Dear Premier Holt,

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Running a convenience store is very tough: long hours, small margins, constantly rising costs, and the persistent threat of crime. But we face these challenges because our stores fill a vital role in communities across the province.

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That is why it is so frustrating when governments make decisions that further undermine our business.

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A perfect example of that was the August 2024 decision of the Federal Government to remove nicotine pouches from convenience stores. We are still waiting for an explanation why this was done to us.

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Nicotine pouches are an alternative to cigarettes – and a much safer one. They have become a very a popular smoking cessation option with smokers and provided us a new product line that brought foot traffic back to our stores at a time when illegal cigarette sales have cost us so many customers and have devastated our sector.

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The federal order restricted pouch sales to pharmacies. In other words, the Federal Government forced my customers to go to a pharmacy to buy pouches over coming to their local convenience store. Not only have I lost sales of this very popular new product, but also anything else that customer might have purchased when entering my store. It is extremely unfair and unjustified. Why I am allowed to sell cigarettes, but not nicotine pouches? Why can I sell the most dangerous nicotine product, but not the safest one?

The Alberta government is asking the Federal Government to change course and reverse the ban on convenience stores selling nicotine pouches.

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I ask that your government in New Brunswick echo that demand. Please support our sector and give us a fighting chance against all the challenges we face.