Ontario’s lockdown hasn’t changed the ground rules for big boxes, but Premier Doug Ford has pledged to ensure compliance with public health regulations amid reports of overcrowding.
“I’ve seen the crazy lineups. We need more enforcement at these stores. So we’ll be starting an inspection blitz of big-box stores in the coming days,” he said. “I’m going to come down on them like an 800-pound gorilla.”
The Canadian Federation of Independent Business continues to decry what it considers contradictions in the province’s approach. “It is only … Ontario that has allowed big-box stores to remain open selling non-essential items while shutting down other retailers,” said CEO Dan Kelly.
