The federal Leader of the NDP says that the country needs to address skyrocketing grocery prices, as Canada’s largest companies report record profits.

Jagmeet Singh addressed media outside of Dominion in the old Memorial Stadium in St. John’s yesterday.

He says there are three things that are needed to address grocery costs: increase competition by favouring independent and local stores, impose stronger and stiffer penalties for companies that price fix and price gouge, and impose an excess profit tax on large companies with the revenue going back to the people of the province.

He says they would use that revenue to give people a break by increasing the GST grocery rebate and other methods.

He says there should be a tax on excess profits to crack down on high grocery prices.@VOCMNEWS pic.twitter.com/WPBjrH9MsQ

— Noah Sheppard (@SheppardNoah14) August 1, 2023

Meanwhile, during the address to media, a passerby rolled down their window and screamed obscenities and homophobic comments at Singh.

Singh ignored the man the first time, however told the man that his homophobic comments were “inappropriate” when the man circled around again.

He says that interaction is not indicative of his experience in Newfoundland and Labrador. He says the reception in the province has been warm, so someone yelling something and refusing to engage in a conversation does not disturb him. He says legitimate conversations over the cost-of-living are important.