The Conservative Party of Canada is highlighting rising grocery prices following the release of new Consumer Price Index data from Statistics Canada, arguing food inflation continues to strain Canadian households.
In a statement issued December 15, Conservatives say the latest CPI figures show significant year-over-year increases in several grocery staples. Fresh fruit prices are reported to be up 4.4 per cent, with fruit juice up 4.8 per cent and oranges rising by nearly eight per cent. Coffee and tea prices have increased by more than 23 per cent, while lettuce is up 26.8 per cent compared to last year.
According to the release, meat prices have also climbed sharply. Fresh or frozen chicken is up 7.4 per cent, meat overall by more than 14 per cent, and beef by approximately 17 per cent year-over-year. Conservatives note Statistics Canada says grocery price inflation is now the highest since the end of 2023, with prices nearly five per cent higher than November 2024.
The party also points to growing food insecurity, citing Food Banks Canada, which reported more than two million visits in a single month earlier this year, and Feed Ontario, which says one in 16 Ontarians used a food bank in 2024–2025.
Conservatives argue the federal government must take steps to rein in inflation and reduce costs for families, particularly as Canadians face higher grocery bills during the holiday season.
