A National Day of Rest --- Save Our Sundays
I sent a email off to the Christian Heritage party, and never heard back from them. Our group is opposed to Sunday shopping and would support a National Day of rest. We have been very vocal in Nova Scotia last fall when our province went to the polls to decide whether or not to have Sunday shopping. We are more than just consumers , we are here to rest, spend time with our kids and go to church. All groups need to reunite in this cause so that we can have any effect. I would like to invite you to visit our web site - http://saveoursundays.tripod.com We also have a yahoo groups where we discuss Sunday shopping world-wide and invite anyone to join- http://groups.yahoo.com/group/saveoursundays/ Blessings Tony Lohnes Save Our Sundays

Hi sos During the last election I know party HQ was inundated with emails. It took them many months to catch up. It's possible it got lost somewhere along the way. Here's our position on Sunday Shopping 6. LORD'S DAY ACT We believe that the Lord's Day Act should be restored, subject to provision for essential services, and faiths or denominations which desire a day other than Sunday, for religious observance. In all cases, there must be given one day in every seven for rest and observance See 6.2.2 & 3.1.6). As found here We're with you on this! :-)

I go to church on Saturday so I would be opposed to a national Sunday law, but I do support a requirement for people to have at least one day out of 7 to rest.

Isn't unity a beautiful thing!! :D :P :D

others have Sunday off
Interesting to note that governmment workers,banks,schools,municipal workers, MLA's, registry of motor vehicles are all closed on Sunday. Thats just a few examples. But retail stores for the most part are open all across Canada. Why are retail workers,restaurants, casinos,taverns treated different? Millions of Canadians already enjoy Sundays home. So why can't retail have it also? We could always have a vote , to which day that Canadians close stores down,everything non essential. I'm willing to bet Sunday would be the day to be chosen if a vote were held. I have a link request . Can the Canadian Heritage party add our link on there web site please? http://saveoursundays.tripod.com Some other links of groups promoting a day of rest www.bluelaws.net http://www.keeptimeforchildren.org.uk/ http://www.keepsundayspecial.net/

I'm all in favor of having a law requiring everybody to have at least one day out of 7 to rest, but I think that the particular day they decide to take off should be left to indivuals and businesses. It shouldn't have to be any one day for everybody. For example, a Jew or a Seventh Day Adventist business owner, who do not work on Saturday, should not be required by law to close their business on Sunday as well. This was a major problem with national Sunday laws in the past. If the CHP were in power (and correct me if I'm wrong since I'm not an official spokesperson for CHP) government institutions would be closed on Sunday, but private businesses or indivual employees would have a choice as to which day out of 7 they want off.

Hi sos Thank you! I'll pass on your comments to Jim. :D

I'll repeat CHP policy on the issue: 6. LORD'S DAY ACT We believe that the Lord's Day Act should be restored, subject to provision for essential services, and faiths or denominations which desire a day other than Sunday, for religious observance. In all cases, there must be given one day in every seven for rest and observance See 6.2.2 & 3.1.6). In other words, CHP would support Sunday as a day of rest, but still allow people of other faiths or denominations to work on Sunday if they take an alternative day off. This is a just and fair policy. You mention government telling businesses to do things, but you are also forgetting about freedom of religion. A Jewish or Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) business person for example, should not have to be limited to working 5 days a week (to fulfill religious obligation on one day and government laws on another day) while his Sunday keeping competetor can work 6 days a week (and fulfill both religious and government obligations on one day). Many Jews, SDAs, and others work on Sunday to make up for the Saturday that they do not work. A national Sunday law would put such people at a disadvantage. You also mention that the main reason for a national Sunday law is for rest and to spend time with family, but if such a family does that on Saturday for example, then why do they still have to take Sunday off for? A national Sunday law totaly disregards the freedom of religion rights of minority faiths and denominations unless it is ammended to accommodate those who worship or rest on a different day. CHP policy on the issue is just, fair and makes the most sense in our multicultural and multireligious society. You mention that I'm forgetting about freedom of religion, well so is our government. Have you seen Parliament in session on Sunday? Have you seen the Nova Scotia legislature running on Sunday? How about municipal governments, schools,dentist offices, registry of motor vehicles? None of these places are open on Sunday. How many millions of Canadians are off on Sunday? Does the freedom of religion only have to do with the retail industry? Private or not there should be a law banning them from opening on Sunday ,while so many others are off and home with their families. I do not care if you flip hamburgers, you should have the same right to stay home. If everything is open then so should government have to. It should be right across the board. We all pay the same taxes. It should not matter what type of unessential job that you do, you should be treated the same. I'll tell you what why not have a Vote on which day of rest should be legislated. Monday,Tuesday,Wednesday,Thursday,Friday,Saturday and Sunday. If the majority chose Tuesday , thats the day we all rest. If it is Saturday ,this is the day we all rest. The rules will apply to everyone. If Tuesday is chosen then government offices has to open on Sunday. I'm tired of retail stores ,restaurants,coffee shops,being discriminated against. We all need equality, we all pay the same taxes. and if laws are needed to get us all on a level playing field ,then so be it. So my question to the Christian Heritage party will you close stores down Nation wide on Sunday if elected ? yes or no? I would support a vote on the issue, and I chose Sunday as our day to unwind and spend with family.

So my question to the Christian Heritage party will you close stores down Nation wide on Sunday if elected ? yes or no? I may not be an official spokesperson for CHP (although I am a CHP member), but I think this should answer your question: 2. GOVERNMENT AS EMPLOYER Employment in government should be on the basis of merit, with due consideration given to the physical and psychological differences between men and women. Government should set an example of fair benefits, hiring practices, and wage rates through its dealings with its own employees, and it should observe Sunday, where practicable, as a day of rest within all its offices and departments (See also 3.1.6). 6. NATIONAL DAY OF REST A weekly twenty-four hour period of business closure should apply to all non-essential services and businesses across Canada. In respect of our Christian heritage, the day of closure should be Sunday. However, reasonable allowance should be made for those who, because of religious convictions, observe a different day of rest (See also 3.1.1),3.1.2, & 6.2.2). http://www.chp.ca/partyPolicy/partyPolicy3.htm 6. LORD'S DAY ACT We believe that the Lord's Day Act should be restored, subject to provision for essential services, and faiths or denominations which desire a day other than Sunday, for religious observance. In all cases, there must be given one day in every seven for rest and observance See 6.2.2 & 3.1.6). http://www.chp.ca/partyPolicy/partyPolicy6.htm In other words yes, CHP would support a national Sunday law and require all government offices and private business to close on Sunday. At the same time, CHP also supports two exceptions to this law. Sunday work would be allowed for those who work essential services such as hospitals, firefighters, police, etc., and for those in the private sector who observe a different day of rest for religious purposes. I know that you will still want an answer from an official spokesperson, so I hope they answer you eventually.

Hi sos I have forwarded your question a little higher up. I can only say what our policies say. However, I do request patience in waiting for the answer, our National office is answering many, many queries. As everyone is also busy with an election, responses do tend to arrive a little slower. Thanks NGU

Greetings: Allow me to respond to the email about a specific day of rest. Foundational to Christianity is the belief in intellectual freedom and freedom of religion. See CHP Policy Sec. 6.2 3. FREEDOM OF FAITH AND WORSHIP With respect to freedom of faith and worship, we affirm that neither individuals nor legislatures may require conformity to any particular religious faith or system of beliefs. 6. LORD'S DAY ACT We believe that the Lord's Day Act should be restored, subject to provision for essential services, and faiths or denominations which desire a day other than Sunday, for religious observance. In all cases, there must be given one day in every seven for rest and observance See 6.2.2 & 3.1.6). So, the CHP in keeping with what most of Christendom would regard as the Lord’s Day, would work to reinstate Sunday as the day of rest, it would not penalize those of other groups who kept another Sabbath. These and other policies can be found under Party Policy: 'A Blueprint for Restoration' at http://www.chp.ca/partyPolicy/ . Sincerely, Leslie Bartley National Vice President Christian Heritage Party of Canada National Campaign Manager