Unifor members,
Retail workers in Toronto are facing yet another attack on their right to guaranteed time off.
Big business is pushing to expand holiday shopping exemptions, which would force more retail workers to work on statutory holidays. This is unacceptable.
Unifor has always stood firm in protecting retail workers’ statutory holidays, and we need to take action once again. Toronto City Council is consulting with the public about holiday shopping exemptions and will soon be deciding on whether to expand them, and we must make our voices heard.
Why This Matters
- Expanding exemptions would allow more businesses to open on holidays, forcing workers to sacrifice rest and time with their families. Retail businesses in Toronto generally don’t open on nine statutory holidays, including New Year’s Day, Good Friday, and Christmas Day, unless exempted.
- This is part of a long-standing push by big business to erode retail workers’ rights—one we must continue to resist. Toronto City Council has deliberated on holiday shopping multiple times since 2008, and each time has determined to keep the current rules intact.
- Toronto already exempts certain businesses in designated “tourist areas,” but the criteria are vague and inconsistent. We need better guidelines to prevent abuse.
- Statutory holidays are important, guaranteed time-off for workers to take rest, spend time with family, and contribute to their communities.
Take Action Now
We need your help to stop these changes. Please take a few minutes to complete this survey and let City of Toronto councillors know that retail workers deserve guaranteed time off:
Toronto City Council must stand with workers—not corporations—by protecting statutory holidays and establishing fairer criteria for what qualifies as a tourist destination.
Together, we can ensure retail workers get the time off they deserve.
In solidarity,
Samia Hashi
Unifor Ontario Regional Director
City of Toronto | Public Survey on the Holiday Shopping By-law, Chapter 510 | Concerning Holiday Closure Requirements for Retail Businesses in Toronto
The public survey can be found here: link.
Survey closes on February 20, 2025.
- Currently, retail businesses in Toronto are generally required to close on the following nine holidays: New Year’s Day, Family Day, Good Friday, Easter Sunday, Victoria Day, Canada Day, Labour Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.
Which of the following statements do you agree with most strongly?
- There should be no change to the current holiday closure requirements for retail businesses.
- Retail businesses should be allowed to open on all holidays.
- Retail businesses should be allowed to open on some holidays.
- Other – please specify (up to 100 characters):
- Why do you think there should be no change to the holiday closure requirements for retail businesses? Please select all that apply.
- Shopping at various retail businesses is not necessary on holidays.
- Changing the current restrictions would not substantially improve business opportunities.
- The current restrictions are needed to maintain common holidays for retail workers.
- Supplemental services (e.g. child care and public transit) might be insufficient for retail workers who have to work on holidays.
- Other – please specify (up to 100 characters):
- City staff are exploring criteria and a process for retail businesses to apply for new Tourist Area Exemptions so that retail businesses meeting certain tourism-related criteria can apply to open on the holidays.
Which one of the following statements do you agree with most strongly?
- ALL retail businesses should be automatically permitted to open on the holidays. Retail businesses should NOT have to apply for Tourist Area Exemptions to open on holidays.
- Only certain types of retail businesses should be automatically permitted to open on the holidays, e.g. based on the type of goods and / or services they sell, or the size of stores. Retail businesses which would not be automatically permitted to open should have to apply for Tourist Area Exemptions.
- The status quo should be maintained. Retail businesses should NOT be able to apply for new Tourist Area Exemptions.
- None of the above, please specify (max. 100 characters):
- If retail businesses can apply for new Tourist Area Exemptions in the future, what criteria should a retail business meet to qualify for the exemption? Please select all that apply.
- Whether a retail business is located close to a tourist attraction
- Whether a retail business relies on tourist attractions for its business
- Whether a retail business can demonstrate that it supports Toronto’s tourism
- Other – please specify (max. 100 characters):
- If you have any other thoughts about Chapter 510, Holiday Shopping, please let us know below (up to 100 characters). Please do not include any personal information in your response.Prompt: There should be a regular review and reauthorization of all Tourist Area Exemptions, involving public consultation and input from affected workers.
- Which of the following best describes you? Please select one.
- I am a retail worker employed by a retail business based in the city of Toronto.
- I am a retail business owner/operator whose business is based in the city of Toronto.
- I am neither a retail worker nor a retail business owner/operator, but I live in the city of Toronto.
- I am a representative of an organization. Please specify the organization (optional):
- Other – please specify (optional). Please do not include any personal information in your response:
- I prefer not to answer.
- Final question is optional and used to gather socio-demographic information.