November 21, 2014 – Iqaluit, NU – Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada
Mark Strahl, Member of Parliament for Chiliwack-Fraser Canyon and Parliamentary Secretary to the Honourable Bernard Valcourt, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development, today announced additional funding that will continue to improve access to healthy food in Northern communities.
Ensuring access to healthy, perishable foods is essential in building strong communities in Canada's North. The Government will therefore make additional investments in the Nutrition North Canada (NNC) program. Enhanced funding, which fulfils a commitment made by Economic Action Plan 2014, will better serve eligible communities, support the program's activities and ensure its long term sustainability as the consumption of nutritious food continues to grow.
Today's announcement includes an increase of $11.3 million dollars to the Nutrition North subsidy budget in 2014-15, as well as a new 5% annual compound escalator for the subsidy budget component in future years, that will help the NNC program keep pace with the growing rate of demand for perishable, nutritious food. In total, during this year and next year, the Government of Canada will invest $133.7 million in direct subsidies for nutritious foods for Northerners.
In the coming months, the Government of Canada and the Nutrition North Canada Advisory Board will be engaging Northerners, retailers and suppliers on ideas to keep the program on a sustainable path. This process will help continue to improve this new and growing program.
Erica Meekes
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development
819-997-0002
Media Relations
Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada
819-953-1160
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