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No surprise, Ottawans were divided on whether Whole Foods should be allowed to open on statutory holidays.

“Whether you agree or disagree with an act or law, it has to be followed,” Terry Kilrea posted in the Comment section of a Citizen article.

“People in the service industry get little time off as it is,” wrote Beverley Bell. “It is wrong to make anyone work on a stat holiday.”

Others held a brief exchange on the whole issue of Sunday shopping. “Anyone remember Sunday shopping laws in Ontario? Anyone?” posted Danielle Metz.

“Yes, and I’m glad they’re gone,” said Steven Mosher, pointing out that Sunday shopping created more jobs.

Bryan Marks wondered why people are “addicted to shopping that (they) can’t take the peace and lack of noise for a whole day.”

John Gaynes, however, argued the law should be changed so retail stores can open or close as they choose. “And the laws of Canada should be that no religious holiday is a state holiday anymore.”

Since 1985, when the federal Lord’s Day Act was overturned by the Supreme Court, every Canadian province has amended its laws to ease prohibitions on Sunday shopping. Ontario joined the trend in the early 1990s after years of often heated debate that saw some stores outright defy the law even while public support — and, therefore, political support — for Sunday closing remained robust.

During the 1990 election, for instance, the Liberal, Conservative and New Democrat parties all claimed to oppose Sunday shopping. Indeed, then NDP leader Bob Rae promised to crack down on large retail outlets that opened on Sunday by legislating “a common pause day to strengthen family and community life while protecting small business and the rights of workers.” Such a law would have required many retailers to remain shuttered on Sunday.

After the NDP won the election — to the surprise of many — there was much speculationabout whetherRae’s promise helped secure the win.

Be that as it may, two years later, on June 3, 1992, Rae backtracked on his promise, amending the Retail Business Holidays Act so that only statutory holidays — not Sundays — would be common pause days. In effect, the door to Sunday shopping was thrown wide open.