Category Archives: Retail
Ontario businesses want to know if they can reopen on Jan. 26
TORONTO — Businesses are calling on the Ontario government to announce if establishments shuttered under the latest pandemic restrictions will be allowed to reopen Jan. 26, but the province's top doctor said Thursday he can't guarantee that date. Ontar...
Bring back hazard pay for supermarket workers facing extra risks from Omicron: NDP MP
OTTAWA — Grocery stores are being urged to reinstate hazard pay for workers facing extra health and safety risks from the highly contagious Omicron variant. The federal NDP critic for economic development has written to the heads of Canada's biggest s...
B.C. pushes for black market cannabis to go legal, faces criticism from craft growers
VANCOUVER — The British Columbia government has convinced many illegal cannabis growers to begin selling legally in an effort to squeeze out illicit marijuana from the marketplace, but the efforts have faced criticism from the craft growing industry. I...
Ottawa loosens eligibility requirements on pandemic relief for businesses, workers
Canada's federal government offered a lifeline to businesses struggling amid the latest wave of the COVID-19 pandemic by expanding eligibility for two benefit programs. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and several members of his cabinet announced Wednesda...
B.C. government to lift 30-litre limit on gas for general public on Tuesday
VICTORIA — The British Columbia government is lifting a restriction on gasoline for the general public that was put in place after flooding and landslides cut off supply. Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth said the 30-litre limit per visit to the
Ontario venues say new COVID-19 rules create ‘double standard’ for standing concerts
TORONTO — Indoor concerts are slowly coming back to life in Ontario, but venue owners say the latest COVID-19 guidelines will dampen any significant return to live music in the coming months. At first glance, new rules that lifted capacity limits
U.S. businesses dependent on Canadian travellers welcome border news
TORONTO — Businesses on the U.S. side of the border are welcoming news that Canadians could soon be travelling south after the Biden administration said it would reopen land crossings in November. Details remain scarce, including the specific date next...
Ontario looks to allow permanent cannabis delivery, pickup for private stores
MISSISSAUGA, Ont. — Ontario wants to permanently give private cannabis retailers the option of offering delivery and curbside pickup. The proposal is part of a wide-ranging bill introduced in the legislature Thursday aimed at reducing red tape. Cannabi...
Denied cross-border shoppers, some U.S. companies opt to export to Canada instead
WASHINGTON — In the before times, Katie McCarron could count on her best Canadian customers to make the trip to her store in Portland, Oregon, to stock up on their favourite high-quality, human-grade pet food. COVID-19 had other plans. Soon enough,
Government body sets deadline for grocery code of conduct
OTTAWA — Canada's agriculture ministers have given the country's grocers until the end of the year to propose measures to regulate the industry. It comes after the ministers heard from a working group created to improve transparency and fair dealings ...