Public holidays in Canada

Public holidays in Canada, known as "statutory holidays", "stat holidays", or simply "stats", are legislated at the federal, provincial and territorial levels. Many of these holidays are observed nationwide, but each province and territory in Canada has its own holidays as well.

While major Christian holidays such as Christmas and Good Friday are officially observed,[1] leave is permitted for other religious holidays as well. For example, some school children and employees take days off for Jewish holidays, Muslim holidays, Hindu holidays, or Eastern Orthodox observances according to the Julian calendar. While not normally taken off work, Valentine's Day, Saint Patrick's Day, Halloween, Mother's Day, and Father's Day are traditionally observed by Canadians. The Celebrate Canada series is a collection of important cultural days beginning with National Aboriginal Day on June 21, and followed by St-Jean Baptiste Day on June 24, Canadian Multiculturalism Day on June 27, and concluding with Canada Day on July 1.

Currently, the provinces of Alberta and Prince Edward Island have the most days off of any other provinces and territories, with 12 days off.

Statutory holidays

A statutory holiday (also known as "stats" or "general" or "public" holiday) in Canada is legislated either through the federal, or a provincial or territorial government.[2] Most workers, public and private, are entitled to take the day off with regular pay. However, some employers may require employees to work on such a holiday, but the employee must either receive a day off in lieu of the holiday or must be paid at a premium rate – usually 1½ (known as "time and a half") or twice (known as "double time") the regular pay for their time worked that day, in addition to the holiday pay (except for high technology workers in British Columbia).[3] In most provinces, when a statutory holiday falls on a normal day off (generally a weekend), the following work day is considered a statutory holiday. Statistics Canada shows an average of 11 paid statutory holidays per year in regard to all firms and corporations operating within the province.

Nationwide statutory holidays in Canada

Date English name French Name Remarks
January 1 New Year's Day Jour de l'An Celebrates the first day of every year in the Gregorian calendar.
Friday before Easter Day Good Friday Vendredi saint Commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus. In Quebec, non-federally regulated employers must give either Good Friday or Easter Monday as a statutory holiday, though some give both days.
July 1 Canada Day Fête du Canada Celebrates Canada's 1867 Confederation and establishment of dominion status.

In Newfoundland and Labrador, observed as Memorial Day.

First Monday in September Labour Day Fête du travail Celebrates economic and social achievements of workers.
December 25 Christmas Day Noël Celebrates the Nativity of Jesus.

Statutory holidays for federal employees

In addition to the nationwide holidays listed above, the following holidays are mandated by federal legislation for federally regulated employees. All banks and post offices commemorate these holidays, and they are statutory in some provinces and territories.

Date English Name French Name Remarks
In lieu of Good Friday (Stat Holiday), Monday after Easter Day Easter Monday Lundi de Pâques Celebrates the resurrection of Jesus.

Not a statutory holiday in any province or territory; however, in Quebec employers must give either Good Friday or Easter Monday as a statutory holiday, though most give both days.

Banks remain open (legally they cannot close for more than three consecutive days except in emergencies), but employees often receive a "floating" paid day off to be taken on or near the holiday.

This is not one of the nine "General Holidays" as defined by the Canada Labour Code – Part III. As such, there is no legal requirement for private sector employers in federally regulated industries to provide Easter Monday as a paid holiday to employees. However, many federal government offices will be closed on this day.

Monday on or before May 24 Victoria Day Fête de la Reine ou Journée nationale des Patriotes Celebrates the birthday of the reigning Canadian monarch; however, the date does not change with the change of monarch, being instead fixed on the birthday of Queen Victoria, the sovereign at the time of Canadian Confederation and establishment of dominion status in 1867. Some French-Canadians celebrate instead Adam Dollard des Ormeaux a French-Canadian hero from the New France times.

Statutory holiday in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Ontario, Quebec (coincides with National Patriots' Day), Saskatchewan, and Yukon. A holiday in New Brunswick under the Days of Rest Act.

Not a statutory holiday in the eastern maritime provinces of Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island or in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Second Monday in October Thanksgiving Action de grâce A day to give thanks for the things one has at the close of the harvest season.

Statutory holiday in most jurisdictions of Canada: Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan, and Yukon.[4]

An optional holiday in the Atlantic provinces of Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.[4] In New Brunswick, included under the Days of Rest Act.

November 11 Remembrance Day Jour du Souvenir Commemorates Canada's war dead. Anniversary of the armistice ending World War I in 1918.

Statutory holiday in Alberta, British Columbia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Prince Edward Island, Saskatchewan, and Yukon.

In Manitoba, an "Official day of Observance", not a statutory holiday.

In Ontario and Nova Scotia, not a statutory holiday in that employers have the option of giving Remembrance Day or an alternate day off. In Nova Scotia Remembrance Day is covered specifically by the Remembrance Day Act [5] which prohibits employers from allowing employees to work and prohibits employees from working with exceptions for required services.

Not a statutory holiday in Quebec.

December 26 Boxing Day Lendemain de Noël A holiday with mixed and uncertain origins and definitions.[6]

Provincially, a statutory holiday in Ontario. A holiday in New Brunswick under the Days of Rest Act.

Many employers across the country observe Boxing Day as a paid day off.

Other common holidays

Date English Name French Name Remarks
Third Monday in February (BC 2nd Monday in February)
  • Family Day
  • Louis Riel Day (Manitoba)
  • Islander Day (Prince Edward Island)
  • Heritage Day (Nova Scotia)
  • Fête de la famille
  • Journée Louis Riel (MB)
  • Fête des Insulaires (PE)
  • Fête du Patrimoine (NS)
 Statutory holiday under various names in Alberta, Ontario, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia.

British Columbia celebrates its Family Day on the 2nd Monday in February, starting in 2013.[7]

Not observed elsewhere.

First Monday in August August Civic Holiday Premier lundi d'août Statutory holiday in British Columbia (British Columbia Day), New Brunswick (New Brunswick Day), Northwest Territories (Civic Holiday), Nunavut (Civic Holiday), Ontario and Saskatchewan (Saskatchewan Day).

Civic holiday (may be a paid vacation day depending on employer) in Alberta (Heritage Day), Manitoba (Terry Fox Day), Ontario (Colonel By Day + John Galt Day + Simcoe Day + Break for no reason day +others), Nova Scotia (Natal Day), Prince Edward Island (Federal Civic Holiday).

Not observed in Newfoundland and Labrador, Quebec, or Yukon.

Provincial and territorial holidays

Provinces and territories generally adopt the same holidays as the federal government with some variations:

Date English Name French Name AB BC MB NB NL NT NS NU ON PE QC SK YT
January 1 New Year's Day Jour de l'An National
Second Monday in February Family Day Fête de la famille - V - - - - - - - - - - -
Third Monday in February Louis Riel Day Journée Louis Riel - - V - - - - - - - - - -
Third Monday in February Islander Day Fête des Insulaires - - - - - - - - - V - - -
Third Monday in February Family Day Fête de la famille V - - - - - - - V - - V -
Third Monday in February Heritage Day Fête du Patrimoine - - - - - - V - - - - - -
March 17 Saint Patrick's Day Jour de la Saint-Patrick - - - - V - - - - - - - -
Friday before Easter Day Good Friday Vendredi saint National
Monday after Easter Day Easter Monday Lundi de Pâques V - - - - - - - - V - - -
April 23 Saint George's Day Jour de St. George - - - - V - - - - - - - -
Monday on or before May 24 National Patriots' Day Journée nationale des patriotes - - - - - - - - - - V - -
Monday on or before May 24 Victoria Day Fête de la Reine ou Journée nationale des Patriotes V V V V - V V V V V - V V
June 21 National Aboriginal Day Journée nationale des Autochthones - - - - - V - - - - - - -
June 24 Discovery Day / National Holiday Journée découverte / Fête nationale / Saint-Jean-Baptiste - - - - V - - - - - V - V
July 1 Canada Day Fête du Canada National
July 12 Orangemen's Day Fête des orangistes - - - - V - - - - - - - -
First Monday in August Civic Holiday Premier lundi d'août - V V - V V - V - - - - -
First Monday in August Heritage Day Fête du patrimoine V - - - - - - - - - - - V
First Monday in August New Brunswick Day Jour de Nouveau Brunswick - - - V - - - - - - - - -
First Monday in August Natal Day Jour de la Fondation - - - - - - V - - - - - -
Third Friday in August Gold Cup Parade Day Défilé de la Coupe d'or - - - - - - - - - V - - -
Third Monday in August Discovery Day Jour de la Découverte - - - - - - - - - - - - V
First Monday in September Labour Day Fête du travail National
Second Monday in October Thanksgiving Action de grâce National
November 11 Armistice Day Jour de l'Armistice - - - - V - - - - - - - -
November 11 Remembrance Day Jour du Souvenir V V - V - V V V - V - V V
December 25 Christmas Day Noël National
December 26 Boxing Day Lendemain de Noël V - - V - - V - V V - - -
Total Holidays 12 10 9 10 11 10 11 9 9 12 8 9 11

Alberta

Provincial statutory
Optional

British Columbia

Provincial statutory

Manitoba

Provincial statutory
Optional

New Brunswick

Provincial statutory
Optional

Newfoundland and Labrador

Provincial statutory
Optional

These have not been observed as statutory holidays since 1992. They are, however, observed by the provincial government. Unlike most other provinces, there is no province-wide holiday on the first Monday in August. It may be seen as redundant due to the Royal St. John's Regatta, which is observed as a civic holiday in St. John's on the first Wednesday in August (or, in case of poor weather, the next suitable day thereafter). Harbour Grace and Labrador City have a similar holiday for their regatta in late July. All other municipalities are entitled to designate one day a year as a civic holiday, however many do not take advantage of this.

Northwest Territories

Territorial statutory

Nova Scotia

Provincial statutory
Optional

Nunavut

Territorial statutory
Optional

Ontario

Provincial statutory
Optional

Prince Edward Island

Provincial statutory [22]
Optional

Quebec

Provincial statutory
Optional

Saskatchewan

Provincial statutory

Yukon

Territorial statutory
Optional

Municipal holidays

Some municipalities also have local statutory holidays. For instance, the morning of the Stampede Parade is often given as a half-day holiday in the city of Calgary. In Ontario, the August Civic Holiday is not defined provincially, but by each municipality.

Civic holidays

In Canada, there are two definitions of the term "civic holiday":

Legal definition

By law, a civic holiday is defined as any holiday which is legally recognized and for which employers are obliged to offer holiday pay.

The August Civic Holiday

Main article: Civic Holiday

In parts of Canada, the term "Civic Holiday" is a generic name referring to the annual holiday on the first Monday of August. However, this definition is far from uniform nationwide as Quebec, Newfoundland, and Yukon do not recognize it at all (in the Yukon the civic holiday is celebrated instead on the third Monday of August as Discovery Day). Five other provinces (Ontario, Alberta, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island) do not oblige employers to offer holiday pay on this day, thus not making it a civic holiday in the legal sense. No universal name is recognized for this holiday – the official name varies between the provinces and even between municipalities within Ontario. In Manitoba, Saskatchewan, British Columbia, New Brunswick, Nunavut and the Northwest Territories it is a statutory holiday.

The Civic Holiday is meant to replace a city's birthday aka Natal Day. Instead of each city and town having a separate birthday celebration and day off the August Civic Holiday is observed. For example, the Halifax Regional Municipality is made up of former cities Halifax and Dartmouth and the town of Bedford. Each of these places used to hold civic birthday celebrations on different days. Many people lived in one jurisdiction but worked in another. This would be very confusing as to which day a person would be excused from work.

This holiday is commonly referred to as "August Long Weekend" but this is not a government term.

Proposed holidays

The other leading candidate for a new holiday is a weekend in February to celebrate the anniversary of the Canadian flag, or more likely a general "Heritage Day". February 15 is already designated as Flag Day, but this is simply a day of commemoration, not a statutory holiday.

In the province of Nova Scotia, which has relatively few days off, a bill has been introduced for a new holiday for the third Monday in February, to start in 2015.[25]

In November 2014, Bill C-597 passed second reading in the House of Commons by a margin of 258 to 2. If the bill becomes law, Remembrance Day would become a federal holiday in Canada.[26]

In 2001, members of the 14th Legislative Assembly passed the National Aboriginal Day Act making the Northwest Territories the first jurisdiction in Canada to recognize this day as a formal statutory holiday.[27]

Holidays occurring on non-work days

If a holiday occurs on a day that is normally not worked, then "...another day off with pay will be provided".[28] There are some exceptions, however. In Alberta, an employee is not entitled to compensation if a holiday falls on a non-work day.[29]

When New Year's Day, Canada Day, Remembrance Day, Christmas Day or Boxing Day falls on a Saturday or Sunday you would not normally work, you are entitled to a holiday with pay on the working day immediately before or after the holiday. If one of the other holidays falls on a weekend, then your employer must add a holiday with pay to your annual vacation or give you a paid day off at another mutually convenient time.

Other observances

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Statutory Holidays". Government of Canada. 2012-02-15. Retrieved 2012-03-30.
  2. ↑ "Work Rights – Statutory Holidays". Canadian Labour Congress. 2007-01-17. Retrieved 2008-03-23.
  3. ↑ "High Technology Professionals and High Technology Companies in[British Columbia Fact Sheet". Government of BC, Labour & Citizens' Services, Employment Standards Branch. 2007-05-18. Retrieved 2008-03-23.
  4. 1 2 "Statutory Holidays in Canada". Retrieved 2012-10-06.
  5. ↑ http://nslegislature.ca/legc/statutes/remembrc.htm
  6. ↑ Snopes.com – "Boxing Day" – Urban Legends Reference Pages. Retrieved 2010-03-22.
  7. ↑ http://www.theprovince.com/Family+holiday+coming+2013+Throne+speech/5496298/story.html
  8. ↑ "General Holidays and General Holiday Pay in Alberta". Employment.alberta.ca. Retrieved 2011-02-20.
  9. ↑ "Statutory Holidays in British Columbia - 2012 - 2015". Labour.gov.bc.ca. Retrieved 2013-12-25.
  10. ↑ "Manitoba Retail Businesses Holiday Closing Act". Web2.gov.mb.ca. Retrieved 2011-02-20.
  11. ↑ "Paid Statutory Holidays in Employment Standards Legislation". Hrsdc.gc.ca. 2010-12-14. Retrieved 2011-02-20.
  12. ↑ "Prescribed Days of Rest in New Brunswick 2011-2014". Government of New Brunswick. Retrieved 2013-07-06.
  13. ↑ "Post-Secondary Education, Training, and Labour: Paid Public Holidays and Vacation/ Vacation Pay" (PDF). Government of New Brunswick. Retrieved 2013-07-06.
  14. ↑ "Shops' Closing Regulations, C.N.L.R. 1115/96".
  15. ↑ http://www.exec.gov.nl.ca/exec/hrs/working_with_us/holidays2014.html
  16. ↑ "Labour Standards Code" (PDF). Office of the Legislative Council, Nova Scotia House of Assembly. Retrieved 2015-01-19.
  17. ↑ "An Act to Establish a Holiday in February" (PDF). Office of the Legislative Council, Nova Scotia House of Assembly. Retrieved 2015-01-19.
  18. ↑ "General Labour Standards Code Regulations". Office of the Legislative Council, Nova Scotia House of Assembly. Retrieved 2009-04-06.
  19. ↑ "February holiday dubbed Nova Scotia Heritage Day". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 2015-02-16.
  20. ↑ "Remembrance Day Act". Office of the Legislative Counsel, Nova Scotia House of Assembly. Retrieved 2009-04-06.
  21. 1 2 "Public Holidays". Ontario Ministry of Labour. 2013-05-17. Retrieved 2013-07-06.
  22. ↑ http://www.gov.pe.ca/labour/index.php3?number=1022265&lang=E
  23. ↑ "Quebec's Holidays".
  24. ↑ "Government Services - Holidays". Government of Yukon. 2012-09-26. Retrieved 2013-07-06.
  25. ↑ Carter, Pat (2013-12-05). "New bill would create N.S. February holiday starting in 2015". The Canadian Press/AP. Retrieved 2014-02-25.
  26. ↑ http://kitchener.ctvnews.ca/remembrance-day-a-statutory-holiday-attempt-to-make-it-so-clears-hurdle-1.2090497
  27. ↑ "National Aboriginal Day". Canada: Government of the Northwest Territories. Retrieved June 15, 2015.
  28. ↑ "General Overview - Statutory Holidays". Human Resources and Social Development Canada. 2011-10-05. Retrieved 2013-07-06.
  29. ↑ "General Holidays and General Holiday Pay" (PDF). Human Services - Government of Alberta. March 2011. Retrieved 2012-12-28.

Further reading

External links

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