The NDP will support small grocers, foster grocery competition and lower food prices with new plan

OTTAWA – On Wednesday, NDP Food Price Inflation critic Alistair MacGregor tabled a bill in parliament to create a National Food Cooperative Strategy, which would give support to small and medium-sized grocers, ramp-up competition, and lower food prices.

“Everyday families are cutting back on the foods they buy and on the activities their kids love, just to get by,” said MacGregor. “At the same time, grocery chains have been jacking up costs so their CEOs can pad their pockets. For years, the Liberals have watched this happen, letting Canadians down with their inaction. This needs to change, and we need more options for where people go to get groceries.”

MacGregor’s bill follows the recommendations of the Competition Bureau to create a National Food Cooperative Strategy to establish more food cooperatives in Canada. This would provide for more affordable grocery options and small and medium-sized grocery stores, lowering costs, and increasing the incentive for big-chain CEOs to stop gouging people.

“People need the cost of their essentials to come down,” said MacGregor. “Justin Trudeau and the Liberals have made lots of promises – but haven’t delivered. Then there’s Pierre Poilievre and the Conservatives, who’ve been on the side of grocery giants since day one. They’ll never talk about grocery greed because their biggest donors are grocery executives – and that’s who they’re working for.

"New Democrats believe that things can change, grocery prices can come down, and you can get ahead. It’s why we’re focused on increasing competition, supporting small and medium-sized grocery stores, and lowering your costs. An NDP government would put you first, not big CEOs and their big corporate profits.”