Alberta Premier Meets Grocers on Skyrocketing Food Prices

0:00It's April 18, I'm Cory with the story. This is Calgary News today, driven by AI. Alberta's premier Danielle Smith just announced her government's pushing meetings with major grocers to tackle skyrocketing food prices sparked by the Middle East War and fresh inflation fears. Her minister Dale Nallie's leading the talks is zeroing in on essential staples like meat and dairy to bring costs down for shoppers facing serious. Sticker Shock. Meanwhile, oil prices have spiked to $115 a barrel since late February, jacking up Calgary gas by 30% and hiking. Food Transport Expenses. Smith says they won't cut the province's 13 cents per liter gas tax right now, but will if West Texas Intermediate Crew tops $90 a barrel from mid-May through mid-June. Folks are filling the pinch hard with food costs of 30% over five years and another 4-6% expected this year. Anti-poverty groups in Calgary cheer the move, but call for stronger income supports.

1:01Noting food banks have seen hamper demand jump nearly 200%. Percent since 2020, opposition NDP slams the UCP for high insurance and power rates while ignoring shrink-flation tactics. Grocery chains deny price gouging despite record profits last year, and a recent survey shows 28% of Canadians blame their margins. Federally, Prime Minister Mark Carney suspending 10 cents per liter on gas and force since on diesel from April 20th to Labor Day, plus, topping up GST rebates. Smith points to provincial winds like lower utilities and killing the federal carbon tax as real affordability boost with these Grocery chats aiming to ease the load as global tension simmer.