Le Nouveau Régime: Épisode de la Mise en Oeuvre de Nutrition Nord Canada au Nunavik, 2011-2013

Cette etude examine la creation et la mise en œuvre du programme Nutrition Nord Canada au Nunavik, entre 2011 et 2013. Ce dernier remplace le programme Aliments-poste, juge inefficace et trop couteux par le gouvernement federal, il etait destine a soutenir l’approvisionnement alimentaire des regions nordiques isolees du pays. L’etude est basee sur une serie de documents et d’entrevues, ainsi qu’un suivi des prix a la consommation realise pendant cette periode. L’etude montre que le passage d’un programme a l’autre etait essentiellement base sur l’application de la rationalite marchande a l’action publique, justifiant des reductions et restrictions du budget et des benefices, l’imposition des regles d’admissibilite et des procedures, la surveillance des operations et le partage des responsabilites entre l’Etat, les entreprises et les citoyens. Pour beneficier du programme, les entreprises devaient s’engager par contrat a realiser les operations les conduisant a toucher les subventions et a reduire les prix. Pour beneficier de la reduction des prix, les citoyens devaient adapter leurs comportements d’achat aux normes de l’« alimentation saine », en depit de leurs preferences. Ce programme est un exemple de regulation biopolitique des conduites, ou la citoyennete « active » est la condition d’acces aux benefices de l’action publique. Abstract This study explores the creation and implementation of the Nutrition North Canada program in Nunavik between 2011 and 2013. Nutrition North Canada replaces the Food Mail Program, intended to support the supply of food to the isolated northern regions of the country, and which was deemed ineffective and too costly by the federal government. The study is based on a series of records and interviews, as well as a follow-up of consumer prices during this period. It shows that the transition from one program to another was essentially based on the application of market rationality to public action, justifying reductions and restrictions of the budget and profits, the imposition of the rules of eligibility and procedures, oversight of operations and sharing of responsibilities between the state, businesses and citizens. To benefit from the program, companies had to commit to carry out the operations leading to receiving subsidies and reducing prices. To benefit from the price reduction, citizens had to adapt their purchasing behaviour to the standards of “healthy eating”, despite their preferences. This program is an example of biopolitical regulation of conduct, where “active” citizenship is the condition for access to the benefits of public action. Key words : Nutrition North Canada; Nunavik; neoliberalism; public action; sociology