Ontario and Quebec have responded to the newest wave of COVID-19 cases with fresh restrictions, some affecting retailers. In Quebec, Sunday closure is mandatory for all stores other than pharmacies, convenience stores, and gas stations. At all times, in-store capacity is limited to 50 percent.
Ontario adopted the same capacity limit before Christmas. Thanks to negotiating by the Retail Council of Canada, capacity is calculated differently than in previous phases of reopening. It is now based on the fire code’s occupancy maximums. The council says this should allow retailers “a significantly higher in-store capacity” than the old “sales floor less fixtures” model.
