CTVN - Wednesday, May 22, 2024 - 12:00 a.m. (ET) - Segment #36

>>> The united nations will head to the polls in six weeks to decide who will be britain's prime minister after the current one called a general election. >> Earlier today I spoke with his majesty the king to request asis illusion of parliament. The king -- disi go solution -- the king -- disillusion -- the king has granted the request. >> Merella: standing in the pouring rain rishi sunak said the vote would come at a time of great uncertainty in the world. Citing russia's war in ukraine and instability in the middle east. It also comes at a time when his party is behind in the polls, with the british public appearing eager for change after 14 years of a conservative government. >>> Graceland is off the auction block for now. He will advice's granddaughter has won a legal bid to delay the sale. >> Rylee: riley keough argues a creditor is illegally claiming rights to the memphis property. The company says her late mother lisa marie presley used the state as collateral for a multimillion dollar loan that was never repaid, but keough claims the documents were forged and the loan never exist the. It's unclear when -- existed -- the judge will make a final ruling in the cases. >>> An unusual standoff was caught on camera at a montreal zoo. Footage shows a canada goose choosing flight -- choosing fight over flight, staring down a fox that tried to attack. The woman behind the camera says at one point the fox had the goose's neck in its mouth. >> I just watched the scene and it was unbelievable. The fox kept going after the goose and the goose was flapping and hitting it. The fox was limping at one point. >> Merella: remarkably the bird managed to break free with the fox eventually giving up the goose living to fight another day. >>> After the break, it is a barbie world. A canadian soccer superstar gets an honour that is plastic and fantastic. If you don't have group health benefits at work, are self-employed, freelancing or retiring soon how can you protect yourself from continually rising health care costs not covered by your government health insurance? With SureHealth from Green Shield Canada. Working freelance, I love knowing that my SureHealth plan helps to protect me and my family from a lot of routine medical expenses. Host: Like prescription drugs, dental care and vision care. And many unexpected expenses I could face, being self-employed, if I have an accident or get a serious illness. Like physiotherapists, chiropractors, home care, emergency medical travel expenses, and more. All SureHealth plans also include online digital mental health services from Inkblot. Plus, with SureHealth, you can submit your claims online, and have the payments deposited directly to your bank account. And I really appreciate that my SureHealth plan is affordable. Host: While some plans require answering a few health questions, for most, your acceptance is guaranteed, with no health exam and no medical questions when you apply. Health care costs are rising. Why not protect yourself and your family from many routine and unexpected health care costs not covered by your government health plan? Host: Like prescription drugs, dental care, vision care, physiotherapists, chiropractors, emergency medical travel expenses and more. And remember, this is lifetime protection that won't be cancelled, regardless of your age or health, as long as payments are made. If you're self-employed, don't have health coverage at work, are recently retired or retiring soon, get SureHealth now and protect yourself and your family from rising health care costs not covered by your government health plan. Don't delay. Visit SureHealth.ca now or call the numberon your screen for your free, personalized SureHealth info package.

>>> Christine sinclair is a well-accomplished canadian athlete with a lopping best of wins and titles -- long list -- she's inspired a legion of young canadians to play competitive soccer. Now she's inspired something else. Sarah plowman joins us now. There is a christine sinclair barbie. >> Reporter: merella, christine sinclair is a three-time olympic medallist. She scored more international and more olympic golds than any player in the world, and now she's being honoured in a very small, but big way. >> There's sinclair wide open goal. It's christine sinclair! >>> The belief christine sinclair gave canadians was contagious. That they could dream, win, and be the best in the world. A role model. >> That's me, my face. >> Reporter: and now mini model. A barbie with her signature headband and jersey. >> They got the gold medal, most important, right? High socks, because the cool kids wear hay socks. >> Reporter: for its 65th anniversary, barbie is honouring nine athletes from around the world. Tennis star venus williams is another. >> I mean, there's moments in life that you can't even dream about. I never thought that I would be, you know, made as a barbie doll. >> Reporter: while the aim may be to inspire the maker of barbies says the dolls aren't for the public. They won't be for sale. >> The role model dolls are created just in their likeness truly to honour those athletes, and I would love a doll, too. I feel everyone's pain out there. But there is only one. And it is gifted to the role model. >> Reporter: that pus else parents. >> -- puzzles parents. >> Why not sell them to all the girls so girls can play with barbies, not just princesses, they can be kicking a ball or -- >> Sinclair says being a barbie role model is an honour. >> You know, an ionic toy -- iconic toy hopefully can inspire the next generation of young canadians. >> Reporter: I asked the maker of the dolls whether they're considering selling them to the public and I was told that there are no plans right now, but you never know what the future holds. Merella. >> Merella: yeah. What a shame. Sarah, thank you.

>>> And that's our newscast for this wednesday. Thanks for sharing your time with us. Be sure to join todd van der heyden later tonight and for ongoing coverage of canada's top stories, tune into ctv news channel. I'm merella fernandez. I'll see you again tomorrow. Your local ctv news begins right now. [ ] >> Announcer: "ctv national news." ca >> And welcome to power play. I'm vassy kapelos tonight grocery price showdown. >> You don't have the power to

stop these gritty ceos, but you do, you're going to continue to stand up for canadian consumers. >> The ndp is pushing for a corporate tax hike of sorts in excess profit tax, arguing the feds have failed to bring down grocery casas. New polling shows canadians plate and peas are here to debate the solution in mount. Cross-border boost. Canada is our number one trading partner when we do >> The prime minister's just back from a trade mission to philadelphia, part of a so-called charm offensive strategy ahead of the U.S. election. What else to the feds need to be doing ahead of that day. Former canadian ambassador to the U.S. to them and not and will be with us. Coming up. Dental care debate. >> This is something that we absolutely must get. >> The conservatives call the rollout of the dental care program a disaster while the liberals accuse care poilievre's party of wanting to scrap the program altogether. Our front bench is set to dig into the pre summer strategy a bit later on in our program. First, though. >> You are what you don't have the power to stop these greedy ceos, but you do, I know the like it, but we've got to take on corporate greed is we're going to continue to stand up for canadian consumers. Is looking into the competition act to see if there needs to be referred on a number of things to come for, but we're going to continue to stand up for the middle class and people working hard to join it. >> Food price inflation in over 4. >> Decades. Will the prime minister agree with me that his carbon tax coalition is nothing more than an anti competitive price fixing scheme that is costing canadians of the grocery list. >> Canadian grocery bills have skyrocketed up more than 20% over the past 3 years. Now inflation is finally coming down, but that just means the skyrocketing has slowed. It doesn't mean consumers can expect a return to pre spike prices. New data out today from leger found 64% of canadians think the prices they're seeing at grocery stores are continuing to get worse. Add to that, a brand new report out from food banks. Canada, which shows one in 4 canadians face food insecurity and one in 10 are living in poverty. As you heard in the clip, the ndp is arguing it all means that it's time for a so-called excess profit tax on large grocery chains. Let's get into a debate on what the solution might look like with mp's to lead normal. Hama is the minister of heritage is parliamentary secretary next to him. Andrew scheer's, the conservative house leader and next to him, don davies is the ndp's finance critic. Everybody, it's nice to see you. Thank you very much for making the time for the conversation. Mister muhammad. I'll start with you. The prime minister at one point a number of months ago said no way, no. How to the windfall tax that it would be bad economics and essentially be passed onto consumers. Your government then threatened the use of it when last fall, it was promising to force coaster stabilize prices. What is your government's position? >> Are you in favour of what the ndp is proposing? >> But I think we started out we started on this with trying to work with industry, the grocery code grocer code of conte saying that we worked with industry now seen law. Plus come to the table to sign ms. This is a commitment that canadians need to see on the part of an issue to be able to show that there, in fact, is a commitment to transparency. There's a commitment to ensuring the kings could afford the food that they need to buy. So we need to be able to continue work with industry and to push solutions with them. If they're not prepared to work. We will use everything available in the arsenal that the action of groceries coming on board is an indication industry understand that they need to be part of the solution to want to be clear. One grocer after 2 years of fighting at has now come on board. That's loblaw. Walmart and costco are still outstanding. >> Your government has not been clear about whether you're willing to force to make it mandatory through legislation. And I didn't hear an answer on whether or not you're supportive of what the ndp's proposed here in texas. Our excess profit tax. Yes or no. Does your government supports the time? We have said we're, we're open to all tools available at arsenal. Now loveless coming on board is one piece of this, but we need to be able to increased competition. That's why we've been putting forward measures too. Read that revisiting open up and to improve the competition act that's in the budget considers that they're going to oppose it. That's how you get for engrossing competition into the industry and make sure the industry is actually doing its part. And I think this is where it becomes really important to acknowledge that this is first of all global phenomenon. This is not a canadian problem. This is a global problem. Now in that we also recognize there for that, we've had to take additional steps. So putting a school food program, it in place to be able to get kids the food that they need every single day. Those are the types of measures that we put into putting into place. In addition, 160 million dollars to support farmers and to support the food supply across this country. And those are measures to help ensure the canes have access to good indicating are insinuating are implying that inflation is the most experienced elsewhere. But food prices in canada have got up by 20% over 3 years. Do you think it matters to canadians, if it's also going up and in other parts of the world?

>> And beyond that, what you're like when you're seeing you're willing to use every tool available to you. At what point look at what point does do you decide? Hey, this isn't working to prices are 20% higher. We're now going to do x, y or z. >> So as you know, did you know there is now stability? It has not been a drop in its been stability in food prices. You see the cpi combat 2.3% this month. These are important factors that go into demonstrating the things. In fact, our on a path to improvement. There is lots more work to be done. You know, we have done everything that we can do to help where we have continued to. The work is required to help farmers. The carbonate do the things that are required to ensure that there is a sustainable agri-food industry in this country. Those are the steps that are part of a longer-term solution. Now it's a lot. Yeah. Exactly one of those who have 20% higher bill. And that is why things like school food program putting that into play section important step until you're able to solve the long-term problem. You have 2 things in the short term to help pay it. And that's what I would hope that everyone here would support the school from very quickly. Beyond that, there is something that food banks, canada and other organizations like them. >> Have asked for its very specific. It's called a grocery and essentials benefit is your government in favour of that? I think it is one of the things that we should certainly be looking at is it is one of many measures that we have available to us. We need to see whether or not industries prepared to play ball. What evidence do you need? It's been years. Well, you've now seen it grow. So you see loblaws has been registered to hear. They have now come on board and no action is going to we're not going to hopefully see some action. So after another 2 years, are you martin cost? I don't think that's, I think that's a fair share statement that she I think we have to continue to have conversations, not just with industry, but also for groceries to bring them. And I mean, you look at the fact that up until very recently. And in fact, thanks to many years of conservative governments, you could get your grocery stores in the same complex, right? So that has had a material impact on whether or not you could have competition, making those changes, making it easier for people to enter for smaller grocers to be able to enter, to be able to have competition is a big big win for canadians, if in fact, that this material, as you just made those changes very recently. Let let me move on to the conservatives at and mister scheer, because the only solution that I've heard your party proposed to address the price of food. >> He's around removing the carbon tax, the most accurate analysis I could find from an economist and university of calgary. Trevor, too, assess that essentially that would account for about one percent of the increase. So you're saving me about a cent on every dollar at the grocery store. What more would your party you prepare to to address the cost of groceries? First of all, I have to address a couple things that are said that are just not true. >> Prices are going up in canada because of global phenomena. Prices are going up in canada because justin trudeau massively flooded the economy with brand-new cash printed out of thin air, more dollars, chasing fewer goods caused the inflation crisis that canadians are suffering. Sir. And we see the devastating results. Millions of canadians going to the food bank for the first time. A recent report out from food banks saying that the number of visits in kind by 50% in the last little while. In addition, the carbon tax, a carbon tax adds cost everywhere along the supply chain. And the bank of canada governor acknowledged that the carbon tax itself is a significant contributor to inflation across the board, but specifically on food because when you tax the farmer, the crows, the food, the truck of the ship's, the food, the retailer that sells the food. You are increasing the price of food. So before we talk about, you task force is a new taxes, why not eliminate the easiest culprit to go after, which is the government's carbon tax that could be repealed tomorrow. You know, how much is that going to save somebody at the grocery store because that's what I'm putting to you. >> The bank of canada governor has talked about the impact of the carbon tax on the cost of living overall and indicated that, for example, it would save you at one point if it were eliminated 0.6% of the overall impact which is not saying I'm not, I'm not saying it's nothing but a specific where food is concerned to insinuate that there are no global factors at play. There are no supply chain issues that added to the cost of groceries. That's not accurate. The what the liberals love to what justin trudeau of stew as he loves to externalize blame. >> He's been in power for 9 years, says 9 years of justin trudeau's ndp liberal coalition government. During that time, massive increases to food bank use food insecurity, stories about to middle-class families, families with jobs going to food banks or watering down milk that never happened before justin trudeau was prime minister. Now it's happening all across the country. So inflation is a big part of and remember, he said that he was going to go into debt so that canadians didn't have to. Now we've seen massive interest rates hikes and canadians are suffering through all of that and he's not stopping, he's doubling down. Most important take away for canadians as they examine these issues is to know that justin trudeau is following the exact same set of policies that caused the misery in the first place. He's not changing course. He's not admitting the error of his ways.

he's going to keep hiking that -- >> You heard my line of questioning. I'm not absolving the government of their responsibility for overseeing what has happened, but you are presenting it as a black and white situation. It's either all their fault or -- or it's none of -- none of their fault. I don't think that's fair. That's not accurate to canadians and therefore my question to you is what would conservatives do to actually make a difference at the grocery store? Would you support an excess profit tax? Do you think that that would make a difference? Would you go beyond just cutting the carbon tax? How would a conservative government make my bill any different at the grocery store? >> I've never known a tax hike to lower prices. Getting rid of a tax will absolutely lower priced and to stabilize inflation we will restore budget sanity by bringing in a dollar for dollar loss so that all of the extra new spending that justin trudeau's unleashing in the economy stops. That's the essential part. We have to preserve the power of the paycheques that canadians work so hard to get. Every time justin trudeau floods or economy with new money that devalls what someone has taken home in the form of their paycheque, they can buy less it. And the government absolutely is responsible for that. Justin trudeau was the one selling all of those government bonds -- >> Vassy: so all of the inflation goes away when conservatives stop spending more? >> No, wait. When the government government stops making money out of thin air, that is when you control inflation. And that has to happen. It's not happening with justin trudeau. He's borrowing billions and billion also more. >> Vassy: s inflation is within the target rate, between 2 and 3% right now. >> After years of massive increases and prices are still going up. That's the other thing to remember. Just because they like to talk about stablization all that means is it's going up more slowly but it's still going up and still eroding the power of the paycheque. >> Vassy: okay, I want to get the ndp in this because you are the one proposing this excess windfall tax or excess tax. What evidence do you have that it would lower prices for canadians? >> I'm glad you used the word evidence because it's nice to get bahama to actual numbers here. As you have he pointed out, grocery prices have gone up 21% in the last three years. Statistics canada says that freshry prices profits have doubled in the last five years and the competition tribunal. >> Vassy: not the profit margins. >> Most profits have doubled in the last five years. The competition tribunal last summer in june stated that grocery prices are rising at the fastest level in 40 years. At the same time, you have millions of canadians experiencing food insecurity, as you pointed out, one in four people in this country between the ages of 18 and 24 are going to food banks. We've not seen this kind of food insecurity in this country for a long time. Now, what's the cause of this? It's clearly greedflation. We had eight major grocery chains in this country in 1984. We now have five. There's five major grocery chains. And in our view, they are clearly abusing their monopoly in the marketplace to gouge consumers. Anybody who goes to a grocery store in the last year will tell you that. Prices have gone way out of whack and that's when products are shrinking at the same time. Now, to Mr. Scheer's point, that he thinks that it's a flooding of money into the economy, canadians aren't going to the grocery stores buying more food than they ever did before. There's no increased demand for food. Food demand is the same. >> It's the price that is have gone up. >> Vassy: my question to you, Mr. Davies, respectfully, was whether or not adding an extra tax to these stores will actually lower the price for consumers, because to Mr. Scheer's point, normally, when a corporation or anybody else attacks in -- for extra tax -- taxation, they will pass that on to the consumers. What is to prohibit that from happening? >> Not necessarily. Not only -- not only will it help, but it has helped. So during world war ii, we brought in a lot of profit mechanisms in order to stop gouging. When you have an emergency like we had with covid, there are certain industry that is will take advantage of that situation and drastically raise their prices. You have to make sure, particularly when you have a monopoly situation, that that doesn't happen. We brought in a when excess profit tax in this country in 2022 on the banks of financial institutions. >> Vassy: are you looking for that, like a one-time, 1% -- >> It could be temporary. Now, this is on excess profits. We understand that the grocery industry has to experience profits. When there's excess profits that you can incredibly say are the result of gouging, price gouging, abusing your dominant place in the marketplace. >> Vassy: do you have credible evidence, with all due respect, the margin have increased according to that competition bureau report that you referenced, modest yet meaningful amount of 1 or 2 percentage points. That's excessive to you? >> What happens in the grocery industry is margins are low, but volumes are high. What the competition tribunal found was that each increase in margins of 1% represents a billion dollars of excess cost to consumers in canada. So that's when when the grocery industry says, oh, no, we arrest low margin industry and margins have gone up only a little bit, that results in massive prices. And do you know what proof that is, at the grocery store. Walking and buy a loaf of bread, walk in and buy a pound of beef, walk in and buy chicken breasts and you will see that prices are outrageous.

well, well, product -- sizes have shrunk. >> Vassy: and you're sure that this tax is going to make the difference? >> The uk has done it, 20 european countries have done it. >> Vassy: well, actually that's not true. Some of the european countries have only levied it on oil and gas company which did see a far bigger increase on profit margins, not grocery stores. Only portugal. >> Well, the thing about annexation profits tax is it does a couple of things. It sends a message to the industry that any attempt to gouge will be -- will be met with excess taxes. Second of all, it returns some tax dollars to the government for the subsidy that is we've given them. You might remember that this government gave $26 million to these major companies for freezers, and finally what it does, is it provides a source of money for a national school nutrition program and to give a gst rebate to canadians that will put money in their pockets and actually help -- >> Vassy: okay, I have time for 1:30-second final point for each of you, yes or no to what Mr. Dave vilnius is proposing? >> Well, what I did want to say is Mr. Scheer has given us a master class in misinformation, lack of evidence, lack of data and this notion that somehow eliminating the carbon tax is going to -- is going to somehow be the salvation and you rightly point out it's a 1% factor. The reality is that this is a global challenge that we're all dealing w canada that one of the lowest inflation rates in the world, in the g7. We are doing all that we can with industry and industry isn't prepared to play ball. We have lots of tools in the arsenal we are prepared to use. >> Vassy: you haven't answered at what point you make that determination. Isn't 20%a enough of a place to make a move? >> As I say, we would not be actively engaging on this if we didn't think it was a serious challenge to do this and we will continue to do so. You've rightly pointed out, as -- in your conversation with Mr. Davies, that there it is not a whole lot of evidence that doing an compet profit tax delivers you the value in terms of value to -- >> Why did you threaten in the fall? >> It is -- it is one of the tools available to us. We have to be able to walk and chew gum at the same time and do multiple things at multiple points in time to try and solve the problem. And conservatives will give you one solution, our job is to make sure that there are many solution that is will actually deliver value to canadians. >> Vassy: does Mr. Muhammad have a point, Mr. Show, that you are offering one solution around the carbon tax that won't actually do much of a lot for canadians at the grocery store? >> I think the important thing to remember is that we are offering a solution, they are just offering more of the same, the same failed policies that caused the crisis in the first place y not start with the low-hanging fruit? The second the finance minister comes into the house of commons and tables a motion to lower, to eliminate the carbon tax, that comes off. That comes off immediately. Why not do that first? We know it's ineffective on the environment side. >> Vassy: because it might not be the most effective think for the cost of living? >> But it is absolutely the simplest thing to do and it will have a real impact. All of this data shows that, yes, the carbon tax adds to inflation, it adds to the increased cost of food prices. We could also start with stopping the liberal practice of underwriting some of these large grocery chains with some of the handouts that they've given away from tax dollars and focus more on preserving the power of your paycheque by fixing the budget, ensuring that inflation comes down and interest rates come down and eliminating the carbon tax so there's more money in people's pockets and they don't pay those extra prices -- >> Vassy: again, that's 1% of what they are paying, according to the analysis. Last word to you, Mr. Davies, look, your colleagues have both pointed out that there are things, for example, the subsidies to grocery stores. You are supporting the government that's making those to fix their fridges and things like that. Aren't there other ways beyond this tax that you could address the issue for canadians? >> Actually right now canadians, millions of them, are hungry and they are hurting. What the liberals want to do is go cap in hand to the industry to listen and talk what the conservatives 2022 do -- >> Vassy: you are supporting them in that endeavour? >> We're not supporting them on lots of issues, we're supporting them on the confidence supply agreement and the conservatives want to protect corporate profits. The ndp wants immediate action now. We are the only people that are proposing concrete proposals right now that will put money in canadians' pockets immediately and fund concrete programs to actually put food in kids' stomachs in september. >> Again, is there evidence that that will absolutely happen? >> Absolutely there is. >> Vassy: okay, I have to leave it there, I've gone way over as usual, I appreciate all three of you making the time for the discussion. Muhammad, andrew scheer and don davies. A little later on the show we will dig into this show with our front bench. Up next, we're going to talk about the prime minister's visit to the u.s., with former ambassador to the u.s., david macnaughton. He of course led negotiations on the last round of nasa, he will (Music Begins) Summer breeze makes me feel fine Blowing through the jasmine in my mind ( ) Summer breeze makes me feel fine (Silence) Blowing through the jasmine in my mind Summer starts here. Get your pc® Summer Insiders Report today. Want some coffee, mate? Coffee'd be great. Thanks, mate.

Copyright protected and owned by broadcaster. Your licence is limited to private, internal, non-commercial use. All reproduction, broadcast, transmission or other use of this work is strictly prohibited.

Transcripts