2024-2025 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 of the horizontal initiative: Nutrition North Canada (NNC) plays a vital role in supporting food security across eligible northern and isolated communities through a suite of targeted programs. Its core objective is to improve access to perishable, nutritious, and country foods for residents in communities without year-round surface access (road, rail, or marine). While NNC alone cannot eliminate food insecurity, it contributes significantly to a broader, whole-of-government approach that includes collaboration with Indigenous leadership, territorial and provincial governments, and local communities. Through Budget 2021, NNC expanded its mandate to include broader food security efforts, reinforcing its role within this coordinated strategy.
Under the program, registered retailers, country food processors/distributors in eligible communities, and food suppliers can apply for a subsidy based on the weight of eligible foods shipped by air. These subsidies are intended to be passed on to consumers through reduced retail prices. The NNC National Manual governs the terms of funding agreements with CIRNAC's subsidy recipients. The program also includes food banks, not-for-profit organizations, and local growers and producers in eligible communities, in partnership with Indigenous governments and organizations.
In addition to supporting access to store-bought food, NNC invests in traditional food systems through the Harvesters Support Grant (HSG) and the Community Food Programs Fund (CFPF). Co-developed with Indigenous partners, these initiatives support harvesting practices, local food sharing, and culturally appropriate food security solutions that promote self-determination.
To strengthen evidence-based improvements, NNC administers the Food Security Research Grant, which supports Indigenous-led projects focused on food security and access inequalities in remote communities. Insights from this research inform ongoing program development and whole-of-government responses to food insecurity.
Recognizing that food cost is only 1 factor influencing healthy eating, both ISC and PHAC complement the NNC subsidy by funding culturally appropriate retail and community-based nutrition education initiatives. These efforts aim to increase knowledge of healthy eating and develop skills for selecting and preparing both store-bought and traditional foods.
Governance structures: The Nutrition North Canada (NNC) Advisory Board serves as the high-level governance body for the NNC Horizontal Initiative. Its membership includes Indigenous and northern representatives. It is also supported by Northern Affairs, ISC, and PHAC. This inclusive structure strengthens governance by ensuring Northerners have a direct voice in the program's oversight and decision-making.
The Advisory Board meets monthly to oversee the effective management of the initiative and ensure that northern residents receive its full benefits. The board also provides recommendations to the Minister of Northern and Arctic Affairs to help guide the direction, management, and activities of the program. These recommendations undergo senior-level review and approval within Northern Affairs, including sign-off by the Director General of the Northern Strategic Policy Branch, the Assistant Deputy Ministers, and the Deputy Minister, before receiving final approval from the Minister.
NNC's policy development is also guided by 2 key advisory bodies: the Indigenous Working Group (IWG) and the Inuit-Crown Food Security Working Group (ICFSWG). Established in May 2017, the IWG enables Indigenous partners to co-develop program improvements and adjustments. Its membership includes Indigenous governments and organizations representing NNC-eligible communities, and the group is co-chaired by a representative from an Indigenous organization alongside an NNC official. The ICFSWG, launched in December 2018 as part of the Inuit-Crown Partnership Committee (ICPC), focuses specifically on advancing sustainable food systems and food security in Inuit Nunangat. NNC continues to collaborate closely with the ICFSWG to address food-related challenges in Inuit communities.
As the lead sector, Northern Affairs is responsible for timely and accurate reporting on the horizontal initiative through CIRNAC's Departmental Plan and Departmental Results Report, and for liaising with the Treasury Board Secretariat as needed.
| Federal organizations | Total federal funding allocated (from start to end date) | Total federal planned spending to date | Total federal actual spending to date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CIRNAC | $965,607,786 (up to 2022) and $123,161,286 (ongoing with escalation) $161,854,555 received as a renewal June 2022 $122,041,000 received as a renewal in Budget 2024Table note a |
$1,569,888,375 | $1,577,895,586 |
| ISC | $36,266,000 (2011–12 to 2020–21) and $4,363,200 (ongoing) | $55,246,460 | $49,902,474 |
| PHAC | $1,975,000 (2016–17 to 2020–21) and $385,000 (ongoing) | $3,515,000 | $3,170,076 |
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Date of last renewal of the horizontal initiative: April 2024
| 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 a | $122,041,000 (2024–25 to 2026–27) Budget 2024 | $56,115,000 | $56,115,000 |
| ISC | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| PHAC | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable |
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Additional federal funding received after the last renewal: Not applicable
Fiscal year of planned completion of next evaluation: 2025−26 Evaluation of Nutrition North Canada (horizontal evaluation led by CIRNAC)
Performance highlights
CIRNAC: In 2024–25, NNC made significant progress under its expanded mandate, supported by a $124M investment over 3 years from Budget 2024, including $23.2M allocated specifically for this fiscal year. This funding enabled the extension of the retail subsidy to include food banks and not-for-profit organizations, while also maintaining subsidy rates to help offset rising inflation. To date, 7 food banks have been registered under the subsidy program, with further onboarding in progress. In 2024–25, more than 224,825 kilograms of free food was delivered to communities. Local growers and producers in eligible communities have also continued to register, strengthening localized access to affordable food. These efforts continue to reduce the cost of food and essential items in remote regions, and NNC remains committed to expanding partnerships to further improve access.
Complementing the retail subsidy, the Harvesters Support Grant (HSG) and Community Food Programs Fund (CFPF) provide community-led, culturally relevant food security solutions co-developed with Indigenous partners. These programs support harvesting, processing, and distribution of country foods, as well as local food initiatives such as greenhouses and community kitchens. In 2024, NNC signed 3-year agreements with 24 Indigenous governments and organizations to deliver these programs in 112 remote communities. Of the $120.7M committed over 3 years through Budget 2024—including $96.7M in new funding and $8M in permanent annual support—$118.4M has already been allocated, with the remainder underway.
To inform continuous improvement, Budget 2024 also allocated $2.1M over 3 years for Phase roman numeral 2 of the Food Security Research Grant, supporting Indigenous-led projects focused on food access and inequality in isolated northern communities. Phase roman numeral 1 (2022–2025) invested $1.5M and generated critical insights on food sovereignty, local economies, and program impacts. With Phase roman numeral 1 complete, NNC is preparing for Phase roman numeral 2, which will focus on implementable solutions to improve the program. NNC continues to evolve based on guidance from Indigenous and northern partners, increasingly adopting a food systems and co-delivery approach to strengthen food security and sovereignty. In 2024–25, NNC engaged actively with its Advisory Board, the Indigenous Working Group, and the Inuit-Crown Food Security Working Group to co-develop strategies for improving program effectiveness.
ISC: The results for 2024–25 are based on annual community (recipient) reports for 2023–24. There were 34,613 participants who attended nutrition education activities in 2023–24, a decrease from 35,729 participants the previous year. 81% of funding recipients that submitted NNC Annual Reports indicated that community members had increased their knowledge of healthy eating and skills, and were choosing and preparing healthy food, a decrease from 91% the previous year.
In 2023–24, 52% (28 out of 54) of funding recipients submitted NNC Annual Reports to ISC, compared with 44% (24 out of 54) of funding recipients the previous year. There were 2809 activities reported to have taken place in 2023–24, compared with 2901 activities reported the previous year. These activities included: promotion of healthy eating knowledge; food skills development; in-store taste tests and grocery store tours; and traditional food harvesting and preparation activities involving access to food (e.g., healthy meals, good food boxes, and food hampers).
In 2023–24, 54 funding recipients representing 98% (111 out of 113) of eligible communities received funding support from ISC for NNC Nutrition Education Initiatives.
PHAC: Funding recipients delivered a total of 917 nutrition education activities to more than 3,100 participants. These activities included cooking programs focused on developing food skills, gardening and local harvesting activities, healthy food offerings, and the promotion of nutrition information through social media and community engagement, among others. Funding recipients engaged multiple population groups in various activities across 10 specific communities where PHAC's programming is focused. Approximately 13% of participants were children, 8% were youth, 50% were adults, and 29% were seniors. 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
Wayne Walsh, Director General
Northern Strategic Policy Branch, Northern Affairs Organization
Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada
Wayne.Walsh@rcaanc-cirnac.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) $122,671,514 (ongoing, including an escalator) $161,148,705 (additional for 2022–23 to 2023–24) $121,518,520 (additional for 2024–25 to 2026–27) |
Not applicable | $3,871,408 (up to 2022) $489,772 (on-going) $705,850 (additional for 2022–23 to 2023–24) $522,480 (additional 2024–25 to 2026–27) |
| ISC | Not applicable | $21,766,000 (2016–17 to 2020–21) and $4,363,200 (ongoing) | $594,505 (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) | 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: $119,941,000
2024–25 planned spending: $189,815,392
2024–25 actual spending: $198,366,704
| Performance indicators | Targets | Date to achieve target | 2024–25 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: $119,941,000Footnote 1
2024–25 federal theme planned spending: $185,067,192Footnote 2
2024–25 federal theme actual spending: $194,239,178
| Theme outcomes | Theme performance indicators | Theme targets | Date to achieve theme targets | 2024–25 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 | 50% | March 31, 2025 | Not availableTable note a |
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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: $23,152,000
2024–25 planned spending for the horizontal initiative activity: $144,804,192
2024–25 actual spending for the horizontal initiative activity: $153,976,178
| 2024–25 horizontal initiative activity expected results | 2024–25 horizontal initiative activity performance indicators | 2024–25 horizontal initiative activity targets | Date to achieve horizontal initiative activity targets | 2024–25 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, 2025 | 7% |
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
2024–25 planned spending for the horizontal initiative activity: $20,000,000
2024–25 actual spending for the horizontal initiative activity: $20,000,000
| 2024–25 horizontal initiative activity expected results | 2024–25 horizontal initiative activity performance indicators | 2024–25 horizontal initiative activity targets | Date to achieve horizontal initiative activity targets | 2024–25 actual results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents in eligible communities have access to support for harvesting activities | Percentage of HSG eligible communities implementing harvesting support initiatives | 100% | March 31, 2025 | Not available Table note a |
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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
2024–25 planned spending for the horizontal initiative activity: $20,263,000
2024–25 actual spending for the horizontal initiative activity: $20,263,000
| 2024–25 horizontal initiative activity expected results | 2024–25 horizontal initiative activity performance indicators | 2024–25 horizontal initiative activity targets | Date to achieve horizontal initiative activity targets | 2024–25 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 | 50% | March 31, 2025 | Not available Table note a |
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Theme 2 details
Name of theme: Nutrition education
Total federal theme funding allocated since the last renewal: Not applicable
2024–25 federal theme planned spending: $4,748,200
2024–25 federal theme actual spending: $4,127,526
| Theme outcomes | Theme performance indicators | Theme targets | Date to achieve theme targets | 2024–25 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: 41.6% |
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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
2024–25 planned spending for the horizontal initiative activity: $4,363,200
2024–25 actual spending for the horizontal initiative activity: $3,793,700
| 2024–25 horizontal initiative activity expected results | 2024–25 horizontal initiative activity performance indicators | 2024–25 horizontal initiative activity targets | Date to achieve horizontal initiative activity targets | 2024–25 actual resultsTable note a |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents in eligible communities have access to nutrition education initiatives | Percentage of communities offering nutrition education activities | 100% | March 31, 2025 | 98% |
| Number of participants taking part in nutrition education programs and activities | 30,000 | March 31, 2025 | 34,613 | |
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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
2024–25 planned spending for the horizontal initiative activity: $385,000
2024–25 actual spending for the horizontal initiative activity: $333,826
| 2024–25 horizontal initiative activity expected results | 2024–25 horizontal initiative activity performance indicators | 2024–25 horizontal initiative activity targets | Date to achieve horizontal initiative activity targets | 2024–25 actual results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents in eligible communities have access to nutrition education initiatives | Percentage of communities offering nutrition education activities | 100% | March 31, 2025 | 100% |
| Number of participants taking part in nutrition education programs and activities | 2,250 | March 31, 2025 | 3,191 |
Total spending, all themes
| Themes | Total federal funding allocated since last renewal | 2024–25 total federal planned spending | 2024–25 total federal actual spending |
|---|---|---|---|
| Theme 1: Food access (CIRNAC) | $119,941,000 | $185,067,192 | $194,239,178 |
| Theme 2: Nutrition education (ISC and PHAC) | Not applicable | $4,748,200 | $4,127,526 |
| Total, all themes | $119,941,000 | $189,815,392 | $198,366,704 |