Unions use BC’s 1st Family Day to voice concerns over daycare, pediatric care

VANCOUVER – While the B.C. government promotes its first-ever Family Day as an opportunity to take a holiday at home, some unions are seizing the occasion to spread their own messages.

The government is encouraging families to create new memories and enjoy the best the province has to offer on Monday with what it has dubbed a “B.C. Staycation,” playing on the idea of staying local for a vacation.

Premier Christy Clark says the holiday means British Columbians can get a break during the long stretch between New Year’s and Easter, suggesting they spend time together by hitting the slopes or taking their children for a hike.

Child care workers, however, are using the day to urge the government to implement a new, affordable daycare system.

Workers with the B.C. Government and Service Employees’ Union have collected 3,000 signed postcards from families that will be sent to Victoria asking for publicly-funded care that only costs $10 a day.

Unionized provincial nurses, meanwhile, will be campaigning against changes to pediatric care throughout the Fraser Valley.