York Region approve holiday business openings

Markham Economist & Sun
April 10, 2014
By Sean Pearce

Members of York Regional Council approved three applications for exemption under the Retail Business Holidays Act Thursday, but deferred a fourth.

Provided council votes April 17 to approve the recommendations from this week’s meeting, Markham’s Markville Shopping Centre and the Vaughan Promenade Shopping Centre, both which are owned and operated by Cadillac Fairview, will be allowed to open on New Year’s Day, Family Day, Good Friday, Victoria Day, Canada Day, Labour Day and Thanksgiving, while wineries and vineyards in Whitchurch-Stouffville will be permitted to do business from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Family Day, Victoria Day, Labour Day and Thanksgiving Day.

The shopping centres had also sought an exemption for Easter Sunday, but this was removed from the motion and is in keeping with previous exemptions granted that have not included either Easter Sunday or Christmas Day.

A fourth application from the Sobeys on Clark Avenue West in Thornhill seeking an exemption on Good Friday and Easter Sunday in 2014 and any future year in which Passover overlaps with the two holidays was deferred.

Thursday’s agenda also included a resolution from Vaughan Council requesting the region consider its proposal to exempt all businesses within the boundaries of Steeles Avenue to the south, Yonge Street to the east, Hwy. 7 to the north and Dufferin Street to the west from the act on Good Friday and Easter Sunday owing to input from Jewish residents in Thornhill who still want to be able to patronize area businesses that sell Kosher products when Passover aligns with the two holidays.

However, the staff report notes that even if council members had approved the application from Sobeys, there still would have been a month-long period to allow for comments from the public prior to the exemption bylaw coming into force.

That means it would not come into effect in time for this Good Friday or Easter Sunday.

General manager of the Sobeys on Clark Avenue, John Battista, said he understood going in that his application, even if approved, would not take effect in time for this year’s Passover, but felt it was important nevertheless.

He is somewhat disappointed to see it deferred, given the others were approved, yet optimistic it will prove successful when put back before council.

“I’d like to see it go ahead,” he said. “I’m hopeful it will be in place for future years.”

Passover overlaps with Good Friday and Easter Sunday most years, Mr. Battista said, so he would be happy to see his exemption application approved for next spring.

The concept of an exemption area in Thornhill for Passover works for him, although the idea of other stores reaping the benefits without putting in applications of their own is a bit frustrating given the work involved, he said.

Reached after the meeting, Promenade general manager Liem Vu said Cadillac Fairview is in favour of all retail operators and shopping centres being open on all holidays at the discretion of the owner/manager. Allowing all owners and managers of retail businesses to open on statutory holidays is a fair and equitable application of the law, he said, adding that the various centres already granted exemptions have enjoyed a competitive advantage.

The application for Whitchurch-Stouffville wineries and vineyards to remain open certain holidays was brought forward by the town and stems from changes introduced by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission last year allowing wineries, breweries and distilleries with on-site retail stores to open on nine statutory holidays provided an exemption is granted under the Retail Business Holidays Act.

In conversations with the three local wineries/vineyards it was repeatedly stated that the on-site retail establishments were important segments of the business as were the opportunities for agri-tourism, Stouffville’s economic development officer Nirvana Champion explained. Based on feedback, the town sought exemption under the act for the four holidays in question as they were thought of as days when people would be looking for activities and, assuming council approves the committee recommendation later this month, the wineries and vineyards will be permitted to operate on five holidays in total as all Stouffville businesses are already exempt on Canada Day.