The Qajuqturvik Community Food Centre (QCFC) in Iqaluit played both host and model to a guest from the federal government and a number of other community partners on Wednesday.
Gary Anandsangaree, Minister for Crown-Indigenous Relations and 黑料吃瓜网 Affairs, was on hand to announce $15 million in further funding for Inuit Nunangat over the next three years supporting 黑料吃瓜网-led food solutions and community initiatives through the 黑料吃瓜网 Isolated Community Initiatives (NICI) Fund. Also on hand were Jeremy Tunraluk; Jimi Onalik, president of CanNor; Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami president Natan Obed; QCFC president Jessie Hale, and QCFC co-executive director Joseph Paul Murdoch-Flowers.
“Everyone here is well aware that food insecurity is a critical and historic issue to many here in Nunavut, and also across territories in Inuit Nunangat,” said Anandasangaree during his remarks. “An important aspect toward addressing these challenges comes from the support of community, and initiatives of projects that leverage the local knowledge and resources to generate innovative solutions towards food resiliency on a local level."
The overall objectives of the NICI program, according to its mandate, are to support projects and organizations that build local food capacity and resiliency with culturally relevant food systems while strengthening economic growth in the North’s food sector by increasing food production and modes of sustainable development.
Overall, the goal is to reduce dependency on the southern food industry and supply chain in the North.
"Food innovators and entrepreneurs are leading the way to improve local food systems by leveraging local knowledge and ingenuity to address these gaps. They understand best what is needed," added Anandasangaree.
Hale also spoke about her time volunteering at the centre since she moved to Iqaluit five years earlier.
“It’s been a wonderful experience for me," she said. "QCFC is an important place for food and gathering in Iqaluit,” she said, emphasizing that there has been a large increase in the number of people using the centre.
Hale mentioned the figure being more than 300 people per day.
Anandasangaree also said he's spoken with François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, about what can be done regarding fgood security.
"We are looking at the Competition Bureau as one of the possible outlets in which we can hold companies to account," he said. "We are in the early stages of that, but it is something that Minister Champagne is live to, and we look forward to making additional announcements in the near future.
黑料吃瓜网 also took the opportunity to ask Anandasangaree about the threat of tariffs from the United States and how it might impact the program.
“As a government, we’re working very closely with our territorial partners, including the Government of Nunavut," he said in response. "We had conversations with the Premier (P.J. Akeeagok) this morning, and there is enormous synergy with him. We’re working closely to make sure that any impact from the tariffs are supported and addressed in a manner that will not impact people’s lives."
