2025-2026 Nutrition North Canada
Table of contents
General information
Name of horizontal initiative: Nutrition North Canada
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)
Start date of the horizontal initiative: April 1, 2011
End date of the horizontal initiative: 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, subsidies are provided to registered retailers, country food processors and distributors, local producers, and non-profit organizations (such as food banks) who supply food to communities to help offset the cost of shipping eligible foods by air. The value of the subsidy is based on the weight of the foods shipped, and recipients are expected to pass these savings on to consumers through lower prices.
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.
Recognizing that food cost is only one 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 healthy 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 Minister, and the Deputy Minister, before receiving final approval from the Minister.
NNC's policy development is also guided by two 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 $35,200,000 received as a renewal in Budget 2025 |
$1,785,912,551 | $1,776,868,036 |
| ISC | $36,266,000 (2011–12 to 2020–21) and $4,363,200 (ongoing) |
$59,609,660 | $53,658,691 |
| PHAC | $1,975,000 (2016–17 to 2020–21) and $385,000 (ongoing) |
$3,900,000 | $3,505,076 |
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Date of last renewal of the horizontal initiative: April 2024 and November 2025
| 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 $35,200,000 received as a renewal in Budget 2025 |
$68,163,000 | $68,163,000 |
| 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: A planned Evaluation of Nutrition North Canada (Horizontal, led by CIRNAC) is expected to be completed by March 2031.
Performance highlights
CIRNAC: NNC supports food security and food sovereignty in eligible northern and isolated communities through subsidies, community-based programming, research, and partnerships with Indigenous governments and organizations. The NNC subsidy helps reduce the cost of nutritious food and essential items. In the past 12 months, more than 250,000 kilograms of food and essential items were distributed through 10 participating food banks.
Through the HSG and CFPF, NNC supports community-led food production, harvesting, processing, distribution, and food sovereignty initiatives. In 2024, three-year agreements were signed with 24 Indigenous governments and organizations serving 112 remote communities.
NNC continues to engage Indigenous and northern partners through its Advisory Board, Indigenous Working Group, and Inuit-Crown Food Security Working Group to inform program improvements. The 2025-26 horizontal evaluation found that NNC contributes to food security and food sovereignty objectives while identifying opportunities to strengthen governance, transparency, affordability measurement, and Indigenous leadership.
Regional engagement sessions and the March 2026 Food Sovereignty Summit gathered input from partners and stakeholders to help inform future policy and program improvements as part of NNC reform.
ISC: The results for 2025-26 are based on annual community (recipient) reports for 2024–25. There were 31,112 participants who attended nutrition education activities in 2024-25, a decrease from 34,613 participants the previous year. 93% of funding recipients that submitted NNC Nutrition Education Initiatives Annual Reports indicated that community members had increased their knowledge of healthy eating and skills and were choosing and preparing healthy food, an increase from 81% the previous year.
In 2024-25, 61% (33 out of 54) of funding recipients submitted annual reports to ISC, compared with 52% (28 out of 54) of funding recipients in the previous year. There were 2,477 activities reported to have taken place in 2024-25, compared with 2,809 activities reported in the previous year. These activities included the 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 2024-25, all 54 funding recipients, representing 100% (113 out of 113) of eligible communities, received funding support from ISC for NNC Nutrition Education Initiatives.
PHAC: Funding recipients delivered nutrition education activities to more than 5,293 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 15% of participants were children, 8% were youth, 49% were adults, and 27% 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
Christina Paradiso, Director General
Northern Strategic Policy Branch, Northern Affairs Organization
Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada
christina.paradiso@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) $35,200,000 received as a renewal in Budget 2025 |
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 five 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: $155,141,000
2025–26 planned spending: $172,746,002
2025–26 actual spending: $190,693,810
| Performance indicator | Target | Date to achieve target | 2025–26 actual results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prevalence of severe food insecurity | 5% decrease in prevalence of severe food insecurity | March 31, 2026 | Not availableTable note a |
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Theme 1 details
Name of theme: Food access
Total federal theme funding allocated since the last renewal: $155,141,000
2025–26 federal theme planned spending: $167,997,802
2025–26 federal theme actual spending: $186,602,593
| Theme outcomes | Theme performance indicators | Theme targets | Date to achieve theme targets | 2025–26 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 | 800 | March 31, 2026 | 1,068 |
Theme 1 horizontal initiative activities
Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada
Link to department's program inventory: Nutrition North Canada
Horizontal initiative activity: Retail subsidy
Total federal funding allocated to the activity since the last renewal: $58,352,000
2025–26 planned spending for the horizontal initiative activity: $127,734,802
2025–26 actual spending for the horizontal initiative activity: $146,339,593
| 2025–26 horizontal initiative activity expected results | 2025–26 horizontal initiative activity performance indicators | 2025–26 horizontal initiative activity targets | Date to achieve horizontal initiative activity targets | 2025–26 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, 2026 | 3.8% |
Link to 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
2025–26 planned spending for the horizontal initiative activity: $20,000,000
2025–26 actual spending for the horizontal initiative activity: $20,000,000
| 2025–26 horizontal initiative activity expected results | 2025–26 horizontal initiative activity performance indicators | 2025–26 horizontal initiative activity targets | Date to achieve horizontal initiative activity targets | 2025–26 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, 2026 | 100% |
Link to 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
2025–26 planned spending for the horizontal initiative activity: $20,263,000
2025–26 actual spending for the horizontal initiative activity: $20,263,000
| 2025–26 horizontal initiative activity expected results | 2025–26 horizontal initiative activity performance indicators | 2025–26 horizontal initiative activity targets | Date to achieve horizontal initiative activity targets | 2025–26 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 | 100% | March 31, 2026 | 100% |
Theme 2 details
Name of theme: Nutrition education
Total federal theme funding allocated since the last renewal: Not applicable
2025–26 federal theme planned spending: $4,748,200
2025–26 federal theme actual spending: $4,091,217
| Theme outcome | Theme performance indicator | Theme target | Dates to achieve theme target | 2025–26 actual result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Isolated northern communities are healthier | Percentage of NNC eligible population reporting their health is excellent or very goodTable note a | First Nations: 44% Inuit: 44% |
March 31, 2028 | First Nations: 40.3% (2015-16 - Regional Health Survey)Table note b Inuit living in Inuit Nunangat: 41.6% (2022 - Indigenous Peoples Survey)Table note b |
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Theme 2 horizontal initiative activities
Indigenous Services Canada
Link to department's program inventory: Public Health Promotion and Disease Prevention (Healthy Living)
Horizontal initiative activity: Nutrition education initiatives
Total federal funding allocated to the horizontal activity since the last renewal: Not applicable
2025–26 planned spending for the horizontal initiative activity: $4,363,200
2025–26 actual spending for the horizontal initiative activity: $3,756,217
| 2025–26 horizontal initiative activity expected results | 2025–26 horizontal initiative activity performance indicators | 2025–26 horizontal initiative activity targets | Date to achieve horizontal initiative activity targets | 2025–26 actual resultsTable note a |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents in eligible communities have access to nutrition education initiatives | Percentage of communities offering nutrition education activities | 100% | March 31, 2026 | 100% |
| Number of participants taking part in nutrition education programs and activities | At least 30,000 | March 31, 2026 | 31,112 | |
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Public Health Agency of Canada
Link to 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
2025–26 planned spending for the horizontal initiative activity: $385,000
2025–26 actual spending for the horizontal initiative activity: $335,000
| 2025–26 horizontal initiative activity expected results | 2025–26 horizontal initiative activity performance indicators | 2025–26 horizontal initiative activity targets | Date to achieve horizontal initiative activity targets | 2025–26 actual results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents in eligible communities have access to nutrition education initiatives | Percentage of communities offering nutrition education activities | 100% | March 31, 2026 | 100% |
| Number of participants taking part in nutrition education programs and activities | 2,250 | March 31, 2026 | 5,293 |
Total spending, all themes
| Themes | Total federal funding allocated since last renewal | 2025–26 total federal planned spending | 2025–26 total federal actual spending |
|---|---|---|---|
| Theme 1: Food access (CIRNAC) | $155,141,000 | $167,997,802 | $186,602,593 |
| Theme 2: Nutrition education (ISC and PHAC) | Not applicable | $4,748,200 | $4,091,217 |
| Total, all themes | $155,141,000 | $172,746,002 | $190,693,810 |