Government calls for meeting with CEOs of Canada's biggest grocery chains to talk food prices

The federal government says it expects the heads of five of Canada's biggest grocery chains to attend a meeting in Ottawa on Monday to discuss ways to stabilize food prices.

The office of Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne told CBC News it asked the CEOs of Loblaw, Sobeys, Metro, Costco and Walmart to attend in person.

Champagne's office said it sent out the invitation Thursday afternoon as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was delivering his affordability announcement in London, Ont. at the Liberals' national caucus retreat.

"It's not okay that our biggest grocery stores are making record profits while Canadians are struggling to put food on the table," Trudeau told a press conference Thursday.

WATCH: Federal government announces affordability measures

All summer long, the Trudeau government has been hammered by the Conservatives on the issue of affordability. The Liberals are now facing the worst polling they've seen since the Trudeau government first took office in 2015.

After what some MPs called a "frank discussion" with the prime minister behind closed doors at the Liberals' caucus retreat, Trudeau and his ministers announced a series of affordability measures.

"It's always a good time to fight," Champagne said Thursday. "We're going to be fighting and finding solutions to help Canadians. That's what they want from us."

Champagne's office said they've asked the grocery CEOs or company chairpersons — not lawyers or other representatives — to meet with the minister in person. The office said it has not yet heard back about who is attending. 

Trudeau said the grocery chains have until Thanksgiving to share their plans to stabilize their prices. If they don't, he said, Ottawa will take action. 

"And let me be very clear," said Trudeau. "If their plan doesn't provide real relief ... then we will take further action and we are not ruling anything out, including tax measures."

WATCH: Trudeau threatens grocery chains with tax measures

A parliamentary committee investigating high food prices said in March that if Canada's Competition Bureau finds the grocery store giants are profiting excessively from food inflation, Ottawa should consider hitting the companies with a windfall tax on excess profits.

The Competition Bureau found in June that Canada's grocery business doesn't have enough competition and is dominated by three domestic giants. It called on the government to encourage new entrants to bring down prices.