3.1.2. Food Insecurity in Minganie

Food insecurity in Minganie has various causes. First, the RCM, as with the entire region, relies on food deliveries from the large distribution centers located in the south of the province to meet most of its needs. Between two deliveries, fresh food can be scarce, indicating an instability in the food supply. In addition, transportation difficulties (e.g., accidents, weather) sometimes delay deliveries and disrupt supply, creating a sense of insecurity among the population [16].

Physical and economic access conditions are difficult for some segments of society. As it occurs elsewhere, poorer populations have less access to food [39], a problem that is exacerbated by high food prices. Indeed, in 2009, the cost per person per day of a nutritious food basket was CAD 7.84 in Minganie, while it was CAD 6.75 in Montreal [40].

The physical conditions of access are also an issue in Minganie. First, the food supply is limited by the scarcity of food stores. The only supermarket in the RCM is located in Havre-Saint-Pierre (30 min from Longue-Pointe-de-Mingan), and many villages have only small grocery stores, gas stations or convenience stores to obtain supplies. Furthermore, a car is almost always necessary for travel, due to the long distances involved; however, some people do not have one, and the region offers few alternatives to car transportation [35].

Finally, the quality of fruits and vegetables is regularly compromised in Minganie because of the thousands of food miles they have to travel. This is especially true in winter due to delivery difficulties, sometimes resulting in losses.

As with many rural communities in Quebec, Longue-Pointe-de-Mingan, and more generally the Minganie region, is characterized by a low demographic weight. Businesses are few and far between, and the cost of food is high, mainly due to transportation. While some foods are less affected by this circumstance, such as milk, for which a ceiling price was adopted (Although this price ceiling is still a little higher here than in the rest of Quebec, the price of milk is nonetheless much lower now than prior to the adoption of the price ceiling. Since 1 July 2016, the Régie des marchés agricoles et alimentaires has been regulating the price of milk across all of Quebec. In 2009, in Côte-Nord, the cost of four liters of 3.25% milk even reached CAD 15.96, while the maximum price in 2021 in Minganie was CAD 8.86 [40,41]. The price of other foods, however, is not regulated.), the price of other foods raises certain questions of equity.
