Minister ‘disappointed’ in cost stabilization measures from grocers | Cost of living in Canada

We’re starting off 2024 and Canadians are remain concerned about the cost of living and especially about the cost of the grocery stores they’re right a lot of Canadians have seen in the last few weeks and months prices at the grocery stores they are concerned right before Christmas the government adopted major amendments to

The competition act it was the second time that we have provided such important amendments to the competition act the purpose of these amendments was to have a long-term impact the best way to ensure affordable prices for Canadians and a better choices for Canadians is to have more players in the

Market these amendments will increase competition level and increase the number of players and options and down the line have for Canadians will bolster competition across the economy and I would say across the country for the grocery sector in particular as I think this is

What is one of the topic which is top of mind to Canadian uh let me explain to uh people at home what are these changes and what they mean in practice first the competition Bureau and now as subpoena power uh to force companies like those in the grocery sector to provide information

As part of Market studies and you’ll see in a minute why this is very very fundamental second the bureau has the power to block mergers that don’t directly benefit consumers and stop abuse of dominance something that we have seen over decades in this country

And now we can put a stop to that and third these changes mean it will be illegal for large grocery changes large grocery chains to prevent independent grosser from setting up shop in the same commercial building or complex what we have seen in some part of the country

They call that food desert because of the Clauses in the leases that prevent independent groceries to be next to one of the big banner as I’ve said many times before at this Podium the best way to stabilize grocery prices in this country is to have more competition more

Competition will mean more options which leads to a downward pressure on price it’s fairly straightforward and I think every can didn’t can understand that so we’re taking further action today today I’ll be sending a letter to the competition commissioner and and tell him that I am disappointed that major grocery stores

Have not cooperated with the bureau in these studies some of them the grocery chains have not been trans AR with the measures they taken to fight food inflation in Canada this is unacceptable record profits in the grocery retail sector I am confident that the buau will take full advantage of the new powers

Granted to them to further address the concerns of Canadian consumers when it comes to the price of food you can count on us to continue to all the grossers feet to the fire and as we push for more competition not only in this sector but I would say across the Canadian economy

Minister Champagne says he’s ‘disappointed’ in the lack of transparency grocery store giants have offered when it comes to food inflation.

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