Statement by INAC minister John Duncan

I would like to provide clarity to the pricing of some food items recently mentioned in the media.

These prices are not a result of the Nutrition North Canada program.

The Nutrition North Canada program is not yet in place. It is only on April 1, 2011 that the program will officially replace the food mail program, which means only after April 1, 2011 will new subsidy rates come into effect.

These rates will provide a higher level of subsidy for the most nutritious perishable foods such as fruits, vegetables, bread, meats, milk and eggs, as well as a lower level of subsidy for other items.

Shoppers who are concerned about current grocery costs are encouraged to contact their local retailer.

The new program provides an incentive to ensure that the most cost-effective ways of transporting non-perishable foods are used, such as the sealift.

The new program will also provide flexibility to retailers and suppliers to seek cost-effective solutions that support access to nutritious, perishable foods.

These changes are designed to ensure that northerners benefit from improved and increased access to nutritious and affordable foods.

With the new program, the flat shipping rates that were a feature of the food mail program will be replaced by “subsidy rates” on a per kilogram basis for each category of eligible items, customized to every community to account for differences in transportation and operation costs.

For example, the subsidy rate for Grise Fiord will be higher than the rate for Iqaluit.

This new program is based on extensive engagement with northerners. I recently met with the Nutrition North Canada Advisory Board, all of whom are northerners. We discussed their mandate, which includes listening to northerners and making recommendations about the program as it progresses.

Northerners have said they want a subsidy program focussed on the most nutritious foods and with greater accountability and transparency. I am confident that Nutrition North Canada will address these needs.”

Hon. John Duncan
Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
Ottawa

Email your letters to editor@nunatsiaq.com.

Nunatsiaq News welcomes letters to the editor. But we are under no obligation to publish any given letter at any given time.

In our print edition, we usually print letters on a first-come, first-served, space-available basis. In our online edition, we usually print letters as soon as we are able to prepare them for publication.

We edit all letters for length, grammar, punctuation, spelling, taste and libel. You may withhold your name by request, but we must know who you are before we publish your letter.