Industry Advocacy

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau this morning announced a significant increase to the wage subsidy for small- and medium-sized businesses — 75%, compared to the 10% previously promotions.

With an eye on ensuring retailers, such as c-stores, have the products their customers want and need, all retail businesses are exempt from the City of Toronto Noise Bylaw to facilitate after-hour deliveries.Effective immediately and until further notice, the move is part of the City of Toronto’s response to COVID-19 and is meant to support of businesses and the community: The City’s Noise Bylaw includes the ability to provide an exemption in response to extraordinary circumstances affecting the immediate health, safety or welfare of the community.“We are taking this action to help Toronto businesses get deliveries and continue to stock their shelves with essential goods for our residents," said Mayor John Tory.  "By exempting retail businesses from the City’s noise bylaw right now, we will ensure that retailers can receive deliveries 24 hours of a day, seven days a week.”City staff – in consultation with Mayor John Tory’s office – moved quickly to make this immediate change after it was raised by the Retail Council of Canada as a way to allow additional deliveries for retailers the wake of panic-buying and stockpiling.“To assist in getting goods to market in a more expeditious manner, we applaud the City of Toronto for temporarily lifting time-of-day restrictions on roadways and deliveries for our retailers," said Diane J.

Industry initiative is raising money for the Canadian Spinal Research Organization During The Convenience U CARWACS Show in Toronto last week, attendees on the car wash side gathered to hear Karen Smith, compliance and training manager at Valet Car Wash, discuss Safety Inspections and how operators can prepare to keep their site safe for customers and employees - it was a fitting segue to discuss the industry-wide fundraising initiative.  Smith took close to 100 attendees through a full slate presentation (Compliance in the Workplace; Are you ready for an inspection) that covered all the bases.

As of Jan.

An Ontario court has extended an order suspending legal proceedings against three major tobacco companies as they try to negotiate a settlement with their creditors.

Move called a blow to c-store operatorsIndustry associations at the national and provincial levels are up in arms over Ontario’s new plan to restricting the sale of flavoured vapes and e-cigarettes in convenience stores.Last week, Health Minister Christine Elliott unveiled a number of measures designed to curb youth vaping (READ: It's official: Ontario to ban flavoured vapes).

[caption id="attachment_23009" align="alignright" width="300"] Shutterstock[/caption]Convenience stores not a top source of vaping products for youth, according to the “2019 Drug use Among Ontario Students Report”  by The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH).“This data confirms what the CICC has been saying for months, convenience stores are not the source of vaping products for youth, and this report makes the Ontario government’s targeting of convenience stores in their attempt to address the youth vaping problem all the more baffling” says Anne Kothawala, president and CEO of the Convenience Industry Council of Canada.The Ontario government is currently considering both a flavour ban and a nicotine cap for the sale of vapour products sold in convenience stores, but not specialty vape shops or online retailers.

Automakers are rolling out some big additions to the electric vehicle landscape this year as the market evolves, but it's still not clear how much Canadians will be convinced to buy them.