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Costco open to grocery code of conduct, but says it must apply to all – National | Globalnews.ca – Global News

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A Costco executive says the retailer is open to supporting Canada’s long-planned grocery code of conduct, but it does not have enough details to make a decision yet.

The grocery code of conduct, which has been in development since 2021, is at an impasse as both Loblaw and Walmart have so far refused to sign on to it in its current state.

Pierre Riel, executive vice-president and chief operating officer of Costco Wholesale International and Canada, said the company itself has not been invited to participate directly in the code discussions but is involved through the Retail Council of Canada (RCC). The RCC is a non-profit association that represents retailers including Canadian grocers.

“This code of conduct is not an issue for us,” Riel told MPs at a meeting of the standing committee on agriculture and agri-food Tuesday.

“We look forward to reviewing the details of how the code will function day to day, who will participate, how disputes will be resolved and, in the end, how the code will impact food prices.”

However, at the moment, Riel said Costco does not have enough information to be able to say whether it will agree to the code or not. He added that the retailer is waiting on any updates from the RCC on this matter.


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“It would be premature to say today that we will participate when we don’t have all the details defined,” he said.



0:56
Costco executive tells MPs it has not sought to increase profits amid inflation


Riel stressed that the code should apply to the entire industry.

“I think you need everybody to participate and all of us should look at it as beneficial for the consumer.”

Similar sentiments were shared last week when the committee was told that Canada’s long-planned grocery code of conduct requires participation across the board. 

“The code will not work without the mandatory participation of all the players in the industry,” said Sylvain Charlebois, food researcher and Dalhousie University Agri-Food Analytics Lab director.

“I can’t see this code working without Loblaw and Walmart,” Charlebois told MPs.



0:40
Loblaw head Galen Weston says grocery code of conduct would raise food prices


In December 2023, Loblaw chair Galen G. Weston and Walmart Canada CEO Gonzalo Gebara said they weren’t open to signing the code in its current form, saying it would drive up costs.

Weston said Loblaw estimates the code will add $1 billion in costs to the supply line, which will be passed along to consumers.

Gebara did not give MPs a value estimate like Weston but said added bureaucracy will increase costs that have to be passed to consumers.

According to Statistics Canada data released in January, grocery food prices rose 4.7 per cent year over year in December, the same pace reported the previous month.

— with files from Global News’ David Baxter 

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RCMP arrest second suspect in deadly shooting east of Calgary

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EDMONTON – RCMP say a second suspect has been arrested in the killing of an Alberta county worker.

Mounties say 28-year-old Elijah Strawberry was taken into custody Friday at a house on O’Chiese First Nation.

Colin Hough, a worker with Rocky View County, was shot and killed while on the job on a rural road east of Calgary on Aug. 6.

Another man who worked for Fortis Alberta was shot and wounded, and RCMP said the suspects fled in a Rocky View County work truck.

Police later arrested Arthur Wayne Penner, 35, and charged him with first-degree murder and attempted murder, and a warrant was issued for Strawberry’s arrest.

RCMP also said there was a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of Strawberry, describing him as armed and dangerous.

Chief Supt. Roberta McKale, told a news conference in Edmonton that officers had received tips and information over the last few weeks.

“I don’t know of many members that when were stopped, fuelling up our vehicles, we weren’t keeping an eye out, looking for him,” she said.

But officers had been investigating other cases when they found Strawberry.

“Our investigators were in O’Chiese First Nation at a residence on another matter and the major crimes unit was there working another file and ended up locating him hiding in the residence,” McKale said.

While an investigation is still underway, RCMP say they’re confident both suspects in the case are in police custody.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

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26-year-old son is accused of his father’s murder on B.C.’s Sunshine Coast

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RICHMOND, B.C. – The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team says the 26-year-old son of a man found dead on British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast has been charged with his murder.

Police say 58-year-old Henry Doyle was found badly injured on a forest service road in Egmont last September and died of his injuries.

The homicide team took over when the BC Coroners Service said the man’s death was suspicious.

It says in a statement that the BC Prosecution Service has approved one count of first-degree murder against the man’s son, Jackson Doyle.

Police say the accused will remain in custody until at least his next court appearance.

The homicide team says investigators remained committed to solving the case with the help of the community of Egmont, the RCMP on the Sunshine Coast and in Richmond, and the Vancouver Police Department.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.



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Metro Vancouver’s HandyDART strike continues after talks break with no deal

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VANCOUVER – Mediated talks between the union representing HandyDART workers in Metro Vancouver and its employer, Transdev, have broken off without an agreement following 15 hours of talks.

Joe McCann, president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1724, says they stayed at the bargaining table with help from a mediator until 2 a.m. Friday and made “some progress.”

However, he says the union negotiators didn’t get an offer that they could recommend to the membership.

McCann says that in some ways they are close to an agreement, but in other areas they are “miles apart.”

About 600 employees of the door-to-door transit service for people who can’t navigate the conventional transit system have been on strike since last week, pausing service for all but essential medical trips.

McCann asks HandyDART users to be “patient,” since they are trying to get not only a fair contract for workers but also a better service for customers.

He says it’s unclear when the talks will resume, but he hopes next week at the latest.

The employer, Transdev, didn’t reply to an interview request before publication.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

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