The format of a My Take is 150 words – no more, no less – to express an opinion on a different topic each week. This week’s topic was Food Prices.
By Lawrence Belanger
With inflation, supply chain issues, labour shortages, and political crises such as the Russo-Ukrainian War, the cost of food has skyrocketed. At the same time, grocery companies and food suppliers are reporting record profits. If profit is what is left over after all the costs of production, distribution, and sale are taken out, then surely these companies can afford to limit their profit margins for the public good.
What if the price of food was capped at a percentage of one’s monthly income, at least during the current crises? That way, increased costs of production would be spread more fairly, while ensuring the working class doesn’t starve. If corporations start artificially lowering production, penalize them financially. I think it’s more important to avoid a food shortage (which I would say includes when people can’t afford to buy it) than it is to reap record profits.
