The Saskatchewan NDP wants a special committee to investigate food pricing in Saskatchewan and work with the federal food pricing investigation already taking place..NDP Leader Carla Beck said rising food prices have serious repercussions.. Carla Beck .“We see families, seniors, walking past the meat aisle because they simply can’t afford it. Hard-working people in this province who have never used a food bank before are now relying on them,” said Beck in Question Period..Beck discussed how ranchers are getting squeezed. People are paying more for meat, but the ranchers are not being paid more..“Saskatchewan people deserve to know whose pockets those dollars are going into,” said Beck..NDP Affordability and Agriculture Critic Trent Wotherspoon said the entire food industry needs to be investigated including supply chains, manufacturing, and transportation, as all contribute to rising food costs..“Without a doubt, when you look at the livestock situation and fairness on these fronts, the meat-packing industry and its consolidation and anti-competitive behaviours are a big problem,” said Wotherspoon..“We need to make sure we have regulations and laws, structures, in place that are going to serve consumers and producers. That’s what this committee would be all about.”. Trent Wotherspoon .The special committee would look at local issues as well. For example, in parts of northern Saskatchewan, a jug of milk can cost $16..Currently, the federal government is investigating food prices, but Beck said there’s a need for a specific Saskatchewan investigation alongside the federal investigation..“We need to be going to bat for the very unique needs of producers in this province. And what I’m hearing from producers is they don’t have a lot of time. There are people now making decisions … about selling off their herd,” said Beck..On Tuesday, when the NDP introduced their motion, the Saskatchewan Party (SP) defeated it..SP Agriculture Minister David Marit said he spoke with the Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association and told the ranchers to “raise the concerns themselves” and keep politics out of “something like this.”.“When you’re in a free enterprise market like we are, I think it’s important for the industry, the stakeholders … to really reach out to the competition bureau to see is there unfair practice happening here or is there not,” said Marit..Marit said new food pricing regulations are a federal and not a provincial matter. There are many reasons food is more expensive, such as higher farming costs, labour shortage, and carbon tax..“It’s a broader spectrum than just one thing,” said Marit.
