Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

WHEREAS, the Government of Canada has operated the Food Mail Program for many years;

AND WHEREAS the program now costs approximately $50 million annually to administer, with those costs increasing on a yearly basis;

AND WHEREAS the intent of the Food Mail Program is to subsidize the high costs of groceries in small northern Canadian communities by reducing the cost to ship healthy food items north;

AND WHEREAS there have been many instances over the years of abuse and poor management of that program;

AND WHEREAS many people suggest that the Government of Canada is unintentionally covering the costs of shipping poor food choices such as soda pop and potato chips to northern communities;

AND WHEREAS the Government of Canada is presently evaluating and reviewing that program;

AND WHEREAS it is important to the health and well-being of all northerners that the $50 million being spent on the delivery of the Food Mail Program be used for the purposes for which it is intended and that the program benefits as many northerners as possible;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Nunakput, that this Assembly communicate its desire for the Government of Canada to undertake a full and detailed audit of the Food Mail Program in order to determine exactly what food items and which clients are currently being subsidized in order to improve program practices and accomplish the stated government objective of contributing towards healthy diets in the north.