Petition urges York Region to ban Canada Day shopping

YorkRegion.com
Oct. 31, 2016
Lisa Queen  

Regardless of religion or culture, Canadians should put their wallets away on Canada Day by foregoing shopping in favour of celebrating our country’s past achievements and future promise.

That is the message of two York Region residents who have launched a petition asking the region to ban shopping on July 1.

“I think we live in a country which is peaceful and I think is a very good country so I think we should appreciate what we have, where we’re living,” said Kettleby resident Rolf Ehrat.

“We shouldn’t always just think of money, money, money because obviously opening the stores is so businesses can make more money. I think in this case, that should be of secondary importance. There are enough days in the year when people can go shopping so it doesn’t have to be on that day. I think it’s much more important to think of the country, involve the whole family, be together as a family and enjoy the day.”

Ehrat and Newmarket resident Ross Carson, retired minister at King’s York Pines United Church, launched the petition last week calling on the region to put an end to shopping on Canada Day.

“I think it’s the social cohesion that’s important. Our country needs a day when people really rejoice in their country and also reflect on the role it plays in the world. I think to have a day when stores are closed is a good thing. It says to the population we’re in this together,” Carson said.

“Rolf and I are senior citizens. We’re trying to encourage young people to see the world as we do, that our nation is important and identifying ourselves as Canadians with a purpose in this world is I hope something that will appeal to the younger people.”

Every time 100 people sign the petition, at social-cohesion-on-canada-day.org, an email will be sent to York Region chair Wayne Emmerson.

So far, 15 people have signed.

Provincial law requires retail businesses to close on nine statutory holidays: New Year’s Day, Family Day, Good Friday, Easter Sunday, Victoria Day, Canada Day, Labour Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

The law allows some retail businesses, including stores in designated tourist areas, to open on stat holidays.

Individual store owners can request exemptions from the region.

While Ehrat understands why Canada’s changing demographics means stores should be allowed to open on religious occasions, he said Canada Day is different.

“This is something this is affecting all of us, it doesn’t matter what religion. This is our country so I think we should do something for our country,” he said.

Last spring, Carson asked regional council to reject a pitch by King council to allow stores in the township to open on all nine statutory holidays.

Regional council agreed King shops must close on Christmas Day and Easter Sunday.

The issue launched a broader debate on whether it’s time to have a region-wide policy.

“At some point, (we should) go back and look at that for York Region because it’s a mish mash,” Markham Councillor Jack Heath said.