Dave Bryans Retirement
Dave Bryans, who has dedicated 20 years of service to the Ontario Convenience Stores Association (OCSA) has decided to retire. Dave has been an integral part of our team and has contributed significantly to the success and growth of our organization and its independent convenience store members. During his tenure, Dave has demonstrated unwavering dedication, […]
Bait and Switch Scam of Folded Tickets – OLG
Description of Scam • A customer asks to purchase a folded ticket such as CROSSWORD DELUXE. • What you can’t see is they already have a scratched, non-winning ticket with them, hidden under something like a newspaper. • The customer knows it is non-winning because they have scratched off the YOUR LETTERS area of the […]
Merry Millions $20 Ticket
The OLG has a new online game called Merry Millions starting November 21st to January 9th. Here are the highlights: MERRY MILLIONS is a retail-only Lotto game produced on the Lottery Terminal. The Main Draw on January 9, 2024 features three $1 Million top prizes plus additional prizes. All prizes are guaranteed to be won. All winning […]
Ontario Vaping Tax
Ontario is poised to implement an increase in the cost of vaping products through the introduction of a provincial excise duty, as outlined in the recent fall economic statement by Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy. The proposed tax measure will effectively augment the existing federal duty rates, resulting in a significant rise in the tax on […]
Ontario Preparing for an Open Beverage Alcohol Market
Since 1923 beer sales have been controlled by The Beer Store in Ontario and this has been blessed, renewed and authorized by successive governments. The OCSA has been working with the current Ontario government to open the market to allow beer sales in convenience stores as we see throughout North America, Quebec and Newfoundland. The […]
Contraband Tobacco needs a Refocus by the Ontario Government
Ernst & Young (E&Y) recently released their report where they examined the downward trend in legal tobacco sales in three provinces since 2019 (BC, Newfoundland, and Ontario) compared with the rising growth in the underground contraband tobacco market. Let’s not be fooled as contraband is at record numbers in basically all provinces in Canada. “Illegal […]
OLG’s $100 Ultimate Instant Ticket Launches October 2nd
$100 ULTIMATE is back with Instant wins, a Draw and your best chance to win $1 MILLION! Top Prizes 10 instant prizes of $100,000 40 top prizes of $1 Million to be drawn on January 4, 2024 Limited Edition On sale only from October 2, 2023 to January 4, 2024 Key Features Now with 7 […]
CEBA Repayment Extension – Important Update
On September 14, 2023, the Prime Minister made a significant announcement regarding CEBA loans, offering vital support to small businesses and not-for-profit organizations. Here are the key details: Extended Deadlines: 1. Partial Loan Forgiveness – pay back $40,000 of the $60,000 borrowed The repayment deadline for CEBA loans, allowing for partial loan forgiveness of up […]
Ontario Minimum Wage Increase – October 1 2023
Effective October 1, 2023, minimum wage rates in Ontario have increased. General minimum wage is $16.55 per hour. There are different rates for students and other areas of specialty. When the minimum wage changes The minimum wage rates are subject to annual indexation based on the rate of inflation. If that rate is changed, the […]
Convenience Store Week 2023
The OCSA would like to thank all of the retailers who participated in Ontario Convenience Store Week. We appreciate the dedication and the hard work that all of the local stores do for their community. We would also like to thank the millions of customers who walk through our doors everyday – Thank you! We […]