Ontario lifts time-of-day restrictions on deliveries and introduces 24-7 service to help keep good on store shelves.

Retail Council of Canada applauds the Ontario government’s announcement which allows retailers to temporarily deliver goods 24 hours of a day, seven days a week. This will help to ensure essential items remain on store shelves and get to consumers.

Canada has one of the most sophisticated grocery and food supply chains in the world. However, because of the unprecedented increase in demand, some store shelves have been noticeably bare. Logistically, purchases are occurring more quickly than stores have been able to restock, even though retailers have more than ample stock in their distribution centres.

Currently, restrictions in many municipals limit the hours for store deliveries between 7am and 7pm. Today’s legislation temporarily lifts that constraint to allow for a more efficient movement of goods from warehouses to stores.

“To assist in getting goods to market in a more expeditious manner, we applaud the Ontario Government for temporarily lifting time-of-day restrictions on roadways and deliveries for our retailers” said Diane J. Brisebois, President & CEO of the Retail Council of Canada. “As all levels of government work to protect the health of every citizen, we pledge to continue to play a strong supporting role in ensuring access to goods, when and where they are needed.”

This announcement follows a similar move by the City of Toronto, Region of Peel (Mississauga, Brampton & Caledon), and the City of Ottawa to remove delivery time of day restrictions. This new legislation broadens off-peak delivery to every city and town in Ontario.

About Retail Council of Canada

Retail is Canada’s largest employer with 2.1 million Canadians working in our industry. The sector annually generates over $76 billion in wages and employee benefits. Core retail sales (excluding vehicles and gasoline)

were $377 billion in 2018. Retail Council of Canada (RCC) members represent more than two thirds of retail sales in the country. RCC is a not-for-profit, industry-funded association that represents small, medium and large retail businesses in every community across the country. As the Voice of Retail™ in Canada, we proudly represent more than 45,000 storefronts in all retail formats, including department, grocery, specialty, discount, independent retailers and online merchants. www.RetailCouncil.org

For more information or to schedule media interviews, contact:

Colin Asuncion
1.416.467.3758
casuncion@retailcouncil.org