Debates of June 6, 2024 (day 22)
Question 254-20(1): High Cost of Food in Northwest Territories
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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions will be directed to the Premier.
With the high cost of living in the Mackenzie Delta and throughout the Northwest Territories, in my region there's the community of Aklavik who's isolated yearround, and Fort McPherson and Tsiigehtchic are seasonally isolated. The Nutrition North program is set up to help the customer with the prices of food. There are news articles that highlight grocery stores are recording profits while many families in the NWT struggle with food insecurity. Has the GNWT advocated for increased reporting under the Nutrition North program? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member from Mackenzie Delta. Mr. Premier.
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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will have to get back to the Member with that information. That could have occurred in the last government, but I don't have that information at my fingertips. Thank you.
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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can the Premier explain what work is happening with the Indigenous governments to address the high cost of food in the NWT? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The GNWT has a number of food security programs that support Indigenous governments to help their members go out on the land. Through the antipoverty fund, funds are distributed that go to food security programs often, often by Indigenous governments. The GNWT provides funding to schools, education bodies, to provide meals in the schools. I can provide the Member with a full list of all of our food security initiatives as well as the associated funding amounts, but I don't have that on hand right now. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I look forward to the list that's going to be provided. Can the Premier explain the status of the GNWT Food Security Strategy? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We're in the process of assessing all of the strategies that we have here in the Northwest Territories. We have a number of them. Some of them sit on shelves, and they can be very labour intensive to produce and sometimes they're forgotten about. So we are looking at ways to limit the number of strategies we have and be more strategic with that, and I will get back to the Member with an answer to his question. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Premier. Final supplementary. Member from Mackenzie Delta.
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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can the Premier explain what supports are available to subsidize transportation costs for food in the North? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Once again, I'll have to get back to the Member on that. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Premier. Oral questions. Member from the Sahtu.