Posters promoting ‘Steal From Loblaws Day’ are circulating. How did we get here?

globalnews.ca:

Posters encouraging people to “Steal From Loblaws” popped up last week across Toronto and have been gaining steam online, drawing mixed reactions from Canadians.

The posters for the “first annual Steal From Loblaws Day” invite customers to rob retail grocery chains owned by Loblaw, including the Real Canadian Superstore, No Frills, Fortinos and T&T, and suggests that 2024 could be just the start of this proposed illegal protest, with the inclusion of “first annual.”

No organizers of the May 12 event have come forward to claim responsibility for the posters.

Canadians seem split on whether to support such a protest — which blatantly flies in the face of the law — underscoring the deep frustration Canadians have for the rising cost of food.

“Every day should be steal from Loblaws day,” wrote a user on X (formerly Twitter).

Justifying the protest, another X user wrote that “grocers are blatantly stealing from consumers in creative new ways without government intervention.”

“You brought all this on yourself,” another post reads.

Others are shocked that Canadians would resort to stealing to send a point to Loblaw.

“This is NOT the way to protest,” one writes.

In a statement to Global News, Loblaw called the protest “dangerous and irresponsible” and said that the company is “well-prepared to manage any potential disruption to our customers’ shopping experience.”

“We certainly understand food affordability is an important issue affecting all of us, and we’ll continue to do everything we can, from lowering prices and making meaningful changes to our business, to help customers save money in our stores,” the statement added.

Promotion of the Steal From Loblaws Day comes as the grocery giant also faces an upcoming boycott in the