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Retail
manager Beulah Parrott says she is concerned about an
increasing amount of retailers opening on statutory
holidays.
Parrott,
who addressed a meeting of council-in-committee Monday,
is calling on the city to do something about the trend.
She
is asking the city to enact a bylaw that would require
retail businesses to remain closed for 11 specified
holidays.
In
front of dozens of supporters in attendance, Parrott
said retail workers need to be protected.
"As
it stands now, in terms of statutory and general holidays,
retail stores can open 365 days a year. Already we see
evidence of these holidays being chipped away,"
she said.
With
Christmas approaching, Parrott said, there is not a
lot of time left to ensure retail workers have an enjoyable
holiday season with families.
She
said the mall she worked in had already notified retail
outlets that it planned to be open Dec. 26.
The
current exemption to the Days of Rest Act technically
allows shopping 365 days a year. The proposed holidays
to be protected would include New Year's Day, Good Friday,
Easter Sunday, Victoria Day, Canada Day, New Brunswick
Day, Labour Day, Thanksgiving Day, Remembrance Day,
Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
Heather
Hughes, vice-president of the Fredericton chapter of
the Canada Family Action Coalition, also addressed the
meeting. She referred to similar legislation in other
municipalities in the province as evidence that something
could be done.
Several
municipalities, including Miramachi and Bathurst, have
bylaws.
Hughes
said a new designation of Sunday shopping hours was
also required.
Hughes
said the new hours of operation should be between 1-6
p.m., which would offer a lot to the workers.
"This
model will ensure that retail workers have consistent
hours of which to plan their lives around," she
said.
Hughes
said the ability of people to attend church and participate
in Sunday family sporting activities is especially a
concern.
Fines
of from $500 to $1,000 for violations, Hughes said,
would also help enforce the bylaw.
The
idea had the unanimous support of council and struck
a chord with several council members.
Coun.
Scott McConaghy said he was disappointed with the provincial
government's handling of the issue.
"When
you have a situation where Bathurst has a bylaw with
eight such statutory holidays, the Miramichi 10 (and)
we're being asked for 11. How will people know what
the holidays are?" he said.
McConaghy
said the exemption in the Days of Rest Act to allow
Sunday shopping essentially allowed retailers to be
open any day, even Christmas.
He
was adamant about how he felt about that possibility.
"Even
Bob Crachet got a day off from Ebenezer Scrooge,"
he said.
Council
is due to vote on a bylaw on the issue once a report
is issued.
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