Quebec to test extended weekend retail hours in bid to bolster local competitiveness

Tashi Farmilo

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.