A customer buys produce at a grocery store in Toronto on Friday, Feb. 2, 2024. The Canadian Press/Cole Burston
High food prices are an issue that affects everyone in the state, and most people agree it's a problem, but getting a consensus on its causes is another matter.
Some reports have blamed the war in Ukraine, supply chain issues, and carbon taxes, but a new study finds a lack of evidence to support these claims.
Researchers from the University of Guelph and the University of Ottawa examined 12 Canadian food price reports and 39 Statistics Canada articles to take a detailed look at how food prices are reported and communicated to the public.
The study, co-authored by Philip Rawlings, an adjunct associate professor at the University of Guelph, found that roughly two-thirds of the explanations for price changes were “not supported by the evidence.”
He told The Mike Farwell Show that in his view the report contained incomplete data to support the claims.
“There are a lot of claims without evidence, and a lot of claims where there is evidence but it's not clear why that evidence is relevant,” he said. “So we walked away with a feeling of inadequacy. We wanted better information, and we should make policy based on better information.”
The study argues that data must be presented in a manner that adheres to the principles of scientific rigor. The facts presented must be supported by verifiable observations or data that support the claims, the study says. You must also be able to show a logical connection between the evidence and the claims.
Rowling also said the report was flawed in that it did not take all factors into account when presenting the information.
He said the Canadian government's grocery code of conduct is an opportunity to improve how data is presented and ensure transparency, which will ensure complete data is used to inform policy.
