Doug Ford nixes idea of grocery surveillance pricing ban in Ontario

Ontario Premier Doug Ford helps pack and sort food donations at the Daily Bread Food Bank’s spring public food sort in Toronto, on Saturday, April 4, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sammy Kogan

Ontario Premier Doug Ford lamented Thursday that grocery store prices are sky high, but nixed the idea of banning so-called surveillance pricing and slammed a pilot project for city-run grocery stores as socialist and “crazy.”

The Manitoba government is moving to ban what it calls “predatory pricing” on groceries, though the issue hasn’t been seen locally, after an investigation in the United States found some online shoppers using a third-party platform were charged different prices for the same item bought at the same time from the same seller.

When asked about the proposal Thursday at an unrelated press conference, Ford said that would run contrary to a free market.

“There’s no better way of letting people get lower costs on no matter if it’s cars or homes or groceries, than competition,” he said.

“That is what we believe in. That’s a capitalist society, a market. The other one is socialism. Socialism does not work. You go around and dictating and overseeing every single price, no. If there’s collusion on pricing, I’ll go after them and tear them to shreds, but nothing beats a free market.”

NDP Leader Marit Stiles has tabled a non-binding motion calling on the government to ban surveillance pricing. She said the predatory behaviour must be prevented.

“We need to get out ahead of this,” she said. “We need to protect consumers, need to protect Ontarians. Under this government, grocery prices have gotten completely out of control.”

Ford said he understands the pressures at the grocery store checkout, but suggested gas prices are the culprit.

“I go grocery shopping, folks, and the prices are through the roof,” he said.

“Do you know what causes that? The gas prices are super, super high right now transporting goods. We’ve got to buy as much as we can in bulk here in Ontario and take care of our farmers.”

Interim Liberal leader John Fraser has tabled a private member’s bill proposing to ban personalized algorithmic pricing. He said Thursday that there need to be guardrails.

“We’re in a new world,” he said. “Imagine this: You’re up late one night and you’re Googling the symptoms your child has. Should the price of children’s Advil be based on the fact that you search that? I don’t think so. I don’t think people want it.”

The premier was also asked Thursday about a planned City of Toronto pilot project to open four city-run grocery stores, a move meant to address grocery affordability. Ford called it “the craziest idea” he has ever heard.

“By all means, support the food banks, but we can’t have city-run grocery stores, but that’s up to the mayor,” Ford said, while making it clear he still holds Mayor Olivia Chow in high regard.

“She wants city-run grocery stores? You’d be subsidizing it huge, because it’s just, it’s crazy. That’s socialism. I love you, mayor.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 16, 2026.

Allison Jones, The Canadian Press