Not all P.E.I. shops to open Sunday

Some shops on P.E.I. will choose to close this Sunday when winter Sunday shopping comes to the Island this weekend for the first time, while others will be forced to open.

The opposition bill to allow Sunday shopping year-round passed in November and was proclaimed Christmas Eve. Previously, major retail stores could only open between Victoria Day and Christmas.

Opposition leader Olive Crane said the bill was meant to give Island retailers a choice, but in practice many will be forced to open. At the Charlottetown Mall, lease agreements state when the big box stores are open, smaller stores must open too. Virginia MacIsaac, who manages two stores in the mall, isn't happy about it.

"It is going to really affect our profitability as stores here on Prince Edward Island," MacIsaac told CBC News Wednesday.

"We do not have a large population base to draw from. So really instead of having six days of business it'll be seven, with the same dollar amount being brought into our store."

MacIsaac said there should have been more consultation before the law was changed.

Some stores that have the choice are choosing not to open. Proude's shoes is in a mini-mall in Sherwood. The owners have never been open on Sundays and don't plan on starting now.

"The benefits of being closed and that down time for staff and family far outweighs the little that we may gain in sales," said Kevin Proude.

The Confederation Court Mall is also staying closed on Sunday. Those stores only ever opened on the few Sundays before Christmas. In Summerside, the County Fair mall will open while the Waterfront mall will not. Bigger stores like Walmart and Zellers will be open.

But some restrictions to Sunday shopping still apply. Retailers still can't open their doors before noon.