Public holidays

Canada observes nine statutory public holidays: New Year's Day, Family Day, Good Friday, Victoria Day, Canada Day, Labour Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day. These holidays are recognized across the country, though some provinces and territories may observe additional regional holidays or use different names for certain days.

Public holidays in Canada are governed by the Canada Labour Code for federally regulated industries and by provincial employment standards legislation for workers under provincial jurisdiction. Each province and territory has its own statutory holidays legislation that defines which days are recognized, how they are observed, and what compensation employees are entitled to receive.

The most recent significant change occurred in 2021 when the federal government established National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30th as a federal statutory holiday, effective June 21, 2021. However, this holiday is not universally observed across all provinces and territories, as some have not yet incorporated it into their employment standards legislation.

Employers must ensure compliance with the applicable jurisdiction's employment standards by providing employees with paid time off on statutory holidays or, where permitted, offering premium pay if work is required on these days. Payroll teams need to verify which holidays apply in each province or territory where they employ staff, as requirements vary significantly. Some jurisdictions require employers to pay employees at regular rates for statutory holidays, while others mandate premium rates such as time-and-a-half or double-time for work performed on these days. Accurate tracking and proper compensation for statutory holidays is essential for regulatory compliance.