Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier on I spoke about the costs of food in Nunakput, and my questions are for the Minister of Finance. Mr. Speaker, my first question is more of an update. Can the Minister report if the Government of the Northwest Territories is working with the federal government to make Nutrition North more successful at addressing food security in the Northwest Territories? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Minister of Environment and Natural Resources.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister of Finance will rise and respond to the Member's questions. The GNWT has met with the federal government on Nutrition North Canada on both the ministerial and official levels on numerous occasions. Most recently, officials have been engaged in discussions around work to make the program more efficient and transparent. The NWT representative for the Nutrition North Advisory Board on this program is a nutritionist from the Beaufort Delta who is well-placed to provide perspective on the needs of Northerners.
It's good to see that the different levels of government are working on this together. My second question is: what strategies are we working on to address food insecurity in Nunakput, and can we regulate healthy-food prices the way we do with liquor and cannabis?
There are many initiatives across the GNWT that help address food insecurity. A few of these include, obviously, income assistance to those who require it and are eligible, including funds for food. This is part of a variety of programs that help offset the cost of living, like public housing and the cost of living credit. Through the northern wellness funding, many communities are delivering school-based meal programs, elders' lunches, meals on wheels, hosting collective kitchens for young families, and providing good-food boxes for families in need. Nutrition North Canada's nutrition education initiative builds skills and knowledge on healthy eating and making wise food choices from the stores and traditional food sources. Nutrition education is a collaborative effort between elders, CHR, dieticians, and other community workers.
I appreciate the response. Can the Minister report if the Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk Highway has reduced the prices of food in the community? Also, since the cost of petroleum products and the cost of transportation has risen in the Northwest Territories, I am wondering if the department is monitoring the cost of food in remote communities.
The Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk Highway was a great project and was well-received. Being up in the Beau-Del at times, being on the highway, I see the number of people who are on it, the number of people who are going to Inuvik, actually, to do a lot of their shopping, and I am sure it has reduced their cost of living because they are picking up things in Inuvik. As far as the overall cost of living in the community itself, I do not have that information at my fingertips. However, I will commit to the Member that we will compile some information and share it with the Members. It's important to remember, though, that there are many factors that impact prices in the communities. I do say that, having seen the number of people who are coming in and taking advantage of the ability to leave the community at any time to go shopping in Inuvik, I think it's helped lower the cost of living, but, again, I have made a commitment to do some research and get some information back to the Member. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife North.
