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With the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, many in Canada have been asking whether a public holiday will be declared – including business closures – to mark...
With the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, many in Canada have been
asking whether a public holiday will be declared – including
business closures – to mark the Queen's funeral on Sept.
19, 2022. As with any public holiday in Canada, the answer will
depend on the jurisdiction in which the business operates.
On Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2022, Prime Minister Trudeau declared that
Monday, "Sept. 19, 2022, will be a National Day of Mourning in
Canada, to mark the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth
II." This National Day of Mourning will apply to federal
government employees, but not to federally-regulated private sector
businesses unless they choose to observe the holiday. Similarly,
the holiday announced by the federal government does not apply to
provincially-regulated employees (which make up the vast majority
of the workforce in Canada,) unless provinces also individually
declare the day to be a public holiday. Currently, not every
province is planning to set aside the day.
We set out below how each province will be treating Monday,
Sept. 19, 2022:
Province
Treating as holiday?
Other important details
Alberta
No
Schools will be open
British Columbia
No, for private sector employers
Yes, for public sector employers
Schools will be closed
Unknown whether holiday will be recurring
Manitoba
No, for private sector employers
Yes, for non-essential government employers
Schools will be open
Unknown whether holiday will be recurring
New Brunswick
No, for private sector employers unless unionized in which case
they must comply with the terms of the collective agreements
regarding recognizing federal holidays
Yes, for public sector employers
Schools will be closed
One-time holiday
Newfoundland/Labrador
No, for private sector employers
Yes, for public sector employers
Schools will be closed
Unknown whether holiday will be recurring
Nova Scotia
No, for private sector employers
Yes, for public sector employers
Schools will be closed
Unknown whether holiday will be recurring
Ontario
No
Schools will be open
Prince Edward Island
Yes, for private and public sector
All business must close, subject to the Retail
Holiday's Act which exempts certain retail establishments
from having to close
All employees are entitled to holiday pay pursuant to standard
holiday pay regulations
The content of this article is intended to provide a general
guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought
about your specific circumstances.
