Canada’s Nutrition North food list announced
The new list of items to be subsidized under Canada’s Nutrition North Program was released today.
Items covered under the program include traditional country foods bought in local stories or from processing plants that have registered with the Nutrition North program. The list also includes perishable items and store-bought foods deemed nutritious.
“The Government of Canada remains committed to providing Northerners with healthy food choices through the Nutrition North Canada program,” Leona Aglukkaq, Canada’s Minister of Health and MP for Canada’s eastern Arctic territory of Nunavut, said in a press release issued today. “This list covers a broad range of foods that are typical of the northern diet, including country foods”.
The Nutrition North Program caused much controversy earlier this year when it replaced the previous Food Mail program on April 1.
Under the old program, food transport into remote northern communities was subsidized. Under the new program, retailers will get the subsidy, organize their own transport rates, and are expected to pass savings on to consumers.
When the change was announced, there were fears that the new program could increase food prices for Northerners. Some small retailers feared the new program would give large companies an advantage.
The government instituted an 18-month transition period with a transition list of subsidized items to give northerners and businesses time to prepare for the changes.
The reduced list of subsidized items announced today comes into effect October 1, 2012.
Nutrition North Canada affects 103 northern communities in Canada’s provinces and territories: Newfoundland and Labrador, Manitoba, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan and Yukon.
RELATED LINKS
Nutrition North Canada, Government of Canada.
Quebec Inuit Brace for Higher Food Prices, Radio Canada International.
Food Subsidy Changes Debated in Canada’s Western Arctic, CBC News
Write to Eilís Quinn at eilis.quinn(at)cbc.ca
