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e-4974 (Business and trade)

E-petition
Initiated by Emily Johnson from Campbellville, Ontario

Original language of petition: English

Petition to the House of Commons in Parliament assembled

Whereas:
  • There is growing concern among Canadian citizens regarding the exploitative marketing, pricing, and unfair practices employed by large food retailers;
  • The monopolistic behavior of large food retailers, including Loblaws, grants them excessive power in the market to dictate terms to suppliers and set prices, thus stifling competition; and
  • Essential goods are becoming less affordable, particularly impacting low and middle-income families, persons with disabilities, and fixed-income households.
We, the undersigned, Residents of Canada, call upon the House of Commons in Parliament assembled to:
1. Implement strong anti-trust laws to prevent monopolistic practices in the food retail sector, including a rigorous scrutiny of mergers and acquisitions with the goal of ensuring they do not lead to increased market concentration;
2. Conduct thorough investigations into the pricing strategies of large food retailers, particularly focusing on allegations of price-fixing, collusion and “shrinkflation”;
3. Investigate and implement measures which promote fair competition in the food retail industry, including mandatory disclosure of supplier terms and pricing structures, and support for smaller independent food vendors who provide consumers with more options;
4. Provide resources and support to consumer protection agencies, enabling them to more adequately monitor anti-competitive behavior by large corporations;
5. Explore the possibility of implementing price controls or other regulatory mechanisms to prevent excessive price gouging on essential food items; and
6. Mandate Loblaws and Walmart to sign the Grocery Code of Conduct, and provide definitive, tangible consequences for refusal to sign.
Open for signature
May 3, 2024, at 12:01 p.m. (EDT)
Closed for signature
August 31, 2024, at 12:01 p.m. (EDT)
Photo - Matthew Green
Hamilton Centre
New Democratic Party Caucus
Ontario