As The Voice of Retail™, RCC is here to help retailers navigate through this crisis.
Recent Updates
Advocating for you: Support the plan for safe reopening in Ontario
- Changes to active screening, essential goods, and curbside pickup in New Brunswick (UPDATED)Following the New Brunswick government’s release of its latest mandatory order on Friday, January 22, 2021, RCC expressed significant concern with many aspects of … Continued
- Highly Affected Sectors Credit Availability Program (HASCAP) announcedThe federal government today introduced the details of the Highly Affected Sectors Credit Availability Program (HASCAP). The program is loans-based, aimed at providing additional … Continued
- Review of categories suspended from the BC Provincial Nominee Program due to COVID-19On March 30, 2020, BC suspended issuing invitations for 31 categories in tourism, hospitality, retail and personal services categories due to labour market changes … Continued
- Changes to active screening, essential goods, and curbside pickup in New Brunswick (UPDATED)Following the New Brunswick government’s release of its latest mandatory … Continued
- Highly Affected Sectors Credit Availability Program (HASCAP) announcedThe federal government today introduced the details of the Highly … Continued
- Review of categories suspended from the BC Provincial Nominee Program due to COVID-19On March 30, 2020, BC suspended issuing invitations for 31 … Continued
- Ontario’s COVID-19 safety checklists for workplacesRetail Council of Canada is continuing to work with the … Continued
- Extension of Ontario orderThe Ontario government officially extended its second state of emergency … Continued
- Manitoba Health requests strict adherence to capacity limitRetail stores across most of Manitoba reopened essential items to the … Continued
- Retail stores can now operate at capacityAs of Saturday, January 23, 2021, retail stores are allowed … Continued
- New Ontario workplace screening protocolOntario quietly changed its workplace screening protocols on January 7, … Continued
- Manitoba reopening retail stores as of January 23, 2021UPDATE: Manitoba confirms retail stores may reopen January 23, 2021 … Continued
- The impact of the pandemic on the solvency of corporations – StatCan COVID-19The COVID-19 pandemic has posed significant challenges to the Canadian … Continued
- Government of Canada – COVID-19 vaccine campaignTo help Canadians better navigate the health protocols to help … Continued
- Expansion of criteria for Alberta’s Enterprise Relaunch GrantThe Alberta government is expanding the Small and Medium Enterprise Relaunch … Continued
- Ontario property tax and energy rebates for all businessIn addition to the grants for small businesses mentioned above, … Continued
- Ontario small business support grant now open for applicationsThis grant provides a minimum of $10,000 to a maximum … Continued
- Clarifying lockdown expectations in OntarioOver the weekend, the Ontario government issued a 30-day extension … Continued
In these challenging times, RCC welcomes retailers across Canada to subscribe to our Retail policy news & COVID-19 updates and attend our weekly COVID-19 briefings for retailers. 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.
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.
Recruiting and Employment
RCC is here to assist retailers in finding employees, while also helping displaced workers find jobs with Talent Exchange and Job Connect.
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
Building mental health into operations during COVID-19
This special session presented by Liz Horvath, a leader in workplace mental health, provides practical advice that employers in the retail sector can use to support their own mental health and the mental health of their workers.
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, [email protected], 604-730-5254
- Prairies: John Graham, [email protected], 204-926-8624
- Ontario: Sebastian Prins, [email protected], 416-467-3759
- Quebec: Jean-Francois Belleau, [email protected], 514-316-7659
- Atlantic: Jim Cormier, [email protected], 902-818-7738
- Public Affairs: Karl Littler, [email protected], 416-906-0040
- Grocery Division & Regulatory Affairs: Jason McLinton, [email protected], 613-656-7903
- GR and Regulatory Affairs: Cory Anderson, [email protected], 613-656-7901
- Media: Michelle Wasylyshen, [email protected]
- President & CEO: Diane J. Brisebois, [email protected], 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.