Retailers concerned with Ontario Spending Budget

TORONTO, May 1, 2014 /CNW/ - Retail Council of Canada (RCC) is concerned that the Government of Ontario's budget released today places yet another burden on business to pay for government-mandated programs.

"Retailers understand the need for Canadians to have adequate income levels in retirement," says Diane J. Brisebois, President and CEO of Retail Council of Canada. "The level of retirees' incomes affects the overall economy and of course - determines people's abilities to buy goods from our members," continued Brisebois.

"However there is a limit to the cumulative impact that retailers and other businesses in this province should be expected to pay.   We are about to have the highest minimum wage in the country, we already have the 2^nd highest WSIB rates and now, a new provincial retirement pension plan.  This is yet another raid on employers to pay for government-mandated programs."

RCC is however pleased the Government of Ontario listened to retailers' concerns on new revenue tools to fund infrastructure.

"RCC had been opposed to proposed plans to introduce new revenue tools to pay for investments in transport and transit infrastructure that would have been unfairly targeted at retailers," said Brisebois.  "We applaud the government's balanced approach to reinvesting in the infrastructure of this province to support the movement of goods and people that is vital to a healthy economy."

Retail Council of Canada (www.retailcouncil.org) is the Voice of Retail. Founded in 1963, RCC is a not-for-profit association which represents more than 45,000 stores of all retail formats, including department, grocery, independent merchants, regional and national specialty chains, and online merchants.

SOURCE: Retail Council of Canada

Sharon Armstrong
Retail Council of Canada
[email protected]
416.574.2552