Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am concerned about the cost of food in my riding. Access to healthy nutritious food is essential for everyone. Nutrition North is a program of the Government of Canada in 2011 and replaced the food mail program. The Nutrition North program provides subsidy to retailers and wholesalers for the overall cost of food which is transferred to the customer when they purchase eligible items. It does not subsidize the transportation of food yet, Mr. Speaker. We know the transportation of food is a significant cost to stocking grocery store shelves in the NWT.
In my riding, Aklavik is eligible year-round for subsidization under Nutrition North; however, Fort McPherson and Tsiigehtchic are eligible only during periods of seasonal isolation. Yet, Mr. Speaker, in order to supply food to the grocery stores in my communities, it first has to travel 3,200 kilometers from Edmonton to Inuvik. This is the longest food supply road network anywhere in Canada. And from Inuvik, it still has to get to the Mackenzie Delta communities.
Food is expensive, and yet many residents in my region are on income support. The average family in my riding earns $50,000 less than the average NWT family. Paying for nutritious, healthy food is essential to our wellbeing, and this is something that many families can't afford in my region.
In the mandate of the 19th Assembly, the government said that it will work with the Indigenous and community governments to make recommendations for improvement to the Nutrition North program. The Legislative Assembly also approved a motion for the GNWT to create a food security strategy. I will have questions for the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment later. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member from Mackenzie Delta. Members' statements. Member from Monfwi.
