Canadians have the right to access affordable and healthy food no matter where they live. The Government of Canada continues its work with Indigenous and northern partners to improve food security programs, based on local priorities and solutions, especially as global inflation drives up the cost of putting food on the table.
Today, the Honourable Dan Vandal, Minister of Northern Affairs, congratulated Harvest Manitoba, Anishininew Okimawin (Island Lake Tribal Council) and Food Banks Canada on their Memorandum of Understanding to support the shipment and distribution of food in St.Theresa Point, Wasagamack, Garden Hill and Red Sucker Lake. As a result, residents in all four northern Manitoba communities will now be able to have access to food banks within their communities.
Harvest Manitoba recently became the first registered food bank with Nutrition North Canada, a Government of Canada program that supports food security in northern isolated communities. As part of the program, charities and food banks are now able to claim subsidies for transporting and distributing food and essential household items in eligible northern communities. The inclusion of food banks and charities in the Nutrition North Canada subsidy program will help address the immediate needs of the most vulnerable residents in northern and isolated communities, while the program continues to work with communities toward long-term solutions.
Nutrition North Canada will continue to support and encourage partnerships between northern and isolated communities and major food banks and charities as well as the efforts of communities in strengthening food security. Partnerships between isolated communities and food banks and other charitable organizations mark an important step towards seeding food sovereignty and reducing food insecurity in the North.
