Carrie Liang

[Carrie Liang @EM203cliang]

Interesting point on loss leaders. Does this strategy actually help ease overall grocery costs for consumers long-term, or does it just mask deeper pricing issues in the supply chain? Curious to hear your thoughts. #FoodInflation #EM203Robin

[The Food Professor @FoodProfessor]

"Many farmers have seen their own products sold in stores for less than what they charge grocers when selling wholesale. In some cases, Canadian produce is used as a loss leader to attract customers—a strategy that’s quite unique. Consumers win."

[Carrie Liang @EM203cliang]

Appreciate your breakdown, Dr. Charlebois. With tariffs being rolled back, how soon should Canadians expect to see relief at the checkout? Are there other domestic policies Ottawa needs to address to bring grocery prices back in line? #FoodInflation #EM203Robin

[The Food Professor @FoodProfessor]

"Canada’s food inflation problem isn’t just imported — it’s engineered. Tariffs, trade missteps, and performative politics have all played a role. It’s time for Ottawa to stop blaming global forces and start owning the domestic decisions driving up our grocery bills."

How Ottawa Made Your Groceries More Expensive

It was expected, but still jarring. In April, food inflation in Canada surged to 3.8% — a full 2.1 percentage points above the national inflation rate, and nearly double the U.S. rate of 2.0%. Once again, food is the primary driver behind Canada’s headline inflation, amplifying affordability concerns from coast to coast.

Behind that 3.8% figure lie significant increases across key food categories. Meat prices climbed 5.8% year-over-year, with beef leading the pack at a staggering 16.5%. Egg prices rose 3.9%, while fresh fruit and vegetable prices increased by 5.0% and 3.7%, respectively. These aren’t anomalies. They reflect underlying cost pressures exacerbated by recent shifts in trade policy and supply chain strategy.

Since March, when both Canada and the United States implemented a new round of tariffs, the divergence in outcomes has been striking. U.S. food inflation has continued to cool, while Canada’s has nearly tripled over the same period.

Tripled.

In two integrated economies, this growing disparity should raise red flags.

The root causes are increasingly evident. Ottawa’s earlier decision to implement counter-tariffs disrupted long-standing North American procurement systems. In response, Canadian grocers began pivoting away from U.S. suppliers — particularly in categories like fresh produce and frozen foods — and turned to costlier or less efficient alternatives. The results are now showing up on the grocery bill.

Fortunately, that policy direction has changed. According to a recent report from Oxford Economics, Prime Minister @MarkJCarney quietly eliminated many of the counter-tariffs that had been inflating food costs. The decision, while politically delicate, was economically sound — and long overdue. Easing those restrictions is already beginning to relieve pressure along the supply chain. Over time, this could help stabilize or even slow food price growth.

But broader context matters. Among G7 nations, Canada now has the second-highest food inflation rate — behind only Japan. Food price increases in France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the United States remain well below Canada’s. That begs the question: Why is food more expensive in Canada than in almost every other advanced economy?

The answer is not just international volatility or climate shocks. It’s also about domestic choices. Tariffs, protectionist procurement practices, and structurally limited trade flexibility have created a uniquely Canadian inflation narrative — one driven more by internal policy than by external pressures.

And Canada’s geoeconomic leverage simply doesn’t compare to that of the United States. Not even close. That’s why Carney’s reversal on food-related tariffs represents an opportunity — to reset policy priorities and adopt a more pragmatic, less performative approach to affordability.

Canadians should welcome this shift. But they also deserve transparency. Food inflation cannot be solely blamed on global disruptions or seasonal cycles. It’s time we acknowledged how much of it is homegrown.

Moving forward, federal and provincial governments must coordinate more effectively, communicate with greater clarity, and ensure that access to affordable, nutritious food remains a national priority.

Of course, there’s nothing inherently wrong with patriotic consumerism. But “maplewashing” — the marketing of imported goods under misleading “Canadian” banners — is misleading and risks undermining public trust. Worse, it can distort markets and push prices even higher. Grocers should not abuse.

As for Ottawa, symbols like “Elbows Up” and “Canada’s Not For Sale” may have mobilized support during a volatile political moment, but they should never substitute for sound economic governance. Rhetoric can only go so far — and, in some cases, it blinds policymakers to the very consequences of their actions.

Canada’s food inflation story didn’t have to unfold this way. Now that we have an opportunity to correct course, let’s not waste it.

— Dr. Sylvain Charlebois is the Director of the Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University and co-host of The Food Professor Podcast, brough to you by @CaddleCanada.

[Carrie Liang @EM203cliang]

Here is an image that represents the issue of rising grocery prices in Canada: https://t.co/v63YCuAjhb #EM203Robin

[Carrie Liang @EM203cliang]

Check out this post about rising grocery prices and excerpt from a news article highlight inflation. #EM203Robin

[Symonsez @Symonsez13]

@basedcaliber @Funknik67 @JoJoFromJerz Stop lying. I’m in the grocery 4/5 times a week. Prices are rising on consumer goods also. Do you think people can’t look this stuff up? Prices on electronics always drop when new models come out, Ike just happened with MacBook pros. Tax cuts for the rich doesn’t scream America.

[Toronto Raptors @Raptors]

Thank you, Masai

[Carrie Liang @EM203cliang]

Crazy to see the comparison in grocery store prices around the world - and how unaffordable groceries are getting in Canada. #EM203Research

[Kirk Lubimov @KirkLubimov]

A lady in Norway goes grocery shopping showing how expensive groceries are there.

These seem America level prices.
I haven't seen a single item that is more expensive than in Canada?

[Kirk Lubimov @KirkLubimov]

A lady in Norway goes grocery shopping showing how expensive groceries are there.

These seem America level prices.
I haven't seen a single item that is more expensive than in Canada?

[Carrie Liang @EM203cliang]

@EM203jbennett After looking at your awesome concept map, another question I thought of was how can we measure the impact of misinformation during a global crisis? #EM203Robin

[Carrie Liang @EM203cliang]

@em203kfiolleau Looking at your awesome conept map, another issue you could look into is what policies can the government implement to subsidize plant-based foods to make them more affordable?

[Carrie Liang @EM203cliang]

@EM203kczuba Emerging contaminants like microplastics and PFAS are emerging concerns in water. How can we address these issues alongside the other concerns you brought up?

[karolina @EM203kczuba]

@EM203cliang Food waste often goes hand in hand with plastic waste. How can we address both together? #EM203problems

[Carrie Liang @EM203cliang]

@EM203Abhinav Abhinav, I totally agree - this class is so interesting! We live in such a digital age, that learning about how we learn is so critical to our educational and professional development!

[Carrie Liang @EM203cliang]

@em203ajb I totally agree! This class is so engaging because of how different it is to other classes. Hoping to learn lots in the coming weeks!

[Carrie Liang @EM203cliang]

@EM203abbyb Abby, I totally agree! Different pieces of media like our comic strip has already showed me that learning take all sorts of shapes and forms.

[Carrie Liang @EM203cliang]

@EM203AJacob I totally agree with you Aashna! Learning in a group setting and connecting online is so engaging. I am also looking forward to what else we learn in this class.

[Carrie Liang @EM203cliang]

@EM203OJohnston Olivia, I totally agree! I forgot how much fun it is to make creative comics! I am excited to learn more about learning through a digital age

[Carrie Liang @EM203cliang]

The last 3 weeks of Learn 280 Characters or Less have been interesting! I have gained much more insight about learning in the digital age - more specifically the impact of technology on learning, learning by doing, and multi-modal learning environments! #EM203Robin