North-south connections — and dirigibles

BARRY PRENTICE ~ The Winnipeg Free Press, Edition 5/6/2026

TWO headlines appeared in the Free Press on April 22, concerning chronic problems that have no apparent resolution. The topics are high food prices in remote northern communities and the growing population of homeless people in Winnipeg.

Spoiler alert: both issues can be traced to the cost of transportation to the North, and yes, cargo airships are going to be discussed.

Soaring fuel prices driving up shipping costs for northern grocers described the impact that rising fuel prices are having on grocery bills. Grocery prices are two to three times higher in the North, and average incomes are much lower. Food inflation is magnified in the remote communities because they already face chronic food insecurity. As oil prices increase, transport costs must rise accordingly to pay for the small airplanes that deliver food to the North.

Nutrition North Canada provides a subsidy to transport food to the remote communities. The freight subsidy reduces the logistic costs for a list of healthy food and other necessities. Originally operated as the Canada Post Food Mail Program, NNC took over in 2011, with a freight subsidy of $53.9 million. The NNC subsidy now stands at $163 million and is scheduled to increased five per cent annually. Considering current inflation, population growth and a 30 per cent bump in the price of oil, food prices are likely to increase more than the budgeted subsidy.

Treating symptoms relieves pain, but the causes cannot be ignored forever. Rather than pouring money into an escalating freight subsidy, it is time to accept that a different approach is needed.

Dr. Barry E. Prentice is director of the Transport Institute at the Asper School of Business, University of Manitoba.

Read original full article by Barry Prentice:
https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/analysis/2026/05/06/north-south-connections-and-dirigibles