Committee suggests limiting holiday shopping in T.O.

Employees at a electronic store stand watch from above as shoppers scramble for merchandise on sale during the early morning hours in Toronto on Boxing Day Monday, Dec. 26, 2011. (The Canadian Press/Pawel Dwulit)

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The Canadian Press
Published Monday, October 29, 2012 6:38PM EDT

TORONTO -- What started out as a proposal to allow Toronto retailers to open on all statutory holidays would be narrowed down to just one day if a new recommendation is adopted.

City council's holiday shopping subcommittee has made adjustments to a proposed bylaw change that would have allowed retailers to open on Victoria Day, Canada Day, Labour Day, and Thanksgiving Day between the hours of 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.

The subcommittee now proposes allowing retailers to open their doors only on Victoria Day.

"The other days in the report that are recommended, those are days where families get together," said councillor Sarah Doucette.

The proposed bylaw change was introduced in 2010 by the economic development committee. At that time, the proposal suggested that retail businesses be allowed to open on all nine statutory holidays, including Good Friday, Easter Sunday, Christmas and New Year's Day.

That was later changed to five, then four, and now one.

Since the first proposal, there have been extensive public consultations with labour unions, religious groups, and stakeholders -- including four consultations across the city.

Christine Connor, the president of CAW Local 414 which represents retail workers opposed to the change, said she's happy with the subcommittee's recommendation, "but I'd be happier if they left it alone and left us with our nine statutory holidays."

Anthony Casalanguida, the general manager of Yorkdale Shopping Centre, argues that allowing retailers to open on statutory holidays has a large benefit for Toronto businesses.

"Past holiday traffic indicates that it's a very good time to be open," he said.

Casalanguida also suggested keeping stores open on Family Day.

The authority for regulating retail business holidays shifted from the province to the city in 2006, with the City of Toronto Act. As an interim measure, council adopted municipal code chapter 510, which says that retail businesses cannot open on statutory holidays.

The subcommittee's recommendations will be addressed at the Nov. 8 economic development committee meeting.