Changes

===Overview===

===Overview===

Nutrition North Canada (NNC) initiated a broad public engagement process in May 2016 to canvass the views of Northerners, Indigenous organizations, and other key stakeholders on how to further improve the program’s transparency, cost-effectiveness, and cultural appropriateness in the communities it serves. NNC’s engagement process was designed to offer Northerners ample opportunities to provide input, including face-to-face community meetings, stakeholder interviews, written submissions, and follow-up surveys. In total, over 3,500 comments were received and the results were published in a What We Heard report. The engagement approach supported federal reconciliation efforts by recognizing and demonstrating respect for the unique cultural, linguistic, and economic circumstances of northern communities.

Nutrition North Canada (NNC) initiated a broad public engagement process in May 2016 to canvass the views of Northerners, Indigenous organizations, and other key stakeholders on how to further improve the program’s transparency, cost-effectiveness, and cultural appropriateness in the communities it serves. NNC’s engagement process was designed to offer Northerners ample opportunities to provide input, including face-to-face community meetings, stakeholder interviews, written submissions, and follow-up surveys. In total, over 3,500 comments were received and the results were published in a What We Heard report. The engagement approach supported federal reconciliation efforts by recognizing and demonstrating respect for the unique cultural, linguistic, and economic circumstances of northern communities.

The target audience for the engagement included residents of isolated northern communities, in particular: Indigenous peoples and community groups; provincial, territorial, and municipal governments; registered retailers and suppliers; and other interested parties and experts involved in areas such as food security, northern transportation and northern infrastructure.

The target audience for the engagement included residents of isolated northern communities, in particular: Indigenous peoples and community groups; provincial, territorial, and municipal governments; registered retailers and suppliers; and other interested parties and experts involved in areas such as food security, northern transportation and northern infrastructure.

====Methodology====

====Methodology====

To enhance transparency and openness, the Department contracted a third party to conduct an independent engagement process on its behalf. Participants were given an opportunity to propose ideas about the process itself to ensure the engagement welcomed a wide range of new input, even if it was outside of NNC’s current scope. The engagement approach was structured, but also adaptable to allow a broad range of input. As a priority, all reasonable means were taken to make engagement sessions accessible to as many participants as possible.

To enhance transparency and openness, the Department contracted a third party to conduct an independent engagement process on its behalf. Participants were given an opportunity to propose ideas about the process itself to ensure the engagement welcomed a wide range of new input, even if it was outside of NNC’s current scope. The engagement approach was structured, but also adaptable to allow a broad range of input. As a priority, all reasonable means were taken to make engagement sessions accessible to as many participants as possible.

* Gwitchin

* Gwitchin

* Chipewyan

* Chipewyan

=== Post Engagement activities===

=== Post Engagement activities===

Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada is committed to updating and expanding the program through co-development with Northerners. Building on what we heard during the engagement and more recent post-engagement work, the program is taking action to make the subsidy more relevant to northern residents. Specifically, it is updating the eligible food list, increasing subsidy rates, expanding the list of suppliers, providing financial support to smaller retailers, providing temporary assistance to communities that become completely isolated, and increasing transparency through easy-to-access information on the program.

Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada is committed to updating and expanding the program through co-development with Northerners. Building on what we heard during the engagement and more recent post-engagement work, the program is taking action to make the subsidy more relevant to northern residents. Specifically, it is updating the eligible food list, increasing subsidy rates, expanding the list of suppliers, providing financial support to smaller retailers, providing temporary assistance to communities that become completely isolated, and increasing transparency through easy-to-access information on the program.