NDP Will Cap Grocery Prices in First Budget and Crack Down on Price Gouging on “Buy Canadian” Products

VICTORIA – In the first federal budget after the election, Jagmeet Singh says the NDP will move fast to bring down grocery bills—starting with price caps on essentials and tough rules to stop CEOs from jacking up prices just because products are made in Canada.

“If you’re raising prices on Canadian goods when the producers haven’t changed a thing—that’s not inflation. That’s gouging,” said Singh. “We’re going to stop it. And if the grocers won’t play fair, we’ll legislate.”

As Canadians proudly choose homegrown products, grocery giants are cashing in—using patriotism as cover for profiteering. Chapman’s froze prices to help. Loblaws hiked them anyway.

“Canadians are showing real pride right now—choosing Canadian goods to support our workers, our farms, and our economy in the face of Trump’s attacks,” said Singh. “And while they do the right thing, CEOs are taking advantage—jacking up prices just because they can.”

Over the Easter weekend, families across Canada are feeling the squeeze. New data shows food inflation is at a 50-year high, with grocery prices jumping 3.2 per cent in a single month—an alarming surge even as overall inflation slowed. People are being forced to cut back on basics just to afford a holiday meal, while grocery CEOs hike prices and pad their profits.

The Liberals are planning $28 billion in cuts to programs and services, are giving tax breaks to people who earn more than $1.4 million per year—and have no plan to fight food inflation or stop profiteering.

New Democrats will fight to deliver the following in the first budget:

• A ban on trade war profiteering by empowering the Competition Bureau and introducing legislation if needed to stop unjustified markups on Canadian goods;
• Emergency price caps on a basket of grocery essentials—following successful models in France and Greece that drove food inflation down dramatically;
• A mandatory Grocery Code of Conduct to hold big retailers accountable and ensure workers aren’t penalized;
• A windfall tax on grocery profits so CEOs stop padding their margins at the public’s expense;
• Reforms to Nutrition North so subsidies reach northerners—not corporate chains.

While the Liberals continue to delay and the Conservatives deny profiteering is even happening, New Democrats are focused on protecting Canadians from rising costs and corporate greed.

“When people choose Canadian goods, they shouldn’t be punished for it,” said Singh. “We’re ready to fight for these changes in the first budget.”