On this past Monday, July 18th, the Office for Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada announced an expansion for the Nutrition North Canada Program to isolated communities in the north.
Nutrition North Canada (NNC) is a government of Canada subsidy program bringing healthy food and funding for nutrition education initiatives to isolated northern communities.
The government of Canada is currently holding engagements session with up to 20 northern communities to listen and learn from Northerners on how to further improve the program.
Carolyn Bennett is the Minister for Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada.
Bennett says that beginning October 1st, 2016, the NNC program will be expanded to 37 isolated communities.
There are currently 84 communities that are subsidized in the NNC program.
The expansion is the result of updates to the community eligibility criteria, and is part of the budget 2016 commitment to provide an additional $64.5 million to the NNC program over five years.
Beginning in 2016 and 2017, $13.8 million will be used per year for the program.
We will have more about the program for the northerners in the near future.