Canada's Boxing Day Isn't A Stat Holiday For Everyone In Every Province & Territory
December 26 is the day after the big day and it's special in its own right. However, is Boxing Day a stat holiday in Canada? Whether or not you get the day off work really depends on where you live and. in some cases, what job you have.
According to The Canadian Encyclopedia, the name might come from churches opening boxes for the poor that had been filled before Christmas or the custom of giving gifts to employees after Christmas.
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Though you probably know Boxing Day as a time for shopping and finding big deals.
In Canada, it's a federal statutory holiday which means government offices, banks and post offices are closed.
For anyone who isn't a federal employee, whether you get the day off or get holiday pay for working depends on where you live and sometimes even your job.
B.C.
In B.C., Boxing Day isn't a stat holiday so that means having the time off isn't guaranteed and you won't get paid extra wages for working that day.
If it bums you out to not get this one, there are 10 stat holidays in the province that are all spread out in different months.
Yukon
Boxing Day isn't observed as a stat holiday throughout Yukon.
Though, like B.C., there are 10 stat holidays throughout the year.
Alberta
Alberta has nine general holidays throughout the year.
Boxing Day, along with Easter Monday and Heritage Day, is an optional one that employers can choose to give to workers so time off isn't guaranteed.
Northwest Territories
The Employment Standards Act for Northwest Territories designated 10 days as statutory holidays that you get paid time off for regardless of if they happen on a workday or not.
However, Boxing Day isn't included on that list.
Saskatchewan
There are 10 public holidays each year in Saskatchewan where most people get paid time off but some might have to work and will get special pay.
That doesn't include Boxing Day though.
Manitoba
In Manitoba, there are only eight general holidays and Boxing Day didn't make the cut.
So, if you don't work on December 26, you won't get paid because it's not one of the general holidays.
Nunavut
Boxing Day isn't a stat holiday territory-wide in Nunavut.
However, you get the day off if you're a federal worker or a public service employee.
Ontario
December 26 is one of nine public holidays in Ontario.
That means you're entitled to have the day off work and get public holiday pay if you qualify.
Quebec
In Quebec, Boxing Day isn't a province-wide stat holiday that most workers get off.
New Brunswick
Boxing Day isn't a paid public holiday in New Brunswick.
However, you can get the time off if you're a federal or provincial employee.
Nova Scotia
While Boxing Day isn't a paid holiday in Nova Scotia, it is a designated retail closing day.
That means some retail businesses aren't allowed to be open on that day.
P.E.I.
In P.E.I., December 26 isn't a paid holiday province-wide.
Like with other provinces and territories, provincial government offices are closed on that day because it's a designated holiday.
Newfoundland & Labrador
There are only six paid public holidays throughout the year in Newfoundland & Labrador and that doesn't include Boxing Day.
However, it is designated as one of the "Shops Closing Holidays" in the province which means some retailers have to be closed on December 26.
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