The Manitoba government is launching a provincial study aimed at lowering grocery costs and improving affordability for families.
Premier Wab Kinew and Finance Minister Adrien Sala announced the initiative on Wednesday, stating that Manitobans are feeling the pinch and it’s time to take action.
“Manitobans are feeling the cost of groceries every week,” said Kinew. “As a government, we have a responsibility to make sure life is affordable for families. This study is about going after the practices that are driving up prices and making sure grocery prices work for people, not against them.”
Examining pricing practices
The study will look at predatory and differential pricing practices, including cases where companies may use consumer data or purchasing patterns to charge some customers more than others for the same items.
The study will also assess how pricing practices affect affordability in Manitoba, while identifying real, workable ways to bring grocery costs down.
“As finance minister, my job is to focus on two budgets, the province’s budget and your household budget,” said Sala. “This work will help identify real, workable steps to bring grocery costs down and make life more affordable for Manitobans.”
Kinew added that the study is about ensuring grocery prices work for people, not against them.
Manitoba leading the way
This is the first comprehensive, province-led study in Canada focused on these issues.
“It’s great to see Manitoba leading the way on ensuring a more free and fair market for its citizens,” said Vass Bednar, managing director, Canadian Shield Institute and co-author of The Big Fix. “This study comes at a critical time, as these kinds of exploitative pricing tactics risk the fundamentals of a free market. The focus needs to be on ensuring a competitive market, grounded in privacy legislation that doesn’t allow anyone to use citizens’ data to exploit them.”
The study builds on recent government measures, including a milk price freeze through 2026, expanded school nutrition programs, and increased prenatal benefits.
The province says updates will be shared as the study progresses, as it continues working to address the rising cost of living.
