Canadian Retailer - Winter 2013 - 10

RCC: GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY

50 years: A BRIEF HISTORY
OF RETAIL COUNCIL OF CANADA

ADVOCACY WORK

1960s

• Entering the 1960s, retailers start to understand
the need for an association that takes an unapologetic retail-first position. In 1963, a number of
retailers representing the nation’s larger department stores formed Retail Council of Canada.
Membership grew steadily due to lobbying
activities, the association’s recognition as an intelligence source on public policy, its educational
programs and money-saving services.

1 970 s

1980s

• The association entered into partnerships with several regional associations including the Merchant Associations across Canada, specifically
Retail Merchants of British Columbia,
Retail Merchants of Alberta and Retail
Merchants of Manitoba.
• RCC became heavily involved with
negotiations of the General Agreement
on Tariffs and Trade and the North
American Free Trade Agreement.
• RCC introduced a potent new membership attraction—discounts on merchants’ fees for the use of credit cards.

10 |

1990s

1960s

1970s

RETAIL COUNCIL OF CANADA has come a long way since its humble beginnings as the
Canadian Retail Federation. The association has seen membership grow, shrink and grow
again, and has survived multiple recessions. Many things have changed within the industry
and, indeed, the association over the course of the past 50 years. But one thing remains
static—RCC’s commitment and dedication to fighting for the rights and interests of retailers
across the country. Here then is a snapshot of 50 years of the associations work for you.
• Inflation took off with a vengeance and the combination of a Food Prices Review Board and the introduction of import quotas consumed RCC’s agenda.
• In 1974, a formal food division was established at RCC.
• As technology began to take centre stage, the
association played a pivotal role in the development
and implementation of UPC codes and bilingual
packaging requirements.

1980s

• Retailers emerged as significant importers and RCC
became heavily involved in protecting members’ ability
to import goods by successfully defending the industry
against anti-dumping claims and by eliminating a certain
number of import tariffs on finished goods.
• The association played a pivotal role in the development of
privacy legislation and voluntary ethical sourcing guidelines, protecting retailers from onerous and unnecessary
regulations.
• Following a fierce battle with the federal government
against harmonized tax-in pricing in Atlantic Canada, the
proposed legislation was repealed.
• The Competition Act and the Interac governance structure consumed RCC’s agenda. While work was long and
protracted, Competition Tribunal Hearings compelled the
Interac organization to re-structure its Board of Directors to
include a broader range of network stakeholder directors.
• RCC began to play a critical role in providing technology
and supply-chain information and best practices to its
members and formed the first retail internet working group.

canadian retailer | winter 2013 | www.retailcouncil.org/cdnretailer
http://www.retailcouncil.org/cdnretailer
Canadian Retailer - Winter 2013

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Canadian Retailer - Winter 2013
