Family Day Fiasco in Lemmingville

Those of you who were sucked in by Dalton McGuinty's hastily-crafted election promise to have a new stat in February better check your collective agreements. You could be in the unenviable position of either not getting the holiday or having to give up a more flexible floater, and still have to pay for your local public employees to sit home.

And it now looks like Toronto Police will be denied the opportunity to observe 'Family Day'.

"Clearly the City is out of step with the intent of the provincial government to allow people to have more time with their family," TPA president Dave Wilson said. "Our membership works a difficult job with long hours and they deserve this."

So, instead of a day of harmony and peace, we may see anger, resentment and hostility erupt as lawyers get even richer from the inevitable legal challenges.


Instead of a day when the whole family can spend time together in February, the parents may end up at work and have to pay someone to take care of the kids who will be home from school.


John Tory observes:

"I think it's just another political fraud by Mr. McGuinty and the Liberals," he said. "They were in such a rush to do it for political reasons, they didn't think it through."

Indeed.

Immediately following the October election, Dalton McGuinty declared, "There is nothing 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," McGuinty said.

Obviously, this 'time together' will continue to be elusive for some Ontarians, Dalton.


If this is indicative of how much thought you plan to put into the rest of your policies for this mandate, please do us all a favour and take a long, long vacation instead.

Maybe til 2011.

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Related: Holiday may give thousands a break on charges. Those trying to beat traffic charges could have a real reason to celebrate Dalton's 'Family Day'!

Brian does his take on it (AHIH) - Do Dalton's Liberals Think Anything Through?

Family Day deserves fairness - Sun editorial.

Sunday Update - Christina Blizzard: Family Day Flame out.

Monday Update - Moira MacDonald: Dalton's Valentine Treat.