Federal government adds 2 new members to Nutrition North board
Advisory panel makes recommendations and provides guidance on food subsidy program
The federal government’s Nutrition North program subsidizes the price of some groceries in Canada’s North. Federal Northern Affairs Minister Dan Vandal announced two new members to the programs advisory board on Friday. (File photo)
The federal government announced Friday the appointment of two new members to the Nutrition North Canada Advisory Board.
Dan Vandal, the federal minister of northern affairs, made the announcement during the final day of the Arctic Change conference in Ottawa.
McKinley Winters was appointed chair and Mavis Cli-Michaud was appointed to the board.
Winters is from Hopedale, a Nunatsiavut community on the coast of Labrador. He was a team leader with the Nunatsiavut government’s Department of Health and Social Development from 2016 to 2020.
He managed the department’s food security programs, including Nutrition North’s education initiatives and Harvesters Support Grant.
Cli-Michaud has more than 30 years’ experience in senior management within government. She has worked with Deh Cho First Nations Investment Management Board, Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board, and is a founding director with the NWT Native Women’s Association.
She is a member of the Liidlii Kue First Nation, in N.W.T.
The Nutrition North Advisory Board makes recommendations to the minister of Indigenous and northern affairs to help guide the direction of the food subsidy program.
The board’s former chair, Nellie Cournoyea, stepped down in December 2023, said Kyle Allen, communications director for Vandal.
The board notably lost a member in December 2023 when Beth Kotierk resigned in protest, over the Government of Canada’s support of Israel in its conflict with Hamas in Gaza.
Two more empty helmet political appointments, don’t live up here, don’t know up here. Big resumes, no substance,
What does this board do? Do they hold public meetings? Who’s do they consult with and report to?
Why does this board seem like a token board that doesn’t really do anything?
If you look up the NNB on the gov.ca site they list what they do, and the one that stands out to me is that they are responsible for checking compliance within companies that operate within the 125 communities that rely on Nutrition North.
They also do quarterly reports on the subsidy, but I see they haven’t actually updated their reports in about a year now. Hmmmm
Is the Board stacked with people who have, at minimum, education and experience in grocery retail, logistics, nutrition, and accounting? If not, the Board is another complete waste in all respects and adds to the rot in society
Any non Inuit businesses in Nunavut not listed under Nunavut tungavvik who sells and make sales in Nunavut communities, are they included in the nutrition north subcidy programs? Benefits like food vouchers from NTI shouldn’t be included for non Inuit businesses not listed under NTI.
Interesting idea, Tooma.
Is it practical?