Alberta’s NDP is calling on the provincial and federal governments to investigate why beef prices are climbing while producers aren’t seeing any benefit..“Inflation is driving up prices for everything and making it harder and harder for families to cover their bills, keep a roof overhead, and put food on the table,” NDP Critic for Agriculture, Forestry, and Rural Economic Development Heather Sweet said..“One of the most painful price increases we are seeing is for beef.”.According to data released by the province, the retail price of beef has risen by anywhere from 11% to 43% over this time last year, depending on the cut..The NDP said a recent survey by Food Banks Canada suggests that almost a quarter of Canadians are eating less because they can’t afford to buy the groceries they usually get, and that number doubles for households making less than $50,000 a year..“These price increases are pushing an important source of protein out of reach for families and they are harming Alberta’s beef producers, as well. So who is benefiting from these high prices? Where is the money going?,” Sweet said..Alberta Beef Producers got a grant from the province to look into that question last year..“COVID-19 shone a light on our supply chain challenges and we continue to see impacts in today’s markets, putting immense pressure on beef producers and consumers,” chair of Alberta Beef Producers, Dr. Melanie Wowk said..“Recognizing that work needs to be done to further investigate the issue, industry and government have initiated an Alberta beef competitiveness study to understand the best approach to building resiliency in our industry. We look forward to the results, which will be available later this year.” .Sweet said "it’s time for the government to take a more active role," noting that Saskatchewan’s beef producers made a similar call last week..“I am calling on the federal and provincial government to open an investigation into the rising price of beef, and who is benefiting from it." .The president of the Western Stock Growers Association told the NDP the price correlation between retail beef product and live cattle used to be very high, but for several years the two have been diverging..“We need to know why that is. Consumers are paying high prices without knowing the breakdown of where their dollar is going. This is a disservice to both the consumer and the beef producer," Callum Sears said..The NDP said all Albertans are "proud of our delicious beef."."It’s an important part of many families’ diet and it’s an important part of Alberta’s economy. But something is not working properly and that’s harming families and producers,” Sweet said..“We need to get to the bottom of it, and we need the provincial and federal governments to bring their authority to bear on this problem.”
