City council AG - The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, November 19, 2003 Holidays will stay open for business By JEFF NAGEL HOLIDAY SHOPPING will stay unregulated. City council voted last week to put the issue to bed, rejecting a final ap- peal from store employees who wanted a revived ban on statutory holiday shop- ping. Councillor Lynne Christiansen wanted to re- instate restrictions but was outvoted. Workers said they had | expanded their petition to ~. 850 names and listed 24 local businesses they say oppose holiday openings. “I don’t think we’re lis- tening to what a majority of people in this commun- ity want,” Christiansen said. She said council’s deci- sion has been inordinately swayed by the- wishes of the chamber of commerce. Councillor Rich McDa- niel, who missed the pre- vious vote, said he discus- sed the issue with several store managers and has been assured most will vo- “Stew: Christen- luntarily remain closed on Christian holidays. “I haven’t found any store that says they’re going to be open Christ- mas, Easter or New Year's,” he said. Councillor government, which abo- lished provincial legisla- tion that banned holiday shopping. That has left the issue unrestricted since Oct. 1. “The government has sen declared a conflict of inter- est and did not vote. He’s part owner of his son's bike store - which won't open on holi- chosen to down- load it and we have to accept it,” Davies said. But Christiansen said city council didn't have to accept it. “We have been given a choice and we've made days — and says our choice,” she if he voted to Lynne said, restrict holiday Christiansen Earlier this fall shopping it could be seen as steering business to his son’s store. “We're trying to legis- late a family way of life,” ‘said councillor Marylin Davies, “There are more people in our community that have varying beliefs than ever before.” Councillors noted the issue has been forced on Terrace by the provincial council had been close to approving a chamber-led compromise plan that would have seen the city restrict store open- ings on all holidays except four in the summer months. But that fell apart when coyncillors on both sides of the issue decided to vole down the compromise and take it to an all-or- nothing vote. Remembrance Day marks first holiday store openings By SARAH A, ZIMMERMAN REMEMBRANCE Day marked the first lime some larger stares in Terrace were open for business on a statutory holiday. Zellers, Safeway and Save-On-Foods all opened their doors for business. Local representatives would nol com- ment on their openings but parking lots near all stores appeared full for much of the day. City council has voted not to re-regu- late holiday shopping since provincial le- gislation that used to govern store open- ings expired Oct.. M&M Monts, located in the Gobind Mall, was open on Remembrance Day and Thanksgiving ~ although because of its.small size it would have been exempt from’ thé“ old‘ rilés réstricting “Woliday openings. “Where we're situated we can see traffic everywhere especially across the street at the Safeway parking lot and be- hind us at Save-On Foods,” says M&M Meats owner Phil LeVesconte. “Both parking lots were full — it was interesting to sce because usually the stats that we’ve been open it’s been a ghost town in the other parking lots.” _ Despite the two grocery. stores also being open LeVesconte says traffic at his store was the same as past holidays such as Thanksgiving. Though he understands the arguments for shoppers. says. against slat holiday opening he says the bottom line is he’s in the service industry and that means being open for business “We'll never be open Christmas Day, New Year’s Day or Easter Sunday,” he “As lar as other stat holidays like Labour Day we.will be open.” “77 eVesconté is Ain ex military member and said though he was open on Remem- brance Day, as per his franchise agree- ment, he chose to open the store after 11 am. to respect the traditional time of si- lence and remembrance. City urged to pitch in for track ADVOCATES of a rubber- ized track at Skeena Jr. Secondary School want the city and the province to share the costs of the $225,000 project. . Terrace Track and Field Assocation director. Dight- - on Haynes urged council lo consider contributing $80,000, 10 be matched by identical amounts from the province and the school district. “Smithers has a track. So does Prince Rupert,” Haynes said. “It’s Ter- race's turn.” The track was rebuilt with the replacement this year of Skeena Jr., but local runners want a higher quality track .with a rub- berized surface. They’ve raised $15,000 over two years toward the goal, Haynes said. But he said the rubber lrack project can't tap lot- tery grants or bingo money because it sits on school district-owned property. City council voted to discuss the issue with the school board. One possible option, councillors ‘said, might be for the school district to sell the track land to the city or another party for $1. That way the project could tap grant money. 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