Bill 113: Fair Prices and Tax-Free Groceries Act, 2026

This bill most directly affects grocery retailers and food businesses operating in Ontario, particularly the large national chains that use restrictive covenants and exclusivity clauses on commercial properties to prevent competing grocery stores from opening nearby. Smaller independent grocers and new market entrants would benefit from the removal of these property controls, as they could open stores in locations previously blocked by anti-competitive real estate agreements. Commercial landlords and property developers who currently include exclusivity clauses in leases with grocery tenants would need to renegotiate or void those agreements and could face penalties for non-compliance. Additionally, any Ontario business selling food products or non-alcoholic beverages — from corner stores to restaurants to large supermarkets — would be affected by the HST removal, which would change how they price and account for sales tax on these items.