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w PAGE 8, WIUTBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY. SETEMBRý2Ob 1989 whitb b sies G;rocers want Surnda-Yshopping >There are now 1.6 million people in Ontario eligible to work on Sundays and retail grocers want that right, too. Ontario grocers are stili fight- ing for their rights to open Sun- days and municipalities within, Durham Region are among the top 10 slated for the Sunday shopping confrontation. On Sept. 6, a group of grocery retailers announced in Toronto the formation of the Committee for Fair Shopping. The group is comprised of senior executîves from A&PlDominion, Loblaws, the Oshawa Group and Miracle Food Mart. "We've corne together to announce that we are asking Ontario municipalities to adopt new bylaws to allow ail grocery retailers the option of opening on Sunday,» said Jonathan Wolfe, group vice-president of the Osh- awa Group. 'This action will allow ail gro- cery retailers, including mem- bers of this committee, to com- pete faîrly where there is public, demand. "Mhe alternative is* that al retailers that seli food should be closed. This is simply flot practi- cal. Nor do we wish retailers, presentiy open Sundays, te have ta close their doors," says Wolfe. The group emjphasized the retailer's right to choose whether or not to open Sundays as well as an employee's right to choose whether or nat to, %vork Sundays. Whitby retailets have mixed feelings over the -issue of opening Sundays. "Isa proven fact that people shop on Sundays and it should be up te -the individual store owner whether or not to open,-." says Don Scrimgeour, owner of Mr. Grocer. "It's great for the students. They get paid double time and they're home in time for dinner. I don't think the governmeènt should step in and say yes or n o. «'If I'm foroed to close, SO should ail other stores no matter what size. "The longer we give the public to shop, the more the y will take advantage of it," says Peter Plas- tina, owner of thie Pringle Creek IGA. "I neyer did open on Sunciay and didn't bélieve it was right. My personal!preference is not. to open. I love my Sundays free, If retailers are. given a choice, -in the end it will not work because everyone will be foroed to open. You're afraid of the guy down the street, s0 of course yau open."» Another Whitby retailer says his_ personal preference is to close Sundays but the company is lobbyingto beopen. "I hink this issue is a real powekeg Municipalities don't wanttad anything about it," says the retailer, who preferred te remain unidentified. «From a business standpoint, it hurts quite a bit because we're not allowed te', oýen.- There should be a referendum. Seventy-five per cent of people polled (a recent Goldfarb study of 1,078 Ontario consumers)'want Sunday shopping. I don't think it will be fixed overnight." The committee adheres te the principle that it believes the pub- lic wants a fairer .choice of food shpigot ions on Sunday, and supportsth e public's right te that choicq. It suppbts te right of al empialyees~ te choose whether or not te wcrk on Sundays, fully endorsing the spirit and the let- ter of the ni-w labor protection iaws. The committee also believes that the eicisting Sunday closing iaws continue te deprive grocery retailers of the right te compete fairly on Sundays by allowing other major retailers selling food to be open. The committee supports the right of ail grocery retailers ta serve their custemers an Sun- day s. lhe cammittee abjectives are that every.municipahity adopt an appropriate public process te examine the issue -of fair Sunday shopping and that municipal bylaws aflow ail gracery retailers ta compete fairly by having the option of Sunday opening. "The ineq-uity is bizarre,» say Woife. «Thne 16 exemptions (of stores foroed te, remain closed Sundays) have created a patch- work of no rhyme or reasan., "It's hard to justify' and it's harder to clarifS'. The best way of eliminating the inequity is by nat asking anyone ta close. To ask municipal councils te, play Solo- mon is very tough." Axnong the - 16 exemptions in Bill C-113 are'stores selling food- stuifs, tobacco and related pro- duce in less than a certain square footage; pharmacies less than 7,500 square feet, and over 7,500 square feet until 1990; bookstores under 2,700 square feet and with only three persons emplayed; art galleries with only three persohs.employed; recrea- tional and amusem~ent t4ilities, hotels and restaurants~ laun- dries, boats and car rentais; Sab- batarian exemptions andi other municipal exemptions. uIt is only people in thp retail business lthat are restridted by this act,» s ays Wolfe. "In- Ma'ny respects, $unday food shopping is alreadk avail- able, bu t not offered by u4" P says Wayne Luedtke executive vice- president of ,A&Ï> and' Dominian. * We cannotl afford te continue ta lose our cëustemers te aour *corn- petitors Sinday after Sunday. 'IThe municipalities have the opportun'ity, te correct this situa- tion and we want them te knaw where'the cammittee stands an this critical issue." TouÜrist bo ard to plan loug-term strategy 'The Tourist, AssoiatMon, of Durham Region (TADR) viilhald 'Strategic Planning Day' fr as so- ciation members on Wedesday, Sept. 27 at the Dariington-infor- mation centre. During the aIl-day bession, members wiil plan a lorlg-terni strateg for 1990 and beyond. Martha-Anne Ranki n (Park-« wood Estate, Oshawa) is pe sident of the association. Fgirst vice-president is Debbie Tzount-. zauris (Haugen's BBQ, Ohicken, Port Perry ), s econd vice-pre- sident is Michele Henderson. (Federal Business Development Bank), treasurer is Robin Jones (McDônalds Family Restaurant Oshawa), secretary is David Robertson (Darlington Provincial Park) and p ast, president is David Gould (IBald Eagle Produc- tions, Oshawa). There are il directers includ- ing Michelle Ratte of Culien Gar- dens and Miniature Village, Nigel Schilling of Schilling & Evans, Whitby and Denise -Young, Towný ofyWhitby. There- ar e 10 advisors includ- ing Lamna Solly, Town ofWh9itby. Addition at Lofthouse A 7,701-sq. ft. addition has been appraved at Lofthouse Brass Manufacturing Ltd. an -Hopkins St. in Whitbv. Thie two-story addition ýwill be used for manufacturing and employee facilities. Experlence the Ultimate In Health &Fitness. With... Corne in for a crinsultatio Weight Loss. Relaxation and free demônstration - Detoxificalion - Massage TANNIN 1271 SlmnCoe St. N., Oshawa 432-1810 'ONLY THE VERY BEST" \Z;W/r 3i1 Brook StN, Whitby 666-3784; Ample Paring Open Holidays & Sunclays Hardwood Plywoods OAK, BIRCH, MAHOGANY Largo selection: of trims in: Oak, pife matiogany Made on the prermises Selection ai hardmods & softwoods. Pine, Oak, Birch, Maple Marine Plywood M _ OWASCO V' V.W., AUDI, - LTD. 1425 Dundas St. E. 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