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Member of the Board of Internal Economy Deputy House leader of the government

Mark Gerretsen

  • Member of Parliament
  • Member of the Board of Internal Economy Deputy House leader of the government
  • Liberal
  • Kingston and the Islands
  • Ontario
  • Voting Attendance: 67%
  • Expenses Last Quarter: $112,228.33

  • Government Page
Context: House Hansard - 312 - May/9/24
Mr. Mark Gerretsen (Kingston and the Islands, Lib.)
  • May/9/24 11:49:01 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I have a brief question. I find the last intervention about grocery prices to be very fascinating because the reality is that in Canada, 42% of the retail grocery sector is controlled by Loblaw, whereas the largest sector in the United States is Walmart, with 11%. However, the Conservatives will never be heard talking about the massive profits that are being made by oil giants or by the grocery retailers. I am wondering what the member's comments on that would be.
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Context: House Hansard - 284 - Feb/16/24
Mr. Mark Gerretsen (deputy House leader of the government, Lib.)
  • Feb/16/24 1:12:21 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I noticed that the member brought up grocery prices. I am curious as to how surprised he was when he found out that a paid lobbyist regularly attends his caucus meetings in order to provide strategy to the Leader of the Opposition, somebody who is directly profiting from the crisis that people are faced with, the inflation as it relates to groceries. If he would rather not answer that question, then I would just encourage him to pivot to something else.
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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 - 254 - Nov/23/23
Mr. Mark Gerretsen (Kingston and the Islands, Lib.)
  • Nov/23/23 11:11:32 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I know this issue has come up, if not from this member, then from one of her colleagues. It is the issue of extreme anti-competition that we are seeing, in particular with regard to the grocery retail giants. I know that in Canada, Loblaws, which owns Shoppers, occupies about 40% of the retail grocery market. Compare that to in the United States, where Walmart, the largest, owns only 18%. I am wondering whether the member could expand on how she thinks the legislation would help with anti-competition practice.
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