Holidays in Ontario

Ontario has 9 public holidays. If you qualify, you get public holiday pay. Working on the holiday pays 1.5×.

The holidays

  • New Year's Day: January 1

  • Family Day: third Monday in February

  • Good Friday

  • Victoria Day: the Monday before May 25

  • Canada Day: July 1, or July 2 when July 1 is a Sunday

  • Labour Day: first Monday in September

  • Thanksgiving Day: second Monday in October

  • Christmas Day: December 25

  • Boxing Day: December 26

Remembrance Day and the Civic Holiday in August aren't public holidays under the Act. Your contract may add them.

Who qualifies

There's no waiting period. The day card in Week asks: did you work all of your last scheduled shift before the holiday and your first scheduled shift after it, or have a reasonable cause for missing one?

How much

Your regular wages and vacation pay payable in the 4 work weeks before the week of the holiday, divided by 20. Overtime and premium pay are left out.

If you work on the holiday

You're paid 1.5× for the hours you work, plus your holiday pay. If you don't qualify, you still get 1.5× for the hours worked. Or you can agree in writing to be paid your regular rate and get another day off with pay. On the day screen, choose Premium pay or Day off later.

If it's your day off

Your employer gives you another day off with pay, or holiday pay for the day if you agree in writing. Paycheq counts the holiday pay on the holiday itself.

Good to know

  • Hours paid at 1.5× on a holiday don't count toward overtime.

  • Official source: Employment Standards Act, 2000, ss. 24 to 29, https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/00e41

  • Estimates only. Not legal advice. Ontario's Ministry of Labour has the official rules.

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