Premier Dalton McGuinty said today in London he’s hoping the power of persuasion, rather than the clout of law, will persuade Ontario employers to grant workers Family Day, a new statutory holiday, on Feb. 18.

Some employers, such as the County of Middlesex, have said they won’t grant the mid-winter day off, arguing their workers already have plenty of statutory holidays.

Establishing the third Monday in February as Ontario’s ninth statutory holiday was one of McGuinty’s first acts when his government was re-elected in October.

It was a promise during the election campaign.

“We’ll take a look at what’s necessary,” he told The Free Press, “but first of all we are appealing to all employers to recognize it. ”

McGuinty said “rested and happy employees are productive employees” and he hopes employers will recognize that fact.

He noted the United States has 11 statutory holidays, “so I am convinced we can manage this.”

“Long weekends represent an economic stimulus,” he said. “Families often plan holidays around a long weekend, they do something special, they travel, they tend to spend more money. It’s good for the economy.”

But he stressed spending time together is essential for on-the-go families of today. That’s how the day was named and chosen.

“Our life is hectic and ‘just-in-time’,” McGuinty said.

But what will he do to deal with places like Middlesex that won’t recognize it?

“There are laws in place that govern the observance of statutory holidays,” McGuinty said. “But I am appealing to employers, not just to their goodwill, but to their good instincts.”

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Chip Martin is the Free Press politics reporter.