Ban Predatory Pricing

Grocery prices have risen by 30% over the past five years. Families are now spending about $1,000 more just to buy the same food.

And now, some corporations are using AI-driven algorithms to increase prices based on your data. That means those companies are using information about what you search for on the Internet, what you click on, what you’ve bought in the past, how often, and at what price, and other online behaviour. This practice is often called surveillance pricing, where systems estimate the highest price that you are likely to pay and charge accordingly.

This is predatory pricing.

On April 20, the NDP introduced a motion in the legislature to ban surveillance pricing. While the motion had Liberal and NDP support, Conservative Members of Provincial Parliament (MPPs) voted against it. Doug Ford has said that he won’t ban the practice because he believes in a ‘free-market capitalist society.’ Ford has the ability to end this practice and protect the hard-earned wages of working people and help them put literal food on the table. But he won’t.

“We must stop corporations from using data to exploit people who are, all too often, just trying to make ends meet,” said President Kelly Tosato. “We use these apps and loyalty cards, share on social media, purchase online, and browse the Internet, without realizing just how much information is being collected about us.”

“The government must step up to protect people and ensure fair pricing, especially when it comes to food and other necessities,” added Tosato.

Electronic Sales Labels on the shelves at stores are one example. Not only do Electronic Sales Labels give retailers the ability to change prices at the push of a button with no oversight, the use of Electronic Sales Labels also takes work hours away from our Union members and other retail store employees because there is no labelling to do.

Companies may suggest you can opt out of Internet cookies and other data collection. But the truth is, when it comes to essentials like groceries, that’s not a realistic option for most people. Everything from loyalty cards, to credit and debit cards, and apps are collecting data. Corporations are trying to shift the responsibility of that data collection to the consumer rather than admitting their practices are exploitative and predatory.

In Manitoba, Premier Wab Kinew’s NDP government has already banned this practice. In Ontario, we need to do the same.

Ontarians deserve transparency and consistency, not pricing systems designed to charge them more. Send a strong message to your Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) and ask them to support the motion to ban surveillance pricing. It only takes a quick minute to share your view using our form below!

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