Federally Regulated Holidays in Canada: What Employees Need to Know

If you work for a federally regulated employer, your statutory holiday rights are not set by your province. Federal law governs them — specifically the Canada Labour Code.

This guide explains:

• What federally regulated holidays are
• Which holidays federally regulated employees get off
• How holiday pay works
• Whether September 30 is a paid statutory holiday
• What “federally regulated” actually means

What Does “Federally Regulated” Mean?

A federally regulated employee works in an industry controlled by the federal government — not provincial employment standards.

Common federally regulated employers include:

• Banks
• Airlines and airports
• Railways
• Telecommunications (phone, internet, broadcasting)
• Interprovincial trucking and shipping
• Canada Post
• Certain Crown corporations

What Are Federally Regulated Holidays?

The Canada Labour Code guarantees federally regulated employees paid statutory holidays.

These holidays apply nationwide, regardless of which province you work in.

Federally Regulated Statutory Holidays in Canada

Federally regulated employees get the following paid holidays:

• New Year’s Day
• Good Friday
• Victoria Day
• Canada Day
• Labour Day
• National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (September 30)
• Thanksgiving Day
• Remembrance Day
• Christmas Day

People also call these federally regulated statutory holidays or stat holidays for federally regulated companies.

What Holidays Do Federal Employees Get Off in Canada?

Federal employees — and most federally regulated workers — get all nine holidays listed above.

If you’re required to work on a statutory holiday, you’re generally entitled to:

• Holiday pay, plus
• Premium pay or a substitute day off

What Counts as a Federal Holiday?

A federal holiday is a holiday that:

• Is listed under the Canada Labour Code
• Applies to federally regulated employees
• Comes with mandatory paid time off or premium compensation

This is different from:

• Provincial statutory holidays, or
• Employer-created holidays (which may not be legally required)

Is September 30 a Paid Statutory Holiday in Canada?

Yes — but only for federally regulated employees.

September 30, officially the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, is a paid statutory holiday under federal law.

Important to know:

• It does not automatically apply to provincially regulated workplaces
• Many private employers choose to recognize it — but they are not legally required to unless federal rules apply

How Does Holiday Pay Work for Federally Regulated Employees?

In most cases:

• You’re entitled to your average daily wages for the holiday
• If you work on the holiday, you may receive:
  • 1.5× pay, plus
  • Holiday pay, or
  • A paid substitute day off

Do Provincial Stat Holidays Apply to Federally Regulated Employees?

No.

If you’re federally regulated:

• Federal holidays apply
• Provincial stat holidays generally do not, even if coworkers in the same province receive them

This often causes confusion — especially in provinces with additional holidays.

What If Your Employer Denies a Federally Regulated Holiday?

Common issues include:

• Being told the holiday “doesn’t apply”
• Not receiving proper holiday pay
• Being forced to use vacation time instead
• Not receiving premium pay when working the holiday

When to Speak to an Employment Lawyer

You should get legal advice if:

• Your employer denies statutory holiday pay
• You’re unsure whether federal or provincial rules apply
• You were disciplined for refusing to work a holiday
• Your pay doesn’t reflect federal holiday requirements

Employers who repeatedly ignore statutory holiday obligations may later face claims related to termination without cause.

Samfiru Tumarkin LLP has helped 50,000+ non-unionized employees across Canada enforce their workplace rights and recover compensation when employers break the law.