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.

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.