By BOB BOUGHNER
News Staff Reporter
DRESDEN - "We don't want it!"
That was the clear message regarding Sunday shopping Dresden Mayor Les Hawgood gave last night to Ontario's solicitor General Joan Smith during a discussion on the Sunday shopping issue, sponsored by the history department of Lambton - Kent Composite school.
Hawgood said it appears as if the province is treating the Sunday closing issue in a similar fashion to another "hot potato" it had on its hands last year - the question of beer and wine at corner grocery stores.
"Instead of dealing with the subject themselves, the provincial government is sloffing off its responsibility to the municipalities," said the Dresden mayor. "I would like to see the government shelf this Sunday shopping business the same way it shelved the corner beer and wine issue."
Hawgood, one of a six - member panel, said he has the support of all Dresden merchants and townspeople when it comes to opposing Sunday shopping.
The mayor was supported by town businessman Brent Babcock, chairman of the Dresden Business Association.
Babcock argued that having to remain open Sundays would only add to the cost of operations for most retailers and those costs - estimated to be 15 per cent - would then be passed on to consumers.
He also contended that few new jobs would be created.
But London bookstore owner Marc Emery, who is currently challenging the Sunday closing legislation in the courts, told the audience, estimated at 120 people, that the customer is always right "and customers want Sunday shopping."
"Everyone I know shops on Sunday, whether it be at the corner convenience store or at a mall. In fact, I doubt if there is one person in this hall tonight that hasn't shopped on a Sunday."
Emery said businessmen and women have to learn to put aside their personal preference and serve the public.
"It's a poor businessman who runs to government to try and close down his competitors on Sundays."
Emery said he doesn't think the government should be allowed to penalize him if he wants to work Sundays.
"I don't think you want the government to tell you if it's okay to watch television on Sunday or rake the lawn."
Rev. Jake Binnema of the Dresden Ministerial Association said the government has the responsibility to tell retailers they can't open on Sundays.
He claimed that 30 per cent of the Ontario work force is in the retail trade and of that 70 per cent are mothers with children. He said they often have to decide between spending time with their children and working.
"The government should not permit seven days of an unbridled consumerism ratrace. There is more to life than shopping."
Binnema argued that the province has failed to do its duty by dropping the Sunday shopping matter in the hands of municipalities.
Robert Metz, president of the Freedom Party of Ontario, claimed that Sunday shopping should never have become a political issue.
"It's simply a personal preference."
At the same time, he said the Peterson government benefits from retailers, who are made to act as tax collectors for the government.
And, he said, as a result of the latest budget, the retailers will now have to collect eight instead of seven per cent for the provincial treasury.
Smith said municipalities are being given the responsibility of deciding themselves if they want Sunday shopping. And she noted there are currently 26 municipalities in the province which now allow Sunday shopping under the tourist exception to the Sunday closing law.
She said that under the proposed new law, shopping malls would not be allowed to force its stores to open Sunday.
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last updated on April 28, 2002
