According to data collected by four Canadian universities for the Food Price Report, families across the country will spend an additional 4 to 6 per cent on food costs this year. Researchers from universities across the country found food prices in the Northern territories are two to four times even higher compared to prices in urban cities of the south.
The food security gap in the North has deepened substantially in the past five years due to what experts say is a lack of infrastructure.
Dalhousie University led the study along with the University of British Columbia, the University of Saskatchewan, the University of Alta., the University of Guelf, the University of Laval, the University of Prince Edward Island, Cape Breton University and Saint Mary’s University.
“Long hauls, and transportation costs required to deliver food supplies all cause significant logistical issues, including high incidences of weather-related delays. Because of this, access to fresh foods, like fruit, vegetables and meat, is particularly challenging,” said the authors of the report published today.
The far North is seeing rates which are estimated to be much greater than southern regions of the country.
“Food insecurity in these regions is about double than the national average, with Nunavut experiencing the highest prevalence at 57 per cent of the population,” noted the researchers.
According to data collected for the report, a family of four in Canada will likely spend an extra $994 on groceries next year on average. The data suggests an increase of 4 to 6 per cent in overall food prices. Compared to five years ago, officials say food prices have jumped 27 per cent. They also say a quarter of Canadian households are considered food insecure.
The researchers pointed out that the report does not include projections for the N.W.T., Yukon, or Nunavut, even though these areas are “facing some of the most severe food affordability challenges.”
“Food prices in the North consistently exceed national averages, driven by a combination of high transportation costs, extreme weather conditions, logistical complexities, and a limited retail market structure. These issues have intensified since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, exacerbated by global inflationary pressures and ongoing disruptions in supply chains,” said the authors of the report.
Food Banks Canada released a report earlier this year on the experience of poverty across the country but the researchers were unable to assess poverty in the territory because of low numbers of survey participants. Researchers have noted that data collection is an ongoing problem for poverty reduction efforts in the North.
“One critical barrier to effectively addressing food affordability in the North is the lack of detailed, region-specific data on food prices, household expenditures, and consumption patterns. National surveys like the Canadian Income Survey often exclude remote areas with low population density, leaving substantial gaps in our understanding of food insecurity in these communities.
The report’s authors said that the missing data has consequences on portraying a comprehensive picture of the situation faced by Northerners.
‘Improved data collection and tailored metrics are urgently needed to reflect the unique circumstances of Northern regions, where traditional food systems and market-based food supplies intersect in complex ways,” said the authors.
Researchers found that with the cost of food in the North often double and even triple compared to southern regions of the country, market based subsidies are proving to be ineffective.
“Persistently high food costs and alarming rates of food insecurity indicate that market-based subsidies alone are insufficient. A more holistic approach is needed, one that not only improves the affordability of store-bought foods but also strengthens traditional Indigenous food systems, which play a vital role in ensuring access to sufficient and nutritious food.”