Decision on new stat holiday open for your vote
By Contributor
Minister of Labour, Citizens’ Services and Open Government Margaret MacDiarmid and Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation Pat Bell were joined by families and community members at the Royal B.C. Museum today to announce a consultation process with British Columbians for choosing which Monday in February will be the new official statutory holiday, Family Day.
“Every B.C. family is unique, but one thing we all share in common is we’re some of the hardest workers around. By waiting to implement the holiday until 2013, and consulting on the best timing of the holiday, we’ll ensure we find the most appropriate date, and maximize the benefit to families and to business,” said minister of jobs, tourism and innovation Pat Bell.
Whether families choose to enjoy a local tourist attraction, a visit to a park, a meal out, a day of skiing or just to spend time with their loved ones, celebrating Family Day will be a great chance for families to spend quality time together starting February 2013 – and British Columbians now have the opportunity to tell government which day will work best for them.
Government will begin a citizen engagement process with the public, and consult with worker groups, employers, the tourism industry and the broader business sector in order to ensure all potential economic and social benefits are taken into account before finalizing a February date for the new holiday.
“B.C.’s new Family Day is a chance to celebrate the wonderful diversity of families in our province, and the contribution that our loved ones make to our lives and our communities,” added Marilee Peters, acting executive director, B.C. Council for Families.
“Giving families this opportunity to spend time with one another is so valuable, especially now when our lives are increasingly busy and hectic. Family Day can be a chance for us all to take a moment to reflect on the importance of family, and to think about how we can make time for family throughout the year.”
By having Family Day on the third Monday in February, British Columbians will share the same day with five other Canadian provinces, and with the United States’ President’s Day. By having it on the second Monday, British Columbians will be able to enjoy not only ski hills, but also parks and other local attractions throughout the Province without other long-weekend traffic.
Since unveiling its Open Government plan in 2011, the Province has implemented a number of new policies and programs including the launch of the Open Information and DataBC websites, as well as a major redesign of the government’s web presence to make it more citizen-focused and user-friendly. In the coming months, B.C. will introduce a new public engagement website to better communicate and collaborate with British Columbians.
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