Hudson Bay Court seeks review on unnecessary retail closures in the Toronto area

Toronto – The Hudson Bay Co. has called for a review of the province’s decision to temporarily shut down unwanted retailers in Toronto and Peel, calling the government’s policy “unreasonable and unfair.”

The retailer, one of the leading department stores in the country, filed a request for a judicial review today.

HBC said it wanted the court to recognize the injustice of the situation and the need for a solution that prioritizes health and safety without harming the livelihoods of thousands of retail workers and the future of many businesses.

The Ontario government last month ordered the closure of all unwanted businesses in Toronto and the neighboring Peel Region in an effort to curb rising COVID-19 infections.

HBC court documents state that provincial health data show shoppers are not contributing in any significant way to the spread of the coronavirus novel.

The court application comes after a consortium of about 50 retailers, including HBC, signed a letter last week that would force consumers to buy goods in large boxes and discount stores, while thousands of retailers would have to close products.

(The Canadian Press)