Top executives from CanadaB次元官网网址檚 major grocery chains have agreed to work with the federal government on stabilizing prices, Industry Minister Fran莽ois-Philippe Champagne said on Monday, but few details have been divulged about how that will be achieved.

Champagne and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland met with executives from Loblaw, Metro, Empire, Walmart and Costco on Monday morning.

B次元官网网址淭hey have agreed to support the government of Canada in our efforts to stabilize food prices in Canada,B次元官网网址� Champagne told reporters after the meeting.

Calling the meetings historic and constructive, the industry minister said he told the grocery CEOs B次元官网网址渋n no uncertain termsB次元官网网址� that Canadians expect them to take action.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced last week that Ottawa is asking major Canadian grocers to come up with a plan by Thanksgiving to stabilize prices. Trudeau warned that if the plan is not good enough, the federal government will take further action B次元官网网址� and it is not ruling anything out, including tax measures.

Speaking to reporters Monday afternoon, Trudeau reiterated the federal government is going to make sure the major grocers have a plan.

B次元官网网址淔ood is too expensive for too many families and (grocers are) making record profits,B次元官网网址� Trudeau said.

However, the Liberals havenB次元官网网址檛 indicated what they would like to see the grocers do or how these chains could bring stability to grocery prices.

Instead, Champagne said in French that he wants the grocers to come up with their own individual plans, so as to protect competition.

B次元官网网址淣ow you want to let them compete against each other so Canadians can see the benefits of competition,B次元官网网址� he said.

Champagne is expected to meet with other segments of the food industry as well to talk about rapidly rising prices.

CanadaB次元官网网址檚 largest grocers have been under intense scrutiny as prices continue to skyrocket while some of them reap ballooning profits.

Grocery prices rose 8.5 per cent year-over-year in July, showing a slight easing of price growth but still running much hotter than overall inflation at 3.3 per cent.

But the industry has pushed back on the idea that theyB次元官网网址檙e to blame for high grocery prices.

The Retail Council of Canada said in a statement last week that grocer prices profits have nothing to do with the rising cost of food, pointing instead to higher costs being passed on from food manufacturers and producers.

Empire CEO Michael Medline told reporters on Monday afternoon the meeting was B次元官网网址渧ery productive,B次元官网网址� but did not answer questions about whether it will actually lead to lower prices.

Nor would Metro CEO Eric La Fl猫che.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e all committed to finding solutions to stabilize prices and bring down the (consumer price index) on the food side,B次元官网网址� he said, calling high prices an B次元官网网址渋ndustry issue.B次元官网网址�

When pressed by reporters about whether prices will come down, La Fl猫che said B次元官网网址減rices fluctuate every week in our industry,B次元官网网址� and noted that the discussions were about consumer packaged goods rather than fresh foods such as produce, dairy and meat.

The other three executives in attendance did not stop to speak with reporters after the meeting.

With affordability concerns top-of-mind for Canadians, the Liberals are looking outside the border for potential solutions to rising grocery prices.

During his news conference, Champagne noted that food inflation is a global issue, and that the government is speaking with its French and British counterparts about how to respond.

The French government reached a three-month agreement with supermarket chains for them to cut prices on hundreds of staples and other foods, which is expected to be extended through the summer. Britain B次元官网网址� where food inflation has reached 45-year highs B次元官网网址� is discussing a similar move.

Other European countries have mandated price controls for staple foods.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e been following what Carrefour has been doing in France, and even shaming in public those who donB次元官网网址檛 want to be part of the solution,B次元官网网址� said Champagne, adding that if CEOs donB次元官网网址檛 want to co-operate, he will take his message to the grocersB次元官网网址� boards.

The federal government is also pursuing changes to the Competition Act that would strengthen the Competition Bureau and give it the power to take action on corporations that work together to stifle consumer choice B次元官网网址� specifically citing large grocery stores that have prevented competitors from setting up shop nearby.