If you've ever tried to squeeze in a bit of shopping on a Sunday evening in Quebec, you've likely hit a wall — literally. Most stores close by 5 p.m., leaving weekend nights a retail dead zone. But that's about to change in three regions of the province.
Starting in October, a new one-year pilot project from the Quebec government will allow non-food businesses in Laval, Gatineau, and Saint-Georges-de-Beauce to stay open until 8 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. It's part of a broader effort to make Quebec's retail sector more competitive and better aligned with modern consumer habits.
"With the growth of online commerce, the consumer habits of the Quebec population have changed," said Christopher Skeete, Minister for the Economy and the Laval region, in a news release. "To remain competitive, our commercial establishments must be able to adapt their opening hours and days of access to welcome more consumers who are keen to buy Quebec products. With these pilot projects, our government is evaluating a new solution to offer our local businesses a business environment that is among the most stimulating and conducive to their success."
Each city was chosen for a specific reason: Gatineau for its proximity to Ontario, Laval for its urban retail strength, and Saint-Georges to represent more remote regions. The extended hours are voluntary, and food retailers like grocery stores and pharmacies aren't affected, since they already operate under different rules.
Currently, most stores across Quebec are only allowed to be open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays, and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends. The pilot pushes weekend closing time by three more hours.
The provincial government says it plans to publish a report at the end of the trial period to evaluate whether the change should be made permanent — and possibly extended across Quebec.
This story was adapted from the article "Les magasins de ces 3 régions du Québec seront ouverts jusqu'à 20 h la fin de semaine" which was originally published on Narcity Quebec.
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