Save Our Sundays - Our courts did not strike down Sunday shopping as so many are lead to believe!

Fact is, our premier Rodney MacDonald sold out Nova Scotians. This issue did go to the courts. The issue was about the two grocery chains subdividing their stores so that they were in line with Pete’s Frootique. Closing off isles, whatever they had to do so that they could open on Sundays.

Cabinet then decided to pass a law prohibiting the two chains from opening on Sunday. According to the courts this was against the law for cabinet to make that decision. It should have gone through the legislature to become law. According to the opposition parties Sunday shopping was not struck down and that there was a lot of confusion about it.

http://www.gov.ns.ca/legislature/hansard/han60-1/house_06nov01.htm#I[Page%20918]

MS. MAUREEN MACDONALD spoke at the Legislature on WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2006 "Also, we have to acknowledge that there were people who probably didn't care at all, one way or another. But the thing that struck me about all of those different points of view was what the Leader of the Liberal Party said, and I completely concur with his remarks. The absolute confusion and the genuine concern that people all across the spectrum, in terms of their viewpoints on this issue felt, when the government made their incredible flip-flop on this very important issue and essentially hid behind Mr. Justice Richards' decision and I think added to the confusion in the public. I wouldn't say wilfully added because that would be impugning motive, which isn't permitted here, Mr. Speaker, but certainly their position added to the confusion and perpetuated the idea that somehow the courts had struck down Sunday shopping in our province. That simply did not occur. That wasn't what happened, but what the courts did, they said the regulations that the Cabinet had passed in response to Sobeys and Superstore opening their boutique-type arrangements was a regulation that exceeded the power of the Cabinet."

It doesn't get any clearer than that. Not only do the opposition parties support our view, but so does the court. http://decisions.courts.ns.ca/nssc/2006/2006nssc290.html "Well, what this application is about is not about social or political considerations. It’s not about the appropriateness of Sunday shopping, nor is it about the power of the legislature to pass an Act dealing with Sunday shopping. This case, this application is about one fact and it is about the scope of the Cabinet’s power to pass Regulations pursuant to the Act."

In other words we have been sold out by Rodney MacDonald! A vote doesn't seem to matter and it's up to all of us to make a stand against the premier. This sets a dangerous precedence for any future votes on any issue that we may have in our province. Not only were we sold out on Sunday shopping but our holidays come into play as well. Our government continues to have their Sundays and holidays off.

http://www.gov.ns.ca/legislature/hansard/han60-1/house_06nov01.htm#H[Page%20910]

Darrell Dexter- "In the Rules of the House of Assembly, we don't have to work - in fact it's prohibited the House doesn't have to sit. I'll read specifically what the Rules of the House say, "The House shall not meet on New Year's Day, Good Friday, Easter Sunday, Easter Monday, Victoria Day, Canada Day, Labour Day, Thanksgiving Day, Remembrance Day, Christmas Day, Boxing Day." Mr. Speaker, these are the rules for the members of the House of Assembly. If the House of Assembly, the very people who are here to represent the people of the province, are protected against having to work those days, and if it's good enough for us, why isn't it good enough for the people of the province? I don't understand why the government would take it upon itself to set itself above and apart of the people who elected them."

The house does not sit on Sunday either. What has always bothered me was the argument pointed directly at retail workers. Do you buy gas on Sunday, go to the movies, use electricity, go to corner stores, restaurants. Did you know that Government workers, bankers,postal workers,teachers,municipal workers,municipal councillors,mayors,premiers,MLA's,dentists,lawyers etc, all these people go restaurants,movie theatres, gas stations, corner stores, Tim Horton's all Sundays and Holidays? All these people are exploiting people that work not only on holidays but Sundays as well. Retail workers have been getting a bad wrap. Isn't it time we fight to get the ban back? After all, it is clear now that our premier sold us all out. No wonder young people don't want to vote in any election! Way to go Rodney. Thanks for nothing!