Sylvain Charbois, Troy Media
Sylvain Charbois
Statistics Canada reported this week that food inflation stood at 1.4 per cent in April, meaning food prices on store shelves are 1.4 per cent higher than they were a year ago.
But Statistics Canada also confirmed a trend that the Agricultural Food Analytical Institute at Dalhousie University has been tracking for some time: Food prices fell 0.3% in April.
Statistics Canada's upcoming figures for May may again be negative.
Notably, Canada's food inflation rate fell for the fourth consecutive month in April, to 2.3% from 3% in March. Food purchased in stores increased 1.4% year-over-year, the lowest since July 2021. This is the first time since November 2021 that food inflation (2.3%) fell below general inflation (2.7%).
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.
Very few media outlets covered this development. This omission is highly indicative, 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 few people seemed to pay attention.
This reaction stems from a deeply rooted obsession. Food inflation has been highly politicized and exploited by people from all walks of life, regardless of political stance. The political weaponization of rising food prices has led most Canadians to resist the rational analysis needed to understand the current situation. It's astonishing. Disputing someone's views on food inflation inevitably leads to mutual accusations of conflict of interest and bias. We live in strange times.
At the root of this thorny social debate is a political infighting between party lines in Ottawa that exacerbates the situation and puts everyone involved in a bind. Why would any party want to calm the food inflation storm when so much of their messaging is centered on addressing the cost of living challenges we all face?
Jagmeet Singh, a vocal critic of Loblaw profiteering, seems unwilling to acknowledge the role of market forces. Similarly, Pierre Poirievre has little appetite to try to solve the problem. Why would he try, when food inflation is a long-standing challenge in most developed countries and a perfect political problem for the Conservatives to blame on the Trudeau government?
It is important to get a level head as soon as possible when it comes to food prices. Emotions and sentiment seem to have more influence than data and science, but this is irrational. All Canadians need to move away from emotions, which are often mistaken for real evidence, and focus on what the data reveals. The data clearly shows that the situation is improving, and improving rapidly.
Before accusing people of bias, we need to look at the data. Emotions and feelings, while intense, always mislead us about the truth.
Dr. Sylvain Charbois is senior director of the Agri-Food Analytical Laboratory and professor of food distribution and policy at Dalhousie University.
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