Education & Human Resources

Alberta Labour Supply Task Force The Task Force is comprised of senior retail HR executives companies with portfolios that include recruitment and retention, retail training and education, compensation and benefits and other related interests. The Task Force's mission is to enhance success and profitability for retailers in Alberta by increasing the supply of competent employees. Mandates include the development and implementation of benchmark and metrics in areas such as compensation and benefits, employee turnover, etc, the development and implementation of a marketing strategy to promote retail as a career and the promotion of retail curriculum in high schools and post secondary institutions. In order to accomplish the mandate, three work groups have been established for each area: benchmarking, marketing and education. Staff Contact: Derek Nighbor, Vice President, National Affairs: (416) 922-0553, ext. 234

Certification & Training Committee The Certification & Training Committee acts as a resource for Retail Council of Canada's Education team (Canadian Retail Institute) by providing direction regarding certification and training activities. Staff Contact: Theresa Rowsell, Director of Education, Training and Loss Prevention, (416) 922-0553, ext. 241

Human Resources Committee The Human Resources Committee identifies federal and provincial policy, regulatory, and administrative issues in the area of human resources of interest to the retail sector. The committee assesses the significance of these issues for retailers; provides executive-level perspective and advice to RCC staff and volunteers in the development and presentation of RCC positions on HR issues to governments and other interested parties. Staff Contacts: Andrew Siegwart, Vice President, Membership Services: (416) 922-0553, ext. 248 Derek Nighbor, Vice President, National Affairs: (416) 922-0553, ext. 234

Safety Group Committee The Safety Group Committee provides retailers with a network of firms who share the common goal of reducing injuries and illnesses in the workplace. Together, safety group members pool resources, share best practices and help each other develop and manage effective health and safety programs. Along with improving workplace safety, they can reduce their WSIB premiums and earn financial rebates. Staff Contact: Matthew Hall, Manager, Member Relations: (416) 922-0553, ext. 319

Government Relations

CFO Network CFO Network committee members are senior finance executives involved not only in day-to-day operations, but who play a strategic role in their organization's overall planning and success. Each quarter, the committee meets to receive a comprehensive public affairs report on key issues impacting the retail industry, including developing issues related to privacy, competition, PCI, recycling, chip cards, organized crime, etc. Participants also receive an in-depth briefing on Retail Conditions, allowing for discussion with peers on trends such as the increasing dollar and cross-boarder shopping. Industry experts are also on occasion asked to speak to the group about new legislations, trends in retail operations, financial reporting best practices, and more. Staff Contacts: Peter Woolford, Vice-President Policy Development & Research: (416) 922-0553, ext. 230 Gary Rygus, Director, Government Relations (Ontario): (416) 922-0553, ext. 225

Commitment to Parents Canadian video game retailers have developed a voluntary code which will help parents across Canada make choices that are right for their families when it comes to the purchase or rental of video and computer games. The "Commitment to Parents" code includes a pledge not to sell or rent games that carry an M-Mature or AO-Adults Only -rating to anyone under the age of 17 or 18 respectively. Staff Contact: Lanny McInnes, Director, Government Relations and Membership Services (Manitoba/Saskatchewan): (204) 253-1654

Environment Committee The Environment Committee is actively engaged in the development and implementation of sustainable waste diversion programs across Canada. The committee analyses waste diversion issues impacting the retail industry; advises and supports RCC volunteers and staff who sit on stakeholder and advisory/consultative bodies; and, guides RCC staff in the development and presentation of RCC positions on environmental issues to provincial governments. Staff Contact: Rachel Kagan, National Manager, Government Relations (Environment): (416) 922-0553, ext. 318

Intellectual Property Committee The Intellectual Property Committee focuses mainly on copyright issues and serves as a platform for member companies to share best practices and join forces to address legal issues. The Committee follows the rulings of the Copyright Board closely and mandates outside legal counsels to intervene on behalf of the industry. It has also been involved in Supreme Court proceedings namely on grey market issues. Staff Contact: Kim Furlong, Vice-President, Federal Government Relations: (613) 751-4442

Loss Prevention Committee The mandate of the Loss Prevention Committee is to support the retail industry by educating, communicating and advocating proactive asset protection strategies. Its sub-committees include the Retail Organized Crime Task Force, which includes its sub-committees focusing on organized crime rings, financial crimes, an investigators information sharing network and research and education. Membership in the committee is voluntary and open to interested RCC members and industry resource individuals. Staff Contacts: Theresa Rowsell, Director of Education, Training and Loss Prevention, (416) 922-0553, ext. 241

Ontario Security Guards Working Group The Ontario Security Guards Working Group is a sub-set of members from RCC’s Loss Prevention Committee that are actively engaged in providing input and advice into the development and implementation of rules under the Private Security and Investigate Services Act, 2005. This legislation requires that individuals working to prevent the loss of property in a retail environment must be properly licensed and trained according to provincial standards. Several other provinces have since followed suit and enacted similar legislation. RCC supports having standards in the security guard industry and participates as a member of the Minister’s Advisory Committee to ensure that the standards support the needs of the community as well as retailers. Staff Contact: Derek Nighbor, Vice President, National Affairs: (416) 922-0553, ext. 234

Ontario Accessibility Working Group The Ontario Accessibility Working Group is actively engaged in providing input and advice into the development and implementation of standards under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005. This legislation provides for the development of accessibility standards that apply to the private and public sectors of Ontario in order to address and remove barriers for people with disabilities in several areas including customer service, employment and the built environment. Members are also engaged in a Project Advisory Group to provide compliance assistance with the final customer service standard under the Act through the development of tools and resources including an e-learning training module which will be available for use by all RCC members. Staff Contact: Derek Nighbor, Vice President, National Affairs: (416) 922-0553, ext. 234

Payments Committee The Payments Committee works on government policy, regulatory and administrative issues as well as the business issues that affect payments. The committee identifies the government actions that affect retailers and their transactions with customers; analyses the implications of these actions, guides and participates with RCC staff to develop and present retailer views on these matters to the appropriate bodies; identifies the business issues that arise in the area of payments (especially with respect to relations with financial institutions); and, represents the interests of the trade to financial institutions, bodies that represent financial institutions, other organizations, governments and other interested parties. Staff Contact: Peter Woolford, Vice-President Policy Development & Research: (416) 922-0553, ext. 230

Privacy Committee The Privacy Committee shares information with members about federal and provincial privacy legislation and regulations, current retail-specific privacy issues in the marketplace and advises governments and other stakeholders of the implications of privacy legislation to the retail trade. Staff Contact: Derek Nighbor, Vice President, National Affairs: (416) 922-0553, ext. 234

Public Affairs Forum The Public Affairs Forum provides a unified voice on issues affecting the image, reputation and business practices of the Canadian retail industry. The Committee provides advice on various communication strategies affecting the retail trade, and creates a forum for RCC members to network and discuss common public relations issues. Staff Contacts: Derek Nighbor, Vice President, National Affairs: (416) 922-0553, ext. 234

Regional Advisory Networks Regional Advisory Networks are comprised of retail members located in British Columbia, Alberta and Manitoba. Their mandate is to assist RCC in identifying issues of interest or concern to the retail trade in a specific jurisdiction in order to assist the association in developing a list of priorities and initiatives that reflect the need of the membership. The Networks discuss and analyze issues and help shape the industry’s public and government agenda and act in an advisory capacity to help ensure regional needs and concerns are addressed appropriately. The networks also provide networking and information-sharing opportunities for senior retail executives. Staff Contacts: British Columbia Max Logan, Director, Government Relations and Membership Services: (604) 601-5619 Alberta Derek Nighbor, Vice President, National Affairs: (416) 922-0553, ext. 234 Manitoba Lanny McInnes, Director, Government Relations and Membership Services: (204) 253-1654

Responsible Trade Committee The Responsible Trade Committee brings retailers together to discuss ethical sourcing issues as they affect Canadian retailers. The Committee’s mandate is to encourage retailers to adopt responsible trade practices and to share information, best practices and tools among retailers to promote responsible trade initiatives. The Committee works to communicate the commitment of Canadian retailers to responsible trade and consults and builds alliances with consumers, NGOs, academics and other industry partners. Staff Contact: Derek Nighbor, Vice President, National Affairs: (416) 922-0553, ext. 234

Retail General Counsel Roundtable The Retail General Counsel Roundtable brings retail in-house lawyers together to discuss current and emerging legal issues affecting the trade. Legal resources in retail businesses — small and large — are often stretched to the limit as the issues they deal with become more complex when new legislation, regulations and by-laws come into effect. The Retail General Counsel Roundtable provides a forum for retail counsels to network and share concerns and best practices on retail-specific legal issues ranging from international trade to copyright to human resources. Staff Contact: Derek Nighbor, Vice President, National Affairs: (416) 922-0553, ext. 234

Scanner Accuracy Committee The Scanner Accuracy Committee focuses on improving scanner pricing accuracy through voluntary compliance. The committee co-ordinates industry coalitions to respond to federal and provincial initiatives and develops industry best practices guidelines. Staff Contact: Derek Nighbor, Vice President, National Affairs: (416) 922-0553, ext. 234 Cecilia Jy, Project Administrator, Government Relations: (416) 922-0553, ext.232

Taxation Committee The Taxation Committee identifies taxation policies and administration issues of interest to the retail trade. It analyses the issues in order to understand their implications for retailers; guides and participates with RCC staff in making representations to governments on these issues; and, reports on this work to the Board of Directors and general membership of RCC. Staff Contact: Peter Woolford, Vice President, Policy Development & Research: (416) 922-0553, ext. 230

Operations

Senior Retail Marketing Network The Senior Retail Marketing Network was established to provide retail marketing executives with a catalyst for enhancing the customer experience in the industry through sharing non-competing information, promoting best practices and addressing issues of concern within the industry; supporting and promoting the image of retail and the marketing function; directing RCC staff in the development of programs and services (e.g. research, conferences, etc.) that provide professional development and industry tools for the retail marketing community at large; and directing RCC lobbying efforts. Staff Contact: Diane J. Brisebois, President & CEO: (416) 922-0553, ext. 238

Supply Chain Committee The Supply Chain Committee identifies the major trends impacting supply chain management in Canada including RFID, infrastructure capacity, supply chain outsourcing, government regulations and environment. In the long term, the committee will focus on common best practices that will improve supply chain efficiency for the industry. Staff Contacts: Bill Yetman, Chief Operating Officer: (416) 922-0553, ext. 249

Committees of the Board of Directors

Executive Committee The Executive Committee will execute decisions of the Board of Directors, particularly with respect to the operations of RCC. The committee will be composed of three members consisting of RCC's Chair, Vice Chair and Treasurer. Staff Contact: Diane J. Brisebois, President & CEO: (416) 922-0553, ext. 238

Audit Committee The Audit Committee will monitor the financial activities of RCC. The committee will be composed of three RCC directors, including RCC's Treasurer. Staff Contact: Diane J. Brisebois, President & CEO: (416) 922-0553, ext. 238

Governance Committee The Governance Committee will assess the performance of the Board of Directors and RCC staff, and develop guidelines regarding who should sit on the Board of Governors and the Board of Directors. The committee will be composed of two RCC directors and one member. Staff Contact: Diane J. Brisebois, President & CEO: (416) 922-0553, ext. 238

Public Affairs Committee The Public Affairs Committee will establish the policy agenda for RCC, monitor policy issues for the Board of Directors, oversee the preparation of an annual policy review for RCC and liaise with senior government and political officials on an ongoing basis. The committee will be composed of five RCC directors or their designate. Staff Contact: Derek Nighbor, Vice President, National Affairs: (416) 922-0553, ext. 234