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Date: 8/1/2012 |
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Category: Member News
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Retail Business Holidays Act
The Ministry of Consumer Services administers the Retail Business Holidays Act, which strikes a balance between allowing businesses to remain open and providing consumers and employees with a common day of rest.
The act requires retail businesses to close on nine specified days each year. They are:
• New Year’s Day (Jan. 1)
• Family Day (the third Monday of February)
• Good Friday (the Friday before Easter Sunday – typically in March or April)
• Easter Sunday (typically in March or April)
• Victoria Day (the last Monday before or on May 24)
• Canada Day (July 1)
• Labour Day (first Monday in Sept)
• Thanksgiving Day (the second Monday in October)
• Christmas Day (Dec. 25)
The Retail Business Holidays Act, provides limited exceptions for retail outlets that may be open, including stores that sell handicrafts and book or magazine stores that are less than 2,400 square feet with a maximum of three employees, pharmacies under 7,500 square feet, nurseries, flower shops, gardening centers and gas stations. Stores may remain open in locations established as tourist areas by specific municipal by-laws. It is best for businesses to contact the City of Kawartha Lakes municipal offices for more information and details in regards to specific by-laws in regards to being open for business on holidays.
Minimum fines for opening businesses on prohibited days of retail operation are $500 for the first offence, $2,000 for a second offence and $5,000 for a third or subsequent offence. Retail outlets may be fined up to $50,000 or the total amount of gross sales for the holiday, whichever is greater.
For a complete review of the act, check out
http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/html/statutes/english/elaws_statutes_90r30_e.htm
Further information can be found online at http://www.sse.gov.on.ca/mcs/en/Pages/Business_Retail_Holidays.aspx
The Lindsay & District Chamber of Commerce acknowledges all those businesses that welcome tourists to the area. As a community let’s take pride in what we have to offer and together ensure that the City of Kawartha Lakes is a place where people want to come play, relax and enjoy.
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