Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Premier. This government needs to show stronger leadership in taxing the high costs of basic goods. In my Member’s statement I highlighted the Nutrition North Program.
Has the Premier and his Cabinet reviewed the findings of the Auditor General’s report and public health experts who have clearly demonstrated deficiencies in the Nutrition North Program? As an obvious next step, is this government putting pressure on the federal government to fix fundamental problems with Nutrition North or even bringing the old Food Mail back? Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Nadli. The honourable Premier, Mr. McLeod.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I myself have not specifically reviewed the audit, but I am aware of some of the findings and I think that the fact that the Government of Canada has seen fit to put more money into the program gives me some comfort that they will be able to benefit those that are most in need. Thank you.
At the territorial level, what specific actions does this government take to track, report, compare and offset the costs of basic goods in remote Northwest Territories communities? Communities such as Tuktoyaktuk, Deline. Sometimes our communities that are located off the road system have to fly their goods in.
Is this government keeping track of how goods are distributed in those communities? Mahsi.
As a government we subsidize the cost of living in the Northwest Territories to the tune of approximately $200 million annually and the food subsidy program goes directly to food retailers in 11 communities, Paulatuk, Sachs Harbour, Ulukhaktok, Tuktoyaktuk, Aklavik, Norman Wells, Fort Good Hope, Tulita, Deline, Colville Lake and Trout Lake and a partial subsidy goes to Whati, Lutselk’e and Gameti. Our government provides approximately $1 million towards nutritional education programs. Thank you.
I’d like to thank the Premier for basically stating that this government is taking this matter very seriously and doing all it can to assist communities and Northerners with the high cost of living.
Several MLAs in Nunavut have made damning statements against Nutrition North. In places like Gjoa Haven, two small bags of groceries cost residents well over $100.
What is this government doing to collaborate with our territorial neighbours in Nunavut to tackle food insecurity across the entire North? Mahsi.
Thank you. As three northern neighbours, we get together on a regular basis, and as a matter of fact, we just met recently in Ottawa as the Northern Forum. Obviously, the cost of living is a big topic for all three territories. We’ve worked together to try to find ways to reduce the cost of living and we’ve looked at approaching the federal government to increase the Northern Resident Tax Deduction and what we’ve found is it wouldn’t benefit the lower income levels. It would benefit primarily the middle class and middle-income earners. So we are endeavoring to work together.
When I discussed this with the Prime Minister, he felt that we should find a way to address this problem. So I think together, if we put our innovation hats on, I think that we can identify some solutions that we can take forward and seek support at the highest level. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Nadli.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s encouraging that the three northern regions, the NWT, Yukon and Nunavut, are working together to try to tackle and meet the needs of our Northerners in terms of trying to curb the high cost of living.
In the interim, as the three governments are trying to work together, would the Premier agree to bring back the old Food Mail Program? Mahsi.
We’re not in the business of taking over programs that are legitimately with the federal government. I think the fact we’ve always said the best way to show our Arctic sovereignty in the Northwest Territories is to have healthy, sustainable communities and the best way to do that is to have food that’s available and to have food security. Thank you.
