NDP leader takes aim at grocery prices in Nanaimo

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh (second from left) and local NDP MP Lisa Marie Barron (far left) talk with local residents about rising grocery prices in Maffeo Sutton Park in Nanaimo on August 28, 2023. Photo: Mick Sweetman / CHLY 101.7FM.

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh was in Nanaimo on Monday, shoring up support for incumbent NDP MP Lisa Marie Barron in a riding that was a close race with the Conservative Party of Canada in 2021.

Singh says the NDP wants an excess profits tax placed on grocery companies who are increasing their profit margins and to use that money to extend the increase of the GST rebate to taxpayers.

“At a time when Canadians are having the most difficulty ever buying groceries, the fact that grocery stores have chosen that time to increase their margins is evidence of greed that is wrong,” he said.

According to Statistics Canada the price of food increased by eight per cent between July 2022 and July 2023 and has increased by 20% since July 2020.

A report by the Competition Bureau Canada found that three largest grocers—Loblaws, Sobeys, and Metro—collectively reported more than $100 billion in sales and earned more than $3.6 billion in profits in 2022.

The Competition Bureau found that food prices in Canada increased faster than general inflation between December 2021 and March 2023 and that profit margins increased by one or two percentage points since 2017, with the increase starting before both the Covid pandemic and the current inflationary period. The Bureau called it a “modest yet meaningful” increase.

“We've got to address corporate greed,” Singh said. “The evidence is clear, these large corporate grocery stores and their CEOs are using inflation as cover to increase the cost of your groceries.”

Tiana, who asked that her last name not be used due to personal safety concerns, is a mother of two teenagers in Nanaimo. She works in insurance and her husband is a heavy equipment operator, but even with two well paying jobs she says that they are struggling to make ends meet.

“I can go to the store and see something that six months ago was $5. And it's now on sale for $12,” she said. “Why is that? I understand inflation but that's not the impact of inflation, that would be $7. So where's that extra $5 coming in? That's pure profit for the company and I don't think that's fair.”

Tiana says that the increased prices are forcing her to make tough choices and purchase cheaper, but less nutritious food.

“Absolutely less nutritious,” she said. “The quality of the produce has gone down and stores and the prices have gone up. So we have to be very selective.”

Barron, who was up for the NDP nomination on Monday night, says she is hearing from constituents about the rising cost of living.

“Trying to access that nutritional food should not be in question, it should be available and accessible,” said Barron. “Talking to Tiana about trying to feed her two teenage children. I'm also a mother of a young adult and a teenager, we know very well how much teenagers and young adults eat.”

Singh took aim at the Conservative Party who placed a close second to the NDP in Nanaimo—Ladysmith in 2021.

“What have conservatives done?” he asked rhetorically. “What can they point to in minority governments, anything concrete that they've done to make your life better? To help give you a break? To lower your cost of living? To help your family in any concrete way? I can help you, the answer is nothing.”

“Conservatives always focused on the super rich,” said Singh. “Liberals want things to stay just the way they are. We're the only ones really pushing for change that's going to make life better for everyday families.”

Shea Peleshytyk is a mother of an 18-month old toddler and said she’s had to cut back on fresh meat and produce and is instead relying on cheaper frozen food.

“I found myself sacrificing fresh chicken and finding something different, “I don't want to have to make decisions like that for my daughter,” she said “ Fruits and vegetables, the prices are just astronomical.”

Funding Note: This story was produced with funding support from the Local Journalism Initiative, administered by the Community Radio Fund of Canada.