Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - 11

RETAIL: AT ISSUE

fusion bag bans create. Bans have popped up
across the country, resulting in a patchwork of
regulations. Some municipalities ban bags outright, while others-sometimes the one next
door-set out a range of standards for what is permissible. The result is a lack of harmony in policy
and added costs to retailers.
"We're concerned that when there's lack of harmonization and each municipality takes a unique
approach to bans on bags, we see iniquity between one jurisdiction and another. It creates cost
issues for Main Street retailers," says Wilkes.
In response, RCC has been at work in the regions and cities to put forth an industry solution
that seeks to curb pollution in ways that gets results, rather than bans-which may feel good, but
saddle merchants with new costs while failing to
achieve the desired effect.
Main Street vs. U.S.A.

FIGHTING FOR INDEPENDENTS
From reductions in credit card fees to work to harmonize provincial legislation, RCC works to support retailers
and make their jobs easier. Here are just a few of the many
issues RCC is working on.
Minimum wage harmony: RCC secured a commitment from all Maritime Provinces to designate April
1 as the date where annual changes in minimum
wage will occur.
Consistent formula: Newfoundland & Labrador has
agreed with RCC advocacy to establish a consistent
formula for setting minimum wage. Going forward,
minimum wage will reflect the cost of living.
Canada Day on a Sunday: RCC is working with Atlantic governments to change regulations that force
retailers to close on Mondays when Canada Day
falls on a Sunday.
Labour Standards: Earlier this year, RCC expressed

concern over the federal changes to the EmployFighting for sensible plastics policies is one
ment Insurance Act that would allow employees
front where RCC is speaking up for Main Street
to take 26 weeks of compassionate leave over the
at the local level. Another local fight is happencourse of a year (up from 6 weeks) because such a
ing at the federal level, where RCC is pushing
change would create significant administrative buback against aggressive U.S. lobbyists that want
rden for retail employers trying to 'backfill' positions
to see changes to Canada's import duties that
sporadically over the course of a year.
will work to their advantage.
The fight-happening under the radar of most
Canadians and going unspoken in the major press-goes by the
That line sums up what Petryna reached after
odd name of "de minimis," a Latin phrase that means, "the law many years of observing municipal politics-
doesn't concern itself with little things." The little things, in this and dealing with a town council who have been
case, turn out to be big things for Canadian small businesses.
less-than-eager to tackle the issues troubling
Under the current rules, companies shipping into Canada do the northern Ontario city. From her vantage
not have to pay duties on shipments costing less than $20-a point, local governments need to do more to
little thing. But if a coalition of U.S. couriers and chain retailers help Main Street retailers. That means setting
gets its way, the $20 ceiling will rise to $200-not a little thing. the right priorities. It also means listening to reSuch a change would be catastrophic, says Wilkes, because it tailers and their advocates about what retailers
would allow U.S. merchants to ship into Canada without paying need to build communities and small business.
taxes. In some cases, U.S. retailers will have a double digit tax
"Retail defines who your community is and we
advantage over Canadian retailers.
need municipalities to embrace and celebrate
"This will have a very strong impact on all retailers, particular- retail," says Petryna, "We need to ask [local govly Main Street retailers," says Wilkes. That's why, he adds, RCC ernments], 'Do you value us?'"
has been working the file so aggressively with representatives in
This is the question RCC is asking, says
Ottawa and the provinces. A decision favouring U.S. businesses Wilkes, and it's demanding an answer. "RCC is
will be, for many retailers, a matter of life and death.
a passionate defender of the retail industry. We
"We're pushing hard against this completely unfair proposal," have government relations staff across the counsays Wilkes.
try making the case for Main Street."

Priorities

"Municipalities: they either come with the attitude that downtown merchants matter to the fabric of the community, or they
don't give a damn."
If you put that on a shirt, credit Diane Petryna, Owner of Take a
Hike, an outdoor lifestyle retailer located in Thunder Bay, Ontario.

www.retailcouncil.org/cdnretailer

For more information about the work that RCC's
Government Relations team are currently working on and how that work will benefit you, visit
www.retailcouncil.org/advocacy

FALL 2016 | CANADIAN RETAILER

| 11

http://www.retailcouncil.org/advocacy http://www.retailcouncil.org/cdnretailer

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016