Federal Stat Holidays in Canada 2026: Dates & Holiday Pay Rules

Federally regulated employees in Canada are entitled to 10 paid general holidays under the Canada Labour Code.

The holidays are New Year’s Day, Good Friday, Victoria Day, Canada Day, Labour Day, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Thanksgiving Day, Remembrance Day, Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

These federal rules apply only to federally regulated workplaces. If your employer is provincially regulated, the statutory holidays in your province apply instead.

On This Page:

• 1. Federal Stat Holidays 2026
• 2. Who Federal Holiday Rules Apply To
• 3. How Federal Holiday Pay Is Calculated
• 4. Working on a Federal Stat Holiday
• 5. Holidays on a Non-Working Day
• 6. Substitute Holidays & Special Rules
• 7. FAQs

Federal Stat Holidays in Canada 2026

There are 10 federal general holidays under the Canada Labour Code in 2026.

Who Gets Federal Stat Holidays in Canada?

Federal general-holiday rules apply to employees working in federally regulated industries and workplaces.

Common federally regulated workplaces include:

• Banks
• Airlines and airports
• Railways
• Telecommunications companies
• Radio and television broadcasters
• Interprovincial trucking and transportation companies
• Shipping businesses operating across provincial or international borders
• Canada Post
• Certain Crown corporations

If your workplace is federally regulated, provincial statutory holiday rules generally do not determine your minimum holiday rights.

See our guide to Canada Labour Code employee rights for the broader federal employment standards that apply.

Do you need to work for a minimum amount of time first?

No. Eligible federally regulated employees are entitled to general holiday pay regardless of how long they have worked for the employer.

Do part-time employees get federal stat holiday pay?

Yes. Part-time employees receive the same 10 general holidays, with holiday pay adjusted to their earnings.

How Is Federal Stat Holiday Pay Calculated?

For most employees, federal general holiday pay is at least 1/20 of the wages earned during the four weeks immediately before the week of the holiday.

Overtime pay is excluded from the calculation.

Because 1/20 is equal to 5%, the calculation is effectively:

Qualifying wages during the four-week period × 5%.

For example, if you earned $4,000 in qualifying wages during the four weeks before the holiday:

$4,000 ÷ 20 = $200 in general holiday pay.

Are there different calculations for some employees?

Yes. Different rules can apply in certain multi-employer workplaces and other specialized employment arrangements.

Most employees can use the standard 1/20 calculation above.

What Do You Get If You Work on a Federal Stat Holiday?

Most federally regulated employees who are required to work on a general holiday receive holiday pay plus at least 1.5 times their regular wage for the hours worked.

That means you generally receive:

• Your general holiday pay
• At least 1.5 times your regular rate for every hour worked on the holiday

For example, if your regular rate is $20 per hour and you work eight hours:

You receive your holiday pay plus $30 per hour for the eight hours worked.

Can federally regulated employees be required to work on a holiday?

Yes. The Canada Labour Code does not prohibit work on a general holiday.

If your employer requires you to work, it must provide the compensation required by federal law.

What happens if you are scheduled but do not show up?

If you are scheduled to work on the general holiday and do not report for work, you can lose your entitlement to general holiday pay.

What If a Federal Holiday Falls on a Non-Working Day?

You do not lose a federal general holiday simply because it falls on a day you normally do not work.

What if certain holidays fall on a weekend?

If New Year’s Day, Canada Day, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Remembrance Day, Christmas Day or Boxing Day falls on a Saturday or Sunday that you do not normally work, you receive a paid holiday on the scheduled working day immediately before or after it.

This matters in 2026 because Boxing Day falls on Saturday, December 26.

What about Good Friday, Victoria Day, Labour Day or Thanksgiving?

If one of those holidays falls on a non-working day, the paid holiday can be added to your annual vacation or provided on another day that is convenient to you and your employer.

Can a Federal Stat Holiday Be Moved to Another Day?

Yes. A federal general holiday can be substituted for another day when the Canada Labour Code requirements are followed.

What if you are not unionized?

If the substitution applies only to you, you must agree to it in writing.

If it applies to a group of non-unionized employees, at least 70% of the affected employees must approve it and the employer must provide the required notice.

What if you are unionized?

The employer, union and affected employees must meet the federal requirements for substituting the holiday.

Are managers treated differently when they work a holiday?

Yes. Managers and certain professionals who are required to work on a general holiday receive their regular rate of pay plus a substitute paid holiday at another time.

What about continuous operations?

Federally regulated continuous operations have additional options for compensating employees who work a general holiday.

Depending on the arrangement, an employee can receive:

• 1.5 times their regular rate plus general holiday pay
• Regular wages for the hours worked plus another paid holiday
• Another payment arrangement permitted by an applicable collective agreement

Do provincial stat holidays also apply?

Generally, no. Federally regulated employees follow the Canada Labour Code holiday rules rather than provincial employment standards.

This is why a federally regulated employee in Ontario, Alberta or BC can have a different holiday calendar from a provincially regulated employee working in the same province.

Federal Stat Holiday FAQs

How many federal stat holidays are there in Canada?

There are 10 general holidays under the Canada Labour Code.

Is September 30 a federal stat holiday?

Yes. The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is a paid general holiday for federally regulated employees.

Is Remembrance Day a federal stat holiday?

Yes. November 11 is one of the 10 general holidays under federal law.

Is Boxing Day a federal stat holiday?

Yes. Boxing Day is a federal general holiday under the Canada Labour Code.

Is Easter Monday a federal stat holiday?

No. Easter Monday is not one of the 10 general holidays under the Canada Labour Code.

Do bank employees get federal stat holidays?

Yes. Banks are federally regulated, so their employees generally follow the federal general-holiday rules.

Can my employer make me work on a federal stat holiday?

Yes. If you work, your employer must provide the compensation required by the Canada Labour Code.

Samfiru Tumarkin LLP advises and represents non-unionized federally regulated employees in Ontario, Alberta and BC on Canada Labour Code rights, including unpaid wages, termination and severance issues.