organizations will be consulted.
“Ultimately, this program must be as effective as possible in reducing the cost of food for people in isolated communities.”
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