The Northern Food Basket (NFB) was developed in 1990 to monitor the cost of a nutritious diet in isolated northern communities. This 46-item basket was modelled after Agriculture Canada's Thrifty Nutritious Food Basket, which was used to monitor the cost of a nutritious diet for a lower-income reference family of four (a girl 7-9 years, a boy 13-15 years, and a man and woman 25-49 years of age). Typical families are larger in the North. However, this family size was selected for the NFB in order to compare the cost of a nutritious diet in the North with Agriculture Canada's baskets for southern Canada.

The NFB was designed to meet the 1990 Recommended Nutrient Intakes for Canadians. It was [Note 1] first used in the Air Stage Subsidy Review led by Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) in 1990. INAC [Note 2] continued to use this basket to assess the impact of changes to the Air Stage Subsidy - more commonly referred to as the Food Mail Program - on the cost of a nutritious diet during the Air Stage Subsidy Monitoring Program conducted over the period from 1991 to 1994. The price survey results were summarized in a discussion paper published in 1994. The NFB proved [Note 3] to be a useful monitoring tool for comparing the cost of a food basket for a family of four across isolated northern communities and some southern cities in Canada. By now, a data series including more than 75 communities over 14 years has been compiled.

INAC intends to continue using the NFB to monitor the cost of a food basket for a family of four for one or two more years while introducing a Revised Northern Food Basket (RNFB), containing more items (68 versus 46). The RNFB is considered to be more culturally appropriate for Aboriginal people, the vast majority of those who benefit from the Food Mail Program, and is better from a nutritional point of view.

The approximate amounts of each food contained in the NFB are shown in the accompanying table   (PDF 196 Kb, 35 Pages). During the development of the RNFB, it was discovered that a number of errors had been made in calculating the quantities of certain foods in the NFB. These errors have been corrected in the calculation of the cost of the basket presented here. [Note 4]

Price selection procedure

The procedure used to calculate the cost of the NFB is intended to maximize comparability between the cost from one year to the next in the same community, and from one community to another. The costs calculated according to this procedure are intended to represent the lowest cost of an identical food basket in northern communities at the time of the survey. For most items, the cost of the basket is based on the lowest price for specified brands and purchase sizes available in the community. By minimizing the impact of price differences among brands and sizes, we can more accurately measure differences in the cost of the NFB which are attributable to differences in transportation costs, other retail operating costs, wholesale prices and retail competition. The results are not intended to represent the lowest cost for the basket regardless of brands, purchase sizes and quality which a consumer may choose. For the latter purpose, a different price selection procedure would be required.

To ensure that prices are available for identical items across northern Canada and in southern supply centres, with minimal substitution of different brands and purchase sizes, certain national brands and the most common purchase sizes for most items were selected, based on the price surveys conducted in 1990. A few minor changes have been made over the years to reflect changes in the food processing industry. The sizes and brands chosen are not necessarily the most economical or the "best buy." Until 1994, because of time and cost constraints, INAC's price survey forms did not require recording the prices of all brands and sizes of the items included in the survey. The survey forms used since 1994 have provided greater scope for testing and using different price selection procedures reflecting different shopping strategies. The shopping strategy implicit in the procedure described above would represent a shopper who is inflexible in terms of brands and purchase sizes for most items, but carefully compares prices in all stores in the community and then selects the lowest available price for a preferred purchase size for each item and, in most cases, a preferred brand. In most northern communities, this would mean shopping in at least two stores and comparing the price of each item in all local stores before making a purchase.

In most southern centres, prices have usually been surveyed in only one store. Where more than one store has been surveyed in southern centres, the price selection is based on only one store at a time. This difference in survey coverage and the procedure in northern and southern centres will tend to reduce the difference between the cost of the NFB in northern and southern centres. However, any bias will be consistent throughout the time series. Neither the items in the NFB nor the purchase sizes and brands are intended to represent a typical or reasonable southern shopping basket. The sole purpose in calculating the cost of the NFB in the south is to provide a basis for analysing northern costs by comparing them with the retail cost of identical items in southern centres.

Special or Sale Prices

"Special" prices were used in the south (including Whitehorse, Yellowknife, Churchill and Happy Valley-Goose Bay) for items which were on special at the time of the survey. Shoppers in the south would expect certain items in a weekly food basket to be on special at any given time, even though the items on special would change frequently. Since INAC's main interest is in the total cost of the basket, rather than in the cost of any specific item, a cost for the basket using special prices would be more representative than a cost based only on "regular" prices. Furthermore, the regular prices of items on special at the time are not always known, making it difficult to base the cost of the basket only on regular prices.

In the North, specials are relatively rare. Only regular prices were used in the North, since the intention is to produce results which are typical rather than unusual. However, when regular prices for items on special were not displayed or recorded, special prices had to be used in the North as well.

Timing of price surveys

Ideally, surveys done in a community from one year to the next would be done at the same time period to minimize seasonal variations of prices for certain products which are more affected by this, e.g., apples, potatoes, and generally speaking, fruits and vegetables. Unfortunately, over the years, surveys have not always been done at the same time period from one year to the next. However, the fact that there are 46 food items in the basket tends to minimize the impact of seasonal variations in prices of specific items.

Limitations of Nutritious Food Baskets and the Northern Food Basket

Most nutritious food baskets are based on average purchasing or consumption data for a particular population group as a starting point to determine the kinds and amounts of foods. Therefore, they may not be typical of the food preferences of any specific individual or family. Furthermore, they do not allow for the cost of eating out. The exclusion of prepared, convenience foods and foods of little nutritional value means that they are not representative of food consumption or expenditure in Canada, although they do provide a useful benchmark for comparing the cost of a basic nutritious diet in different communities at different times.

Also, it is important to stress that nutritious food baskets are not intended to recommend or promote the consumption of any specific food included in the baskets. The choices of items within each food group are not all of equal nutritional value, and are not necessarily the most economical or nutritious foods that could be consumed to meet nutrition recommendations.

Finally, care needs to be exercised when comparing results from one community to the next since the NFB was developed mainly to track the impact of the Food Mail Program transportation subsidy, especially over time, with the understanding that there are other substantial costs incurred by retailers in northern isolated communities. Salaries, electricity and heating, construction and maintenance of buildings, transportation and maintenance of equipment, retail competition, and size of community are all factors that can, at least in part, explain variations in the cost of the NFB from one community to another. For instance, when looking at electricity costs in a sample of 18 communities in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut using the rate charged in Winnipeg in 2002 as a basis for comparison, these communities were paying between 3 and 7 times more with some, like Sachs Harbour and Colville Lake, paying respectively 11 and 32 times more. These costs can translate into significantly higher operating costs, which helps to explain why, on average, the NFB costs twice as much in isolated northern communities as in southern centres.

Presentation of survey results

The survey results have been grouped by region for presentation. Northern communities in a particular region can be expected to have similar transportation and operating costs, thus minimizing any variations in these costs for comparison purposes, although some costs, such as electricity, can vary substantially from one community to another within the same region. The introduction to each regional presentation identifies the designated Food Mail entry point and other southern supply centres, as well as the timing of the surveys in that region.

Results are presented separately for the perishable and non-perishable components of the basket, as well as the total cost of the basket. Normally only the perishable items are shipped under the Food Mail Program. Although all the non-perishable items in the basket are also eligible for shipment at higher postage rates than the perishables, non-perishables are generally shipped to isolated northern communities by marine service or winter roads.

The perishable items in the basket weigh approximately 25.5 kilograms and non-perishables approximately 21.6 kilograms, excluding packaging. If we added 15 percent to the weight to cover packaging and spoilage, it would cost approximately $26 in postage to ship the perishable items in this basket from the Food Mail entry point to final destination, at the postage rate of $0.80 per kilogram plus $0.75 per parcel in effect since July 1, 1993.

Food is shipped under the Food Mail Program from Happy Valley-Goose Bay to isolated communities on the North Coast of Labrador and to Cartwright and Black Tickle.

For all communities in Labrador and for St. Anthony, the cost of the basket is based on the lowest price available in the community for each item in the basket, using a specific purchase size and, for most products, a specific brand. However, the number of stores varies from one community to another and, in some communities, the number of stores has changed over the years. For St. John's, the cost is based on prices in one supermarket.

Isolated communities in Labrador became eligible for Food Mail service in October 1991. Because of the regular marine service available on the Labrador coast during the summer and fall, Food Mail is used primarily during the winter and spring, except for highly perishable items that are shipped year round to these communities by Food Mail. Communities on the South Coast of Labrador became eligible for Food Mail service from St. Anthony in October 1991. However, these communities did not use the Food Mail Program and were removed from the program as the Trans-Labrador Highway was extended northwards.

The surveys in 1990 were completed in July, before break-up in Nain, but after break-up elsewhere. The surveys in 1991 were completed in the fall, before freeze-up. All of the surveys since then have been completed during the winter or spring, before break-up, except for those in Nain and Hopedale in 2002, which were completed in September.

Weekly cost of the Northern Food Basket for a family of four, 1990-2003

Updated
2003-10-7

Weekly cost of perishables in the Northern Food Basket for a family of four, 1990-2003

Updated
2003-10-7

Weekly cost of non-perishables in the Northern Food Basket for a family of four, 1990-2003

Updated
2003-10-7

Food is shipped under the Food Mail Program from Val-d'Or to isolated communities in Northern Quebec (Nunavik) and from Natashquan to Blanc-Sablon and other communities in the Côte-Nord Region.

For all communities in Northern Quebec and Blanc-Sablon, the cost of the basket is based on the lowest price available in the community for each item in the basket, using a specific purchase size and, for most products, a specific brand. However, the number of stores varies from one community to another and, in some communities, the number of stores has changed over this period. Unfortunately, it was possible to conduct a survey in only two of the three stores in Kuujjuaq in 1993. For Val-d'Or, Montréal and Gatineau, the cost is based on prices in one supermarket.

Isolated communities in Northern Quebec have received Food Mail service for over 30 years. Isolated communities in the Côte-Nord Region became eligible for Food Mail service in October 1991. However, retailers in Blanc-Sablon were not using the program at the time of the price survey in February 1998.

Price surveys were conducted in the spring or early summer (April to June) in 1990 (except those in Wemindji and Val-d'Or, conducted in July and September, respectively), 1992, 1993, 1994, 2002 and 2003. In 1991, the surveys were conducted in late August and early September. Surveys were conducted in July 1995, September 1996 (except in Waskaganish, conducted in November), November 1997, February 2000 (except in Val-d'Or and Puvirnituq, conducted in October-November) and December 2001. In 2004, surveys were conducted in March in Montréal, Inukjuaq and Puvirnituq, in June in Gatineau, Kuujjuaq and Kangiqsualujjuaq, in July in Ivujivik, Salluit and Kangiqsujuaq, in September in Kangirsuk and in November in Val-d'Or. In 2005, surveys were conducted in March in Gatineau, in August in Kangiqsujuaq, Kangirsuk and Tasiujaq and in November in Montreal and Val-d'Or. In 2006, price surveys were conducted in March in Kangiqsujuaq, Kuujjuaq and Kangirsuk and in August in Tasiujaq.

Weekly cost of the Northern Food Basket for a family of four, 1990-2006

Updated
18/01/2007

Weekly cost of perishables in the Northern Food Basket for a family of four, 1990-2006

Updated
18/01/2007

Weekly cost of non-perishables in the Northern Food Basket for a family of four, 1990-2006

Updated
18/01/2007

Food is shipped under the Food Mail Program from Val-d'Or to communities in the Baffin Region. Grise Fiord, Resolute Bay, Arctic Bay and Nanisivik also have the option of using Yellowknife as the food entry point.

For all communities in the Baffin Region, the cost of the basket is based on the lowest price available in the community for each item in the basket, using a specific purchase size and, for most products, a specific brand. However, the number of stores varies from one community to another and, in some communities, the number of stores has changed over the years. Only two stores were surveyed in Iqaluit in years prior to 1996.

Price surveys were conducted in the spring (late March to June) in 1990, 1992 (except for Arctic Bay in February), 1993, 1994, 1995 (except for Cape Dorset in July), 1997 and 1998. In 1991, surveys were conducted in September, shortly before the postage rate reduction from $2.10 per kilogram to $1.50 per kilogram that occurred on October 1, 1991 in the Baffin Region, for perishable food only. Figures shown for Iqaluit, Pond Inlet and Arctic Bay in 1994 are actually for November 1993, since surveys had been conducted in these communities in March-April 1993, and no surveys were conducted there in 1994. Surveys were conducted in October 1996, February 2000 (except for Qiqiktarjuaq and Clyde River in July), August 2001 and May-June 2002. For 2003, surveys were conducted in October-November except for Sanikiluaq where it was done in May. The only survey completed in the Baffin Region in 2004 was in Iqaluit in October. The next survey done in Iqaluit was in August of 2005 while other surveys in March of the same year were completed in the following communities: Pangnirtung, Qikiqtarjuaq, Clyde River, Igloolik, Hall Beach and Kimmirut. In 2006, price surveys were conducted in February in Arctic Bay, Pond Inlet and Resolute Bay.

The postage rate for perishable food shipped to the Baffin Region was reduced from $1.50 per kilogram to $1.20 per kilogram on October 1, 1992 and to $0.80 per kilogram on July 1, 1993.

Weekly cost of the Northern Food Basket for a family of four, 1990-2006

Updated
2006-06-14

Weekly cost of perishables in the Northern Food Basket for a family of four, 1990-2006

Updated
2006-06-14

Weekly cost of non-perishables in the Northern Food Basket for a family of four, 1990-2006

Updated
2006-06-14

Food is shipped under the Food Mail Program from Churchill, Manitoba to communities in the Kivalliq Region. This region became eligible for Food Mail service in October 1991. A review of the Churchill entry point undertaken in 2005 may lead to network changes in the near future.

For all communities in the Kivalliq Region, the cost of the basket is based on the lowest price available in the community for each item in the basket, using a specific purchase size and, for most products, a specific brand. However, the number of stores varies from one community to another. Unfortunately, only one store was surveyed in Rankin Inlet in 1990.

Price surveys were conducted in June 1990, September 1991, April 1992, February 1993, June 1994 (Coral Harbour), October-November 1994 (Rankin Inlet and Repulse Bay), October 1996, April 1997, March 1998, April 2001 (Rankin Inlet), August 2001 (Repulse Bay), February 2002, June 2003 and in February-March 2005. Retailers in Rankin Inlet and Arviat were not using the program. In 2006, surveys were conducted in March in Rankin Inlet, Chesterfield Inlet and Baker Lake and in April in Arviat, Whale Cove, Repulse Bay and Coral Harbour. By March 2006, one retailer in Rankin Inlet had started to use the Food Mail Program.

The postage rate for perishable food shipped to the Kivalliq Region was reduced from $1.50 per kilogram to $1.20 per kilogram on October 1, 1992 and to $0.80 per kilogram on July 1, 1993.

Weekly cost of perishables in the Northern Food Basket for a family of four, 1990-2006

Updated
16-06-2006

Weekly cost of non-perishables in the Northern Food Basket for a family of four, 1990-2006

Updated
16-06-2006

Food is shipped under the Food Mail Program from Yellowknife to communities in the Kitikmeot Region. This region became eligible for Food Mail service in October 1991.

For all communities in the Kitikmeot Region, the cost of the basket is based on the lowest price available in the community for each item in the basket, using a specific purchase size and, for most products, a specific brand. However, the number of stores varies from one community to another.

Price surveys were conducted in June 1990, September 1991, September 1992, February 1993, June 1995, October 1996, August 2000, August 2001, November 2002, November 2003, March 2004, January 2005 and March 2006 (except Taloyoak in August). Figures shown for Gjoa Haven in 1994 are actually for December 1993, since the first survey conducted in Gjoa Haven in 1993 was in February, and no surveys were conducted there in 1994.

The postage rate for perishable food shipped to the Kitikmeot Region was reduced from $1.50 per kilogram to $1.20 per kilogram on October 1, 1992 and to $0.80 per kilogram on July 1, 1993. The rate for shipping certain perishable foods (fruit and vegetables, frozen juice concentrate, most dairy products and eggs) to Kugaaruk was reduced from $0.80 per kilogram to $0.30 per kilogram on December 1, 2001, as part of the Kugaaruk Food Mail Pilot Project. Before 2005, retailers in Cambridge Bay were not using the Food Mail Program, preferring direct air cargo service out of Edmonton for freshness and ordering convenience. However, after the price survey was conducted in 2005, retailers in Cambridge Bay started to use the Food Mail Program for the sturdier perishable products, e.g., dairy products.

Weekly cost of the Northern Food Basket for a family of four, 1990-2006

Updated
01/18/2007

Weekly cost of perishables in the Northern Food Basket for a family of four, 1990-2006

Updated
01/18/2007

Weekly cost of non-perishables in the Northern Food Basket for a family of four, 1990-2006

Updated
01/18/2007

Food is shipped under the Food Mail Program from Timmins to isolated communities along the James Bay coast as well as Peawanuck, and from Pickle Lake to Fort Severn. Pickle Lake is also the designated food entry point for Big Trout Lake and Wunnummin Lake, and Red Lake is the designated food entry point for Sachigo Lake, but retailers in those communities have not used the program during the period covered by these surveys.

For all isolated communities in Northern Ontario as well as Pickle Lake, the cost of the basket is based on the lowest price available in the community for each item in the basket, using a specific purchase size and, for most products, a specific brand. However, the number of stores varies from one community to another and, in some communities, the number of stores has changed over the years. For Ottawa, Timmins, Kapuskasing and Thunder Bay, the cost is based on prices in one supermarket.

Price surveys were conducted in the spring or early summer (April to June) in 1990, 1992 and 1993 (except for Fort Severn, conducted in July 1993 and Timmins and Kapuskasing, conducted in September 1993). Figures shown for Ottawa in 1994 are actually for November 1993, since the first survey conducted in Ottawa in 1993 was in April, and no surveys were conducted in Ottawa in 1994. The only other survey conducted in Ontario in 1994 was in Fort Severn in January. Surveys were conducted in the fall (September to November) in 1991, 1996 and 1997, in the summer in 1995, February 2000 (Ottawa), June 2002 (Ottawa), and October 2002 (Fort Severn). In 2001, the surveys were conducted in January-February in Kashechewan, Attawapiskat, Peawanuck and Wunnumin Lake, in May in Timmins, in June in Ottawa, and in November-December in other communities. In 2003, the surveys were conducted in March in Fort Severn and in July in Ottawa. The same two communities were surveyed in 2004, in February and March, respectively. Thunder Bay was also surveyed in February 2004. In 2005, most surveys were completed in January-February except for Pickle Lake and Fort Severn where they were conducted in November. In 2006, the surveys were conducted in April in Fort Severn and Thunder Bay and in May in Ottawa.

Weekly cost of the Northern Food Basket for a family of four, 1990-2006

Updated
06/13/2006

Weekly cost of perishables in the Northern Food Basket for a family of four, 1990-2006

Updated
06/13/2006

Weekly cost of non-perishables in the Northern Food Basket for a family of four, 1990-2006

Updated
06/13/2006

Food is shipped under the Food Mail Program from Churchill to communities in the Kivalliq Region of Nunavut. Wholesalers are located in Winnipeg. Isolated communities in Manitoba have also been eligible to receive Food Mail since October 1991, but the service has not been used.

Food costs became an important issue in Northern Manitoba in 1995. A Tripartite Working Group, with representatives from the tribal councils, the provincial government and Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) investigated the adequacy of the northern food allowance used in determining social assistance payments. The Working Group used the Northern Food Basket as a means of comparing food costs in communities in Northern Manitoba with those in Winnipeg. Over the period from October 1995 to October 1997, price surveys were carried out by staff from the tribal councils or First Nations in 22 communities, with the support of the Keewatin Tribal Council, the Southeast Resource Development Council, the Swampy Cree Tribal Council, the Island Lake Tribal Council and Manitoba Keewatinowi Okamakanak. Training was provided by INAC, and the results were processed by INAC to ensure that they would be as comparable as possible with each other and with the results from other regions. This survey work was resumed under a similar arrangement in 2002.

Price surveys were also conducted in Winnipeg and Churchill in September 1991, in Churchill in March 1992, in Winnipeg in June 1992 and May 1993, in Churchill in July 1993, in Winnipeg in September 1995, in Winnipeg and Thompson in September 1997, in Winnipeg in May 2001, August 2002 and June 2003, in Churchill and Thompson in June 2003, in Winnipeg in February 2004 and November 2005 and in Churchill in March 2005. In 2006, a survey was conducted in April in Churchill.

For all communities in Northern Manitoba except Thompson, the cost of the basket is based on the lowest price available in the community for each item in the basket, using a specific purchase size and, for most products, a specific brand. However, the number of stores varies from one community to another and, in some communities, the number of stores has changed over this period. For Winnipeg and Thompson, as well as for Churchill in 2003, the cost is based on prices in one supermarket. For Winnipeg and Thompson, as well as for Churchill in 2003 and 2006, the cost is based on prices in one supermarket.

Weekly cost of the Northern Food Basket for a family of four, 1991-2006

Updated
13-06-2006

Weekly cost of perishables in the Northern Food Basket for a family of four, 1991-2006

Updated
13-06-2006

Weekly cost of non-perishables in the Northern Food Basket for a family of four, 1991-2006

Updated
13-06-2006

La Ronge is the designated entry point for food shipments to isolated communities in Northern Saskatchewan under the Food Mail Program. Wholesalers are located in Prince Albert.

For Black Lake and Stony Rapids, the cost of the basket is based on the lowest price available in the community for each item in the basket, using a specific purchase size and, for most products, a specific brand. However, the number of stores varies (one store in Black Lake and two in Stony Rapids). For La Ronge, Prince Albert and Regina, the cost is based on prices in one supermarket.

Price surveys were conducted in September-October 1991, June 1992, July 1993 and August 1995. Unfortunately, it has not been possible to conduct surveys in this region since then.

Weekly cost of the Northern Food Basket for a family of four, 1991-1995

Updated
2003-10-10

Weekly cost of perishables in the Northern Food Basket for a family of four, 1991-1995

Updated
2003-10-10

Weekly cost of non-perishables in the Northern Food Basket for a family of four, 1991-1995

Updated
2003-10-10

Food is shipped under the Food Mail Program from Yellowknife to communities in the Sahtu Region and Holman, and from Inuvik to other communities in the Beaufort-Delta Region. These regions became eligible for Food Mail service in October 1991. Wholesalers are located in Edmonton.

For all communities in the Northwest Territories, the cost of the basket is based on the lowest price available in the community for each item in the basket, using a specific purchase size and, for most products, a specific brand. However, the number of stores varies from one community to another and, in some communities, the number of stores has changed over the years. Since 1994, the results in Yellowknife are based on prices in one supermarket. For Edmonton, the cost is based on prices in one supermarket.

Price surveys were conducted in June 1990, September 1991, June 1992, June 1993 (except Yellowknife in February), June 1995, October 1996, January 1998, August 2000, October 2001, October 2002 and October 2003. In 2004, surveys were conducted in March and April. In January 2005, surveys were completed in Edmonton and Yellowknife while other surveys conducted that year were done in October. In 2006, price surveys were conducted in September and October (except Edmonton in March). Figures shown for Yellowknife in 1994 are actually for December 1993, since the first survey conducted in Yellowknife in 1993 was in February, and no surveys were conducted there in 1994.

The postage rate for perishable food shipped to isolated communities in the Northwest Territories was reduced from $1.50 per kilogram to $1.20 per kilogram on October 1, 1992 and to $0.80 per kilogram on July 1, 1993. The rate for perishable food shipped to communities in the Beaufort-Delta Region served from Inuvik (Aklavik, Tuktoyaktuk, Paulatuk and Sachs Harbour) was reduced from $0.80 per kilogram to $0.30 per kilogram on January 1, 2001. However, retailers in Aklavik do not use the Food Mail Program.

Weekly cost of the Northern Food Basket for a family of four, 1990-2006

Updated
01/24/2007

Weekly cost of perishables in the Northern Food Basket for a family of four, 1990-2006

Updated
01/24/2007

Weekly cost of non-perishables in the Northern Food Basket for a family of four, 1990-2006

Updated
01/24/2007

Food is shipped under the Food Mail Program from Whitehorse to Old Crow, which became eligible for Food Mail service in October 1991.

For both communities, the cost of the basket is based on prices in one store, using a specific purchase size and, for most products, a specific brand.

Price surveys were conducted in September 1991, September 1992, June 1993 (Whitehorse), August 1993 (Old Crow), February 1998, October 2003, 2005 and 2006 (Old Crow). The postage rate for perishable food shipped to Old Crow was reduced from $1.50 per kilogram to $1.20 per kilogram on October 1, 1992 and to $0.80 per kilogram on July 1, 1993.

Weekly cost of the Northern Food Basket for a family of four, 1991-2006

Updated
2007-01-18