Freedom Party's position on the Sunday shopping issue in Ontario may not yet net us
any extra votes, but it has focussed the
attention of voters and the media on us. The
article below indicates that Sunday shopping
was --- and still is --- a high priority in the
public's mind.
In mid-May, FP Action Director and
businessman Marc Emery was jailed for three
and a half days for refusing to pay a $500 fine
imposed on him for employing "too many
people" on a Sunday. (See coverage in Freedom Flyer #13.) Customers contributed $380 towards his fine, while another $130
was credited to Emery for his stay in jail.
On his other Sunday opening charges,
Emery refused to use a lawyer in any of his
court appearances, and thus avoided incurring any legal fees. In the most outrageous
verdict we've ever heard of, Emery was
found not guilty on all other charges when
the judge claimed that the Crown had "failed
to prove that Emery was in fact the owner of
his store" --- despite Emery's repeated
references throughout the trial to "his store".
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Sunday shopping issue dominating campaign
Abortion, student housing, free trade, possible tax increases, the need for improved post-secondary education - all are issues in London North. But the issue dominating the campaign so far is Sunday shopping.
Conservative Dianne Cunningham opposes the government's plan to let municipalities decide whether to allow Sunday shopping. She said Sunday shopping will disrupt family life for thousands of people forced to work on Sundays.
Liberal Elaine Pensa supports government policy although she has had to reconcile it with her "family-oriented background." She said something had to be done because retail closing legislation was not working. Government policy is fair, she said, because London can keep stores closed if that's what people want while another municipality can allow its stores to open. She wants protection against workers being forced to work Sundays.
Diane Whiteside of the NDP said a majority of people in London North are opposed to Sunday shopping and so is she. A common pause day is needed to protect family life, she said.
Brenda Rowe of the Family Coalition opposes Sunday shopping in the interest of protecting family life. She said opening stores on Sundays will only spread retail business over seven days instead of six and increase business operating expenses, costing the consumer in the long run.
Barry Malcolm of the Freedom party supports Sunday shopping, saying forcing merchants to close Sundays is a violation of their property rights. He would prefer to let the marketplace decide the issue. "If people don't want to shop on Sunday, stores won't stay open."
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last updated on April 28, 2002
