2023-2024 Horizontal initiative: Nutrition North Canada
Table of contents
General information
Lead department: Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC)
Federal partner departments: Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) and the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC)
Start date: April 1, 2011
End date: Ongoing
Description: The core objective of Nutrition North Canada (NNC) is to help make perishable, nutritious and country 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. In August 2022, and enabled by Budget 2021 investments, NNC expanded its mandate to northern food security. Registered northern retailers and 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 NNC eligible communities. These subsidies are passed on to residents of eligible communities by appropriate reductions in the selling prices of eligible foods and other essential items. In 2022–23, NNC expanded the subsidy to food banks and not-for-profit entities supplying eligible communities with critical food items at no cost to residents, in partnership with the representative Indigenous organizations/governments.
In addition to supporting store-bought foods, NNC’s Harvesters Support Grant aims to support the entirety of the harvesting practice and local food initiatives in 112 eligible communities. The Grant was co-developed with Indigenous partners and supports locally-led food security solutions and self-determination, while promoting the expansion of sharing networks and harvesting practices, ensuring access to culturally-appropriate foods for marginalized groups. This grant is flexible, and flows to eligible communities through Indigenous governments and organizations to make sure that food security solutions reflect local-needs and the unique realities of isolated communities.
Funding from Budget 2021 facilitated the expansion of NNC's Harvesters Support Grant and launched a new component, the Community Food Programs Fund, increasing total grant funding from $8 million per year to $40 million per year, until 2024-25. Launched in August 2022, the Community Food Programs Fund supports food sharing activities in eligible communities, such as bulk buying, elders meals programs, school food programs and food bank operations. In 2022–23, NNC entered into 2-year grant agreements with 24 Indigenous governments and organizations to deliver the Harvesters Support Grant and Community Food Programs Fund in 112 isolated communities.
Through Budget 2021 investments, NNC also launched the Food Security Research Grant in 2022–23. An investment of $1.5 million into 5 Indigenous-led research projects throughout 2023–24, was made to identify options to further improve the program’s operations, transparency, and accountability. Phase I of the grant is complete and NNC is awaiting the reception of the final Reporting and Subsidy Recommendations from the 5 funded projects which will inform improvements to the subsidy model and fill in critical data gaps in food security research in isolated communities. A call-out for proposals for Phase II of the Food Security Research Grant will begin in 2024–25 which will focus on developing and implementing recommendations on alternative models and opportunities for subsidy adjustments and improving food access, alongside Indigenous partners.
Budget 2024 sustained 2023-24 funding levels in the subsidy Program through an investment of $23.2 million in 2024-25 and renewed Budget 2021 investment levels in the Harvesters Support Grant and Community Food Programs Fund for the next 3 years. In Winter 2024, NNC entered into new 3-year Grant agreements with Indigenous recipients to support culturally-appropriate and self-determined northern food systems.
NNC is committed to continuous, meaningful improvements. These recent expansions are locally-driven and have been co-developed directly with Indigenous partners to give Northerners enhanced access to traditional foods and harvesting practices, while supporting community-based food security activities and critical investments in local food infrastructure. Furthermore, the subsidy expansion to food banks and charitable organizations serving isolated communities has been a critical component in strengthening effective partnerships with local Indigenous leadership and non-profit entities and increasing the resilience of isolated, northern communities.
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 (the Advisory Board) is the high-level governance structure for the NNC Horizontal Initiative. In addition to representatives from Northern Affairs, ISC and PHAC, Advisory Board membership also includes northern residents. This approach strengthens program governance by providing Northerners with a direct voice in the program. The Board meets monthly to ensure that the initiative is properly managed and that northern residents receive its full benefits, including 3 face-to-face meetings a year (2 of which can happen in NNC communities and the third is typically in Ottawa).
The Advisory Board also provides recommendations to the Minister of Northern Affairs to help guide the management, direction and activities of the program. Recommendations from the Advisory Board go through senior-level review and approval within Northern Affairs, including the Director General of Northern Strategic Policy Branch, the Assistant Deputy Minister and the Deputy Ministers, before final approval by the Minister of Northern Affairs.
NNC's policy trajectory continues to be informed by the Indigenous Working Group (IWG) and the Inuit-Crown Food security working group (ICFSWG). Launched in May 2017, the IWG gives Indigenous partners the opportunity to co-develop program adjustments and improvements. Members of the IWG are comprised of Indigenous organizations and governments who represent NNC's eligible communities, and is co-chaired by NNC and an Indigenous organization. The ICFSWG was announced in December 2018, and is a part of the Inuit-Crown Partnership Committee (ICPC). This working group is focused on developing sustainable food systems through the lens of food security in Inuit Nunangat, and NNC continues to work closely with the group to address the challenges faced by Inuit communities.
As lead department, Northern Affairs ensures timely and accurate reporting for the horizontal initiative, through the CIRNAC Departmental Plan and Departmental Results Report, and liaises with the Treasury Board Secretariat as required.
| Federal organizations | Total federal funding allocated (from start to end date) | Total federal planned spending to date | Total federal actual spending to date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CIRNACTable note * | $965,607,786 (up to 2022) and $123,161,286 (ongoing), $161,854,555 received as a renewal June 2022 |
$1,379,302,020 | $1,378,863,151 |
| ISC | $36,266,000 (2011–12 to 2020–21) and $4,363,200 (ongoing) | $50,883,260 | $46,108,773 |
| PHAC | $1,975,000 (2016–17 to 2020–21) and $385,000 (ongoing) | $3,130,000 | $2,836,250 |
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Date of last renewal of the horizontal initiative: June 2022
| Federal organizations | Total federal funding allocated at the last renewal, and source of funding | Total planned spending since the last renewal | Total actual spending since the last renewal |
|---|---|---|---|
| CIRNACTable note * | $161,854,555 (2022–23 to 2023–24), Budget 2021 and 2022 | $161,854,555 | $143,371,836 |
| ISC | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| PHAC | Not applicable | $385,000 | $336,720 |
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Additional federal funding received after the last renewal: Not applicable
Fiscal year of planned completion of next evaluation: 2024−25 Evaluation of Nutrition North Canada (horizontal evaluation led by CIRNAC)
Performance highlights
CIRNAC: Since 2011, the average volume of eligible items shipped to 124 northern isolated communities for the subsidy program has increased by approximately 106%, with about 324.9 million kilograms subsidized and an average annual increase of 4.2 million kilograms. In 2022, the subsidy program expanded to include non-profits, local food producers, and provided enhanced support for small local retailers. Since December 2022, and throughout 2023-24, NNC has onboarded 3 food banks, facilitating the shipment of over 100,000 kilograms of free food to eligible communities. NNC continues exploring the onboarding of additional food banks.
The Harvesters Support Grant and Community Food Programs Fund signed agreements with 24 Indigenous governments and organizations to enhance support for traditional food systems in 112 isolated communities. In Inuit Nunangat, the Grant aligns with the Inuit Nunangat Food Security Strategy and its implementation plan. During its first 2 years, the Grant supported over 15,000 hunters and harvesters, 410 community hunts and harvests, and 717 food-sharing initiatives. This Grant reduces reliance on store-bought food, encourages the restoration of harvesting culture and traditions, and supports local food production.
In August 2022, the Community Food Programs Fund was introduced as a new component under the Harvesters Support Grant to bolster community-led food security initiatives, including bulk buying, school and elder meal programs, and food bank activities. The Community Food Programs Fund, alongside the NNC subsidy, facilitated a new partnership in December 2023 between Wiiche’iwaymagon members and various food bank agencies and nonprofits, enhancing food security outcomes in the North. Since 2019, NNC has transferred over $76 million to the 4 regional Inuit Land-Claim Organizations via the Harvesters Support Grant and Community Food Programs funding.
ISC: With NNC investments in Nutrition education initiatives, over 35,000 participants attended nutrition education activities. This is an increase from 32,528 participants in the previous year. 91% of funding recipients that submitted NNC Annual Reports indicated that community members have increased their knowledge of healthy eating and skills, and are choosing and preparing healthy food, which is an increase from 76% in the previous year.
The results for 2023-24 are based on annual community (recipient) reports for 2022-23 and show that 44% (24 out of 54) of funding recipients submitted NNC Annual Reports to ISC, compared with 46% (25 out of 54) of funding recipients in the previous year. There were 2901 activities reported to have taken place in 2022-23, compared with about 3000 activities reported in the previous year. These activities included: promotion of healthy eating knowledge; food skills development; in-store taste tests and grocery store tours; traditional food harvesting and preparation and activities involving accessing food (e.g., healthy meals, good food boxes and food hampers). In 2022-23, 100% (54 out of 54) of funding recipients representing 97% (110 out of 113) of eligible communities received funding support for NNC Nutrition Education Initiatives by ISC.
PHAC: Funding recipients delivered a total of 1170 nutrition education activities to more than 3,400 participants across 10 isolated northern communities in Southern Labrador, the Quebec North Shore and Northern Saskatchewan, that are outside the mandate of Indigenous Services Canada. These activities included cooking programs focused on food skills development, gardening and local harvesting activities, healthy offerings and promoting nutrition and healthy food information via social media and community engagement through nutrition information sharing, among others. Funding recipients involved multiple population groups in various activities across PHAC's 10 communities, of which approximately 16% reached children, 9.5% reached youth, 49% involved adults and 25.5% involved seniors. Participation increased in 2023–24 from previous years as recipients noted that community activities have recovered from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Progress continues to be made towards strengthening knowledge of healthy eating and supporting skills in the selection and preparation of healthy store-bought and traditional or country food.
Contact information
CIRNAC
Wayne Walsh
Director General, Northern Strategic Policy
Northern Affairs Organization
15 Eddy Street, Gatineau, Quebec, K1A 0H4
Telephone: 819-934-3171
Wayne.Walsh@rcaanc-cirnac.gc.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
200 Eglantine Driveway, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0H4
Telephone: 613-952-9616
Tom.Wong@canada.ca
Public Health Agency of Canada
Mark Nafekh
Director General, Centre for Health Promotion
Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention Branch
340 Laurier Avenue West, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0P9
Telephone: 613-316-8526
Mark.Nafekh@phac-aspc.gc.ca
Shared outcome
Food security is strengthened in eligible communities
| Name of theme | Theme 1: Food access | Theme 2: Nutrition education | Internal services |
|---|---|---|---|
| Theme outcomes | Local food systems and food economies in eligible communities are strengthened to ensure equitable and secure food access for residents | Isolated northern communities are healthier | Not applicable |
| CIRNAC | $961,736,378 (up to 2022) $112,671,514 (ongoing, including an escalator) $161,148,705 (2022–23 to 2023–24) Alleviate the cost of nutritious, perishable foods purchased in isolated northern communities |
Not applicable | $3,871,408 (up to 2022) $489,772 (on-going) $705,850 (additional for 2022–23 to 2023–24) |
| ISC | Not applicable | $21,766,000 (2016–17 to 2020–21) and $4,363,200 (ongoing) Nutrition Education Initiatives (top up) |
$579,118 (2016–17 to 2020–21) and $118,901 (ongoing) |
| PHAC | Not applicable | $1,975,000 over 5 years (2016–17 to 2020–21) and $385,000 (ongoing) Nutrition education initiatives (top up) |
Not applicable |
Performance information
Horizontal initiative overview
Name of horizontal initiative: Nutrition North Canada
Horizontal initiative shared outcome: Food security is strengthened in eligible communities
Total federal funding allocated since last renewal: $159,839,000
2023–24 planned spending: $59,061,200
2023–24 actual spending: $58,542,877
| Performance indicators | Targets | Date to achieve target | 2023–24 actual results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prevalence of severe food insecurity | 5% decrease in prevalence of severe food insecurity | March 31, 2026 | Not applicable |
Theme 1 details
Name of theme: Food access
Total federal theme funding allocated since the last renewal: $159,839,000
2023–24 federal theme planned spending: $54,313,000
2023–24 federal theme actual spending: $54,313,000
| Theme outcomes | Theme performance indicators | Theme targets | Date to achieve theme targets | 2023–24 actual results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Local food systems and food economies in eligible communities are strengthened to ensure equitable and secure food access for residents | Number of communities sharing, freezers, and country food-based social initiatives supported by the grant | To be determinedTable note a | March 31, 2024 | Not applicableTable note b |
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Theme 1 horizontal initiative activities
Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada
Link to the department's program inventory: Nutrition North Canada
Horizontal initiative activity: Retail subsidy
Total federal funding allocated to the activity since the last renewal: $63,050,000
2023–24 planned spending for the horizontal initiative activity: $22,050,000
2023–24 actual spending for the horizontal initiative activity: $22,050,000
| 2023–24 horizontal initiative activity expected results | 2023–24 horizontal initiative activity performance indicators | 2023–24 horizontal initiative activity targets | Date to achieve horizontal initiative activity targets | 2023–24 actual results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents in eligible communities have access to perishable and non-perishable foods and staple goods at reduced prices | Percentage variation in the weight of subsidized items shipped | At least 3% | March 31, 2024 | Not applicableTable note a |
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Link to the department's program inventory: Nutrition North Canada
Horizontal initiative activity: Harvesters Support Grant (HSG)
Total federal funding allocated to the activity since the last renewal: $36,000,000
2023–24 planned spending for the horizontal initiative activity: $12,000,000
2023–24 actual spending for the horizontal initiative activity: $12,000,000
| 2023–24 horizontal initiative activity expected results | 2023–24 horizontal initiative activity performance indicators | 2023–24 horizontal initiative activity targets | Date to achieve horizontal initiative activity targets | 2023–24 actual results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents in eligible communities have access to support for harvesting activities | Percentage of HSG eligible communities implementing harvesting support initiatives | A target was not developed for 2023–24 | March 31, 2024 | 70% |
Link to the department's program inventory: Nutrition North Canada
Horizontal initiative activity: Community Food Programs Fund
Total federal funding allocated to the activity since the last renewal: $60,789,000
2023–24 planned spending for the horizontal initiative activity: $20,263,000
2023–24 actual spending for the horizontal initiative activity: $20,263,000
| 2023–24 horizontal initiative activity expected results | 2023–24 horizontal initiative activity performance indicators | 2023–24 horizontal initiative activity targets | Date to achieve horizontal initiative activity targets | 2023–24 actual results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents in eligible communities have access to support for local food production, food infrastructure, and community food initiatives | Percentage of HSG eligible communities implementing community food initiatives | A target was not developed for 2023–24 | March 31, 2024 | 24 |
Theme 2 details
Name of theme: Nutrition education
Total federal theme funding allocated since the last renewal: Not applicable
2023–24 federal theme planned spending: $4,748,200
2023–24 federal theme actual spending: $4,229,877
| Theme outcomes | Theme performance indicators | Theme targets | Date to achieve theme targets | 2023–24 actual results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Isolated northern communities are healthier | Percentage of NNC eligible of population reporting their health is excellent or very goodTable note a | First Nations: 44% Inuit: 44% |
March 31, 2028 | First Nations: 40.3% Inuit: 36.9% |
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Theme 2 horizontal initiative activities
Indigenous Services Canada
Link to the department's program inventory: Public Health Promotion and Disease Prevention (Healthy Living)
Horizontal initiative activity: Nutrition education initiatives
Total federal funding allocated to the activity since the last renewal: Not applicable
2023–24 planned spending for the horizontal initiative activity: $4,363,200
2023–24 actual spending for the horizontal initiative activity: $3,893,157
| 2023–24 horizontal initiative activity expected results | 2023–24 horizontal initiative activity performance indicators | 2023–24 horizontal initiative activity targets | Date to achieve horizontal initiative activity targets | 2023–24 actual resultsTable note a |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents in eligible communities have access to nutrition education initiatives | Percentage of communities offering nutrition education activities | 100% | March 31, 2024 | 97% |
| Number of participants taking part in nutrition education programs and activities | 30,000 | March 31, 2024 | 35,729 | |
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Public Health Agency of Canada
Link to the department's program inventory: Health promotion
Horizontal initiative activity: Nutrition education initiatives
Total federal funding allocated to the activity since the last renewal: Not applicable
2023–24 planned spending for the horizontal initiative activity: $385,000
2023–24 actual spending for the horizontal initiative activity: $336,720
| 2023–24 horizontal initiative activity expected results | 2023–24 horizontal initiative activity performance indicators | 2023–24 horizontal initiative activity targets | Date to achieve horizontal initiative activity targets | 2023–24 actual results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents in eligible communities have access to nutrition education initiatives | Percentage of communities offering nutrition education activities | 100% | March 31, 2024 | 100% |
| Number of participants taking part in nutrition education programs and activities | 2,250 | March 31, 2024 | 3,416 |
Total spending, all themes
| Themes | Total federal funding allocated since last renewal | 2023–24 total federal planned spending | 2023–24 total federal actual spending |
|---|---|---|---|
| Theme 1: Food access (CIRNAC) | $159,839,000 | $54,313,000 | $54,313,000 |
| Theme 2: Nutrition education (ISC and PHAC) | Not applicable | $4,748,200 | $4,229,877 |
| Total, all themes | $159,839,000 | $59,061,200 | $58,542,877 |