Rally against Sunday shopping

To the Editor:



Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Philip Gould and I am the Valley contact for an upcoming Sunday shopping rally that will be held at Parade Square in Halifax Sunday, Nov. 5, 2006.

I have been busy trying to get the word out, putting up flyers from Wolfville to Greenwood. This is an important issue, and the people of this province deserve better.

The Premier and the Conservative Party of this province need to be held accountable in regard to their non-democratic handling of the Sunday shopping issue. Their resolution to this matter has left a bad taste on my pallet about politics once again. The people of this province spoke democratically on Oct. 16, 2004. A 55 per cent majority ‘No’ to Sunday shopping vote was cast.

During our recent election, the Premier stated that he would respect the original terms of the plebiscite and respect the voice of the people, which had spoken in October 2004.

"Our families, Our future, Our home�. Sound familiar to you? “Nova Scotia families are the foundation on which our province will grow and prosper.�

Quoted from the Honourable Rodney MacDonald during our most recent election. Yet so quickly and easily he took away a day that encourage our families, our future and our homes.

The addition of holidays to the equation further takes away from our families, our future and our homes.

There’s no doubt that each of our lives have become more demanding and hectic. Sundays and holidays are days that each of us could look forward to sharing with our families.

You have heard all the debates, viewpoints and opinions. What we need to do is get to the heart of the matter.

If our province is truly about our families, our future and our homes, as the Premier stated, then we need to take back our Sundays. We need to have our voices heard.

At the end of the day, consumers will not have any more discretionary income to spend. My employer will not be increasing my wages because the stores are now open on Sundays.

Has our society reached the point of saturation, where are lives are so hectic that we’re unable to complete all our shopping in six days? This is Nova Scotia, and one of the features that many love about us is our slower pace.

The reason we as constituents cast our votes are to elect representatives (MLAs) and give them a mandate to carry out the wishes of the people. A democratic vote in 2004 stated that the wishes of the people were not to allow Sunday shopping.

I would ask that the wishes of the people of this province are expressed to the MacDonald Tories and have them bring this matter to the legislature this fall for an open debate among all MLAs.



Philip Gould

Kentville, N.S.