While I agree with the idea of a windfall tax on excessive profit, I think we ought to go further. These companies have shown that they are willing to gouge Canadians in emergency moments when we are at our most uncertain. Well, it’s fairly well known that Saskatchewan enjoys some of the best telco service in the country thanks to the presence of SaskTel keeping them honest. So I propose we start a nationally owned grocery chain in that vein which, being run for the public benefit rather than for profit, would be able to set prices that the private and proven to be untrustworthy grocers will be forced to compete with.
Neighborhood food cooperatives used to be common. People would simply buy their groceries collectively from farmers and wholesalers and distribute it through the co-op to members. Government agencies could be filling the role of food cooperatives, or fostering the creation of a new generation of co-ops.
There are tons of coops across western Canada. It’s basically a chain at this point. Every small town has one. But for some reason they are very rare in the east
Canada should nationalize a system for handling close-to-expiry produce. It would improve food security, improve health (with less processed foods), and reduce food waste.
It would also drive down prices with increased competition. Make it a legal requirement to dispose of close-to-expiry food in this way.
“No matter how many times you read it on Twitter, the idea that grocers are causing food inflation is not only false, it’s impossible,” said Loblaw Companies Ltd. president Galen Weston
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While I agree with the idea of a windfall tax on excessive profit, I think we ought to go further. These companies have shown that they are willing to gouge Canadians in emergency moments when we are at our most uncertain. Well, it’s fairly well known that Saskatchewan enjoys some of the best telco service in the country thanks to the presence of SaskTel keeping them honest. So I propose we start a nationally owned grocery chain in that vein which, being run for the public benefit rather than for profit, would be able to set prices that the private and proven to be untrustworthy grocers will be forced to compete with.
Neighborhood food cooperatives used to be common. People would simply buy their groceries collectively from farmers and wholesalers and distribute it through the co-op to members. Government agencies could be filling the role of food cooperatives, or fostering the creation of a new generation of co-ops.
@jerkface @grte We should look into bringing those back.
There are tons of coops across western Canada. It’s basically a chain at this point. Every small town has one. But for some reason they are very rare in the east
@TheGayTramp that’s true. There was one in a village near our cabin. It’s the only one I’ve ever heard of in Québec.
A simplified version would be to force Loblaws to break up into their original brands. Won’t happen, but be easier
And it is within the power of the federal government and competition bureau. Will they is another matter.
Canada should nationalize a system for handling close-to-expiry produce. It would improve food security, improve health (with less processed foods), and reduce food waste.
It would also drive down prices with increased competition. Make it a legal requirement to dispose of close-to-expiry food in this way.
There you have it folks, it’s impossible.
“No matter how many times you read it on Twitter,” I didn’t know Galen was chronically online
Says the fat man who controls the Canadian grocery trade.