COVID-19: Tools and measures to adapt your business to health standards
Is your business opening to clients again. Montréal would like to inform you of the measures you must follow and tools that are available to you from a variety of organizations to help you adapt your business to the pandemic.
The government of Québec has authorized reopening for all sectors of economic activity except for festivals and large events. To ensure public safety and limit the spread of the virus, a number of measures must be implemented by merchants.
Rules to follow
- Compliance with all health directives is mandatory at all times, including physical distancing of two metres.
- Beginning July 18, 2020, wearing a face covering is mandatory for everyone over age 12 in enclosed public places. This requirement applies to the following types of businesses: retail merchants, service companies, shopping centres, restaurants, bars, movie theatres, concert halls and private professional offices.
Specific measures are in force in bars in order to reduce client traffic and avoid a spike in virus transmission. Learn more
Tools for implementing hygiene standards
Mandatory face covering poster
It is strongly recommended that you put a poster on the main entrance to your business.
CNESST toolkit
The CNESST toolkit for the retail sector includes a hygiene standards guide, quick references, daily checklists and posters. The tools are available in English and French.
Tools offered by the city
We provide a downloadable poster to remind customers who enter your establishment of the main health guidelines they need to follow. We invite you to hang it on your business’s front door.
Adaptation guide for small businesses
This tool, which was designed by Architecture Sans Frontières Québec (ASFQ), offers merchants adaptable, practical and accessible design solutions. The proposed solutions are the result of proven experiments as part of the ASFQ’s city-funded technical support project, Urgence COVID (in French).
Kit developed by the Conseil québécois du commerce de détail
Poster and signage templates to help you enforce sanitary measures in your store are available on the Conseil québécois du commerce de détail (CQCD)’s
Setting up a terrace café
You can still apply to get or renew a permit for a café-terrace. This permit is required. Your clients must comply with all health directives, including physical distancing.
Guidance offered by the city and its partners
Guidance and funding
PME MTL, the support network for Montréal businesses, offers merchants subsidies of up to $10,000 and guidance by a retail expert. The funds can be used to buy and set up equipment to help you implement the new health guidelines, such as plexiglass shields, hygiene stations and signage.
Learn more
Health corridors
Montréal has implemented health corridors on commercial streets in several boroughs. The expanded sidewalks enable pedestrians to get around safely and foster local buying in neighbourhood businesses
View the map
Local support
Certain boroughs and SDCs (Sociétés de développement commercial) have implemented programs to support local purchasing and commercial recovery, as well as initiatives to help business owners adapt to health requirements. Contact your borough or SDC to find out about local support options for business owners.
See the list of SDCs
Information tools
Webinars
Détail Québec and the Conseil québécois du commerce de détail offer merchants a series of free webinars, including some on re-starting business operations.
Learn more
Frequently asked questions
The government of Québec provides answers to questions on the re-opening of retail businesses.
Learn more
Contact us
Didn’t find the information you were looking for?
Contact us Monday to Friday, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., at 514 394-1793.
Businesses can submit their questions by completing an online questionnaire. An economic development advisor from the city will respond as soon as possible, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., from Monday to Friday.
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