A number of area grocery stores will remain open Friday, despite Premier Doug Ford’s earlier pronouncement that these essential workers would be off both Friday and Sunday.
One Midland retail employee, who asked not to be identified, said she was told they’re opening Good Friday because this region’s considered a tourist area.
But that doesn’t seem to make a whole lot of sense when one considers ongoing announcements from all levels of government and health officials that everyone should be staying home.
Even Tiny Township sent out yet another announcement late Thursday afternoon asking seasonal residents to stay home.
“We appreciate that Tiny is a second home for many of our residents, and we look forward to welcoming you back when our local resources and healthcare system can support your return,” the township wrote in a release.
“Now is not the time to visit your seasonal or weekend properties. Heed the public health warnings – stay home."
Premier Doug Ford announced a break for grocery store and pharmacy workers — Friday and Sunday off for the upcoming holiday long weekend amid the coronavirus pandemic.
“The truth is that everyone working in our grocery stores and pharmacies, our truck drivers and those working the line, they have been working day and night for weeks to keep the food and medicine we need on the shelves,” Ford said during an announcement at Queen’s Park on Wednesday.
“One way we are saying ‘thank you,’ is making sure they have this Friday and Sunday off. They deserve a break and some quality time with their families.”
And while some stores like Midland's Foodland are considered to be independently owned and operated, a store employee referred a request for comment about the Friday opening to parent company Sobeys’ head office in Nova Scotia.
Requests for comment from Sobeys and Walmart Canada weren’t returned in time for publication, but Ivana Yelich, who serves as director of media relations and press secretary in the premier’s office, did offer some insight.
“The Retail Business Holidays Act says retail businesses in Ontario must be closed on nine holidays, including Good Friday and Easter Sunday, each year,” Yelich wrote in an email.
“We have decided to maintain the status quo to give workers the break they rightfully deserve.”
But when asked why stores can still open despite the premier’s announcement earlier this week and directives from health and government officials that people shouldn’t travel, Yelich sent a link to the act, which allows a number of exceptions, including for stores that operate in designated tourist areas.
“As I said, the current law stands,” she wrote. “We haven’t made any changes (and) aren’t making any changes to the act despite calls for the government to allow all stores to be open. We have decided to maintain the status quo to give workers the break they rightfully deserve.”
The Retail Council of Canada also issued a release to “clear up any confusion” related to Ford’s comments.
“Hours of operation for statutory holidays have not changed in Ontario and so it is business as usual,” the organization stated in a release. “Grocery stores may continue to operate, if they so choose, in those municipalities that have a by-law in place to allow them to do so.”
In Bradford, Walmart is open Friday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and closed Sunday, Sobeys is open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and closed Sunday, No Frills is open Friday 7 a.m. to 4 p.m and closed Sunday, Zehrs and Food Basics are closed both Friday and Sunday,