An Elmira resident is appealing to Prime Minister Stephen Harper to stop the sale of a grocery store in town. It's the latest attempt by residents to reverse a decision by the Competition Bureau of Canada.
In his letter, Roy Weber writes, “a reasonable response would be to force Loblaws to close the in-store pharmacy but certainly not the entire store.”
When Loblaws bought the Shoppers Drug Mart chain, it wound up owning two pharmacies in some towns. This includes Elmira, where the No Frills has a pharmacy.
The competition bureau says that it’s against the rules, so Loblaws has to sell the store.
“This is the best; I don’t want another grocery store. I don’t want to drive into Kitchener to get another No Frills, and we’re not sure what we’re going to do,” says Elmira resident says Lisa Neal.
Many Elmira residents are afraid a new owner will increase the prices at the No Frills.
2700 residents have signed a petition telling the Competition Bureau to back off. The petition is online and at Brian McHugh’s main street photo store.
“They need to mind their own business and stay out of Elmira. Let the citizens of Elmira decide what’s going on,” McHugh says.
The competition bureau says the sale of this store to what it calls an effective competitor will ensure the store stays open and competing.
McHugh doesn’t believe the next owner of the No Frills will be able to match the current low prices.
“The discount business is really tough and it’s getting tougher,” he says.
The Competition Bureau isn’t saying publicly when the store has to be sold.
