Northern Food Basket

Quebec

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.

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

Updated
13/06/2006

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

Updated
13/06/2006

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

Updated
13/06/2006

Cost of the Northern Food Basket in selected communities in Northern Quebec and in Blanc-Sablon since 1990 (PDF 9 Kb) in PDF format.

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