Finding a way to help with your grocery bill

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This article was published 10/08/2022 (294 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A few weeks ago, I met an elderly couple in the grocery store. They were visibly stressed, and when I approached them to see if I could help, I noticed they were counting coins. They told me that lately when they go to the grocery store, they’re never sure if they have enough money from their fixed income to buy what they need for the week. They’re not alone. I’ve talked with people all across the province who are struggling with sky-high grocery bills. It seems like nowadays, Manitobans aren’t asking themselves what they want to feed their families for dinner, they’re asking themselves ‘what can I afford?’

With the cost of groceries 10 per cent higher than it was one year ago, it’s getting harder to put healthy food on the table for your family. I know the government can’t do everything, but it can do some things to help you cope with the rising cost of groceries. That’s why I’ve written a letter to Premier Stefanson calling on her to form a non-partisan committee this summer to see what we can do to help with your grocery bill.

The Manitoba NDP believes it’s time to put politics aside and put families first. But so far, the Premier hasn’t responded to our request to work collaboratively on solutions and the Progressive Conservatives haven’t come up with any solutions of their own. In fact, they’re making the cost-of-living crisis worse by continuing to raise your Hydro rates and freezing the wages of hardworking Hydro workers and front-line health-care staff.

While life gets more expensive for the average family in Manitoba, the PCs are helping the rich get richer by cutting education and health care to give tax breaks to some of the wealthiest people in Canada and the U.S. and even multi-billion-dollar out-of-province corporations like the owners of Polo Park mall. The Manitoba NDP believes that’s wrong. We need strong health care and smaller class sizes to build a brighter future for families in Manitoba. And we think you should get some help with your grocery bill too.

If you are struggling with the rising cost of groceries, I want to hear from you. Contact my office at 204-615-1922 or email me at wab.kinew@yourmanitoba.ca

Wab Kinew
Fort Rouge constituency report

Wab Kinew is the NDP MLA for Fort Rouge and leader of the Manitoba New Democratic Party.

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