Manitoba’s Chief Provincial Public Health Officer issued Public Health Emergency
Orders on November 21, 2020, declaring that a retail business may open but it
may only sell essential items to members of the public who are shopping in person
at the business. New Public Health Emergency Orders are in force effective
December 12, 2020. These orders allow retailers to sell “seasonal items” to in-person
shoppers in addition to essential items. The orders also refined the list of essential items.
Under the orders, the operator of a retail business must ensure that:
• non-essential items are removed from areas of the business to which members of the
public have access;
• members of the public are physically prevented from gaining access to non-essential
items at the business; or
• signs in the business or stickers on items clearly identify non-essential items that
cannot be purchased.
The new Public Health Emergency Orders exempt thrift stores from the prohibition on
selling non-essential items to in-person shoppers. If a retail business primarily sells used
clothing, footwear or household articles, it may sell non-essential items to in-person
shoppers.
The orders are in force until January 8, 2021. After this date, please consult manitoba.ca/
covid19 for information about the application of public health orders to retail businesses.
The document below is intended to provide guidance to retail businesses by listing
examples of what may be considered essential, non-essential and seasonal items under
the Public Health Emergency Orders. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list, and
is for guidance purposes only. Further, the list may be revised from time to time for
clarification or in the event that the Public Health Emergency Orders are amended.
Please follow this link for the most up to date version of this list: https://manitoba.ca/
covid19/ restartmb/prs/orders/essential-retail.html.
Where there is a discrepancy between this list and the Public Health Emergency Orders,
the Public Health Emergency Orders prevail. For further information and to consult
the current Public Health Emergency Orders please visit: https://manitoba.ca/covid19/
restartmb/prs/orders/index.html.
This list is intended to assist retailers in identifying what items they may offer for sale to
in-person shoppers. Retailers may continue to offer non-essential items (in addition
to essential items and seasonal items) for sale online, by telephone or other remote
means for delivery or pick-up.
