Toronto, ON – March 3, 2026 – The Independent Convenience Store Alliance (ICSA) is applauding Premier Danielle Smith and her Minister of Red Tape Reduction Dale Nally for writing Prime Minister Mark Carney yesterday, urging Ottawa to reverse its ban on nicotine pouch sales in convenience stores — and calling on other provincial governments across Canada to follow Alberta’s lead.

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The issue hits close to home for ICSA members. When the federal Ministerial Order dropped in August 2024, the response from Canadians was loud and clear. Consumers and business owners rallied together to submit more than 20,000 letters to the federal government opposing the restrictions — and out of that grassroots movement, the ICSA was born. 

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Since the ban took effect, independent convenience store operators have seen an average loss of more than $75,000 per store annually in gross sales — accounting for both direct and indirect impacts. For small, independent operators, that’s not a rounding error. That’s the difference between staying open and shutting down. 

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And the damage hasn’t been limited to lost sales. The policy simply pushed consumers into online black markets and unauthorized sellers with zero age verification and zero product standards — the opposite of what good public health policy should achieve. 

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“Alberta gets it,” said Hani Al-Shikarchy, Spokesperson for the ICSA. “Licensed store owners have responsibly sold age restricted products for decades under strict provincial frameworks. They check IDs, they follow the rules, and they’ve been punished anyway. Premier Smith and Minister Nally are asking exactly the right question: if retailers can be trusted to sell cigarettes, alcohol and lottery, why are pouches treated differently?”

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The ICSA is now calling on premiers in other provinces to send the same message to Ottawa. Independent retailers in every province are feeling this pain, and the federal government needs to hear it from coast to coast. 

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“Fix the red tape, bring sales back into regulated stores, and protect both small businesses and public health,” added Al-Shikarchy. “Premier Smith and Minister Nally have shown exactly what provincial leadership looks like. We need more of it.” 

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About the ICSA: The Independent Convenience Stores Alliance was founded in 2024 in response to the federal Ministerial Order restricting nicotine pouch sales, following a landmark campaign that generated over 20,000 letters to the federal government from consumers and business owners across Canada. The ICSA advocates for fair regulation and a level playing field for independent convenience store operators nationwide.