Why food affordability should be a federal election issue
Food costs are rising
Concerns about food affordability are not unfounded. Canada’s 2019 Food Price Report,
released last December, shows that costs of vegetables are likely to
rise four to six per cent. Overall food costs could increase as much as
3.5 per cent.
The report also shows that, on average, Canadian households are
likely to spend at least $400 more on groceries next year. Food costs
are rising faster than inflation, and accessing healthy food may be
getting out of reach for many Canadians. Unsustainable debt levels and
the skyrocketing costs of housing across the country aren’t helping.
When people were asked in the study which party was best-positioned
to address food security issues, the most common answer, with 42 per
cent, was “not sure.”