Federal food subsidy program expands list of foods, delays program launch

The federal government has listened to concerns about changing the Food Mail Program to the Nutrition North Canada program.
Although the government had earlier announced certain foods would no longer be eligible for subsidies, Indian and Northern Affairs Minister John Duncan and Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq announced adjustments March 9 to ensure people living across Canada’s north would continue to have subsidies for those foods.
“We have heard their concerns and we recognize northerners want more time to adjust to Nutrition North Canada,” Duncan said. “I am pleased to announce that we have expanded the list of foods eligible for subsidy from the government of Canada to include all food, as well as most non food items until October 2012.”
Scheduled to take effect April 1, the expanded list of food and non-food items is being implemented to ensure a smooth transition to Nutrition North Canada and to allow for two more sea-lift cycles to bring goods to northern consumers.
The federal government announced in May the Food Mail Program would be replaced with Nutrition North Canada on April 1 to make healthy food more accessible and affordable to Canadians living in isolated northern communities.
“I will continue to work to ensure northerners are heard and that this new program will help them by providing access to fresh, healthy and affordable food in the north,” Aglukkaq said.
While Nutrition North Canada was developed following three years of extensive engagement with northerners, the federal government is continuing to explore additional options to assist retailers and suppliers in adjusting to the new program.
When the Nutrition North Canada program was first announced by previous INAC minister Chuck Strahl, plans called for the highest rate of subsidy to be placed on the most nutritious perishable foods, such as fruits, vegetables, bread, fresh meats, milk and eggs.
A revised list of eligible items included a provision to improve access to commercially-produced traditional, northern foods.
The Food Mail Program is a service provided by Canada Post and administrated by INAC to provide nutritious perishable food and other essential items to more than 70,000 people living in 80 isolated northern communities at reduced postal rates.
More than 18 million kilograms of food mail are shipped annually through the program for $0.80 per kilogram plus $0.75 per parcel, including vegetables, fruit, bread, meat and milk.