Madam Speaker, I am happy to join today in the evening's adjournment debate. I asked a question a few weeks ago about food price increases, but I am sure my colleagues will give me one second to give a big shout-out and congratulations to our very own Saskatchewan Roughriders, the 2025 Grey Cup champions.
I had the opportunity on Sunday to watch the game with all three of my children. I am proud to report that this is the first time the Riders have won the Grey Cup when all three of them were alive, because they have not won since 2013. It was a joy for me to have the time to experience watching the Grey Cup victory by our Riders with my three children, Jameson, Clair and Nickson. It was a great family bonding experience.
I would like to get into the very crux of my argument. We have been talking for the last couple of years about the continued food price increases in our country. We know that there is data showing that food prices over the last 10 years have increased more in Canada than in the States, actually 48% faster. We know that inflation has been caused by several things. One is the industrial carbon tax, and a second is taxes on food packaging in grocery stores.
When we talk about the industrial carbon tax, some things my friends and colleagues from across the way do not understand is that it taxes each and every link along the transportation route. Food does not just magically appear in grocery stores; it has to get there. It has to get from the field to the grocery store, so the taxes paid by our farmers, by our truckers and by the grocery stores to keep the lights on and to keep food cool are also included in the ever-increasing cost.
To whoever will answer my question, I will say that I think food prices are a conversation across this country. I have been at home in my riding all week, and every time we have a conversation with someone who comes into our constituency office, they are talking about the ever-increasing price of life. There is an affordability crisis in our country, and it starts at the kitchen table. I know lots of families in which the parents do not eat any of the meat at the supper table until the kids are done eating, just to make sure there is enough for the kids to eat, and that is something that should never happen in our country.
We produce the highest-quality food, like great Canadian beef. We produce the best crops. That should be something that makes sure our country can and does have affordable food prices. I would also mention that in our country, food bank usage has doubled over the last 10 years. Canada is the breadbasket of the world, and if more people, especially in the middle class, are going to the food bank instead of the grocery store, it is an indictment of what the Liberal government has done over the past 10 years to food prices.
If we tax the farmer who produces the food and we tax the trucker who ships the food, we tax the consumer at the grocery store who buys the food, and I would like to have some answers. I remember the Minister of Finance's saying three years ago that food prices would drop by Thanksgiving. I remember his making that solid commitment, but food prices have continued to increase, and they see that, and there just is not enough paycheque at the end of the month for people to buy groceries.
That is something that has to be fixed in our country, so I am looking forward to the response from the member opposite.