Avi Lewis wants to shrink your grocery bill. Can he?

In this episode of The Big Story, host Karen Sciolan interviews Avi Lewis, the newly elected federal NDP leader, about his bold policy proposals to combat Canada's escalating cost of living, particularly food inflation. Lewis argues that surveillance pricing—where retailers use personal data to charge different prices to different customers—is already happening in the U.S. and poses a growing threat in Canada, calling for a national ban to ensure fairness. He also champions a federal public grocery option, modeled on successful U.S. military commissaries and municipal pilots, which he claims could cut grocery bills by 30% to 45% through economies of scale, public procurement, and competition against the 'big five' grocery chains. Despite skepticism about feasibility and razor-thin retail margins, Lewis insists the savings come from disrupting the entire supply chain, not just retail markup. He critiques current government spending—especially on defense and corporate welfare—while advocating for redirecting funds toward public goods like affordable food, renewable energy, and home heat pumps. The conversation underscores a broader critique of market failure and the need for bold, government-led solutions to systemic economic challenges.