Winnipeg – Northern and isolated communities are feeling the global rise in food prices, especially as regional food security is affected by high transportation costs. The Government of Canada continues to work directly with Indigenous and northern partners to support local, innovative solutions to help the most vulnerable members access healthy food in northern and isolated communities.
Dan Vandal, Minister of Northern Affairs, PrairiesCan and CanNor, congratulated Wiiche’iwaymagon members, food bank agencies and charities, and Arctic Gateway, who signed a Memorandum of Understanding in a traditional ceremony and will be working together to strengthen food security in northern Manitoba and Ontario communities. This partnership will support the immediate needs of the most vulnerable residents, getting free and essential items from food banks and charities into communities while creating new emergency and low-cost food supply networks that will help increase food sovereignty in the region.
The partnership is supported by Nutrition North Canada (NNC)’s subsidy program, as food banks and charities can now access the subsidy for all food shipped to eligible northern and isolated communities. Wiiche’iwaymagon members, which include the tribal councils representing all isolated northern communities in Ontario and Manitoba, are also able to access NNC’s Harvesters Support Grant and Community Food Programs Fund funding for food-related infrastructure and equipment, as well as for local food programs, buying clubs, and food distribution networks.
Following the addition of food banks to the subsidy program, new partnerships between the Island Lake Region Tribal Council and Harvest Manitoba, and Kiikenomaga Kikenjigewen Employment & Training Services (KKETS) have been delivering food from food banks to nine isolated communities in Northern Manitoba and Northern Ontario. The Government of Canada will continue to support partnerships between northern and isolated communities and major food banks and charities, which are an important step towards strengthening food security in the North.
“I congratulate Wiiche’iwaymagon members, food bank agencies and charities, and Arctic Gateway, on their formal collaboration to help those in need, while building food sovereignty in northern Manitoba and Ontario communities. Our government will continue to work with food banks and Indigenous organizations to help expand a northern food banks network and support the immediate needs of the most vulnerable members in northern communities.” – Dan Vandal, Minister of Northern Affairs and Minister responsible for PrairiesCan and CanNor