The Canadian Health Food Association (CHFA) says natural health food stores should be considered essential services, like grocery stores and pharmacies. To that end, it has reached out to government authorities at the Federal and provinical levels about its position.
In a letter sent to governments across the country, Dan Demers, vice president, goverment relations and regulatory affairs, notes that CHFA’s “health food store members, which are located in large and small communities across your province, want to remain open through this extraordinary period to support your government’s efforts to protect and promote the health and safety of all Canadians.”
Demers says that “many of these retail outlets are small, independent shops that offer food, personal hygiene products, water and many other health and wellness products many Canadians deem essential. We have already seen an increase in consumers coming into stores to purchase products that will help keep them healthy. As such, we are seeking confirmation that local health food stores within communities across the province will be deemed essential and can continue to operate if, or when, further closures become mandatory.”
