Doors closed on Sunday shopping referendum

Advertisement

Advertise with us

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 18/09/2018 (2017 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The debate over whether Steinbach should allow Sunday shopping may continue, but the question of whether a referendum question be added to the Oct. 24 municipal election ballot was answered definitively on Tuesday night.

Council received a petition with 503 names requesting a referendum to ask a question regarding allowing all businesses the choice to be open on Sundays in Steinbach. The campaign’s chief advocate, David Banman, noted in correspondence to council that about 80 percent of those who signed the petition were Steinbach residents and another 20 percent of signatories were people who work or shop in Steinbach.

Banman had surmised this week’s council meeting would be the final opportunity to convince councillors, before ballots are finalized for the October vote.

However, as city manager Troy Warkentin advised council, a notice of motion would need to be presented by a member of council to revisit their decision on Aug. 7 against holding a referendum. Even then, council would only be able to entertain new discussion on the matter at their meeting on Oct. 2.

The council accepted the petition as information but had no further discussion on the issue.

Banman, who was in attendance for Tuesday’s meeting, continued to express disappointment in the current council.

“I think council has been very clear that unless you’re a business person, they may listen to you, but anyone else’s opinion in the community about Sunday shopping is irrelevant.”

Though the idea of a referendum question may no longer be possible, Banman said advocacy work will continue.

“I’m not ready to give up yet. I think there’s more we can still do,” he said, adding he’s interested to see what candidates and future councils have to say on the issue.

“Maybe somebody is willing to listen to the people of Steinbach. At this point 15,000 people’s voices are being ignored. Unless you’re a handful of business people, you don’t even seem to get an audience here and I think that’s an issue.”

Mayor Chris Goertzen defended the decision, noting there were different reasons around the council table for not supporting a referendum. The mayor, in council’s Aug. 7 vote, reiterated his opposition to governing through referendum and noted council could take action without such a plebiscite.

“I think it would be appropriate for citizens to engage candidates at their doors if this is an important issue for them,” he said.

Report Error Submit a Tip

Advertisement

Advertise With Us

Local

LOAD MORE