Retail Store Closings Over The Holidays

December 18, 2009 11:00 AM

McGuinty Government Reminds Consumers To Shop Early

As we enter one of the busiest retail times of the year, Ontario is encouraging shoppers to plan ahead and get holiday shopping done early for holiday celebrations.

Under the Retail Business Holidays Act, most stores in Ontario will be closed on December 25, 2009, and on January 1, 2010, with some exemptions, including:

Book or magazine stores under 2,400 square feet with a maximum of three employees
Pharmacies under 7,500 square feet
Flower shops
Gas stations, and
Stores exempted under specific municipal by-laws for tourism purposes.

The Retail Business Holidays Act is enforced by local police services in all municipalities except the City of Toronto. For information on Toronto's closing by-law, visit www.toronto.ca.

QUICK FACTS

Most stores in Ontario must be closed during the following nine holidays each year:
- New Year's Day
- Family Day (which falls on the third Monday of February)
- Good Friday
- Easter Sunday
- Victoria Day
- Canada Day
- Labour Day
- Thanksgiving Day
- Christmas Day
Minimum fines under the Act are $500 for a first offence $2,000 for a second offence and $5,000 for a third or subsequent offence.
Certain offences carry a fine of up to $50,000 or the total amount of gross sales for the holiday, whichever is greater.