Horizontal initiative: Nutrition North Canada
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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). PHAC became a new partner in 2016–17.
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: $686,137,533 (2011–12 to 2019–20)
ISC: $14,500,000 (2011–12 to 2015–16) then, $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: $669,777,306 (2011–12 to 2019–20)
ISC: $33,430,462
PHAC: $1,606,750Footnote 1
Total federal actual spending to date (dollars):
CIRNAC: $670,226,584 (2011–12 to 2019–20)
ISC: $30,586,227
PHAC: $1,466,351
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: $53,491,813, Fiscal Framework (Budget 2016) (2011–12 to 2020–21)
ISC: $7,266,000 over 5 years and $1,463,200 ongoing in addition to the $2,900,000 ongoing from the previous renewal (Budget 2016)
PHAC: $1,975,000 (Budget 2016)
Additional federal funding received after the last renewal (dollars): Not applicable
Total planned spending since the last renewal:
CIRNAC: $358,314,716 (2016–17 to 2019–20)
ISC: $17,402,799 (2016–17 to 2019–20)
PHAC: $1,606,750Footnote 1
Total actual spending since the last renewal:
CIRNAC: $341,068,640 (2016–17 to 2019–20)
ISC: $15,681,920 (2016–17 to 2019–20)
PHAC: $1,466,351
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 2019–20, NNC continued to build and strengthen its relationships with Indigenous and northern partners by enacting important enhancements to the program based on their feedback. On August 21, 2019, it was announced that the Government of Canada would expand the list of eligible non-perishable items which are subsidized to include those transported via sealift, barge, or winter road, as well as family-friendly items such as macaroni, flour and diapers.
In addition, it was announced on the same day that the program would add feminine hygiene products to the NNC eligibility list to make these products more accessible and affordable and help the health and well-being of women and girls in isolated Northern communities.
These changes have been informed by participation on the Inuit Crown Food Security Working Group, which was established in early 2019, as well as the NNC Indigenous Working Group, and the advice of the NNC Advisory Board.
ISC: In 2019–20, 87% of funding recipients, representing 104 of 111 eligible First Nations and Inuit communities, received funding support for NNC Nutrition Education Initiatives by ISC. At the community level, there was an increase in the number of nutrition education activities delivered from more than 4,000 in 2018–19 to over 4,500 in 2019–20. 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, men, women and seniors) and in at least 2 venues (e.g., schools, daycares, stores, community centres and on the land). More than 50,000 participants attended nutrition education activities and 52% 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 67% of funding recipients have also indicated that community members have increased their knowledge of healthy eating and skills, and are choosing and preparing healthy food.
PHAC: PHAC supports NNC 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 2019–20, funding recipients delivered a total of 778 nutrition education activities to more than 4,000 participants. These activities included cooking programs focused on food skills development, gardening and local harvesting activities, healthy offerings, promoting nutrition and healthy food information, among others. Funding recipients involved multiple population groups in various activities across PHAC’s 10 communities, with approximately 23% involving children, 17% involving youth, 44% involving adults and 16% involving seniors.
Progress was made towards strengthening the nutritional choices and overall health of these 10 communities as 100% of funding recipients reported that community members gained knowledge and skills related to healthy eating as a result of these nutrition education activities.
| Total federal funding allocated since the last renewal | 2019-20 Planned spending |
2019-20 Actual spending |
Horizontal initiative shared outcome(s) | 2019–20 Performance indicator(s) |
2019–20 Target(s) |
Date to achieve target | 2019–20 Actual results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CIRNAC: $374,674,943 ISC: $21,766,000 (2016–17 to 2020–21) and $4,363,200 ongoing PHAC: $1,975,000 |
CIRNAC: $110,010,013 ISC: $4,363,200 PHAC: $519,000 |
CIRNAC: $104,685,829 ISC: $4,236,838 PHAC: $501,404 |
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, 2020 | 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, 2020 | 56% increase in quantity of subsidized foods per capita by category since 2011 |
Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada
| 2019-20 Expected results |
2019-20 Performance indicators |
2019-20 Targets |
2019-20 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, 2020 | -1.17% |
| 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). The baseline used is the 2010-2011 average annual cost for the food basket ($426.48). | $417.13 | |
| 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, 2020 | Did not meet because of contracting issue. The compliance reviews tentatively scheduled for 2019–20 will be undertaken in 2020–21 |
| Annual % variation in the quantity of subsidized items shipped by air | 3% to 5% by March 31, 2020 | 5.2% increase in quantity of subsidized items shipped by air |
Indigenous Services Canada
| 2019-20 Expected results |
2019-20 Performance indicators |
2019-20 Targets |
2019-20 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, 2020 6 or more participants per type of activity by March 31, 2020 |
More than 50,000 participants attended nutrition education activities. 52% 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, 2020 | An estimated 67% of funding recipients indicated that community members have increased their knowledge of healthy eating and skills, and are choosing and preparing healthy food. | |
| Quantity by weight of fruit and vegetables | Stable or increasing annually by March 31, 2020 | The weight of fruits and vegetables was 4,262,421.70 kg (Q1 + Q2 only)1 compared to the amount of 8,872,612.80 kg in 2018–19 | |
| 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, 2019 | 87% of funding recipients representing 104 out of 111 eligible communities, received funding support for NNC Nutrition education initiatives The difference between the targeted and actual result is mainly due to challenges faced at the community level (e.g., multiple competing priorities, staffing delays) which prevented the community from accepting funding, despite the high need for the programming |
| Number and types of 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, 2020 | More than 4500 NNC nutrition education activities were delivered by First Nations and Inuit funding recipients. The majority of communities offered nutrition education activities to at least 2 target populations (e.g., children, youth, women and seniors) and in at least 2 venues (e.g., schools, daycares, stores, community centres and on the land) | |
| 1 Complete weight (kg) shipped data for 2019–20 to be received from the Nutrition North claims processor in November 2020. | |||
Public Health Agency of Canada
| 2019-20 Expected results |
2019-20 Performance indicators |
2019-20 Targets |
2019-20 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 | 100% (10 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 | 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) | 778 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.) | More than 4,000 participants attended 5 types of nutrition education activities (cooking/food skills, nutrition education, healthy offerings, gardening/food gathering, 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 | 100% of recipients | |
| 1 Types of activities included: healthy offerings (47% of activities) cooking/food skills development (31%), gardening/ local food harvesting activities (10%), nutrition education sessions (7%), and other activities (5%). Activities involved multiple target groups: 23% involved children, 17% involved youth, 44% involved adults, 16% 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
Mary Trifonopoulos, Senior Manager, Healthy Living
Population Health and Primary Care Directorate
First Nations and Inuit Health Branch
Telephone: 613-292-7518
Mary.Trifonopoulos@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