Amanda Eecherk, a 42-year-old mother from Rankin Inlet, Nunavut, was able to save money on groceries by taking advantage of a loophole that allowed her to ship items for free through Amazon Prime. This loophole was closed by Canada Post, leaving Eecherk and others concerned about how they will afford essential food items. The high cost of living in Nunavut, combined with high rates of food insecurity, make it difficult for residents to access affordable goods. Data released by Statistics Canada in 2020 indicated that 57% of households in Nunavut experienced food insecurity in 2017-18.
Eecherk mentioned that inflation has exacerbated the issue, with prices increasing significantly in recent years. For example, a cucumber that used to cost $2.79 now sells for $5.99 in Rankin Inlet. By using a fake postal code on Amazon, Eecherk was able to have groceries delivered for free to her community, allowing her to save money for other essential expenses. However, this loophole was closed after Canada Post began enforcing its policy to return items with incorrect addresses in Nunavut, causing frustration among residents.
Canada Post explained that items with incorrect addresses require additional processing, which slows down the entire system for customers. The Crown corporation has been facing financial difficulties, with a $748 million loss before tax last year. Shipping charges through Canada Post are either paid by the user or by the online retailer, who decides how much to pass on to customers. Nunavummiut are not asking for free shipping, but rather reasonable prices that reflect the high cost of living in the North.
Krista Matthews, a mental health and crisis response coordinator for Cambridge Bay, has started an online petition calling for Amazon Prime to extend its free shipping services to all communities in the North. She believes that access to affordable goods should not be limited by geography, and that residents in remote areas should not have to pay exorbitant shipping fees for essential items. While Amazon did not respond to questions about the petition or the possibility of expanding free shipping to the North, Matthews hopes that someone from the corporation will visit the region to understand the challenges faced by residents.
Overall, residents of Nunavut are concerned about the rising cost of groceries and the lack of access to affordable goods following the closure of the Amazon Prime shipping loophole. The high cost of living in the territory, combined with high rates of food insecurity, make it difficult for residents to afford essential items. While some individuals were able to save money using the loophole, Canada Post’s enforcement of its policy has caused frustration and financial strain for many in Nunavut. Efforts, such as the online petition started by Krista Matthews, are being made to advocate for fair shipping prices and access to affordable goods for all communities in the North.
