Jagmeet Singh calls on Liberals to include an excess profit tax for grocers

Federal NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh was in Hamilton on Wednesday to call on the Canadian government to put an excess profit tax in place to deter price gouging in grocery stores.

“There are three CEOs that run the majority of grocery stores that you go to, whether it’s Loblaws, Sobeys or Metro,” Singh said.

“They’re posting, not good profits, not high profits, they are posting record profits.”

READ MORE: Number of people using Ontario food banks rose 38% last year: report

He said that in the last year, food bank usage in Hamilton has increased by 35 per cent, something he said was a result of previous decisions made by both Liberal and Conservative governments.

“We know that families are struggling right now, to pay the rent, to put food on the table, they’re feeling overwhelmed, they’re feeling like they’re drowning, their head is barely above water,” he said.

Last month, a motion was passed to implement an excess profit tax on large grocery stores and to establish a National School Food Program.