A grocery store chain here in Winnipeg has been fined $10,000 for opening on Good Friday.
This happened back in April during Easter long weekend. The Retail Businesses Holiday Closing Act prohibits retail and businesses from opening to the public on defined holidays, including Good Friday and Easter Sunday, and the act applies to all businesses except exceptions under the act.
Munther Zeid, owner of Food Fare, says the fine doesn’t make sense.
He went on to say: ‘We just came off another stat holiday… So is Victoria Day not important anyone? A lot of stores were open that day.” “What world allows on a religious holiday for people to go gambling and if they lose their money they’re going to start drinking and then go get high.”
On the Manitoba government’s website it states municipalities can pass a by-law to allow shopping on Sundays and some general holidays at retail businesses not listed.
It says these businesses can be open Sunday shopping hours on Louis Riel Day, Victoria Day, and Thanksgiving Day.
It also says unless a retail business is specifically listed as allowed to open on a holiday, it cannot be open on New Year’s Day, Good Friday, Easter Sunday, Canada Day, Labour Day or Christmas Day.
People in Winnipeg have many split opinions on the fine.
What do you think?
Source: CTV Winnipeg
Feature Image: Food Fare WPG/ Source: Facebook- Food Fare
- Sarah & Tyler