Retail Council of Canada relieved by commercial tenant eviction moratoriums

TORONTO, June 5, 2020 /CNW/ - Retail Council of Canada (RCC) applauds the governments of Alberta and Saskatchewan for listening and responding to the needs of small and medium sized retail businesses with today's announcements of moratoriums on commercial tenant evictions.

Rent relief remains a priority issue for RCC as retailers of all sizes with severely reduced revenues have no ability to pay their rent.  With many landlords across the county choosing to ignore the involuntary nature of the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA) program, store closures are inevitable. 

Over 225,000 Albertans and 68,000 Saskatchewanians worked in retail stores in 2019. That's why the Alberta and Saskatchewan moratoriums on commercial rent evictions are such important investments into the provinces' economic futures.

"We are grateful to the Alberta and Saskatchewan governments for their swift action in helping Alberta's 17,500 and Saskatchewan's 4,900 retail businesses continue to survive and operate during these extraordinary times," said Diane J. Brisebois, President & CEO, Retail Council of Canada. "Eliminating the fear and threat of eviction over unpaid rent allows business to focus on their recovery. We encourage all provinces to follow suit in enacting a similar moratorium in the interests of retailers across the country."

About Retail Council of Canada
Retail is Canada's largest employer with 2.1 million Canadians working in our industry. The sector annually generates over $76 billion in wages and employee benefits. Core retail sales (excluding vehicles and gasoline) were $377 billion in 2019. Retail Council of Canada (RCC) members represent more than two thirds of retail sales in the country. RCC is a not-for-profit, industry-funded association that represents small, medium and large retail businesses in every community across the country. As the Voice of Retailtm in Canada, we proudly represent more than 45,000 storefronts in all retail formats, including department, grocery, specialty, discount, independent retailers and online merchants. www.RetailCouncil.org

SOURCE Retail Council of Canada