Ontario PCs Announce Beer and Wine for Convenience Stores if Elected
Dave Bryans (CEO of the OCSA) met with Doug Ford last week and Mr Ford said …’ Dave, help is on way for small business and I am going to give your channel beer very shortly’ and he made the announcement on Friday. Backgrounder – Modernize Beer and Wine Sales Alcohol reform is something long […]
Summary of OCSA Conversation with Ministry of Small Business
The OCSA recently spoke at Queen’s Park to lobby on behalf of small businesses across the province. We were pleased to discuss some of the most pertinent issues facing our sector with Ontario’s small business minister Jeff Leal. Below is a letter that we received back from the Ministry, recapping the conversation. Dear Mr. Bryans: […]
Protecting The Cannabis-Associated Product Market
As Ontario prepares for the launch of Ontario Cannabis Stores across the province, we have been vocal about protecting the interests of convenience stores that sell cannabis-related products. The OCSA is of the belief that allowing exclusively licensed Ontario Cannabis Stores to also sell these secondary products would be unfair to small businesses who already […]
Menu Labelling: Questions and Answers
The intent of the Healthy Menu Choices Act, 2015 (HMCA) is to provide Ontarians with calorie information relating to standard food and drink items, when they eat out at, or order in from, regulated food service premises. Minister-appointed inspectors are responsible for inspecting regulated food service premises and enforcing compliance with the HMCA and its […]
OCSA Responds to Ontario Budget; Calls for Comprehensive Plan to Address Illegal Tobacco Market
TORONTO, April 28th, 2017 /CNW/ – The Ontario Convenience Stores Association (OCSA) was disappointed that the recent Ontario budget did not include a comprehensive, holistic solution to the growing threat of illegal tobacco. While the government did announce an increase to the tobacco tax, this increase is just a band aid – while the legal […]
New challenges bring new opportunity for industry
The convenience store industry is rapidly changing, with unexpected competitors emerging daily and technological advancements front and centre. Speaking to a sold-out audience at this year’s Race Is On Gala, 7-Eleven Canada’s Doug Rosencrans spoke about how now more than ever, retailers need to be flexible and resilient in order to navigate the new conditions, […]
Industry issues worth discussing as election nears
Ontario is now heading into an election to decide the political party that will lead us over next four years. The last few years have been a rough ride for small businesses through the province and the convenience store industry has seen many new challenges, downloaded costs and disappointments. The OCSA is not endorsing any […]
Youth Job Connection to help offset wage increase
An increase to the provincial minimum wage presents a challenge for small businesses in Ontario. Fortunately, there are government incentives like the Youth Job Connection program that can help offset these costs. One such incentive involves hiring young workers. Here’s some guidance should you wish to participate in one of these employment programs and reap […]
The Faces of Responsible Retailing
We are proud of the many members we have at the OCSA and here are the faces of a few of the convenience store retailers who put in long hours to serve the 3 million people who come through our stores every day.
Changes Coming To Smoke-Free Ontario Act
Changes to the Smoke-Free Ontario Act are on the way. The new piece of legislature will regulate the sale, supply, use, display and promotion of both tobacco and vapour products while also regulating the smoking and vaping of medical cannabis. Furthermore, the comprehensive Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017 will replace the previous Smoke-Free Ontario Act as […]