Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow and Coun. Alejandra Bravo are pushing to outlaw the practice of “surveillance pricing” in grocery stores across the city. This move aims to crack down on what they see as unjust price hikes based on customers’ personal information.
Mayor Chow and Coun. Bravo are set to propose a motion to ban this practice at an upcoming Executive Committee meeting, scheduled for Tuesday.
In a statement, Mayor Chow expressed concern for residents facing financial strains at the supermarket: “Torontonians are grappling with rising expenses and tough decisions when shopping for groceries. It’s unacceptable for major retailers to exploit your personal data to inflate prices.”
She emphasized the role of local government in alleviating financial burdens for its residents, citing initiatives such as freezing TTC fares and implementing a school food program. Mayor Chow stressed the importance of taking action to shield consumers from this perceived unfair pricing tactic before it becomes widespread.
This initiative mirrors actions taken by other provinces like Manitoba, which passed laws in March to prohibit what they labeled as “predatory pricing practices.”
Coun. Bravo echoed these sentiments, stating, “It’s unjust for large corporations to leverage your online activity and data to drive up the cost of necessities. We are committed to leveraging all available means to foster a more equitable economy for hardworking Torontonians.”
The Executive Committee gathering is slated for Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. to deliberate on this critical issue.