Canada Lists 10 General Holidays Workers Can Take Off With Pay
Canada general holidays
The Canadian government has released the full list of 10 general holidays that employees working for federally regulated employers can take off with pay in 2026.
The paid holidays are provided under Canada’s federal labour standards, which set minimum workplace protections for employees in federally regulated industries.
Workers covered by the rules can receive a paid day off for each of the recognised general holidays, although different arrangements apply when a holiday falls on a weekend that is not a scheduled working day.
Full List of Canada’s 10 General Holidays
According to the federal government’s labour standards guidance, the 10 general holidays are:
- New Year’s Day
- Good Friday
- Victoria Day
- Canada Day
- Labour Day
- National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
- Thanksgiving Day
- Remembrance Day
- Christmas Day
- Boxing Day
Employees covered by federal labour standards are generally entitled to take these days off with pay, subject to the applicable rules.
What Happens When a Holiday Falls on a Weekend?
Canada also has specific provisions for general holidays that fall on a Saturday or Sunday when the employee is not scheduled to work.
For six of the recognised holidays, employees are entitled to a paid day off on the working day immediately before or after the holiday.
The six holidays are:
- New Year’s Day
- Canada Day
- National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
- Remembrance Day
- Christmas Day
- Boxing Day
The substitute-day rules ensure eligible employees do not lose the holiday entitlement simply because the date falls on a non-working weekend.
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Four Holidays Have Different Substitute-Day Rules
Good Friday, Victoria Day, Labour Day and Thanksgiving Day are treated differently when they fall on a non-working day.
In such cases, the paid holiday can either be added to the employee’s annual vacation or provided at another time agreed upon by the employee and employer.
The arrangement therefore depends on the circumstances and the applicable workplace agreement.
Who Is Covered by Canada’s Federal Holiday Rules?
The 10 general holidays apply specifically to employees working in federally regulated workplaces.
These include workers in sectors such as:
- Banking
- Telecommunications
- Interprovincial transportation
- Certain Crown corporations
- Other federally regulated industries
Not every employee in Canada falls under federal labour standards.
Workers employed in provincially regulated workplaces are instead covered by the employment laws of their respective provinces or territories. Those rules can differ in the number of recognised public holidays and how substitute days are handled.
Canada Has Jobs and Immigration Opportunities for Foreign Workers
The holiday rules are particularly relevant to foreign workers already employed in federally regulated Canadian workplaces.
Canada also continues to offer immigration pathways for skilled workers. The country has identified occupations and industries where foreign workers may be needed, while its Express Entry system includes category-based selection for specific groups of skilled candidates.
Applicants seeking to move to Canada must meet the requirements of the particular immigration or work-permit programme they are applying through.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many general holidays are there in Canada?
There are 10 general holidays recognised under Canada’s federal labour standards for employees covered by federal jurisdiction.
Do Canadian workers get paid for general holidays?
Eligible employees working for federally regulated employers can generally take the recognised general holidays off with pay, subject to the applicable conditions.
What are Canada’s 10 paid holidays?
They are New Year’s Day, Good Friday, Victoria Day, Canada Day, Labour Day, National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Thanksgiving Day, Remembrance Day, Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
What happens if a Canadian public holiday falls on a weekend?
For certain holidays, eligible employees receive a paid substitute day immediately before or after the holiday. Other holidays may be added to annual vacation or taken at another agreed time.
Do all Canadian workers receive these 10 paid holidays?
No. The federal rules apply specifically to employees in federally regulated workplaces. Workers under provincial or territorial jurisdiction may have different holiday entitlements.
Can foreign workers in Canada receive paid holidays?
Yes. Foreign workers employed in federally regulated workplaces can be covered by the same federal labour standards, provided they meet the applicable conditions.