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'-'I WHITBY FREE PRESS,WEDNIzVA Y,JANUARY 8,1986, PAGE 3 Stores open on Boxing Day charged Durham Region Police have laid charges against four Whitby businesses for remaining open on Boxing Day. Best Choice Fur- niture, Carpet World, Factory Carpet and the Whitby Rose Nursery have all been charged with defying the Retail Business Holidays Act. The act prohibits non- tourist retail stores from doing business on Sundays, Christmas, Boxing Day and six other official holidays. "We stayed open out of necessity," said Best Choice Furniture's ex- pediting manager Hubert Kramm. "If we hadn't, the dollars spent locally, would have been lost to Toronto." Kramm said his store bas been "forced" to .open on Sundays on and off for the past eight months for the same reason. Boxing Day was the first time, however, that police have laid charges against the store. While sales on Boxing Day "weren't too bad," Kramm said it would be unlikely that extra profits would compen- sate for the extra costs if the courts decided to mete out the $10,000 maximum fine for violating the act. Of the 150 store owners charged under the act in Toronto, many claim sales were so good that they would even be ahead if made to pay the maximum penalty. Factory Carpet manager John Hamblet describes the decision for the Whitby store to remain open as "a cor- porate one". While business was slow locally, as he said he expected, some of Fac- tory Carpet's Toronto stores did extremely well. "People here aren't prone to getting dressed and going shopping on Sundays and holidays, and if they are, it's to Toronto that they head," he explained. December 26 was the first time that the store has defied the act - not out of fear of fines but out of the belief that ex- tra profits wouldn't justify the costs, said Hamblet. He expects Factory Carpet's case to be called to court later this month, but is confident that it will be remanded pending the Supreme Court of Canada ruling on Toronto furrier Paul Magder. The Spadina - mer- chant has challenged the act on the basis that it is discriminatory. Municipalities are currently empowered to decide which businesses qualify as "tourist in- dustries" and can legally remain open on holidays. While Magder's business is located in a prohibited zone, only one block away in Toronto's Chinatown, stores can remain open on Sunday. Hamblet fully expects Magder to win his case and that police will drop the charges against local businesses. If not, he believes fines will be kept to "a fraction of the maximum". Although, any fine, he hastened to add, "would negate the benefit of having been open on Boxing Day." Report from Queen's Park By THE HON. GEORGE ASHE, MPP (PC - Durham West) Abortion is one of the most complex issues facing society today. An open discussion of this issue would probably split all three parties in this, or in fact any, Provincial Legislature. That is why, with this column, I do not speak for the Progressive Conser- vative Party. I am speaking my own mind. Prior to the May Provincial election, David Peterson publicly declared that he had become a supporter of the "Right to Life" movement and if elected would immediately close down the Morgen- taler Clinic. Since he has bècome Premier, however, he has not followed through with this commitment, which.is why "Right to Life" demon- strators dog bis footsteps. Peterson should live up to his principles and close down the abortion clinic opened by Dr. Morgentaler in Toronto. In fact, the Premier bas very sound legal reasons for having the clinic shut down. The recent court decision over-turning Morgentaler's acquittal made that possible. In 1983, Dr. Morgen- taler was released from jail on the assumption that he would not perform further abortions. The bail Judge said, "if I had corne to the conclusion that there was a substantial likelihood that they would recommit this offence I would detain them by a simple straightforward detention order." Morgentaler, and his colleagues, were released from jail because the Judge assumed that they would not continue to operate their abortion clinic. But the clinit continues to operate. Existing laws do not allow for free standing abor- tion clinics. Under the Criminal Code of Canada abortions are only allowed in accredited hospitals and after approval by a committee of doctors and professional staff. The Morgentaler clinic, therefore, is in clear violation of the present law. But the question of an amendment to the Criminal Code in this matter must be made at the Federal level. In the meantime the Peterson Government has turned a blind eye to the Morgentaler Clinic, and SEEPG. 10 GIVE BLOOD CHICKEN SEAtUOD THE GIFT OF LIFE BCKT STOREWIDE CLEARANCE JAN.9 - JAN.18 15 PCSOF TEND 20-50% OFF ENTIRE STOCK OF LADIES & MENS QUALITY BRAND NAME CLOTHING SPECIAL RACK OF LADIES DRESSES THIS THURS. , FR1., SAT. &-SUN. REG.TO'85 - AT YOR LOCAL DIXIE LEE I17DUNDASST.E.,WHITBY MERCANTI LE DEPT. STORE CALL AND INQUIRE ABOUT OUR LADIES & MENS CLOTHERSCO P U 321 BROCK ST. S., WHITBY PLAZA C MPLT 668-3468 CATERING SERVICE. THE WOODCRAFT l2th ANNUAL JANUARYSALE BET Sture-'Wide Sale on Ail Furniture! 'THE CONTEMPORARY COLLECTION' 15% oOFF IN STORE SPECIALS upto 20% OFF INVENTORY CLEARANCE & CUSTOMER CANCELLATIONS upRto 40% OFF