Now suburbia wants in on the tourist zone
Plan to declare Toronto one giant tourism zone attracts concern
January 17, 2008, 8:56 PM by Barry Hertz
A plan to declare all of Toronto one giant tourism zone, allowing stores throughout the city to remain open almost year-round, is attracting the envy of neighbouring municipalities.
The Post's Chris Wattie and Ashley Spegel report:
If the proposal is adopted by the city’s economic development committee next month, and eventually approved by city council, it would mean all of Toronto’s retail outlets will be able to remain open on statutory holidays, except on Christmas Day.
At a public meeting at Toronto City Hall last night, some speakers expressed concern the plan could hurt businesses in the suburbs that border Toronto.
“Mississauga and Pickering won’t sit back and watch Toronto take all the business,†said Ed Lincz, director of retail for Eastern Canada for Morguard Investments, Ltd., a real estate company that owns plazas in Mississauga, Woodbridge and other Ontario cities.“If this law is approved it is going to effect the rest of the province.â€
Mississauga politicians are worried that Toronto’s plan, which would allow stores to open between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. on holidays, would put their city at a disadvantage in attracting tourists and their all-important shopping dollars.
Carolyn Parrish, a Mississauga councillor, has reportedly called the proposal to allow Toronto stores to open on statutory holidays “a serious problem†for local businesses.
If stores and malls in neighbouring Toronto are open when Mississauga outlets are not, valuable tourist shopping dollars could flow into the bigger city. Ms. Parrish is asking Peel Region councillors to consider adopting measures like those being contemplated by Toronto.
But there is a catch: Toronto’s neighbours must ask the provincial government to approve any such changes. Under the new City of Toronto Act, which went into effect last year, the city has the power to govern hours of operation for its retail businesses.
Mayor Hazel McCallion, of Mississauga, has promised to lobby the province for similar powers. Duncan Ross, the director of tourism for the city, said the last option is being recommended to the economic development committee because it will level the playing field for all businesses in the city.
“We’re adding some clarity to what is now a confusing situation,†he said. “What’s open on a statutory holiday depends on what kind of business it is and where it is.â€
“We want a made-in-Toronto solution to resolve this in the best interests of retailers big and small.†The city’s tourism department has put forward three proposals on how to deal with the question of stores remaining open on holidays: the status quo, meaning that only retail stores in the existing tourism zones can open; making only the city’s downtown core a zone; and extending the zone to cover the entire city.
Mr. Ross said tourism officials had already sounded out some business leaders and city residents on the idea “and the feedback was very positive.â€
At the public meeting, Judy Morgan, the city’s director of tourism development stressed that shopping serves to lure tourists to Toronto. “On holiday, tourists want to enjoy the city and shop,†Ms. Morgan said.