Why northerners’ unhappiness with food program will factor into election

Northerners’ dissatisfaction with Nutrition North Canada (NNC) promises to be a major factor in the 2015 federal election in the 10 ridings with isolated northern communities served by this program – and those that would be served by it if eligibility had been based on due consideration of need and fairness. If Canadians remain as divided as recent polls suggest, it could even determine which party forms the government.

This program, announced in 2010 and implemented in 2011, is the Conservative government’s approach to addressing the high cost of food in Canada’s isolated northern communities. It replaced the transportation subsidy provided to Canada Post under the Food Mail Program with a subsidy paid to retailers and wholesalers.