2025 Holidays - Canada

Canada Public Holiday Observance Rules

1. When a Public Holiday Falls on a Sunday

- Federal practice: Under the Canada Labour Code, if a federally recognized holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday is typically observed as the holiday for employees under federal jurisdiction.

- Provincial/territorial variations: Many provinces and territories follow a similar approach, shifting a Sunday holiday to Monday, but the rules can differ by location and by holiday.

- Employer obligations: If shifted to Monday, employees who work that day must receive statutory holiday pay or a day off in lieu, as specified by labor standards.

2. When a Public Holiday Falls on a Saturday

- Federal employees: Federally, if a holiday falls on a Saturday, the following Monday is often observed. Some employers may opt for the preceding Friday, but Monday is more common.

- Provincial/territorial rules: Some provinces/territories do not shift the holiday if it falls on a Saturday, while others require a different day off in lieu for employees who don’t normally work Saturdays.

- Check local standards: Each province/territory has specific legislation that may dictate whether a Saturday holiday is officially moved or handled via another day in lieu.

3. Bridge Holidays (Long Weekends)

- No universal bridging law: Canada does not mandate extra days off to create four-day weekends when a holiday falls on a Tuesday or Thursday.

- Government or employer decisions: In rare cases, governments or employers may declare an additional day off, but this is not a legal requirement.

- Common in some workplaces: Some employers use vacation or personal days to create bridge holidays, but this is entirely discretionary.

4. Special Cases for Public Holidays

- Differing holiday lists: The federal government and each province/territory have their own statutory holidays. Some holidays are recognized nationwide (e.g., Canada Day), while others vary by region (e.g., Family Day).

- Remembrance Day: Federally recognized, but not a mandatory paid holiday in every province/territory.

- Civic holidays: Some are civic or local holidays (e.g., first Monday in August), not necessarily mandated as paid days off everywhere.

- Religious vs. secular: Canada does not automatically shift religious holidays to weekdays if they fall on weekends; each recognized public holiday follows federal or provincial legislation.

5. Additional Notes

- Check your jurisdiction: Canada has both federal and provincial/territorial labor laws. Always consult the relevant legislation for precise rules.

- Entitlements: Working on a statutory holiday usually entitles employees to premium pay (often 1.5 or 2 times the normal wage) or time off in lieu, depending on the region and any collective agreement.

- Annual announcements: Holiday dates do not typically change each year, but whether they shift to Monday can depend on the specific law in your province/territory or federal regulations.

- Employer flexibility: Employers may go beyond minimum requirements by adding bridging days, offering extra days off, or providing other holiday-related benefits at their discretion.