Federal NDP leader Jagmeet Singh speaks to media at Maffeo Sutton Park on Monday, highlighting unspecific plans for better competition and pricing at grocery stores. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

MORE COMPETITION

NDP leader touts vague plans to combat rising grocery prices during stop in Nanaimo

Aug 28, 2023 | 3:52 PM

NANAIMO — Federal NDP leader Jagmeet Singh had opposition parties and grocery store profits square in his sights during a stop in the Harbour City.

Singh met with a small group of people at a Maffeo Sutton Park picnic table on Monday, Aug. 28 to discuss increasing grocery store prices and their impacts locally.

In a press conference following, Singh said their stories were like many across the country where people were struggling to make ends meet due to inflation, and record profits by grocery store corporations.

“Despite having good jobs, they are feeling so squeezed by the cost of everything going up but particularly groceries,” Singh said. “When talking about that, they thought what would it be like for someone who wasn’t earning a good wage, or…who were working multiple minimum wage jobs.”

Flanked by Nanaimo-Ladysmith MP Lisa Marie Barron, Singh took Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre to task for what he said was “more of the same” inaction on actually tackling the issue.

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Singh then detailed unspecific NDP plans to combat a rise in prices at the grocery store, foremost by increasing competition.

“We don’t have strong enough competition laws, we need more competition, we need to support independent local grocers. The Competition Bureau found conclusively that the large corporate grocery stores…have increased their margins and are making more profit than ever before.”

Singh did not elaborate on the nature of the proposed laws, nor how the NDP would incentivize growth and popularity of independent grocers.

Singh and Barron spoke with a small group of people prior to Monday’s media availability on grocery store pricing, and how to combat it. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

When asked directly by NanaimoNewsNOW on specific ideas after Monday’s event, Singh spoke about findings by the Competition Bureau which stated Canada needed more competition outside the three main corporate owners.

He added Canada “need(s) to find ways” to add variety to the grocery store landscape but, again, did not offer a specific direction.

“There’s lots of ways to do it, look at what the best way is so we’ll assess what is the best plan, what is the best incentive, what is the best support to achieve that.”

He also suggested stronger laws to penalize companies engaging in “any sort of behaviour that exploits consumers” but offered few details on what behaviour would qualify.

Singh did cite a June finding against Canada Bread which involved a $50 million payout for its role in controlling bread prices for over a decade.

Finally, Singh suggested an “excess profit tax” on companies “exploiting people like those large grocery stores.” He said revenue from the tax would “give people a break, to help people out with their groceries.”

No tax rate, or definition of “excess profit” was offered.

Singh was scheduled to meet with a variety of different groups throughout Monday, including the Nanaimo-Ladysmith NDP nomination meeting in the evening.

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