Across Newfoundland and Labrador, people are struggling to put food on the table. This is why the NL NDP, Leader Jim Dinn (St. John’s Centre) and MHA Sheilagh O’Leary (St. John’s East-Quidi Vidi) will bring forward a motion in the House of Assembly on Wednesday, November 18 calling on government to study grocery prices and work across the floor to find successful ways to lower the cost across the province.
This motion calls for an All-Party Committee to immediately begin researching ways to lower the cost of food not just with one-time measures, but effective long-term strategies that can help bring the costs down and keep them there. Specific ideas include targeted financial supports for consumers, preventing predatory or differential pricing, expanding local food production, and creating publicly owned grocery stores and supply chains.
“This NDP motion is something that should without a doubt receive full support in the House of Assembly, as this is an issue that impacts every single district. When we hear people talk about affordability, we always hear that they struggle to put food on the table. We know that when the costs of bills, rent, gas and transportation go up, the budget for food becomes smaller,” said Dinn.
“This committee is not about a one-time relief measure – it’s about exploring how we can better support our local food producers and farmers, how we can address predatory pricing that is happening in large chains across the province, and even if the implementation of public grocery stores could keep large grocers at bay.”
O’Leary believes that government can’t just wait for food prices to drop, and that by working together to find solutions, Newfoundlanders and Labradorians can be protected from increasing costs. She says working together to achieve lower grocery prices helps everyone in the province.
“People are already hearing that food prices are expected to rise in the new year, and understandably, families are worried about yet another increase and what it will mean for their household budgets. We know more than one-third of children under 18 in Newfoundland and Labrador live in food-insecure households. By focusing on how we can address this issue and protect people in our province from rising costs, we can help build stronger communities and ensure everyone has access to the food they need.”
The Private Members Motion will be debated in the House of Assembly at 3pm on November 18, 2026. A copy of the Private Members Motion is attached.