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Sylvain Charbois says the political weaponization of high food prices has led most Canadians to resist the rational analysis needed to understand the current situation.
Published on May 27, 2024 • Last updated 3 hours ago • 3 min read
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Sylvain Charbois says the political weaponization of high food prices has led most Canadians to resist the rational analysis needed to understand the current situation. Photo: Sean Gough/Telegraph Journal
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Statistics Canada reported this week that food inflation was 1.4% in April, meaning food prices on store shelves are 1.4% higher than they were a year ago. But Statistics Canada also confirmed a trend we've been tracking for a while: food prices fell 0.3% in April. Yes, they did fall. And we might see another negative number for May, when Statistics Canada releases its numbers in the coming days.
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Notably, Canada's food inflation rate fell for the fourth consecutive month in April, falling to 2.3% from 3% in March. Food purchased in stores increased 1.4% year-over-year, the lowest since July 2021. This marks the first time since November 2021 that food inflation (2.3%) has fallen below general inflation (2.7%).
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This is undoubtedly good news, especially given the difficult years we have endured. Lower prices are something many Canadians have been waiting for. But the reactions and comments to the inflation data show that few realize that Statistics Canada has actually released a big change in food prices.
Not a single media outlet covered this development. This omission is quite interesting, as it suggests a widespread interest in highlighting negative news in the data. The data released this week was certainly reassuring for the outlook for the rest of the year, but no one seemed to pay any attention to it.
This reaction stems from a deeply ingrained obsession. Food inflation has been highly politicized and exploited by people from all political walks of life. The political weaponization of rising food prices has led most Canadians to resist the rational analysis needed to understand the current situation. It is astonishing. Disputing an individual's views on food inflation inevitably leads to conflicts of interest and mutual accusations of bias. We live in unique times.
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At the root of this nasty social debate is the political infighting between party leaders in Ottawa, which is making the situation worse and putting all parties in a bind in the process. Why would any party want the food inflation storm to die down now, when so much of their messaging is centered on addressing the cost of living challenges we all face?
Meanwhile, Jagmeet Singh, a vocal critic of Loblaw profiteering, seems unwilling to acknowledge that market forces are at work. Meanwhile, Pierre Poirievre has little incentive to try to solve the problem. Why would he? It's the perfect political issue for the Conservatives to blame the Trudeau government, even though food inflation has long been a challenge in most developed countries. Food inflation has been politically convenient for both the NDP and the Conservatives, but it shouldn't be anymore. Yet no one in Ottawa seems to be discussing the issue with Jagmeet Singh or Pierre Poirievre.
Cool headed decisions need to prevail when it comes to food prices, and as soon as possible. Emotions and sentiment seem to have more influence than data and science. It's absurd. Canadians all too often mistake emotions for evidence of truth, but we need to step back from emotion and focus on what the data is revealing. The data clearly shows that things are getting better, and getting better fast.
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Before making accusations of bias, we should take the time to examine the data. Emotions and feelings are strong, but they always mislead the truth.
Sylvain Charbois is professor and senior director of the Agri-Food Analytical Laboratory at Dalhousie University, co-host of the Food Professor Podcast, and former faculty member at the University of Regina.
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