Statutory Holidays in New Brunswick

New Brunswick’s Employment Standards Act (ESA) recognizes eight public statutory holidays for employees working under provincial regulation. For statutory holidays, provincially regulated workers must receive a day off with pay from their employers.

What statutory holidays are recognized in New Brunswick?

The following statutory holidays are recognized in New Brunswick:

• New Year’s Day
• Family Day
• Good Friday
• Canada Day
• New Brunswick Day
• Labour Day
• Remembrance Day
• Christmas Day

Prescribed Days of Rest in New Brunswick

New Brunswick’s Days of Rest Act lists specific days during the year that businesses must stay closed. It includes the provinces eight stat holidays. It also covers three days that are not paid public stat holidays: Victoria Day, Thanksgiving Day and Boxing Day.

• Retail businesses must close on the 11 designated days of rest, including Sundays.
• Some retail businesses are exempt and may open on Sundays.
• These three days are not paid holidays.
• Failing to comply with the Days of Rest Act in New Brunswick can result in fines ranging from $140 to $1,070.

Other statutory holidays not observed by New Brunswick

In addition to Victoria Day, Thanksgiving Day and Boxing Dar, there are two additional holidays that are NOT statutory holidays for provincially regulated employees in New Brunswick: Easter Monday and National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

While provincially regulated employers in New Brunswick are not legally required to give staff those days off, they can voluntarily choose to do so.

• National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is a holiday and day off for provincial public sector workers in New Brunswick, as well as all federally regulated employees.

When do statutory holidays occur in New Brunswick?

The dates for New Brunswick statutory holidays change each year. Select a year below to find out when stat holidays take place:

2021 • 2022 • 2023 • 2024 • 2025

What happens if a stat holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday?

In New Brunswick, if a statutory holiday falls on a day you’re not scheduled to work or during your vacation, you are entitled to another working day off with pay, or, if agreed upon, regular pay for the holiday instead of a day off.

How we can help

While Samfiru Tumarkin LLP does NOT handle employment matters in New Brunswick (terminations, severance pay, human rights claims), our team does regularly handle insurance matters for individuals throughout the province.

Long-term Disability: Areas served

Our team of experienced disability insurance lawyers can help individuals across all Canadian provinces (excluding Quebec) when their long-term disability claims are denied.

Alberta • British Columbia • Manitoba • New Brunswick • Newfoundland & Labrador • Nova Scotia • Ontario • P.E.I. • Saskatchewan

Additional insurance matters

The insurance lawyers at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP also handle denials for short-term disability, life insurance, critical illness insurance and mortgage insurance claims in all Canadian provinces (excluding Quebec).