Consumer Affairs & Relations

A rebound in oil prices as consumer demand for gasoline rises will buoy energy companies as they give quarterly results starting next week, but analysts say there are still too many uncertainties to expect any new spending in the sector.

Quebec has become the first Canadian province to make mask-wearing mandatory in all indoor public places for people aged 12 years and older.Premier Francois Legault said the new directive enters into effect Saturday - just in time for the province's annual construction holiday.Businesses will be expected to enforce the new rules and are subject to fines of between $400 and $6,000 if their customers are caught violating the health directive, Legault told reporters Monday in Montreal.He said the government is considering imposing fines on individuals beginning in August.

Executives from three of Canada's largest grocery chains were in communication before launching and ending temporary wage increases for grocery store workers during COVID-19, but maintain their decisions were not co-ordinated.Metro Inc.

StatsCan confirmed what most of us already know: Canada is becoming a hungrier place.According to a survey conducted by the federal agency in May, almost one in seven (14.6%) Canadians indicated they lived in a household where there was food insecurity in the past month.

Ottawa's new rules restricting the promotion of vaping products in places young people can access are set to come into effect next month.Health Canada published regulations July 8 prohibiting vaping advertisements in public spaces where youth may be exposed to them.The ban applies to all retail locations and online stores that sell e-cigarettes, except for adult-only establishments.The measures are set to take effect on Aug.

C-stores not in compliance run the risk of being chargedIt's fair to say the messaging around Ontario's new vaping regulations is confusing for operators and other industry stakeholders.

Like it or not, we’re learning to function in pandemic times.

New rules restricting the sale of most flavoured vape products have come into effect in Ontario.The rules mean most of the products can now only be sold at specialty vape and cannabis retail stores, which serve customers 19 and older.Products with menthol, mint and tobacco flavours are exempt from the new regulations, which came into effect July 1.READ: Ontario agrees to delay enforcement of new vaping rules The regulations also mean vapour products with nicotine levels higher than 20 milligrams will be limited to specialty stores.Those shops will also no longer be allowed to have indoor displays that are visible from outside.Health Minister Christine Elliott unveiled the long-anticipated package of measures in February after expressing concern for months about youth vaping.The measures banned the promotion of vaping products in convenience stores and gas stations earlier this year.