Cigarette Shops to Re-open Monday in Kahnawà:ke
Written by Paul Graif on 29 May 2020
Phase 1 of business being allowed to reopen is on Monday. But one major industry was having some doubts in recent days.
The tobacco Industry in Kahnawà:ke is huge with approximately 100 points of sale businesses on the territory. About 80 owners from the cigarette shops and from the manufacturing side met for an hour on Friday afternoon in an empty storage building on Highway 207 at the A-30. Several owners had expressed a desire to wait another week before opening their doors.
Peter Delormier is one of the store owners:
“It wasn’t unanimous, but we decide to open June 1st amid the stories about how the numbers in Montreal keep climbing and that’s where most of our customers come from. So that’s where the fear is, bringing these people into Kahnawà:ke. But, like everybody says, the show must go on, right.”
The vote appeared to be about 60 in favour and 20 against. However, since the majority voted to re-open, they all now plan to be ready for the coming Monday morning, at least once they pass inspection for the safety protocols.
Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke Chief Frank McComber was on hand for the first 10 minutes of the meeting to answer some questions from a Task Force perspective.
“So, the question was asked, does the Task Force believe it’s okay to open businesses in Kahnawà:ke. It’s been very clear in the last week or so that the Task Force says that the community is ready, they felt like they gave enough information, enough time, the inspectors have been going to many stores so that they can reopen and to follow all the new norms, new regulations in-place for health and safety.”
Kahnawà:ke Peacekeeper Chief Dwayne Zacharie says that regardless if the cigarette stores decide to open or not, his force will stop giving out fines to outsiders coming in to Kahnawà:ke for commercial purposes as of Monday.
