Groups representing Manitoba businesses are planning to fight the provincial government's plans to bring in a new statutory holiday in February.

NDP Labour Minister Nancy Allan has said the government will introduce a bill to create the holiday in the upcoming legislative sessions. She has asked the province's labour review committee to recommend which day in February would be suitable for a holiday, and whether retail shops should close altogether on the day or remain open the same hours as a Sunday.

'We were absolutely outraged that the government would shaft the business community on this file.'—Shannon Martin, Canadian Federation of Independent Business

While many Manitobans are celebrating the idea of an additional day off, business groups are fuming that they were not consulted before the government announced it would bring in the new holiday.

Shannon Martin, spokesperson for the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, is meeting with Allan next week. He doesn't mince words in his opinion of the proposed holiday, which he estimates would cost the business community at least $157 million.

"We were absolutely outraged that the government would shaft the business community on this file," Martin said.

Adrienne Batra of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation is demanding the government reverse its course.

Government accused of flip-flopping

"The other aspect of this whole holiday debate has been how quickly and how readily the government has flip-flopped on it," she said.

Small-business owners have also expressed outrage. Ari Driver, who owns Perfume Paradise in downtown Winnipeg, accused politicians of all stripes of jumping on the bandwagon out of a desire to acquire or hang on to political power.

"The government is being persuaded by a petition that was started at a morning talk-rock station. Can we listen to some of the business people now? Can we have equal time, at least?" Driver said.

"I just think the source of this and how it got started, you know, is just questionable," she added. "These people have more influence on our government than anybody else? Why don't we all get equal say?"

Day off without pay suggested

The Manitoba Hotel Association is also concerned, but spokesman Jim Baker said a compromise may be possible: a day off without pay.

"I liken this to the acceptance of Filmon Fridays by government workers, where they had extra time off but, indeed, their remuneration was reduced by it, and it seemed to be very acceptable."

An official in the office of the labour minister said the government has heard loud and clear from Manitobans and has no plans to reverse course on the winter holiday.

The spokesperson said businesses have received $146 million in tax cuts during the NDP government's tenure in office, which should more than offset costs associated with the new day off.

Albertans have celebrated Family Day in February since 1990, while Saskatchewanians will enjoy a statutory holiday in February for the first time next week.