Shop ‘til You Drop: Reflections on the Decision of the PEI Legislature

(by Mark Parent)
Also on ChronicleHerald.ca


Recently, the PEI Legislature voted to support Sunday shopping twelve months a year. The decision was close and was decided by the Speaker who, parting with tradition, broke the tie by voting for change rather than the status quo.
While I find such a decision distressing it is not unexpected due to two factors.
The first is the loss of concern for the wider community. In this case, the community in question is the community of retail workers who previously had enjoyed having Sunday off to be with their families. Retail workers are among the most vulnerable of all workers in our society. They have little power, low salaries and no union voice. One wonders what the result would have been if the vote had concerned having teachers work on Sunday.
The second, and more important fact, is that we have become a society which is centered on consumerism. Instead of homo erectus we are now homo consumis. We know the price of everything. We define ourselves by what we own and work ourselves into a frenzy of excitement in anticipation of our next purchase. So persuasive is our addition to buying and shopping that we now have companies that make their business decluttering our lives of things so that we may have space for more things!
Clearly, I find such behavior distasteful. I believe that the spirit decays when the chief goal of our life and our society is focused on shopping. My personal quibbles aside, though, there is a more persuasive reason why we must move away from an emphasis on consumption. Put simply our society, our world, cannot support such behavior. The Global Footprint organization has computed that if everyone on this planet lived at the lifestyle we North Americans do it would take several worlds to provide the materials to support such a lifestyle.
Little wonder that the Environment Minister in the country of India, Jairam Ramesh has warned his fellow citizens not to embrace the consumer model of Europe and North America. Indeed, he has even gone so far as to call people who drive large SUV vehicles in urban areas "criminal."
But in spite of such warnings and concerns we seem to be stuck in our destructive behavior. Witness President Obama’s solution to the recent financial crisis when he encouraged Americans to go out and shop. Like lemmings we rush headlong to the cliff edge or, better put, like shoppers searching for the latest bargain we crash the doors of the mall even if we have to trample over each other to get there.
PEI politicians could have and should have taken a small stance against consumerism. After all, our consumer behavior is in large part responsible for our addiction to fossil fuels which is the main cause of climate change and climate change threatens PEI’s very existence as a province with rising sea levels. Sadly, however, they did not.

Sunday shopping bill passes Third Reading in PEI

Sunday shopping has passed it's third reading to allow Sunday shopping all year on PEI. Speaker Kathleen Casey broke the tie to allow Sunday shopping all year around. Last week, P.E.I. MLAs also split their vote on the proposed changes to the Retail Business Holidays Act with 13 MLAs voting for the bill and 13 MLAs voting against the bill.
How sad that elected officials decided what was best for retail workers on PEI. Olive Crane did not consult Islanders who worked in these stores, but took it upon her self to bring a private members bill to the legislature. Robert Ghiz, the premier could have decided to leave this issue alone, but let it go to a free vote in the legislature.
What's real upsetting to see it was actually one person's decision that will change PEI for ever unless the laws are reversed.
Why should one person decide what's best for retail workers? Kathleen Casey and MLA's who supported her made a decision for other people who don't want any part of Sunday shopping.
What's wrong with this picture folks? Shouldn't retail workers be consulted? Why are government officials along with big business dictating to retail workers what to do on the traditional day of rest? Employee's who work hard to serve you each and every day. Employee's that pay taxes and employee's who vote for our legislative members .But they had no say, retail workers were belittled for what they believe in .
Is it any wonder why so many people give up in voting? In Nova Scotia our politicians went as far to break the law and ignore a binding plebiscite. And to blame the courts for it. The vote wasn't honored in Nova Scotia. Prince Edward Island wouldn't even give it's citizens a chance to respond to this issue. It was rushed through the legislature within one week. A lot of issues are brought through the legislature and never rushed through the degree that this issue was. No wonder people do not want to vote any more. We have our politicians who don't consult people and those who break laws running this country. Let's work to make PEI and N.S a better place. Tell two of you're friends about our site and ask them to tell two other people. Let's keep the chain of truth moving. The truth will set us all free and at the end of the day, we'll all feel good for it.