Agriculture committee  The only thing I want to add is that I want to impress upon everyone that because this doesn't fall under one single government's jurisdiction, what we're looking at when we talk about regulation is the possibility of having a fragmented regulatory checkerboard system in Canada i

Agriculture committee  One thing I say to my members who, to be honest, have asked if this code will really make a difference in keeping us on that playing field.... I don't like to use the term “level playing field”, to be honest with you, because in the industry, that horse has galloped out of the ba

Agriculture committee  It will, very much so. It will just compound the challenges we're already facing. I just want to emphasize that in addition to the cost—the CPMA has told us the cost would increase by 30%—I think the real paramount concern should be that these products won't be getting to these

Agriculture committee  It should be a clear message to everyone about how much we need a code. What it also tells us, and what it will tell other stakeholders, is that I know there will be some people who are presently supporting the code who will not support being included in the code while their reta

Agriculture committee  Is that question for me?

Agriculture committee  I'm sorry.

Agriculture committee  It absolutely is. It's one of the issues. I will add that we've addressed it in the code, but I'll just explain how that works. Michael Graydon from FHCP can speak to this too. Retailers and their suppliers—that includes all retailers, not just the chains but also the independe

Agriculture committee  Even though 59% of the grocery stores in Ontario are independents, the two biggest wholesalers in Ontario are Sobeys and Loblaw. Most independents are buying most of their products from those two companies if they're not getting them at the terminal. That's unfortunate, but that'

Agriculture committee  That's right. That's correct.

Agriculture committee  Well, we have to remember that this is Canada and the transportation challenges we face in this big country, particularly at certain times of the year, are significant, but throughout the year for independent grocers in semi-rural, rural and remote communities—and we also serve a

Agriculture committee  It affects the independent grocers, but what is really important is how it affects the customers of those independent grocers. I thank you for that question, because it's a really important one for this country. As I said in my opening remarks, we have about 6,900 independent g

Agriculture committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. Good afternoon. Thank you for the invitation to offer our perspective on efforts to stabilize food prices. There are approximately 6,900 independent grocers in Canada. Many of those independents are also located in communities where they are very often t

Agriculture committee  I'll speak for the independents. Profits are not increasing for the independent grocer—certainly not for Main Street. I take your points. I want to say, with all respect, that, in my experience—over many years in this industry—the preoccupation or priority of ag committees and

Agriculture committee  Okay—

Agriculture committee  I assume that you mean passing the buck to consumers, or...?