CONVENIENCE INDUSTRY COUNCIL OF CANADA- News
CICC / CONVENIENCE INDUSTRY COUNCIL OF CANADA
Virtual Convenience Innovation Awards and Trade Exchange
Following the difficult yet prudent decision to postpone the 2020 National Convenience Industry Summit, CICC is pleased to take our Convenience Innovation Awards and the Trade Exchange virtually.
The Virtual Convenience Innovation Awards will continue as the platform for recognizing top product development in the convenience industry, providing a benchmark for leading innovation. Our Virtual Trade Exchange will carry on the opportunity for vendors to showcase products to and connect with executive and senior level decision makers.
More details to come on how CICC will continue to support networking and recognize innovation to come. Participation is open to CICC members only. For information on the programs and membership, contact info@convenienceindustry.ca
National Convenience Week
More than ever, now is the time to celebrate the stores that have remained open from the start of the pandemic and the frontline store staff that showed up to serve their neighbourhoods. In the spirit of continuing to support our communities, we will again raise funds for Make-A-Wish Canada (formerly Children’s Wish Canada).
Join CICC in celebrating the industry during National Convenience Week –
August 31 to September 4, 2020
More details at:
www.convenienceweek.ca.
Making Your Voice Heard
CICC has continued to work for our members during the phased re-opening of economies across the country. We have been actively engaged with all levels of governments and like-minded associations.
As a result of our tireless efforts and pressure on Ottawa and Ontario, both governments have announced that the enforcement of regulations regarding packaging of vape products has been pushed to the end of 2020. “To undertake the inventory changes prior to July 1 would have posed health and safety risks to store staff,” says Anne Kothawala, CICC President & CEO. “We commend the Federal and Ontario governments for recognizing these risks by delaying the enforcement.”
CICC also applauds the efforts of the Ontario Provincial Police, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Ontario Ministry of Finance, and other enforcement agencies following a bust on contraband tobacco that spanned a number of provinces. During this time when governments are looking to finance COVID-19 response and recovery efforts, “decision-makers should support even greater actions to break up contraband networks that consistently evade taxes,” said Kothawala, also noting the $3.3 million in lost tax revenue for federal and provincial governments resulting from the bust.
Earlier this month, Kothawala made an appearance at British Columbia’s pre-budget consultations. Her presentation focused on increased labour costs as well as personal protection equipment costs, the impact on revenues, and suggestions to provide a better business environment for our channel with more certainty.
In Atlantic Canada, where gas retailers are continuing to feel the effects of the regulated selling price of motor fuel that has rapidly decreased as a result of the pandemic and the global oil price war, CICC is continuing to work closely with the Canadian Independent Petroleum Marketers Association and the Atlantic Convenience Store Association to advocate for financial relief from provincial governments that would enable retailers to partially recover retail gasoline losses.
