Evidence of meeting #26 for Health in the 39th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was food.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Director, Public Affairs, Northern Canada, Affordable Food Alliance
That is it indeed. There's one flat price for a product, common to all, in the province. So whether you're buying a quart of whiskey in Churchill or in Winnipeg, it's the same retail price.
Conservative
Director, Public Affairs, Northern Canada, Affordable Food Alliance
Yes, they're obviously absorbing the freight. And Quebec did this for awhile, but it's now changed--somewhat, but it's still subsidized. They still subsidize bringing alcohol into northern Quebec today.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rob Merrifield
I think that helps us with our report.
Is there anything further to the question?
Director, Public Affairs, Northern Canada, Affordable Food Alliance
As Mr. Keeper said, the cost of transportation is a major factor. You have to keep in perspective the other costs as well. Energy costs exceed anything we pay here in the south. It's all relative. Particularly in places like Nunavut, which is entirely fossil fuel...it's quite extraordinary, the cost of services and utilities.
Bloc
Nicole Demers Bloc Laval, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I only want to make one comment, after which I will give the floor back to my colleague.
If you don't mind, I will start off by asking the people at Health Canada to either take our deliberations seriously or to not come at all. I witnessed an unfortunate incident this afternoon: someone was on his BlackBerry and was laughing with someone else while the witnesses were making their presentations. I didn't find it funny at all, and neither do some other people who are here. These people are paid to do a job. If they don't want to do it, let them stay home.
Let me make a second comment. It seems to me that we have been talking about the First Nations and Aboriginal issue for years. As far as I am concerned, the main problem seems to be that we do not want to recognize their right to autonomy and to grant them the means to exercise it. We are not giving them the resources they need to break free from the shackles that bind them. All we're doing is maintaining their dependence by providing them with little programs year after year. These programs only prolong their dependence on the government and prevent them from developing fully. This is how I feel.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rob Merrifield
Madame Gagnon, I imagine you're the one she's giving the time to.
Bloc
Christiane Gagnon Bloc Québec, QC
Yes. I would like to ask a quick question.
Do you think that the program linked to the $500 tax credit will have an impact on your communities? You have certainly heard about it during the election campaign, as we had promised. This program appeals to people; we say that we will do more sports. This intends to encourage people to do more exercise. Do you think that this will have a positive impact on your communities?
Diabetes Awareness and Prevention Coordinator, Tungasuvvingat Inuit
I don't think it will have an impact because you have to have it to spend it before you can get the credit for it. A lot of our people don't even have it to begin with.
Bloc
Christiane Gagnon Bloc Québec, QC
This is pretty much what several witnesses who appeared before the committee have told us, especially when it comes to obesity. This population is not as well-off, has less money and has trouble making both ends meet. People often try to save money by cutting back on the quality of food. At first sight, these people don't have $500 to spend, and it would only put $73 back into their pockets. I'm asking the question because it involves one of my observations and criticisms. I have often heard this in testimonies during various debates.
Thank you.
Liberal
Ruby Dhalla Liberal Brampton—Springdale, ON
Thank you very much to all of the presenters.
I thought the presentations were extremely insightful, especially that of the aboriginal diabetes association, which talked about some of the work you do on a daily basis and some of the challenges you face.
I had a couple of questions. As you know, after we finish with a study of this particular issue, we are going to be putting forward a report of recommendations based on what we've heard from the witnesses.
So I have two questions. First of all, could you perhaps provide us with one or two recommendations that you think are going to benefit all committee members for us to include it within the report? I know there has been some talk from Connie and your colleagues, and I think Peter mentioned it as well, in terms of other challenges you face I think on a daily basis--not having stable funding, not being able to plan, and all of the funding being left until the last minute, which puts you in an awkward position when you're providing the resources. So if you could just perhaps touch upon that issue, some of the recommendations—
Secondly, we had in the last Parliament I think all of the stakeholders come together from across the country and sign on to the Kelowna Accord. When we talk about the issue of obesity, we know we had over $5 billion invested over a period of five years. With that $5 billion, I believe there was almost $1.3 billion that was allocated for the purpose of creating healthy communities within the aboriginal and first nations.
Now with the Kelowna Accord not being signed with this new government, what type of impact does that have on your particular communities to address the issue of obesity and to address the issue of young aboriginal children getting the food they need and the healthy resources they need?
Conservative
Executive Director, National Association of Friendship Centres
My one major recommendation would be that this committee recommend significant programming for the six-to-twelve age group in recreation. I think that will have a tremendous impact on child obesity in the long term. It's a well-heeded investment that will have maximum impact, we believe.
Frankly, we believe the Kelowna Accord should be respected, because it would begin to have significant impact in first nations, Inuit, and Métis communities. We thought that went halfway to meeting the urban action plan and that work was to be completed.
Chief, Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak
In terms of transportation from any of our isolated communities, we are totally reliant on airlines, and even that has been downsized in many of our communities. We're down to just one airline in most of our communities. A lot of our people get stranded in the local hub. The local hub starts complaining about the people who are stranded there. All our communities rely on the local hub for our policing, our justice system, our health, and when we have to go grocery shopping.
In the area of northern Manitoba where we live, Thompson is the hub. It's like the downtown. Somebody from Brochet, Lac Brochet, or Oxford House...you'll meet somebody downtown, somewhere, at some point throughout the month, depending on when they're coming in for food or fuel, or whatever they do. I think that's one critical area that we're all looking at and that we're faced with in our communities: accessibility. By providing accessibility, we'd be able to afford much of the goods and services we require.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rob Merrifield
Thank you very much.
I want to thank the witnesses for coming in.
Oh, did you have an answer? I don't want to cut you off. Go ahead.
November 7th, 2006 / 5:25 p.m.
Program Coordinator, Inuit Family Resource Centre, Tungasuvvingat Inuit
I did have two, one just to ensure that there is some allocation for urban Inuit initiatives in any recommendations, and, second, that in the development of any action plans, communication is kept open with the communities to develop priorities and parameters for any future plans. That would be great.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rob Merrifield
Thank you very much. Your contribution to the committee in looking at a final report is very valuable, and I want to thank you for coming in.
Our time is gone, but Ms. Keeper had a question.
Liberal
Tina Keeper Liberal Churchill, MB
Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair.
Connie, you mentioned that there was a study that had been done. You referenced a study that you've been presenting over the last three years. Could we have a copy of that study?
Program Coordinator, Inuit Family Resource Centre, Tungasuvvingat Inuit
Sure. It just came out this spring in the Canadian Journal of Public Health. It's published there.