I Can’t Afford to Be a Patriot Because of the High Cost of Food

I Can’t Afford to Be a Patriot Because of the High Cost of Food By Dale Jodoin I Can’t Afford to Be a Patriot Because of the High Cost of Food Patriotism is a powerful thing. It’s the belief in one’s country, the pride of being part of something greater. But in today’s Canada, patriotism is becoming a luxury—one that fewer and fewer people can afford. The cost of living has skyrocketed. The middle class is shrinking. The elderly, the working poor, the young people trying to start their lives—everyday Canadians—are being crushed under the weight of taxes, inflation, and government policies that seem more interested in ideology than survival. Because of eight years of Liberal government, backed by the NDP, prices have gone through the roof for everyone. Their green tax has made it impossible for people to live the way they used to. Groceries, gas, heating—everything costs more, and there is no relief in sight. What does it mean to be a patriot when you can barely afford to live? No Room for Fresh Produce in the Budget A woman in her fifties walks into the grocery store, her list short but her worries long. She used to be able to fill a cart with fresh vegetables, local dairy, and quality meats. Now, she picks up a cucumber, looks at the price, and puts it back. The irony stings—Canada grows some of the best produce in the world, but she can’t afford to buy it. Instead, she settles for imported fruits and vegetables from Mexico and China. They’re not as fresh, not as nutritious, but they’re cheaper. “I thought I’d always be able to afford good food,” she murmurs. “I never imagined it would come to this.” A Young Worker Forced to Buy Foreign A young man just starting out in the trades needs work boots. He’s landed his first real job, and he’s eager to contribute. But when he checks the price of a Canadian-made pair, he feels sick—over $300, more than half his paycheck before taxes. He wants to support local businesses. He wants to wear something made in Canada. But he can’t afford it. Instead, he buys boots from a Canadian retailer that imports them from China. “I didn’t want to, but what choice do I have?” he says. “I need boots to work, and I don’t have the money for the good ones.” It’s an ugly truth—many who declare themselves patriots, who say they buy only Canadian, unknowingly (or unwillingly) support foreign manufacturing because their wallets don’t give them a choice. Elderly Couple Forced to Choose Between Food and Heat In a small home, an elderly couple sits at their kitchen table, the room colder than it used to be. They’ve lived here for decades, paid their taxes, and contributed to their community. But as property taxes increase and their fixed income stays the same, every month becomes a battle of choices. Do they pay the heating bill? Or do they buy enough groceries to last the month? The old man fights back tears. He eats less so his wife can eat more. She notices. “We worked all our lives for this?” she whispers. The Gas Prices That Keep a Single Mother from Earning A single mother wakes up before dawn, ready for another long day. She has a part-time job but relies on Uber to make ends meet. Every night, she calculates whether the cost of gas is worth the extra fares. It’s not just gas—it’s insurance, maintenance, and the price of everything going up. But without her car, she has no way to make the extra money her family needs. She looks at her earnings after another night on the road, subtracting the cost of fuel. Barely enough.“I’m doing everything I can,” she says. “But it’s never enough.” The Dollar Store Economy More and more Canadians are finding that the only place they can afford to shop is the dollar store. Discount shops, bargain bins, and clearance sections have become the grocery aisles of the working class. Gone are the days of filling a cart with fresh meat, dairy, and produce. Now, they rely on canned goods, processed foods, and whatever is on sale. And when they shop at grocery stores, they see another problem—shrinkflation. Prices are rising while portion sizes shrink. A loaf of bread that used to last a week now barely makes it through a few days. A box of cereal that once served a family is now half the size but double the price. “They’re charging more and giving us less,” a father of three says. “But we can’t do anything about it.” But now, things have gotten even worse. There are Canadians who can’t even afford to be dollar store people. The 2 Million Who Rely on Food Banks The situation is so dire that over 2 million Canadians now rely on food banks just to get by. These are not just the homeless or the unemployed—many of them are working families, retirees, and even professionals who simply cannot keep up with the rising cost of living. Food banks, once a safety net for the most vulnerable, have become a necessity for the middle class. People who never imagined they would need help—who spent their lives paying taxes, working hard, and believing in the Canadian dream—now stand in line, waiting for a bag of food to get them through the week. “I was raised to believe that if you worked hard, you’d be okay,” says a father of two. “But here I am, picking up a food hamper because my paycheck doesn’t cover everything.” The Government Says It Cares—But Does It? Politicians claim to fight for the middle class. They make speeches, shake hands, and promise relief. But while they debate, real Canadians are drowning. The Prime Minister, the NDP, even so-called conservatives—they all claim to care. But what have they done? The unions fight for their members. The wealthy fight for their tax breaks. The fringe groups fight for their causes. But who is fighting for the everyday Canadian? The Patriotism Paradox And here lies the greatest irony: many of those who call themselves patriots, who say they “buy Canadian” and “support local,” don’t even realize that most of their purchases come from overseas. The hat that says “Proud Canadian”? Made in China. The t-shirt with the maple leaf and the word “Patriot” across the chest? Stamped with “Made in Bangladesh.” The boots, the clothing, even the flags waved at Canada Day celebrations—so many of them come from foreign factories because it’s simply too expensive to buy Canadian. People don’t do this out of disloyalty. They do it because they have no choice. No End in Sight There’s no light at the end of the tunnel. The cost of everything continues to rise—housing, food, fuel, taxes. And while politicians sit in their comfortable offices making decisions that push people further into despair, real Canadians are left behind. The ones who suffer the most are the people who once built this nation. The workers. The farmers. The elderly. The middle class. There is no relief. No hero comes to save them. Just another winter of impossible choices. Another year of tightening belts that are already suffocating. The dream of being a proud, patriotic Canadian still burns in their hearts. But in their empty wallets and cold homes, they wonder—can they still afford it? Everyone knows somebody like them. A friend, a neighbor, a family member. These are the stories of real Canadians. And the saddest part? Their struggles are getting worse.