Freedom Flyer 9

TORONTO (CP) - At least 34 store owners in southern Ontario were charged for opening illegally Sunday, including maverick furrier Paul Magder whose Supreme Court battle against forced Sunday closing will be decided this week.

Magder, who estimates he has been charged over 250 times for violating Sunday-shopping laws, is an appellant in the Supreme Court of Canada case which will decide Thursday on the legality of the Retail Business Holiday Act which prohibits Sunday opening in Ontario.

About 14 stores in Toronto were charged Sunday for opening illegally.

"There were less this Sunday than last week," said Metropolitan Toronto Police Const. Jeff Hill who added he believed the pending court decision was the reason.

About 20 businesses were charged in London, Ont., including the City Lights book store. Marc Emery, the store's owner, is a director of the Freedom Party, an organization that advocates Sunday openings as a matter of personal choice for the shopper and shopkeeper.

Robert Metz, Ontario president of the party, said between 15 and 20 people were handed out literature at stores in London that chose to open Sunday, just as they did last week.