Retail businesses that have hours of operation on Sundays currently restricted to noon to 6 p.m. would be allowed to operate without restriction on Boxing Day under a proposed amendment to the Retail Business Holiday Closing Act. This act was introduced in the legislature by Labour and Immigration Minister Jennifer Howard.
“This amendment recognizes the importance of Boxing Day to retailers in the province,” said Howard. “Boxing Day has become the largest shopping day in Manitoba and it is supported by consumers as well as retailers.”
Existing legislation restricts retail stores to operating between noon and 6 p.m. on Sundays, and this proposed amendment would remove that restriction when Boxing Day falls on a Sunday. Retailers requested the change to allow consumers and retailers to take advantage of every opportunity on Boxing Day.
The amendment would automatically allow unrestricted shopping on Boxing Day in all communities with a Sunday shopping bylaw. Municipalities that wish to restrict shopping on Boxing Day can do so by passing a bylaw. The amendment does not allow Sunday shopping in municipalities that do not currently have a Sunday shopping bylaw.
The amendment only applies when Boxing Day falls on a Sunday. The next time Boxing Day is a Sunday will be Dec. 26, 2021.
More information on rules for Boxing Day are on the Manitoba Labour and Immigration Employment Standards website at
www.manitoba.ca/labour/standards.
