Critics say people going hungry while Nutrition North review continues
Results of external review expected in 2026, government spokesperson says
Becca Gesch, centre, holds a sign that reads “Food security is a human right” during a protest against high grocery prices in Iqaluit last Saturday. The demonstration, led by Kathy Okpik, drew about 30 residents and underscored concerns raised by Nunavut MP Lori Idlout over the lack of updates on Aluki Kotierk’s ongoing external review of Nutrition North Canada. (Photo by Daron Letts)
One year after the federal government announced an external review of its Nutrition North Canada food subsidy program, Nunavut MP Lori Idlout says she is still waiting for updates.
Meanwhile, she says, food insecurity continues to plague the territory.
The review, announced on Oct. 11, 2024, was formalized in February.
Former Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. president Aluki Kotierk, as the federal northern affairs minister’s special representative, is leading the review.
“I have confidence in Aluki Kotierk,” Idlout said. “I do not have confidence that the Liberal government will implement her recommendations.”
About 30 people in Iqaluit protested Saturday outside the Northmart grocery store. They voiced frustration over the persistently high cost of food.
“We really need to know about the Nutrition North study that’s happening,” organizer Kathy Okpik said at the protest.
Meanwhile, Idlout is questioning why the process has taken so long despite what she says is a growing crisis.
“From my perspective, it is obvious that this Liberal government does not care about Nunavummiut relying on federal programs because there is nowhere else to turn,” Idlout said.
The review is underway and on track for completion in 2026, said Erika Lashbrook Knutson, press secretary for Northern and Arctic Affairs Minister Rebecca Chartrand.
“The ministerial special representative, Aluki Kotierk is assessing the effectiveness of Nutrition North Canada programs in addressing food security for all eligible recipients in isolated northern communities,” Lashbrook Knutson said.
To carry out the review, Kotierk is meeting with federal government departments and organizations, including Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada, as well as national and regional First Nations and Inuit organizations, retailers, suppliers and transportation providers.
Kotierk is also consulting researchers leading Nutrition North-funded projects to consider findings and program recommendations.
The department also noted that Kotierk’s work is “independent” and that projected or final spending of the external review won’t be confirmed “until the completed review is delivered.”
Kotierk did not respond to Nunatsiaq News’ request for an interview.
“Follow through, update us on the work being done in the external review, and expedite policies that help alleviate poverty. We have been in a crisis much longer than the rest of Canada,” said Idlout, referring to the federal government.
More relevant than whatever this review turns up is whether the class action brought against NWC in Manitoba back in February will be certified. If the court does not find evidence to certify the lawsuit then the review should be immediately cancelled. Objectively speaking I would trust the courts findings over a government led review. i suggest that NN request updates from the Manitoba Justice Department and the lawyers who started the class action. Unlike Aluki, they may respond.
I know Iin one Nunavut community not named Iqaluit that the big bad company took over 3 million in profit out of the town in one year. How much is enough profit. Lower the prices which was always. My argument no need to take that much could lower prices and still have $million profit
Lots of us have worked for Northern and have seen their individual store financials. Their consolidated corporate FS are available publicly. It’s rather ironic that they operate with more transparency than the regional Inuit Dev Corps. Increased competition is the only way to bring prices down, and there is no Nunavut Costco, Walmart or Sobeys store on the horizon. Honestly I am more annoyed that I have to pay my local garage over $700 for an oil change than paying $10 for a bag of chips at Northern.
Unless Aluki Kotierk has at minimum advanced competency in accounting and nutrition she can’t be part of the review of Nutrition North – or anything else related to it. Same goes for Idlout and Okpik
Classic Trudeau era appointment, all about the looks and the feels.
Gonna start a protest demanding NHC stop giving people free rent in nunavut. Nothing is free in this world unless u live in communist Cuba. Whose with me?? 70$ a month is probably cheapest rental in the world. People need to learn budgeting better. Smokes and gambling instead of food has nothing to do with Nutrition north subsidy. In Nunavik cheapest rental is $600 a month.
Sounds like you dobt like to pay rent….
Last time I was in Havana, Cuba, we tried to buy cheese. After trying for a while we were
able to get a 2 kg. block. Our Cuban friends were so grateful to us.
Yes a poor country, but the people have such a proud strong spirit !
You have to ask what are the housing managers doing about people who wreck homes and
refuse to pay rent ?
Some people have not paid rent for years.
People are employed to help people budget money and buy nourishing food. no luck.
Housing boards in Nunavut don’t collect rent as mandated.
Maybe the auditor general can fire all the boards and Nunavut can work on credible local housing boards.
Last count on rent owed by Nunavut public housing tenants was around 36 million. Is that on the rise?
Damaged units are also a common sight in Nunavut and no consequence.
$7.29
For a box of noodles 375g
$10,24 for a supercan of pop here
Over $50.00 for a can of coffee here .
Why is anyone mentioning pop or coffee in an article about nutrition?
Even noodles barely qualify as food and definitely not nutrition except in dire circumstances. Dire circumstances are valid circumstances. But if dire circumstances are in effect 24/7, there’s an even bigger concern than nutrition.
Because that’s what people in Nunavut buy, I told this too the NN committee when they came here, If they want to make it cheaper than they need to lower what people buy, that being 70% junk food its the sad truth. Look how many types of frozen pizza and french fries line the freezer section,,. No one cares that celery is $4.89 a bag but 10.25 for a giant pop with 190% of your daily sugar gets complaints, that the grocery world we live in the North and until the Gov’t understands and openly talks about that were done.
Why should the government subsidize foods that make you less healthy? “Because that’s what people eat” is not a compelling argument.
Tell me you’ve been privileged your whole life without saying it. I think expecting people in poverty to be culinary masters when they probably have one pot and a crappy pan is ridiculous. How about you mind your own business about what people are eating? That’s a good start.
In 2022, the Government of Canada completed a Nunavut Inuit Labor Force Analysis. The key findings of this study include; public sector job growth is expected, primarily in the health and education fields, mining production will double shortly, leading to hundreds of new job opportunities in this sector, and that young Inuit are readily available to fill these jobs, unlike other places in Canada where people are mainly retiring.
Further, in 2022, there were 70 vacancies in the Government of Canada, and 1284 vacancies within the Government of Nunavut, and the main barrier to young Inuit obtaining these jobs was obtaining a post secondary education.
Nunavut Inuit are in the envious position of being able to obtain a post-secondary education largely for free through things like FANS (GN), Inuit Org post-secondary supports delivered on behalf of the Government of Canada, and Makigiakta supported programs.
Keeping the Analysis results rolling, over half of Inuit surveyed were interested in government jobs at various levels. Implied but not stated in this study, is that the number of job opportunities in Nunavut is actually more than the number of unemployed Inuit looking for work.
Other things to note about employment in Nunavut is that the average hourly wage here is highest in the country, an average Inuk GN worker makes more than $85K a year, an average Inuk mine worker makes even more, and the average employment income of an Inuk in the 2020 census was $57K.
This employment income is more than double what individual Inuit could expect to receive from “government transfers”. This means that if you are an Inuk with a job, you have, at the very least, double the financial resources available to feed yourself.
Someone needs to correct our MP when she says “From my perspective, it is obvious that this Liberal government does not care about Nunavummiut relying on federal programs because there is nowhere else to turn” .
No. In many parts of Canada and the world, there is no work to be had for someone to put food on the table. This used to be the case in Nunavut as well, but no longer.
The government will even pay you to get ready for the jobs available. While you are in college or uni, you will be given money to feed yourself, at rates that mean you will not be subsisting on ramen, like many others.
Instead of celebrating and highlighting these amazing opportunities, our MP ignores them. She promotes continual dependence on others. When our people get these types of messages, I guess it is no wonder people are out protesting food insecurity instead of being in class or on the job.
Pijitsirniq and Qanuqtuurniq should not be just platitudes.
It is no longer wastibg money but wasting what is gotyen with it
High food price what an outrage how am i suppose to feed pogos and sandwiches to my family? Ya but I also need new F150, new 900 snowmachine for all my family including a 120 for my toddler. Nice boat to go boating 2 months a year and also nice side by side and 850 Honda and few trips to winnipeg per year to go Walmart shopping at least i get pivut fare lol My 100k salary and subsidized housing isn’t enough I need more I got my grade 12 so I earn all this thanks my job as a community dental health advisor or something like this? 😅
I am hapoy for you go get yourself a rzise ! You in publuc sector ? Get a raise or find a better job like a real dentist . Make the big bucks in our territory ! Heck our giverment has over 2 billion dollars to play with ! You got grade 12 ? Go all out !
Tax tax tax. You all voted for this the last 10 years. If you don’t like it quit voting liberal. The only thing they’re good at is tax and spend. Even before Trudeau. As a result they drove up inflation which raised the cost of everything. Don’t blame private business (although Northmart are highway robbers for sure). None of you can see the forest from the trees. If Nunutsiaq news deletes this post like they usually do, none of you will learn todays basic economic lesson.
I have zero confidence in Aluki, this position should not have been given to a politician, but to someone who has experience in business, retail, not on someone who does things based on emotions.
Aluki’s track record for getting things done are not very good, when she had positions before becoming a politician she did not do a great job. Her time at the GN then at NTI.
What I see here is a politician scratched another politicians back by giving her this job.
I will not be surprised if nothing comes of this, it’s unfortunate as this is a great opportunity to address and make changes that could really help people with food insecurity, really make changes but with someone who is incapable of getting things done I am not holding my breath.
Aluki doesnt know kugluktuk is on the map inside of nunavut. Only for her region she contiplates about never mind the west eh , we should have remained in the Northwest Territories !
Accentuate the positive! Food prices along with rents/housing prices have gone up and up, crazy. I really feel a longing the for days of my youth. Jobs, good paying jobs with great opportunity was the norm. Food and lodging costs were not a concern at all. The streets were safe, no chemical drugs issue, fentanyl, meth, crack, speed. Those were the days, I add hoards of people walking about transfixed by cell phones.
With all the federal, provincial money that is poured into the north, folks need to learn to cook, budget, give up the vices that are expensive, just saying.