An Ontario statutory holiday is a legally recognized public holiday under the Employment Standards Act (ESA). Eligible employees are entitled to take the day off and receive regular public holiday pay. In 2026, there are 9 official statutory holidays in Ontario.
However, because federal holidays and provincial holidays often overlap, employers frequently misclassify which days non-unionized employees are legally entitled to take off. If your employer denies your right to a stat holiday, refuses to pay you the legal premium for working on one, or punishes you for asking about your holiday pay, they are violating Ontario employment law.
The 9 Official Statutory Holidays in Ontario (2026)
| Statutory Holiday | 2026 Date | 2027 Date |
|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | Thursday, January 1 | Friday, January 1 |
| Family Day | Monday, February 16 | Monday, February 15 |
| Good Friday | Friday, April 3 | Friday, March 26 |
| Victoria Day | Monday, May 18 | Monday, May 24 |
| Canada Day | Wednesday, July 1 | Thursday, July 1 |
| Labour Day | Monday, September 7 | Monday, September 6 |
| Thanksgiving Day | Monday, October 12 | Monday, October 11 |
| Christmas Day | Friday, December 25 | Saturday, December 25 |
| Boxing Day | Saturday, December 26 | Sunday, December 26 |
The “Is it a Stat Holiday?” Checklist
There is significant confusion regarding days that are Federal holidays but not Provincial statutory holidays in Ontario. Use this definitive checklist to understand exactly what days you have off.
💡 Is Remembrance Day a stat holiday in Ontario?
No. Remembrance Day (November 11) is a federal statutory holiday, meaning federal government and bank employees get the day off. However, it is not an official public holiday under the Ontario ESA, meaning most non-unionized provincial employees do not get the day off with pay.
💡 Is Easter Monday a stat holiday in Ontario?
No. Good Friday is the official Ontario statutory holiday. Easter Monday is not a stat holiday, though some employers offer it voluntarily.
💡 Is Boxing Day a stat holiday in Ontario?
Yes. Unlike many other provinces in Canada, Ontario legally recognizes Boxing Day as a statutory public holiday.
💡 Is the August Civic Holiday a stat holiday in Ontario?
No. The first Monday in August (often referred to as Simcoe Day in Toronto) is an optional civic holiday. Employers are not legally required to give you this day off or provide stat holiday pay.
💡 Is National Day for Truth and Reconciliation a stat holiday in Ontario?
No. September 30 is a federal statutory holiday, but the Ontario government has not made it a provincial statutory holiday under the ESA.
💡 Are Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve stat holidays in Ontario?
No. Both Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve are considered regular working days.
How Does Holiday Pay Work in Ontario?
If a public holiday falls on a day you normally work, you are entitled to take the day off and be paid your public holiday pay.
The “First and Last” Qualifying Rule
To qualify for stat holiday pay in Ontario, you must meet the “First and Last Rule.” This means you must work your entire regularly scheduled shift before the public holiday, and your entire regularly scheduled shift after the public holiday. If you call in sick on the Friday before a Monday stat holiday without reasonable cause (such as a doctor’s note), your employer can legally deny your holiday pay.
How is Holiday Pay Calculated in Ontario?
In Ontario, your public holiday pay is calculated by taking all the regular wages you earned in the four work weeks leading up to the holiday, adding any vacation pay payable during that period, and dividing the total by 20.
What Happens if You Work on a Stat Holiday?
Some industries, such as hospitality, healthcare, and retail, often require employees to work on statutory holidays. If you agree—or are required—to work on an official stat holiday, your employer must legally give you one of two options:
- Premium Pay: You receive your regular stat holiday pay, plus premium pay (1.5 times your regular wage) for every hour you work that day.
- Substitute Day Off: You are paid your regular wage for the hours you work on the holiday, but your employer must provide a different day off with public holiday pay.
Your employer can’t simply pay you your regular wage for working a statutory holiday without offering a substitute day. This constitutes illegal wage theft.
Fired Over a Stat Holiday Dispute?
Your employer can’t legally punish you, cut your hours, or fire you for asserting your right to stat holiday pay, or for refusing to work on a public holiday if you have the legal right to take it off.
If your employer terminates your employment because of a dispute over holiday pay, it is considered a reprisal and a wrongful dismissal in Ontario.
If you have been let go, do not sign any termination papers before seeking legal advice. The employment lawyers in Ontario at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP have successfully held thousands of employers accountable and secured maximum severance packages for workers across Ontario.