Nunavut MP Hunter Tootoo called for an inquiry into the Nutrition North Canada retailer subsidy program during question period in Ottawa June 11.

SA国际影视传媒淪ince it launched in 2011, successive governments have spent over half a billion dollars on the Nutrition North Program. In that time the number of households in Nunavut affected by food insecurity has risen from 33 to over 50 per cent,SA国际影视传媒� said Tootoo.

SA国际影视传媒淲ith results that bad we should call it the Phoenix Food Program. Minister, Nunavummiut want answers. Will you open an inquiry into Nutrition North so we can understand why it has failed so spectacularly, and find a way to ensure food security for our communities.SA国际影视传媒�

As a Tootoo finished his question, another MP called out, SA国际影视传媒淕ood question.SA国际影视传媒�

Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations Carolyn Bennett said in response that it is unacceptable that many Northerners are still struggling to feed their families.

SA国际影视传媒淥ur government has expanded Nutrition North to support a total of 116 isolated communities although we know that more needs to be done,SA国际影视传媒� Bennett said.

She did mention support for harvesters, a side program, and that the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency is also supporting pilot projects for made-in-community solutions.

Watch Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations Carolyn BennettSA国际影视传媒檚 response:

However, when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was on the campaign trail, and briefly touched down in Iqaluit to meet with Nunavummiut in January 2015, he swiftly addressed the hot button topic of Nutrition North, saying the program needed to be rebuilt.

That hasnSA国际影视传媒檛 happened.

Tootoo said, in an interview with Nunavut News, that funding increases are like throwing good money after bad.

SA国际影视传媒淚nstead of throwing more money at it, letSA国际影视传媒檚 figure out why itSA国际影视传媒檚 not working and go from there. TheySA国际影视传媒檙e (the Liberals) are just going along with it. I thought they were going to fix it,SA国际影视传媒� said Tootoo, who adds heSA国际影视传媒檚 considering running for MP again based on encouragement and support he has received from across the territory.

SA国际影视传媒淭he only way to fix it is to take a look at it in its entirety. Look at the food chain supply, the wholesaler, retailer distribution, and figure out where the breakdown is, and what itSA国际影视传媒檚 going to need to be able to fix it.SA国际影视传媒�

Tootoo says he doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 know why the government refuses to take a hard look at the program.

SA国际影视传媒淚f you had numbers like that, if it was in Toronto or Montreal, you think theySA国际影视传媒檇 be sitting back and doing nothing about it? I doubt it,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

He says Nutrition North needs to be picked apart, not have Band-Aid solutions applied.

SA国际影视传媒淪hipments have increased by about 20 per cent. The number of items in the program have been expanded. But still itSA国际影视传媒檚 getting worse,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

Nunavummiut express dissatisfaction, suspicion and concern about subsidies being passed on to consumers, Tootoo said.

SA国际影视传媒淚f you did a complete review and inquiry into the program, youSA国际影视传媒檇 be able to narrow it down. The government is saying theySA国际影视传媒檙e doing audits and theySA国际影视传媒檙e saying it is (being passed on) but if you want to get rid of that argument, do an inquiry, put all the facts on the table, and people will be able to see for themselves,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

SA国际影视传媒淚 think Canadians would be embarrassed as Canadians to know that fellow Canadians, in a first world country, half the population of a jurisdiction, is living food insecure.

SA国际影视传媒淎nd the fact that your spending half a billion dollars and the situationSA国际影视传媒檚 getting worse SA国际影视传媒� YouSA国际影视传媒檇 think theySA国际影视传媒檇 (the government) want to do their due diligence. They always say they want to do evidence-based, science-based decisions. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 kind of hard to do that if you donSA国际影视传媒檛 have all the information.SA国际影视传媒�

Tootoo plans on following up with a statement in the House of Commons tomorrow (June 12).