B.C. residents will have to wait an extra week for their next Family Day long weekend, as the NDP governmentB次元官网网址檚 shift to the third Monday in February takes effect for the first time.
It wouldnB次元官网网址檛 have been on many peopleB次元官网网址檚 list of pressing problems, but moving the date to match the holiday in other provinces was a high priority for Premier John Horgan, with the amendment debated last February in the B.C. legislature. Introducing Family Day had been a signature move for former premier Christy Clark in 2013, but the NDP decided her decision to make it earlier than other provinces was business-friendly but not family-friendly.
B.C. ski resorts in particular pressed for the earlier date, to avoid room shortages and long lift lines as out-of-province tourists travelled on the common Family Day long weekend. When B.C. Liberal critic Michelle Stilwell asked Tourism Minister Lisa Beare what consultation was done with thousands of tourism businesses, Beare repeatedly ducked the question, calling the previous government B次元官网网址渙ut of touch with the people.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淚 have answered questions about Family Day a number of times in this house, and my answer remains the same,B次元官网网址� Beare said Feb. 20, 2018. B次元官网网址淢oving Family Day was the right thing for families in British Columbia.B次元官网网址�
Beare then described government consultations on raising the minimum wage and dealing with the opioid overdose crisis, before the Speaker cut her off.
An executive at Big White Ski Resort predicted the move would be B次元官网网址渁 disaster,B次元官网网址� with B.C.B次元官网网址檚 popular resorts having room capacity problems.
B次元官网网址淎ll weB次元官网网址檙e doing is cramming everyone into one weekend,B次元官网网址� Michael Ballingall told the Kelowna Capital B次元官网网址. B次元官网网址淪o youB次元官网网址檙e just displacing people from B.C. with people who have already booked from America and Ontario.B次元官网网址�
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The NDP move was applauded by some. B次元官网网址淚 understand the business perspective, but this isnB次元官网网址檛 Business Day. ItB次元官网网址檚 Family Day,B次元官网网址� a reader of the Nelson Star commented on the news. But a in the Revelstoke Review found two thirds opposed to moving the date to match the rest of the country.
Columbia River-Revelstoke MLA Doug Clovechok said his regionB次元官网网址檚 ski areas and tourist-dependent businesses will feel the effects of the change.
B次元官网网址淓veryone knows prices fluctuate on the busier holidays,B次元官网网址� Clovechok said. B次元官网网址淣ow itB次元官网网址檚 more expensive for B.C. residents to go skiing, go out to dinner, whatever.B次元官网网址�
tfletcher@blackpress.ca
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