Its not the first time I've seen this:

My cousin from a smaller community was given a cheque at his home community airport to be used for meals and incidentials in Iqaluit and Rankin Inlet.

Most of the smaller community population do not have bank accounts.  When they request to open bank accounts its usually by mail and it takes several weeks to do it.  Cashing cheques at Co-op and Northern stores and taking cash out is usually a normal thing to do.

 Northmart now has a policy that if the cheque's address is not from Iqaluit address (the company who is providing the cheque from), they will not cash the cheque. 

Banks won't allow to cash in other banks cheque unless you have your client card with you.

My cousin arrived on friday and could not cash his cheque until he arrived to Rankin Inlet as the Northmart and banks would not cash his cheque.

My elder mother walked around the town with my sister today from Northmart and from bank to bank.  This is for her and my sisters meals and incidentials while she stays here in Iqaluit for medical.  Her cheque could not be cashed.  I called the company where they got her cheque from before they arranged anything my dad called and came to the rescue.  Her cheque was returned to the company and voided since her other cheque arrived to my dad.

I was relieved that this has been resolved.  But it makes me think how many people arrived for meetings/medical and possibly hungry because they cannot cash their cheques for meals and incidentials?