Islanders are going to the polls on April 3, 2023
Find out why #RetailMatters to Prince Edward Islanders.
12.4%
of PEI’s workforce works in Retail. That’s 9,900 Canadians.
Hundreds of
storefronts in PEI
$300 Million
in total annual salaries paid
$25.00/HR
PEI’s average hourly compensation in retail
$2 Billion
in Core Retail Sales
Source: Stats Canada
Why PEI Retail Matters
When your local candidates knock on your door or you meet them at an event, take time to share your experiences and the pride you have for PEI’s retail industry.
Be sure to also let them know that you are part of PEI’s largest private employment sector, and that retail also has a significant impact on the success of several other industries, such as transportation, construction, property management, information technology and financial services.
Here are some ideas that you can share with your candidates while spreading the word about retail:
- Nearly one in every eight jobs in PEI is in retail.
- Retail in PEI pays over $300 million annually in payroll; that means that the retail industry represents approximately one dollar of every $13.00 paid in salary in PEI.
- The retail sector provides a broad range of employment opportunities, including first-time skill development jobs and highly professional positions.
- Every election provides Prince Edward Islanders with the ability to shape their government and help to ensure that future members of the Legislative Assembly understand the role merchants play in Islanders’ lives and our economy.
Where the Parties Stand
The following parties supplied answers to RCC’s retail-specific questionnaire regarding the election.
The Prince Edward Island Liberal Association Inc. • Green Party of Prince Edward Island
Here’s where the other parties stand via their own web resources.
The Island Party • New Democratic Party of Prince Edward Island • Progressive Conservative Association of Prince Edward Island
Legislate use of a CPI formula to adjust minimum wage
With the 2023 adjustments, minimum wage in PEI will have increased 30% since the beginning of 2019 and 50% since the beginning of 2014. This creates pressure on retail businesses as the increases outstrip inflation and revenue growth in retail stores.
The PEI government should assist the business sector and finally provide predictability and clarity to the setting of the province’s minimum wage. RCC continues its call for the PEI government to create a legislated framework that mandates any future increase in minimum wage to be tied to the national Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the previous year. Such an approach would provide businesses with predictability in determining their ongoing business costs.
Do Not Download Social Imperatives on the Business Community
Although many RCC members have generous paid sick leave programs, the reality is that not all businesses are financially able to offer sick leave at the levels that have recently been proposed in PEI. Most provinces offer unpaid sick leave as these governments understand the ever-increasing cost pressures on businesses.
If political parties believe there is a social imperative for a significant and expensive initiative like increasing the number of paid sick days, then the PEI government should consider offering such support through a government-funded program.
Allow Sale of Beer and Wine in Retail Stores
Retailers continue to demonstrate their ability to properly manage the business and social aspects involved in selling heavily regulated products in a responsible and successful manner. In 2019, the PC Party made a campaign promise to allow the sale of beer and wine in PEI retail stores. Once in government though, the PC Party has backtracked on its promise by only taking steps to expand the existing Agency Store model. This action does not fulfill the Party’s campaign promise.
PEI retailers could help the government achieve levels of success in the sale of beer, wine and ready to drink products (RTD), similar to those seen in New Brunswick. There are craft brewers and vintners across PEI who could benefit from the opportunity to sell their product in retail stores. The governing party should fulfill its 2019 campaign promise through a responsible, step by step approach that benefits business and ultimately leads to provincewide sales of beer, wine and RTD in retail stores.
Lower Taxes
Retailers continue to demonstrate their ability to properly manage the business and social aspects involved in selling heavily regulated products in a responsible and successful manner. In 2019, the PC Party made a campaign promise to allow the sale of beer and wine in PEI retail stores. Once in government though, the PC Party has backtracked on its promise by only taking steps to expand the existing Agency Store model. This action does not fulfill the Party’s campaign promise. PEI retailers could help the government achieve levels of success in the sale of beer, wine and ready-to-drink products (RTD), similar to those seen in New Brunswick.
There are craft brewers and vintners across PEI who could benefit from the opportunity to sell their product in retail stores. The governing party should fulfill its 2019 campaign promise through a responsible, step by step approach that benefits business and ultimately leads to provincewide sales of beer, wine and RTD in retail stores.
Develop a retail sector strategy
Despite the fact that PEI’s core retail sector provides an over $2 billion boost to the economy, retailers are facing significant cumulative cost and competitive pressures. In the modern age of retail, there is no certainty of continued success as national, online and offshore channels threaten “brick-and-mortar” PEI stores.
The PEI government should work with Retail Council of Canada to develop a proper sectoral policy focus commensurate with the size of the retail industry. While other industries have been the focus of sector strategies and incentives, the retail industry has long been overlooked.
Use these tools to contact your local candidates and make your voice heard.
Find your candidates
Find candidates and their contact info for your riding.
Print your sign
Show your pride in retail by posting a photo of your retail staff holding a #RetailMatters sign or a photo of your store.
Tell candidates #RetailMatters
Use these links to send parties your staff photos or customized tweets.
- Liberal: @PEILiberalParty
- PC: @PEIPCParty
- Green: @PEIgreens
- NDP: @NDP_PEI
You can also send a letter to your candidate
Let your candidates know how important retail is to PEIns by sending a letter. RCC has created a pre-written template you can use to make sure candidates and elected officials understand retail’s impact in your community and how they can support our sector.
Contributing to political parties – what you need to know
Contributing to a campaign can be an effective way to build relationships with candidates in your riding.
Make sure that you understand the rules before lending your support to a provincial political party and its campaign. Here is a quick summary of things to remember:
Who can contribute?
Only individual residents of PEI may make political contributions. In other words, businesses and unions are not allowed to make political contributions in PEI.
What is the contribution limit?
Contributions cannot exceed $3,200 per calendar year per political party. A contribution to constituency associations, candidates, nomination contestants or leadership contestants is considered a contribution to the political party.
What is considered a contribution?
A contribution is any money, real property, goods or services, or the use of real property, goods or services, provided to or for the benefit of a political entity without compensation from the political entity to the donor.
How can a contribution be made?
Only registered entities (e.g.: political parties, electoral district associations), can accept contributions. Once the writ is dropped, a contribution can be made to the Official Agent of a candidate.
For more information on political donations and contributions, see the PEI Election webpage.
Contact Us
For questions or to find out more, contact Jim Cormier, Director, Government Relations (Atlantic) jcormier@retailcouncil.org or 902-422-4144.