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More time to shop on Sundays

Province plans to ease limits on store hours

By: Geoff Kirbyson

Posted: 04/18/2012 1:00 AM | Comments: 0 | Last Modified: 04/18/2012 7:39 AM | Updates

Shopaholics rejoice -- your shopping week is going to get a little bit longer.

Just how much longer remains to be seen as Finance Minister Stan Struthers provided few details on the controversial topic in Tuesday's budget, but he did say the province would "modernize" what are arguably the strictest Sunday shopping rules in the country.

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The plan is to consult with affected parties, such as retailers, consumer groups and unions, with the goal of having new hours in place before Christmas.

The move is long overdue, said Dave Angus, CEO of the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce, as many other jurisdictions around North America have passed Winnipeg by in recent years.

"We have basically stood alone when it comes to Sunday shopping hours," he said. "We think (the changes) are a very positive move and consistent with the kind of support the retail community needs through legislation but also with the kind of environment we're trying to create in Winnipeg."

Being able to open the doors for a few extra hours on Sundays should be particularly helpful in keeping dollars that might otherwise head south to the U.S. in the province as well as luring American shoppers north of the border, he said.

The general manager of the largest shopping mall in Winnipeg is happy changes are coming, but she's not expecting they'll include dawn-till-dusk shopping on Sundays.

"We're going to let our customers dictate what we do," said Deborah Green. "If there's a need and they say, 'We'd like you to be open at 11 a.m.,' that's the time we would look at."

It's unlikely she would consider anything earlier than that and she can't see being open after supper, either.

"Usually by about 5:30 p.m., the mall really starts to clear out. I don't think anybody across Canada is open on a Sunday evening," she said.

The Canadian Federation of Independent Business is split on the issue. Marilyn Braun-Pollon, its vice-president for the Prairies, said a poll it conducted two years ago showed 43 per cent in favour of expanded hours and nearly 50 per cent against it.

Of course, there's nothing forcing retailers to keep their doors open longer -- or at all, for that matter -- on Sundays but Braun-Pollon said most won't want to risk losing potential business or be seen as less competitive than other stores.

"They'll have to find a way to get staff to fill those additional hours and shifts. In many cases, the business owners themselves will end up working more," she said.

Critics of extended hours, however, counter some non-unionized workers may be forced to work on their traditional day of rest. Jeff Traeger, president of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 832, Manitoba's largest retail union, said he is disappointed he wasn't consulted on Sunday shopping before it was written into the budget. He's concerned Manitobans not protected by a union collective agreement will be forced to work Sundays.

"I appreciate the desire for the public to want round-the-clock shopping, (but) those who want it are usually not the ones who have to work it," he said.

The more than 7,500 employees at Safeway, Lowlaws, Sobeys, IGA and Co-op stores have collective agreements in place, ensuring Sunday shifts for them are voluntary and pay a premium over the normal wage.

If there's one retailer in town that could use a little more time to handle the non-stop crush of shoppers, it's the Jets Gear store at St. Vital Centre.

James Scott, the store's manager, said he's not sure if the expanded hours will see its cash registers ringing up more sales or if the same amount of merchandise will move out over a longer period.

The main benefit, he said, will be for his customers.

"It gives people a chance to go out on Friday and Saturday and enjoy their weekend, maybe go camping. If they have last-minute things to pick up on Sunday, they'll have a little more time to do that," he said.

geoff.kirbyson@freepress.mb.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition April 18, 2012 A3

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Updated on Wednesday, April 18, 2012 at 7:39 AM CDT: Adds video

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