Improving access to food listed among top priorities for all three vying for federal seat
Improving access to food in Nunavut is a priority for all three of the territory’s federal candidates, but the question is how best to tackle the issue.
They all shared concerns about the Nutrition North Canada food subsidy program, currently under review by the federal government.
“We all know that Nutrition North is not working,” said Lori Idlout, the incumbent NDP candidate in the April 28 federal election.
“We need to make sure that Nutrition North is supporting people, not for-profit companies like the Northwest Company.”
Idlout said Nutrition North should be replaced with a new system that enhances communities’ ability to harvest country food.
Conservative candidate James T. Arreak said any continuation of Nutrition North after its review will require changes to the way the program is delivered.
“The Liberal government has dropped the ball,” he said. “I would want to push the government to review Nutrition North.”
The Liberal candidate, Kilikvak Kabloona, said she trusts the review process that’s currently underway.
“I value getting expert advice and working with communities on solutions,” she said. “I don’t think it’ll take too long, but I think it’s important.”
The federal government created Nutrition North in 2011 to make essential foods more accessible and affordable in the North. But over the years, concerns were raised that retailers take the subsidy but don’t pass the savings on to consumers.
Kabloona highlighted the success of the Harvesters Support Grant, a program run through Nutrition North designed to support hunting, harvesting and food sharing.
“I’m really pleased to hear from community members that that program is doing some important work, and I would advocate additional funding,” she said.
Idlout identified country food as the foundation for food security in the hamlets.
She advocated for a new program that would provide hamlets with community freezers and processing plants to assist with storage and distribution of country food.
“It has to be a well-rounded program that allows for Inuit culture to be used by all Inuit,” she said. “It has to be better reflective of the Inuit world view and how Inuit thrive in the Arctic.”
Arreak added that he believes hunters need tax breaks to decrease their cost of living.
“Hunters have been also exposed to carbon tax, escalating gas prices, making it even more daunting for hunters to put traditional food on the table,” he said.
The three candidates all agreed that a major component to reducing the cost of living in the North means investing in infrastructure.
“We have to ensure that we have the adequate infrastructure to support the supply of food through airstrips,” said Arreak.
Some hamlets simply need airstrips to be extended by a few metres in order to accommodate larger planes with more freight, said Idlout, adding increasing money to improve infrastructure has to be a “huge” priority.
Kabloona agreed with her rivals’ sentiments.
“There’s just so many things that are more expensive in Nunavut because of our lack of infrastructure,” Kabloona said.
All three candidates also emphasized the need to continue the Inuit Child First Initiative as necessary to improve food security for Nunavummiut. The Liberal government has said it will extend funding for the program for another year, however that still needs Parliament’s approval.
The food voucher program provides $500 per month for every Inuit child or youth under 18 for food, with an additional $250 for diapers and baby formula for families with children under the age of four.
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