The federal government has appointed former Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated (NTI) president Aluki Kotierk to oversee an external review of the Nutrition North subsidy.
Nutrition North is a subsidy program that aims to reduce the delivery costs of perishable items and some non-food products to remote communities, where food can cost much more than in larger centres. Retailers receive the subsidy, which is then supposed to be passed on to the client.
The program has been heavily criticized recently, with allegations that retailers aren’t properly passing on the savings.
Kotierk, who is from Iqaluit but grew up in Igloolik, served two terms as president of NTI. She has previously held senior positions with the government of Nunavut and is also a standing member of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues
Gary Anandasangaree, minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs (CIRNAC), made the announcement of Kotierk’s appointment during a news conference in Ottawa on Tuesday.
“As an Inuk and northerner from Igloolik, Ms. Kotierk brings exceptional knowledge and personal experience to this role,” Anandasangaree said.
“She’s deeply committed to including Inuit culture and language in public programs and services, making sure they benefit Inuit communities.”
Kotierk said this is an important position that she’s thrilled and honoured to take on.
“In Nunavut, seven out of 10 children go to bed hungry every night. We know that statistic, and it’s unacceptable,” she said.
Aluki Kotierk, the former president of Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., which represents the territory’s Inuit, has been appointed by the federal government to lead an external review of the Nutrition North Canada program. She will investigate if subsidies to keep food prices low are reaching residents as intended.
Kotierk says her role will largely focus on finding ways to improve the program.
“I think there’s been a lot of questions about how the subsidies have actually reached the consumer and it’s really important that there be a review,” she said.
“I think my role will be to look at the current program and see if there’s any ways it could become more efficient or more effective — or if there’s other programs that would help support [and] ensure that northerners get nutritious, good food in a cost-effective manner.”
The federal government was initially hesitant about an external review, but ultimately announced in October that one would be coming this year. CIRNAC is also currently in the process of an evaluation of Nutrition North, which is expected to finish in March.
A news release says Kotierk will be independent of the public service and will report directly to the CIRNAC minister.
The external review’s findings is expected to be delivered in a final report in 2026.
Announcement comes on the heels of potential class-action lawsuit
The announcement comes shortly after Inuit from Nunavut and Nunavik filed a potential class-action lawsuit against the North West Company for taking advantage of the Nutrition North subsidy and not passing it on to consumers.
The North West Company runs retail stores, including 188 Northern stores and five NorthMart stores across northern Canada, according to its website.
When asked if the announcement was timed because of the lawsuit, Anandasangaree said “absolutely not.”
“This announcement has been in the works for many months and this is a response to a much broader set of issues that we’ve heard,” he said.
In an emailed statement, Nunavut NDP MP Lori Idlout said Kotierk is well-respected.
“I look forward to the improvements from her work. While Northerners go to bed hungry, the Liberals delayed and kept giving money to [the] North West Company and their millionaire executives — who are now being sued for not using the subsidy to lower prices,” she wrote.
Along with announcing Kotierk’s appointment, Anandasangaree said his department will be contributing an additional $20 million toward the Nutrition North subsidy. In 2024-25, the subsidy program had a budget of $144.8 million.
