High prices, tight budgets have Canadians trimming how they'll celebrate this Christmas | Canada News Media
Connect with us

News

High prices, tight budgets have Canadians trimming how they’ll celebrate this Christmas

Published

10 months ago

 on

Some Canadians are cutting back on spending this Christmas as they face yet another year of inflation.

For many, wallets are feeling especially light as they struggle to meet the expectations of buying gifts and cooking special meals for family and friends over the holidays.

“I think people really feel that financial pressure to maintain the level of tradition, or the level of comfort, or the level of entertainment that they have been used to up to this point,” said Janet Music, a research associate at Dalhousie University’s Agri-Food Analytics Lab.

“There’s a real emotional connection we have to our traditions and what we think of when we think of this time of year, what we have on the table and what that means, and that can be very pricey.”

A traditional Christmas meal for a group of four to six people will cost about $104.85 on average this year, according to her lab’s data. That includes turkey, potatoes, sauces, vegetables, stuffing, tourtiere, eggnog and dessert.

The cost will vary depending where you live in Canada — food prices are higher in Maritime provinces, for example, and even more in the northern territories.

While food prices are slowly dropping after three years of inflation, items typically associated with holiday dinners remain pricey. Turkey is up five per cent from last year, while potatoes are up nearly seven per cent and carrots almost 13 per cent, according to the lab’s data.

Some shoppers at St. Vital Mall in Winnipeg told CBC last weekend they were cutting back on expenditures for the holidays, including gift buying, because of rising costs.

Information Radio – MB4:39Can Christmas debt be avoided? Winnipeggers share what they’re doing to save money this holiday season

What is the best way to avoid Christmas debt? With inflation high, it seems to be the question that’s top of mind for some Manitobans this holiday season. CBC’s Bartley Kives speaking with Winnipeggers at St. Vital Mall. about how they’re managing their Christmas shopping with high inflation rates

“Cost of living has affected a lot of things, because usually we go all out on Christmas, but with the price of groceries and inflation, we are actually cutting back a lot [of] expenditures this year,” shopper Angie Stephenson told CBC Manitoba.

Black Friday Shoppers at Sherway Gardens in Toronto expressed similar frustrations last month.

Rohit Sahu told CBC that said he’s more aware now of how he spends every dollar. “Everything’s so expensive that you’re just cutting costs and trying to … be low-key and save money,” he said.

He said he’s a window shopper because nothing has met his high bar for what qualifies as a bargain right now. “The deals are good, but still not affordable for us.”

Food budgets stretched

The number of Canadians using food banks across the country reached record highs this year, with more than 1.9 million visits to food banks in March 2023, surpassing the previous record set last year by 32 per cent.

In a national survey released in October 2022, 30 per cent of Canadians said they were eating less healthy food due to rising costs. Almost 20 per cent said they skipped meals to save money.

The Agri-Food Analytics Lab predicts food prices will continue to rise next year, but at a lower rate of 2.5 to 4.5 per cent overall.

While Statistics Canada data shows the food component of the consumer price index has risen by 5.9 per cent in the past 12 months, the Agri-Food lab’s 2024 report found the average family actually spent $693 less on food.

That means they were likely eating less or downgrading to cheaper alternatives to cover other rising expenses.

According to a July poll conducted by Ipsos, 47 per cent of meat eaters said they planned to cut back on their meat consumption this year. Cost was the most common reason cited for the decision.

 

Inflation takes a bite out of holiday shopping budgets

 

Shoppers at Sherway Gardens in Toronto tell CBC News how their holiday spending plans have changed this year, as family budgets adjust to the current era of high inflation.

Some of the reason for cutbacks this holiday season is because of inflation-related financial pressures being felt in other areas, like housing, Music said.

“[The food budget] is something that people dip into when they need to cover some of these larger costs. Imagine you renegotiated your mortgage at a higher rate or your rent has been suddenly increased. It’s not something you can fix in the short term,” Music said.

“Shelter, right now, is the thing that’s really eating into all of this other discretionary spending.”

‘Emotionally hard’

Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem said last week that consumer confidence is at a recessionary low — even with the unemployment rate at pre-COVID levels — and there’s “no question” inflation is a big part of the problem.

“People feel like they’re working hard, but their paycheques, [they’re] not buying what they used to,” he said at a media availability following his final speech of the year.

Music says some Canadians, including people she knows, are forgoing the traditional Christmas gathering altogether.

“Me and my friends, in our extended relationships, we see that happening,” Music says.

“Maybe you don’t want to risk it because you just don’t know what next month is going to bring. So it’s something that just has to get let go, and that’s emotionally hard on people.”

 

Source link

Related Topics:
Continue Reading

News

Quick Quotes: What Liberal MPs have to say as the caucus debates Trudeau’s future

Published

6 hours ago

 on

October 23, 2024

By

OTTAWA – Here are some notable quotes from Liberal members of Parliament as they headed into a caucus meeting Wednesday where they are set to debate Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s leadership.

Comments made after the caucus meeting:

“The Liberal party is strong and united.”

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau

———

“Justin Trudeau is reflecting and he’s standing strong and we’re standing strong as a Liberal party.”

“We as a party recognize that the real threat here is Pierre Poilievre and that’s what we’re fighting for.”

“Trudeau has made very clear that he feels he’s the right choice but he appreciates all of what is being said because he’s reflecting on what is being done across Canada. I respect his decision, whatever that may be.”

Charles Sousa, MP for Mississauga—Lakeshore

———

“We had some open and frank discussions. People are relentlessly focused on serving Canadians and win the next election. This was really a rallying call to win the next election.”

Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne, MP for Saint Maurice—Champlain

———

“I don’t know how many people spoke, well over 50 I’m sure. They came at this from all angles and now (we’ve) got to go back and process this.

“We’re on a good path.

“It was very respectful. You know, caucus has always had the ability to get into some tough conversations. We did it again today and it went extremely well. Where we land? Who knows? You know we have to go and really process this stuff. But one thing that is absolutely, you know, fundamental is that we are united in the fact that we cannot let that creature from the Conservative party run the country. He would ruin things that people greatly value.”

Ken Hardie, MP for Fleetwood—Port Kells

———

Comments from before the caucus meeting:

“There’s a — what would you call it? Some palace drama going on right now. And that takes us away from the number 1 job, which is focusing on Canadians and focusing on the important policies but also on showing the really clear contrast between our government, our party and Pierre Poilievre.”

Randy Boissonnault, Employment Minister, MP for Edmonton Centre

———

“We’re going to go in there and we’re going to have an excellent discussion and we are going to emerge united.”

Treasury Board President and Transport Minister Anita Anand, MP for Oakville

———

“I think caucus is nervous because of the polling that has been constantly going down in favour of Liberals, and there’s a lot of people who do want to run again. I’m not running again, although I already told the prime minister that. But there are people there that want to run again and they’re nervous because of what polls are saying.”

“He has to start listening.”

Ken McDonald, MP for Avalon

———

“We’re going to have a good caucus meeting. MPs should be free to air their perspectives, I’m sure they will, and we’ll come out of it united.”

Peter Fragiskatos, MP for London North Centre

———

“I have to read the room. There’s all sorts of wheels within wheels turning right now. I’m just going to go in there, I’m going to make my mind a blank and just soak it all in.”

“I’m not going to say anything about (the prime minister) until I have my say in there.”

Ken Hardie, MP for Fleetwood—Port Kells

———

“I wish there was a mechanism for it, yes,” he said, responding to whether he wanted a secret ballot vote in caucus to determine Trudeau’s leadership.

Sean Casey, MP for Charlottetown

———

“The prime minister will always be on my posters and he is welcome in Winnipeg North any time.”

Kevin Lamoureux, MP for Winnipeg North

———

“Absolutely I support the prime minister.”

Yvonne Jones, MP for Labrador

———

“When you look divided, you look weak.”

Judy Sgro, MP for Humber River—Black Creek

———

“I think Pierre Poilievre is absolutely beatable, he’s ripe for the picking with the right vision, the right leadership and the right direction for our party. The Liberal party is an institution in this country. It’s bigger than one person, one leader, and it’s incumbent on us as elected officials to make sure we put the best foot forward.”

Wayne Long, MP for Saint John—Rothesay

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 23, 2024.



Source link

Continue Reading

News

With Liberal election win, First Nations in N.B. look forward to improved relations

Published

6 hours ago

 on

October 23, 2024

By

FREDERICTON – Chief Allan Polchies says he is excited about New Brunswick’s new Liberal provincial government.

Polchies, of St. Mary’s First Nation, says he looks forward to meaningful dialogue with premier-designate Susan Holt after years of tense relations with the outgoing Progressive Conservatives under Blaine Higgs.

He is one of six Wolastoqey Nation chiefs who have filed a land claim for a significant part of the province, arguing treaty rights have not been respected by corporations and governments, both of which have exploited the land for hundreds of years.

The December 2021 court challenge has been a sore point between Indigenous Peoples and the Higgs’s government.

Eight Mi’kmaw communities are also asserting Aboriginal title to land in the province, and they say they hope to work with Holt and her team on “advancing issues that are important to our communities.”

Holt’s campaign didn’t give details on the Liberal government’s position on the Indigenous claims, but she has said she wants to rebuild trust between the province and First Nations.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 23, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.



Source link

Continue Reading

News

Abdelrazik tells of despair when Ottawa denied him passport to return home from Sudan

Published

6 hours ago

 on

October 23, 2024

By

OTTAWA – Abousfian Abdelrazik told a court today about the roller-coaster of emotions he experienced during the tense days of early 2009 when he awaited the green light to return to Canada from Sudan.

The Sudanese-born Abdelrazik settled in Montreal as a refugee and became a Canadian citizen in 1995.

During a 2003 visit to his native country to see his ailing mother, he was arrested, imprisoned and questioned about suspected terrorist connections.

Abdelrazik says he was tortured during two periods of detention by the Sudanese intelligence agency.

He is suing the federal government, claiming officials arranged for his arbitrary imprisonment, encouraged his detention by Sudanese authorities and actively obstructed his repatriation to Canada for several years.

In March 2009, he made arrangements to fly home to Canada and asked Ottawa to issue him an emergency passport, but his hopes were dashed — at least temporarily — when the request was turned down.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 23, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.



Source link

Continue Reading

Trending

Exit mobile version