National

Champagne to announce initial commitments from grocers to stabilize prices today

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 05 Oct, 2023 11:25 AM

Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne says he is ready to announce the initial commitments he has secured from grocers to stabilize food prices.

We know Canadians are frustrated with the rising food prices.

That’s why we’re implementing solutions to stabilize food prices.

We will continue to work with all players in the food industry to stabilize food prices in Canada and make life more affordable. pic.twitter.com/d1G7n9X3mb
— François-Philippe Champagne (FPC) 🇨🇦 (@FP_Champagne) October 5, 2023

The Liberal government called on Canada's major grocers last month to present a plan to stabilize prices by Thanksgiving, or face consequences.

Champagne told a conference hosted by the Competition Bureau in Ottawa that the announcement is coming later on Thursday.

"What you will see today is their commitments with an initial plan," Champagne said in French.

He is scheduled to hold a news conference alongside other cabinet ministers Thursday afternoon.

Rising grocery prices have been a major pain point for Canadians and tend to disproportionately affect lower-income families who spend more of their income on food.

Grocery prices in August rose 6.9 per cent from a year ago, while the overall inflation rate was four per cent.

The Liberals are also pursuing changes to the Competition Act, which Champagne is calling a first step toward modernizing the law.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Pilot project signals progress in Nexus impasse

The Canada Border Services Agency says the two countries are exploring "shorter-term measures" to shrink a backlog of applications. At the Thousand Islands crossing between Ontario and New York, in-person Nexus interviews are being conducted separately by U.S. and Canadian agents on opposite sides of the border.

Pilot project signals progress in Nexus impasse

Vancouver council votes on promised police, nurses

The idea, which is expected to cost a total of $20 million a year, has already received significant criticism from more than two dozen people speaking against the motion at an earlier meeting.

Vancouver council votes on promised police, nurses

Prince Rupert, B.C., shooting suspect dies

A statement from the Prince Rupert detachment says the 44-year-old man had been in critical condition following the attack on the unnamed woman at a local mall early Monday. The 52-year-old victim died before she could be taken to hospital.

Prince Rupert, B.C., shooting suspect dies

Seven B.C. commercial poultry flocks have bird flu

Six of the farms are in Abbotsford and one is in Chilliwack, in the Fraser Valley, the same area where more than 17 million birds were culled in 2004 when avian flu swept through numerous farms. The ministry says producers within a 10-kilometre radius have been notified and all infected farms have been placed under quarantine by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

Seven B.C. commercial poultry flocks have bird flu

Indecent act near Burnsview Secondary School: Delta Police

Via release, the suspect is described as a South Asian or dark-skinned male, 25-30 years old with a short beard, large nose, large lips, and approximately 5'8” to 6’ tall. He was wearing a black puffer jacket, red t-shirt, black jeans, black shoes, black toque with a brown bobble on top, and with Airpods in his ears.

Indecent act near Burnsview Secondary School: Delta Police

B.C. to bring in housing supply, rental changes

Premier David Eby, who was sworn in on Friday, says housing is one of the most critical issues that he will immediately address. The legislation includes provisions that allow the province to force municipal compliance, although the government says it doesn't expect that will be necessary for communities facing a housing crisis.