As The Voice of Retail™, RCC is here to help retailers navigate through this crisis.
NOTICE: This page regarding COVID-19 information and protocols may be out of date. RCC members looking for clarification regarding this resource are asked to email membership@retailcouncil.org.
Recent Updates
- Permanent Changes to Student Work Hours Set for SeptemberAttention retailers who employ international students: The government plans to end the temporary 40-hour-per-week allowance for eligible international students, initially implemented to address pandemic-induced … Continued
- COVID-19: Fourth dose eligibility expands to 18+, test distribution through grocers to continueLast week, Ontario announced that the age eligibility for Ontarians who can access the fourth COVID-19 dose will now include adults 18 to 59. … Continued
- Newfoundland & Labrador proof of vaccination for front-facing employees endsReminder that Newfoundland and Labrador’s Mandatory Vaccine Regulations will be suspended and thus, “cease to have effect” on June 1, 2022. This rule has … Continued
- Permanent Changes to Student Work Hours Set for SeptemberAttention retailers who employ international students: The government plans to … Continued
- COVID-19: Fourth dose eligibility expands to 18+, test distribution through grocers to continueLast week, Ontario announced that the age eligibility for Ontarians … Continued
- Newfoundland & Labrador proof of vaccination for front-facing employees endsReminder that Newfoundland and Labrador’s Mandatory Vaccine Regulations will be … Continued
- Nova Scotia extends paid sick leave programThe province’s COVID-19 Paid Sick Leave Program has been extended … Continued
- PEI ends most COVID-19 restrictions, masks to remainThe PEI Government announced the end of most COVID-19 restrictions … Continued
- B.C. legislation to clarify paid sick leave by calendar yearFollowing extensive input from RCC and other business associations, the … Continued
- Nova Scotia removes masking rules for businessesAs of March 21, 2022, all COVID-19 related business restrictions … Continued
- New Brunswick lifts remaining COVID-19 restrictionsAs of Monday, March 14, 2022, all COVID-19 restrictions (including … Continued
- Newfoundland and Labrador ends COVID-19 mandatesProvincial officials lifted all COVID-19 restrictions as of Monday, March … Continued
- Ontario to remove COVID-19 masking on MondayOntario will be removing its mandatory mask and face-covering requirement … Continued
- Manitoba ends COVID-19 restrictionsAs of Monday, March, 14, 2022, the government of Manitoba … Continued
- Alberta legislation to limit municipal health ordersAlberta’s government has introduced legislation to limit the ability of … Continued
- B.C. government drops indoor mask requirementsB.C. will lift the indoor mask requirement for indoor public … Continued
- Ontario to remove masking requirement on March 21, 2022Ontario will be removing its mandatory mask and face covering … Continued
- Manitoba grocers support rapid test distributionThe Government of Manitoba has announced a partnership with Retail … Continued
COVID-19 Recovery Tools
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Survey on removal of mask mandates
Survey of RCC Members on how retailers will manage mask rules as mask mandates are removed.
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Requirements for Retailers by Region
View all regulations and safety guidelines retailers must follow to be open by region.
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Relief Measures by Region
Financial aid, grants and other relief measures specifically applicable to retailers.
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Retail Supplier Directory
Find suppliers of masks, hand sanitizer, signage and more in the new PPE section of the Retail Supplier Directory.
Financial support and payroll resources
- Federal support:
- RCC’s guide to Federal relief measures (see Federal relief measures section)
- 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)
- Rent support for small businesses: Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA) for small
- 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: Michel Rochette, mrochette@cccd-rcc.org, (514) 792-4430
- Atlantic: Jim Cormier, jcormier@retailcouncil.org, 902-818-7738
- Public Affairs: Karl Littler, klittler@retailcouncil.org, 416-906-0040
- Media: Michelle Wasylyshen, mwasylyshen@retailcouncil.org
- President & CEO: Diane J. Brisebois, djbrisebois@retailcouncil.org, 416-801-3793