Associations

Restaurants Canada estimates that 800,000 foodservice jobs have already been lost nationwide due to COVID-19 and might not return if current conditions continue.Canada’s $93 billion foodservice industry represents 4% of the country’s GDP and many run in tandem or share sites with c-stores and gas stations.Nearly 10% of the country’s restaurants have already closed permanently, and many more might close by the end of April if conditions don’t improve.With businesses now struggling to pay rent and other bills due in April, the national association has conducted a survey to shed light on the state of the industry.

Ontario's Ministry of Health is hitting pause on a series of new vaping regulations that were to come into effect on May 1.The implementation of the new regulations, which have far-reaching effects on the convenience sector, will now be delayed until July 1, giving all parties time to make adjustments while also dealing with the business impacts of COVID-19.“We commend the Ontario government for listening to our concerns regarding the May 1st deadline to remove vaping products from our stores which was not feasible or in the public interest,” says Anne Kothawala, president & CEO of the Convenience Industry Council of Canada.

C-stores and gas stations across the country remain open under ever-changing guidelines, according to the Convenience Industry Council of Canada's Coast to Coast Update.

Retail Council of Canada (RCC), on behalf of the retail industry in Canada, is sharing a short video and other resources outlining the precautions and guidelines convenience, grocery and drugstore shoppers should follow to keep everyone safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.It's a welcome move, as retailers struggle to keep themselves and staff save from customers who "just don't get it."Convenience Store News Canada and Octane asked c-store and gas operators about how the crisis is affecting their business and here's what we heard in terms of how customers are behaving in-store."We still have groups of young kids/teens coming in together for snack items.

When a relationship breaks down after more than 60 years of mutual benefit, feelings are bound to get hurt.

After weeks of pressure from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), the federal government announced new programs to support businesses during the COVID-19 public health crisis.The wage subsidy will increase from 10% to 75%. “We asked for this from the beginning and won the battle thanks to member support,” the CFIB said in a public statement.

C-stores and gas stations across the country remain open under ever-changing guidelines, according to the Convenience Industry Council of Canada's Coast to Coast Update.

The Canadian Vaping Association (CVA) is commending the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador for allowing specialty vape shops to continue to operate under strict social distancing protocols during the COVID-19 crisis."Allowing vape shops to operate using only contactless curbside pickup protocols will prevent thousands of Newfoundlanders from being forced back to combustible tobacco, a product known to kill one in two users," the association said in a statement.“We applaud the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador for having found an appropriate means to care for the physical and mental health needs of vapers while ensuring the safety and protection of all individuals in their province.  The vapers in this province will continue to have access to the low nicotine harm reduction products which are only available in adult access product vape shops, while strict social distancing protocols implemented will serve to protect the public and staff,” said Darryl Tempest, executive director of The Canadian Vaping Association.