Authorities to make large stores account for food prices
Representatives of grocery chains are being invited to Ottawa.
The directors of Canada's largest grocery chains should appear before Parliament to talk about their success in stabilizing prices. Alistair MacGregor, a New Democratic Party MP from British Columbia, made this suggestion at a meeting of the Agriculture Committee.
By November 2, the government is expecting detailed reports from grocery chains on their strategies and initiatives to stabilize food prices. The government wants to invite Loblaw chairman Galen Weston Jr, Metro CEO Eric Richet La Flèche, Empire Company Limited (which owns Sobeys Inc) CEO Michael Medline, Walmart Canada president Gonzalo Gebara and Costco Canada CEO Pierre Riel to Ottawa.
The meeting is to take place in the framework of a special committee meeting. On the one hand, the businessmen of the food industry will be given the floor, and on the other hand, the opposing ministers François-Philippe Champagne (Minister of Industry), Chrystia Freeland (Minister of Finance) and Marie-Claude Bibeau (Minister of Agriculture).
Given the confidentiality of the data contained in the documents that the committee members want to see, it was decided to make the meeting closed. However, the report on its results will be presented in the parliament.
Earlier this fall, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland were concerned about food price regulation. In September, they announced amendments to the Competition Act to give the Canadian Competition Bureau more leverage over business.
In October, Statistics Canada released a report showing that growth in food prices slowed in September compared to the summer period. However, it is still outpacing inflation — and that continues to worry ordinary Canadians, and with them, politicians.
