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Family Day is a reality in the Town of Markham

December 23, 2007

The Town of Markham is recognizing and implementing the new public holiday of "Family Day" for the third Monday of each February.

The Ontario Government has introduced a new "Family Day" public holiday on the third Monday in February.  The additional holiday, whish has now been prescribed as a public holiday under the Employment Standards Act, 2000, increases the number of public holidays in Ontario to nine.

Employers do not need to honour Family Day if they provide more than nine holidays pursuant to a collective agreement or employment contract.

Applying this criteria to the Town of Markham reveals that, because our collective agreements are silent on the issue of additional public holidays, it is not necessary to recognize the new public holiday and treat the day as a regular work day.

Council decided to give the holiday to staff, given the strong public message that Premier Dalton McGuinty released.  He said, "There is noting more valuable to families than time together.  And yet it seems tougher than ever to find, with so many of us living such busy lives.  That's why, on the third Monday of this coming February - and every February from now on - Ontarians deserve a new statutory holiday - Family Day. " Premier McGuinty went on to say, "I can think of no better way for our government to get to work than by rewarding Ontarians for all their hard work, and for their belief that when we work together, build together and dream together, there is nothing we cannot accomplish."

While I agree with the comments and agree that our staff will come back renewed and re-energized after the long weekend with their family, it should not be lost that the Provincial Government has downloaded onto the Town of Markham an estimated $253,000.00 of lost productivity and another estimated $12,000.00 additional staffing cost.  In my opinion, it will not cost the Province directly as most people will use the day to purchase goods and services with the family, that will attract the Provincial Sales Tax.  I have asked our CAO, John Livey to send a letter to the Province to help pay at least the $12,000.00 of direct cost to you the tax payers of Markham for a Provincial decision that was taken without any Municipal consultation.

Given the Premier's public message, the spirit in which it was implemented and the expectation that it creates in employees, the Town of Markham is recognizing and implementing the new public holiday of "Family Day".

The Town will be providing family things to do on the holiday.  The following services at the relevant facilities will continue to be offered on Family Day:

Recreation

• Ice and Rental Contracts
• Public Swim, Skate and Drop in Programs
• Fitness Centres.

(Note: consistent with current practice, swim lessons and general programs are not offered on public holidays.)

Art Gallery, Museum and Theatre

• All services

Fire and Emergency Services

• All services

By-Laws

• Minimum staffing

Library

• Closed - all branches, all day.

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