P.E.I. Tories to table Sunday shopping bill

Opposition leader Olive Crane plans to introduce a private member's bill Tuesday to allow for year-round Sunday shopping on P.E.I.

Sunday shopping is allowed in the province between Victoria Day and Christmas. A legislative committee conducted public hearings in the fall of 2007 and the committee recommended giving Island businesses a choice of whether to stay open on Sundays. 

Premier Robert Ghiz decided not to move on that recommendation.

P.E.I. is the only province with Sunday shopping regulations.

Crane told CBC News Monday that it's time to revisit that decision.

"We're introducing this to give people a choice," the Progressive Conservative leader said. "This will be an option for businesses that want to be open on Sunday to be open on Sunday, like every other province.

"It will also give consumers the choice to participate in Sunday shopping or not."

Crane said there was a strong financial case for allowing seven days of shopping all year.

"From January to May, there are three or four significant events in the province, from the ECMAs, the Jack Frost Festival, the Scotties Tournament of Hearts," she said.

"In addition to that, some people may choose to go to Moncton and spend their tax dollars there rather than in the province. But again, it goes to the notion that individual businesses would be able to have their own choice as to whether they choose to open or not."

Crane said the bill will take the form of an amendment to the Retail Business Holidays Act.

Ghiz said he was open to the change.

"I encourage Islanders to contact their local MLAs over this because on Thursday of this week, it could be decided on what's going to happen with Sunday shopping," he said.