holidays

We could see some retail stores opening in Ontario on Family Day and Victoria Day in the future.

The Ford government is planning legislation that gives them the option.

If stores open, they will be required to pay employees premium and public holiday pay.

Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement, Stephen Crawford, says it gives employees the flexibility to take on extra shifts while maintaining their right to take a day off.

“By giving retailers the option to open on Family Day and Victoria Day, we are supporting employees and businesses while giving families more choice and convenience to shop at their local retail stores,” states Crawford in a release.

The move follows comments Premier Doug Ford made to reporters in February, lamenting about shopping malls in his community being closed during Family Day.

The government says the proposed changes will create a fairer, more consistent approach for businesses and workers while allowing families to enjoy the convenience of shopping during the holidays.

Family Day and Victoria Day are non-religious, statutory holidays observed across Ontario.

Victoria Day has existed as a holiday in Canada since 1854, originally falling on May 24 to recognize Queen Victoria’s birthday, and becoming variable in 1952 to provide most Canadians with a long weekend.

Family Day was first observed in Ontario in 2008.

On October 12, 2007, the provincial government established Family Day on the third Monday in February, to be first observed on February 18, 2008.