Strategy

A report from The Retail Council of Canada maintains that Ontario’s new alcohol laws allowing people to buy booze at more locations will stimulate the economy, create new jobs and bring down the price of alcohol.The Spring 2019 Retail Perspectives report delves into deregulation of the alcohol market in British Columbia and notes that liquor licensing a grocery store increases store sales by an estimated $880,000.The report states: “That number is significant, in part because of just how under served the Ontario market is.

Premier Jason Kenney says Alberta's carbon tax has about two weeks to live.

Although Health Canada acknowledges that vaping is less harmful than smoking, the country’s national health overseer also has serious concerns about e-cigarettes and related products.

In the wake of the Health Canada's new legislation, Imperial Tobacco is coming out swinging, calling plain packaging a “nanny state” approach that does little to change consumer behaviour.“We remain shocked that despite all of the evidence, the Government of Canada is moving ahead with bad public policy,” said Eric Gagnon, head of corporate and regulatory affairs at Imperial Tobacco Canada.  “The experience of other countries demonstrates that plain packaging does not change consumer behaviour and that it’s a proven way to fuel an already booming illegal tobacco market in Canada.”Imperial Tobacco points out 20 percent of the market remains controlled by illegal operators and criminal organizations selling products outside of any regulatory framework and untaxed (depriving Canadian governments of more than $2 billion in tax revenue every year).“The illegal tobacco problem in Canada is poised to get much worse now that it will be impossible to differentiate between a legal and illegal product.  Not only has the federal government had its head in the sand for long enough when it comes to illegal tobacco, they have facilitated the thriving illegal market by allowing illegal operators unfettered access to the Canadian market,” says Gagnon. “The RCMP have stated that there are 50 illegal factories operating in Canada and 175 criminal gangs involved in the illegal trafficking of tobacco, and the feds have done nothing about it.  They now need to step up and address the issue they created themselves.”Still, plain packing continues to gain traction around the globe.

Change is never easy.

The Convenience Industry Council of Canada recently announced the appointment of Matthew Ellis as its VP, Government and Stakeholder Relations.Ellis is from Prince Edward Island and brings with him almost 20 years of experience as a senior advisor to elected officials at all levels of government.

The Convenience Industry Council of Canada is unveiling its new website.

Convenience stores are one of the few areas of retail that e-commerce hasn’t dramatically transformed, but that doesn’t mean they haven’t been changed by technology and recent shifts in the marketplace.