Manitoba Challenges Sobeys Over Grocery Store Restrictions

0:00Manitoba's government is taking on sobes over property deals that block new grocery stores from opening nearby. Premier Wap Kai Nu announced they're hauling the chain to the province's municipal board thanks to a new law passed last year banning those, restrictive covenants in land sales. The rules let big grocers like sobes control spots around their stores, sometimes leaving buildings empty just to keep rivals out. Kai Nu says these contracts even stretch to neighboring properties, making it tough for competitions to pop up. Folks are filling the squeeze from higher prices with fewer store options and this move aims to shake things up for better choices and lower costs at the checkout. Right now, four sobes own sites across Manitoba are under fire at the board out of 43 controls they hold in Winnipeg alone, one even locked in for decades. The competition bureau has been pushing retailers and landlords to ditch these unfair restrictions, so eyes are on the board's ruling to see if it clears the way for more grocery battles

1:02in the province. That's the story for today. Canada News Today, Driven by AI