Mixed reaction from business groups as BC moves Family Day

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VICTORIA (NEWS 1130) – One day after dropping a hint that Family Day in his province may be moved, Premier John Horgan confirms it’s happening. Starting next year, Family Day in this province will be moved to the third week in February.

This will align the date of the holiday with that of other provinces including Ontario.

Family Day was first introduced under the former BC Liberal government in 2013 following a consultation process that, at the time, recommended the holiday be either on the second or third Monday of February, according to a statement from the current NDP government.

Christy Clark and company decided it would be on the second Monday.

“Moving Family Day is the right thing to do for businesses small and large, and is better for families who may be spread out across the country,” said Horgan in a statement. “This gives families an opportunity to schedule and spend more time with loved ones from other provinces.”

Surrey Board of Trade CEO Anita Huberman is happy with the change.

“The misalignment of Family Day causes inconvenience, increased costs, and lost opportunity for businesses of all sizes and in various industries,” said Huberman. “The economic benefit from this change will greatly assist our members, and especially small- and medium-sized businesses, across the province.”

She feels given Surrey is a border community, it’s important to keep business flowing with other jurisdictions, instead of being off for the holiday. “We’re still trading goods across the border nationally and across the border and with the misalignment, families — that were still in business were still working on the BC Family Day because it was misaligned with the other provinces and the US.”

Huberman says the so-called misalignment actually cost more than $20 million. “And this doesn’t even include the nearly $18 billion in annual BC exports to the US, over $71 million per business day where manufacturers and suppliers were inconvenienced.”

Despite some business groups being in favour of the move, Christopher Nicolson with the Canada West Ski Areas Association, isn’t pleased. “The ski industry is disappointed there’s a lost opportunity to help drive incremental tourist visits into the province and that’s a lost opportunity for additional tax revenues that go into government services but we were aware that was a possibility during the election campaign. It’s not a great surprise.”

He feels having the holiday separate from other provinces actually benefitted BC. “When you’ve got a separate BC holiday what you’re able to do, British Columbia residents are able to enjoy the recreational facilities around the province. If you’re now competing with Washington guests that are coming in because of the President’s Day week and the Alberta guests that are coming in because of the Family Day weekend there, now British Columbians aren’t going to have as much availability for space. And they’ll be paying more for those services because the demand for it will be high.”

BC’s Family Day next year will fall on February 18th.

BC Liberals issue statement

It’s disappointing to see the BC NDP take aim at the tourism industry by unilaterally moving Family Day.

The BC Family Day weekend has become one of the top performing business periods of the year for many B.C. ski destinations, generating between $7-10 million in incremental visitor spending per winter. In a time of economic uncertainty for many industries, John Horgan is now saying he doesn’t have their back.

The absolute lack of consultation is a slap in the face to the sector and highlights the NDP’s priorities, which clearly aren’t British Columbian jobs.

It’s another reminder the BC NDP simply doesn’t care about small businesses or the economy. The NDP is taking opportunities away from our resource based industries, needlessly putting our wine industry at risk, threatening the agricultural sector and are now going after our tourism economy.

It seems the only thing this government will not consult on is creating jobs.

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