Volume 55 Number 40
Friday, October 9, 2015
Thompson, Manitoba
Nickel Belt News Serving the Norman Region since 1961
Province will subsidize healthy food in 10 Northern Manitoba communities BY IAN GRAHAM EDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET
The provincial government is launching a pilot program to subsidize retail food costs in 10 Northern Manitoba communities this fall, Premier Greg Selinger announced in Churchill Oct. 6. “It is common for some families in northern communities to pay extremely high prices for everyday food staples, such as $14.99 for a four-litre container of milk,” said Selinger in a press release. “Taking action to reduce such high costs and ensure better access to affordable healthy foods for northern Manitobans is a priority for our government.” Communities included in the program – called the Affordable Foods in Remote Manitoba (AFFIRM) – are Tadoule Lake, Brochet/Barren Lands, Shamattawa, Berens River, York Landing, Churchill, Pikwitonei, Ilford/War Lake, Thicket Portage and Pukatawagan, which have some of the highest food prices in the province. “At the historic treaty ceremonies that took place more than 100 years ago, our ancestors
were told to give up the nomadic lifestyle along the tree line and adhere to stationary living. Fruits and vegetables, livestock and plows were promised to our people,” said Chief Ernie Bussidor, Tadoule Lake Sayisi Dene. “This AFFIRM initiative brings us a bit closer to that vision, providing healthy food at affordable prices to the needy in the remote corners of Manitoba.” The program was developed through engagement with First Nation and community leaders and local retailers. In seven of the 10 communities covered by the program, retailers will be eligible for subsidies on fresh milk, vegetables and fruit which will lead to lower prices for consumers, with savings of as much as $6.40 on a four-litre jug of milk. “Churchill, as Manitoba’s most northerly community and one that experiences high food costs, is thrilled with this announcement,” said Mayor Michael Spence, Town of Churchill. “It now enables families and residents of our community to make healthy food choices that contribute to healthy lifestyle as a direct result of this in-
novative program.” In Thicket Portage, Pikwitonei and Ilford/War Lake, where there are no stores selling these healthy foods, providing greater access to milk, fresh vegetables and fruit will be delivered through alternatives methods. “Living in northern Manitoba comes with great benefits, but also with several challenges,” said Healthy Living and Seniors Minister Deanne Crothers. “We are proud to have developed this program with the support of First Nations and community leaders to address some of these challenges and to now take a step forward in promoting better health and better quality of life for northern Manitobans.” The provincial government also supports local food self-sufficiency through the Northern Health Foods Initiative, which promotes local food production through community-led projects like gardens, greenhouses, chicken farming, beekeeping and sharing traditional food skills. The initiative also includes a social enterprises component to support local food systems that create employment.
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Nickel Belt News photo by Ian Graham Soccer teams from across Northern Manitoba, including the Otter Nelson River School Nikiks from Cross Lake, seen here in a girls’ round robin game against R.D. Parker Collegiate, were in Thompson for the zone 11 high school soccer championship Oct. 2-3. Hapnot Collegiate Institute from Flin Flon defeated RDPC in the boys’ and girls’ finals to claim the zone championships and move on to provincials.