As the City of Toronto seeks public input on allowing more retail stores to open on statutory holidays, a union is warning the change could threaten guaranteed time off for retail workers.
Retail businesses in Toronto are required to close on nine public holidays per year — with a few exceptions — under Chapter 510, or the Holiday Shopping By-law.
But city hall is currently seeking public feedback on potential changes to the regulation through an online survey.
The survey comes after city council directed staff to explore changes to the number of holidays, as well as the exemptions that allow some stores to be open, in 2023. The survey responses will inform staff's recommendations to city council.
However, Unifor, which represents private sector workers across Toronto, is urging the public to push back against reforms that could threaten the few guaranteed days off available to retail workers.
“Expanding exemptions would allow more businesses to open on holidays, forcing workers to sacrifice rest and time with their families,” said Unifor Ontario regional director Samia Hashi in a news release.
Hashi also alleged that businesses have been lobbying the city to reduce the number of holidays that workers normally have off.
“This is part of a long-standing push by big business to erode retail workers’ rights — one we must continue to resist. Toronto City Council has deliberated on holiday shopping multiple times since 2008, and each time has determined to keep the current rules intact,” Hashi said.
In 2018, York Region passed a bylaw that exempted all businesses from the Ontario-wide legislation that required stores to close on nine statutory holidays.
At the time, CBC reported that the Retail Council of Canada had supported the decision and was lobbying Peel Region on a similar issue.
The City of Toronto public survey includes questions about whether retail businesses should be allowed to open on all holidays, some holidays, or if there should be no change.
The nine days that retail stores in Toronto must close on are:
- New Year’s Day
- Family Day
- Good Friday
- Easter Sunday
- Victoria Day
- Canada Day
- Labour Day
- Thanksgiving Day
- Christmas Day
Some retail stores are exempted from holiday closures if they provide essential goods and services. These include small retail businesses that are less than 2,400 square feet and sell tobacco, food and a limited number of items; laundromats; gas stations; restaurants; and some pharmacies.
Other stores are exempted if they are located in an area that has designated tourism exemptions. There are only five of these areas in Toronto: Queen’s Quay Terminal, Eaton Centre and the Hudson’s Bay Company, Downtown Yonge Street Business Improvement Area, Bloor-Yorkville Business Improvement Area and the Distillery District.
The survey also includes questions about whether retail businesses should be able to apply for new tourist area exemptions in the future, and under what criteria.
