Barbarity in Quebec

Don’t get me wrong, I love Quebec but it has this tendency towards weirdness that often gets disturbing. Consider the following news item:

A local sex shop hoping to be allowed extended hours of operation because it sells “hygienic or sanitary” products has been rebuffed in Quebec Court.

This sounds very confusing until you remember that stores have to close by 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday and at 9 p.m. on weekdays. This creates constant annoyance to people who want to buy something after 5 pm on a week-end.

As a result, store owners have to go to great lengths to demonstrate that what they are selling is crucial:

The company argued it was entitled to the legal dispensation for businesses that principally sell products that are pharmaceutical, hygienic or sanitary.

Psychologist and sexologist Dr. Michael Campbell, testifying for the defence, said the word “sanitary” means health and can apply to merchandise that contributes to sexual health, including magazines and erotic birthday cards.

Truth be told, what Dr. Campbell said is incontrovertible. But Quebec is turning towards puritanism, which is why this was the court’s response to the sexologist’s convincing argument:

Justice of the peace White said that, while the law didn’t specify the products covered by the exemption, she didn’t think the broader interpretation was “plausible” and in line with what lawmakers intended. . .

“Even in 2014,” it’s doubtful that most people would consider sex toys a product that needs to be available outside of regular commercial hours, she said.

She conceded her ruling against the store could have an impact on its financial health, but “the court does not believe that public health will be any worse for it.”

Maybe Justice White should hop into her time-travel machine and go back to her Victorian era where “most people” are as terrified of sex toys as she is.