Statement made on 02 March 2011 by Senator Lucie Pépin (retired)
Hon. Lucie Pépin:
My question is for the Leader of the Government in the Senate. The first phase of the Nutrition North Canada program began on October 3, 2010. This new program no longer subsidizes the cost of sending canned goods, rice, pasta, coffee and soap to communities in the North. As a result, the cost of those basic consumer goods has become excessive.
According to the government's backgrounder, even without a subsidy, these categories would remain affordable because sealift and winter ice roads cost significantly less.
Despite two and half years of consultations to design the program, something is definitely wrong. Why is it that the burden on northern communities is being increased, rather than lessened?
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