New branches | The SQDC is not welcome everywhere

The Quebec Cannabis Society (SQDC) will blow its seven candles this fall. Although it has been able to impose itself in the landscape with the opening of more than a hundred branches, the Crown Company remains persona non grata in some places.

The SQDC stores have evolved since the first versions that date back to October 2018. During the last year, the Crown corporation wanted to get out of its conventional branch model characterized by a long counter behind which employees and product shelves are held. Open area, free traffic and small branches are now part of the plans.

Although it has modernized its image, the SQDC still stumbles to resistance in certain cities or municipalities. They are the ones who deliver the permits allowing a branch to open. “It is clear that when we plan to arrive in an SQDC in a sector, it is not always well understood by both the competent authorities and sometimes also by the locators,” recognizes Alexander Bove, director of real estate at the SQDC. So, again to this day, we really have a great awareness work to do to make our mission understand. »»

To preserve his relations with the various municipal authorities and not to harm the negotiations, Mr. Bove did not want to comment on a particular case.

“There are certain places where we are well received, therefore welcomed,” he adds. There are other municipalities which are reluctant to welcome us. We are ready to face everything. We are ready to work with these stakeholders there, regardless of their vision or their perception of the SQDC. »»

In addition to having to comply with rules concerning the distance to be observed between a store and an educational establishment (at least 150 meters in Montreal, 250 meters elsewhere in Quebec), the Crown company seeks, when possible, to settle in a commercial center.

“For a retail, the location is very important,” says Alexander Bove. So for us too. We want to be in a place that is very visible. A commercial center where there is a lot of traffic. We have to be accessible for consumers. »»

Aborted projects

But these criteria sometimes ensure that projects cannot be carried out. Last year, the city of Saguenay refused that the SQDC will move its branch in rue Racine, an important commercial artery of the borough of Chicoutimi.

“During the meeting [du conseil d’arrondissement de Chicoutimi]several traders came to testify and shared their concerns, in particular as to the significant traffic that the branch could cause and the lack of parking spaces, “read in an article published on the Radio-Canada site on June 18, 2024.

According to the minutes of the meeting of the district council consulted by The pressthe request for a moving authorization has been refused by the majority. Only a counselor said he was favorable. The proximity of a park, a library and offices of the Rives-du-Saguenay school service center was also part of the arguments to oppose the project.

In the Outremont district in Montreal, the SQDC could not open a branch in 2022 on avenue Van Horne, opposite the Outremont metro station. “This measure was supported by a petition signed by more than 2000 people, recalled by email Amélie Cliche, director of cabinet at the town hall of Outremont. The arguments were that there were schools nearby and already four SQDCs within a radius of 1.5 km and that the SQDC promised the delivery of their products the same day. »»

Since then, no other approach has been undertaken for the establishment of a branch elsewhere on the territory of Outremont, have confirmed the arrondissement and the state -owned company.

Donnacona’s happy example

Sometimes the story ends well for the SQDC, wanted to specify Alexander Bove. He quotes the case of Donnacona, a city located in the MRC of Portneuf, near Quebec, where an SQDC was opened last summer.

“The mayor asked us if it was possible to come and spend a moment with us in branches to explain the mission of the SQDC more. And there is a publication that was made on social networks to immortalize that moment. »»

Usually, the steps leading to the opening of a branch take a year … if everything is going well.