Inflation should be key issue of federal election, says Dalhousie’s food professor

Sylvain Charlebois says the way inflation is going, the average family of four could be spending another $800 per year on groceries

HALIFAXtoday \ Stephen Wentzell

A local food policy professor is sounding the alarm on grocery store prices, as he says the cost of food has spiked this year.

Sylvain Charlebois, known as the Food Professor, says that’s why inflation should be a key issue in the federal election.

Unpredictability has been a major factor in the inflation of food according to Charlebois, and the climate crisis isn’t helping.

The food distribution and food policy professor at Dalhousie University says the average family of four could be spending another $800 a year on groceries.

“When we look at our numbers, when it comes to food inflation or inflation in general, things aren’t looking great for the fall or winter,” he explained. “We’re seeing a lot of pressure points that could make everything in our economy more expensive.”

Charlebois says the next year will be tricky, and he expects inflation will be a central issue in the federal election.