Will a bomb fall on the main street of Rimouski? The upcoming arrival of a Costco in town is raising fears for local commerce and fueling opposition from part of the population, who see the American Goliath as a symbol of overconsumption and a threat to the vitality of local commerce. .
After more than 10 years of efforts, the retail giant is preparing to plant its banner in Bas-Saint-Laurent. The American company recently signed a letter of intent to acquire two plots of land in the Rimouski industrial park. The municipal council approved their sale almost unanimously on December 18; construction is scheduled to begin this spring with a view to opening in 2025.
The arrival of the colossus Costco, which boasts more than 10 million members and annual sales of around $25 billion in Canada, brings joy to many. Others, however, are afraid that the giant which is about to set foot in Rimouski will trample regional trade.
“I really fear that competing businesses and jobs, not only [de Rimouski, mais] of Matane, Mont-Joli, Amqui and Rimouski, are cannibalized by the presence of a Costco,” indicated the only dissident elected official of the municipal council, Philippe Cousineau Morin. The representative of the Saint-Germain district, located in downtown Rimouski, fears “a major upheaval in the commercial fabric”.
“What I deplore is the regional centralization of trade,” he explains to Duty. I come from outside and I experienced it, “the bomb on the main street”, when I lived further away. We need to ask ourselves: are all types of economic development good? »
The 10 municipal councilors who voted in favor of the sale of the two lots to Costco say they are “aware” of the possible consequences of the arrival of the giant on local businesses in Rimouski, but also of the repercussions on the tax base of the city. City. “There is a tax bill that will follow,” explained Councilor Cécilia Michaud. According to her, Costco covets eastern Quebec and will establish itself there, whether in Rimouski or elsewhere. “There is a chance that if we refuse him, he will move to the neighbor’s land. We prefer having it in our yard. »
The former mayor of Rimouski, Marc Parent, estimated in 2020 the tax impact of a Costco hypermarket on municipal finances at $300,000 per year.
Others see the large American banner as a symbol of overconsumption contrary to the climate emergency declaration adopted by Rimouski in 2018. “It’s not just a Costco,” explained a citizen during the session on December 18. . “It’s part of an economic landscape that is taking over life on Earth. »
The same rules for everyone
In the city center, the upcoming appearance of a Costco southeast of Rimouski arouses measured apprehension. “It would be hypocritical to say that it will have no impact,” says Geneviève Gagnon, co-owner of the Vénus bookstore, which is located in the heart of Rimouski. “I think, however, that Costco will mainly attract people who would not come downtown anyway. »
The bookseller believes she can count on a clientele who will remain loyal to her despite the arrival of the retail giant. “Of course we can’t match the prices Costco offers at all,” she adds. “On the other hand, he offers piles of books: there is no service, no advice. »
The Rimouski-Neigette Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIRN) is not overly worried about the arrival of Costco either — provided that the rules of the game are the same for everyone. “There must be no competitive advantage granted to it,” says its general director, Jean-Nicolas Marchand. “That means no preferential price for the land, and no tax holiday. »
The mayor of Rimouski, Guy Caron, assures us: Costco will pay at least the market value of the two lots, valued at $3.4 million, and will not benefit from any tax relief.
The fact remains that the American giant “will put additional pressure on the labor market” in Rimouski, already tense, notes Mr. Marchand. “It can have an upward impact on salaries. »
Bringing David and Goliath together
Full professor at the UQAM school of management sciences, Benoit Duguay is of the opinion that in business, Davids can coexist with Goliaths. “A hypermarket like Costco cannot provide customer service like a small local merchant does. It’s like Amazon: it has advantages, that’s for sure, but it’s not going to kill small businesses,” illustrates the professor. “Proof: I wanted to buy shoes on Amazon and I had to return the box three times because the order did not correspond to what I expected. »
Mr. Duguay insists on the “very positive” side of a large banner with cut prices for a population affected by the rising cost of living. “People are being suffocated, and a player like Costco coming in with cut prices offers the opportunity to make substantial savings,” he explains.
The CCIRN does not believe that the arrival of Costco will lead to a devitalization of the region, quite the contrary. “Currently, people from Bas-Saint-Laurent already go to Lévis or Quebec to shop at Costco,” underlines its general director. The former CEO of the Rimouski Economic Promotion Corporation, Martin Beaulieu, estimated in 2020 that this exodus amounted to “several tens of millions of dollars each year”.