Members of Parliament have summoned the heads of Canada91裸聊视频檚 largest grocery store chains to answer for rising food prices.
On Monday, a House of Commons committee studying food price inflation called on the CEOs and presidents of Loblaw Companies, Metro and Empire Company Limited 91裸聊视频� which operates chains including Sobeys, Safeway and FreshCo 91裸聊视频� to attend an upcoming meeting.
The hearing has not yet been scheduled.
The proposal to hear from the industry leaders came from NDP MP Alistair MacGregor, and it received unanimous support from Liberal, Conservative and Bloc Qu茅b茅cois MPs on the committee.
Executives from all three companies, as well as Save-On-Foods, have testified at past committee meetings focused on the rising cost of food 91裸聊视频� but not their CEOs.
91裸聊视频淭hose at the heads of these companies, where the buck stops 91裸聊视频� should at least have to answer questions around why their profits are so high and why their prices are so high,91裸聊视频� said NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh on Tuesday. 91裸聊视频淎nd why are they profiting off the backs of Canadians?91裸聊视频�
The committee began the study in October, originally setting aside six meetings to discuss the subject. MPs have now decided to add more meetings and witnesses, aside from the CEOs.
The Retail Council of Canada, which advocates for grocers, said it wants the committee to call upon global brands, manufacturers, processors and wholesalers.
91裸聊视频淕rocers are food distributors 91裸聊视频� they buy goods from suppliers and then sell them to customers. This means that they are largely dependent on what suppliers ask them to pay for their products,91裸聊视频� said Michelle Wasylyshen, a spokesperson for the council, in a statement Tuesday.
91裸聊视频淲hat Canadians need is for political leaders to start looking at the food price inflation problem in all its complexities and this has not yet happened.91裸聊视频�
Metro declined to comment, while Loblaw and Empire Company Limited didn91裸聊视频檛 immediately respond to a request for comment.
Prices for food purchased from stores rose nearly 10 per cent in 2022, the fastest pace since 1981, with higher prices in every food category except for canned salmon, according to Statistics Canada.
91裸聊视频淐anadians are cutting back on their usual grocery lists and stretching their paycheques even further to get less for their families,91裸聊视频� said MacGregor, who is the NDP91裸聊视频檚 food price inflation critic.
91裸聊视频淏ut all the while, these grocery CEOs are making more money than they ever have before. It just doesn91裸聊视频檛 add up.91裸聊视频�
Last year, the Liberal government ordered the Competition Bureau to study food prices at grocery chains and whether competition between companies is contributing to higher prices.
The bureau has said that many factors may have affected the price of food, including extreme weather, higher input costs, Russia91裸聊视频檚 invasion of Ukraine and supply-chain disruptions. Its study is expected to be released sometime this year.
Pierre St-Laurent, the chief operating officer for Empire Company Limited, told the committee in December that global challenges are increasing the costs of food production.
91裸聊视频淯nfortunately, present circumstances are such that our suppliers have no choice but to ask retailers for significant price increases if they are to remain profitable,91裸聊视频� St-Laurent said.
91裸聊视频擬ickey Djuric, The Canadian Press
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