A Fight Against Amazon Becomes a State Matter in Quebec
- Province starts a retail site as a ‘buy local’ alternative
- Virus pushes shoppers to online orders, forcing firms to adapt
A cyclist rides along a street of small businesses in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Photographer: Bloomberg/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
The coronavirus crisis is giving Quebec’s nationalist government an excuse to attempt what may be impossible.
The Canadian province is embarking on an uphill battle to chip away at Amazon.com Inc.’s position. Reckoning that weeks of confinement will permanently accelerate the growth of online shopping, Premier Francois Legault wants to boost Quebec retailers’ digital sales, and is urging the population of 8.5 million to buy from local firms.