Cost of the Revised Northern Food Basket in 2021-2022

Table of contents

Overview

The tables below show the cost of the Revised Northern Food Basket (RNFB) in communities eligible for the Nutrition North Canada (NNC) program. The amounts are estimates of what it cost to feed a family of 4 a healthy diet for 1 week.

The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic continued to impact northern food supply chains throughout the 2021–22 fiscal year. Communities experienced ongoing challenges related to transportation disruptions, staffing shortages, supply chain instability, and elevated operational costs. These factors contributed to sustained volatility in food pricing and availability.

To support comparison and trend analysis, this report includes tables showing the cost of the Revised Northern Food Basket (RNFB) in March 2011—under the former Food Mail Program—alongside data from the most recently completed fiscal year. Quarterly data for 2021–22 are also provided to facilitate monitoring of price trends over time. Notably, the RNFB cost reported for each quarter reflects the basket price in the last month of the quarter, rather than an average across all three months.

In communities eligible for the full retail subsidy under Nutrition North Canada, the average cost of the RNFB in March 2022 was $31.37 (7.40%) higher than in March 2021. In comparison, Statistics Canada reported an 8.65% increase in food prices purchased from stores elsewhere in Canada over the same period, and a 27% increase since 2011, the year the Nutrition North Canada program was launched.

Between March 2021 and March 2022, the RNFB cost declined in five communities across Manitoba, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Quebec regions. Overall, 50 out of 79 eligible communities with reported RNFB costs in 2021–22 experienced a lower year-over-year growth in basket cost than the national Consumer Price Index (CPI) of 8.66% for food purchased from stores.

Cost of the Revised Northern Food Basket in 2021 to 2022

The cost of the basket was calculated with price data provided by the following retailers:

Notes:

Average

Communities eligible for a full subsidy Cost of the Revised Northern Food Basket ($) Difference between March 2011 and March 2022 Difference between March 2021 and March 2022
March
2011
March
2021
June
2021
Sept
2021
Dec
2021
March
2022
$ % $ %
Average 426.48 419.99 420.05 424.83 434.03 451.36 31.11 7.78% 31.37 7.40%

Alberta

Communities eligible for a full subsidy Cost of the Revised Northern Food Basket ($) Difference between March 2011 and March 2022 Difference between March 2021 and March 2022
March
2011
March
2021
June
2021
Sept
2021
Dec
2021
March
2022
$ % $ %
Fort Chipewyan not available 366.91 349.21 357.17 372.49 389.93 not available not available 23.02 6.27

Manitoba

Communities eligible for a full subsidy Cost of the Revised Northern Food Basket ($) Difference between March 2011 and March 2022 Difference between March 2021 and March 2022
March
2011
March
2021
June
2021
Sept
2021
Dec
2021
March
2022
$ % $ %
Brochet not available 426.33 401.62 400.05 408.59 423.01 not available not available -3.32 -0.78%
Gods Lake Narrows 375.58 408.53 424.88 422.71 441.58 465.57 89.99 23.96% 57.04 13.96%
Granville Lake not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available
Gods River 387.49 386.79 410.22 409.67 426.96 435.84 48.35 12.48% 49.05 12.68%
Island Lake (Garden Hill) 413.70 412.89 378.52 390.53 393.36 416.17 2.47 0.60% 3.28 0.79%
Lac Brochet 420.37 432.19 427.08 423.15 441.71 461.82 41.45 9.86% 29.63 6.86%
Little Grand Rapids 410.72 372.07 372.58 364.85 378.48 398.99 -11.73 -2.86% 26.92 7.24%
Negginan (Poplar River) 414.50 394.55 397.33 414.45 416.74 444.96 30.46 7.35% 50.41 12.78%
Oxford House 372.03 382.36 371.00 366.96 384.15 398.35 26.32 7.07% 15.99 4.18%
Pauingassi not available 400.74 375.59 372.72 406.65 408.52 not available not available 7.78 1.94%
Red Sucker Lake 437.62 414.83 379.65 388.94 416.72 414.67 -22.95 -5.24% -0.16 -0.04%
Shamattawa not available 423.56 435.50 442.96 453.76 466.53 not available not available 42.97 10.14%
St. Theresa Point 406.53 421.10 391.06 411.42 421.15 463.15 56.62 13.93% 42.05 9.99%
Tadoule Lake not available 427.62 430.95 447.89 455.41 454.17 not available not available 26.55 6.21%
Waasagomach 419.49 403.97 399.45 411.71 424.38 423.96 4.47 1.07% 19.99 4.95%
York Landing not available 403.65 388.44 400.46 403.04 416.25 not available not available 12.60 3.12%

Newfoundland and Labrador

Communities eligible for a full subsidy Cost of the Revised Northern Food Basket ($) Difference between March 2011 and March 2022 Difference between March 2021 and March 2022
March
2011
March
2021
June
2021
Sept
2021
Dec
2021
March
2022
$ % $ %
Hopedale 353.96 not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available
Makkovik 311.75 not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available
Nain 310.78 503.08 462.24 487.43 461.50 489.19 178.41 57.41% -13.89 -2.76%
Natuashish not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available
Postville not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available
Rigolet not available 422.36 422.35 430.98 464.20 455.96 not available not available 33.60 7.96%
Black Tickle not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available

Northwest Territories

Beaufort-Delta

Communities eligible for a full subsidy Cost of the Revised Northern Food Basket ($) Difference between March 2011 and March 2022 Difference between March 2021 and March 2022
March
2011
March
2021
June
2021
Sept
2021
Dec
2021
March
2022
$ % $ %
Aklavik 450.35 416.36 416.99 418.17 411.87 429.13 -21.22 -4.71% 12.77 3.07%
Fort McPherson not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available
Inuvik not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available
Paulatuk 489.38 486.49 494.55 512.67 513.67 538.83 49.45 10.10% 52.34 10.76%
Tsiigehtchic not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available
Sachs Harbour not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available
Tuktoyaktuk not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available
Ulukhaktok (Holman) 468.35 450.75 442.47 442.70 455.99 485.10 16.75 3.58% 34.35 7.62%

Great Slave Lake

Communities eligible for a full subsidy Cost of the Revised Northern Food Basket ($) Difference between March 2011 and March 2022 Difference between March 2021 and March 2022
March
2011
March
2021
June
2021
Sept
2021
Dec
2021
March
2022
$ % $ %
Gamètì (Rae Lakes) not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available
Lutsel K'e not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available
Wekweètì (Snare Lake) not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available
Whatì not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available

Deh Cho

Communities eligible for a full subsidy Cost of the Revised Northern Food Basket ($) Difference between March 2011 and March 2022 Difference between March 2021 and March 2022
March
2011
March
2021
June
2021
Sept
2021
Dec
2021
March
2022
$ % $ %
Nahanni Butte not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available
Fort Simpson not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available
Sambaa K'e (Trout Lake) not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available
Wrigley not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available

Sahtu

Communities eligible for a full subsidy Cost of the Revised Northern Food Basket ($) Difference between March 2011 and March 2022 Difference between March 2021 and March 2022
March
2011
March
2021
June
2021
Sept
2021
Dec
2021
March
2022
$ % $ %
Colville Lake not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available
Délîne 449.99 418.59 424.95 430.57 441.68 462.48 12.49 2.78% 43.89 10.49%
Norman Wells 394.95 486.56 485.94 499.05 502.87 541.11 146.16 37.01% 54.55 11.21%
Fort Good Hope 463.96 427.66 459.56 462.15 472.82 507.58 43.62 9.40% 79.92 18.69%
Tulita 437.49 453.76 481.07 504.58 533.68 534.70 97.21 22.22% 80.94 17.84%

Nunavut

Baffin

Communities eligible for a full subsidy Cost of the Revised Northern Food Basket ($) Difference between March 2011 and March 2022 Difference between March 2021 and March 2022
March
2011
March
2021
June
2021
Sept
2021
Dec
2021
March
2022
$ % $ %
Arctic Bay 494.97 421.32 409.10 418.14 444.02 473.72 -21.25 -4.29% 52.40 12.44%
Cape Dorset 469.20 464.28 464.47 464.99 466.42 516.58 47.38 10.10% 52.30 11.26%
Clyde River 467.42 450.63 445.12 475.97 470.21 494.07 26.65 5.70% 43.44 9.64%
Grise Fiord not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available
Hall Beach 448.48 408.57 425.95 434.00 443.62 458.00 9.52 2.12% 49.43 12.10%
Igloolik 459.43 420.71 413.38 410.49 434.52 447.41 -12.02 -2.62% 26.70 6.35%
Iqaluit 429.15 442.01 433.51 435.14 439.72 458.22 29.08 6.78% 16.21 3.67%
Kimmirut 467.83 418.45 429.15 434.74 430.24 447.53 -20.30 -4.34% 29.08 6.95%
Pangnirtung 506.79 475.71 468.25 473.14 481.64 499.40 -7.39 -1.46% 23.69 4.98%
Pond Inlet 454.43 428.77 419.22 424.03 440.09 481.80 27.37 6.02% 53.03 12.37%
Qikiqtarjuaq 451.23 426.03 449.98 454.29 459.57 476.34 25.11 5.56% 50.31 11.81%
Resolute not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available
Sanikiluaq 439.83 458.83 475.81 466.47 471.92 491.35 51.52 11.71% 32.52 7.09%

Kitikmeot

Communities eligible for a full subsidy Cost of the Revised Northern Food Basket ($) Difference between March 2011 and March 2022 Difference between March 2021 and March 2022
March
2011
March
2021
June
2021
Sept
2021
Dec
2021
March
2022
$ % $ %
Cambridge Bay 439.94 409.97 417.42 407.76 410.61 461.72 21.78 4.95% 51.75 12.62%
Gjoa Haven 463.09 459.86 482.92 491.14 499.16 519.05 55.96 12.08% 59.19 12.87%
Kugaaruk not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available
Kugluktuk 492.47 404.40 419.60 429.89 454.03 472.35 -20.12 -4.09% 67.95 16.80%
Taloyoak 483.52 468.86 507.26 495.50 508.63 530.97 47.45 9.81% 62.11 13.25%

Kivalliq

Communities eligible for a full subsidy Cost of the Revised Northern Food Basket ($) Difference between March 2011 and March 2022 Difference between March 2021 and March 2022
March
2011
March
2021
June
2021
Sept
2021
Dec
2021
March
2022
$ % $ %
Arviat 456.22 411.21 417.60 428.41 440.60 449.79 -6.43 -1.41% 38.58 9.38%
Baker Lake 443.53 408.77 420.89 414.86 440.85 456.99 13.46 3.03% 48.22 11.80%
Coral Harbour 465.72 473.54 522.79 516.65 514.49 565.02 99.30 21.32% 91.48 19.32%
Chesterfield Inlet 449.59 405.93 384.19 388.22 399.18 426.77 -22.82 -5.08% 20.84 5.13%
Naujaat (Repulse Bay) 448.65 453.02 443.58 468.81 481.63 522.54 73.89 16.47% 69.52 15.35%
Rankin Inlet 421.68 412.42 417.42 403.29 414.72 433.29 11.61 2.75% 20.87 5.06%
Whale Cove not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available

Ontario

Communities eligible for a full subsidy Cost of the Revised Northern Food Basket ($) Difference between March 2011 and March 2022 Difference between March 2021 and March 2022
March
2011
March
2021
June
2021
Sept
2021
Dec
2021
March
2022
$ % $ %
Angling Lake not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available
Attawapiskat 460.05 450.23 451.55 460.21 465.62 459.87 -0.18 -0.04% 9.64 2.14%
Bearskin Lake 452.89 407.46 436.93 427.24 444.16 455.20 2.31 0.51% 47.74 11.72%
Cat Lake not available 383.12 383.26 377.62 400.54 406.94 not available not available 23.82 6.22%
Deer Lake not available 386.33 383.40 397.91 396.06 420.78 not available not available 34.45 8.92%
Eabamet Lake (Fort Hope) not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available
Big Trout Lake not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available
Fort Albany 452.89 427.75 407.15 412.41 428.33 438.07 -14.82 -3.27% 10.32 2.41%
Favourable Lake (Sandy Lake) not available 368.58 362.50 358.56 378.78 407.71 not available not available 39.13 10.62%
Fort Severn 427.88 416.72 425.64 429.73 435.66 459.18 31.30 7.32% 42.46 10.19%
Kashechewan 452.23 438.51 422.26 435.72 443.85 462.09 9.86 2.18% 23.58 5.38%
Keewaywin not available 443.56 438.89 440.29 449.41 469.90 not available not available 26.34 5.94%
Kasabonika not available 418.97 423.98 412.58 433.91 443.65 not available not available 24.68 5.89%
Kingfisher Lake not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available
Lansdowne House not available 389.99 390.85 392.58 401.24 418.98 not available not available 28.99 7.43%
Muskrat Dam not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available
North Spirit Lake not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available
Ogoki not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available
Peawanuck 436.96 461.39 493.80 497.89 505.56 522.40 85.44 19.55% 61.01 13.22%
Pikangikum not available 375.98 354.85 365.52 380.02 396.15 not available not available 20.17 5.36%
Poplar Hill not available 361.95 368.33 369.63 380.28 387.03 not available not available 25.08 6.93%
Sachigo Lake not available 416.97 434.10 438.35 445.98 452.06 not available not available 35.09 8.42%
Summer Beaver not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available
Wawakapewin not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available
Webequie not available 430.77 444.10 444.27 453.77 465.12 not available not available 34.35 7.97%
Weagamow Lake not available 388.35 360.16 371.15 386.24 399.53 not available not available 11.18 2.88%
Wunnummin Lake not available 408.69 390.49 394.92 403.81 421.52 not available not available 12.83 3.14%

Quebec

Communities eligible for a full subsidy Cost of the Revised Northern Food Basket ($) Difference between March 2011 and March 2022 Difference between March 2021 and March 2022
March
2011
March
2021
June
2021
Sept
2021
Dec
2021
March
2022
$ % $ %
Akulivik 390.75 420.44 418.91 433.06 438.81 441.62 50.87 13.02% 21.18 5.04%
Aupaluk 367.82 386.53 396.04 402.41 388.62 402.41 34.59 9.40% 15.88 4.11%
Inukjuak 398.10 408.03 400.34 405.08 409.39 428.70 30.60 7.69% 20.67 5.06%
Ivujivik 367.82 393.21 387.63 399.17 392.59 399.17 31.35 8.52% 5.96 1.52%
Kangiqsualujjuaq 386.02 407.64 401.10 402.14 408.79 421.55 35.53 9.20% 13.91 3.41%
Kangiqsujuaq 381.18 442.80 438.61 447.46 438.68 459.94 78.75 20.66% 17.13 3.87%
Kangirsuk 399.34 411.23 419.78 421.95 431.26 436.38 37.05 9.28% 25.15 6.12%
Kuujjuaq 404.69 391.68 383.24 385.39 392.69 400.40 -4.29 -1.06% 8.72 2.23%
Kuujjuarapik 391.80 383.89 393.80 389.51 394.01 414.46 22.66 5.78% 30.57 7.96%
Puvirnituq 387.65 436.22 443.74 444.95 445.21 455.89 68.24 17.60% 19.67 4.51%
Quaqtaq 367.82 396.24 390.14 392.76 391.31 392.76 24.94 6.78% -3.48 -0.88%
Salluit 388.48 438.01 431.35 437.08 433.86 448.53 60.05 15.46% 10.52 2.40%
Tasiujaq 367.82 394.85 390.47 401.73 396.03 401.73 33.91 9.22% 6.88 1.74%
Umiujaq 394.94 395.49 395.40 392.30 399.65 394.30 -0.64 -0.16% -1.19 -0.30%
Chevery not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available
Gethsémani (La Romaine) not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available
Harrington Harbour not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available
La Tabatière not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available
Mutton Bay not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available
Port-Menier not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available
Saint-Augustin / Pakuashipi not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available
Tête-à-la-Baleine not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available

Saskatchewan

Communities eligible for a full subsidy Cost of the Revised Northern Food Basket ($) Difference between March 2011 and March 2022 Difference between March 2021 and March 2022
March
2011
March
2021
June
2021
Sept
2021
Dec
2021
March
2022
$ % $ %
Fond-du-Lac not available 430.31 430.23 429.81 445.35 464.24 not available not available 33.93 7.89%
Uranium City not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available
Wollaston Lake not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available

Yukon

Communities eligible for a full subsidy Cost of the Revised Northern Food Basket ($) Difference between March 2011 and March 2022 Difference between March 2021 and March 2022
March
2011
March
2021
June
2021
Sept
2021
Dec
2021
March
2022
$ % $ %
Old Crow 505.06 not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available not available

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