Toronto retail staff breathe easy, not working on Christmas
In a city already filled with workaholics, retail workers just got a little reprieve: they (probably) won’t have to work on statutory holidays. A proposal originally made by Kyle Rae was voted down at council yesterday, as Giorgio Mammoliti invoked nothing less than “God’s law.” Reports the Globe and Mail:
“I think God’s law has to be spoken about,” Mr. Mammoliti said. “Those of us that believe in God know that there are certain days that we’re not supposed to be working and we are supposed to be with our families.” Mr. Mammoliti, a practising Catholic, tried to exempt Christmas, Good Friday and Easter from a proposal that would have allowed all Toronto retailers to open 365 days a year. His attempt to single out Christian holidays sparked a debate about how to respect religion in one of the world’s most multicultural cities.
Businesses in the city’s official “tourism zones” are already allowed to operate on holidays, so Rae’s effort was intended, in part, to apply things fairly across the city. But couldn’t city hall have considered giving all the bleary-eyed, hungover baristas who will already be working in Yorkville and the Eaton Centre this May two-four a break instead? Perhaps God has forsaken Yorkville ever since the decision to use stone tablets for sidewalks.
• ‘God’s law’ against holiday shopping, Mammoliti says [The Globe and Mail] • Shopping decision delayed until after election [National Post] • Holiday shopping change deferred by council [CBC.ca]
