http://www.retailcouncil.org Notices/Alerts - Retail Council of Canada Copyright 2011, Retail Council of Canada http://www.retailcouncil.org/mediacentre/newsreleases/pr20120515.asp While the cost of reverting back to the PST will be significant and onerous, BC retailers are pleased with the administrative changes introduced in Bill 54 today, say Retail Council of Canada (RCC) and Shelfspace. May 14, 2012 http://members.retailcouncil.org/advocacy/national/issues/finance/notice080512.pdf How this affects you: Check that your equipment is compatible with polymer notes. If your business uses equipment like cash counters, ABMs, self-serve checkouts or vending machines, they may need to be upgraded for polymer notes, or in some cases, replaced. May 8, 2012 http://www.retailcouncil.org/advocacy/que/issues/safety/notice270412.pdf The bill’s main political objective is to extend the occupational health and safety plan to cover domestic workers (a position held by the Conseil du statut de la femme) and to realign the CSST’s governance with contemporary practices. April 27, 2012 http://members.retailcouncil.org/advocacy/pei/issues/finance/login_notice260412.asp Issue: The PEI government tabled its budget on April 18, 2012. The main issue of public interest stemming from the budget was the PEI government’s plan to transition the province to a Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) by April 1, 2013. April 18, 2012 http://www.retailcouncil.org/mediacentre/newsreleases/pr20120424.asp April 24, 2012 (OTTAWA) – Canadian retailers face four significant factors which contribute to differences in retail pricing between Canada and the U.S., Diane J. Brisebois, President and CEO, Retail Council of Canada (RCC) told the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance. April 24, 2012 http://www.retailcouncil.org/mediacentre/newsreleases/pr20120423.asp Toronto, Ont., April 4, 2012 – For Canadian consumers, innovation is in store – the grocery store. Those shelves are filled with examples of ingenuity, led by the finalists for the 19th annual Canadian Grand Prix New Product Awards. April 4, 2012 http://www.retailcouncil.org/mediacentre/newsreleases/pr20120419.asp On the heels of a record $1 billion deficit in 2011, Manitoba Finance Minister Stan Struthers introduced the Selinger Government's fourth consecutive deficit budget. The government is forecasting a $460 million deficit for 2012-13, and will be increasing spending by 3.1 per cent compared to the 2011 budget. Yet the Finance Minister is adamant that the government will return to balanced budgets by 2014. http://www.retailcouncil.org/mediacentre/newsreleases/pr20120419.asp Alberta Retailers responded to a survey conducted by the Retail Council of Canada (RCC) and Shelfspace, highlighting top priorities government and industry to work on after the April 23 election. Labour supply challenges over the long-term, reducing red tape, keeping taxes low, and investments in education, training, and healthcare, were all identified as challenges to be addressed. April 19, 2012 http://www.retailcouncil.org/advocacy/man/issues/industry/notice170412.asp Today the Manitoba government announced it will be reviewing the current restrictions around Sunday shopping in the province. This is a major victory for retailers in Manitoba and a significant change in the government’s previous position. April 17, 2012 http://www.retailcouncil.org/mediacentre/newsreleases/pr20120418.asp Retail Council of Canada (RCC) applauds the Manitoba government’s decision to review the province’s Sunday shopping legislation in order to expand retail hours of operations on Sundays. RCC has been asking for changes to Manitoba’s Retail Businesses Holiday Closing Act that would allow retailers to determine their own hours of business on Sundays to better serve their customers. April 17, 2012 http://www.retailcouncil.org/advocacy/national/issues/finance/notice041312.asp On March 29th, in the Economic Action Plan 2012, the Government announced it will eliminate the penny from Canada’s coinage system. Since that announcement, RCC has heard concerns from members as to how this initiative will be implemented and the need for more detailed information. April 12, 2012 http://www.retailcouncil.org/advocacy/national/issues/elections/2012ElectionAgenda_AB.asp Albertans will be heading to the polls on Monday, April 23 to elect a new provincial government. Accordingly, Retail Council of Canada has released "Retail's Election Agenda in Alberta" outlining the priority items Alberta retailers want the next provincial government to focus on. To view the Alberta edition of "Retail's Election Agenda", please click here to view it or visit: April 9, 2012 http://www.retailcouncil.org/mediacentre/newsreleases/pr20120412.asp Retailers are extremely concerned about the recent federal announcement that will see duty free exemptions rise significantly. Retailers in all parts of Canada who operate in border communities are anxious about the impact the change will have on their businesses and the communities they operate in. April 12, 2012 http://www.newswire.ca/en/story/952399/retail-council-of-canada-honours-bill-mcewan-with-lifetime-achievement-award Retail Council of Canada (RCC) announced today that Bill McEwan, President and Chief Executive Officer of Sobeys Inc., will be honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award. "On behalf of Canada's retail industry, RCC is proud to honour Bill McEwan with a Lifetime Achievement Award," says Diane J. Brisebois, President and CEO, RCC. April 10, 2012 http://members.retailcouncil.org/advocacy/ns/issues/finance/login_notice040912.asp Retail Council of Canada (RCC) is generally supportive of the Nova Scotia budget, released yesterday. RCC will monitor the actions of the Nova Scotia government as it provides greater detail to the broad statements made in yesterday’s budget. (Available en francais: members.retailcouncil.org/advocacy/ns/issues/finance/) April 9, 2012 http://www.retailcouncil.org/mediacentre/newsreleases/pr20120409.pdf Retail capital spending is on the upswing with IT consuming a significant portion of overall investment. International Data Corp Canada (IDC Canada) and Retail Council of Canada (RCC) today announced the results of their first survey of the perspectives of Canadian retail executives’ on Information Technology (IT). April 9, 2012