WINNIPEG – The Manitoba government has announced plans to crack down on “differential pricing” for groceries and expand price controls on milk, marking the latest phase in Premier Wab Kinew’s campaign to lower the cost of living in the province.
In a year-end interview, Premier Kinew highlighted a growing concern where retailers—particularly through online platforms and third-party apps—charge different prices for the same product based on a consumer’s personal data.
Cracking Down on “Differential Pricing”
The term refers to a practice where prices are adjusted dynamically based on demographic information or online tracking. Kinew expressed concern that third-party delivery apps often use these algorithms to exploit consumers.
“We just want to see fairness, and we want to see better prices,” Kinew said. While the Premier did not provide specific local examples, the issue has gained international attention, notably in the U.S., where reports have alleged that platforms like Instacart vary prices for the same items at the same store based on the user.
In response, the Retail Council of Canada, representing major grocers, maintained that their members apply standard pricing, noting that while membership programs offer discounts, the base prices remain consistent for all customers.
Expanding Milk Price Controls
The province is also looking to tighten regulations on dairy. Currently, Manitoba sets a wholesale price and a maximum retail price for milk, but that retail cap only applies to one-litre containers.
The government is now considering expanding these controls to other volumes (such as two-litre or four-litre jugs) to ensure broader affordability for a household staple. Kinew noted that any changes would need to balance consumer savings with the need to keep Manitoba’s dairy producers financially viable.
Context: Fighting High Inflation
These measures follow a year where Manitoba recorded some of the highest inflation rates in Canada. To combat this, the NDP government has already:
- Suspended the provincial fuel tax to lower transportation costs.
- Passed the Property Controls for Grocery Stores and Supermarkets Act, which bans “restrictive covenants”—legal deals used by big chains to prevent competitors from opening nearby.
Despite these efforts, food inflation in the province has remained high, driven by factors such as rising beef prices and property taxes. The government expects to introduce more measures following a formal study on grocery prices promised in the recent throne speech.
