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National holidays are regulated under the Holiday Act 2003. This Act sets forth the 11 national holidays that are celebrated and provides the government with the authority to declare one-time national holidays or present ideas for new reoccurring holidays to Parliament.

Subsection 50 of the Holiday Act requires employers to provide employees with a paid day off for all national holidays if these holidays occur on a regular working day. Holidays which occur on a day of rest (Sunday) are not considered a paid holiday if that employee would normally not work that day. If the employee would normally work on any day considered a national holiday, employers must pay that employee no less than one and a half times their hourly rate for every hour worked on those days.

With the exception of New Year’s Day, Christmas and the Provincial holidays, all holidays must remain on the date they occur. Provincial holidays are generally moved to the closest Monday (either prior or future) to their celebration date. When the Christmas and New Year holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday they are officially recognised on the following Monday.