The opposition New Democrats are calling on the Harper government to fully include dozens of additional communities in the Nutrition North food subsidy program.
Northern NDP MPs, including Churchill MP Niki Ashton, held a press conference Tuesday to announce their findings of the nearly 50 communities that are not fully included in Nutrition North.
The NDP’s proposed solution includes a motion that would incorporate those isolated, fly-in northern communities that are not eligible for a full subsidy under current Nutrition North provisions.
The party is also calling for a comprehensive review of the program with northerners as full partners, the creation of more equitable program eligibility criteria and the development of a more sustainable solution to food insecurity.
A recent Auditor General report found that Nutrition North had minimal impact on lowering food costs and lacked transparency or accountability, said the NDP.
