Nutrition North officials promise a “dynamic” program

Local businessman Kenn Harper speaks a May 31 public meeting. Harper, who owns Iqaluit’s Arctic Ventures store, said Nutrition North has its benefits – but mostly for larger retailers, who can negotiate the lowest air cargo rates. (PHOTO BY SARAH ROGERS)

Caroline Anawak tells a May 31 public meeting in Iqaluit that the announcement of Nutrition North’s new shipping subsidies “did not bring out the goodwill and trust of Northerners.” (PHOTO BY SARAH ROGERS)

Members of the Nutrition North advisory board attend their first public meeting in Iqaluit May 31. The board’s role is to provide feedback on the program to the minister of Aboriginal and Northern Development. (PHOTO BY SARAH ROGERS)

Elizabeth Copland, chair of Nutrition North Canada’s advisory board, speaks to Iqaluit residents at the board’s first public meeting there May 31. Advisory committee members and Nutrition North managers heard from people who said they are not seeing cost savings from the new subsidy. (PHOTO BY SARAH ROGERS)

Nutrition North Canada directors told a May 31 public meeting in Iqaluit that there’s ”room for improvement” to the new food subsidy program, which they hope will be “dynamic” as it integrates itself across the North.

That comes as welcome news to many in Iqaluit, who say they’re not seeing any savings from the new air freight shipping subsidy for nutritious food.

In the first public meeting of Nutrition North’s seven-member advisory board May 31, residents let the program’s architects know there are still many knots to untie

Resident Mike Gardner held up a container of raspberries that he purchased in Ottawa for $1.65. The same product sells for $4.99 in Iqaluit.

“Why does it cost over $3 more in freight to ship healthy food?” he asked at the public meeting.

The Nutrition North scheme offers subsidies on a more restricted list of healthy foods, and allows retailers to negotiate their own freight rates with airlines.

But a shorter list of eligible items means retailers and customers will have to ship non-perishable items by less-costly sealifts – which will also require more long-term storage facilities.

Those storage facilities are costly to construct and heat, said Iqaluit mayor Madeleine Redfern, adding that non-perishable items still carry a “best before” date.

Redfern says northern residents will end up paying more for staples like rice and pasta under the new program.

“A lot of this stuff hasn’t been thought out before the program was introduced,” she said. “That’s why a lot of us are frustrated.”

After Nutrition North officials took heat for the program announced early this year, they moved to extend the new subsidy scheme to food and non-food items taken off the eligible list last October.

The transition period now ends in October 2012.

Stephen Van Dine, director of territorial relations with Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada, told the Iqaluit gathering that the program has been “a learning experience.”

“We’re hoping to keep it a dynamic program,” he said. “We haven’t decided a time when we will sit down and review those subsidy rates. It’s only been two months and there’s not much data yet.”

But Elizabeth Copland, the chair of Nutrition North’s advisory board, said the board’s role is to ensure the program is accountable to the people it serves.

Copland is one of two Nunavummiut appointed to the board for a three-year term, who met for the second time May 31.

She said the board will provide regular feedback to the northern development minister.

“Virtually every element of the program is open to our input,” she said. “One thing that is distinct is that northerners will have a stronger voice.”

But that does little to reassure some residents who feel they should have been consulted before the new program was launched.

“If you ever want to stir up a nest of northerners, make a decision and then tell them what you did,” Caroline Anawak told the May 31 meeting. “It’s not fair to put a bunch of Northerners on a committee to take the heat.”

The advisory board meets next in the fall.