B.C. to have Family Day as of 2013

Delay meant to give employers time to adjust

British Columbia will join three other provinces in celebrating Family Day, according to the provincial government. The new provincial statutory holiday will be celebrated on the third Monday of every February, however, it won’t be introduced until Feb. 18, 2013, in recognition of the time employers will need to adjust to the new holiday.

The announcement came as part of the minister’s throne speech opening the fourth session of the 39th Parliament, which focused on job creation, building stronger, safer communities and continuing to open up government for British Columbia families. 

“In the coming months, we will chart a clear course for British Columbia as we navigate through these challenging economic times,” said Premier Christy Clark. “Our plan is grounded in respect for taxpayers and the need to ensure we don’t leave a legacy of debt for future generations. We have a plan to protect and create jobs across British Columbia, and delivering on Canada Starts Here: The BC Jobs Plan will be my central mission.”

The jobs plan includes investments in projects such as road and rail expansion, new mines and a natural gas plant along with boosting the number of international students, increasing training and expanding access to venture capital tax credits.

The tree pillars of the jobs plan are:
•Expanding markets for B.C. products and services, particularly in Asia.
•Strengthening infrastructure to get goods and services to market.
•Working with communities and employers to enable job creation.

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