Quebec's left-wing sovereigntist party is doubling down on an unconventional strategy to tackle skyrocketing grocery and housing costs: launching government-run grocery stores and imposing a wealth tax on the ultra-rich.
Québec solidaire, which currently holds 11 of the National Assembly's 125 seats, is laying out its priorities ahead of the October general election. Party delegates gathered in Montreal this weekend to finalize positions on affordability, cost-of-living pressures, and wealth redistribution—issues that dominate voter concerns across the province and beyond.
The Grocery Store Gambit
On Saturday, party members voted to back a pilot project that would create public, non-profit grocery stores if Québec solidaire gains power. The plan sounds straightforward: government bulk purchasing of food, with a priority on local products, undercut the prices of major chain retailers.
"Eighty per cent of food distribution sales are controlled by just five major grocers," said Alejandra Zaga Mendez, the party's economy critic. "We need more competition to bring prices down."
Co-spokesperson Ruba Ghazal framed the initiative as a direct response to corporate profiteering. "The majority of Quebec families' main concerns are the cost of rent and groceries," Ghazal said. "We want to tackle the affordability crisis and give Quebecers breathing room."
The party estimates public grocery stores could reduce food costs by up to 30 per cent—a dramatic claim in a province where grocery bills have become a household budget battleground. The initial investment would run $100 million, with annual operating costs of $85 million.
Taxing the Wealthy to Fund the Plan
To cover those expenses, Québec solidaire is proposing a one per cent annual capital tax on individuals with assets exceeding $25 million. Party officials say this measure could generate roughly $5 billion in annual government revenue.
Ghazal pointed out that Canada's major grocery chains have posted substantial profits while many Quebecers struggle with food security. The party also wants to cap profit margins for major retailers at two per cent—a regulatory approach that would represent a significant shift in how Canada's grocery sector operates.
The party has cited inspiration from New York City's Democratic Socialist Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who has championed similar wealth-redistribution and public-service initiatives.
This story is based on reporting from the Globe and Mail. Read the original article at theglobeandmail.com