Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs

Comité permanent des affaires autochtones et du Nord

For immediate release

Ottawa, June 16, 2021 -

In February 2020, the House of Commons Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs began a study on food security in northern communities. This study was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent suspension of the work of the House of Commons. In November 2020, recognizing the importance of finding ways to improve food security in the North, the committee decided to resume and complete this study.

Today, Mr. Bob Bratina, Member of Parliament for Hamilton East—Stoney Creek and Chair of the committee, presented a report entitled “Food Security in Northern and Isolated Communities: Ensuring Equitable Access to Adequate and Healthy Food for All.” Food insecurity, which is rooted in poverty and other socio-economic inequalities, has extremely high rates in northern and isolated communities. The committee’s report highlights some of the causes of food insecurity in the North, as well as the impact of climate change and environmental degradation on northern food systems. It also examines concerns expressed by witnesses about the Nutrition North Canada program. Finally, it emphasizes that solutions to northern food insecurity need to be northern-based and driven by community needs.

Based on what it heard, the committee is recommending that the Government of Canada:

• recognize that food insecurity cannot be solved by the Nutrition North Canada program alone, and work with Indigenous Peoples and Northerners to explore complementary measures;
• recognize that food sovereignty is a precondition to the food security of Indigenous Peoples and Northerners, and enable them to make their own decisions with respect to their food systems;
• launch a full external evaluation of the Nutrition North Canada program;
• support Indigenous-led environmental management and climate change monitoring programs; and
• enable the creation of new meat and traditional food processing facilities in the North.

As always, the committee is extremely grateful to the 38 individuals and organizations who participated in this study. The committee also wishes to thank those who submitted written briefs. Parliamentary studies such as this one would not be possible without the invaluable contribution of experts, community leaders and members of the public.

The committee also acknowledges that this study was conducted amid an unprecedented pandemic, which has itself exacerbated socio-economic inequalities and other issues related to food insecurity.

This report can be viewed online on the committee’s website.