COMMUNICATIONS PLAN Ministry of Labour, Citizens Services and Open Government GCPE Family day Purpose: Inform the

the public about Ministry progress and consultation towards creating Family Day as a statutory holiday in the third week of February. Background/Context/Environmental scan: In her leadership platform Premier Christy Clark committed to begin a discussion with British Columbians, particularly with the business community, about celebrating Family Day on the third Monday in February. In British Columbia, families have a long stretch between New Years Day and the Easter break without a long weekend 111 days this year. The Family First agenda recognizes that two of the keys to strong families are a thriving economy that supports good jobs and families having quality time together. Celebrating Family Day on the third Monday in February would provide an opportunity for families to spend some quality time together during this long stretch. Alberta, Saskatchewan and Ontario celebrate Family Day on the third Monday in February as a statutory holiday. Manitoba and Prince Edward Island also provide a statutory holiday on this day, although it is not called Family Day in these provinces. British Columbia has nine existing statutory holidays: the number of statutory holidays varies across the country. Six other jurisdictions have nine, the most common number. Nova Scotia has the lowest at five. Saskatchewan has the highest at ten. On a statutory holiday, eligible employees are entitled to the day off with their regular pay, or to additional pay at premium rates for all hours worked. Since the platform was released in January 2011, there have been some events that have shaped the economic environment around Family Day. The extinguishing of the HST and the weakening and nervousness around the global economy may result in a profound impact on businesses and workers. The business community has recently raised concerns with the Ministry citing costs to employers and its negative impact on the economy and job creation. The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CIFB) recently surveyed its members. 62% of 1,495 respondents indicated that government should not introduce a new statutory holiday, citing concerns such as lost sales/revenue, higher wage costs and lost production. Only 13% indicated that the new holiday would have no impact on them. The CFIB submits that the holiday will cost $1,135 in wages alone for the average small employer, defined as a business with five employees earning BCs average wage. Estimate of the Economic Impact:

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Applying a formula developed by BMO Capital Markets and that was first used in Ontario when it introduced a Family Day in 2007; the Ministrys rough estimate is that a new statutory holiday could result in reduced economic activity in the range of about $198 million (i.e., the equivalent of approximately 0.1 per cent of provincial Gross Domestic Product). In addition, a February holiday would have a direct fiscal impact on government. The Public Sector Employers Council Secretariat has estimated this to be approximately $28 million in additional wage/salary and benefit costs for employers in the broad public sector (0.12% of the public sector compensation base of $22.9 billion). Current Economy: The Ministry of Finance has advised that Government is monitoring the current situation in the United States and Europe very carefully, as recent economic events in those regions are of concern. While British Columbia is not immune to economic events abroad, it has weathered the recession of 2008/009 better than most other provinces. Government expects that B.C.s competitiveness will keep it in good stead going forward and is committed to the objective of a balanced budget in 2013/2014. On September 8th, the Ministry of Finance released the first quarterly report, which indicated that the return to the two-tax PST/GST system will result in bigger deficits than forecast in Budget 2011: o deficits of $2,778 million in 2011/12, and; o $805 million in 2012/13. The first quarterly update also projects a deficit of $458 million in 2013/14 that will need to be closed if government is to balance its budget by that year. Communication Objectives:
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Potential Challenges:

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Key Audiences: Media Public

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Messaging: We are acting on the Premiers commitment to begin a discussion with British Columbians about celebrating the third week of February as Family Day. That is why we will be beginning consultations with the business and labour communities, and listening to people to find out what Family Day could look like. We have been looking at establishing Family Day through the lens of the current economic climate. The Ministry has received some correspondence from the business community which raised concerns about potential financial impacts of an additional statutory holiday. Recent economic turmoil in Europe and the U.S., along with the financial implications of extinguishing the HST will certainly challenge the business community, and we need to ensure their success and protect jobs for British Columbians. We recognize there is a long stretch between New Years Day and the Easter break without a long weekend 111 days this year, and one of the keys of our Families First agenda is to keep families strong and that is accomplished by spending quality time together. There may be other benefits as well to creating a new statutory holiday, such as increased tourism and increased productivity from a well rested work force. We will be considering all these elements when we discuss Family Day with stakeholders and the public. At this point we cannot commit to a timeline on when Family Day will be implemented as there are still many factors we have to evaluate. Strategic Approach:

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Materials: Issues Note Key Messages Consultation notice/plan from Ministry DETAILED ROLL-OUT TIMELINE

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Sign-off: _________________ David Greer Communications Director Labour, Citizens Services and Open Government Sept 8, 2011

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