County seeks input on retail businesses and statutory holidays

The County seeks public feedback on retail businesses being open on statutory holidays.

The Retail Business Holidays Act is provincial legislation that prohibits the opening of retail businesses on statutory holidays, but municipalities have the authority to pass bylaws that exempt them from the rules, and allow stores to be open.

The municipality is currently reviewing two bylaws that allow retail businesses within the municipality to sell goods and services on Good Friday, Easter Sunday, Victoria Day, Canada Day, Labour Day, and Thanksgiving Day for the purposes of maintenance and development of tourism.

The municipality is considering adding Family Day and Easter Monday to the exception list.

The public is invited to complete an online survey by March 13. (Click here for survey)

The municipality is also hosting a public meeting on Tuesday, March 10 to receive input and comments, in the Council Chambers at Shire Hall (332 Picton Main Street) beginning at 6 p.m.

Following the public consultation, staff will prepare a report for council with the feedback and options.

Under provincial legislation, retail businesses in Ontario must be closed on the following nine holidays each year, unless otherwise allowed by municipal bylaw:
New Year’s Day
Family Day
Good Friday
Easter Sunday
Victoria Day
Canada Day
Labour Day
Thanksgiving Day
Christmas Day

The mandatory closures do not apply to municipalities if they have passed a bylaw stating the act does not apply and have also passed a bylaw requiring certain retail businesses to be closed on a holiday.

For more information, contact Catalina Blumenberg, Clerk, at 613.476.2148 extension 1021 or email cblumenberg@pecounty.on.ca