Alberta MPs press Liberals on food costs as government touts grocery benefit

OTTAWA · Conservative MPs from northeast Alberta have repeatedly pressed the Liberal government in Parliament over the rising cost of food, citing record food bank visits and the strain on working families. Fort McMurray-Cold Lake MP Laila Goodridge raised the issue in October, saying many Canadians are struggling at the checkout. "Far too many Canadians know the feeling of watching the grocery store till tick up faster and faster each time they go and wondering how they are going to make ends meet," said Goodridge. Secretary of State Adam van Koeverden responded by pointing to the federal groceries and essentials benefit, which he said was received by more than 20,000 people in Goodridge's constituency.

Van Koeverden also suggested Goodridge should speak with military members in her riding about their needs. "She could also sit down with some of the military members, seeing as Cold Lake is a large military community. She also voted against a pay increase for those military members," said van Koeverden. The groceries benefit is an increase to the GST credit paid quarterly by the Canada Revenue Agency to eligible recipients. It provides up to $950 in the 2026-27 fiscal year and $700 annually until 2031.

Lakeland MP Shannon Stubbs raised the issue again later in October, highlighting a report from Food Banks Canada. "Food Banks Canada just reported a record 2.3 million visits in one month, up 117 per cent since 2019, with nearly 800,000 by children, and one in five visitors has a job," said Stubbs. She argued that government announcements are not addressing the core problem. "Think about that. Working Canadians cannot afford to feed themselves or their families. Meanwhile, Liberal announcements keep piling up, but so do all the bills," said Stubbs.

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Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne, like van Koeverden, cited the groceries benefit as a key support measure. Stubbs countered that rising costs are affecting everyone, not just those who qualify for the benefit. "The 30 per cent increase to food costs and the increased cost of fuel is hitting everyone, not just those who qualify for the benefit," said Stubbs. She criticized the government for defeating a Conservative proposal to cut federal diesel taxes until Canada Day. "The Conservatives proposed cutting all federal diesel taxes until Canada Day. The Liberals defeated it. The Prime Minister admits food is too costly, but blocked relief. Why is he all talk and bad results?" said Stubbs.

Champagne accused Stubbs and her Conservative colleagues of being absent when support measures were voted on. "Where was the member when we extended the suspension of the excise fuel tax for people across the country? At a time when Canadians need support, I would say that Conservative members should join with this government and support Canadians every step of the way," said Champagne. He said Stubbs and the rest of the Conservatives were "missing in action" when the House of Commons voted for the groceries and essentials benefit. While Stubbs and the Conservative caucus did vote against that tax credit, both she and Goodridge supported an opposition motion last winter calling for a Food Affordability Act to target hidden taxes on food. That motion was defeated by the government.