Who would be so rude as to sit around a delicious turkey dinner discussing the price of the bird? Nor should we assume that there will be much discussion of politics at this time of family gatherings. There is the possibility that the recent success of the new democrats in Manitoba might be an indicator of a new breeze in the other Prairie provinces but those provinces have two to three years before their next elections. Much could happen in that time.
Frankly there might not be that much discussion of the federal situation. We might hear a few snorts of derision if the attempt by the federal liberals to do something about the cost of food is mentioned. It might not be the role of a younger member of the family to wonder what the heck, Mr. Poilievre would do differently. After all the conservative party leader is a free-range right-winger with no instinct when it comes to the business of business. He knows nothing. He says nothing constructive. There are no saviours in politics.
But there are families sitting at that festive (?) board, that are struggling gamely at solving the needs of the Canadian grocery purveyors. What we are seeing is increased shoplifting and greater impetus to rising prices. When was the last time those politicians talking to the grocers went shopping for their families?
We were even assured the other day that inflation is easing. We were given some abstract figures for the year-on-year inflation figures, that were meaningless. The price of groceries is not an abstract. Doubling the prices of milk and eggs is not a year-on-year increase of 9.8 per cent. Who would ever believe that a loaf of bread would be a special this week at just $3.50?
We hear from the lips of industry minister François-Philippe Champagne that Canadians will “soon” begin to see some results from the federal effort. And if you believe that, I have some lovely swamp for sale up near Bancroft, Ontario.
The business of business might be business but it is the business of politicians to not only give a nod to the problems their constituents face but to do something concrete about them.
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Copyright 2023 © Peter Lowry
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