Canada – Retail and Consumer Issues

What are the typical opening hours for shops in Canada?

Canadian retail trading hours are among the most accommodating of any developed nation, and you are unlikely to struggle to find somewhere open when you need it. That said, trading hours are set at the provincial rather than federal level, which means there can be noticeable variations depending on where you have settled.

Shopping centres typically operate from 10am to 9pm Monday through Saturday, and from 12pm to 6pm on Sundays. Large grocery stores often open earlier — from around 7am or 8am — and stay trading until 9pm or 10pm on weekdays. True 24-hour operations are rare; the most common exceptions are small convenience-style grocery stores and selected Sobeys locations.

Shops do trade on Sundays throughout Canada, though hours and scope vary by store type and province. In contrast to the UK, where large shops are legally limited to six consecutive trading hours on Sundays, most Canadian provinces impose no comparable blanket restrictions. British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and all three territories place no limits whatsoever on Sunday trading — stores may operate on any day without restriction.

Quebec remains the only province with broad year-round regulation of retail hours. The majority of shops — pharmacies and grocery stores aside — must close by 5pm on Saturdays and Sundays. These rules were introduced to protect employees’ work-life balance and to give smaller independent retailers a more level playing field against larger chains. A one-year pilot allowing Quebec stores to extend their weekend hours began in March 2026, so the situation may shift — if you are living in the province, it is worth keeping an eye on local guidance.

Public holiday trading brings yet another layer of regional complexity. In New Brunswick, Newfoundland & Labrador, and Nova Scotia, Canada Day is a mandatory closing day for most retailers. In Toronto, stores are required to close on nine designated public holidays, including New Year’s Day, Good Friday, Easter Sunday, Victoria Day, Canada Day, Labour Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. Because rules vary so significantly from one province to another, it is advisable to check ahead before any public holiday. The Retail Council of Canada publishes a helpful province-by-province guide to holiday trading hours.

What forms of payment are typically accepted in Canada?

Canada is a strongly card-oriented society, and paying by card at the overwhelming majority of retailers presents no difficulty. Familiarising yourself with the local payments landscape — including a number of Canada-specific systems — will help you find your feet quickly as a new arrival.

Credit and debit cards are Canadians’ preferred way to pay. Together, credit cards (33%) and debit cards (30%) accounted for 63% of total payment volume in 2024. Contactless transactions reached 13 billion in 2024 — a rise of 11% on the previous year — representing 58% of all transactions. Visa and Mastercard are accepted at virtually all large retailers; American Express enjoys wide but less universal acceptance, particularly at smaller businesses.

One system that newcomers should make a point of understanding is Interac. Canada places considerable reliance on the Interac network, which covers both debit card payments and electronic money transfers. Interac Debit is the country’s standard domestic debit system — broadly comparable to Maestro in parts of Europe or EFTPOS in Australia — and is accepted at almost every point-of-sale terminal across Canada. Interac e-Transfer is a widely used method of sending money directly from a bank account to individuals, landlords, or small businesses.

The broader Canadian payments landscape encompasses Interac Debit and e-Transfer, Visa and Mastercard, mobile wallets including Apple Pay and Google Pay, PayPal, buy-now-pay-later services, and prepaid cards. A 2024 Interac survey found that 78% of Canadian Gen Z adults had used their smartphones to make a payment. However, fewer than half (49%) of small and medium-sized businesses in retail, restaurant, and services industries accepted mobile payments in 2023, compared with close to 80% that accepted contactless card payments.

Just over half (54.7%) of urban businesses accepted credit cards, versus 42.0% of rural businesses. Urban businesses (41.8%) were similarly more likely to accept debit cards than their rural counterparts (36.7%). Rural businesses, by contrast, were more apt to accept cheques, electronic funds transfers, and cash. If you are relocating to a smaller community or rural area, it is sensible to keep some cash on hand. Farmers’ markets, which remain a vibrant feature of local commerce in many Canadian cities, typically accept cash and sometimes debit or credit cards.

Cash made up 11% of total payment volume in 2024, with an average transaction value of $27. Despite a sustained long-term decline, nearly half (48%) of Canadians still used cash regularly, averaging 3.5 times per week. Tipping is also deeply ingrained in Canadian service culture — workers in the hospitality and service industries commonly depend on gratuities as a meaningful part of their earnings. The standard expectation in restaurants and bars is a tip of around 15–20% for satisfactory service, and similar norms apply in hotels and taxis.

What are the major supermarkets in Canada, and how do they differ?

A small number of large national chains dominate the Canadian grocery landscape, with notable differences in pricing, product range, and regional footprint. Getting to know the major players will help you make informed choices from the moment you arrive.

Loblaw Companies is Canada’s largest food retailer and operates several distinct store formats: Loblaws (mid-range to premium), No Frills (a budget-focused banner comparable to Aldi or Lidl in Europe), Real Canadian Superstore (large-format stores with a value orientation), and Zehrs (a mid-market offering concentrated in Ontario). Loblaw’s widely used PC Optimum loyalty programme rewards shoppers with points redeemable for free groceries across all its banners and at Shoppers Drug Mart pharmacies.

Sobeys Inc., a subsidiary of Empire Company, runs Sobeys (mid-to-premium), IGA (with a particularly strong presence in Quebec), FreshCo (a discount format), and Farm Boy (a premium, farm-fresh concept operating primarily in Ontario). Sobeys’ loyalty scheme is Scene+, developed in partnership with Scotiabank. Metro Inc. rounds out the three dominant national players, with Metro stores occupying the mid-market, Food Basics serving the discount segment, and Super C catering to budget shoppers in Quebec. Metro operates the Moi rewards programme.

Walmart Canada is a major grocery force in most provinces, with particular strength in competitively priced household goods and everyday groceries. Costco runs large warehouse-format stores throughout Canada and requires a paid annual membership (as of 2025, individual membership costs CAD $65 per year; executive membership costs CAD $130 per year — confirm current fees at costco.ca). Costco is especially attractive for families buying in bulk.

Regional and independent chains also hold meaningful market positions. Save-On-Foods and Overwaitea Foods are leading grocers in British Columbia. Provigo serves Quebec shoppers. Premium and organic specialists such as Whole Foods Market — an American-owned chain with locations in major Canadian cities — cater to health-conscious consumers seeking organic, specialty, or imported goods. Alongside these, Walmart, Loblaw, and Costco each command significant shares of the national market.

A voluntary grocery code of conduct covering grocers, suppliers, wholesalers, and primary producers was fully rolled out across Canada in January 2026. The code is designed to foster fair dealings between grocers and their suppliers and to bring greater transparency, predictability, and fairness to the industry. While it primarily regulates business-to-business relationships rather than retail prices, consumers may benefit indirectly through greater innovation and fewer supply gaps.

How popular is online shopping in Canada, and what are the main platforms?

E-commerce is now firmly woven into the fabric of everyday life in Canada, and new residents will find a well-established set of platforms to rely on. Delivery infrastructure is generally robust in urban areas, though residents of rural and remote communities can face longer lead times and higher shipping costs.

E-commerce transactions reached $77 billion in 2024, equivalent to 6% of total retail sales. In any given month, 60% of Canadians completed at least one online purchase. By 2028, the value of online retail is projected to reach $96.7 billion — around 10.5% of all retail sales. This trajectory is broadly comparable to growth rates seen in similar markets such as Australia and the UK.

Amazon.ca is the leading online marketplace, offering an extensive product catalogue with rapid delivery, especially for Prime subscribers. Most of the major supermarket chains — including Loblaws, Sobeys, Metro, and Walmart — provide online grocery ordering with home delivery or click-and-collect options. Instacart also operates in Canada as a same-day grocery delivery intermediary, connecting consumers to multiple retailers. For broader retail, Best Buy Canada, The Bay (Hudson’s Bay Company), Canadian Tire, and Staples all maintain strong online presences.

One significant consideration for expats who continue to order from retailers outside Canada is the country’s customs and duties framework. Goods imported for personal use from abroad may attract import duties and GST/HST at the border. The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) applies a de minimis threshold below which some duties are waived — consult the current threshold at cbsa-asfc.gc.ca, as figures are subject to change. Orders arriving via courier rather than standard post may also incur brokerage fees on top of any applicable duties, which can add substantially to the final cost.

Delivery timelines within Canada depend heavily on location. Residents of major urban centres — Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Calgary, and Ottawa — can typically expect same-day or next-day delivery from leading platforms. Those living in more remote areas, especially northern communities, may encounter significantly longer delivery windows and elevated shipping charges, and some retailers simply do not service certain postal codes. Always confirm delivery availability before finalising a purchase if you are based outside a major city.

Are there shops or products in Canada catering specifically to expats or international tastes?

Canada’s deeply multicultural character means that tracking down international and imported foods is considerably easier here than in many other countries. Major cities are especially well catered for, with dedicated international food districts a defining feature of urban life across the country.

In Toronto, neighbourhoods including Chinatown, Little Italy, Little Portugal, Greektown, Little India (centred on Gerrard Street East), and the Korean commercial strip along Bloor Street West all host specialist grocery stores, butchers, and bakeries serving their respective communities. Kensington Market is a celebrated destination for diverse, independently run food vendors. Vancouver has a rich concentration of East and Southeast Asian supermarkets — among them T&T Supermarket, a large chain specialising in Asian groceries — as well as Latin American and South Asian food shops in neighbourhoods such as Commercial Drive and Surrey. Montreal has a long tradition of European and Middle Eastern specialty food retailing, with Lebanese, Greek, and Vietnamese food stores well represented across the city.

T&T Supermarket (a Loblaw subsidiary) ranks among the largest Asian supermarket chains in the country, with outlets in British Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario. It carries a wide selection of East Asian, Southeast Asian, and South Asian products — including fresh produce, seafood, noodles, condiments, and snacks — that can be difficult to source through standard supermarket channels. Nations Fresh Foods and Oceans Fresh Food Market are other well-regarded multicultural grocery chains, known for their halal meat sections and broad range of Caribbean, African, and South Asian products.

Middle Eastern and South Asian grocery stores are particularly plentiful in cities such as Toronto, Edmonton, Calgary, and Ottawa. Specialty spices, lentils, rice varieties, flatbreads, and halal-certified meats are widely available across these cities. Latin American products — including arepas, plantains, specific chilli varieties, and empanada wrappers — can generally be found in dedicated stores or well-stocked multicultural supermarkets in larger centres, though availability tends to be more limited in smaller communities.

International retail brands with a Canadian presence include IKEA, H&M, Zara, Uniqlo, Sephora, and Apple. Some retailers familiar to shoppers from Europe or Australia may not operate in Canada, but their Canadian counterparts are generally well established and easy to find. Shoppers Drug Mart (owned by Loblaw) is Canada’s leading pharmacy and beauty retailer — broadly equivalent to Boots in the UK or Priceline in Australia.

What are your rights as a consumer in Canada?

Consumer protection in Canada is a shared responsibility split between the federal government and individual provinces and territories. This means the protections available to you will depend in part on where you live — a notable distinction from jurisdictions such as the European Union, where a more harmonised framework applies.

At the federal level, the Competition Act prohibits misleading advertising, deceptive marketing practices, and anti-competitive conduct by retailers. The Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA) sets out product safety requirements, governs recalls, and bans the sale of recalled goods. The Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) — or its provincial equivalents — protects your personal data in commercial transactions. Enforcement of these federal laws falls to the Office of Consumer Affairs (OCA) and the Competition Bureau Canada.

At the provincial level, each jurisdiction maintains its own consumer protection legislation. Ontario’s Consumer Protection Act, 2002 addresses unfair practices, internet agreements, and time-share contracts. British Columbia’s Business Practices and Consumer Protection Act covers deceptive acts, unsolicited goods, and distance sales contracts. In January 2025, Quebec amended its Consumer Protection Act to raise administrative penalties for non-compliance and introduced a new “warranty of good working order” applicable to specified appliances and electronics, with those provisions set to take effect in 2026.

On the matter of refunds and returns, the Canadian approach differs markedly from many other countries. Unlike EU consumer law — which provides a statutory minimum two-year warranty on goods — Canada has no single national statutory return or refund period. Each retailer determines its own return policy, and while most major chains offer 30- to 90-day windows, there is no legal obligation for a retailer to accept a return on a product that is simply unwanted. That said, if a product is defective or does not match its description, both federal and provincial law provide rights to seek a remedy — which may include a refund, repair, or replacement. It is worth checking a retailer’s return policy before purchasing, especially for higher-value items.

For purchases made online, provincial consumer protection laws generally include dedicated protections for internet agreements. In Ontario, for instance, online transactions exceeding $50 are covered under the Consumer Protection Act. Comparable protections exist across other provinces and typically include rights to cancel contracts where required disclosure was not made. Because legislation changes regularly, always verify the current provisions with your province’s consumer affairs office.

Which organisations protect consumers in Canada, and how can you contact them?

Whether your concern involves a faulty product, a deceptive advertisement, or an unfair commercial practice, Canada has a range of official bodies you can turn to. Knowing which organisation handles which type of issue will save you time and effort.

• Office of Consumer Affairs (OCA) — Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)
  The federal government’s primary consumer information and policy body. It provides guidance on consumer rights, refund entitlements, safe online shopping, and financial products. While OCA does not handle individual complaints directly, it serves as an authoritative source of consumer information and can direct you to the right provincial bodies.
  Website: ised-isde.canada.ca/site/office-consumer-affairs/en
• Competition Bureau Canada
  An independent federal law enforcement agency that works to ensure businesses and consumers alike can participate in a fair and competitive marketplace. It investigates deceptive marketing, price-fixing, and misleading advertising, and consumers can submit complaints directly through its online portal.
  Website: canada.ca/en/competition-bureau
• Canadian Consumer Handbook (Canada.ca)
  A practical federal resource covering a broad range of consumer subjects, from food labelling and product recalls to fraud prevention and how to resolve disputes. It is an excellent first stop for expats who are new to the Canadian system.
  Website: canada.ca/en/consumer-affairs
• Provincial and territorial consumer protection offices
  Since consumer protection is largely a provincial matter, the ministry responsible for consumer affairs in your province is often the most relevant body for individual complaints about retailers, contracts, or unfair commercial practices. Examples include:
  • Consumer Protection Ontario — Ontario
  • Consumer Protection BC — British Columbia
  • Office de la protection du consommateur — Quebec
  • Service Alberta — Consumer Protection — Alberta
• Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC)
  A joint operation of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and the Competition Bureau, the CAFC accepts reports of fraud and cybercrime, including online shopping scams and identity theft. If you believe you have been the victim of retail fraud, this is where to report it.
  Website: antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca
• Better Business Bureau (BBB) — Canada
  A non-governmental organisation that enables consumers to research businesses, file complaints, and seek dispute resolution. Though not a government body, it is widely recognised and can facilitate mediation between consumers and businesses.
  Website: bbb.org/ca
• Office of the Grocery Sector Code of Conduct (OGSCC)
  The grocery code is overseen by this body, which administers trade rules, a governance model, and a dispute resolution and adjudication process. It primarily handles industry-level disputes rather than individual consumer complaints, but is relevant for understanding the regulatory environment surrounding the grocery sector.
  For information, visit: grocerycode.ca

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to pay GST/HST on top of the shelf price when shopping in Canada?

Yes. Unlike in many countries where tax is built into the displayed price, Canadian retailers add Goods and Services Tax (GST) — or, in provinces that have combined their sales taxes, Harmonised Sales Tax (HST) — at the checkout. Provincial Sales Tax (PST) is also levied separately in certain provinces. The total rate differs by province: Ontario, for example, charges 13% HST, while Alberta applies only 5% GST with no provincial sales tax on top. As a general rule, always allow for tax when budgeting, as it is not reflected in shelf prices.

Is there a statutory minimum return period if I change my mind about a purchase?

No. Canada has no national legislation requiring retailers to accept returns on goods that a customer simply no longer wants. Each retailer establishes its own return policy; most major chains provide 30- to 90-day windows with proof of purchase, but you should always review the policy before buying — particularly for electronics, clothing, and sale items. Your rights are considerably stronger if the item is defective or was described inaccurately at the point of sale.

Can I use foreign-issued bank cards in Canada?

Yes, the majority of Canadian merchants accept internationally issued Visa and Mastercard debit and credit cards, though foreign transaction fees and currency conversion charges from your bank may apply. American Express is accepted at many retailers but not universally, particularly at smaller businesses. Bear in mind that Canada’s domestic debit system — Interac — differs from international networks; your overseas card will generally work via Visa or Mastercard networks at ATMs and most terminals, but may not function on Interac-only terminals found at some smaller retailers.

Are there any restrictions on what goods I can import for personal use when shopping from overseas?

Yes. Items ordered from international retailers and shipped to Canada may be subject to import duties, GST/HST, and brokerage fees upon arrival. The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) sets a de minimis threshold below which certain duties may be waived — check the current amount at cbsa-asfc.gc.ca, as it can change. Specific categories such as alcohol, tobacco, food products, and plants are subject to additional import controls and may require permits before being allowed into the country.

What should I do if a product I bought is recalled?

Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) publish recall notices on their respective websites. If you own a recalled product, stop using it immediately and follow the instructions in the recall notice, which will typically advise on returning it to the retailer for a refund or disposing of it safely. Under the Consumer Product Safety Act, it is illegal to resell or give away a recalled product. You can register for Health Canada recall alerts at canada.ca.

Is tipping mandatory in Canada?

Tipping is not a legal requirement, but it is a firmly established social norm in Canada, especially in restaurants, bars, taxis, and personal service settings. Most point-of-sale terminals will prompt you to select a tip amount, with suggestions commonly ranging from 15% to 25% in restaurants. While declining to tip carries no legal consequence, it is widely regarded as poor etiquette in service environments where gratuities form a significant portion of workers’ earnings.

How do I find specialist international food shops in my city?

Canada’s major cities contain distinct ethnic neighbourhoods and a wide variety of multicultural grocery stores. T&T Supermarket is a strong starting point for Asian food products, while Nations Fresh Foods and Oceans Fresh Food Market stock broad selections of Caribbean, South Asian, Middle Eastern, and African goods. Reaching out to local community associations — such as Filipino, Iranian, or Brazilian community groups — often yields practical recommendations for specialist retailers in your area. Online directories and expat community forums can also point you in the right direction.

What is Interac and do I need it?

Interac is Canada’s domestic payment network, supporting both point-of-sale debit card transactions and person-to-person money transfers known as Interac e-Transfer. Virtually every Canadian bank account comes with Interac functionality built in, and the network is accepted at almost every retailer across the country. Once you open a Canadian bank account as a new resident, you will automatically gain access to Interac — it is the primary mechanism through which Canadians pay by debit and transfer money to one another.