Kotierk chairs UN meeting as Ottawa waits on her Nutrition North report
Aluki Kotierk appointed to perform external review of food subsidy program; report was due 3 weeks ago
Aluki Kotierk, centre, chairperson of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues at the United Nations, speaks to open the 25th session of the gathering on Monday in New York City. (Photo courtesy of United Nations)
Northern Affairs Minister Rebecca Chartrand says she hasn’t heard from Aluki Kotierk, three weeks after the deadline passed for Kotierk to submit her review of the Nutrition North program.
Northern and Arctic Affairs Minister Rebecca Chartrand, shown speaking in Iqaluit Wednesday, says she has not seen the results of external review of Nutrition North which was due more than three weeks ago. (Photo by Daron Letts)
Chartrand should have tried New York.
Kotierk was in the Big Apple on Wednesday, chairing a United Nations forum on Indigenous issues.
“Our office has reached out to Aluki Kotierk but has not heard back to date,” Chartrand said in a phone interview Wednesday from Iqaluit, where she announced federal spending on infrastructure and Arctic security.
Even without the review, Chartrand noted, “We have carried out a number of regional engagements that I led myself. Which led into a national summit.”
Last month, the federal government hosted the first Food Sovereignty Summit in Ottawa.
“We were quite committed to hearing from communities directly and those that are most impacted by food and insecurity,” Chartrand said.
At a news conference during the summit, Chartrand said the “deliverables” in Kotierk’s review were due March 31. That deadline came and went.
So far, the department has paid out Kotierk’s invoice for $15,000 in expenses, Chartrand’s press secretary Erika Lashbrook Knutson said in an email Wednesday.
“Any questions related to compensation should be directed to Ms. Kotierk directly,” she added.
Nunatsiaq News has tried numerous times, including Wednesday, to reach Kotierk by phone and Facebook messenger but she has not responded.
Several times over the past two weeks, Nunatsiaq News has asked the Department of Northern Affairs how much money was budgeted for Kotierk’s review.
Last week, spokesperson Jacinthe Goulet said, “The budget will depend on the costs incurred during the review.”
Chartrand was asked again Wednesday.
“That is not information that I have at hand,” she said. “Accountability of funds is important to me. If we do not receive a written report, we will be looking further into this matter.”
Kotierk was recently appointed chair of the United Nations’ Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. She was in New York City on Wednesday presiding over the 25th session of the forum.
When asked whether she knew Kotierk was at the UN, Chartrand said: “I am aware.”
The Nutrition North program, created in 2011, subsidizes the high cost of nutritious food and other essentials in 124 northern communities.
Over the years, the program has been widely criticized as inadequate for the needs of the people it serves and that it isn’t leading to the lower prices for shoppers that it was intended to.
In response to mounting pressure, the federal government announced an external review of the program in October 2024. Kotierk was appointed to oversee the review by then-northern affairs minister Gary Anandasangaree in February 2025.
Chartrand was asked when northern residents would learn about reforms to Nutrition North. “I would say soon. It is a priority for me, as minister, so I would like to move the project along as soon as possible.”
What a ridiculous article. Where do you even live Jorge Antunes? Maybe write about food systems and why the canadian government needs a report in the first place, instead of trying to discredit a successful Inuk woman
@Uvanga, you are joking right? Successful. Huuummm. So, because she is as you quote, “a successful Inuk woman”. All Nunavummiut are just supposed to look the other way as she gallivants down to NYC to chair a meeting at the UN to appear all strong and powerful. Yet she was contracted by the FED’s to produce a report that will soon be over a month overdue on a critical issue related to “Food Security”. Yeah, we know, food, nutrition and eating to survive it’s not a big deal for the average Nunavummiut. It only impacts 30 thousand plus Inuits every single day! That UN nonsense is much more important. Because well, that has way more impact on the daily lives of Nunavummiut. NOT!
It is also a little ironic that she is chairing The Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. If her contribution to that Forum is going to be anywhere near how she has managed, her mandate from the FED’s on behalf of the Inuit of Nunavut. Then the UN might really want to consider a new Chair.
Where is the success here?
Ask whoever she subcontracted this too, if she ever did. If this is more than an annotated Word document, I think we’d all be shocked.
When live in a world where budgets balance themselves. Trade deal with the USA is promised will be done in July 2025, but who cares, it’s 2026, almost July and not done.
So makes sense when New World Order is the go-to phrase. A big report for the feds is due weeks ago, but seems all fine to be chairing a meeting for one-world-control, the UN. And travel to the USA where Canadians are told not to travel to or buy from. Who knows if we do, Canada will still go broke?
Remember the time in grade 5 when you didn’t do your homework and everyone from parents to teacher to principal to classmates made you feel you did wrong, real wrong? Even if hell froze over and your house burnt down, you must get your homework done the night before it is due. There is no excuse.
So what’s changed? Or is the mental gymnastics confusion propaganda kicking in just fine?
Okay, but good luck trying to get a trade deal with the current US administration.
Change the name to reflect reality, EXTORTION NORTH.
.
Northmart, Iqaluit.
Feb1, 2026:
Salmon steaks = $27kg
Salmon Filets = $45/kg
.Apr 1, 2026
Salmon steaks = $55kg
Salmon Filets = $88/kg
100% markup. The price literally doubled. Nutrition North works FOR grocery stores and works AGAINST consu.mers.
Can anyone take her seriously anymore? Please Aluki, get out of Nunavuts real progress.
Hey, at least she still gets to travel, just not on her diem, report be damned