Remembrance Day bylaw for store closures extended

For years, Ottawa has had a bylaw requiring retail stores to close until 12:30 on Remembrance Day. It has been recommended that City Council now amend the relevant bylaw to remove some of the exemptions which had previously been put in place allowing certain businesses to stay open such as large grocery stores, pharmacies, and car dealerships. The argument is that large pharmacies and grocery stores don’t just sell necessities like food and drugs (which is why they were exempt in the first place), but also sell an ever-growing list of “retail-like” items such as clothing, books, barbecues, furniture, etc..

I think removing the exemption for large grocery stores and pharmacies is fair because it levels the playing field with other retail establishments that are forced to be closed. But the intention of the bylaw is to allow certain stores to be open so that people can buy necessities. If the stores that happen to sell those necessities have become, in general, large operations that stock an array of products, forcing them to close will effectively limit access to these necessities. We’ll have to see how it plays out if the amendments to the bylaw are passed.

If you’re interested in the debate, take a look at the response sent in by Shopper’s Drug Mart on the City’s website.