SoVote

Mr. Francis Drouin (Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, Lib.)

Feb/5/24 2:02:17 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, Canadians want concrete action on making their grocery bills affordable. While we come up with solutions, Conservative members are out cross-country skiing and dragging their feet. This is no surprise. Given that the Conservative leader's right-hand woman is affiliated with Loblaws and the Conservative Party's deputy leader used to be a lobbyist for Walmart, the Conservative leader is clearly getting his orders from big corporate CEOs. We now know that the Conservative Party is not sincere about adopting a grocery code of conduct. That is why it opposes stronger competition laws. The Conservative leader will cut back the services that Canadians depend on, but he will certainly not cut down their grocery bills. The Conservatives are not there for Canadians; they are there for themselves and their cronies. When Conservative members get up on the other side of the House to shout about affordability, they remind me of chihuahuas: all bark and no bite.

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Context: House Hansard - 275 - Feb/5/24

Mr. Mark Gerretsen (Kingston and the Islands, Lib.)

Feb/5/24 2:13:11 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, while Loblaw profits are at an all-time high so are Canadian grocery bills, and who is working to keep it that way? The Leader of the Opposition's campaign manager and top political adviser. Last week we learned Jenni Byrne, a senior Conservative adviser, is currently listed as an active lobbyist for Loblaw all while she participates in Conservative caucus meetings and has daily calls with the Leader of the Opposition to set strategy. While Jenni Byrne has been profiting off the anti-competitive practices of Loblaw, the Leader of the Opposition has been profiting off her counsel on exploiting Canadians' anxieties over grocery prices. Now it all makes sense why Conservative MPs have been putting up roadblocks on legislation to combat predatory pricing and anti-competition practices. On this side of the House, we will keep working to combat high grocery prices despite the interests of Conservative insiders.

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Context: House Hansard - 275 - Feb/5/24

Ms. Jennifer O'Connell (Pickering—Uxbridge, Lib.)

Feb/5/24 2:17:30 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, last week, we learned that the Conservatives' top adviser, Jenni Byrne, is also a lobbyist for Loblaws. Maybe this explains why Conservative MPs have been blocking legislation to deal with predatory pricing. Six leaders and counting, but it is the same old Conservative Party that promised to stand up for Canadians. In reality, they are making deals behind closed doors to help their wealthy connected friends. We know those Conservatives love a slogan, so here is one for Canadians to remember. The Leader of the Opposition will raise grocery prices in their homes, my home. They are going to bring higher prices home.

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Context: House Hansard - 275 - Feb/5/24

Hon. Steven MacKinnon (Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, Lib.)

Feb/5/24 2:32:40 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, it is rich of opposition members to talk about food prices when we know that the member's campaign chair, campaign manager and senior adviser, the person who walks into their caucus every week and gives them advice, is the chief lobbyist for Loblaws in this country, Canada's leading food retailer. Instead of talking about axing the tax, maybe they should axe the hacks?

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Context: House Hansard - 275 - Feb/5/24

Hon. Steven MacKinnon (Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, Lib.)

Feb/5/24 2:45:00 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, there is a whiff of hypocrisy wafting over from the other side of the House today. Perhaps it has not been translated into French yet for the member opposite, but the Leader of the Opposition's campaign manager, his spiritual leader, is the chief lobbyist for Canada's largest grocery retailer, and yet he has the nerve to talk about prices. He should call her to—

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Context: House Hansard - 275 - Feb/5/24

Hon. Steven MacKinnon (Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, Lib.)

Feb/5/24 3:02:07 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, it is pretty clear that the Conservatives are off their game today. What has happened here is that their campaign manager, the woman who has contributed and to whom the Leader of the Opposition owes his job, has been exposed as the lead lobbyist for Loblaw, Canada's leading food retailer. He— Some hon. members: Oh, oh!

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Context: House Hansard - 275 - Feb/5/24

Ms. Jennifer O'Connell (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs (Cybersecurity), Lib.)

Feb/5/24 3:05:38 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I have to admit that, when I was listening to the member opposite's question about insiders, collusion and corruption, I thought he was talking about their chief adviser, who is also serving as Loblaws' lobbyist. Is it not interesting how they are blocking legislation to reduce grocery prices? When it comes to our government's record on issues of ArriveCAN, all procurement policies must be followed. We have made this very clear. Any reports of wrongdoing will come with consequences. Can the members opposite say the same for their own house?

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