[Witness speaks in Inuktitut]
Thank you very much. Thank you, Mr. Borbey.
Mr. Chairperson and committee members, my name is Elizabeth Copland, and I am from Arviat, in Nunavut, where I have lived most of my life and have spent more than two decades working for the people of my community. I have taken on a variety of roles in my community, from serving as Arviat's first female mayor, to coroner, to economic development officer. I am deeply committed to ensuring that northern communities like Arviat realize their true potential in terms of health and prosperity.
Recently, I was asked by Minister Strahl to chair the advisory board for the new Nutrition North Canada program. I welcome the opportunity to appear before this committee because I believe that the new advisory board will give northerners a direct voice in the new program. So often government programs are developed in isolation from the communities they attempt to serve, but the new food subsidy program has been the product of extensive engagement with northerners, the people who will use the program. I look forward to continuing this engagement with Indian and Northern Affairs Canada during the transition from the current food mail program to Nutrition North Canada.
As I understand its role, the advisory board will provide a vital link between consumers and stakeholders and the decision-making process. The board will meet formally three times each year, alternating between on-site meetings and videoconference calls when possible; we will hold public sessions and invite presentations by stakeholders as well as by subject matter experts, academics, and government specialists. We will be asked to formulate our advice to the minister on a consensus basis so as to establish a broadly based agreement, but not necessarily unanimity among the board members.
At this time, I am the only member who has been named to the board. Over the summer, four to six additional members will be appointed by the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, in consultation with the Minister of Health. We will collectively represent a wide range of the primary perspectives, backgrounds, and interests of northern residents and communities. We will establish a work plan with particular attention to ministerial requests for consideration of priority issues. I understand that the minister has already suggested country food as one such priority issue when we have our first meeting in the fall.
Today is an opportunity for me to hear from you, the members of the aboriginal affairs and northern development committee. What do you see as the issues for the new program going forward? What are your views on the priorities for supporting affordable access to healthy food in northern communities?
As part of its advisory capacity, the board will have leeway to direct its focus to the most vital issues surrounding food security in the north. I would like to say also that I think the advisory board is an important oversight feature of the new program to ensure that it is truly responsive and accountable to the needs of those it is designed to serve.
I am pleased to have been asked to chair this board and I look forward to the important work we will do in the next ten months and beyond.
Matna.
Thank you.