Chamber of Commerce launches plebiscite campaign – “Full Deregulation: It’s About Time. It’s About Choice.”

October 5, 2004 - Halifax, NS – The Halifax Chamber of Commerce, today, launched its member-driven campaign to organize businesses and their employees to vote in favour of the Sunday shopping plebiscite attached to the October 16 municipal election.

“This plebiscite isn’t about shopping on Sundays,” says Stephen Plummer, Chair of the Board of the Halifax Chamber of Commerce. “This plebiscite is about allowing business people the right to select and set their own hours of operation. And to allow consumers the opportunity to choose what shopping days best suit their needs.”

‘Full Deregulation: It’s About Time. It’s About Choice.’ is positioned to engage Chamber members, their employees and other business people in HRM to mobilize in support of the full deregulation of store hours. The campaign is simple, but the Chamber hopes, very effective.

“The truth is that the general public and other businesses need to hear from our members, the business owners, managers, entrepreneurs and family-focused people that make-up our organization. That’s why HRM will be hearing from these business people over the next two weeks,” says Plummer.

Chamber members, including restauranteurs, one-person businesses and retailers have signed-on to become the voice and face of the deregulation argument. Beginning Wednesday, October 6 and continuing until the plebiscite on October 16, the Chamber will be releasing statements from these members in support of deregulation to the media and Chamber members at large.

“Our goal is to make the business community’s voice in this debate heard and carefully weighed before voters fill-out that plebiscite ballot on October 16,” comments Plummer. “The ultimate goal is to see Nova Scotia catch-up with the rest of Canada and provide their businesses with an even playing field; the ability to determine their own hours of operation. This issue isn’t about Sunday shopping alone, it’s about the right to choose.”

In conjunction with the launch of the plebiscite campaign, the Chamber released its municipal election primer for members. The tri-fold brochure offers Chamber members quick access to information about important election issues for the business community.

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For more information, please contact:
Debbie Buott, Communication Coordinator
(902) 468-7111, ext. 224
debbie@halifaxchamber.com

For broadcast use:

     The Halifax Chamber of Commerce, today, launched its member-driven

campaign to organize businesses and their employees to vote in favour of the

Sunday shopping plebiscite attached to the October 16 municipal election.

    The campaign entitled ‘Full Deregulation: It’s About Time. It’s About Choice.’

is positioned to engage Chamber members, their employees and other business

people in HRM to mobilize in support of the full deregulation of store hours. The

campaign is simple, but the Chamber hopes, very effective.

     Chamber members, including restauranteurs, one-person businesses and

retailers have signed-on to become the voice and face of the deregulation

 argument.      
    

     Beginning Wednesday, October 6 and continuing until the plebiscite on

Ocotber 16, the Chamber will be releasing statements from these members in

support of deregulation to the media and other Chamber members.

     “Our goal is to make the business community’s voice in this debate heard and

carefully weighed before voters fill-out that plebiscite ballot on October 16,” said

Stephen Plummer, Chair of the Board for the Halifax Chamber of Commerce.

“The ultimate goal is to see Nova Scotia catch-up with the rest of Canada and

provide their businesses with an even playing field; the ability to determine their

own hours of operation. This issue isn’t about Sunday shopping alone, it’s about

the right to choose.”

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