B.C. residents will have to wait an extra week for their next Family Day long weekend, as the NDP government鈥檚 shift to the third Monday in February takes effect for the first time.

It wouldn鈥檛 have been on many people鈥檚 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 鈥渙ut of touch with the people.鈥�

鈥淚 have answered questions about Family Day a number of times in this house, and my answer remains the same,鈥� Beare said Feb. 20, 2018. 鈥淢oving Family Day was the right thing for families in British Columbia.鈥�

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 鈥渁 disaster,鈥� with B.C.鈥檚 popular resorts having room capacity problems.

鈥淎ll we鈥檙e doing is cramming everyone into one weekend,鈥� Michael Ballingall told the 91大黄鸭 Capital News. 鈥淪o you鈥檙e just displacing people from B.C. with people who have already booked from America and Ontario.鈥�

RELATED: Family Day move 鈥榙isastrous,鈥� says Big White official

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The NDP move was applauded by some. 鈥淚 understand the business perspective, but this isn鈥檛 Business Day. It鈥檚 Family Day,鈥� 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 region鈥檚 ski areas and tourist-dependent businesses will feel the effects of the change.

鈥淓veryone knows prices fluctuate on the busier holidays,鈥� Clovechok said. 鈥淣ow it鈥檚 more expensive for B.C. residents to go skiing, go out to dinner, whatever.鈥�

tfletcher@blackpress.ca
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