Some Canadian supermarkets could close

Grocery stores are trying to overcome a growing shortage of workers and food, which experts say could threaten Canada’s food security.

Gary Sands, vice president of public policy for the Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers, says absenteeism rates due to covid protocols have reached around 30% in Canada and are rising.

Without sufficient access to rapid testing, vendors in many provinces are repeatedly forced into self-isolation for a week or more after being exposed to infected people, he said.

If the situation worsens, Sands says, some grocery stores will not be able to operate, threatening food security in rural and remote areas of the country that depend on a single trader.

Stores are also experiencing shortages due to supply chain issues, which means that even temporary difficulties such as adverse weather conditions can lead to delays and stock-outs.

Still, the retail council is urging shoppers to avoid a repeat of the panic buying seen at the start of the pandemic.

By Paul Chiasson (CANADIAN PRESS).