Media Release

Small businesses favour some form of Sunday Shopping

February 13, 2008

Charlottetown – As the Standing Committee on Economic Development gets set to meet for the last time, a report by Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) finds that a majority of small, independent business owners favour some form of Sunday shopping.

But opinions of the more than 200 local business owners who responded to CFIB’s survey – which formed the basis of the report – are mixed on just what form Sunday shopping should take.

Year round Sunday shopping was the most preferred option by 39 per cent of business owners; 20 per cent prefer the former Christmas season Sunday shopping model.

“But we need to keep in mind that neither of these options were preferred by a majority of business owners,” said Erin McGrath-Gaudet, CFIB’s PEI Policy Analyst, who added, “Islanders likely have the same mixed feelings as Islander business owners so the committee has their work cut out for them.”

The report revealed differences in opinions between retail business owners and those not operating in the retail sector. More retailers preferred the Christmas season Sunday shopping model, citing a lack of business to warrant the added costs of opening.

“The retail perspective is important to consider as they’re the ones that will be the most directly impacted,” McGrath-Gaudet said.

The survey also asked retailers about their experience with last year’s new Sunday shopping rules. Over half didn’t open on Sundays and only six per cent took advantage of the new rules and opened Sundays from May to December.

“There were some businesses that were hurt by last years changes to Sunday shopping. And while some saw an increase in revenue, they also reported an accompanying increase in costs,” McGrath-Gaudet said.

McGrath-Gaudet said that despite these results, the majority of small business owners believe government’s role in regulating store hours should be minimal- 28 per cent preferred no regulation while 29 per cent said government should only regulate mandatory retail holidays.

The full report can be found at www.cfib.ca/pei.

For further information contact Erin McGrath-Gaudet at (902) 620-4914.

CFIB has been representing the interests of small- and medium-sized businesses since 1971. With over 1,100 members on PEI and 105,000 members nationally, CFIB has grown to become the largest independent business organization in PEI and Canada.