I want to say a massive thank you to everyone who is sharing and has signed this petition demanding parliament take action on unaffordable grocery prices. I wanted to provide some updates on what's been happening with Loblaw's Co. over the past few months.
- 96,000 Signatures!
- New CEO Per Banks!
- Join the Loblaw's Boycott
1. 96,000 Signatures!
With over 96,000 signatures and counting, Canadians are frustrated with big grocery stores and especially Loblaw Co.'s unchecked corporate greed. I started this petition in my university dorm over a year ago because I have faced food insecurity before. As a university student and student leader, I have seen students and some of my friends struggle to afford the high prices of groceries leading them to use the Campus Food Bank which is already facing high usage.
Our demand for affordable groceries is not unreasonable and is possible. The Federal Gov't is failing to take real action to crack down on Loblaw Co. and other big grocery store chains across the country as Canadians continue to struggle. This fight for fair pricing and affordability matters and whether it's the grocery industry or the telecommunication industry, Canadians are frustrated and rightfully so. Together, we are driving meaningful change and shaping a better future. Thank you for standing with me and thousands of Canadians in this important fight for affordability..
2. New CEO Per Bank
In 2023, Loblaw's former CEO Galen Weston resigned as CEO and President but will remain as the Chairman of the Loblaw Co. Per Bank was appointed as his replacement and started the job in November 2023. In April, Canadians found out that Bank was paid over $20 million in stocks, bonuses and cash in 2023.
As Canadians continue to struggle with rising greedflation in the grocery industry, we continue to see out-of-touch company executives take more and more leaving workers with less. In my home province of Alberta, Bank's employees are paid $15 an hour to stock his shelves which lines his pockets. It would take almost 764 years for a minimum wage worker in Alberta to make the compensation that Per Bank did in 2023. Parliament must investigate this outrageous corporate greed which Canadians are being forced to pay for through high grocery prices.
For more on this, read this article from the Globe and Mail!
3. Join the Loblaw's Boycott
In May 2024, Canadians across the country will be participating in a grassroots boycott of Loblaw-affiliated grocery stores and other big grocery stores across the country. The grassroots organizers built this campaign off of this subreddit community and I encourage you to check it out and to subscribe for updates.
The organizers of the petition are advocating for a 15% reduction in grocery prices and the elimination of members-only pricing which aims to remove the exclusive discounts that are tied to membership cards with PC Optimum. This boycott is not just about sending a message to Loblaw Co. but rather to all big grocers across the country demanding an end to the rampant greedflation in the grocery industry that is affecting millions of Canadians.
Conclusion
During May, I encourage you to support local businesses, independent grocers, farmers’ markets, and community co-ops instead of big grocery store chains. As we continue our advocacy efforts, I invite you to stay up to date by following me on Twitter at @HaruunYEG. Again, thank you so much to everyone who has supported me and if you have any ideas -- don't hesitate to email me at haruun@ualberta.ca