Mr. Speaker, I will be sharing my time with the Leader of the Opposition.
I rise today to speak to an issue that affects every single one of us: the rising cost of food in Canada. When Canadians get to the checkout line at the grocery store, they feel it. It is a daily frustration that has grown worse year after year. Food prices are not just numbers on a receipt. They reflect how difficult it has become for many families to put healthy meals on the table.
Let us begin with the facts. By late 2025, and into early 2026, food prices continued their sharp climb. In December alone, food prices were up 6.2%, grocery prices rose roughly 5% and takeout meals jumped 8.5%. Canada has now earned the unfortunate distinction of being the food inflation capital of the G7.
According to Dalhousie University's 2026 Canada food price report, food costs are expected to rise another 4% to 6%. For the average family of four, that means spending more than $17,500 on food in 2026, nearly $1,000 more than last year. Over the past five years, food prices have surged by approximately 27%. Staple items, such as beef, saw dramatic spikes, rising nearly 19% in 2025.
Why is this happening? There is no single cause, but there are several forces pushing prices higher. Energy and input costs remain elevated. The costs for fuel for transportation and fertilizer for farmers, as well as for labour throughout the supply chain, feed directly into what Canadians pay at the till. As Conservatives have pointed out for years, when trucks, trains and ships cost more to operate, those increased costs do not disappear; they are passed on to consumers. We cannot debate reality. Higher input costs mean higher grocery bills.
The impact on Canadians is severe. Today, one in four households is facing food insecurity. Families are cutting back on healthy foods. Parents are skipping meals. Even Canadians who are working full time are turning to food banks.
At this time, I want to give a shout-out to Sudbury Food Bank's friendship house, which I visited in my riding, in my hometown. I was truly impressed by the dedication of the volunteers and the generosity of our local businesses. The food bank is an essential part of our community, and I thank them for making a difference.
Researchers now tell us that grocery prices top the list of financial worries for Canadians. When rising food costs are combined with higher prices for rent, energy and other essentials, many Canadians reach a breaking point.
The government has introduced the Canada groceries and essentials benefit, which would provide one-time top-ups and ongoing increases for low- and modest-income Canadians. We will support this measure. It is a small but welcome step, especially for low- and modest-income earners in my riding of Sudbury East—Manitoulin—Nickel Belt, but band-aid solutions can only go so far. We need to rip off the band-aid and make real changes to make life more affordable.
Conservatives will continue to put forward real, practical measures to make life more affordable for Canadians. Our food affordability plan would remove the hidden taxes on food by ending the industrial carbon tax, the fuel standard tax and the food packaging tax. We have debated these measures in the House for months. The Liberals dismissed them as imaginary or non-existent. We can call them what we want, either direct taxes or indirect taxes, but I want the people of northern Ontario and all Canadians to clearly understand that these are all costs that have been imposed by the government.
The industrial carbon tax increases costs for farmers, who grow our food, and those who transport it. It raises the price of farm fuel, fertilizer, trucking and freight. It increases costs at every stage of the supply chain, and those costs eventually land on consumers. It is not imaginary; it is real, measurable and paid for by Canadians.
Canada's clean fuel regulations act as a hidden tax by requiring producers to reduce the carbon intensity of fuels, raising gas prices by an estimated seven cents per litre in 2026, and that will go up to 17¢ by 2030. This policy increases the costs for consumers and businesses. They are not directly listed on fuel receipts, but are hidden as additional production costs imposed by the government. The Canadian Taxpayers Federation suggests the policy could cost the economy billions and increase household expenses. These costs are a burden to the consumer and are definitely real, not imaginary.
Then there is the food packaging tax, which the Liberals call imaginary and non-existent. It is a play on words. Although there is no stand-alone tax called a food packaging tax, proposed federal packaging and plastic regulations would have tax-like cost impacts. These rules would significantly raise costs for food producers, grocers and consumers. Fresh produce could increase up to 34% and may cost the average Canadian household about $400 more per year.
Those are real dollars coming out of the pockets of families in northern Ontario and across the country. They are not imaginary. With Canadians simply working to live rather than living well from the work they do, the government should be making it easier to afford groceries, not harder with hidden taxes.
The Prime Minister often speaks about a team Canada approach. This is an opportunity to put those words into action. The Conservative food affordability plan offers practical, long-term solutions that would relieve pressure on families, lower grocery bills and make life more affordable for all Canadians. These measures are realistic, effective, and can be implemented without delay. By supporting this plan, the government would demonstrate a genuine willingness to work together for the good of Canadians, especially those who are struggling right now. Conservatives stand ready to work with the government to deliver real relief and build a more stable and sustainable food system that works for Canadians.