Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 15/8/2016 (1498 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Canadian Federation of Independent Business thinks it's time they revisit the question of Sunday shopping with its Manitoba members.

The small-business lobby group represents about 4,800 small-and medium-sized businesses in the province and says its members have been historically divided on the issue of expanding shopping hours on Sunday.

Manitoba currently has some of the strictest Sunday shopping rules in the country. Most retail businesses are only allowed to operate between the hours of 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Sunday, unlike every province west of Manitoba which lets businesses decide their hours. Businesses in Ontario also have the freedom to set their own hours.

A 2012 poll showed Manitoba CFIB members almost split equally when asked if businesses should be allowed to set their own Sunday hours.

Dan Kelly, the president and CEO of the Toronto based-CFIB, says most businesses would be prepared for a "modest" increase in Sunday shopping hours, but before they take a stance it is time to see if opinions have changed in four years.

"So we are giving some thought to doing an updated survey of our membership, given that this is something that is under active discussion in Manitoba right now," Kelly said.

He describes Sunday shopping at a "double-edged sword" for small-and-medium-sized businesses.

"It may not allow business owners themselves to take a break and, secondly, the concern may be that they end up spreading the same amount of business over a larger amount of working hours, which essentially increases their costs, without increasing their sales," he said.

JOHN WOODS / THE CANADIAN PRESS The Canadian Federation of Independent Business describes Sunday shopping at a "double-edged sword" for small-and-medium-sized businesses.

However, the lobby group has traditionally pushed for fewer regulations by government on the private sector, Kelly explained.

There is also a concern that extended hours would work in favour of the big business retail shops such as Wal-Mart or Safeway rather than the small-and-medium businesses they represent, Kelly explained.

"There is no question that would create pressures on some businesses to work longer and expand their staffing accordingly and there is no guarantee this would lead to an increase in sales," he said.

"The trendline is going to be that we see fewer restrictions rather than more restrictions on operating hours, certainly there can be an argument made that this expands potential employment."

The Pallister government recently told the Free Press that it is open to looking at expanding Sunday shopping, if that is what Manitobans want to see happen.

Prior to 2012, retail businesses could operate from noon to 6 p.m. on Sundays. As the NDP Selinger government began considering changes to the hours, the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce conducted a poll in 2010.

When the business lobby group surveyed 800 Manitobans asking if they would support allowing retailers to set their own hours, nearly two-thirds (63 per cent) were somewhat or strongly in favour. Among 25- to 39-year-olds, 70 per cent supported unrestricted shopping hours.

Loren Remillard, the president and CEO of the Chamber, argues they don't need another poll to show Winnipeggers want later shopping hours — they are already voting with their wallets.

"All someone has to do is go to any retail outlet on Sunday and see the sheer number of cars in the parking lot, lining up the stores, to get a sense Manitobans are voting with their wallets and their time to say, 'We are shopping on Sunday,'" Remillard said.

kristin.annable@freepress.mb.ca