Graham promises new N.B. holiday

New Brunswick Liberals would create a new statutory holiday if they win the Sept. 27 provincial election, the party announced Sunday.

Family Day would be heldthe third Monday in February, giving New Brunswickers avacationinwhat iscurrently a breaklessstretch betweenNew Year'sDayand Good Friday.

In a statement, Liberal Leader Shawn Graham noted thatAlberta, Saskatchewan and Ontario alreadyhave a Family Day.Adding one in New Brunswick could attract skilled workers, he said.

"We'd like to hold every advantage possible," the premier's statement said.

Family Day has been an election promise before. Ontario's Liberal PremierDalton McGuinty promised the holiday in the runup to his successful 2007 campaign.

The holiday has been celebrated in Saskatchewan since 2007 and Alberta since 1990.

Manitobans and Prince Edward Islanders both recently started taking the samedate off, but they call it Louis Riel Day and Islander Day, respectively.

The Liberals are hoping to return to power Sept. 27, but areexpected to face a strong challenge from the David Alward-led Progressive Conservatives.

Other parties fielding candidates are the New Democrats, the Green Party and the People's Alliance of New Brunswick.