Print This Page
Next Page:
RCC: Working for You
RCC: Fighting for Retailers' Rights
RCC's Government Relations team, driven by RCC's volunteer committees, scored a number of successes worth remembering in 2006 – 2007:
|
In working with the B.C. government, RCC advocated for and saw the implementation of a "Small Business Lens," ensuring that all future legislative work in the province will be reviewed by keeping front-of-mind its impact on small business in the province. |
|
RCC opened an office in Edmonton to serve the needs of Alberta members more directly. The formation of this office has provided RCC with greater influence in the province and the reach to be intimately involved in provincial activities like the Alberta Retail Labour Supply Task Force. |
|
A representative from RCC was selected to chair the international retail group that negotiated with trade unions and governments at the International Labour Organization (ILO) meeting on the social and labour implications of radio frequency identification (RFID). The employer group was successful in negotiating a set of conclusions that support the introduction of RFID and place minimal constraints on retailers in terms of how they work with their employees to adjust to the implementation of the technology. |
|
The Saskatchewan government cut the PST by 2 per cent following RCC's successful provincial postcard and media campaign. |
|
In Manitoba, RCC successfully lobbied the provincial government to amend the Manitoba Employment Standards Code to include a consensus approach to labour relations in the province. |
|
RCC successfully lobbied the Federal Government not to increase surtaxes on imported barbecues, bicycles and furniture, a significant win for all retailers who source product from outside Canada. |
|
|
RCC secured funding from the Ontario Ministry of Community and Social Services to develop education and awareness materials regarding accessibility for people with disabilities and compliance tools and resources to ensure retailers are in the best position to meet their obligations under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act. |
|
In Nova Scotia, the provincial government heard the voice of retail and revised its Electronic Product Stewardship Regulations to make it substantially less prescriptive than the original draft regulation. Three important victories for retailers are that the new regulation is silent on the visibility of fees; silent on return-to-retail collection; and provides for an increased time frame for program plan implementation. |
|
RCC recently participated in a consultation led by the Government of Nova Scotia in an effort to reduce the incidences of workplace violence in the province. With input from members of its active Loss Prevention Committee and a number of retailers from across the province, RCC ensured the Voice of Retail was clearly heard and reflected in the government's regulations. |
|
RCC met with the four Atlantic Ministers responsible for small business to discuss initiatives to remove regulatory burdens for small and mid-size retailers in the provinces and to harmonize regulations where appropriate. |
"This is a small business, and we try to shop at other small businesses to help each other out. It's important for retailers to come together more."
 |
Shirley Gagnon, Vice-President
Windsor Hobbies Ltd. (Windsor, ON)
RCC Member since: 1996 |
|