Reality Check – How many Chairs does one MP need?

What can’t Conservative MP Scott Reid do? A man of many hats? More like a man of many Chairs!

Despite his busy schedule, Reid finds new ways to keep himself busy and seated comfortably. Not only is he the Chairman of the Board at Giant Tiger, a for-profit grocery chain that his family has operated for generations, but he’s also the Conservative caucus chair.

And today, he’s had the privilege of sitting in the Speaker’s chair to moderate debate and conduct in the House of Commons.

While it seems he can do anything, there is one thing Reid can’t do – and that’s vote to lower grocery prices for Canadians. The Conflict of Interest Commissioner told Reid that he’s not allowed to vote on NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh’s bill to lower grocery prices because he’s in a conflict of interest due to his work at Giant Tiger.

While Reid is happy to take yet another seat, New Democrats will keep standing up to grocery giants and defending Canadians.

“The Conservatives aren’t being clear with Canadians on where they stand—or sit—when it comes to lowering grocery prices,” said NDP ethics critic Matthew Green. “It doesn’t make sense to Canadians that the Chairman of the Board of a chain that sells groceries is going to work his hardest to lower prices for them. The Conservatives are looking out for their corporate buddies and cutting help for Canadians. Pierre Poilievre wants to pretend he’s on your side but he’s never even mentioned the corporate greed driving up costs for Canadians. Maybe its because so many of the people he surrounds himself with are serving corporate giants instead of putting the Canadians who elected them first.”