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CTV News
03-07-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Gatineau stores will stay open later on weekends under Quebec pilot project
Stores in Gatineau, Que. will be allowed to stay open later on weekends this summer, as part of a pilot project in Quebec to see if extended hours could benefit shoppers and businesses. Like many weekend shoppers, Penelope Baker sometimes finds herself rushing to beat closing time. 'I find Saturdays, you start working on a project at the house, and then you realize at 4 p.m., 'Oh, I really need more flowers. I could use seeds,'' said Baker. Starting later this summer, a pilot project will allow non-food retail stores in Gatineau to stay open until 8 p.m. on weekends rather than closing at 5 p.m. or 6 p.m. Non-food businesses include stores, boutiques, markets and other establishments. 'It's a good idea,' Baker said. 'I like that they're piloting it so they can probably get the feedback and see whether or not it's worthwhile.' 'Happy, I think,' said Kass Wistaff, manager of Boutique Spring in Gatineau. 'Because I don't mind working more.' Gatineau A look inside Les promenades Gatineau. A new Quebec pilot project will allow stores to stay open later on weekends. (Dave Charbonneau/CTV News Ottawa) Inside Boutique Spring, staff say they're open to working longer if it means helping customers. 'I like having my weekends off, but I also like what I do,' Wistaff said. 'I like seeing people. So, more hours is not necessarily a bad thing.' The Retail Council of Canada says what's important is that stores can still close early if they want to. 'It's a voluntary approach,' said Michel Rochette, Quebec president of the Retail Council of Canada. 'So, if as a retailer, you don't have the capacity of having employees or any kind of benefits of opening more, they just won't do it. So, I think it's the right way.' Some shoppers think the change could also help boost employment. 'All the students, they don't have jobs,' said Gatineau resident Dorothy Savoie. 'And a lot of people need a job. So, by being open later, this way, the extra people will be new people. So, the ones that work there can have their weekends off. And the new people, they'll take hours they can.' Others say they're just happy to shop when it's more convenient. 'It would be a good idea because, well, more people are not doing anything on the weekends at night. People work during the week,' said Ellie Lafrance of Gatineau. 'I live like an hour from here,' added Marielle Otis. 'So it's nice to stay till supper and to be able to go in the store after.' And store staff say they've seen the demand firsthand. 'Some pull on my door as soon as we're closed and they want to keep shopping,' said Wistaff. 'So, I think they'd like it.' The one-year pilot project will start in late August or early September. With files from CTV News Montreal's Joe Lofaro
CBC
03-07-2025
- Health
- CBC
Doctors Nova Scotia joins voices opposed to expanding booze sales in N.S.
The Nova Scotia government has wrapped up consultations that will help determine if it will allow alcohol to be sold in more places, including grocery and corner stores. It's a move that Doctors Nova Scotia fears will cause significantly more harm than good. In June, 14 physicians who specialize in addiction medicine wrote an open letter to Finance Minister John Lohr, whose department is overseeing the process, saying alcohol already causes more than 500 deaths a year in Nova Scotia. Now, those doctors have the backing of the provincial organization that advocates for physicians. Dr. Shelly McNeil, president of Doctors Nova Scotia, sent an email to members this week saying they are unequivocally opposed to expanding the availability of alcohol. "We are imploring decision makers to think about it not just in the immediate increase in revenues, but also in the long-term costs in the system," she told CBC News. "There's lots of evidence of the harms that come from this kind of policy shift." Representatives from breweries and wineries say they participated in the consultations. There were submissions from organizations who support the move, including the Retail Council of Canada, which argues that the sales will help stores that are losing business to online shopping. The Canadian Federation of Independent Business is also for the change. It recommends allowing the sale of beverages that do not exceed 7.1 per cent alcohol by volume in convenience and grocery stores and opening those rules to all small businesses, not just large retailers. Ontario expanded alcohol sales to smaller stores last year while setting limits on the volume of alcohol. But McNeil said Ontario's health-care system is already seeing the downside to greater access, referring to a 17 per cent increase in hospital visits connected to alcohol. A similar increase in Nova Scotia would mean 7,600 extra visits to the emergency department a year, she said. "In an already overburdened system, we can't afford to have our emergency volumes go up that much and we can't afford the harms that come to people that lead them to the emergency department." In Nova Scotia, alcohol is sold mainly at NSLC stores, agency stores in rural communities, four private stores in the Halifax area and sites owned by breweries, distilleries and wineries. McNeil said one of her concerns lies with expansion to locations with less regulation, where teens would be more likely to be able to find a way to buy booze. She said research shows alcohol can lead to increased rates of nine cancers, cardiovascular disease and chronic illnesses. She is also worried about societal issues, pointing to intimate partner violence, which politicians in the provincial legislature declared in September 2024 to be an epidemic in Nova Scotia, and drinking and driving. She said Doctors Nova Scotia has been happy with the Progressive Conservative government's work on health care to date but fears a decision in favour of expanding alcohol sales could undermine that work. "We really worry that this will take a bite out of the progress that has been made." McNeil said Doctors Nova Scotia made its submission in writing as part of the consultations, but she's urging policymakers to reach out and speak to physicians directly. The Finance Department said in a statement that it is reviewing input from the consultations and it will determine the next steps. It won't say when Nova Scotians might hear an update.
CBC
01-06-2025
- Business
- CBC
From signs to packaging, new language rules come into effect in Quebec
Social Sharing New rules took effect in Quebec on Sunday requiring French to be the dominant language on store signs and imposing stricter guidelines for product packaging. The changes are part of Quebec's 2022 overhaul of its French-language law, known as Bill 96, which the government said was essential to protect French in the province. The new rules came into force on June 1 despite a request from business groups to extend the deadline for companies to comply. They say businesses haven't been given enough time to make changes that can be onerous and costly. Here are five things to know about the latest language regulations. French must be "markedly predominant" on store signs Under the new rules, French must take up twice as much space as other languages on store signs and commercial advertising. That means stores with English names, like Canadian Tire, Best Buy and Second Cup will have to include generic terms or descriptions in French on their storefronts that take up two thirds of the space devoted to text. Michel Rochette, Quebec president of the Retail Council of Canada, said businesses must ensure they're complying with municipal bylaws and landlords' requirements when changing their storefronts, which can be time-consuming. "They want to comply with the rules. It's not a question of willingness," he said. "It's a question of capacity and authorization." WATCH | What store signs might look like under new Quebec language rules: See how supersized some store signs could get under new Quebec rules 1 year ago Duration 5:17 We dig into the bold draft regulations the government announced in early 2024 as a part of its updated language laws, the costs and signage involved, and the many questions that remain unanswered. But last week, French-language Minister Jean-François Roberge said many companies have already updated their signs, and pointed specifically to food retailer Bulk Barn as being largely in compliance. "It's possible to do it," he said. Product packaging rules have been tightened Labels on product packaging must already be translated into French. But there's an exception for trademarks in other languages, which don't have to be translated. The latest regulations take aim at generic terms sometimes included in trademarks, like "lavender and shea butter" hand soap, for example. Those descriptive terms will now have to be translated as well. This particular rule caused the U.S. government to list Bill 96 as a trade irritant earlier this year. Rochette said if global suppliers choose not to modify their labelling to comply with the rule, Quebec businesses won't be able to stock those products and could lose customers to online retailers. "So this is really frustrating for many of them," he said. Smaller businesses must register with language watchdog Quebec already requires businesses with 50 or more employees to undergo a "francization" process to ensure French is the dominant language in the workplace. That requirement is now being extended to companies with 25 to 49 employees. The businesses must register with Quebec's language watchdog, the Office québecois de la langue française. François Vincent, Quebec vice-president of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, said the majority of small businesses in the province already operate in French. "We're going to ask small entrepreneurs ... to fill out paperwork, only to be told that everything is fine," he said. Fines can reach $30,000 a day Businesses in violation of the new rules can be fined $3,000 to $30,000 per day for a first infraction, and up to $90,000 per day for a third offence. "This can lead to huge fines," Vincent said. However, Roberge has said the language office won't be looking to slap immediate fines on non-compliant businesses, as long as they're taking steps to fix the problem. Business groups asked for more time Rochette and Vincent issued an open letter last week asking for an extension from the Quebec government. They say the province had promised companies would have three years to adapt to the new rules. Bill 96 became law in 2022, but the final version of these regulations was only published in June 2024. The government confirmed Friday that the regulations would take effect on June 1, as planned. "In one year, there's time to do a lot of things," Roberge said earlier in the week. "We are disappointed because we thought it was important to give more time for business owners to comply," said Vincent. "These are complex rules that will create more red tape and more costs for small businesses." Jean-Philippe Mikus, an intellectual property lawyer, said there will likely be legal challenges around the interpretation of the new rules.
National Post
01-06-2025
- Business
- National Post
Quebec's tougher language laws begin for signage, packaging and workplaces
New rules took effect in Quebec on Sunday requiring French to be the dominant language on store signs and imposing stricter guidelines for product packaging. Article content Article content The changes are part of Quebec's 2022 overhaul of its French-language law, known as Bill 96, which the government said was essential to protect French in the province. Article content The new rules came into force on June 1 despite a request from business groups to extend the deadline for companies to comply. They say businesses haven't been given enough time to make changes that can be onerous and costly. Article content Article content Article content Under the new rules, French must take up twice as much space as other languages on store signs and commercial advertising. That means stores with English names, like Canadian Tire, Best Buy and Second Cup will have to include generic terms or descriptions in French on their storefronts that take up two-thirds of the space devoted to text. Michel Rochette, Quebec president of the Retail Council of Canada, said businesses must ensure they're complying with municipal bylaws and landlords' requirements when changing their storefronts, which can be time-consuming. Article content 'They want to comply with the rules. It's not a question of willingness,' he said. 'It's a question of capacity and authorization.' Article content Article content But last week, French-language Minister Jean-Francois Roberge said many companies have already updated their signs, and pointed specifically to food retailer Bulk Barn as being largely in compliance. 'It's possible to do it,' he said. Article content Article content Article content Labels on product packaging must already be translated into French. But there's an exception for trademarks in other languages, which don't have to be translated. Article content The latest regulations take aim at generic terms sometimes included in trademarks, like 'lavender and shea butter' hand soap, for example. Those descriptive terms will now have to be translated as well. Article content Rochette said if global suppliers choose not to modify their labelling to comply with the rule, Quebec businesses won't be able to stock those products and could lose customers to online retailers. 'So this is really frustrating for many of them,' he said.
Yahoo
01-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Five things about Quebec's new language rules for businesses
MONTREAL — New rules took effect in Quebec on Sunday requiring French to be the dominant language on store signs and imposing stricter guidelines for product packaging. The changes are part of Quebec's 2022 overhaul of its French-language law, known as Bill 96, which the government said was essential to protect French in the province. The new rules came into force on June 1 despite a request from business groups to extend the deadline for companies to comply. They say businesses haven't been given enough time to make changes that can be onerous and costly. Here are five things to know about the latest language regulations. French must be "markedly predominant" on store signs Under the new rules, French must take up twice as much space as other languages on store signs and commercial advertising. That means stores with English names, like Canadian Tire, Best Buy and Second Cup will have to include generic terms or descriptions in French on their storefronts that take up two thirds of the space devoted to text. Michel Rochette, Quebec president of the Retail Council of Canada, said businesses must ensure they're complying with municipal bylaws and landlords' requirements when changing their storefronts, which can be time-consuming. 'They want to comply with the rules. It's not a question of willingness,' he said. 'It's a question of capacity and authorization.' But last week, French-language Minister Jean-François Roberge said many companies have already updated their signs, and pointed specifically to food retailer Bulk Barn as being largely in compliance. 'It's possible to do it,' he said. Product packaging rules have been tightened Labels on product packaging must already be translated into French. But there's an exception for trademarks in other languages, which don't have to be translated. The latest regulations take aim at generic terms sometimes included in trademarks, like 'lavender and shea butter' hand soap, for example. Those descriptive terms will now have to be translated as well. This particular rule caused the U.S. government to list Bill 96 as a trade irritant earlier this year. Rochette said if global suppliers choose not to modify their labelling to comply with the rule, Quebec businesses won't be able to stock those products and could lose customers to online retailers. 'So this is really frustrating for many of them,' he said. Smaller businesses must register with language watchdog Quebec already requires businesses with 50 or more employees to undergo a 'francization' process to ensure French is the dominant language in the workplace. That requirement is now being extended to companies with 25 to 49 employees. The businesses must register with Quebec's language watchdog, the Office québécois de la langue française. François Vincent, Quebec vice president of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, said the majority of small businesses in the province already operate in French. 'We're going to ask small entrepreneurs … to fill out paperwork, only to be told that everything is fine,' he said. Fines can reach $30,000 a day Businesses in violation of the new rules can be fined $3,000 to $30,000 per day for a first infraction, and up to $90,000 per day for a third offence. 'This can lead to huge fines,' Vincent said. However, Roberge has said the language office won't be looking to slap immediate fines on non-compliant businesses, as long as they're taking steps to fix the problem. Business groups asked for more time Rochette and Vincent issued an open letter last week asking for an extension from the Quebec government. They say the province had promised companies would have three years to adapt to the new rules. Bill 96 became law in 2022, but the final version of these regulations was only published in June 2024. The government confirmed Friday that the regulations would take effect on June 1, as planned. 'In one year, there's time to do a lot of things,' Roberge said earlier in the week. 'We are disappointed because we thought it was important to give more time for business owners to comply,' said Vincent. 'These are complex rules that will create more red tape and more costs for small businesses.' Jean-Philippe Mikus, an intellectual property lawyer, said there will likely be legal challenges around the interpretation of the new rules. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 1, 2025. Maura Forrest, The Canadian Press
