Retail Council Applauds Government's Plan to Tackle Canada U.S. Price Differences and Credit Card Costs

TORONTO, Feb. 11, 2014 /CNW/ - Retail Council of Canada (RCC) congratulates the Federal Government for proposing measures in Budget 2014 that will take another bite out of price differences between Canada and the U.S. and deal head-on with spiraling credit card acceptance costs.

"RCC is encouraged by the government's recognition of the problem of runaway credit card acceptance costs," says Diane J. Brisebois, President and CEO of Retail Council of Canada. "Having been the leading association in calling for these costs to be reduced, RCC is heartened to see the government's specific language committing to help lower credit card acceptance costs. This is a $5 billion+ issue for Canadian retailers and consumers and one that has been particular debilitating for our independent merchants. Today's budget is clear evidence that the government is moving in the right direction."

RCC also applauds the government's intention to address the practice of certain manufacturers whose Canadian distributors and wholesalers charge more than their U.S. counterparts. "We have identified, for example, possible amendments to the Competition and Copyright Acts that could facilitate parallel imports, thereby leading to lower prices for Canadian retailers and consumers alike," says Brisebois.

"All in all, this is a very good budget for Canadian retailers," concluded Ms. Brisebois. "The Government has outlined significant commitments that will have a meaningful impact on Canadian consumers and reflect the retailer's long standing concerns in both these areas."

Canadians can be assured that retailers will continue to strive to provide consumers with the best products at the best possible price. RCC is looking forward to working with the government on defining specifics to address these issues.

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

For further information:

Sharon Armstrong
Retail Council of Canada
[e-mail]
416.574.2552