Ottawa councillor wants to explore city-run grocery stores to improve food access

An Ottawa city councillor wants the city to explore the idea of city-owned grocery stores as part of a wider strategy to improve access to food. CTV’s Kimberley

An Ottawa councillor wants the city to explore the development of a municipal food strategy, including city-owned grocery stores to improve food access and tackle food insecurity.

Alta Vista Coun. Marty Carr says the City of Ottawa does not currently have in place an “embedded municipal food strategy” to promote a local food system.

In a motion for Wednesday’s council meeting, Carr recommends council direct staff to explore at the feasibility of developing a Municipal Food Strategy that would look at food access, food waste, food production and food distribution.

Carr’s motion recommends the city also explore the idea of city-owned grocery stores.

“The feasibility report would include information on what a potential strategy would entail, including resources, and would include existing programs as well as examining improvements in all streams, for example establishing food hubs and city-owned grocery stores to improve food access; and increasing incentives for urban agriculture and promotion of local food businesses,” Carr said in the motion.

Carr notes several Canadian cities currently have a municipal food strategy, including Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Victoria, Calgary and Hamilton.

If Carr’s motion is approved, staff would report back to council on the feasibility of developing a Municipal Food Strategy by the end of June 2027.

Last month, Toronto city council approved a motion for the city to establish a not-for-profit, city-run grocery stores.

The proposal would see the city establish four city-operated, not-for-profit grocery stores across Toronto, with one store in each community council district.

City staff in Toronto have been directed to report back on the feasibility for city-operated grocery stores in the spring of 2027.

Grocer questions feasibility

Alfonso Curcio, owner of Farmers Pick, an independent grocery store on Prince of Wales Drive, thinks city-owned grocery stores won’t work as intended and warns against it.

“How are they going to run a grocery store? And how can they do it differently than the Loblaws and the Costco’s and the Walmart’s of the world,” he said.

Curcio says that profit margins for grocery stores are small, while the costs of doing business is rising

“The profit margin, say it’s four per cent, right? The customer’s not going to even see that at the cash,” he said.

“Are they not going to pay any gas or any hydro? But besides that, how can they operate it any differently?

With files from CTV News Ottawa’s Kimberley Johnson

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