Ottawa ‘Late’ in Responding to Food Inflation Crisis, Canadians Tell Federal Researchers

A shopper browses in an aisle at a grocery store In Toronto on Feb. 2, 2024. The Canadian Press/Cole Burston

Canadians are giving the Liberal government little credit for its measures to combat food inflation, according to in-house Privy Council research, with some describing Ottawa’s action on the issue as “late” and “insufficient.”

The comments were made among participants in federal focus groups on high food costs and the related actions the federal government was taking to help make groceries more affordable.

“Several questioned why action had not been taken sooner and with greater urgency,” said the October 2023 report “Continuous Qualitative Data Collection Of Canadians’ Views,” first obtained by Blacklock’s Reporter.

“Among these participants, it was felt that rising food costs had been an evident issue for a number of years and that more proactive measures should have been taken by the Government of Canada to prevent this situation from escalating into what, in their opinion, could now be considered a crisis.”

Most of the focus group participants said they had not heard of any government actions being taken to address the high cost of groceries. A small number recalled the one-time grocery rebate meant to help eligible lower-income Canadians.

When provided with information on the actions the Liberal government had taken on food inflation, most reacted positively. However, many said the effectiveness of the measures would depend on their implementation and whether major grocery chains would follow through on their commitments to stabilize grocery prices.

Though many felt more optimistic after hearing of the measures, they also questioned why action had not been taken sooner. While some survey participants chose positive words to describe federal action on food inflation like “promising,” “fair,” and “helping,” others described it as “reactive,” “late,” and “insufficient.”

Survey participants said the high cost of groceries in Canada was having an impact on their spending.

“Many reported they were now preparing more meals for themselves at home rather than dining at restaurants or ordering takeout,” said the report.

The findings were drawn from focus groups in Prince Edward Island, Quebec, the Greater Toronto Area, and Edmonton. The questionnaires were distributed under an $814,741 contract with The Strategic Counsel.

In March 2023, there were over 1.9 million visits to food banks in Canada—a 32 percent increase compared to the year prior, according to a report by Food Banks Canada. A study by Second Harvest’s annual “Hungry for Change” also found demand for food banks across Canada is expected to increase by 18 percent in 2024, and that 36 percent of food banks will be forced to turn hungry Canadians away.

Industry François-Philippe Champagne told reporters on April 30 that the Liberal government remained concerned about grocery prices, saying, “Affordability is front and centre in everything we are doing.”