Taxpayer watchdog urges Canadian politicians to drop ‘unpopular’ state-run grocery push

New Leger poll reveals Canadians are sour on government-run grocery stores, labeling the pricey political plan a 'bad idea'

Published Jun 04, 2026  •  Last updated 11 minutes ago  •  3 minute read

A Toronto grocer Photo by Peter J. Thompson /Postmedia Network

OTTAWA — Canadians aren’t buying in.

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New polling released Thursday by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) show most Canadians aren’t buying-in on the federal NDP Leader Avi Lewis’ scheme to open government-run grocery stores as a means to reduce food prices — a plan that’s also getting some window-shopping from Toronto City Council.

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“Canadians struggling with the rising cost-of-living know that government-run grocery stores won’t make life more affordable,” said the federation’s Ontario Director Noah Jarvis.

“Politicians who care about affordability need to cut taxes instead of gambling taxpayers’ money on a government grocery store.”

Avi Lewis, who was proclaimed as the new leader of the NDP, speaks at the party convention in Winnipeg Sunday, March 29, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods

Most Canadians say plan past its sell-by date

In the poll conducted by Leger, 58% of those with an opinion thought government grocery is a half-baked idea, compared to just 42% who are in favour.

Broken down demographically, more women, those over the age of 55 and those living in Quebec were more likely to think government-run grocery stores are a bad idea.

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Here in Canada, the idea is being championed by Lewis — beginning during his campaign to become federal NDP leader earlier this year — framing it as a more cost-effective solution for traditionally sky-high grocery prices in Canada’s north, which he described as a sort of publicly-owned, high-volume warehouse-type dealer like Costco.

As the stores would be not-for-profit enterprises, Lewis says such stores could cut grocery bills by up to 40% for most of Canada, with even higher savings in Canada’s north.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani speaks during a May Day rally marking International Workers’ Day in New York, on May 1, 2026. Photo by Kena Betancur / AFP /Getty Images

Toronto eyeing city-owned grocery stores

Government-run grocery stores — regardless of what level of government operates them — have rarely been successful in North America.

Such outlets became a key policy point for New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who is championing a pilot program to open a municipally-run grocery store in each of the city’s five boroughs.

With the first store set to open in the Bronx next year, the plan is facing severe pushback from local business owners who say such outlets create unfair competition that will drive small stores and bodegas out of business.

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Despite the pushback, Mamdani’s plan caught the eye of Toronto City Council, who in March voted overwhelmingly in favour of a pilot project to open four municipally-operated, non-profit grocery stores.

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While some celebrated the move, anti-poverty advocates warned the city to take a second look at the plan.

A letter from the Daily Bread Food Bank submitted during council deliberations, stated that without massive and constant injections of public money, city-run grocery stores will do little to fix Toronto’s food security issues.

Even Ontario Premier Doug Ford weighed in, calling the plan “the craziest idea” he’s ever heard.

“Socialism does not work,” he said at an April press conference. “If there’s collusion on pricing, I’ll go after them and tear them to shreds — but nothing beats a free market.”

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Government grocery stores rarely successful

A market that opened in 2017 in a suburb of Jacksonville, Fla. lasted only a few years, closing in 2024 after finding itself unable to compete with a local Walmart.

A $29-million venture in Kansas City, Mo. lost nearly a million dollars in a single year, facing severe crime and financial difficulties — including shootings, drug use and prostitution — before closing in August 2025.

“Even the supporters of government grocery stores know this scheme will cost taxpayers a ton of money,” Jarvis said.

“Instead of taking a bad gamble with taxpayer money, Lewis and Toronto politicians concerned with affordability should push for meaningful tax cuts for all Canadians.”

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