What Are The Public Holidays in Canada in 2025?

List of Public Holidays in Canada in 2025

Below is a list of major national public holidays observed across Canada in 2025. Individual provinces and territories may have additional regional holidays such as Family Day, St. Jean Baptiste Day (Quebec), or Heritage Day (Alberta).

Do Employers Have to Provide Paid Leave on Public Holidays?

Yes, Canadian labor law requires employers to provide paid leave for statutory holidays, but the specifics depend on whether the employee is federally or provincially regulated.

Under the Canada Labour Code, most employees are entitled to a paid day off on each statutory holiday. If employees must work, they are entitled to holiday pay plus premium pay or a substitute day off with pay. Provincial laws mirror this, with slight differences in eligibility, such as requiring employees to have worked a certain number of days before the holiday.

Both full-time and part-time employees are usually covered, provided they meet minimum service requirements. Public holidays are separate from annual leave entitlements, meaning they do not reduce vacation days.

Legal Penalties for Not Providing Paid Holiday Leave

Employers who fail to meet statutory holiday obligations face fines, back-pay orders, and potential legal claims. Under the Canada Labour Code, employees can file complaints with the Labour Program if they are denied statutory holiday pay or time off.

Penalties vary by jurisdiction but typically include monetary fines ranging from CAD 500 to CAD 10,000, depending on the violation and whether it is a repeat offense. Non-compliance is often found in sectors with part-time or seasonal staff, such as retail or hospitality.

To avoid violations, employers should keep clear payroll records, track eligibility requirements per province, and ensure holiday pay calculations are accurate, especially for hourly or irregular workers.

How Do Holidays Affect Overtime Thresholds?

Public holidays do not count as hours worked when calculating overtime. However, if an employee works on a public holiday, those hours qualify for premium rates and may still count toward overtime if total weekly hours exceed provincial limits. Employers must apply the more favorable rule to the employee when federal and provincial standards differ.

Stay 100% Compliant with Leave Regulations Using Playroll

Leave entitlements, from public holidays to annual leave and special statutory allowances, vary across Canada’s provinces and territories. Managing these differences correctly is crucial to avoid penalties and maintain employee satisfaction.

Playroll helps global employers stay fully compliant with Canadian labor laws by automatically tracking public holidays and calculating entitlements for each province. The platform integrates compliance directly into payroll, ensuring every employee, from Vancouver to Halifax, receives the correct holiday pay and time off.

With Playroll, you can expand confidently in Canada, knowing your team’s leave and holiday pay are always accurate, compliant, and stress-free.