Instead of cash, the government started distributing income assistance in the form of a voucher, managed in Tuktoyaktuk by the community’s two stores — the Northern Store and Stanton.

“It is apparent that the decision to provide food allowance as vouchers in Tuktoyaktuk was premised on the suspicion that recipients were spending money on alcohol and drugs as opposed to buying food for children,” states the adjudication panel’s decision.

“This was a generalization based on stereotypes, not a conclusion supported by facts.”

Read more