Nutrition North Canada engagements

Internal evaluation

CIRNAC's Evaluation Branch examined the Program's performance from 2019-20 to 2024-25 and assessed the relevance, efficiency, effectiveness, design and delivery of the Program, and of the Program's activities and outcomes. It was carried out collaboratively with First Nations and Inuit partners, federal departments through an Evaluation Working Group, reflecting a partnership-based approach. Consult the Evaluation of the Nutrition North Canada Horizontal Initiative.

The report noted that NNC has made progress since the last evaluation, and there is strong demand across eligible communities. While the subsidy helps lower food prices, food insecurity is driven by broader systemic factors beyond the program's control. New program components such as the Harvesters Support Grant and Community Food Programs Fund were widely valued for supporting food sovereignty and Indigenous-led solutions, despite challenges in performance measurement. Food Security Research Grant projects were launched and undertaken as expected, but findings had not yet been submitted, limiting their contribution to program data at the time of the evaluation. Stakeholders continued to raise concerns about the subsidy's lack of clear outcome-based targets aligned with community needs.

The evaluation produced five key recommendations that aim to make it more coordinated, outcome-driven, and community-led. The report calls for embedding the program within a whole-of-government approach to Northern food security through stronger interdepartmental collaboration, Indigenous-led research, and better alignment of federal programs and supply chains, while also modernizing the subsidy to achieve clear affordability outcomes, including exploring alternatives and adjusting rates to support greater price equity across communities. The recommendations also emphasize improving transparency and accountability at the community level through stronger retailer compliance measures, clearer communication, and enhanced local data collection. Finally, the report highlights the importance of sustained, flexible, long-term investment in community-led food systems, including continued support for local food production, harvesting, and grant programming to enable more durable and self-determined food security outcomes.

Food Security Research Grant

NNC's Food Security Research Grant funds Indigenous-led projects focused on food security in isolated northern communities. This research addresses key questions and challenges with respect to food access inequality, the dynamics of existing federal food access programs and food insecurity among Indigenous Peoples living in isolated communities.

Phase one of the grant awarded funding to five successful applicants on April 1, 2023 and invested $1.5 million to generate additional insight and knowledge on the effects of the NNC subsidy and inform ongoing improvements to support equitable access to store-bought food. In March 2025, final reports for Phase 1 were submitted.

Phase two of the grant is running from 2025 to 2028 and is investing $2.3 million to support research to help guide policy interventions that seek to reduce food insecurity. Phase two is supporting research related to alternative food subsidy program models, the impact of supply chain logistics, and harvesting, informal economies, and pathways to improving access to traditional and market food.  Nine projects were awarded funding under Phase two of the Grant.

Key findings from Phase one of the Research Grant identify structural problems in NNC, community resilience despite high food costs, inequitable retailer behaviour, and strong support for community‑led food sovereignty approaches. While community members possess strong food knowledge and resourcefulness, they continue to face extremely high food costs, inconsistent retailer pricing, and limited access to nutritious options. While some of the reports conclude that the subsidy does make food more affordable than it otherwise would be, and has potentially reduced rates of food insecurity in some communities, more work is required on examining the impact of the subsidy as the prices of food remain high. The reports also conclude that the administrative requirements of the subsidy disproportionately burden small, locally owned stores. Beyond the program, recurring structural failures in the food retail system were identified, such as supply chain issues linked to logistics and planning, retailer pricing behaviour that does not reflect expected supply and price responses to increased consumer demand, a lack of accountability from store management, and poor store-level planning.

Key recommendations include implementing regionally based price caps; incentivizing and support for community-led stores through simplified administrative requirements, increased logistical and information support, and support for pathfinder services; co‑developing community‑driven monitoring tools and developing mechanisms for meaningful community input; and, investment in country food systems to strengthen food sovereignty and local resilience. Common conclusions from the research were the need to shift toward community‑defined, accountable, and equitable food systems that reduce structural barriers and enhance local control.

Learn more about the Food Security Research Grant.

Questionnaire

The NNC questionnaire was sent to a wide distribution list of program partners between January and March 2026. It provided an opportunity for written comments to be submitted. Distributed in English, French, Inuktitut and Inuinnaqtun, 10 responses were received from various First Nations and Inuit organizations.

Responses highlighted that NNC programs, particularly the Harvesters Support Grant and Community Food Programs Fund, are having positive impacts in supporting access to traditional foods, food sharing, and cultural continuity. These programs were noted as enabling knowledge transfer between generations. Responses noted that food costs remain high despite the subsidy, and access to affordable, nutritious food continues to be a significant challenge.

Responses emphasized that food insecurity is driven by broader structural factors, including high costs of living, transportation barriers, supply chain limitations, and the impacts of climate change on harvesting. Isolation, limited infrastructure (such as storage, processing, and retail capacity), and reliance on air transport. Feedback also noted that low incomes, limited access to harvesting equipment, and disruptions to traditional knowledge systems continue to restrict access to both market and country foods.

The responses highlighted the need for program improvements that prioritize community-led solutions, increased funding stability, and expanded supports for harvesting and local food systems. Key suggestions included increasing transparency and accountability, expanding eligible items, improving access to infrastructure (such as community freezers, processing facilities, and transportation), and providing long-term, flexible funding. Feedback also emphasized strengthening local and regional food economies through support for community-led logistics, food production, and harvesting initiatives, alongside greater coordination and engagement with Indigenous partners.

Regional engagement sessions

In February and March 2026, four regional sessions were held virtually with partners in Inuit Nunangat, Manitoba, Ontario and the Northwest Territories and Yukon, facilitated by the Honourable Rebecca Chartrand, Minister of Northern and Arctic Affairs.

The objective of these engagement sessions was to connect with food security partners to learn about the priorities, challenges and barriers that exist in their regions that impact food security. The sessions were attended by over 150 representatives from NNC eligible communities, industry and academia. A summary of each session is provided below.

Food Sovereignty Summit

The first Food Sovereignty Summit, organized by the Government of Canada (Minister of Northern and Arctic Affairs) in partnership with Food Banks Canada brought partners together to explore strategies to enhance food security in northern isolated communities, grow and sustain local food economies, reduce costs for food, and strengthen collaborative relationships. The summit's primary goal was to identify innovative solutions for northern food security, including ways to improve food sovereignty, while honouring Indigenous voices and perspectives.

Over 240 people participated in the summit, including representatives from Inuit and Northern and remote First Nations communities, National Indigenous Organizations, federal departments, food banks, northern retailers, Members of Parliament, and Senators.

The dialogue throughout the summit highlighted both the resilience and fragility of food systems across northern and Indigenous communities, underscoring the need for coordinated, community driven reform. Participants emphasized that food security in the North cannot be addressed solely through retail supply chains; instead, it must be grounded in a holistic system that prioritizes food from the land, food from the garden, and food from the store.

Key themes that emerged from the summit included:

• the need for governance reform, infrastructure supports, program expansion, and whole-of government coordination. Governance reform includes transferring more decision making responsibilities to the communities who benefit from Nutrition North Canada investments, including which items are subsidized, and consideration of a freight based subsidy
  • governance reform also includes additional oversight for registered retailers and suppliers to ensure the subsidy benefits are being fully passed on to consumers
• infrastructure discussions centered on the need for significant investments for all-season roads, airports, and warehousing to support supply chains and logistics
• at the community level, participants identified the need for cold storage and processing space
• discussions on program expansion highlighted that demand exceeded available funding and that participants would like to see more funding provided to programs like the Harvesters Support Grant and Community Food Program Fund
• in regards to the subsidy, many participants identified a desire to see more community input for the subsidy, particularly consideration of a freight subsidy, and what items are included on the eligibility list

Finally, participants reconfirmed that food insecurity cannot be solved by one program alone, and there was a call for similar events in the future that foster opportunities for knowledge exchange and sharing. Continued improvements to food security will rely on close collaboration with departments like Transport Canada, the Department of Fisheries, Agriculture and Agrifood Canada.

Focused external interviews

Between March and May 2026, two independent contractors were retained to carry out focused, external interviews intended to build on research and evaluations already underway. The contractor's objective was to provide the Minister of Northern and Arctic Affairs with a series of recommended options to support the reform of NNC.

The findings draw on approximately 37 interviews, including 17 interviews with Inuit, and 20 interviews with First Nations.

Feedback highlighted that food insecurity in northern and remote communities is driven by high transportation and freight costs, which were consistently identified as the primary driver of food prices, alongside rising fuel costs and supply chain constraints. Feedback from meeting participants noted that limited competition and retailer dominance, combined with infrastructure gaps such as inadequate storage, processing capacity, and transportation systems as critical issues. Current subsidy rates have not kept pace with inflation, contributing to persistent affordability challenges.

The contractors heard significant concerns in regard to program transparency, accountability, and design, and limited community input into decision-making. Feedback emphasized community-led solutions. Feedback from participants also noted that eligible food lists and program design do not consistently reflect Indigenous preferences or support local and country food systems.

The contractors report highlighted strong support for expanding community-led approaches, including harvesting, local food systems, and Indigenous-led delivery models, alongside investments in infrastructure such as storage, transportation, and processing capacity. Participants emphasized the effectiveness of the Harvesters Support Grant and the need for expanded, stable, and flexible funding to support local food systems and cultural continuity. Participants also noted that food insecurity is a systemic issue linked to income, housing, and broader socio-economic conditions, and requires a coordinated, whole-of-government approach.

Minister's Special Representative Aluki Kotierk's submission on Nutrition North Canada

The Minister's Special Representative submission highlighted that food security in the North is closely linked to dignity, cultural continuity, and well‑being. Food is not only a basic necessity but also a source of identity, connection, and community, and current challenges reflect the lasting impacts of colonization, including disrupted Indigenous food systems and increased reliance on market food. The submission emphasized the importance of Indigenous self‑determination and highlighted that Northerners should be supported to make decisions about their own food systems, with Indigenous knowledge and perspectives guiding solutions.

The submission noted that food insecurity is driven by broader socio-economic factors, including poverty, high costs of living, transportation barriers, and climate change, and emphasized that these challenges extend beyond the scope of NNC. The submission highlighted the need for a whole‑of‑government approach, including investments in infrastructure, transportation, and income supports. While acknowledging that NNC plays an important role in improving affordability, the submission noted that the current program design does not fully respond to community needs and should evolve to better support local and regional food systems.

Also highlighted in the submission was the importance of shifting towards more flexible, community‑led approaches that support harvesting, local food systems, and Indigenous governance. The submission emphasized increasing choice and access to both country and market foods, including through expanded subsidies, support for harvesting equipment, and improvements to transportation and supply chains. Finally, it also noted the importance of strengthening collaboration across governments and partners, and framed NNC reform as part of a broader effort to improve well‑being, advance reconciliation, and support long‑term food sovereignty in the North. Consult the Minister's Special Representative submission on Nutrition North Canada.

Other inputs

The program continues to engage regularly in its partnerships with its Advisory Board, Indigenous Working Group, and the Inuit-Crown Food Security Working Group, and is consulting existing policy proposals, commentaries, and research including but not exclusive to:

• ITK submission: Inuit-led Framework to Replace Nutrition North Canada (PDF)
• other written submissions from NNC partners and stakeholders