RCC’s retail economic recovery plan 2021

A look at RCC’s federal pre-budget submission

Retail Council of Canada presented our pre-budget submission on behalf of retailers to the federal finance minister.

As the government is drafting its 2021 Budget, Retail Council of Canada (RCC) is advocating on behalf of the industry for ongoing support through the pandemic and beyond. As our economy begins reopening, the government must provide retailers the necessary conditions required for a full recovery. As The Voice of Retail™, Retail Council of Canada recommends the following initiatives be prioritized and adopted in the government’s economic recovery plan:

1. Tax credits for enhanced safety measures
2. Eliminate import tariffs on essential items
3. Introduce a new eco-retrofit tax credit
4. Reduce credit card “swipe fees”
5. Introduce a new visitor rebate program
6. Support the move to online shopping
7. Improve aspects of the Canadian Emergency Wage Subsidy program (CEWS)
8. Expand the eligibility criteria for the Highly Affected Sectors Capital Availability Program (HASCAP)
9. Revamp the Canadian Emergency Rent Subsidy program (CERS) 

As we all work through the long-term impacts brought on by COVID-19, the key retail measures RCC outlined in this submission will help ensure the recovery of Canada’s retail industry, boosting Canada’s economic growth and making life more affordable for Canadian families.