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Boxing Day shopping not a pressing issue says mayor

With a new mayor and some new faces on city council in Sault Ste.

With a new mayor and some new faces on city council in Sault Ste. Marie, will Boxing Day shopping once again become a topic for discussion between store owners, politicians and the public?

"No one has raised the issue with me since I've been elected and I haven't had any thoughts myself of raising it," Sault Mayor Christian Provenzano told SooToday in a recent interview.

"I've no interest in revisiting that, personally…it's not an issue that's been raised with me, it's not an issue anybody has canvassed with me, it's not an issue I determined is pressing in any way."

However, Mark Barsanti, Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce president, told us "As chamber president, I would most definitely be interested in bringing this back on the agenda with council."

After a referendum was held in Greater Sudbury as part of this year's municipal election October 27, Greater Sudbury city council voted December 9 to allow stores in that city to set their own hours and also allow shopping on Boxing Day and the Civic Holiday.

The results of the referendum in Greater Sudbury were non-binding on council because less than 50 percent of eligible voters cast ballots, but a large percentage of those who did vote were in favour of change.

In the Sault, if council members wish to bring up the issue again (perhaps inspired by the Greater Sudbury decision), another referendum on the Boxing Day question is not mandatory, confirmed both Joe Fratesi, city CAO, and Malcolm White, city clerk.

Council can bring forward a resolution for discussion on Boxing Day shopping at any time throughout a council term.

In the 2010 municipal election in Sault Ste. Marie, 15,407 voters said 'No' to the question "Are you in favour of retail establishments opening on December 26?"

9,942 voters were in favour.

The result was non-binding, as less than 50 percent of eligible voters cast ballots.

After the referendum, council chose to stick with a 2007 bylaw preventing retailers (with some exceptions, such as service stations and convenience stores) from opening on Boxing Day.

"Four years have passed since that referendum, and it wasn't a binding referendum…I think it's time to look at the issue with a fresh set of eyes," said Barsanti.

"We need to look at the choices council is making for businesses and whether or not it's healthy for council to be making those choices for businesses."

"The first step as chamber president is for me to have some conversations with the Chamber of Commerce board of directors to make sure that's the direction we want to go in," Barsanti said.

"If we do take a position (in favour of Boxing Day shopping) we'll move forward and likely start with a request in writing that city council review the issue and move from there."

Barsanti said it is "likely" he will bring the issue to the chamber board for discussion in January, as well as chamber members in the retail sector.

Barsanti, who is owner of the local Canadian Tire store, said he believes Boxing Day shopping decisions should be left to business operators and their staff.

"It would always be a choice…it wouldn't be mandatory (to open on Boxing Day), and I think that 's the key message the chamber has to get out, that it's about choice." 

"In the city of Sault Ste. Marie right now we have some businesses that remain closed on Sundays even though Sunday shopping has been allowed for several years," Barsanti said.

"Rather than having a municipal council dictate when a private business owner should open or close, that's a conversation a business owner has to have with the management team and staff and the customers."

"There has to be some consensus among that group that the business can operate properly on Boxing Day," Barsanti said.

Barsanti said Boxing Day shopping would not only be good for business and those who want to shop on Boxing Day, but also for those employees who work December 26, as those employees would be paid double time and a half.

"People may say 'You're just trying to make more sales that day,' but if you're employing people to work that day you're putting dollars into their pockets, food on their table and helping make a car payment, and as long as we protect the employees that would otherwise be off and give them that choice, I think there's no harm in taking the step (to open on Boxing Day), especially since so many other communities have seen their way to making that change."    

 


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Darren Taylor

About the Author: Darren Taylor

Darren Taylor is a news reporter and photographer in Sault Ste Marie. He regularly covers community events, political announcements and numerous board meetings. With a background in broadcast journalism, Darren has worked in the media since 1996.
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