A part of the provincial government’s throne speech was creating legislation that will eliminate Sunday and holiday shopping restrictions for businesses.
Currently, businesses that can stay open without a bylaw are businesses that ordinarily operate with four or fewer employees (including the owner), restaurants, pharmacies, laundromats, boat and motor vehicle rental, repair and service shops, places with educational, recreational or amusement purposes, tourism and recreational facilities including summer resorts, other retailers selling only nursery stock, flowers, garden supplies and accessories, fresh fruit and vegetables, and gasoline and related goods for motor vehicles, and businesses that sell liquor or cannabis.
Sunday shopping hours are 9 am - 6 pm. Only the above businesses are allowed to open on holidays.
Businesses that aren't included in the list above can receive fines for opening on holidays. For example, on Labour Day, a Winnipeg grocer kept his store open and received a 10 thousand dollar fine after being threatened with the fine when he had his stores open on Good Friday.
Stephen Chychota thinks the legislation is a great idea.
"If they (businesses) have more power to them, to operate as freely as they can, in order to be there for their fans, for their customers, that's fantastic. Going forward, I think that's a good plan."
Municipalities will have the option to determine if the restrictions will remain.
Chychota says he’ll have to touch base with chamber members to see their thoughts on the potential of being open on Sundays and holidays.
Chychota says the fewer restrictions placed on a business, the better and that it makes more sense all around to allow businesses to make the decision.
