Aluki Kotierk’s review of food subsidy program was almost two months late with no explanation
Aluki Kotierk, second from right, a special representative to the minister of northern affairs, submitted an external review of the Nutrition North food subsidy to the federal government Monday — nearly two months after it was due, a government official says. Kotierk was seen Monday with Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree, left, Nunavut MP Lori Idlout and former Nunavut premier Paul Okalik at the Tapiriit event Monday night in Ottawa. (Photo by Jeff Pelletier)
Jorge Antunes
Nearly two months after an external review of the Nutrition North food subsidy program was due, the federal government says it received that report on Monday from its special representative Aluki Kotierk.
“I can confirm that Minister [Rebecca] Chartrand received the submission from the ministerial special representative on Nutrition North Canada on Monday which is currently being reviewed,” Erika Lashbrook Knutson, press secretary to Northern Affairs Minister Rebecca Chartrand said in an email on Wednesday.
The Nutrition North program is the responsibility of the federal Department of Northern Affairs.
It is unclear why the review was delayed for almost two months, but Chartrand’s press secretary said Kotierk told the government she would not bill the government for her work.
“As [Kotierk] provided her review after the deadline had passed, she indicated in her submission that she would not be sending an invoice,” Lashbrook Knutson said.
Former Northern Affairs Minister Dan Vandal first announced the review in October 2024 to address years of complaints about the program. Critics said it was not meeting the needs of northerners as they faced rising food prices.
The program subsidizes the cost of food and other essentials in 124 northern communities, including all of Nunavut and Nunavik.
In February 2025, then Northern Affairs Minister Gary Anandasangaree announced the appointment of Kotierk, a former Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. president, as a ministerial special representative to oversee the external review.
In March, Chartrand told Nunatsiaq News the review was due at the end of that month. That deadline came and went with no sign of Kotierk or the review.
Since then, Nunatsiaq News has asked Chartrand’s office for updates on the status of the report.
To date, Northern Affairs has been invoiced $15,000 in travel expenses for Kotierk’s work. As of April, Kotierk had not invoiced the department for compensation.