VICTORIA – MLA Amna Shah is seeking input from British Columbians and stakeholders on her legislative motion that aims to tackle prices found online and in grocery stores that are potentially unfair.

“Whether it’s reports of online companies using personal data to increase prices for an individual, or large grocery stores with a local monopoly hiking up costs, people are feeling pinched unfairly,” said MLA Shah. “My motion aims to tackle this issue and protect British Columbians from unfair practices that drive costs up for British Clumbians.”

Following the tabling of her motion in May, MLA Shah met with Attorney General Niki Sharma who was supportive of the action the motion aims to take in protecting British Columbians.

Shah has also begun reaching out to stakeholders, experts, and community members to ensure British Columbians’ concerns are front and centre as work continues with government on this issue.

“I want to hear from people who can show they have been a victim of surveillance pricing, or from advocate organizations who are also working to stop the practice,” said Shah. “I also want to hear from neighbourhoods where one large grocery store has a land agreement in place that restricts any other grocery store from being nearby, eliminating any competition.

“This allows a large store to set higher prices, knowing they have captive customers with no alternative.”

The consumer protection motion will be debated in the upcoming fall session and reads:

Be it resolved that this House urge the BC Government to protect British Columbians from higher prices by strengthening consumer protection measures against algorithmic personalized pricing on online and retail goods, enhancing price transparency requirements, and reviewing restrictive grocery store property covenants that may limit competition.

MLA Shah encourages anyone with experiences, concerns, or ideas related to grocery pricing to reach out to her at amna.shah.mla@leg.bc.ca .