NDP Leader Calls for Competition Bureau to Probe Loblaw’s Partnership with Rogers and Bell
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh is calling for the competition commissioner to investigate allegations that the Loblaw grocery chain Loblaw and a company owned by telecom companies Rogers and Bell, alleging the two companies are engaging in price fixing.
Canadians are getting ripped off when they go to the grocery stores, they ripped off their cell phone fees because we’re paying some of the highest in the world,” Mr. Singh said during a May 22 press conference.
“And now we’ve learned that Loblaws is teaming up with Rogers and Bell to rip off Canadians even more with their cell phone prices by limiting choices.”
On May 9, the head of the telecom firm Québecor wrote a letter to Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne informing him that Loblaw had decided to “prematurely end” the company’s contract for wireless devices and services at kiosks inside Loblaws grocery stores.
Calls for Stronger Anti-Competitive Laws
Mr. Singh said Canada needs stronger anti-competition laws to protect consumers and quicker investigations of “anti-competitive behaviours.” He also blamed the Liberal government for being slow to act.
“The Liberals and Justin Trudeau act like they have no power to stop this. They absolutely do have the power and the responsibility to stop big corporations from ripping off Canadians,” he said.
Mr. Singh mentioned the 2023 Canada Bread incident in which the company agreed to pay $50 million after admitting it colluded with a competitor to fix bread prices and said he has concerns that grocery stores and telecommunications companies are colluding to fix grocery and cell phone prices.
“The reality is, these changes are going to make life more affordable everyday for Canadians,” she said. “They’re going to make it more affordable to buy your groceries. They’re going to make your phone bill more affordable.”