Santa 1, Jesus 0: city one step closer to Christmas Day shopping
Retail lackeys of Toronto, get ready to duke it out for vacation time, because the city’s economic development committee voted 5-1 in favour of allowing stores to stay open on holidays. Council will vote on the decision next month. The holidays affected are New Year’s Day, Good Friday, Victoria Day, Canada Day, Labour Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, Easter Sunday and Family Day—holidays councillor Kyle Rae says “are no longer sacrosanct.”
“On Christmas Day, I spend my time in a movie theatre,” says Rae. “It’s a great time… Family isn’t always a good thing.” We’re sure Rae’s family will be very happy to hear that. The irony of all this is that Family Day was instituted in order to allow families to spend more time together. We’re also wondering if this will throw Boxing Day sales schedules out of whack if malls stay open on Christmas.
Canada: where we have the freedom to marry our same-sex partners, get free health care and shop at the Gap year-round.
• City poised to allow Christmas Day shopping [Toronto Star]
