愛污传媒

Politics

    • Major Canadian grocers won't confirm discounts, price freezes feds promised last week

    Share
    OTTAWA -

    Major grocers in Canada are not yet confirming whether they have committed to special promotions to stabilize grocery prices, as was recently promised by the federal government.

    Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne announced last week that the grocers have presented initial plans to stabilize prices, which include discounts, price freezes and price-matching campaigns.

    The Canadian Press has reached out to the grocers -- Loblaw, Empire, Metro, Walmart and Costco -- to confirm what exactly each of them has promised to do.

    Metro declined to comment, while Loblaw, Empire and Costco have not responded to requests for information.

    In a written response, a spokeswoman for Walmart Canada said the company plans to keep offering "every day low prices," which refers to Walmart's strategy of offering low prices on a regular basis, rather than on promotion only.

    "Last week, we shared with the government how we will continue to deliver every day low prices for Canadians during these challenging times," said Stephanie Fusco, senior manager of corporate affairs.

    "We're taking action to fight inflation and keep prices low and, in our submission, also provided several suggestions on the role government and regulators can play in curtailing food price inflation for Canadians."

    The federal government gave an ultimatum to grocers in September, saying they should present plans to stabilize grocery prices by Thanksgiving or face potential tax measures as a consequence.

    The move came in response to the pressure Canadian families are facing as grocery prices continue to rapidly climb. Grocery prices in August were 6.9 per cent higher than they were a year ago. Meanwhile, the country's overall inflation rate was 4.0 per cent.

    Recent polls show support for the governing Liberals dropping as affordability remains top-of-mind for voters.

    Champagne's announcement last week on the commitments from grocers included little detail. The minister did not provide clarify whatproducts may be subject to special promotions, for example.

    When pressed by reporters on how Canadians will know these promotions are any different than the ones regularly offered by grocers, Champagne said he does not want to disclose what each company has pledged to do.

    "I'm saying those are examples of what we see in the plans, because I want the market to compete. I cannot say I received that from Loblaws, I received that from Metro, I received that from Costco, I received that from Walmart," he said on Thursday.

    "Each grocer has different actions. So it will be up to Canadians to judge them."

    NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh slammed the Liberals' approach on grocery prices during a news conference last week, saying their "plan to ask CEOs nicely to reduce prices is ridiculous."

    The industry minister has repeatedly pointed to other countries, such as France and the U.K., as examples for grocers to follow, as countries around the world have struggled with skyrocketing food prices.

    In August, the annual rate of food inflation was 13.6 per cent in the United Kingdom and 9.8 per cent in the eurozone.

    The French government reached a three-month agreement with supermarket chains earlier this year for them to cut prices on hundreds of staples and other foods, which is expected to be extended through the summer.

    In the U.K., grocery giant Asda announced in June its plans to freeze prices on 500 products until the end of August.

    Other European countries have mandated price controls for staple foods. Hungary, for example, put price caps in place last year for products such as eggs and potatoes.

    This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 11, 2023.

    With files from the Associated Press.

    IN DEPTH

    Opinion

    opinion

    opinion Don Martin: How a beer break may have doomed the carbon tax hike

    When the Liberal government chopped a planned beer excise tax hike to two per cent from 4.5 per cent and froze future increases until after the next election, says political columnist Don Martin, it almost guaranteed a similar carbon tax move in the offing.

    CTVNews.ca Top Stories

    The B.C. NDP has claimed the majority of mail-in ballots tallied so far this weekend for the final count in the province鈥檚 nail-bitingly close 2024 election, increasing the chances of the party clinching a third term.

    A pair of new pre-election polls indicate that the Saskatchewan NDP has a slight lead ahead of election day.

    A 17-year-old Ottawa driver was caught speeding nearly 90 km/h over the speed limit on Highway 417.

    Victor Garber got teary-eyed when he walked into a brunch in his honour Sunday in London, Ont.

    With a provincial election announcement expected Sunday, Nova Scotia鈥檚 political party leaders have announced events.

    Canada

    • A massive mudslide closed the freeway south of the Canada-U.S. border in Bellingham, Wash. Sunday.

    • A pair of new pre-election polls indicate that the Saskatchewan NDP has a slight lead ahead of election day.

    • Victor Garber got teary-eyed when he walked into a brunch in his honour Sunday in London, Ont.

    • A 17-year-old Ottawa driver was caught speeding nearly 90 km/h over the speed limit on Highway 417.

    • Huntsville OPP and the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) are conducting a homicide investigation after three individuals were found dead in a Huntsville neighbourhood Friday evening.

    World

    Politics

    Health

    Sci-Tech

    Entertainment

    Business

    Lifestyle

    Sports

    Autos

    Local Spotlight

    The Westfield & District Recreation Association hosted its first Witches and Warlocks on the Water event Saturday, with costumed paddlers in pointed hats launching from Westfield Beach.

    A new resident at a Manitoba animal rescue has waddled her way into people's hearts.

    Hundreds of people ran to the music of German composer and pianist Beethoven Wednesday night in a unique race in Halifax.

    He is a familiar face to residents of a neighbourhood just west of Roncesvalles Avenue.

    A meteor lit up our region's sky last night 鈥 with a large fireball shooting across the horizon over Lake Erie at around 7:00 p.m.

    Residents of Ottawa's Rideauview neighbourhood say an aggressive wild turkey has become a problem.

    A man who lost his life while trying to rescue people from floodwaters, and a 13-year-old boy who saved his family from a dog attack, are among the Nova Scotians who received a medal for bravery Tuesday.

    A newly minted Winnipegger is hoping a world record attempt will help bring awareness for the need for more pump track facilities in the city.

    A Springfield, Ont. man is being hailed a 'hero' after running into his burning home to save his two infant children.

    • The B.C. NDP has claimed the majority of mail-in ballots tallied so far this weekend for the final count in the province鈥檚 nail-bitingly close 2024 election, increasing the chances of the party clinching a third term.

    • One person has been rushed to hospital with serious injuries following a stabbing in East Vancouver Sunday.

    • A massive mudslide closed the freeway south of the Canada-U.S. border in Bellingham, Wash. Sunday.

    • Ontario is moving to extend a 5.7-cent cut to the provincial gas tax until next summer.

    • More Torontonians will be able to get their doses of a new COVID-19 vaccine on Monday. Here's what to know.

    • Federal Transport Minister Anita Anand is requesting a meeting with her provincial counterpart to tackle the rising issue of re-Vinning and fraudulent vehicle registrations.

    • A Calgary MP is collecting names on a petition in hopes of saving the Olympic Plaza bricks.

    • Tracey Rice's son Dylan Sparks is the reason she has spent the better part of a decade building para powerlifting to becoming a more common sport within the para athlete community.

    • One person is in hospital with potentially life-threatening injuries after a crash between a motorized scooter and a vehicle.

    • Last year, seven-year-old Jack was diagnosed with hereditary spastic paraplegia type four (SPG4), a disease that affects less than 0.01 per cent of the population.

    • A 17-year-old Ottawa driver was caught speeding nearly 90 km/h over the speed limit on Highway 417.

    • Ontario Provincial Police say a 16-year-old has been charged with second-degree murder after a 15-year-old was found dead at a home in Perth, Ont. Friday afternoon.

    • As synthetic drugs grow stronger, experts warn that overdoses pose an even greater threat, particularly to young people. Dr. Nicholas Chadi, a pediatrician at Sainte-Justine Hospital, is sounding the alarm about the rising dangers of these substances.

    • Stem cell biologist Jacob Hanna has received a lot of worldwide attention since his team at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel created a synthetic human embryo.

    • A pedestrian is dead after she was hit by a vehicle early Sunday morning in north-central Edmonton.

    • The King's representative to Canada is in Alberta for her first official visit to the province.

    • With a provincial election announcement expected Sunday, Nova Scotia鈥檚 political party leaders have announced events.

    • Water service is temporarily shut down near 6135 Almon Street in Halifax.

    • Queen鈥檚 District RCMP in Nova Scotia is investigating a single-vehicle fatal collision that occurred Saturday on Highway 103 in Port Mouton, N.S.

    • Winnipeg police are looking for a suspect after they say a man was attacked by someone with a machete early Friday morning.

    • An estimated 6,000 children died in residential schools, though experts say the actual number could be much higher.

    • A pair of new pre-election polls indicate that the Saskatchewan NDP has a slight lead ahead of election day.

    • A Regina resident turned to Saskatchewan's privacy watchdog after discovering the manager of a clinic they had never been to had snooped on their eHealth record over 30 times.

    • No injuries have been reported in connection to a house fire in Regina鈥檚 North Central neighbourhood Saturday evening.

    • Ghosts and ghouls put their golfing skills to the test at Merry-Hill Golf Club鈥檚 annual Scary-Hill event on Sunday.

    • Police are investigating after a Guelph home was broken into early Saturday morning.

    • Middle school and high school aged students learn about the possibilities of engineering at the Go ENG Girl event at Conestoga College on Saturday.

    • Saskatoon fire crews responded to a major house fire on the 400 block of 24th Street West on Friday evening.

    • A pair of new pre-election polls indicate that the Saskatchewan NDP has a slight lead ahead of election day.

    • The Saskatoon Police Service is cautioning residents about a phone scam involving fraudulent lottery claims.

    • Ontario Premier Doug Ford will be in Sudbury on Monday, his office says.

    • Victor Garber got teary-eyed when he walked into a brunch in his honour Sunday in London, Ont.

    • Trillium Care in Norwich, Ont. has announced they will be closing their facilities, citing 鈥渁n emergency lack of financial resources necessary to sustain daily operations.鈥

    • Two new interchanges have opened in St. Thomas, Ont. but one main artery is set to close Monday for construction.

    • Huntsville OPP and the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) are conducting a homicide investigation after three individuals were found dead in a Huntsville neighbourhood Friday evening.

    • Bracebridge OPP are searching for two suspects who allegedly broke into a Gravenhurst jewelry store early Saturday morning.

    • A man was charged after allegedly crashing into a parked OPP cruiser in Tay Township early Sunday morning.

    • One suspect has been arrested after an armed robbery took place in Windsor.

    • Police have charged a man with robbery after an incident Saturday afternoon in Chatham.

    • Donated and reusable household items piled up in trucks outside the Windsor Family Credit Union Centre Saturday afternoon in an effort to divert goods from the landfill.

    • The B.C. NDP has claimed the majority of mail-in ballots tallied so far this weekend for the final count in the province鈥檚 nail-bitingly close 2024 election, increasing the chances of the party clinching a third term.

    • There were tense moments at a ferry terminal outside Victoria, B.C., on Friday after the lion鈥檚 share of standby spots on an early sailing were claimed by 鈥渁ssured loading鈥 passengers 鈥 leaving regular customers who had been waiting for hours out of luck.

    • Hulitan Early Years Centre is a brand new, 48-seat childhood learning centre in Colwood. It was built to support Indigenous children throughout the capital region.

    • More than two years after Alannah Brown and Douglas Barker were found dead north of Penticton, police are asking for help identifying a vehicle they believe was associated with the crime.

    • Dave Lindsey began growing giant pumpkins to bring a bit of magic to his grandkids' Halloween.

    • A U.S. District Court judge in Montana has sentenced a 27-year-old man from Kelowna, B.C., to 18 months in prison for using fake names to buy guns with the aim of selling them in Canada.

    • A tentative agreement has been reached between the City of Lethbridge and more than 900 employees belonging to CUPE Local 70.

    • The Hurricanes will be happy to be back home in Lethbridge Saturday night after losing their third in a row on the road Friday night, a 4-1 decision to the Broncos in Swift Current.

    • About 15,000 students are enrolled at Lethbridge鈥檚 post-secondary schools, and now the city is working with those schools to try to find ways to get them s to stick around a while.

    • A female athlete from Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., achieved two big goals at the 2024 World Triathlon championships in Spain last weekend.

    • Creditors have moved to take ownership of most of the properties in northern Ontario owned by a group of 11 insolvent companies.

    • Ontario Provincial Police have been cleared in the case of a woman who crashed her vehicle intentionally while she was high on drugs and fled into the woods earlier this year.

    N.L.

    Stay Connected
    Follow 愛污传媒