OTTAWA – Rising fuel costs, a consequence of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, are driving up grocery prices across Canada, according to a CBC News broadcast. The impact is being felt on imported produce, meat, and dairy products, with immediate price increases observed on fresh goods.

Grocery Costs Increasing

Monther Zade, owner of Food Fair in Winnipeg, stated that fuel surcharges from shippers and suppliers are being passed on to consumers. He cited a recent price increase on a two-pound bag of onions, rising from 75 cents to $1 within weeks. The price of diesel has jumped 40 percent since the start of the conflict, impacting the entire food supply chain.

According to the broadcast, consumers in rural and remote communities will be disproportionately affected by the price hikes. Nisha Patel, reporting for CBC News in Toronto, stated that an increase in food inflation is anticipated in the coming months. However, she noted that buying local, seasonal produce as the Canadian growing season begins could offer some relief.

Gas Prices Soar

The CBC News report also highlighted rising gasoline prices. At a gas station in Ottawa, prices reached $1.856 per litre, approximately 30 cents higher than the previous month. Consumers expressed concern over the financial strain. One Ottawa resident stated that a fill-up now costs $80, compared to $65 previously.

Ceasefire and Market Uncertainty

Art Wu, a senior economist with BMO Capital Markets, said that gas prices should decrease as a result of the recently agreed-upon two-week ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran. However, he cautioned that prices are unlikely to return to pre-war levels in the short term. Wu emphasized the importance of the war’s resolution and the full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz for sustained relief.

Gas prices in Quebec are even higher, exceeding $2 per litre in some areas.

Other News

The broadcast also included a report on the sentencing of Jasveen Sangha, who supplied Matthew Perry with the ketamine that led to his death. Sangha was sentenced to 15 years in jail by a judge in Los Angeles.

Additionally, CBC News reported on an investigation into car export businesses in Montreal allegedly involved in shipping stolen vehicles overseas. Police raided a warehouse in Saint-Laurent in July 2024, discovering stolen cars being loaded onto shipping containers.