As The Voice of Retail™, RCC is here to help retailers navigate through this crisis.
Recent Updates
- Mandatory mask mandate returns to Central Okanagan Regional DistrictIn light of a growth of cases in the Central Okanagan Regional District, which includes Kelowna, West Kelowna, Lake Country, Peachland and the Westbank … Continued
- Reminder: apply now for the Canada Recovery Hiring ProgramDesigned to encourage businesses to rehire and grow as the economy bounces back, the Canada Recovery Hiring Program (CRHP) supports payroll and can be … Continued
- New Brunswick moves to Green phase on July 30, 2021Due to its success in administering COVID-19 vaccination doses, at 11:59pm, July 30, 2021, New Brunswick will move to the Green Phase in its … Continued
- Mandatory mask mandate returns to Central Okanagan Regional DistrictIn light of a growth of cases in the Central … Continued
- Reminder: apply now for the Canada Recovery Hiring ProgramDesigned to encourage businesses to rehire and grow as the … Continued
- New Brunswick moves to Green phase on July 30, 2021Due to its success in administering COVID-19 vaccination doses, at … Continued
- Province-wide state of emergency extended in ManitobaThe Manitoba government is extending the province’s state of emergency … Continued
- Saskatchewan vaccination strategy transitioning to focused outreachWith 74% of Saskatchewan residents 12-and-up having received at least … Continued
- New Brunswick moves to Green phase on July 30, 2021Due to its success in administering COVID-19 vaccination doses, at … Continued
- Canada reopening border to fully vaccinated American visitorsThe federal government announced yesterday that Canada will reopen its … Continued
- PEI provides updated COVID guidance document and loosens restrictionsATTENTION RCC MEMBERS WHO DO BUSINESS IN PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND: … Continued
- Correction: Ontario head offices may reopen on Friday, July 16, 2021 when Step 3 beginsPreviously, RCC issued a member notice stating that Ontario had … Continued
- Manitoba announces further relaxation of retail restrictionsWith Manitoba’s second vaccination target achieved, and active COVID19 cases … Continued
- PPE requirements adjusted for workers in QuebecFollowing the lifting of capacity restrictions for retailers announced on July … Continued
- PEI restrictions on masks and provincial entry further loosenedThe mandatory indoor mask rule has been dropped effective July … Continued
- Nova Scotia retailers now able to operate at maximum capacity with health measures in placeEffective Wednesday, July 14, 2021, Nova Scotia will enter Phase … Continued
- Relaxation of COVID restrictions coming to ManitobaManitoba’s Chief Medical Health Officer has confirmed that the details … Continued
- All COVID-related public health orders now removed in SaskatchewanWith immunization targets achieved, Saskatchewan moved to its final stage … Continued
In these challenging times, RCC welcomes retailers across Canada to subscribe to our Retail policy news & COVID-19 updates and attend our weekly Member Town Hall Briefings. We are your voice during this crisis and beyond.
COVID-19 Recovery Tools
RCC BCG Retail Recovery Dashboard
Mission-critical metrics to help the Canadian retail sector navigate COVID-19.
Vaccine Timing and Status
Current information available on vaccinations applicable for retail employees.
Requirements for Retailers by Region
View all regulations and safety guidelines retailers must follow to be open by region.
Relief Measures by Region
Financial aid, grants and other relief measures specifically applicable to retailers.
Questions & Answers on COVID-19
Frequently asked questions from our members on working through COVID-19 and its operational challenges.
Retail Supplier Directory
Find suppliers of masks, hand sanitizer, signage and more in the new PPE section of the Retail Supplier Directory.
Videos and Podcasts
Employer vaccine policies – Your FAQs answered and more
Joseph Cohen Lyons, Senior Associate with Norton Rose Fulbright Canada answered the most frequently asked questions by our retail members around vaccination policies, vaccination incentivizing and more.
The Voice of Retail Podcast
Each and every week TVOR interviews top retailers and industry thought leaders coving topics including the ongoing response and impact to their business and the retail sector of the COVID-19 crisis.
Financial support and payroll resources
- Federal support:
- RCC’s guide to Federal relief measures (see Federal relief measures section)
- New rules for the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS)
- Government of Canada Work-Share overview
- Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA)
- Loans for small & medium businesses: Business Credit Availability Program (BCAP)
- Canada Small Business Financing Program
- Government’s overview of federal government Services for Small Business
- Provincial support: RCC’s guide to relief measures and updates (see interactive table to view your region)
- Municipal support: RCC’s database of utility payment extensions, municipal relief and more
- Rent support for small businesses: Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA) for small
- Payroll: Canadian Payroll Association on ROE coding
- Workers’ compensation: 2020 provincial workers’ compensation updates for retailers
- Stewardship programs: Stewardship Programs Offering COVID-19 Deadline Extensions
Maintaining your business
- HR recovery planning: Managing return to work anxiety
- Impact on consumer behaviour: Tracking the impact of FMCG, retail and media (Neilson)
- Consumers surveys: Tracking surveys (Leger)
- Consumer education: #ShopSmart campaign – Guidelines shoppers should follow during COVID-19 (RCC)
- Statistics: Info on COVID-19 (Statistics Canada)
- Pandemic planning for retailers: COVID-19 planning checklist for retailers (RCC)
- Business continuity: A guide to robust business continuity planning (KPMG)
- Impact on Canadian retailers: COVID-19 Voice of Canadians and impact to retailers (Deloitte)
- Guide for senior executives: The heart of resilient leadership: Responding to COVID-19 (Deloitte)
- Resources for retailers: Retail Industry Leaders Association
- Fraud Prevention: Tips to protect yourself from COVID-19 related payment scams (Interac)
- Cyber Security: Helpful advice for small and medium organizations to protect against COVID-19-related threats
- Interactive dashboard: Government of Canada’s COVID-19 Situational Awareness Dashboard
If you have questions specific to your area, please contact RCC’s Regional Directors directly:
- Pacific: Greg Wilson, gwilson@retailcouncil.org, 604-730-5254
- Prairies: John Graham, jgraham@retailcouncil.org, 204-926-8624
- Ontario: Sebastian Prins, sprins@retailcouncil.org, 416-467-3759
- Quebec: Jean-Francois Belleau, jfbelleau@cccd-rcc.org, 514-316-7659
- Atlantic: Jim Cormier, jcormier@retailcouncil.org, 902-818-7738
- Public Affairs: Karl Littler, klittler@retailcouncil.org, 416-906-0040
- Grocery Division & Regulatory Affairs: Jason McLinton, jmclinton@retailcouncil.org, 613-656-7903
- GR and Regulatory Affairs: Cory Anderson, canderson@retailcouncil.org, 613-656-7901
- Media: Michelle Wasylyshen, mwasylyshen@retailcouncil.org
- President & CEO: Diane J. Brisebois, djbrisebois@retailcouncil.org, 416-801-3793
Thank you to the retailers, vendors and suppliers who have extended financial support to Retail Council of Canada to help us continue to advocate for you 24/7 during these difficult times.