Sunday shopping law causing problems in Nova Scotia

Provincial Liberals — who originally supported changes to the labour code — say changes are making it hard for employers to do business

Nova Scotia Liberals are rethinking their support of changes to the province’s Labour Standards Code that opened the door to Sunday shopping.

Liberal leader Danny Graham told the Halifax Herald the legislation is “clearly spinning out of control.”

The Sunday shopping bill, which passed unanimously in the legislature just a couple of weeks ago, also contains changes to the code that are making it hard for companies to conduct business, said Graham. One of the problems he cited is a change that give employees who work more than 48 hours a week overtime pay of one-and-a-half times their hourly wage.

“I’ve spoken to operators of at least half-a-dozen business just in the last day who have said to us there is a grave concern here that there is an overreach with this piece of legislation,” said Graham.

Some concern has come from the construction industry. Since any worker who puts in more than 48 hours in a week will have to be paid more than they used to be, and most contractors didn’t take that into account when bidding on projects, many projects could take longer to complete because employers won’t be able to afford to keep employees on longer than 48 hours per week.

There’s also been some concerns expressed by employees who put in extra time. They will essentially take a pay cut if their employers refuse to let them work more than 48 hours per week.

Nova Scotia currently has a minority government led by Conservative Premier John Hamm. Rob Batherson, a spokesman for Hamm’s office, told the Herald the only way to change the legislation is to recall the legislature, which is in recess. The house can’t be brought back within 30 days without consent of all three parties.

Batherson said its something cabinet and caucus are going to discuss. Graham said the Liberals supported the bill because they were in favour of Sunday shopping.

NDP leader Darrell Dexter, whose party introduced the amendments to the code, said the changes are positive and was surprised by the Liberal’s about face.

“They voted for it twice (once in law amendments and again in the main chamber) and now are complaining about it,” said Dexter.

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