NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh has sharply criticized the federal Liberals for allocating nearly $26 million to Costco and Loblaw for energy-efficient appliances, a move he views as unjust during times of escalating grocery prices. This funding is part of the Liberal government’s low-carbon economy fund aimed at supporting projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Controversy first ignited in 2019 when it was revealed that Loblaw received up to $12 million to upgrade refrigerators and freezers across 370 stores. Recently disclosed data from Environment and Climate Change Canada indicates that Costco also received over $15 million for similar environmental initiatives, totaling more than $10 million to Loblaw in contributions between 2019 and 2023.
Singh voiced his disapproval at a press conference in Toronto, emphasizing the misalignment of providing substantial financial support to wealthy corporations while everyday Canadians struggle with high food prices. “Just stop giving millions of dollars of our public money to highly profitable companies,” he remarked. “Stop giving million of dollars to a for-profit corporation instead of helping people who are struggling to afford food.”
The Conservatives have countered Singh’s criticisms, suggesting his outrage is insincere. They argue that the NDP’s continued support of the minority Liberal government under a political agreement implicitly supports such subsidies. “It’s shocking albeit unsurprising that Jagmeet Singh, the junior coalition partner in Justin Trudeau’s costly Liberal-NDP majority government, provided tens of millions of taxpayer dollars to massive grocery chains that are making billions off Canadians while they are struggling to put food on the table,” stated Sebastian Skamski, spokesperson for Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre.
In response, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau defended the government’s efforts in the House of Commons, highlighting initiatives designed to enhance affordability for Canadians, such as the national food lunch program and a “grocery rebate,” which involved doubling the GST tax credit for low-income families last year.