TORONTO - Retail workers opposed to a proposal to allow Toronto businesses to open 365 days a year could learn later this month if their two-year battle was a success.
A proposed bylaw change would allow retail businesses to open on all nine statutory holidays: New Year's Day, Family Day, Good Friday, Easter Sunday, Victoria Day, Canada Day, Labour Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Toronto's economic development committee introduced the proposal in 2010.
Since then, there have been extensive public consultations with labour unions, religious groups and stakeholders -- including four consultations across the city in the last year.
General manager Michael Williams says the committee will see the recommendations from those consultations on Oct. 16 and could approve the issue for city council to consider at a meeting on Oct. 30.
Kelly Canlan, a representative of the Canadian Auto Workers Local 414, says retail workers are generally paid minimum wage and need the time off from an erratic, week-to-week work schedule.
