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In many cases, municipalities set store opening guidelines. Contact your municipal clerk to ensure compliance.

For Retail Businesses In Winnipeg And Municipalities With A By-Law In Effect
The City of Winnipeg has passed a by-law to adopt liberalized Sunday and holiday shopping laws.
  In Winnipeg, all retail businesses regardless of the number of persons employed are able to open for business on Sundays and designated holidays. For those businesses, which normally employ more than four persons at any one time, there are some restrictions, as described below.
  Businesses which normally operate with more than four staff at any one time, including the owner:

• may operate between the hours of 12 noon and 6 p.m. on Sundays, Louis Riel Day, Victoria Day, and Thanksgiving Day with no restrictions on the number of employees on staff.
• may not operate outside the hours of 12 noon and 6 p.m. on Sundays, Louis Riel Day, Victoria Day, and Thanksgiving Day.
• may not operate on New Year's Day, Good Friday, Easter Sunday, Canada Day, Labour Day, and Christmas Day.

For Retail Businesses Without A Municipal By-Law In Effect
Each municipality or territory may pass a by-law or regulation to adopt the liberalized Sunday and holiday shopping laws of The Retail Businesses Holiday Closing Act, which was amended in July 1993.
  For retail businesses operating in municipalities or territories where no by-law or regulation is in place to adopt the liberalized Sunday and holiday shopping laws, the following laws apply.

• Businesses that operate with four or fewer staff at any one time may open for business at any time on Sundays and Holidays.
• Businesses that normally operate with more than four staff at any one time may operate at any time on Sundays and Holidays with four or fewer employees.

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 these holidays if exempted under specific municipal by-laws for the development or maintenance of tourism. 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 individuals 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 Retail Business Holidays Act is administered by the Ministry of Government and Consumer Services and enforced by local police services.
To inquire about which types of retail operations are exempt from the act, please refer to the Retail Business Holidays Act below or call the Ministry of Government and Consumer Services at (416) 326-8800 or toll-free at (800) 889-9768.

To inquire about which types of retail operations are exempt from the act, please refer to the Act respecting hours and days of admission to commercial establishments below or call Developpement economique Innovation et Exportation Commerce Branch at (514) 499-2176.

To inquire about which types of retail operations are exempt from the act, please refer to the Days of Rest Act below or call the Ministry of Local Government at (506) 453-2434.

Most retailers are NOT allowed to open during the following Holidays;

• New Year's Day
• Good Friday
• Easter Sunday
• Canada Day
• Labour Day
• Remembrance Day
• Thanksgiving Day
• Christmas Day
• Boxing Day

The Retail Business Designated Closing Day Act will be in effect before Christmas Day 2007, so retail businesses that are not exempted will have to close on Christmas Day 2007, Boxing Day 2007, and New Year's Day 2008.

If a business does not comply with these reinstated closing rules, they can be fined to a maximum of $50,000 or gross sales of the day of infraction, whichever is more.

Retailers should note that the previously existing loopholes that allowed for some grocery stores to remain open have now been tightened to ensure a level playing field for all retailers.

Under the Labour Standards Code, some of the days are the same as general (paid) holidays but other days are not. All the paid holidays — New Years Day, Good Friday, Canada Day, Labour Day and Christmas — are designated closing days. However, Boxing Day, Easter Sunday and Thanksgiving Day are designated closing days but not paid holidays.

Please note that Remembrance Day closing falls under the Remembrance Day Act with different exemption rules.

To inquire about which types of retail operations are exempt from the act, please refer to the RCC Member Alert links below or the Retail Business Designated Closing Day Act and Remembrance Day Act. You can also call Service Nova Scotia at (902) 424-5200 or (800) 670-4357.

Effective March 17, 2007, An Act to Amend the Retail Business Holidays Act will allow Sunday shopping, but will limit morning opening hours in the province on Sundays from Victoria Day weekend until Christmas.
  To inquire about which types of retail operations are exempt from the act, please refer to the Retail Business Holidays Act below or call the PEI government at (902) 368-4000.

In addition to the foregoing holidays, The Shops Closing Act sets for observance as holidays, the following:

• In the City of St, John's the day determined as Regatta Day;
• In the Town of Harbour Grace, the day determined as Regatta Day; and
• In any other municipality, the day fixed by the council as a public holiday therein.

The Shops Closing Act requires that all shops, other than those defined as exempt shops, be closed on the above holidays. To inquire about which types of retail operations are exempt from the act, please refer to the Shops' Closing Act. For further information, please call contact the Labour Standards Division of the Labour Relations Agency at telephone number (709) 729-2742, toll-free 1-877-563-1063; e-mail: kclements@gov.nl.ca.