go up sharply the last few years. Especially dairy and the last year, produce has been insane.

We basically make sure our kids have good food and often we just eat whatever is left or is super cheap.

Its gotten ridiculous. Not only that, but so much now is imported out of places like China and we have no idea of what they are doing to it. I needed some frozen spinach and it took me 10 minutes to find the country of origin on it, in tiny print hidden under a flap. China. I wouldn't buy it.

Is it possible for you to grow some of your own food? Or forage? Things like dandelion greens, nettles, miner's lettuce, purslane have much more food value than anything you can buy in the store.

Oh... and welcome to DU!

All the canned mushrooms are from China too. Ae we unable to process mushrooms here? It's sad we've lost so many of our processing plants.

Dropping interest rates twice last year, and not following the Fed when it increased rates last November. This tanked the Loonie, making food more expensive, as well as making mortgages more affordable. Many Canadians are in debt way over their heads, and the bubble will pop sooner rather than later. Hopefully, the BOC will gradually raise rates, bring the Loonie back in line and bring grocery prices down to earth.

...unless you want to totally tank the economy. Unfortunately, Canada is highly dependent on expensive commodities and that ship has sailed.

Harper decided to bet the majority of the economy on energy and FIRE (finance, insurance, Real Estate), making up over 30% of the Canadian economy, compared to 15-20% in the US, and now Treaudeau, Poloz and Mordeau are left with only bad and worse choices. Mortgage rates will rise regardless of the BOC's rates, and combined with Canadian debt and rising unemployment, bring down the housing market; the only questions are how soon, and how quick and deep will the correction be?

Poverty is one of the most important issues to me.

I'd give you a heart, but no money until payday.

So this will have to do...

Poverty is hard on people at both ends of the age spectrum. The Mr needs to retire, he's sick and worn out but he's scared we won't have enough to get by on because he was screwed out of his pension for 20 years. We aren't extravagant, and we have a couple small pensions on top of CPP and OAP plus some savings so we're better off than many. Yet if something were to happen we could be in trouble. I really feel for the seniors without even that little cushion, as well as families too.

I really hope Trudeau steps up to the plate. There are a lot of people whose pensions were disappeared by some of these unscrupulous businesses, or couldn't afford to put anything away.

Thanks, backatcha. A is better than a heart any old day!

as a single parent w/4 kids...since I've been keeping track of prices in my area 6 years ago when I moved here, prices have gone up 30-40% at least. Dairy, meat and vegetables have gone up the most. The crazy thing is that 'cheap' foods that used to be on sale for really cheap now rarely even go on sale. Basically, I've been paying double for pasta compared to 6 years ago with sales. And while it's not a large part of my grocery bill and it's still comparatively cheap, it adds up. I'm lucky that I have a tiny bit of wiggle room in my budget, but just barely. We have cut out a lot of meat...which is tough because I do best when I do low carb so it's been hard on my health. I bought a pressure cooker and we do more cooking from scratch...which is hard when you don't get home from work til 6pm. I have older kids that can start the meal cooking but they aren't always willing (or available). I have been trying to stick to cheaper veggies...cabbage, carrots, onions etc. Asparagus is one of my kids' favorites, but it's a no-go for now as it's way overpriced. same for fruit. Even grapes for snacks have gotten ridiculous, so no grapes either. Apples and bananas. More frozen stuff now too.

I can't even imagine what people do when they have no wiggle room. I know if I lost my job it would be impossible, even with child support/EI & other gov't programs. I do think more needs to be done. No one should go hungry in Canada.