Bill C-421

National Food Cooperative Strategy Act

An Act to establish a national food cooperative strategy

Sponsor

Alistair MacGregor  NDP

Introduced as a private member’s bill. (These don’t often become law.)

Status

Outside the Order of Precedence (a private member's bill that hasn't yet won the draw that determines which private member's bills can be debated), as of Nov. 27, 2024

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Summary

This is from the published bill. The Library of Parliament often publishes better independent summaries.

This enactment provides for the development of a national strategy to facilitate the establishment of food cooperatives in Canada. It also sets out reporting requirements respecting the strategy.

Elsewhere

All sorts of information on this bill is available at LEGISinfo, an excellent resource from the Library of Parliament. You can also read the full text of the bill.

National Food Cooperative Strategy ActRoutine Proceedings

November 27th, 2024 / 4:25 p.m.


See context

NDP

Alistair MacGregor NDP Cowichan—Malahat—Langford, BC

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-421, An Act to establish a national food cooperative strategy.

Mr. Speaker, grocery prices in Canada are increasing at the fastest rate in over 40 years. Many Canadians are struggling to put food on the table, with more people than ever resorting to food banks for help. Canada's grocery industry is dominated by a handful of large corporations, limiting consumer choice, and in 2023, these corporations reported over $6 billion in profits, all at a time when Canadians were struggling with the cost of food.

The bill I am introducing today would develop a national strategy that would help food co-operatives in Canada enable more small and medium-sized businesses compete in Canada's grocery industry. The Competition Bureau Canada has highlighted that encouraging competition in the grocery sector can help lower prices. By supporting the establishment of more food co-operatives, we can foster a more competitive market and can create community-owned businesses. This would ensure greater economic resilience and would promote food security for all Canadians.

Canadians are sick and tired of billionaires getting richer while regular people pay more and more. This bill is a necessary step toward affordable groceries, greater choice for consumers, and a stronger, more sustainable food system for Canada.

I would like to thank my good friend, the member for Hamilton Centre, for being the seconder of this bill.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)