Last week’s political theater surrounding Canada’s food policy exposed just how disconnected our leadership has become from everyday Canadian concerns. When NDP leader Jagmeet Singh visited a grocery store for what was clearly a staged photo opportunity, the backlash was swift—and justified. This kind of performative politics does nothing to address the very real crisis of food affordability that millions of Canadians face daily.
The criticism Singh faced wasn’t merely partisan sniping. It highlighted a fundamental problem in our political discourse: the substitution of substantive policy with theatrical gestures. While politicians pose in grocery aisles expressing shock at prices most Canadians have been grappling with for years, real solutions remain elusive. The grocery code of conduct—supposedly designed to level the playing field between food retailers and suppliers—continues to gather dust after years of discussion.
What’s particularly frustrating is how these issues transcend political lines. Conservative critics aren’t wrong when they point out the hypocrisy of Singh’s NDP supporting the very Liberal government whose policies have contributed to our current inflation crisis. Yet their own alternatives often lack substance beyond tax cuts that may not necessarily translate to lower food prices at the checkout counter.
The data speaks for itself: food prices in Canada have increased by approximately 20% since 2019. Behind these numbers are families making impossible choices, seniors on fixed incomes skipping meals, and food banks reporting record demand. This isn’t just an economic issue—it’s a moral one that cuts to the heart of what kind of society we want to build.
Food policy requires complex, multifaceted solutions that address everything from agricultural supports to competition law. The current focus on grocery chains as villains—while not entirely misplaced—oversimplifies the issue. Our food system involves countless stakeholders across vast supply chains, all operating in a global context increasingly destabilized by climate change and geopolitical tensions.
What’s needed isn’t more photo ops or political finger-pointing but concrete action. If the much-discussed grocery code of conduct could finally move from concept to implementation, it would represent a small but meaningful step forward. More ambitious approaches might include strengthening our Competition Bureau with real enforcement powers, investing in local food infrastructure, and developing comprehensive food security plans that prioritize the most vulnerable.
The current pattern of political posturing followed by inaction has created a dangerous cynicism among voters. When every issue becomes merely another opportunity for partisan warfare, public trust erodes. Canadians deserve better than politicians who treat grocery stores as campaign backdrops while failing to deliver meaningful policy changes.
The next time a politician expresses shock at grocery prices, perhaps we should ask them what specific legislation they’ve proposed or supported to address the problem. Better yet, perhaps we should demand they stop the performative outrage altogether and focus instead on the unglamorous but essential work of crafting effective policy.
Food politics in Canada has indeed become silly, but the consequences of inaction are deadly serious. Real leadership would acknowledge the complexity of these issues while still committing to concrete action. Until our political class can move beyond superficial gestures, Canadians will continue to pay the price—both at the checkout counter and in our increasingly dysfunctional democracy.
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