Cost of the Revised Northern Food Basket in 2020-2021

Table of contents

Overview

The tables below show the cost of the Revised Northern Food Basket (RNFB) in communities eligible for the Nutrition North Canada (NNC) program. The amounts are estimates of what it cost to feed a family of 4 a healthy diet for 1 week.

The COVID-19 global pandemic has posed significant challenges for the supply chain including transport issues, staffing concerns, shortages and losses. During this unprecedented time, food costs increased due to economic and logistic volatility in food-related to transportation and retail sectors.

On April 14, 2020, in response to critical priorities identified by territorial governments to prepare for and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government of Canada announced additional support measures to address the immediate health, economic, and transportation needs of northerners. This included an additional $25 million investment to Nutrition North Canada, to increase subsidy rates in all eligible communities.

This has led to savings for the residents of eligible communities.

For comparison, the tables show the cost of the RNFB in March 2011 (under the Food Mail Program) versus the latest completed fiscal year. The tables also provide information for the 2020 to 2021 quarters, to help monitor trends over time.

In communities eligible for a full retail subsidy under NNC, the average cost of the RNFB in March 2021 was $2.45 (0.59%) higher than in March 2020. The average basket cost is lower by $7.37 (1.76%) compared to March 2011, prior to the launch of the NNC program.

According to Statistics Canada, food purchased from stores elsewhere in Canada increased by 1.33% between March 2020 and March 2021, and increased by 18.2% over 10 years.

The cost of the Revised Northern Food Basket between March 2020 to March 2021 decreased in 35 communities in the regions of Manitoba, the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Ontario and Saskatchewan. Overall, 45 out of 116 eligible communities had a lower RNFB growth rate than the Consumer Price Index of 1.33% for food purchased outside of the program in the same period.

Cost of the Revised Northern Food Basket in 2020 to 2021

The cost of the basket was calculated with price data provided by the following retailers:

Notes:

Average

Communities eligible for a full subsidy Cost of the Revised Northern Food Basket ($) Difference between March 2011 and March 2021 Difference between March 2020 and March 2021
March
2011
March
2020
June
2020
Sept
2020
Dec
2020
March
2021
$ % $ %
Average 426.48 416.65 434.97 425.02 420.18 419.11 -7.37 -1.73% 2.45 0.59%

Alberta

Communities eligible for a full subsidy Cost of the Revised Northern Food Basket ($) Difference between March 2011 and March 2021 Difference between March 2020 and March 2021
March
2011
March
2020
June
2020
Sept
2020
Dec
2020
March
2021
$ % $ %
Fort Chipewyan n/a n/a 384.49 368.46 369.20 366.91 n/a n/a n/a n/a

Manitoba

Communities eligible for a full subsidy Cost of the Revised Northern Food Basket ($) Difference between March 2011 and March 2021 Difference between March 2020 and March 2021
March
2011
March
2020
June
2020
Sept
2020
Dec
2020
March
2021
$ % $ %
Berens River ◊ n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Brochet n/a 426.84 439.59 429.31 428.96 426.33 n/a n/a -0.51 -0.12%
Gods Lake Narrows 375.58 384.58 421.45 401.83 404.32 408.53 32.95 8.77% 23.95 6.23%
Granville Lake n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Gods River 387.49 405.53 409.05 394.80 393.53 386.79 -0.70 -0.18% -18.74 -4.62%
Island Lake (Garden Hill) 413.70 403.54 414.30 414.65 413.13 412.89 -0.81 -0.20% 9.35 2.32%
Lac Brochet 420.37 415.82 436.37 431.36 432.92 432.19 11.82 2.81% 16.37 3.94%
Little Grand Rapids 410.72 388.98 383.47 375.44 372.08 372.07 -38.65 -9.41% -16.91 -4.35%
Negginan (Poplar River) 414.50 414.82 410.61 398.64 398.16 394.55 -19.95 -4.81% -20.27 -4.89%
Oxford House 372.03 391.03 383.30 368.63 372.73 382.36 10.33 2.78% -8.67 -2.22%
Pauingassi n/a 406.71 413.77 398.55 398.89 400.74 n/a n/a -5.97 -1.47%
Red Sucker Lake 437.62 411.63 426.57 420.96 421.04 414.83 -22.79 -5.21% 3.20 0.78%
Shamattawa n/a 422.48 425.42 424.26 424.43 423.56 n/a n/a 1.08 0.26%
St. Theresa Point 406.53 414.76 421.62 409.96 419.75 421.10 14.57 3.58% 6.34 1.53%
Tadoule Lake n/a 438.34 443.23 423.77 434.85 427.62 n/a n/a -10.72 -2.45%
Waasagomach 419.49 434.54 424.30 414.83 410.61 403.97 -15.52 -3.70% -30.57 -7.04%
York Landing n/a n/a 398.93 387.93 403.96 403.65 n/a n/a n/a n/a

Newfoundland and Labrador

Communities eligible for a full subsidy Cost of the Revised Northern Food Basket ($) Difference between March 2011 and March 2021 Difference between March 2020 and March 2021
March
2011
March
2020
June
2020
Sept
2020
Dec
2020
March
2021
$ % $ %
Hopedale 353.96 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Makkovik 311.75 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Nain 310.78 438.20 502.31 507.40 505.37 503.08 192.30 61.88% 64.88 14.81%
Natuashish n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Postville n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Rigolet n/a 364.38 416.10 423.15 422.63 422.36 n/a n/a 57.98 15.91%
Black Tickle n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Williams Harbour ◊ n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a

Northwest Territories

Beaufort-Delta

Communities eligible for a full subsidy Cost of the Revised Northern Food Basket ($) Difference between March 2011 and March 2021 Difference between March 2020 and March 2021
March
2011
March
2020
June
2020
Sept
2020
Dec
2020
March
2021
$ % $ %
Aklavik 450.35 452.86 470.22 461.61 404.08 416.36 -33.99 -7.55% -36.50 -8.06%
Paulatuk 489.38 506.51 519.03 504.60 425.29 430.44 -58.94 -12.04% -76.07 -15.02%
Sachs Harbour n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Tuktoyaktuk ◊ 443.62 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Ulukhaktok (Holman) 468.35 437.46 468.18 447.63 430.06 437.42 -30.93 -6.60% -0.04 -0.01%

Great Slave Lake

Communities eligible for a full subsidy Cost of the Revised Northern Food Basket ($) Difference between March 2011 and March 2021 Difference between March 2020 and March 2021
March
2011
March
2020
June
2020
Sept
2020
Dec
2020
March
2021
$ % $ %
Gamètì (Rae Lakes) n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Lutsel K'e n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Wekweètì (Snare Lake) n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Whatì n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a

Deh Cho

Communities eligible for a full subsidy Cost of the Revised Northern Food Basket ($) Difference between March 2011 and March 2021 Difference between March 2020 and March 2021
March
2011
March
2020
June
2020
Sept
2020
Dec
2020
March
2021
$ % $ %
Sambaa K'e (Trout Lake) n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a

Sahtu

Communities eligible for a full subsidy Cost of the Revised Northern Food Basket ($) Difference between March 2011 and March 2021 Difference between March 2020 and March 2021
March
2011
March
2020
June
2020
Sept
2020
Dec
2020
March
2021
$ % $ %
Colville Lake n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Délîne 449.99 413.42 427.28 423.44 415.25 418.59 -31.40 -6.98% 5.17 1.25%
Norman Wells 394.95 443.16 498.67 485.58 488.07 486.56 91.61 23.20% 43.40 9.79%
Fort Good Hope 463.96 459.81 459.31 445.86 420.14 427.66 -36.30 -7.82% -32.15 -6.99%
Tulita 437.49 457.50 496.95 485.14 450.31 453.76 16.27 3.72% -3.74 -0.82%

Nunavut

Baffin

Communities eligible for a full subsidy Cost of the Revised Northern Food Basket ($) Difference between March 2011 and March 2021 Difference between March 2020 and March 2021
March
2011
March
2020
June
2020
Sept
2020
Dec
2020
March
2021
$ % $ %
Arctic Bay 494.97 428.77 443.67 431.87 431.33 421.32 -73.65 -14.88% -7.45 -1.74%
Cape Dorset 469.20 442.79 497.39 464.46 463.88 464.28 -4.92 -1.05% 21.49 4.85%
Clyde River 467.42 436.69 468.33 452.73 448.68 450.63 -16.79 -3.59% 13.94 3.19%
Grise Fiord n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Hall Beach 448.48 404.07 414.04 408.20 409.97 408.57 -39.91 -8.90% 4.50 1.11%
Igloolik 459.43 422.37 426.12 423.29 425.13 420.71 -38.72 -8.43% -1.66 -0.39%
Iqaluit 429.15 405.71 449.99 446.45 440.83 442.01 12.87 3.00% 36.30 8.95%
Kimmirut 467.83 415.58 439.60 420.83 419.32 418.45 -49.38 -10.56% 2.87 0.69%
Pangnirtung 506.79 473.96 511.51 513.97 473.30 475.71 -31.08 -6.13% 1.75 0.37%
Pond Inlet 454.43 409.87 437.42 426.05 433.06 428.77 -25.66 -5.65% 18.90 4.61%
Qikiqtarjuaq 451.23 438.42 446.60 430.27 430.49 426.03 -25.20 -5.58% -12.39 -2.83%
Resolute n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Sanikiluaq 439.83 444.64 479.64 465.64 459.13 458.83 19.00 4.32% 14.19 3.19%

Kitikmeot

Communities eligible for a full subsidy Cost of the Revised Northern Food Basket ($) Difference between March 2011 and March 2021 Difference between March 2020 and March 2021
March
2011
March
2020
June
2020
Sept
2020
Dec
2020
March
2021
$ % $ %
Cambridge Bay 439.94 417.54 431.14 418.50 409.51 409.97 -29.97 -6.81% -7.57 -1.81%
Gjoa Haven 463.09 459.57 463.41 467.03 464.63 459.86 -3.23 -0.70% 0.29 0.06%
Kugaaruk n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Kugluktuk 492.47 426.21 442.71 422.49 405.64 404.40 -88.07 -17.88% -21.81 -5.12%
Taloyoak 483.52 475.97 523.40 504.63 479.81 468.86 -14.66 -3.03% -7.11 -1.49%

Kivalliq

Communities eligible for a full subsidy Cost of the Revised Northern Food Basket ($) Difference between March 2011 and March 2021 Difference between March 2020 and March 2021
March
2011
March
2020
June
2020
Sept
2020
Dec
2020
March
2021
$ % $ %
Arviat 456.22 390.94 423.82 408.61 408.42 411.21 -45.01 -9.87% 20.27 5.18%
Baker Lake 443.53 382.14 439.30 423.39 416.50 408.77 -34.76 -7.84% 26.63 6.97%
Coral Harbour 465.72 419.94 480.06 480.47 484.60 473.54 7.82 1.68% 53.60 12.76%
Chesterfield Inlet 449.59 415.05 420.98 405.65 408.08 405.93 -43.66 -9.71% -9.12 -2.20%
Naujaat (Repulse Bay) 448.65 413.35 474.76 461.27 459.51 453.02 4.37 0.97% 39.67 9.60%
Rankin Inlet 421.68 380.16 434.60 411.29 409.06 412.42 -9.26 -2.20% 32.26 8.49%
Whale Cove n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a

Ontario

Communities eligible for a full subsidy Cost of the Revised Northern Food Basket ($) Difference between March 2011 and March 2021 Difference between March 2020 and March 2021
March
2011
March
2020
June
2020
Sept
2020
Dec
2020
March
2021
$ % $ %
Angling Lake n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Attawapiskat 460.05 437.97 452.44 453.46 444.52 450.23 -9.82 -2.13% 12.26 2.80%
Bearskin Lake 452.89 441.96 435.89 424.54 410.31 407.46 -45.43 -10.03% -34.50 -7.81%
Cat Lake n/a 389.60 400.00 384.51 390.02 383.12 n/a n/a -6.48 -1.66%
Deer Lake n/a 413.09 399.21 391.95 385.92 386.33 n/a n/a -26.76 -6.48%
Eabamet Lake (Fort Hope) n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Big Trout Lake n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Fort Albany 452.89 412.09 439.23 423.71 423.63 427.75 -25.14 -5.55% 15.66 3.80%
Favourable Lake (Sandy Lake) n/a 401.76 388.76 371.90 370.39 368.58 n/a n/a -33.18 -8.26%
Fort Severn 427.88 448.30 446.87 435.59 428.90 416.72 -11.16 -2.61% -31.58 -7.04%
Kashechewan 452.23 426.68 439.50 435.87 442.71 438.51 -13.72 -3.03% 11.83 2.77%
Keewaywin n/a 470.46 470.62 455.49 451.72 443.56 n/a n/a -26.90 -5.72%
Kasabonika n/a 429.53 434.44 434.80 430.41 418.97 n/a n/a -10.56 -2.46%
Kingfisher Lake n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Lansdowne House n/a 409.66 411.34 398.60 392.80 389.99 n/a n/a -19.67 -4.80%
Muskrat Dam n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
North Spirit Lake n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Ogoki n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Peawanuck 436.96 477.41 468.89 464.45 455.43 461.39 24.43 5.59% -16.02 -3.36%
Pikangikum n/a 390.50 381.73 363.98 367.65 375.98 n/a n/a -14.52 -3.72%
Poplar Hill n/a 385.71 383.39 375.78 367.76 361.95 n/a n/a -23.76 -6.16%
Sachigo Lake n/a 438.38 437.92 427.30 419.34 416.97 n/a n/a -21.41 -4.88%
Summer Beaver n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Wawakapewin n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Webequie n/a 449.49 453.23 433.63 431.89 430.77 n/a n/a -18.72 -4.16%
Weagamow Lake n/a 397.77 399.82 390.04 386.57 388.35 n/a n/a -9.42 -2.37%
Wunnummin Lake n/a 403.38 409.53 417.63 415.00 408.69 n/a n/a 5.31 1.32%

Quebec

Communities eligible for a full subsidy Cost of the Revised Northern Food Basket ($) Difference between March 2011 and March 2021 Difference between March 2020 and March 2021
March
2011
March
2020
June
2020
Sept
2020
Dec
2020
March
2021
$ % $ %
Akulivik 390.75 407.60 429.97 423.75 422.54 420.44 29.69 7.60% 12.84 3.15%
Aupaluk 367.82 371.35 401.72 394.02 390.63 386.53 18.71 5.09% 15.18 4.09%
Inukjuak 398.10 395.24 413.08 400.46 399.16 408.03 9.93 2.50% 12.79 3.24%
Ivujivik 367.82 370.10 400.45 394.03 392.44 393.21 25.39 6.90% 23.11 6.24%
Kangiqsualujjuaq 386.02 383.30 411.88 395.91 397.89 407.64 21.62 5.60% 24.34 6.35%
Kangiqsujuaq 381.18 381.16 448.38 440.35 439.27 442.80 61.62 16.17% 61.64 16.17%
Kangirsuk 399.34 383.45 434.24 419.50 416.04 411.23 11.90 2.98% 27.78 7.24%
Kuujjuaq 404.69 381.79 395.09 401.55 392.17 391.68 -13.01 -3.21% 9.89 2.59%
Kuujjuarapik 391.80 372.27 389.11 384.86 381.91 383.89 -7.91 -2.02% 11.62 3.12%
Puvirnituq 387.65 408.81 454.41 439.75 438.22 436.22 48.58 12.53% 27.41 6.70%
Quaqtaq 367.82 370.18 395.97 386.78 395.50 396.24 28.42 7.73% 26.06 7.04%
Salluit 388.48 403.71 444.88 445.01 441.30 438.01 49.53 12.75% 34.30 8.50%
Tasiujaq 367.82 378.75 396.36 395.73 398.44 394.85 27.03 7.35% 16.10 4.25%
Umiujaq 394.94 378.89 406.86 401.90 397.08 395.49 0.55 0.14% 16.60 4.38%
Chevery n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Gethsémani (La Romaine) n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Harrington Harbour n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
La Tabatière n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Mutton Bay n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Port-Menier n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Saint-Augustin / Pakuashipi n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Tête-à-la-Baleine n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a

Saskatchewan

Communities eligible for a full subsidy Cost of the Revised Northern Food Basket ($) Difference between March 2011 and March 2021 Difference between March 2020 and March 2021
March
2011
March
2020
June
2020
Sept
2020
Dec
2020
March
2021
$ % $ %
Black Lake ◊ n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Fond-du-Lac n/a 435.31 444.35 434.68 436.02 430.31 n/a n/a -5.00 -1.15%
Stony Rapids ◊ n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Uranium City n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Wollaston Lake n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a

Yukon

Communities eligible for a full subsidy Cost of the Revised Northern Food Basket ($) Difference between March 2011 and March 2021 Difference between March 2020 and March 2021
March
2011
March
2020
June
2020
Sept
2020
Dec
2020
March
2021
$ % $ %
Old Crow 505.06 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a

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