Manitoba Tories say premier's promise to control food prices has rung hollow

Manitoba's Opposition Progressive Conservatives say the NDP government's promise to crack down on rising grocery prices has proven to be an empty threat.

Interim Tory leader Wayne Ewasko pointed to figures released this week by Statistics Canada that show food prices in Manitoba rose last month by 3.3 per cent from March of last year. That rise was faster than the Canadian average, including neighbouring Ontario and Saskatchewan.

Data from the Manitoba government show a similar trend in recent months. Food prices have risen since Jan. 1, when the province temporarily suspended its 14-cent-a-litre fuel tax. The tax holiday is slated to end Sept. 30.

"We're hearing from Manitobans who thought grocery prices would be down because this premier gave them false hope," Ewasko said in question period Wednesday.