Toss the turkey and add the family.
There are nine statutory holidays in British Columbia, only three of which occur during the first six months of the year.
It is a bleak fact the coldest, darkest and, for many, loneliest months of the year are afforded the fewest holidays.
This is why Premier Christy Clark is banking on her Family Day holiday brightening minds – and, perhaps, her chances at winning re-election in 2013.
Clark has followed Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Prince Edward Island in adding a statutory holiday in late February.
It would be a welcome break in the vast monotony of winter that stretches from New Year’s Day to Good Friday. That’s almost four months without a non-weekend break. Yet, British Columbians enjoy a holiday per month from Canada Day to Christmas.
Packing days off in the months of good weather makes sense, but is there really a need for three more statutory holidays in the colder months that follow?
Clark’s decision has businesses concerned about the costs incurred in increased wages, lost revenue and decreased production. They are fair concerns.
To address business concerns, Alberta eliminated a stat holiday in August when creating Family Day. B.C. could do the same – adding a much-needed holiday in February to help bridge this most barren of seasons, while scratching a stat from the holiday-rich back end of the calendar.
If a stat holiday has to go, we suggest Thanksgiving be sacrificed, as is done with turkeys each year.
This year, Labour Day falls just 35 days before Thanksgiving and Remembrance Day arrives only 32 days after Thanksgiving.
Surely, workers in B.C. would choose a February break over an October reprieve.
– Kamloops This Week