Finding a job and working in Canada

Statutory holidays

In Canada, a few holidays are acknowledged nationwide, but not all are officially recognised and observed in all provinces and territories.

The five nationwide statutory holidays

A national statutory holiday is basically a paid day off. To be eligible for statutory holiday pay, generally, the employee must have been employed for a certain number of days before the statutory holiday and have worked a certain number of days immediately before the statutory holiday.

Employees who are required to work on a general holiday are paid, in addition to the holiday pay for that day, at a rate equal to at least one and a half times their regular rate of wages for the time worked on that day.

Managers and professionals required to work the general holiday receive their normal rate of pay but must be given a holiday with pay at another time.