British Columbia

British Columbia has issued a series of emergency orders that directly impact the retail industry.  All retail businesses that were able to be open prior to the order and can maintain the social ...Learn More

RCC has received clarification for retailers operating in British Columbia on the province’s stance on social distancing as it applied to retail: “Just to make clear what some of this is, and ...Learn More

The Supreme Court of Canada dismissed the City of Victoria’s appeal of a B.C. Court of Appeal decision.  The Court of Appeal decision had struck down the City of Victoria’s “Checkout Bag Re...Learn More

The District of Squamish council passed a bylaw concerning shopping bags and (drinking) straws on Tuesday, December 17.  The bylaw takes effect immediately. Summary of Key Elements Shopping bags ...Learn More

Late Wednesday (November 20) afternoon, the City of Vancouver released single-use item by-laws that will be considered by council on November 26, 2019.  The by-laws are, as outlined to the RCC En...Learn More

The B.C. Minister of Environment released a discussion paper today asking for response by September 18, 2019.  There are four themes to the discussion paper: Reviewing the role and benefits of single...Learn More

Current Status: As of July 1, 2019, 7 B.C. local governments (Courtenay, Cumberland, Qualicum Beach, Salmon Arm, Tofino, Ucluelet and the City of Victoria) had plastic bag ban bylaws in force.  Saani...Learn More

Retail Council of Canada today called on the B.C. Government to restore an exemption from the B.C. Provincial Sales Tax for the “adult incontinence products.” Although Government communications in...Learn More

The B.C. Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA) representing the employers and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) representing the workers have come to a tentative agreement which ...Learn More

“As negotiations continue between B.C. longshore workers and their employers to prevent a strike that could begin Monday, Canada’s retail industry is crossing its fingers that a deal can be re...Learn More