Canada Letter: “We love to hate our grocers.”

Grocery stores have become a lightning rod for consumer discontent amid inflation and mistrust. [View in browser](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRlm9XLP4QsAWh0dHBzOi8vbWVzc2FnaW5nLWN1c3RvbS1uZXdzbGV0dGVycy5ueXRpbWVzLmNvbS90ZW1wbGF0ZS9vYWt2Mj9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD01MCZlbWM9ZWRpdF9jbmRhXzIwMjMwMTA3Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTgyMTAzJm5sPWNhbmFkYS1sZXR0ZXImcHJvZHVjdENvZGU9Q05EQSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTIxODc1JnRlPTEmdXJpPW55dCUzQSUyRiUyRm5ld3NsZXR0ZXIlMkY5ZDgzY2E2YS1hYWRiLTVkNGUtYmNhMC1hNzE0NGUwODJmY2YmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgpjtctQuWO_ZayrUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~)|[nytimes.com](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRlm9XLP0SyaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTUwJmVtYz1lZGl0X2NuZGFfMjAyMzAxMDcmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9ODIxMDMmbmw9Y2FuYWRhLWxldHRlciZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTIxODc1JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgpjtctQuWO_ZayrUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~)[Continue reading the main story](#a11y-skip-ad-marquee) ~/AAAAAQA~/RgRlm9XLP0RxaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9MjA3NjE5JmxpPUNOREEmbT1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkNyZwPUNOREFfMjAyMzAxMDdXA255dEIKY7XLULljv2Wsq1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA [NYTimes.com/Canada](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRlm9XLP0S4aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vY2FuYWRhP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTUwJmVtYz1lZGl0X2NuZGFfMjAyMzAxMDcmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9ODIxMDMmbmw9Y2FuYWRhLWxldHRlciZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTIxODc1JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgpjtctQuWO_ZayrUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) January 7, 2023 High Food Prices Rile Up Canadians By [Vjosa Isai](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRlm9XLP0S_aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vYnkvdmpvc2EtaXNhaT9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD01MCZlbWM9ZWRpdF9jbmRhXzIwMjMwMTA3Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTgyMTAzJm5sPWNhbmFkYS1sZXR0ZXImcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTEyMTg3NSZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKY7XLULljv2Wsq1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) A case of sticker shock in the poultry aisle of a downtown Toronto grocery store owned by Loblaw Companies, Canada’s largest food retailer, caused a backlash on social media about what, and perhaps who, is behind the rise in food prices. Loblaws, a grocery chain operated by Loblaw Companies, Canada’s largest food retailer.Ian Austen/The New York Times Accusations of profiteering were directed toward the grocer and its chief executive and chairman, Galen Weston Jr., in an overwhelming number of comments responding to a [Twitter post](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRlm9XLP0TZaHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9zaW9tb0NUVi9zdGF0dXMvMTYxMDQzOTM1MTEyMDU4ODgwMS9waG90by8xP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTUwJmVtYz1lZGl0X2NuZGFfMjAyMzAxMDcmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9ODIxMDMmbmw9Y2FuYWRhLWxldHRlciZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTIxODc1JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgpjtctQuWO_ZayrUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) by Siobhan Morris, a Toronto broadcast reporter who shared her picture of a pack of five chicken breasts. The price: 37 Canadian dollars. The company [later clarified](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRlm9XLP4QSAWh0dHBzOi8vdG9yb250by5jdHZuZXdzLmNhL21vYmlsZS93aHktYXJlLXRvcm9udG8tZ3JvY2VyeS1zdG9yZXMtc2VsbGluZy1zb21lLWNoaWNrZW4tYnJlYXN0cy1mb3ItbmVhcmx5LTI3LWtnLTEuNjIxODExOT9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD01MCZlbWM9ZWRpdF9jbmRhXzIwMjMwMTA3Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTgyMTAzJm5sPWNhbmFkYS1sZXR0ZXImcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTEyMTg3NSZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKY7XLULljv2Wsq1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) that those chicken breasts were part of its more expensive premium-quality line, but the explanation had little effect on the outrage, underscoring how food retailers have become a lightning rod for Canadian discontent. “We love to hate our grocers,” said Mike von Massow, a food economy professor at the University of Guelph in Ontario. “We particularly love to hate Galen Weston, and I think that’s part of the cost of being the biggest grocer, and it’s also part of the cost of being in your own ads.” (Mr. Weston is a familiar face to many Canadians, regularly [appearing in commercials](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRlm9XLP0TkaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cueW91dHViZS5jb20vd2F0Y2g_YWJfY2hhbm5lbD1QcmVzaWRlbnQlMjdzQ2hvaWNlJmNhbXBhaWduX2lkPTUwJmVtYz1lZGl0X2NuZGFfMjAyMzAxMDcmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9ODIxMDMmbmw9Y2FuYWRhLWxldHRlciZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTIxODc1JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkNyZ2PTRRNHV6cXJtRmdNVwNueXRCCmO1y1C5Y79lrKtSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) for the company, [founded by his great-grandfather](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRlm9XLP0TeaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMS8wNC8yNi9idXNpbmVzcy93LWdhbGVuLXdlc3Rvbi1kZWFkLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NTAmZW1jPWVkaXRfY25kYV8yMDIzMDEwNyZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD04MjEwMyZubD1jYW5hZGEtbGV0dGVyJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMjE4NzUmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmO1y1C5Y79lrKtSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~), and its many brands.) “While it’s easy to get angry at the grocer, there’s very little evidence that the grocers are actually taking advantage of the situation,” Professor von Massow told me. [Continue reading the main story](#a11y-skip-universal-0) ADVERTISEMENT ~/AAAAAQA~/RgRlm9XLP0RxaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9MjA3NjE2JmxpPUNOREEmbT1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkNyZwPUNOREFfMjAyMzAxMDdXA255dEIKY7XLULljv2Wsq1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA In one example, a pricing dispute between Loblaw and PepsiCo Inc. led to the temporary disappearance of some Frito-Lay Canada chips and snack products from grocery shelves after the supplier requested higher costs and Loblaw pushed back. A similar combination of factors affecting food prices globally, including the war in Ukraine, labor shortages, gas prices and supply chain pressures exacerbated by pandemic disruptions, has played into Canada’s food inflation as well. Local extreme weather conditions also contributed, as seen during the Western Canadian drought in 2021 that decimated [wheat crops](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRlm9XLP4QQAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm55dGltZXMuY29tLzIwMjIvMDkvMjQvd29ybGQvY2FuYWRhL2EteWVhci13aGVuLWV2ZXJ5dGhpbmctaXMtZ29pbmctcmlnaHQtZm9yLXdlc3Rlcm4tY2FuYWRhcy1mYXJtZXJzLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NTAmZW1jPWVkaXRfY25kYV8yMDIzMDEwNyZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD04MjEwMyZubD1jYW5hZGEtbGV0dGVyJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMjE4NzUmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmO1y1C5Y79lrKtSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) and pushed desperate Manitoba farmers to [save their cattle herds](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRlm9XLP0TsaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMS8wOC8wNC93b3JsZC9jYW5hZGEvbWFuaXRvYmEtZHJvdWdodC1jYXR0bGUtZmFybXMuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD01MCZlbWM9ZWRpdF9jbmRhXzIwMjMwMTA3Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTgyMTAzJm5sPWNhbmFkYS1sZXR0ZXImcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTEyMTg3NSZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKY7XLULljv2Wsq1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA). Grocery profits are up, but a recent study from Dalhousie University in Halifax showed profit margins over the last four years [have remained consistent](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRlm9XLP0TeaHR0cHM6Ly9nbG9iYWxuZXdzLmNhL25ld3MvOTA5ODQ0Ny9jYW5hZGEtaW5mbGF0aW9uLWdyb2NlcnMtcHJvZml0cy8_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NTAmZW1jPWVkaXRfY25kYV8yMDIzMDEwNyZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD04MjEwMyZubD1jYW5hZGEtbGV0dGVyJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMjE4NzUmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmO1y1C5Y79lrKtSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~). “The fact that margins haven’t changed means that we probably haven’t seen prices stretched above the cost increases,” Professor von Massow told me. [Continue reading the main story](#a11y-skip-universal-1) ADVERTISEMENT ~/AAAAAQA~/RgRlm9XLP0RxaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9MjAzNTA1JmxpPUNOREEmbT1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkNyZwPUNOREFfMjAyMzAxMDdXA255dEIKY7XLULljv2Wsq1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA Some of the wrath and mistrust toward Loblaw could stem from the company’s admission in 2017 to playing a role in Canada’s [bread price-fixing scandal](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRlm9XLP4QHAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmJubmJsb29tYmVyZy5jYS90aGlzLWJlaGF2aW91ci1pcy13cm9uZy1sb2JsYXctZ2VvcmdlLXdlc3Rvbi1hZG1pdC10by1icmVhZC1wcmljZS1maXhpbmctMS45NDgzOTQ_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NTAmZW1jPWVkaXRfY25kYV8yMDIzMDEwNyZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD04MjEwMyZubD1jYW5hZGEtbGV0dGVyJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMjE4NzUmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmO1y1C5Y79lrKtSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) that lasted more than a decade. Adding to that, the company recently announced a [temporary price freeze](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRlm9XLP0TdaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cueW91dHViZS5jb20vd2F0Y2g_YWJfY2hhbm5lbD1ub25hbWVicmFuZHMmY2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NTAmZW1jPWVkaXRfY25kYV8yMDIzMDEwNyZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD04MjEwMyZubD1jYW5hZGEtbGV0dGVyJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMjE4NzUmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3JnY9amJ5Z0xYbHltNE1XA255dEIKY7XLULljv2Wsq1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) on its popular in-house line of No Name products, which was dismissed by consumer advocates as a gimmick. A price freeze on some products at Loblaw stores prompted a backlash.Ian Austen/The New York Times An investigation by the Competition Bureau, a government agency, is ongoing. In an effort to make recommendations to the government that would improve grocery store competition, the agency [announced](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRlm9XLP4QZAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmNhbmFkYS5jYS9lbi9jb21wZXRpdGlvbi1idXJlYXUvbmV3cy8yMDIyLzEwL2NvbXBldGl0aW9uLWJ1cmVhdS10by1zdHVkeS1jb21wZXRpdGlvbi1pbi1jYW5hZGFzLWdyb2Nlcnktc2VjdG9yLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NTAmZW1jPWVkaXRfY25kYV8yMDIzMDEwNyZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD04MjEwMyZubD1jYW5hZGEtbGV0dGVyJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMjE4NzUmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmO1y1C5Y79lrKtSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) in October that it was starting a new study on the sector, while making clear the work was “not an investigation into specific allegations of wrongdoing.” [Continue reading the main story](#a11y-skip-universal-2) ADVERTISEMENT ~/AAAAAQA~/RgRlm9XLP0RxaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9NzI4OTY3JmxpPUNOREEmbT1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkNyZwPUNOREFfMjAyMzAxMDdXA255dEIKY7XLULljv2Wsq1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA The study will conclude in June, but Professor von Massow said he was not optimistic that the findings would have a real effect on food inflation, citing the study’s short timeline and the missed opportunity to investigate how grocers wield their market power over suppliers. “If governments want to make a difference, rather than pointing fingers at grocers, they should find ways to ease the pressure for those people who are making explicit decisions between eating and paying rent,” Professor von Massow told me. Food prices have risen at a higher rate than consumer inflation since late 2021, according to a recent [report](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRlm9XLP0TeaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cxNTAuc3RhdGNhbi5nYy5jYS9uMS9wdWIvNjJmMDAxNG0vNjJmMDAxNG0yMDIyMDE0LWVuZy5odG0_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NTAmZW1jPWVkaXRfY25kYV8yMDIzMDEwNyZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD04MjEwMyZubD1jYW5hZGEtbGV0dGVyJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMjE4NzUmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmO1y1C5Y79lrKtSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) by Statistics Canada, the national census agency. The 11.4 percent yearly price increase recorded in September food costs represents the fastest growth Canada has seen since 1981, and that increase held into November. [In Europe](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRlm9XLP0TqaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMi8xMS8zMC93b3JsZC9ldXJvcGUvZXVyb3pvbmUtaW5mbGF0aW9uLW5vdmVtYmVyLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NTAmZW1jPWVkaXRfY25kYV8yMDIzMDEwNyZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD04MjEwMyZubD1jYW5hZGEtbGV0dGVyJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMjE4NzUmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmO1y1C5Y79lrKtSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~), the price of food climbed to 13.6 percent over the year through November in 19 countries that use the euro as their currency, outpacing Canada’s increases. [Read: [Bread Prices Skyrocket as Inflation Grips Europe](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRlm9XLP0TnaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMi8xMC8xOS9idXNpbmVzcy9ldXJvcGUtZm9vZC1wcmljZXMtaW5mbGF0aW9uLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NTAmZW1jPWVkaXRfY25kYV8yMDIzMDEwNyZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD04MjEwMyZubD1jYW5hZGEtbGV0dGVyJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMjE4NzUmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmO1y1C5Y79lrKtSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~)] Researchers at four Canadian universities predict that food prices here will rise in 2023 by 5 to 7 percent overall, with more notable price increases among vegetables, dairy products and meat products. These forecasts, published in [Canada’s annual Food Price Report](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRlm9XLP4QKAWh0dHBzOi8vY2RuLmRhbC5jYS9jb250ZW50L2RhbS9kYWxob3VzaWUvcGRmL3NpdGVzL2FncmktZm9vZC9DYW5hZGEncyUyMEZvb2QlMjBQcmljZSUyMFJlcG9ydCUyMDIwMjNfRGlnaXRhbC5wZGY_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NTAmZW1jPWVkaXRfY25kYV8yMDIzMDEwNyZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD04MjEwMyZubD1jYW5hZGEtbGV0dGVyJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMjE4NzUmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmO1y1C5Y79lrKtSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~), translate to a predicted yearly food bill of more than 16,000 Canadian dollars, an increase of $1,065 in grocery expenses for an average family of four, compared with 2022. Last year, actual food inflation was higher than the report’s predictions. “We’re experiencing what, for us, are really high food prices and that creates a lot of difficulty, but we’re spending a lower percentage of take-home income on food than many other jurisdictions,” said Stuart Smyth, an associate professor in the department of agricultural and resource economics at the University of Saskatchewan and a co-author of the report. Professor Smyth doesn’t expect prices to ease for at least the first half of this year, particularly with the slated increase in the federal carbon tax in April, which is likely to raise the cost of running farm equipment and transporting food. “If there’s a silver lining at all, in any of the discussions and conversations about the increase in food prices, it’s that there are worse places to be,” he said. Trans Canada Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers, in a scene from “Three Pines.”Amazon Studios - The new Amazon series “Three Pines” is based on the mystery novels of the Canadian author Louise Penny. The television adaptation deviated from the books to depict the [mistreatment of First Nations people](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRlm9XLP0TqaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wMS8wMy9hcnRzL3RlbGV2aXNpb24vdGhyZWUtcGluZXMtbG91aXNlLXBlbm55Lmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NTAmZW1jPWVkaXRfY25kYV8yMDIzMDEwNyZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD04MjEwMyZubD1jYW5hZGEtbGV0dGVyJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMjE4NzUmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmO1y1C5Y79lrKtSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) as the country grapples with dark chapters from its colonial past. - Catrin Einhorn, who reports on biodiversity and climate for The New York Times, talked to The Daily’s Michael Barbaro about an [ambitious new global agreement to protect biodiversity](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRlm9XLP0TwaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wMS8wNi9wb2RjYXN0cy90aGUtZGFpbHkvYmlvZGl2ZXJzaXR5LWNvcDE1LW1vbnRyZWFsLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NTAmZW1jPWVkaXRfY25kYV8yMDIzMDEwNyZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD04MjEwMyZubD1jYW5hZGEtbGV0dGVyJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMjE4NzUmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmO1y1C5Y79lrKtSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~), which came together during a conference hosted in Montreal. - Canada is among the countries to add Covid-19 testing requirements as a [travel restriction for visitors from China](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRlm9XLP0TYaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wMS8wMy93b3JsZC9hc2lhL2NoaW5hLWNvdmlkLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NTAmZW1jPWVkaXRfY25kYV8yMDIzMDEwNyZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD04MjEwMyZubD1jYW5hZGEtbGV0dGVyJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMjE4NzUmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmO1y1C5Y79lrKtSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) in a bid to address concerns of surging cases there. - Albert Reichmann, a [billionaire real estate developer](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRlm9XLP0TgaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMi8xMi8zMC9idXNpbmVzcy9hbGJlcnQtcmVpY2htYW5uLWRlYWQuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD01MCZlbWM9ZWRpdF9jbmRhXzIwMjMwMTA3Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTgyMTAzJm5sPWNhbmFkYS1sZXR0ZXImcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTEyMTg3NSZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKY7XLULljv2Wsq1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) whose family company built the World Financial Center in New York, died in Toronto, his family’s hometown. He was 93. Vjosa Isai is a reporter-researcher for The New York Times in Canada. Follow her on Twitter at @lavjosa. How are we doing? We’re eager to have your thoughts about this newsletter and events in Canada in general. Please send them to [nytcanada@nytimes.com](mailto:nytcanada@nytimes.com?%20subject=Canada%20Letter%20Newsletter%20Feedback). Like this email? Forward it to your friends, and let them know they can sign up [here](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRlm9XLP0TsaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vbmV3c2xldHRlcnMvY2FuYWRhLWxldHRlcj9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD01MCZlbWM9ZWRpdF9jbmRhXzIwMjMwMTA3Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTgyMTAzJm5sPWNhbmFkYS1sZXR0ZXImcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTEyMTg3NSZzbWlkPW55dGVtYWlsJnNtdmFyPWNhbmFkYWxldHRlciZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKY7XLULljv2Wsq1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA). [Continue reading the main story](#a11y-skip-tracking_unit-3) Need help? 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