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The City of Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 510, Holiday Shopping [link to: http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/municode/1184_510.pdf] and the Ontario Retail Business Holidays Act [link to: http://www.sse.gov.on.ca/mcs/en/Pages/Business_Retail_Holidays.aspx] generally require retail stores to be closed on Public or Retail Holidays (i.e. New Year's Day, Family Day, Good Friday, Easter Sunday, Victoria Day, Canada Day, Labour Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day). Both the Municipal Code and provincial statute provide for exemptions by type and size of retail store that enable some stores to open while others must remain closed. The provincial statute also provides for tourist area exemptions. The City of Toronto Municipal Code does not.
There are exemptions by type and size of store and by geographic area.
Retail type/ size exemptions include:
• Retail businesses less than 2,400 square feet that sell:
• Foodstuff; Tobacco; Antiques; Handicrafts; Fresh fruit and vegetables; Books, magazines or newspapers; and Art;
• Pharmacies less than 7,500 square feet;
• Gas stations;
• Nurseries;
• Laundromats;
• Retail businesses licensed under the Liquor License Act;
• Retail businesses licensed under the Tourism Act; and
• Retail businesses that provide vehicle or boat rental or repair.
Retail exemptions by geographic area in Toronto are:
· Queens Quay West (1994);
· Toronto Eaton Centre and the Hudson's Bay Company (1995);
· Downtown Yonge Street Business Improvement Area (2002);
· Bloor-Yorkville Business Improvement Area (2004); and
· Distillery Historic District (2005).
The above five areas were granted tourist area exemptions under the Ontario Retail Business Holidays Act. The current Municipal Code, Chapter 510, Holiday Shopping does not permit additional exemptions by geographic area.
Read even more
On May 11, 2010 City Council received a report regarding holiday shopping regulations for retailers throughout Toronto. The report recommended that City Council allow all retail stores to open or close at the discretion of the store owner/ manager.
Council referred this item back to the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture with a request to conduct further public consultation and report back in the next term of Council.
On Sept 14, 2011, the City's Economic Development Committee established a sub-committee comprised of Councillors Josh Colle, Sarah Doucette, and Mary Fragedakis to develop and implement the Holiday Shopping consultation process. These consultations provide an opportunity for business, employees, residents and other interested parties to share their views in regard to how holiday shopping should be regulated in future. |
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| 1. | * Are you in favour of the City of Toronto making changes to Holiday Shopping regulations to permit retail stores to open on all or some Retail Holidays? |
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| | Why? |
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| 2. | Please indicate which holidays stores should be permitted to open and which days you believe they should remain closed. |
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| | New Year's Day* | |
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Why? | |
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| | Family Day* | |
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| | Good Friday* | |
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| | Easter Sunday* | |
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Why? | |
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| | Victoria Day* | |
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| | Canada Day* | |
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| | Labour Day* | |
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| | Thanksgiving Day* |
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| | Christmas Day* | |
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| 3. | At present, retail stores in the following five areas within the City of Toronto are permitted to open on Retail Holidays: Eaton Centre and The Bay Queen Street Store; Downtown Yonge Business Improvement Area; Bloor-Yorkville; Queen's Quay Terminal; and the Distillery District. |
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| | Are you in favour of allowing additional areas to open on Retail Holidays?* |
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| 4. | Are there any types of retail stores that should have the option to open on retail holidays? |
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| | If you answered Yes, please tell us the types of stores that should be considered. |
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| 5. | Please tell us about yourself. Are you a representative of any of the following groups or organizations? |
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| 6. | Do you have any further comments? |
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| The City is collecting the information on this survey to enable it to make an informed decision on the Holiday Shopping Consultation process. Please note that any information you choose to provide will be collected as a matter of public record. |
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