Food mail project helps Kangiqsujuaq residents eat better for less

Since July 1, the residents of Kangiqsujuaq have been able to eat better for less, thanks to a new food mail pilot project in the community.

Under this project, the cost of shipping nutritious perishable foods from the South was lowered to 30¢ per kilogram from 80¢ .

Customers notice the change when they pay for heavier items, such as milk and juice, said Diane Rutherford, the assistant manager for grocery at Kangiqsujuaq’s Northern store.

The lower shipping costs mean bread, eggs, fresh produce and even frozen chicken cost less than before July 1. The price for a litre of milk is down from $2.69 to $1.88.

“It’s a big, big difference,” said Rutherford. “It’s amazing that regular two per cent fresh milk is now cheaper than UHT milk.”

The food mail program has been in place for over 30 years, reducing the cost of nutritious perishable food and other essential items in the North.

Under this program, the federal Department of Indian and Northern Affairs gives Canada Post a subsidy. This helps offset the high cost of bringing of food items and essential non-food items to approximately 145 northern communities in Nunavut, the Northwest Territories, the Yukon, Labrador, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta.

Before the pilot project began, residents of Kangiqsujuaq were asked what foods they were eating. At the end of the project, another survey will be done to see if the new lower prices for nutritious store-bought food had any positive effect on what they ate.

According to Rutherford, people in Kangiqsujuaq already have good eating habits.

“I’ve seen kids put down a chocolate bar for a piece of watermelon,” she said.

Health Canada, DIAND and Canada Post plan to look carefully at the results of the two pilot projects now under way in Kangiqsujuaq and Kuugaaruk.

Depending on the results, the food mail program may bring in lower shipping prices for good food across the board.

But these changes may also mean higher prices for essential non-food items in the future.

In 1996, the food mail program cut its subsidies on non-essential non-food items and most high-fat convenience perishable foods, such as fried chicken. Alcohol and foods with little nutritional value, such as pop and chips, are also ineligible for any subsidy.

Even with the current program in place, a family of four in Nunavik pays $220 for basket of food items that would cost only $135 to $155 in southern Canada.