Different venue, same message, fewer eats.
Organizers of 乌鸦传媒乌鸦传媒 annual Labour Day picnic moved the event from Mission Creek park to a lawn behind the Hollywood Education Centre.
鈥淥ur numbers will be down as a result, probably about 400 instead of 800, with the loss of the walk-in crowd from the park,鈥 Ian Gordon, president of the North Okanagan Labour Council, said Monday.
Some logistical challenges prevented staging the picnic in the regional park, he said, but plans have already been made to return a higher profile to the event next year.
鈥淲e鈥檝e already booked Ben Lee park,鈥 he said, referring to a large Rutland park, with many trees and amenities more conducive to the staging of a picnic.
With its offering of free burgers and hotdogs, there乌鸦传媒 more of a festive than political feel to the Labour Day picnic.
Still, with the federal election looming in late October, Gordon said one of organized labour乌鸦传媒 top goals is to see the introduction of a national Pharmacare plan.
鈥淕etting a single-payer Pharmacare system will allow Canadians to afford the medication they need to stay healthy,鈥 Gordon said. 鈥淚t looks like it乌鸦传媒 closer than ever to happening, but we have to push them over the final barrier.鈥
Gordon said he was also pleased to hear NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh promise to introduce legislation setting a federal minimum wage if the party forms government.
鈥淭he cost of living around here is so high it乌鸦传媒 hard for people to even afford accommodation,鈥 he said. 鈥淚t乌鸦传媒 been shown that any improvement in the minimum wage is better for people, better for the economy, and better for small businesses.鈥
On provincial issues, Gordon said he expected the NDP government would eventually reach a contract with the union representing 乌鸦传媒乌鸦传媒 teachers before too long. Both sides have agreed there will not be a disruption to start the school year.
鈥淚t乌鸦传媒 going to be holding pattern for awhile yet,鈥 he said. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e taking a break until late September. The more they talk, the better. As long as they鈥檙e talking, they鈥檙e still bargaining.鈥