Family Day costs small businesses

It's Family Day in Ontario, Saskatchewan and Alberta today, which means a day at home for most. But plenty of others can't take the day off and that's hard on small businesses, some critics say.

The three provinces have the day off, while Manitobans are marking Louis Riel Day. Last Monday was Islander Day in Prince Edward Island.

Family Day was first celebrated in Alberta, in 1990. Saskatchewan decided to offer its workers a mid-winter break in 2007, while Ontario's Family Day began in 2008. All three provinces mark the day on the third Monday in February.

In Ontario, those who have the day off include provincial employees, and workers at schools, banks, libraries, liquor and beer stores, as well as those at the Toronto Stock Exchange.

Under the Retail Business Holidays Act, most Ontario retailers cannot be open today, except those designated as tourist attractions, such the Eaton Centre in downtown Toronto.

Federal employees and those in federally regulated sectors will remain in the office. So will most unionized workers, since they already have more than nine paid holidays as part of their contracts.

Holiday costs

While many welcome having a day off in the middle of the long winter, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business says the holiday costs small business money - to the tune of $2 billion.

Businesses that close still have to pay their usual costs for a day without any productivity. Those that choose to remain open, such as retailers, restaurants and others in the hospitality industry, are required to pay premium wages.

Judith Andrew, who represents 42,000 members in the Ontario wing of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, says those kinds of extra costs are hard for businesses already struggling to get by during an economic slowdown.

"Whenever government adds more costs and burden on business, they often do that in good times, because they figure: 'Oh, business can take it, they can shoulder it, they can handle it,"' Andrew said.

"And it made for a very nice announcement from the premier, it made him sound generous. But he was being generous with other people's money."

In a survey conducted by the federation, 58 per cent of members said they didn't like having a statutory holiday in February.

Worth the sacrifice

The province says on its website that Ontario's economy is strong enough to accommodate an extra public holiday.

It adds that while there may be some initial impact on productivity, it will likely be made up when employees return to work.

Employees who get time off may work even harder when they are back on the job, because they feel rejuvenated. And, they argue, a mid-winter holiday may spark an increase in industries such as tourism and entertainment/leisure.

Ontario's labour minister said Monday that Family Day is worth the sacrifice.

"We see this as a way to make our province more productive," said Minister Peter Fonseca. "We understand we all work together and we all get a chance to play together, to visit families and loved ones."

For those who do have the day off, it didn't take much for them to get into the spirit of Family Day.

In Ontario, the lineup started early outside the Royal Ontario Museum and other attractions in Toronto. Hundreds of people were lined up around the block before 11 a.m.

"I was trying to find something that wasn't really expensive and kept the kids happy," said one mother who brought her children to Casa Loma, Toronto's own castle.

"I'm really looking forward to Family Day every year," said one woman who is spending the holiday at the Ontario Science Centre. "It's fun for all of us, being off work and spending quality time with the kids."

So, What's closed today?

- banks
- provincial offices
- schools
- liquor and beer stores
- public libraries
- The Toronto Stock Exchange
- most grocery stores
- most daycare centres
- most shopping malls (except those designated as tourist attractions)

What's open?

- federal government offices
- public transit (though on holiday schedules)
- major shopping centres, such as the Rideau Centre and the Eaton Centre