Nutrition North Canada Engagement 2016 community meeting #3: Rigolet, N.L., June 20, 2016

The third NNC engagement session took place in Rigolet, Newfoundland and Labrador, on June 20, 2016. These sessions are designed to seek input from community members and other stakeholders on how the program can be more transparent, cost-effective, and culturally appropriate in the face of growing demand for healthy food in the North.

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Summary of who attended

Community members, Nunatsiavut Government Department of Health and Social Development, and the Rigolet Inuit Community Government.

Priorities and key issues discussed

Here is a brief summary of what was heard at the Rigolet engagement session, focusing on the following themes:

Program sustainability and cost effectiveness

  • Give the highest level of subsidy for staple items such as flour and butter.
  • Provide a higher subsidy for 'high convenience' nutritious foods, given that parents often have limited time to prepare meals.
  • Provide a higher subsidy for frozen vegetables and fruit so that community members do not have to rely on fresh produce, which is generally of poor quality.

Fairness and consistency

  • The cost of food, with the subsidy applied, should be similar within a given region (e.g., Labrador).
  • The subsidy should not be means-based (i.e., based on income).
  • Maintain the eligibility of hotels and restaurants as they help promote local tourism.

Transparency

  • Provide more evidence that the subsidy is being passed along to the consumer. 
  • Include the amount of savings passed on from the subsidy on the store receipt.
  • Concerns were raised regarding the quality of the food (e.g., spoilage, expiry dates) being sold.

Visibility

  • Distribute community-specific brochures containing easy-to-read information on the impact of Nutrition North Canada.
  • Effectively communicate the role of the Nutrition North Canada Advisory Board.
  • Provide more information on what quality control measures are in place to ensure food safety.

Innovation

  • Facilitate sharing of country and traditional foods across communities and regions.
  • Support community-based hunts by subsidizing hunting materials and/or freezer space.
  • Provide the subsidy directly to consumers.
  • Offer additional education initiatives to create awareness of the importance of healthy eating and to develop a better understanding of healthy food preparation.
  • Develop infrastructure (e.g., road, rail, longer air strip) to improve community access to food.
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