Grocery prices: Québec solidaire emphasizes importance of expert opinion

A grocery store aisle is shown in Montreal on Oct. 9, 2024. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes)

Québec solidaire is calling on premier-designate Christine Fréchette and Quebec’s Committee on Economy and Labour to “hear from economic experts on concrete solutions to address rising grocery costs.”

On Tuesday, Fréchette stated that she had tasked Finance Minister Éric Girard with finding the “most effective way to remove the Quebec sales tax (QST) on a range of everyday consumer goods and groceries.”

QS Spokesperson Ruba Ghazal said she hopes Fréchette will also consult with experts to find the best solutions.

“Throughout her campaign, Christine Fréchette said she was a woman who listens, that it was important for her to consult,” said Ghazal in an interview with The Canadian Press. “I’m taking her at her word. If it’s good enough for the Third Link, if it’s good enough for shale gas, it should be the same for Quebecers’ main concern: the cost of groceries.”

“The situation is concerning. Since 2020, food prices have risen much faster than wages, leading to a real loss of purchasing power for households,” Ghazal added in a letter sent to the commission.

It is reported that the commission could hear from a wide range of experts, such as economists specializing in inflation and competition, public policy experts, representatives from the agri-food sector and consumer advocacy organizations.

“At a time when Quebecers are expecting quick answers, this mandate would offer a concrete opportunity to advance the debate and identify realistic solutions to reduce grocery costs,” Ghazal continued in her letter.

QS says it believes such consultations could be completed in just a few sessions.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on April 15, 2026.