In the weeks following the QCFC press conference, APTN spoke with four experts, two Inuit and two non-Inuit, who were familiar with communities in different regions of Nunavut. All described the territory as experiencing a “hunger emergency” or “hunger crisis.”

APTN requested a direct interview with a representative of Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) to discuss the decision to end the HFVP, to find out what kinds of outcomes ISC expected would result from the end of that program and to hear whether any contingency plans were in effect to respond to expanded hunger needs in the communities.

ISC did not consent to an interview by phone or in person and directed us instead to send questions by email. When we did so, ISC sent a response that did not address most of the key issues of our questioning.