The Manitoba government is moving to crack down on what it calls unfair pricing practices at grocery stores and other retailers.

 

Under proposed changes to the Business Practices Act, companies would be banned from using consumers’ personal data to charge different prices for the same product.

 

Public Service Delivery Minister Minu Sandhu says the goal is to protect Manitobans from what’s known as “predatory pricing,” where businesses use data or algorithms to increase costs for certain shoppers.

 

The proposed legislation, known as Bill 49, would apply both in-store and online, targeting concerns that retailers may be using personal information to adjust prices without customers realizing it.

 

The province says the move is part of a broader effort to make life more affordable, especially as grocery costs continue to rise.