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Sylvain Charlebois

Dr. Sylvain Charlebois is Senior Director of the Agri-Foods Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University in Halifax. Also at Dalhousie, he is Professor in food distribution and policy in the Faculty of Agriculture. His current research interest lies in the broad area of food distribution, security and safety, and has published four books and many peer-reviewed journal articles in several publications. His research has been featured in a number of newspapers, including The Economist, the New York Times, the Boston Globe, the Wall Street Journal, Foreign Affairs, the Globe & Mail, the National Post and the Toronto Star.

Grocery Code of Conduct in Canada Faces Its First Real Test

Canada’s Grocers’ Code of Conduct enters force in 2026, but its ability to curb food inflation and rebalance power remains uncertain.

Trump Pressures Canada on Dairy Supply Management Reform

Donald Trump’s trade pressure exposes the political power, opacity, and affordability challenges embedded in Canada’s dairy supply management system.

AI-Driven Pricing May Be the Next Shock to Canadian Grocery Shoppers

Dynamic pricing powered by AI is moving into grocery aisles, putting fairness, trust, and food affordability in Canada at risk, says Dr. Sylvain Charlebois. 

Canada’s Top Food Stories of 2025 Reveal Structural Shifts

Dalhousie’s Top 10 Food Stories of 2025 highlight structural forces shaping food prices, trust, regulation, and affordability across Canada.

Canada’s Food Inflation Crisis Is Not About Grocers

Canada’s food inflation is rising faster than overall inflation, driven by structural costs, policy constraints, and supply chain pressures rather than grocery profits.

Why Canada Should End the GST and HST on All Food

Removing GST and HST on all food could ease rising costs, reduce tax distortions, and support economic growth across Canada, says Sylvain Charlebois. 

Food Inflation in Canada Has Become a Structural Crisis

Canada’s 2026 Food Price Report shows costs rising again as long-standing structural weaknesses continue to drive sustained food inflation across the country.

The Self-Checkout Experiment Is Failing in Canada

Self-checkouts are frustrating Canadians, driving up shrink and eroding trust, prompting retailers to rethink the model as the experiment falters, says Dr. Sylvain Charlebois.

Fall 2025 Food Index Shows Deepening Strain for Canadians

Canadians face rising food stress as the Fall 2025 Food Index reveals worsening affordability, shifting habits, and declining trust in the national food system.

Ottawa’s Beef Import System May Be Keeping Prices High

Canada’s opaque beef import permit system faces scrutiny as denied permits, concentrated processor power, and outdated oversight keep prices elevated.

Canada’s GLP-1 Shift Is Reshaping the Food Economy

Canada’s growing GLP-1 use is driving major shifts in food spending, grocery habits, and restaurant demand, reshaping the nation’s food economy.

U.S. Tariff Reversal Expected to Ease Food Costs for Canada

Canada stands to benefit as the U.S. rolls back food-related tariffs, lowering input costs for retailers and easing pressure on the supply chain.

‘Buy Canadian’ Food Sales Surge as Shoppers Shift Habits

‘Made in Canada’ food sales jump over 10% as Canadians shift grocery spending toward homegrown products amid global uncertainty.

Chicken Shortages Push Canadian Retail Prices Higher

Canada’s chicken supply crisis is driving record retail prices, exposing flaws in the country’s supply-management system.

Ottawa’s Budget Misses the Mark on Grocery Prices

Ottawa’s 2025 budget falls short on food affordability, offering little direct grocery relief while relying on trade and infrastructure to ease costs.

Why Food Prices Spike Every October and February in Canada

Seasonal food inflation in Canada stems from supplier–grocer contract cycles, not just global forces. The Grocery Code could bring stability says Sylvain Charlebois.

Health Canada’s Quiet Move on Cloned Meat Could Shake Retail Trust

Health Canada plans to deregulate cloned meat, allowing it into Canada’s food supply without labels — a move that could unsettle retailers and consumers alike.

U.S. Tariffs Threaten Canadian Agri-Food Exports

Escalating U.S. tariffs and strained diplomacy are disrupting Canada’s agri-food trade, raising risks for exporters and cross-border retail supply chains.

Canada’s Food Inflation Surges to Top of G7 Rankings

Canada’s food inflation reaches 4%, ranking among the highest in the G7 as tariffs, trade friction, and a weaker dollar drive grocery prices higher. 

Trump’s Beef Politics Could Leave Canada Paying the Price

Global beef shifts and U.S. populist trade moves could push Canadian beef prices even higher amid industry concentration and supply constraints.

Nestlé’s Global Layoffs Expose Trouble for Canada’s Food Industry

Nestlé’s 16,000 job cuts highlight a deeper crisis in Canada’s food manufacturing sector as demand shifts and industry giants falter.

Canada’s EV Tariffs Cost Farmers Billions

Canada’s EV tariffs are triggering Chinese retaliation and devastating canola exports, costing Canadian farmers billions in lost trade and income.

Canada’s Food Industry Is Hooked on Temporary Foreign Workers

Canada’s food industry faces growing dependence on the Temporary Foreign Worker Program as fines and violations highlight systemic reliance, says Sylvain Charlebois. 

Rising Coffee Prices Brew New Realities for Canadian Consumers

Canadians face higher coffee prices as Tim Hortons and others adjust costs amid global supply pressures and climate impacts.

Ottawa Considers Changes to Canada’s Dairy Supply Management

Ottawa weighs reforms to Canada’s dairy supply management as USMCA pressures mount, raising questions about competitiveness and farm stability.

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