2024-25 Horizontal initiative: Nutrition North Canada

Table of contents

General information

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: April 1, 2011

End date: Ongoing

Description of the horizontal initiative: 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. Through Budget 2021, NNC expanded its mandate to include food security. 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. 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 government/organization.

In addition to supporting store-bought foods, the program's Harvesters Support Grant (HSG) 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, with funding flowing through Indigenous governments and organizations to make sure that northern food systems reflect the needs of communities and are culturally-appropriate. In the first year of its delivery, the Grant supported over 5500 harvesters.

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 funding from $8 million per year to $40 million per year. The Community Food Programs Fund supports food sharing activities in eligible communities, such as bulk buying, elders meals programs, school food programs, and others. In 2022–23, NNC signed 2-year grant agreements in the amount of $120.7 million with 23 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 to conduct Indigenous-led research food security research in isolated communities and fill critical data gaps which may inform the subsidy trajectory moving forward. In 2022–23, NNC funded 5 Indigenous-led research projects examining food access inequality and food insecurity, awarding a total of $1.2 million to successful applicants. Budget 2021 funding will be sunsetting on March 31st 2024.

These expansions to the program have given Northerners better access to traditional foods and harvesting practices, and supported community-based food security activities. NNC has expanded the program subsidy to include food banks and charitable organization serving isolated communities. This development has been a critical component in strengthening partnerships with local leadership and charitable organizations.

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 the IWG has a NNC co-chair partnering with a co-chair from 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.

Total federal funding allocated, total federal planned and actual spending
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
$1,192,622,864 $1,186,879,239
ISC $36,266,000 (2011–12 to 2020–21) and $4,363,200 (ongoing) $46,520,060 $42,215,616
PHAC $1,975,000 (2016–17 to 2020–21) and $385,000 (ongoing) $2,745,000 $2,499,530

Date of last renewal of the horizontal initiative: June 2022

Total federal funding allocated, total planned spending and actual spending since the last renewal
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
CIRNAC* $161,854,555 (2022–23 to 2023–24), Budget 2021 and 2022 $103,853,792 $88,389,639
ISC** Not applicable Not applicable Not applicable
PHAC** Not applicable Not applicable Not applicable

*includes renewal funding, excludes on-going funding

**ISC and PHAC did not receive any additional funding since renewal

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)

Planning highlights for 2024–25

CIRNAC is working to onboard small, locally owned retailers as well as increase the number of charities and foodbanks that are registered for the subsidy. Regular engagement with HSG recipients continues to be a priority, to ensure that the grant is serving its intended purpose of increasing the availability and accessibility of food in northern communities.

ISC will continue to work with CIRNAC and PHAC to support the overall implementation of NNC, as appropriate. Specifically, ISC will continue to fund and support eligible First Nations and Inuit communities through the NNC Nutrition Education Initiatives to increase knowledge of healthy eating and to develop skills in choosing and preparing healthy food.

PHAC will continue to support culturally appropriate retail and community-based Nutrition Education Initiatives in 10 Nutrition North Canada (NNC) communities that are outside the purview of the First Nations and Inuit Health Branch of ISC. The activities, developed and delivered by community-based organizations, aim to increase knowledge of healthy eating and support skills for the selection and preparation of healthy store-bought and traditional or country foods.

Contact information

Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC)
Wayne Walsh
Director General, Northern Strategic Policy Branch
Northern Affairs Organization
15 Eddy Street, Gatineau, Quebec, K1A 0H4
Telephone: 613-266-4529
Wayne.Walsh@rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca

Indigenous Services Canada (ISC)
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 (PHAC)
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

Horizontal initiative framework: departmental funding by theme

Horizontal initiative: Nutrition North Canada

Shared outcome: Food security is strengthened in eligible communities

Theme names, outcomes and funding by department
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)

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 (2016-2017 to 2020-2021) and $4,363,200 (ongoing)
Nutrition Education Initiatives (top up)
$579,118 (2016-17 to 2020-2021) and $118,901 (ongoing)
PHAC Not applicable $1,975,000 over 5 years (2016-17 to 2020-2021) and $385,000 (ongoing)
Nutrition Education Initiatives (top up)
Nil

Planning 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: Not applicable

2024–25 planned spending: $134,400,392

departmental funding by theme
Performance indicators Targets Date to achieve target
Prevalence of severe food insecurity 5% decrease in prevalence of severe food insecurity March 2026

Theme 1 detail

Name of theme: Food access

Total federal theme funding allocated since the last renewal: Not applicable

2024–25 federal theme planned spending: $129,652,192

Theme 1 outcome, performance indicator and target
Theme outcome Theme performance indicator Theme target Date to achieve theme target
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 Target to be determined in March 2024 March 31, 2025

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 horizontal initiative activity since the last renewal: Not applicable

2024–25 planned spending for the horizontal initiative activity: $129,652,192

Expected result, performance indicator and target
2024–25 horizontal initiative activity expected result 2024–25 horizontal initiative activity performance indicator 2024–25 horizontal initiative activity target Date to achieve horizontal initiative activity target
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

Link to the department's program inventory: Nutrition North Canada

Horizontal initiative activity: Harvesters Support Grant (HSG)

Total federal funding allocated to the horizontal initiative activity since the last renewal: Not applicable

2024–25 planned spending for the horizontal initiative activity: $0

Expected results, performance indicators and targets
2024–25 horizontal initiative activity expected result 2024–25 horizontal initiative activity performance indicator 2024–25 horizontal initiative activity target Date to achieve horizontal initiative activity target
Residents in eligible communities have access to support for harvesting activities Percentage of HSG eligible communities implementing harvesting support initiatives Target to be determined by March 2024 March 31, 2025

Link to the department's program inventory: Nutrition North Canada

Horizontal initiative activity: Community Food Programs Fund

Total federal funding allocated to the horizontal initiative activity since the last renewal: Not applicable

2024–25 planned spending for the horizontal initiative activity: $0

Expected results, performance indicators and targets
2024–25 horizontal initiative activity expected result 2024–25 horizontal initiative activity performance indicator 2024–25 horizontal initiative activity target Date to achieve horizontal initiative activity target
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 Target to be determined by March 2024 March 31, 2025

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

Theme 2 outcome, performance indicator and target
Theme outcome Theme performance indicator Theme targets Date to achieve theme target
Isolated northern communities are healthier Percentage of NNC eligible population reporting their health is excellent or very good*

First Nations: 44%

Inuit: 44%

March 2028
* This indicator is reflective of NNC communities, as the results are for First Nations from NNC eligible communities and Inuit living within the Inuit Nunangat.

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 horizontal initiative activity since the last renewal: Not applicable

2024–25 planned spending for the horizontal initiative activity: $4,363,200

Expected result, performance indicators and targets
2024–25 horizontal initiative activity expected result 2024–25 horizontal initiative activity performance indicators 2024–25 horizontal initiative activity targets Date to achieve horizontal initiative activity targets
Residents in eligible communities have access to nutrition education initiatives Percentage of communities offering nutrition education activities 100% March 31, 2025
Number of participants taking part in nutrition education programs and activities At least 30,000 March 31, 2025

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 horizontal initiative activity since the last renewal: Not applicable

2024–25 planned spending for the horizontal initiative activity: $385,000

Expected result, performance indicators and targets
2024–25 horizontal initiative activity expected result 2024–25 horizontal initiative activity performance indicators 2024–25 horizontal initiative activity targets Date to achieve horizontal initiative activity targets
Residents in eligible communities have access to nutrition education initiatives Percentage of communities offering nutrition education activities 100% March 31, 2025
Number of participants taking part in nutrition education programs and activities 2,250 March 31, 2025

Total spending, all themes

Themes Total federal funding allocated since last renewal 2024–25 total federal planned spending
Theme 1: Food access (CIRNAC) Not applicable $129,652,192
Theme 2: Nutrition education (ISC and PHAC) Not applicable $4,748,200
Total, all themes $134,400,392

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