Multiple times per day, Nunavut Member of Parliament Lori Idlout hears another story of a family going hungry in one of Nunavut's small communities, she told Nunavut News.
Rising hunger coincides with the federal government putting an end to hamlet food vouchers, according to Idlout.
Nunavut's only representative in the House of Commons said she believes Prime Minister Mark Carney's Liberal government is more concerned with resource development than ensuring her constituents can afford groceries.
"They would rather dig for critical minerals than ensure Inuit have food to eat. I am disgusted by the Carney government’s response to Nunavut," Idlout said.
Families with children under age 18 were receiving $500 per month while those with children under age three in remote communities were given $750 per month in hamlet food vouchers through the Inuit Child First Initiative since 2023.
That funding cost $92.1 million between 2023 and this year, Indigenous Services Canada told Nunavut News.
Approval for hamlet food vouchers ended in April 2025 when Indigenous Services Canada changed its funding procedures to improve efficiency, the agency stated.
The new funding guidelines state that families must make applications based on their children's individual circumstances, rather than everyone getting the same dollar amount.
"Requests must include documentation from a licensed professional that clearly links the requested support to the specific needs of the child," stated Maryeva Metellus, a spokesperson for Indigenous Services Canada.
Everyone who received funding from hamlet food vouchers is still eligible under the new guidelines, Metellus said, but the types of requests that are being approved have changed.
However, Idlout countered that requiring more documentation from professionals for Inuit families living in remote communities is burdensome — a message she receives from her constituents, she said.
As it stands, the Inuit Child First initiative can provide temporary relief for rent, groceries or utilities, according to Metellus.
"We know that short-term initiatives like the Inuit Child First Initiative are not enough on their own. That’s why we’re working with Inuit partners on a long-term approach to support Inuit children," Metellus said.
Idlout asserted that the federal government isn't handling food insecurity in Nunavut with enough urgency. She wants the minister of Indigenous Services, Mandy Gull-Masty, to reinstate hamlet food vouchers instead of relying on the new funding guidelines.
"The Liberals have responded only to say they are reviewing Nutrition North. Minister Gull-Masty has been silent on the issue of food security in Nunavut," Idlout said.
Nunavut has the highest rate of food insecurity in Canada, with 57 per cent of households lacking secure access to food, according to the Library of Parliament.
