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Starting next year, British Columbians will celebrate Family Day at the same time as the majority of Canadians.

In 2019, B.C.’s Family Day will be moved to the third week in February “so families across the country can celebrate together,” Premier John Horgan announced in a media release Friday afternoon.

“Moving Family Day is the right thing to do for businesses small and large, and is better for families who may be spread out across the country,” said Horgan. “This gives families an opportunity to schedule and spend more time with loved ones from other provinces.”

The previous government decided to make Family Day, introduced in 2013, the second Monday in February so that British Columbians would get the chance to enjoy the local ski hills without competition from visitors.

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The different day didn’t work for everyone across B.C. however. Federal employees, business owners, or those who conduct business across Canada and North America found themselves working on Family Day in B.C.

Ski resort constituents say this move is a nightmare for them.

Doug Clovechok, MLA for Columbia River-Revelstoke where Kicking Horse Resort, Revelstoke Mountain Resort and others are located, said this is a sad day for British Columbia.

“This is going to cost people their jobs, I just don’t get where [the government is] coming from,” he said. “Family Day is one of the top performing days in the year for tour operators, ski hills, restaurateurs, hoteliers. Having off set weekends was an opportunity to have two revenue generating weekends. Now there is only one.”

Coverage of Family Day in B.C. on Globalnews.ca:

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More to come.