Store hours referendum: Sudbury council will have to decide after all

Despite general voter turnout of nearly 51 percent, city officials report the referendum questions on deregulating store hours in Sudbury were not binding.

Each question required a 50 per cent voter turnout, andnot enough people voted on the three referendum questions to make the results stick.

The decision on deregulating store hours will once again fall to city council.

Of those who did vote on the store hours questions:

• 61 per cent voted in favour of allowing stores to open on Boxing Day
• 62 per cent voted yes to allowing businesses to open on the Civic holiday in August.
• 75.5 percent were in favour of allowing stores to set their own hours

Sudbury business owner and Chamber of Commerce member John Querney said the referendumresults were something they've never encountered before.

"So I guess, now we'll leave it up to the lawyers to discuss all those things."

Querney said he'sconfident city council will support deregulation.

Mayor-elect Brian Bigger saidhe will make it a priority to bring theissue to council.

"That's a definite yes. There was a very strong mandate from the people whodid vote."