Premier Dalton McGuinty rewarded Ontario voters for electing Liberals to their second consecutive majority by renewing a campaign pledge to give them an extra annual holiday — Family Day, on the third Monday of every February, starting next year.
In a post-election news conference in Ottawa Thursday, he also promised, as he had during his campaign, "to move forward in our schools, in our health care, in better protection for our environment, and in strengthening our economy."
But, he said, the best way for his government to get down to work is "to give families a little more of what they value above all else — time together."
Adding Family Day to the calendar will give Ontario families a total of nine statutory holidays a year, putting the province on par with Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia. In addition, although not recognized as statutory holidays under the Employment Standards Act, the first Monday in August is observed as a civic holiday in many Ontario municipalities, and many employees receive a holiday on Easter Monday.
"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."
FULL STORY FROM CBC
