TORONTO — Shoppers and merchants are reminded that under the Retail Business Holidays Act (RBHA), Canada Day is one of the eight days per year when most stores in Ontario must be closed.

When July 1 is a Sunday, the federal Holidays Act requires that Canada Day is the following day. Therefore, this year Canada Day will be Monday, July 2, and for the purposes of the act, retail businesses are required to close on Monday, July 2, 2007. Stores may remain open on Sunday, July 1, 2007. This is consistent with the RBHA closing requirements in 2001 when July 1 fell on a Sunday.

Exempt from the act are book or magazine stores under 2,400 square feet with a maximum of three employees, pharmacies under 7,500 square feet, flower shops and gas stations. 

Stores may also be open on this holiday if exempted under specific municipal bylaws for tourism purposes.  Any questions about tourism designations or local hours of retail operation should be directed to the municipal clerk’s office in your municipality.

Minimum fines for opening businesses on prohibited days of retail operation are $500 for the first offence, $2,000 for a second offence and $5,000 for a third or subsequent offence.  Retail outlets may be fined up to $50,000 or the total amount of gross sales for the holiday, whichever is greater.

The RBHA is administered by the Ministry of Government Services and enforced by local police services in all municipalities except for the City of Toronto.  Under the Stronger City of Toronto for a Stronger Ontario Act, 2006, the city now has its own closing requirements under an interim bylaw.  The city has indicated that the same closing requirements will apply to retail businesses in Toronto to close on Monday, July 2, 2007.

The RBHA strikes the appropriate balance between allowing businesses to remain open and providing employees and consumers with a common day of pause.  To inquire about which types of retail operations are exempt from the act, please call the ministry at 416-326-8800 or toll-free at 1-800-889-9768.

Additional information


Contacts:

Ref: Store Openings                         
Public Inquiries: 
416-326-8800 or 1-800-889-9768

Ref: Rates of pay and other labour-related issues
Public Inquiries (Employers and Workers):
416-326-7160 or 1-800-531-5551

Ciaran Ganley
Ministry of Government Services
416-325-8659

Belinda Sutton
Ministry of Labour
416-326-7405