It is family day this Monday and I hope our residents are having a great long weekend. Don’t forget to come on out to Arctic Adventure tomorrow in Town Park. It’s unfortunate that not all our residents will have the opportunity to enjoy the festivities. As of January 1st, those who work in the retail sector in York Region, lost their holidays – including Family Day.
With little fanfare or any meaningful input from affected retail workers or residents, York Region Council voted to exempt the region from the Retail Holiday Act thus in effect taking away every retail workers right to a holiday (aside from Christmas Day). Stores now can be open, 24/7, 364 days a year. All stores if they choose.
Wait, let me correct that. Not all stores. Government operated retail businesses are NOT open. So liquor stores and beer stores are still closed. But everything else can be open.
Don’t get me wrong. I agree that there were legitimate concerns from some in the retail sector that the previous system wasn’t fair. Some businesses got to be open because they were in a “tourist area” and others right beside were not. But the answer wasn’t to decide carte Blanche to just make everything open. What other options were considered? Were there any?
I have to agree with Mayor Scarpitti of Markham, York Region Council should reconsider this decision and hear from our residents, retail workers and retail business owners so that a fairer, more family friendly option can be considered.
