TORONTO — Shoppers and merchants are reminded that under the Retail Business Holidays Act, both Christmas Day, Monday, December 25, 2006 and New Year’s Day, Monday, January 1, 2007, are among the eight days annually when most stores must be closed.

Exempt from the act are book or magazine stores under 2,400 square feet with a maximum of three employees, pharmacies under 7,500 square feet, flower shops and gas stations. 

Stores may also be open on these holidays if exempted under specific municipal bylaws for the development or maintenance of tourism.  Any questions about tourism designations or local hours of retail operation should be directed to the municipal clerk’s office in your municipality.

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.

The Retail Business Holidays Act is administered by the Ministry of Government Services and enforced by local police services.

To inquire about which types of retail operations are exempt from the act, please call the ministry at 416-326-8800 or toll-free at 1-800-889-9768.

Contacts:

Ref: Store Openings             
Public Inquiries:
416-326-8800 or 1-800-889-9768

Ref: Rates of pay and other labour-related issues
Public Inquiries (Employers and Workers):
416-326-7160 or 1-800-531-5551

Ciaran Ganley 
Ministry of Government Services
416-325-8659

Belinda Sutton
Ministry of Labour
416-326-7405