176.81(1)In this section, “weekly day of rest” means the weekly day of rest as defined in the Days of Rest Act.

176.81(2)Twenty-five or more residents of a rural district who are qualified to vote in an advisory committee election for the rural district may petition the Minister to authorize the operation of retail businesses on the weekly day of rest in the rural district.

176.81(3)A rural district advisory committee may make a recommendation to the Minister that the Minister authorize the operation of retail businesses on the weekly day of rest in the rural district.

176.81(4)After being petitioned under subsection (2) or receiving a recommendation under subsection (3), the Minister may issue a permit authorizing the operation of a retail business on the weekly day of rest in the rural district, subject to any conditions that the Minister considers appropriate and, in determining whether to issue the permit, the Minister shall consider any recommendation of the advisory committee.

176.81(5)The Minister may amend, suspend or revoke a permit issued under subsection (4) only after being petitioned under subsection (2) or receiving a recommendation under subsection (3).

176.81(6)If the Minister receives a petition under subsection (2) or a recommendation under subsection (3), the Minister shall not receive another petition or recommendation dealing with the same matter in the rural district for a period of one year after the date of the original petition or recommendation.

176.81(7)The date for determining whether a person is qualified to vote in a rural district advisory committee election for the purposes of subsection (2) shall be the date of the making of the petition.

176.81(8)A person who violates or fails to comply with a condition imposed in a permit issued under subsection (4) commits an offence punishable under Part 2 of the Provincial Offences Procedure Act as a category C offence.