Statutory holidays in Canada: rules, pay and who qualifies
Quick summary
A stat holiday is a day the law says most workers get off with pay, or get paid extra to work. Each province and territory sets its own list, from 6 to 11 days, and federal workplaces get 10. Whether you are paid depends on rules about days worked. See the dates in stat holidays in Canada in 2026.
Checked November 3, 2026. Main source: Government of Canada: General holidays (Labour Program, page dated December 12, 2025). See all 18 sources.
What is a stat holiday?
A stat holiday is a paid day off that employment law gives you. The law may call it a general holiday, a public holiday, a statutory holiday or a paid holiday. The federal government, Alberta, Manitoba, Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut say general holiday. Ontario and Saskatchewan say public holiday. British Columbia and Quebec say statutory holiday. Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island say paid holiday.
Some days off are not stat holidays. A civic holiday is a day many places close, but it is only a paid holiday where the law says so, such as B.C. Day in British Columbia or Saskatchewan Day in Saskatchewan. An employer can also give extra paid days off by contract. Alberta calls these optional holidays.
Who sets the rules?
Most workplaces follow their province or territory. Federally regulated workplaces, such as banks and airlines, follow the Canada Labour Code. That is 14 separate sets of rules, so a friend in another province may get a different list or a different pay amount.
Paid holidays by place: Federally regulated workplaces: 10, Ontario: 9, British Columbia: 11, Alberta: 9, Saskatchewan: 10, Manitoba: 9, Quebec: 8, New Brunswick: 8, Nova Scotia: 6, Newfoundland and Labrador: 6, Prince Edward Island: 8, Yukon: 11, Northwest Territories: 11, Nunavut: 11.
Which days are stat holidays?
New Year's Day, Canada Day, Labour Day and Christmas Day are on every list (Newfoundland and Labrador calls July 1 Memorial Day). Good Friday is on every list too, except that in Quebec the employer picks Good Friday or Easter Monday.
Thanksgiving is a paid holiday in 9 places but not in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island. The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, September 30, is paid in 6 places: British Columbia, Manitoba, Prince Edward Island, Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut. Remembrance Day is paid in 9 provinces and territories. Boxing Day is paid only in Ontario and federally.
| Place | Paid days | The holidays, 2026 dates |
|---|---|---|
| Federally regulated workplaces | 10 | New Year's Day (January 1); Good Friday (April 3); Victoria Day (May 18); Canada Day (July 1); Labour Day (September 7); National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (September 30); Thanksgiving Day (October 12); Remembrance Day (November 11); Christmas Day (December 25); Boxing Day (December 26) |
| Ontario | 9 | New Year's Day (January 1); Family Day (February 16); Good Friday (April 3); Victoria Day (May 18); Canada Day (July 1); Labour Day (September 7); Thanksgiving Day (October 12); Christmas Day (December 25); Boxing Day (December 26) |
| British Columbia | 11 | New Year's Day (January 1); Family Day (February 16); Good Friday (April 3); Victoria Day (May 18); Canada Day (July 1); B.C. Day (August 3); Labour Day (September 7); National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (September 30); Thanksgiving Day (October 12); Remembrance Day (November 11); Christmas Day (December 25) |
| Alberta | 9 | New Year's Day (January 1); Alberta Family Day (February 16); Good Friday (April 3); Victoria Day (May 18); Canada Day (July 1); Labour Day (September 7); Thanksgiving Day (October 12); Remembrance Day (November 11); Christmas Day (December 25) |
| Saskatchewan | 10 | New Year's Day (January 1); Family Day (February 16); Good Friday (April 3); Victoria Day (May 18); Canada Day (July 1); Saskatchewan Day (August 3); Labour Day (September 7); Thanksgiving Day (October 12); Remembrance Day (November 11); Christmas Day (December 25) |
| Manitoba | 9 | New Year's Day (January 1); Louis Riel Day (February 16); Good Friday (April 3); Victoria Day (May 18); Canada Day (July 1); Labour Day (September 7); Orange Shirt Day (National Day for Truth and Reconciliation) (September 30); Thanksgiving Day (October 12); Christmas Day (December 25) |
| Quebec | 8 | New Year's Day (January 1); Good Friday or Easter Monday (the employer chooses) (April 3); National Patriots' Day (Monday before May 25) (May 18); Quebec National Holiday (June 24) (June 24); Canada Day (July 1); Labour Day (September 7); Thanksgiving Day (October 12); Christmas Day (December 25) |
| New Brunswick | 8 | New Year's Day (January 1); Family Day (February 16); Good Friday (April 3); Canada Day (July 1); New Brunswick Day (August 3); Labour Day (September 7); Remembrance Day (November 11); Christmas Day (December 25) |
| Nova Scotia | 6 | New Year's Day (January 1); Nova Scotia Heritage Day (February 16); Good Friday (April 3); Canada Day (July 1); Labour Day (September 7); Christmas Day (December 25) |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 6 | New Year's Day (January 1); Good Friday (April 3); Memorial Day (July 1) (July 1); Labour Day (September 7); Remembrance Day (November 11); Christmas Day (December 25) |
| Prince Edward Island | 8 | New Year's Day (January 1); Islander Day (February 16); Good Friday (April 3); Canada Day (July 1); Labour Day (September 7); National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (September 30); Remembrance Day (November 11); Christmas Day (December 25) |
| Yukon | 11 | New Year's Day (January 1); Good Friday (April 3); Victoria Day (May 18); National Indigenous Peoples Day (June 21); Canada Day (July 1); Discovery Day (August 17); Labour Day (September 7); National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (September 30); Thanksgiving Day (October 12); Remembrance Day (November 11); Christmas Day (December 25) |
| Northwest Territories | 11 | New Year's Day (January 1); Good Friday (April 3); Victoria Day (May 18); National Indigenous Peoples Day (June 21); Canada Day (July 1); First Monday in August (August 3); Labour Day (September 7); National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (September 30); Thanksgiving Day (October 12); Remembrance Day (November 11); Christmas Day (December 25) |
| Nunavut | 11 | New Year's Day (January 1); Good Friday (April 3); Victoria Day (May 18); Canada Day (July 1); Nunavut Day (July 9); August civic holiday (August 3); Labour Day (September 7); National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (September 30); Thanksgiving Day (October 12); Remembrance Day (November 11); Christmas Day (December 25) |
The table shows 2026 dates. The days are the same in other years, but the weekday changes.
Who qualifies for stat holiday pay?
Most places pay you for the day if you meet a few tests. The common ones are working your last scheduled shift before the holiday and your first shift after it, having worked for the employer for a set number of days, and not missing a scheduled holiday shift. The tests vary, so read the row for your place.
Examples: New Brunswick needs 90 days of work in the past year. Nova Scotia needs pay for at least 15 of the 30 days before the holiday. Prince Edward Island needs 30 days with the employer and pay on 15 of them. Manitoba has no minimum length of employment. Quebec says part time and on call workers can qualify.
How much is stat holiday pay?
Each government page gives its own formula. This table summarizes them and links to the page each row came from.
| Place | If you have the day off | If you work it | Who qualifies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federally regulated workplacesSource. Page dated December 12, 2025. | At least one twentieth of your wages, not counting overtime, earned in the 4 weeks before the week of the holiday. | At least 1.5 times your regular rate for the hours you work, plus the holiday pay. Managers and professionals get their regular pay and a substitute paid day off. | The page does not list a length of service rule. Ask the Labour Program if you are unsure. |
| OntarioSource. Page updated July 8, 2024. | Your regular wages from the 4 work weeks before the holiday, plus any vacation pay owed for that time, divided by 20. | Holiday pay plus 1.5 times your regular rate for the hours worked, or your regular wages for those hours plus a substitute day off with holiday pay. Either choice needs a written or electronic agreement. | You usually need to work your last scheduled day before and your first scheduled day after the holiday, unless you have a good reason. |
| British ColumbiaSource. Pages dated January 2025 and January 2026. | An average day's pay: your total wages in the 30 calendar days before the holiday divided by the days you worked, not counting overtime. | Time and a half for hours up to 12 and double time after that, plus the average day's pay. | You must qualify. The B.C. government keeps the rules on a separate page. |
| AlbertaSource. Page published August 27, 2026. | The average daily wage, which is your wages divided by the days worked in a 4 week period, not counting overtime. It applies if the holiday is a regular workday for you. | On a regular workday, the employer picks one: 1.5 times your wage for the hours worked plus the average daily wage, or your regular wage for the hours plus a paid day off later. | Not owed if you worked fewer than 30 workdays in the 12 months before, missed a scheduled holiday shift, or missed your scheduled day before or after without the employer's consent. |
| SaskatchewanSource. Government page and The Saskatchewan Employment Act (unofficial copy, changes through 2018). | 5% of your wages, not counting overtime, earned in the 4 weeks (28 days) before the holiday. Vacation pay taken in that time counts. | The 5% amount plus 1.5 times your hourly wage for each hour worked. | You must be an employee when the holiday occurs. New employees are covered even if they worked less than 4 weeks. |
| ManitobaSource. Page dated August 14, 2025. | One regular day's pay if your hours are steady. If your hours or pay vary, 5% of your gross wages, not counting overtime, from the 4 weeks before. | Holiday pay plus 1.5 times your regular rate for hours worked. Some employers, such as restaurants and hospitals, can pay regular wages and give another paid day off within 30 days. | No minimum length of employment. You can lose the pay if you miss a scheduled shift on the holiday, or the last scheduled day before or first day after, without permission. |
| QuebecSource. CNESST pages, no date shown. | One twentieth of the wages earned in the 4 complete weeks of pay before the week of the holiday. | You are paid for the day worked. Your employer then pays the indemnity or gives a paid day off within 3 weeks before or after. | Full time, part time, casual and on call workers can qualify. For most holidays you must not miss the workday before or after without a valid reason. June 24 only needs you to be employed that day. |
| New BrunswickSource. Page, no date shown. | Your regular day's pay. If your pay varies, an average day's pay from the 30 days before, not counting overtime. | Your regular day's pay plus 1.5 times your regular wage for each hour worked. The page also says all employees get 1.5 times for hours worked. Call the Employment Standards Branch at 1-888-452-2687 to confirm. | At least 90 calendar days of work in the 12 months before the holiday, and you worked your scheduled days before and after unless you had a good reason. |
| Nova ScotiaSource. Page, copyright 2021, no date shown. | A regular day's pay. If your hours vary, an average over the 30 days before. | A regular day's pay plus 1.5 times your regular hourly rate for the hours worked. | You must be entitled to pay for at least 15 of the 30 calendar days before the holiday, and work your last scheduled shift before and first scheduled shift after. |
| Newfoundland and LabradorSource. Labour Standards Act, RSNL 1990 c. L-2. | Your hourly rate times the average number of hours you worked per day in the 3 weeks before the holiday. | The Act says double pay for the day, or a full paid day off within 30 days, or an extra day added to your vacation, if you and your employer agree the holiday is a working day. | No holiday pay if the holiday falls in your first 30 days of work, or if you miss your regular workday before or after without cause or consent. |
| Prince Edward IslandSource. Page, no date shown. | A regular day's pay. If your hours or pay vary, an average over the 30 days before. | A regular day's pay plus 1.5 times your regular hourly rate for hours worked, or your regular pay for those hours plus another paid day off. | You worked for the employer for 30 calendar days before, earned pay on at least 15 of them, and worked your last scheduled shift before and first scheduled shift after. |
| YukonSource. Fact sheet updated May 2023. | At least your daily earnings for hourly or daily pay, or your full salary. If your hours are irregular, at least 10% of the wages for hours worked in the 2 weeks before the holiday's week. | The overtime rate for all hours worked that day, or your regular rate plus a paid day off. | The fact sheet says there are conditions but does not list them. Call the Employment Standards Office at 867-667-5944. |
| Northwest TerritoriesSource. Fact sheet, no date shown. | An average day's pay. | Another paid day off, or an average day's pay plus overtime pay for the hours worked. | You worked for the employer at least 30 days in the 12 months before, worked your last scheduled shift before and next scheduled shift after, and worked the holiday if called in. |
| NunavutSource. Page, no date shown. | A day off with pay. | Another paid day off, or regular pay plus 1.5 times your regular pay for the hours worked. | Not owed if you worked fewer than 30 days in total over the past year, missed a scheduled holiday shift, missed your scheduled shift before or after without consent, or are on maternity or parental leave. |
What if you work on a stat holiday?
In most places you are paid more. Ontario, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Nunavut and federal workplaces pay 1.5 times your rate for the hours worked, plus the holiday pay (some offer a paid day off instead). British Columbia pays time and a half up to 12 hours and double time after, plus an average day's pay. Newfoundland and Labrador's Act says double pay. Quebec pays you for the day and then adds an indemnity or a paid day off within 3 weeks.
Some jobs are allowed to ask you to work. Manitoba lets places such as restaurants, hospitals and gas stations pay regular wages and give another paid day off within 30 days. Ontario lets hotels, restaurants, hospitals and continuous operations require work in some cases. Ask your employer which rule applies to you.
What if the holiday falls on a weekend or a day off?
Federal workplaces give a paid holiday on the workday before or after for New Year's Day, Canada Day, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Remembrance Day, Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Manitoba gives a regular workday off with pay. New Brunswick and Nova Scotia give another paid day off. Alberta pays only if the day is a regular workday for you. The Northwest Territories gives an average day's pay or another paid day off.
What to do next
If your pay looks wrong, ask payroll how they figured it, and keep a copy of your pay stub. If they cannot explain it, your province's employment standards office handles complaints.
Questions people ask
What is the difference between a stat holiday and a civic holiday?
A stat holiday is a paid holiday set by law. A civic holiday is a day many places close, and it is paid only where the law says so, such as B.C. Day and Saskatchewan Day.
How many stat holidays does each province have?
Federally regulated workplaces: 10, Ontario: 9, British Columbia: 11, Alberta: 9, Saskatchewan: 10, Manitoba: 9, Quebec: 8, New Brunswick: 8, Nova Scotia: 6, Newfoundland and Labrador: 6, Prince Edward Island: 8, Yukon: 11, Northwest Territories: 11, Nunavut: 11.
Do I get paid for a stat holiday if I did not work it?
Usually yes, if you qualify. The tests vary, such as working the shifts before and after the holiday. See the pay table for your place.
Can my employer make me work on a stat holiday?
In some jobs, yes. Manitoba and Ontario list job types, such as hospitals and restaurants, that may require work. In other jobs you may be able to say no. Check your province's employment standards office.
Is Remembrance Day a stat holiday?
Yes in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut and federally. No in Ontario, Manitoba, Quebec, Nova Scotia, though Nova Scotia has a separate rule.
Are stat holidays included in overtime?
It depends. In Saskatchewan, hours worked on a public holiday do not count toward overtime, and the weekly overtime threshold drops by 8 hours for each holiday. In Alberta, holiday hours do not count toward weekly overtime under the first pay option. In Yukon the standard week drops from 40 to 32 hours in a holiday week.