Stores across Toronto should be allowed to open on Victoria Day from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., city council’s economic development committee has recommended.

Despite heavy pressure from suburban shopping centres for wide-open holiday shopping, the committee rejected a staff recommendation to allow it on four holidays: Victoria Day, Canada Day, Labour Day and Thanksgiving Day.

A round of public consultations earlier this year turned up no great desire for wide-open holiday shopping, said Councillor Mary Fragadakis.

“I think the people of Toronto have actually spoken loud and clear and they see no need for change,” Fragadakis said.

“The impact on families is the key element of this issue,” she added. “A pause gives everyone a chance to spend precious time with those that matter to them.”

The economic development committee voted Thursday after hearing submissions from shopping centres, retail workers and unions.

Even opening up on Victoria Day is too much, said Ian Cameron, a grocery store clerk who addressed the committee.

“I’m not happy,” Cameron said after the vote. “It’s May 24 weekend, it’s firecracker day, it’s the first weekend of summer. A lot of people open up their cottage that weekend, a lot of people do gardening that weekend.”

The current arrangement is unfair in letting the Eaton Centre open on holidays while denying the same privilege to suburban Yorkdale Shopping Centre and Scarborough Town Centre, said Councillor Josh Colle.

“It reinforces an imbalance between downtown Toronto and the suburbs,” he said. “I think we need fairness within the city and across city boundaries.”

Colle, whose ward includes Yorkdale, said he expects the staff recommendations permitting opening on four holidays will be on the table when the issue hits council for a final decision Nov. 27.

“I’ve got retailers in my ward come to me and say, ‘How come they can be open downtown and we can’t?’” Colle said. “I’ve got shoppers who are confused by how arbitrary the system is.”

The current rules allow retailers in certain areas frequented by tourists — Eaton Centre, downtown Yonge St., Yorkville, Harbourfront and the Distillery District — to open on any of the nine statutory holidays during the year.

The committee rejected Colle’s attempt to allow other shopping centres to apply for the privilege.

While Torontonians may not be clamouring for change, they are taking advantage of holiday shopping at Vaughan Mills shopping centre in York Region and Mississauga’s Square One, the committee was told.

“Square One draws a much larger volume of customers from the city of Toronto since it started opening on statutory holidays in 2010,” said Anthony Casalanguida, general manager of Yorkdale shopping centre.

“Additionally, 68 per cent of visitors are accompanied by friends and family, as compared to 39 per cent on a typical day. In short, people are travelling with their families from Toronto to shop in these areas.”

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Opening on Victoria Day alone doesn’t cut it, the committee was told.

“Adding one day is not a solution, nor is it a compromise,” said Kathy Meyers, general manager of Scarborough Town Centre. “The policy is broken and needs to be addressed.”