Public holidays

Canada observes five statutory public holidays at the federal level: New Year's Day, Good Friday, Canada Day, Labour Day, and Christmas Day. These are days on which federally regulated employees are entitled to time off with pay, and employers must either grant the day off or provide premium compensation if work is required.

The statutory framework for federal public holidays is established under the Canada Labour Code, Part III, which governs employment in federally regulated industries including banking, telecommunications, interprovincial transportation, and crown corporations. Provincial governments maintain separate authority over public holidays within their jurisdictions, and provinces may recognize additional holidays beyond the federal minimum.

The current list of five federal statutory holidays has remained consistent in recent years, though the specific observance dates may shift when holidays fall on weekends. When a statutory holiday coincides with a weekend, employers typically provide a substitute day off on the following Monday or another mutually agreed date.

Employers in federally regulated sectors must ensure employees receive either the day off with regular pay or, if operational requirements demand work on a statutory holiday, compensation at a premium rate—typically time-and-a-half or double time depending on the collective agreement or employment contract. Payroll teams must accurately track statutory holiday entitlements and ensure proper compensation is recorded. Employees who work on a statutory holiday are entitled to both the premium pay for hours worked and the statutory holiday pay itself, unless a substitute day has been granted. Employers should maintain clear policies documenting how statutory holidays are observed and communicated to all staff.