An NDP motion to make changes to the food subsidy program so that northern communities can participate was voted down by conservatives. The motion was made in an attempt to expand the food subsidy program so that more northern communities would have access. Over 40 isolated communities including Fort Chipewyan would have benefited from the program expansion. The NDP motion was sponsored by Dennis Bevington, the Northwest Territories MP, who explained that the motion included a game plan but was defeated on June 8 by conservatives. Bevington stated “Next we want to ensure that there’s adequate funding to actually do that. There’s the larger issue of ‘how do we make our northern communities more sustainable?” David Yurdiga, the Fort McMurray-Athabasca MP, voted no on the motion, and so did almost everyone else in the conservative caucus.

When discussing the NDP motion, the food subsidy program, and the votes of conservatives Yurdiga said “We’re not disagreeing [with the NDP. But we have to consider all the other communities.” The politician explained that the government was already examining methods that were more inclusive which would address the high price of food in northern communities and isolated populations. Yurdiga pointed out that some northern communities were not included in the NDP motion, in spite of the fact that these communities had food prices which were just as high and they were accessible by road. When questioned about his no vote Yurdiga said “We have to have a program in place that’s all-inclusive for all communities that suffer from the high price of food. We want to get it right so we don’t have to deal with this issue again.”