First, stop inviting grocery CEOs to Ottawa to ask them why they're making too much money. The Lidls and Aldis of the world read the headlines, like everyone else.
Second, I think it's important to recognize that the companies currently in Canada are very well managed. They're very market savvy. Metro, Empire, Sobeys and Loblaws are very well‑run companies. They're taking advantage of the fact that the market is letting them grow. We must not forget that Empire, Metro and Loblaws responded to the American threat 30 years ago, with the arrival of Walmart and Costco. That's why we've seen a lot of consolidation.
Since we weren't able to regulate or stop transactions, we ended up with a high concentration in the market. What we're seeing now is that Mr. Champagne wants to recreate the same phenomenon.
Personally, I've always believed that, at the national level, the priority should be to create conditions that allow a grocer to achieve better results. Interprovincial barriers and taxation levels are examples. We tax a lot of retail products. For example, at Loblaws, 4,600 products are taxed at the retail level. Many are taxed as a result of shrinkflation. People realize that. It makes groceries less competitive and more expensive for everyone.
We need to look at these kinds of changes to give Canadians a little more breathing room.