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Retail shops in the Glebe, including those at Lansdowne Park, may soon have the city’s blessing to open on statutory holidays.
A staff recommendation to be debated at the Feb. 2 finance and economic development committee meeting calls for the approval of the Glebe Business Improvement Area’s application for exemption from the Retail Business Holidays Act, according to Capital Coun. David Chernushenko’s latest newsletter.
The law allows a city to permit this if the retail area is within two kilometres of a tourist attraction — in this case the Rideau Canal, a UNESCO heritage site, and the Canadian Museum of Nature.
“We obviously made a compelling enough case that they feel comfortable making that determination. That’s a good sign,” said Andrew Peck, the BIA’s executive director.
The organization’s application included 100 letters of support from local businesses, he said. “You’re never going to get 100 per cent (support), but the overwhelming majority, from the get-go, were in favour,” Peck said.
If the exemption ultimately wins council’s approval, some store owners may decide not to open on holidays — but at least they would have the choice.
Peck says the legislation was written long before the rise of online shopping, which gives consumers the flexibility to decide when to spend money. “The face of retail has changed dramatically,” he said. “Retailers are having a tough go of it and they’re the only ones that don’t have any of the flexibility.”
Restaurants, coffee shops and movie theatres, as well as stadiums and arenas, already qualify for the exemption, so it’s not like the Glebe is entirely shut down on holidays, he added.
Whole Foods at Lansdowne Park stayed open on Good Friday last year, causing some people to protest and resulting in charges for violating the Retail Business Holiday Act.
mpearson@ottawacitizen.com
twitter.com/mpearson78
查看原文...
A staff recommendation to be debated at the Feb. 2 finance and economic development committee meeting calls for the approval of the Glebe Business Improvement Area’s application for exemption from the Retail Business Holidays Act, according to Capital Coun. David Chernushenko’s latest newsletter.
The law allows a city to permit this if the retail area is within two kilometres of a tourist attraction — in this case the Rideau Canal, a UNESCO heritage site, and the Canadian Museum of Nature.
“We obviously made a compelling enough case that they feel comfortable making that determination. That’s a good sign,” said Andrew Peck, the BIA’s executive director.
The organization’s application included 100 letters of support from local businesses, he said. “You’re never going to get 100 per cent (support), but the overwhelming majority, from the get-go, were in favour,” Peck said.
If the exemption ultimately wins council’s approval, some store owners may decide not to open on holidays — but at least they would have the choice.
Peck says the legislation was written long before the rise of online shopping, which gives consumers the flexibility to decide when to spend money. “The face of retail has changed dramatically,” he said. “Retailers are having a tough go of it and they’re the only ones that don’t have any of the flexibility.”
Restaurants, coffee shops and movie theatres, as well as stadiums and arenas, already qualify for the exemption, so it’s not like the Glebe is entirely shut down on holidays, he added.
Whole Foods at Lansdowne Park stayed open on Good Friday last year, causing some people to protest and resulting in charges for violating the Retail Business Holiday Act.
mpearson@ottawacitizen.com
twitter.com/mpearson78
查看原文...
