[Canada] Statutory holiday pay requirements

Employees can receive two types of holiday pay:

  1. Statutory holiday pay – an employee is entitled to this pay for being employed during a holiday, whether they work on the holiday or not
  2. Worked holiday pay –  Sometimes called Holiday premium pay, this is pay at an increased hourly rate for working on a holiday 

Enter the employee's hours into their Timesheet. If any of the worked days are a holiday, Wave will calculate the appropriate amount of holiday pay based on the employee’s eligibility requirements. Learn about Wave’s payroll accuracy guarantee.

Frequently asked questions

How is holiday pay calculated? 

Statutory holiday pay is calculated differently depending on which province the business is located in. Each province uses different factors, such as the pay earned in previous pay periods or how long the employee has been employed with the business. These factors determine the statutory holiday pay the employee is entitled to. Worked holiday pay also differs between provinces.

What days count as holidays?

Some statutory holidays are unique to only one province, while others are observed throughout Canada:

Province /Territory

Holidays Observed 

Ontario

New Year's Day, Family Day, Good Friday, Victoria Day, Canada Day, Labour Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, Boxing Day
British Columbia New Year's Day, Family Day, Good Friday, Victoria Day, Canada Day, B.C. Day, Labour Day, National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Thanksgiving Day, Remembrance Day, Christmas Day
Manitoba New Year's Day, Louis Riel Day, Good Friday, Victoria Day, Canada Day, Labour Day, National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day
New Brunswick New Year’s Day, Family Day, Good Friday, Canada Day, New Brunswick Day, Labour Day, Remembrance Day, Christmas Day
Newfoundland and Labrador New Year’s Day, Good Friday, Canada Day, Labour Day, Remembrance Day, Christmas Day
Northwest Territories New Year’s Day, Good Friday, Victoria Day, National Aboriginal Day, Canada Day, Civic Holiday, Labour Day, National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Thanksgiving Day, Remembrance Day, Christmas Day
Nova Scotia New Year’s Day, Heritage Day, Good Friday, Canada Day, Labour Day, Christmas Day
Nunavut New Year's Day, Good Friday, Victoria Day, Canada Day, Nunavut Day, Civic Holiday, Labour Day, National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Thanksgiving Day, Remembrance Day, Christmas Day
Alberta New Year’s Day, Family Day, Good Friday, Victoria Day, Canada Day, Labour Day, Thanksgiving Day, Remembrance Day, Christmas Day
Prince Edward Island New Year's Day, Islander Day, Good Friday, Canada Day, Labour Day, National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Remembrance Day, Christmas Day
Saskatchewan New Year's Day, Family Day, Good Friday, Victoria Day, Canada Day, Saskatchewan Day, Labour Day, Thanksgiving Day, Remembrance Day, Christmas Day
Yukon New Year's Day, Good Friday, Victoria Day, National Aboriginal Day, Canada Day, Discovery Day, Labour Day, National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Thanksgiving Day, Remembrance Day, Christmas Day

 

Where can I find the holiday rules for my Province? 

Ontario The Ontario Ministry of Labour
British Columbia Employment Standards
Manitoba Manitoba Labour Board
New Brunswick Jobs and Workplaces
Newfoundland and Labrador Labour Relations Board
Northwest Territories Employment Standards
Nova Scotia Employment Rights
Nunavut Labour and Employment Standards
Alberta Alberta Labour Relations Board
Prince Edward Island Labour Relations Board
Saskatchewan Saskatchewan Labour Relations Board
Yukon Department of Community Services