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MLA calls for Nova Scotia to adopt Family Day – Metro US

MLA calls for Nova Scotia to adopt Family Day

Nova Scotians are being short-changed when it comes to statutory holidays, one opposition MLA said yesterday.

For the fifth year in a row, Liberal MLA Diana Whalen is asking the provincial government to follow several other jurisdictions in Canada and introduce a long weekend in February.

Four other provinces — Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Ontario and P.E.I. — currently celebrate some form of holiday on the third Monday in the month.

“Those provinces that have this long weekend all have wonderful winter carnivals and community events that spring up around the fact that this is a long weekend,” Whalen said.

“It’s something that encourages community and family life.”

There are currently five federally mandated statutory holidays in Nova Scotia — the lowest number in any Canadian province. In contrast, Saskatchewan boasts 10, P.E.I. and New Brunswick have seven, and Newfoundland and Labrador have six.

“The average is eight,” Whalen said. “So, I’m going to keep pushing every year.”

Whalen said she sent a letter to Premier Darrell Dexter on Friday asking his government support the creation of the holiday, to be dubbed Joseph Howe Day.

“The NDP have always been very non-committal about it,” she said.

“There’s been no real statement about it in past years … but the time has come for a government that will be more progressive.”

According to Bill Grant, director of labour standards in the Department of Labour and Workforce Development, the support of the Dexter government would mean the holiday could be introduced as early as next year.

“There’s no reason why that couldn’t happen,” Grant said. “It’s doable from a legal and administrative perspective, but … one thing that we’d advise for any changes to labour standards is some public consultation to talk with some employers and employees. As always, these things are a balancing act.”