Tashi Farmilo
LJI Reporter

Quebec will launch a one-year pilot project this summer allowing non-food retail businesses in
Gatineau, Laval, and Saint-Georges to extend their weekend hours until 8 pm, as the province
seeks to measure the potential benefits of expanded retail hours in an era of shifting consumer
habits and increasing online commerce.

The initiative, announced by Christopher Skeete, Quebec’s Minister for the Economy, will
examine the effects of longer hours on retail competitiveness, consumer patterns, and
employee conditions. The government has indicated that the results of the pilot could inform
broader changes to retail opening hours across the province if successful.

“With the growth of online commerce, the consumer habits of the Quebec population have
changed,” Skeete said. “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.”

The pilot will apply to non-food retail establishments, including boutiques, markets, and general
stores, while food retailers and pharmacies will remain under existing regulations. Gatineau was
chosen for its proximity to Ontario, Laval for its role as a major retail hub, and Saint-Georges for
its representation of regional economies outside Quebec’s larger urban centres.

The plan is part of Quebec’s implementation of Bill 85, adopted in April, which permits the
government to establish pilot projects aimed at reducing regulatory burdens and allowing
businesses greater flexibility in their operations. The law also lifted staffing restrictions for
evening hours in grocery stores and pharmacies, marking a significant shift in a province that
has historically maintained some of the country’s more restrictive retail regulations.

Quebec first permitted Sunday shopping in the 1990s under limited hours and has gradually
expanded those allowances over the decades, though most non-food stores remain confined to
8 am – 5 pm on weekends. The new pilot represents the first structured move toward assessing
extended weekend retail hours across select regions in the province.

Retail groups, including the Retail Council of Canada, have welcomed these measures, arguing
that extended hours and reduced restrictions will support local businesses competing against
online platforms while better serving consumer needs. Some labour organizations, however,
have raised concerns over potential impacts on work-life balance and the conditions of
employees who may face pressure to work additional hours.

The government will release a report following the pilot’s conclusion in mid-2026 to evaluate
whether permanent adjustments to retail opening hours should be implemented across Quebec,
a decision that could reshape the province’s retail landscape in response to evolving consumer
expectations and the demands of a modernized economy.

Photo: Quebec will trial extended weekend hours for non-food retailers in Gatineau, Laval, and

Saint-Georges starting this summer, aiming to test whether longer hours can help local shops

stay competitive amid rising online commerce, with findings potentially shaping province-wide

retail policies. (TF) Photo: Tashi Farmilo