Horizontal initiative: Nutrition North Canada

Table of contents

Lead department: Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC)

Federal partner organizations: Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) and the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC)

Non-federal and non-governmental partner(s): Not applicable

Start date: April 1, 2011

End date: Ongoing

Description of the horizontal initiative: The objective of Nutrition North Canada (NNC) is to help make perishable, nutritious food more accessible and more affordable than it otherwise would be to residents of eligible isolated northern communities without year-round surface (road, rail or marine) access. Registered retailers in the North, country food processors/distributors located in eligible communities, and food suppliers can apply for a subsidy based on the weight of eligible foods shipped by air to eligible northern communities. These subsidies are to be passed on to northern consumers by appropriate reductions in the selling prices of eligible foods. The NNC program — National Manual governs the terms of the funding agreements with CIRNAC's subsidy recipients.

Given that there are a number of factors that influence healthy eating patterns other than food cost, ISC and PHAC complement the NNC retail subsidy by providing funding to support culturally-appropriate retail and community-based nutrition education initiatives. These initiatives aim to increase knowledge of healthy eating and develop skills for the selection and preparation of healthy store-bought and traditional or country foods.

Governance structures: The NNC Advisory Board gives Northerners a direct voice in the program. The Board provides information and advice to the Minister of CIRNAC to help guide the direction and activities of the Program, and to ensure that northern residents receive its full benefits. Members of the Board collectively represent the perspectives and interests of northern residents and communities in relation to the management and effectiveness of the Program. Members serve in their own right, as volunteers and not as representatives of any particular organization, area or special interest. Members are appointed to a 3-year term.

Total federal funding allocated (start to end date) (dollars):

CIRNAC: 931,586,803 (312,734,325 (2011 to 2015–16) + 494,866,562 (2011–12 to 2020–21) + 107,701,899 (ongoing) + 16,284,017 ( 2019–20 to 2025–26))
ISC: 14,500,000 (2011–12 to 2015–16), 21,766,000 (2016–17 to 2020–21) and 4,363,200 ongoing
PHAC: 1,975,000 (2016–17 to 2020–21), 385,000 (ongoing)

Total federal planned spending to date (dollars):

CIRNAC: 798,415,659
ISC: 37,793,660
PHAC: 1,975,000

Total federal actual spending to date (dollars):

CIRNAC: 811,784,647
ISC: 34,500,708
PHAC: 1,812,869

Date of last renewal of the horizontal initiative: September 29, 2016

Total federal funding allocated at the last renewal and source of funding (dollars):

CIRNAC: 183,007,062 (2016–17 to 2020–21) and 50,329,999 ongoing
ISC: 7,266,000 (2016–17 to 2020–21) and 1,463,200 ongoing in addition to the 2,900,000 ongoing from the previous renewal
PHAC: 1,975,000 and 385,000 ongoing

Additional federal funding received after the last renewal (dollars):

CIRNAC: 16,284,017 (2019–20 to 2025–26), 2,680,191 ongoing, and 25,000,000 (2020–21)

Total planned spending since the last renewal:

CIRNAC: 485,681,334
ISC: 21,765,999
PHAC: 1,975,000

Total actual spending since the last renewal:

CIRNAC: 481,354,967
ISC: 19,596,401
PHAC: 1,812,869

Funding contributed by non-federal and non-governmental partners (dollars): Not applicable

Fiscal year of planned completion of next evaluation: March 2025

Performance highlights

CIRNAC: In 2020–21, NNC increased subsidy rates during the COVID-19 pandemic and continued to support the expanded eligibility list which includes some non-perishable and essential items brought in by seasonal sealift, barge or winter road. These supports are informed by NNC's participation as co-chair of the Indigenous Working Group and engagement with NNC Advisory Board.

The launch of the Harvesters Support Grant provided supports to harvesting activities in northern isolated communities and increased access to food during these challenging times. NNC's relationship with its Indigenous and northern partners and Grant recipients continue to inform changes to the Grant to make it more meaningful to residents of isolated communities.

Discussions between NNC and the Inuit-Crown Food Security Working Group are ongoing and are being led by ISC and Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK). The shared Food Security Workplan was approved by leaders on December 17, 2020. NNC continues to collaborate with ITK to develop policy options that best support sustainable food systems in Inuit Nunangat through Budget 2021.

In 2021–22 and through Budget 2021, NNC is co-developing options to update the Program with its Indigenous and Northern partners, the Inuit-Crown Food Security Working Group, the Indigenous Working Group, and NNC Advisory Board.

ISC: Note that 2020–21 departmental results reporting reflects community-based annual reports for the 2019–20 fiscal year, based on the annual reporting cycle and when reports are due from communities/ funding recipients.

In 2019–20, 69% of NNC funding recipients received funding specifically for NNC Nutrition Education Initiatives through ISC. Those recipients, in turn, serve 92 of the 111 (83%) First Nations and Inuit communities eligible for NNC, as some of these recipients serve multiple communities. As a result of the pandemic, there was a decrease in the amount of reports submitted to ISC in 2020–21; 21 out of 54 (39%) funding recipients submitted their annual reports. As such, there was a decrease in the number of nutrition education activities that were reported for 2019–20 to approximately 3000 activities, compared with the previous year, where 4500 activities were reported.

These activities included: promotion of healthy eating knowledge; food skills development; in-store taste tests and grocery store tours; traditional food harvesting and preparation. Most communities offered nutrition education activities to at least 2 target populations (e.g., children, youth, adults and Elders) and in at least 2 venues (e.g., schools, daycares, stores, community centres and on the land).

More than 30,000 participants attended nutrition education activities and 70% of funding recipients offered 4 or more different types of activities, while 88% of the different types of activities had 6 or more participants. An estimated 43% of funding recipients indicated that community members have increased their knowledge of healthy eating and skills, and are choosing and preparing healthy food. This total was lower than in previous years due to the fewer responses to this question with fewer annual reports.

PHAC: PHAC implements a component of the NNC program by providing funding for culturally-appropriate community-based nutrition education initiatives to 10 isolated northern communities that are outside of the mandate of ISC. In 2020–21, funding recipients delivered a total of 714 nutrition education activities to more than 2,000 participants, of which approximately 14% of activities reached children, 9% reached youth, 53% involved adults and 24% involved seniors. Activities included cooking programs focused on food skills development, gardening and local harvesting activities, healthy offerings and promoting nutrition and healthy food information. Information-sharing via social media and hard copy resource distribution became a popular activity this year as communities adapted to the challenges of the pandemic. While active participation was lower than previous years -due to the impacts of the pandemic, all recipients reported that progress continued to be made towards strengthening the nutritional choices and overall health of PHAC's 10 funded communities. Community members also consistently reported that they gained knowledge and skills related to healthy eating, as a result of PHAC-funded nutrition education activities.

Horizontal initiative overview
Total federal funding allocated since the last renewal 2020-21
Planned spending
2020-21
Actual spending
Horizontal initiative shared outcome(s) 2020–21
Performance indicator(s)
2020–21
Target(s)
Date to achieve target 2020–21
Actual results
CIRNAC: 485,681,334

ISC: 21,766,000 and 4,363,200 ongoing

PHAC: 2,360,000
CIRNAC: 132,968,017

ISC: 4,363,200

PHAC: 385,000
CIRNAC: 145,888,427

ISC: 3,914,482

PHAC: 346,518
Strengthen the nutritional choices and overall health of isolated northern communities through the food subsidy delivered by CIRNAC and the targeted nutrition education initiatives delivered by ISC and PHAC % of population reporting their health is excellent or very good At least 45% of adults report that their health is excellent or very good By March 31, 2021 37.8% for First Nations on reserve (Regional Health Survey, 2015–16)

36.9% for Inuit in Inuit Nunangat (Aboriginal Peoples Survey, 2017)
Quantity of subsidized foods (kg) per capita by each category Stable or increasing from the 2011 baseline year By March 31, 2021 The weight of food subsidized in 2020–21 was 39,917,427 kg or 388 kg/person.

The weight of subsidized food has continued to increase since 2011.

Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada

Horizontal Initiative activity: Nutrition North
2020–21
Expected results
2020–21
Performance indicators
2020–21
Targets
2020–21
Actual results
Affordability of perishable, nutritious food in eligible communities is strengthened The annual growth rate of food prices in isolated northern communities compared to the national growth rate At or below the annual trend (increase/decrease) for the Consumer Price Index (CPI) by March 31, 2021 -0.74%1
Annual average cost of the Revised Northern Food Basket At or below the baseline for the food basket, adjusted for inflation rate for food purchased in stores (Statistics Canada) by March 31, 2021. The baseline used is the 2010-2011 average annual cost for the food basket ($426.48). $419.11
Residents in eligible communities have access to nutritious perishable food at a subsidized rate % of compliance/audit reports demonstrating that subsidies have been fully passed on to consumers 100% by March 31, 2021 100%2
Annual % variation in the quantity of subsidized items shipped by air 3% to 5% by March 31, 2021 29.9%3
1 Annual increase for the CPI in 2021 was 1.33%.

2 Audits performed in 2020–21 all indicated that the subsidies are being passed on to consumers and that profit margins are within industry norms.

3 This number is high due to unprecedented demand on the program as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The higher percentage is a good indicator.

Indigenous Services Canada

Horizontal Initiative activity: NNC Nutrition Education Initiative
2020–21
Expected results
2020–21
Performance indicators
2020–21
Targets
2020–21
Actual results
Residents in eligible communities have knowledge of healthy eating and skills, and are choosing and preparing healthy foods Number of participants by type of nutrition education activity 4 or more different types of activities per year by March 31, 2021

6 or more participants per type of activity by March 31, 2021
More than 30,000 participants attended nutrition education activities1

70% of funding recipients offered 4 or more different types of activities

88% of the different types of activities delivered by funding recipients had 6 or more participants
% of funding recipients reporting knowledge of healthy eating and skills among residents in eligible communities 70% of funding recipients are reporting knowledge of healthy eating and skills by March 31, 2021 43%1
Quantity by weight of fruit and vegetables Stable or increasing annually by March 31, 2021 10,582,509 kg

The quantity by weight of fruit and vegetables continues to increase annually.
Residents in eligible communities have access to retail and community based nutrition education initiatives % of communities promoting nutrition education activities 100% of funding recipients are promoting and offering nutrition education activities by March 31, 2021 69% of funding recipients1
Number and types of nutrition education activities (by target population groups, venues) Funding recipients provide activities to 2 or more target populations (e.g., women, seniors, children, and youth) in 2 or more venues (e.g., grocery stores, schools, on the land) by March 31, 2021 More than 3000 NNC nutrition education activities were delivered, 84% of communities offered nutrition education activities to at least 2 target populations, and 82% in at least 2 venues1
1 2020–21 departmental results reporting reflects community-based annual reports for the 2019–20 fiscal year, based on the annual reporting cycle and when reports are due from communities/ funding recipients.

Public Health Agency of Canada

Horizontal Initiative activity: NNC Nutrition Education Initiative
2020–21
Expected results
2020–21
Performance indicators
2020–21
Targets
2020–21
Actual results
Community workers are trained to deliver retail and community-based nutrition education activities in eligible communities % of funding recipients with trained NNC community workers to deliver programming 100% of recipients with trained NNC community workers to deliver programming by March 31, 2021 90% (9 of 10 communities)
Residents in eligible communities have access to retail and community-based nutrition education initiatives # of communities promoting nutrition education activities 10/10 communities promoting nutrition education activities by March 31, 2021 10/10
# and types of nutrition education activities (by target population groups, venues) 120 activities offered to 2 or more population groups (i.e. children, youth, adults, seniors) by March 31, 2021 714 NNC nutrition education activities offered1
Residents in eligible communities have knowledge of healthy eating and skills, and are choosing and preparing healthy foods # of participants by type of nutrition education activity At least 1,260 participants in 4 types of nutrition education activities (e.g. cooking activities, nutrition sessions, taste tests, gardening activities, etc.) by March 31, 2021 More than 2,000 participants attended 6 types of nutrition education activities (cooking/food skills, nutrition education, healthy offerings, gardening/food gathering, information sharing, other)
% of funding recipients reporting knowledge of healthy eating and skills among residents in eligible communities 90% of funding recipients are reporting knowledge of healthy eating and skills by March 31, 2021 90%
1 Types of activities included: healthy offerings (35% of activities), cooking/food skills development (23%), information sharing (social media and resource distribution) (22%), nutrition education sessions (10%), gardening/local food harvesting activities (9%), and other activities (1%). Activities involved multiple target groups: 14% involved children, 9% involved youth, 53% involved adults, and 24% involved seniors.

Theme horizontal initiative activities: Not applicable (no themes)

Contact information

Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada
Wayne Walsh, Director General, Northern Strategic Policy
Northern Affairs Organization
Telephone: 819-934-3171
Wayne.Walsh@canada.ca

Indigenous Services Canada
Dr. Tom Wong, Chief Medical Officer and Director General, Office of Population and Public Health
Population Health and Primary Care Directorate
First Nations and Inuit Health Branch
Telephone: 613-952-9616
Tom.Wong@canada.ca

Public Health Agency of Canada
Sally Scott, Executive Director, Division of Children and Youth, Centre for Health Promotion
Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention Branch
Telephone: 613-960-0376
Sally.Scott@canada.ca

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