AMHERST - Amherst is not rushing to support a proposal to have a February holiday declared in the province.
While not against the creation of a winter holiday, members of town council fell short of endorsing the idea during a committee-of-the-whole meeting recently and suggested the Natal Day holiday in early August should have priority.
Coun. Robert Bird said declaring a holiday comes with a cost and should be carefully considered.
"There's a cost to business in a lost day of productivity and in some cases, lost sales revenue," Bird told council.
"I can't see how this could help small business."
In suggesting a letter be sent to the province supporting Liberal MLA Diana Whalen's call for the creation of Joseph Howe Day, Coun. Robert Angel said the town could take advantage of the February holiday by organizing a winter carnival.
Whalen is suggesting the third Monday in February be named in honour of Howe, suggesting it could be used as a family day. The Halifax area MLA said the time from New Year's Day to Good Friday is the longest period annually without a holiday.AMHERST - Amherst is not rushing to support a proposal to have a February holiday declared in the province.
While not against the creation of a winter holiday, members of town council fell short of endorsing the idea during a committee-of-the-whole meeting recently and suggested the Natal Day holiday in early August should have priority.
Coun. Robert Bird said declaring a holiday comes with a cost and should be carefully considered.
"There's a cost to business in a lost day of productivity and in some cases, lost sales revenue," Bird told council.
"I can't see how this could help small business."
In suggesting a letter be sent to the province supporting Liberal MLA Diana Whalen's call for the creation of Joseph Howe Day, Coun. Robert Angel said the town could take advantage of the February holiday by organizing a winter carnival.
Whalen is suggesting the third Monday in February be named in honour of Howe, suggesting it could be used as a family day. The Halifax area MLA said the time from New Year's Day to Good Friday is the longest period annually without a holiday.
AMHERST - Amherst is not rushing to support a proposal to have a February holiday declared in the province.
While not against the creation of a winter holiday, members of town council fell short of endorsing the idea during a committee-of-the-whole meeting recently and suggested the Natal Day holiday in early August should have priority.
Coun. Robert Bird said declaring a holiday comes with a cost and should be carefully considered.
"There's a cost to business in a lost day of productivity and in some cases, lost sales revenue," Bird told council.
"I can't see how this could help small business."
In suggesting a letter be sent to the province supporting Liberal MLA Diana Whalen's call for the creation of Joseph Howe Day, Coun. Robert Angel said the town could take advantage of the February holiday by organizing a winter carnival.
Whalen is suggesting the third Monday in February be named in honour of Howe, suggesting it could be used as a family day. The Halifax area MLA said the time from New Year's Day to Good Friday is the longest period annually without a holiday.
When she first floated the idea in 2005, only Alberta celebrated a February holiday. Since then, Manitoba, Saskathewan, Ontario and P.E.I., have created a holiday on the third Monday of the month.
Angel suggested it's something the town should consider.
"I know support for this is growing across the province and I think we could do a little more than we're doing to coincide with this holiday," Angel said.
Coun. Dave March and Deputy Mayor Terry Rhindress feel the town would be better served supporting a provincial holiday on the first Monday in August since it's already a holiday in Halifax and in the banking and government sectors.
"Everyone would love to have a vacation in February, but I think a day off in August would be better when the rest of the province is off as well," said March.
Town CAO Greg Herrett said a February holiday could have an impact on the town's bottom line as well since the town would be responsible for holiday overtime costs associated with snow clearing operations.
dcole@amherstdaily.com
