Ottawa should consider windfall tax on grocery profits if they're found to be excessive: report | CBC News
https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/grocery-profits-windfall-tax-report-1.6877866
https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/grocery-profits-windfall-tax-report-1.6877866
24 Comments
grte@lemmy.ca · 18 pts · 3y
While I agree with the idea of a windfall tax on excessive profit, I think we ought to go further. These companies have shown that they are willing to gouge Canadians in emergency moments when we are at our most uncertain. Well, it's fairly well known that Saskatchewan enjoys some of the best telco service in the country thanks to the presence of SaskTel keeping them honest. So I propose we start a nationally owned grocery chain in that vein which, being run for the public benefit rather than for profit, would be able to set prices that the private and proven to be untrustworthy grocers will be forced to compete with.
Prezhotnuts@lemmy.ca · 9 pts · 3y
A simplified version would be to force Loblaws to break up into their original brands. Won't happen, but be easier
RandAlThor@lemmy.ca · -1 pts · 3y
And it is within the power of the federal government and competition bureau. Will they is another matter.
lightrush@lemmy.ca · 5 pts · 3y
Nationally owned is nice, but we've seen time and again nationally owned corporations getting privatized on a dime. While that would be an improvement for some time, possibly long time, I wonder if a such an entity can be structured as a co-op of sorts where citizens actually own it and it can't be sold without an explicit approval of the majority. 🤔 Or at the very least the workers in it.
jerkface@lemmy.ca · 3 pts · 3y
Neighborhood food cooperatives used to be common. People would simply buy their groceries collectively from farmers and wholesalers and distribute it through the co-op to members. Government agencies could be filling the role of food cooperatives, or fostering the creation of a new generation of co-ops.
stephanetremblay@mstdn.ca · 2 pts · 3y
@jerkface @grte We should look into bringing those back.
TheGayTramp@lemmy.ca · 3 pts · 3y
There are tons of coops across western Canada. It’s basically a chain at this point. Every small town has one. But for some reason they are very rare in the east
stephanetremblay@mstdn.ca · 2 pts · 3y
@TheGayTramp that's true. There was one in a village near our cabin. It's the only one I've ever heard of in Québec.
greasemonkey@lemmy.ca · 2 pts · 3y
I wouldn't say sasktel is keeping them completely honest but I see what you are saying.. but unfortunately it feels like it would turn into how co-op is now
DracolaAdil@lemmy.ca · 2 pts · 3y
Well, it’s fairly well known that Saskatchewan enjoys some of the best telco service in the country undefined>
We do?
grte@lemmy.ca · 3 pts · 3y
Bearing in mind that it's relative to one of the worst telco markets in the world, but yeah.
lightrush@lemmy.ca · 11 pts · 3y
There you have it folks, it's impossible.
ram@lemmy.ca · 5 pts · 3y
"No matter how many times you read it on Twitter," I didn't know Galen was chronically online
RandAlThor@lemmy.ca · 0 pts · 3y
Says the fat man who controls the Canadian grocery trade.
zephyreks@lemmy.ca · 6 pts · 3y
Canada should nationalize a system for handling close-to-expiry produce. It would improve food security, improve health (with less processed foods), and reduce food waste.
It would also drive down prices with increased competition. Make it a legal requirement to dispose of close-to-expiry food in this way.
Showroom7561@lemmy.ca · 5 pts · 3y
"If they are found to be excessive?" Loblaws posted record profits, FFS!
Return those profits to consumers and jail whoever is responsible for this racket.
lightrush@lemmy.ca · 4 pts · 3y
Sir/madam, this is capitalism.