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Canada is a country with a diverse range of holidays and the amount of working days in a year is directly reflected by the province you live in. There are a total of 365 days each year but most Canadians only work around 250 of them on average. This can shift based on how holidays fall on the calendar.
If you’re lucky, your employer will often give additional time off such as two weeks vacation or more. This of course depends on the company you’re working for and how long you’ve been working there.
Understanding this can help you manage time and plan your leave effectively – So here at Smarter Loans we have pulled together this comprehensive guide to ensure you can plan your year effectively.
Let’s break it down further!
There’s a total of 261 business days in Canada, with 104 weekend days in between. That being said, holidays certainly differ between each province. For example, Ontario observes holidays like Family Day, while Quebec doesn’t. Keep in mind though, that provincial holidays and federal holidays are completely different. Federal holidays, like Canada Day and Christmas, are observed nationwide, in every province and territory.
The number of working days varies across all provinces and territories as mentioned above. While the standard workweek generally includes five days, the total number of working days in a year depends on statutory holidays observed in each province. Below is a breakdown of the holidays and working days per province in Canada.
In BC, the working days in a year vary depending on public holidays, which include both national and province-specific ones. BC has unique holidays like BC Day in August, which is a paid holiday in the province.
Working days are calculated by subtracting weekends and statutory holidays from the year’s total days. For instance, with 10 statutory holidays and weekends excluded, there are approximately 250 working days annually. Holidays like Victoria Day, Thanksgiving, and New Year’s Day are observed across Canada, but BC’s unique holidays make their working day count 251 days.
To qualify for holiday pay, employees must meet specific criteria, such as being employed for at least 30 calendar days and working 15 of the 30 days leading up to the holiday.
Holiday pay is calculated using the average daily wage formula: total wages earned in the 30 days before the holiday divided by the number of days worked. Employees required to work on a statutory holiday receive premium pay of 1.5 times their hourly wage for the first 12 hours and double for additional hours. Substitute days off can also be arranged through mutual agreement between employees and employers if necessary. Remember if you are struggling to make ends meet during the month you could benefit from a Payday Loan to get you through.
Albertans work hard and have approximately 253 working days each year. The province observes a wide range of statutory holidays like Family Day, Heritage Day, and Thanksgiving, including federal holidays.
Albertan employees are entitled to nine statutory holidays, including New Year’s Day, Family Day, Canada Day, and Christmas. To qualify for holiday pay, employees must have worked at least 30 days in the previous 12 months and fulfill their last scheduled workday before and first workday after the holiday. If you are looking to take advantage of your time off and book a big family holiday – a small Personal Loan could help you unlock the trip of your dreams.
Holiday pay is calculated based on the employee’s average daily wage, which is determined by dividing total wages from the previous four weeks by the number of days worked. If an employee works on a holiday, they are entitled to 1.5 times their regular wage plus their average daily wage or an alternative day off with pay.
Saskatchewan has its own statutory holidays like Alberta and B.C. and the province does have its fair share of working days. “Sask” as locals call it, observes several statutory holidays, including Canada Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, alongside Family Day in February.
There are approximately 260 working days, excluding holidays and weekends. Saskatchewan has one of the highest amounts of working days with Newfoundland being in first.
In general, employees are entitled to 10 statutory holidays annually, including New Year’s Day, Family Day, Good Friday, and Thanksgiving Day. To qualify for statutory holiday pay, all employees, whether full-time or part-time, are eligible provided they meet the standard requirements of working their scheduled shifts before and after the holiday.
Holiday pay in Saskatchewan is calculated as 5% of the employee’s gross wages earned in the four weeks preceding the holiday. For employees working on a holiday, they receive 1.5 times their regular hourly wage for all hours worked, in addition to their regular statutory holiday pay. Employers and employees can also agree on a substitute day off with pay if required.
The Keystone Province, AKA Manitoba, is a hardworking province with a standard working year of approximately 252 working days, depending on the year. The province observes 10 statutory holidays, including Louis Riel Day in February, which is unique to Manitoba. This holiday marks the execution of Louis Riel in Regina in 1885.
Manitoba employees are entitled to holiday pay if they meet certain conditions, such as having worked a minimum of 30 days in the past year. If an employee works on a statutory holiday, they receive 1.5 times their regular hourly wage or another day off in lieu, depending on the employer’s agreement.
Unlike some of the other provinces, Ontario doesn’t have its own day to celebrate. Ontario typically has about 253 working days each year, with nine statutory holidays each year.
Ontarian employees are entitled to a paid day off on statutory holidays, provided they qualify by having worked for at least 30 days before the holiday. Like in most Canadian provinces, if an employee works on a statutory holiday, they are entitled to 1.5 times their regular hourly rate for all hours worked, in addition to their regular pay for the day.
If the holiday falls on a day the employee doesn’t normally work, they may receive a substitute holiday or another form of compensation, depending on their employer’s contract.
Another thing to note is that Ontario is home to Canada’s largest workforce and the province emphasizes balancing work with rest hence the large number of holidays.
Quebec has about 260 working days per year, with around 10 statutory holidays, including National Day on June 24 which is a provincial holiday that isn’t observed anywhere else. Basically, the holiday is several rolled into one with Christian and Pagan influences. National Day is based on both a pagan celebration, celebrating the longest day of the year, and the birthday of Saint John The Baptist.
In Quebec, employees are entitled to a paid day off on statutory holidays but only if they have worked at least 3 days in the 4 weeks preceding the holiday. If an employee is required to work on a statutory holiday, they must be paid 1.5 times their regular wage for the hours worked and must also receive their regular pay for the day. If the employee does not work on the holiday, they are entitled to their usual wages for the day off.
Nova Scotians enjoy an average of 250 working days a year with approximately 6 statutory holidays each year, including the unique Heritage Day in February. Another thing to note is Nova Scotia has one of the lowest amounts of working days on this list, so local employees enjoy a well-balanced year with adequate time for rest.
The province offers holiday pay for all statutory holidays, and if employees work on these days, they are entitled to 1.5 times their regular pay. If an employee does not work, they still receive regular pay for the holiday.
New Brunswick typically has around 253 working days a year with approximately eight public holidays, including New Brunswick Day in August.
Employees in New Brunswick do receive holiday pay which can be calculated in one of two ways: either as a regular day’s wage or by adding 4% of gross wages to each paycheck throughout the year.
For those who work on a statutory holiday, employers must pay one and a half times the employee’s regular hourly rate, plus their usual day’s wage. To qualify, employees must have worked for the employer for at least 90 days in the prior 12 months and must work scheduled shifts before and after the holiday unless excused for valid reasons, such as illness.
PEI is the smallest province in Canada but it sure does have its fair share of working days per year with about 250, factoring in holidays and weekends. When it comes to holiday pay, employees are entitled to 8 statutory holidays, and if the holiday falls on a day an employee would normally work, they are entitled to a paid day off. However, if they are required to work on a holiday, they must be compensated at a rate of at least 1.5 times their regular hourly wage. The province also allows employees to substitute a day off if they work on a statutory holiday.
The typical amount of working days in a year for a Newfie is about 260 working days with 11 statutory holidays. Fun fact: Did you know that Newfoundland & Labrador is the only province in Canada that considers Saint Patrick’s Day a Statutory holiday?
If an employee is required to work on a statutory holiday, they are entitled to be paid 1.5 times their regular hourly wage, or they may receive an alternative day off with pay.
The rules surrounding holiday pay apply to full-time and part-time workers, as long as they meet the criteria, like having worked a certain number of days (depending on your employment contract) in the lead-up to the holiday.
In the Northwest Territories, working days vary slightly due to the territory’s specific public holidays, such as National Indigenous Peoples Day in June. This holiday is unique to the territories and celebrates Indigenous culture and contributions.
There are about 260 working days in North West Territories and 11 statutory holidays. Employees are eligible for statutory holiday pay if they’ve worked at least 30 calendar days for the same employer in the past 12 months and have completed their scheduled shifts before and after the holiday.
Holiday pay in the Northwest Territories equals a regular day’s wages for most employees. If someone works on a statutory holiday, they are entitled to overtime pay (1.5 times their regular rate) in addition to their regular pay or a substitute day off with pay.
The Yukon has approximately 260 working days in a typical year when you factor in public holidays and weekends. Yukon recognizes 12 statutory holidays, with the intriguing Discovery Day in August which celebrates the Klondike Gold Rush.
Eligible employees who have worked for an employer for at least 30 days are entitled to general holiday pay. This typically equals a regular day’s wages. For those working irregular shifts, pay is calculated at 10% of wages earned in the two weeks leading up to the holiday. If an employee works on a statutory holiday, they are entitled to overtime pay (1.5 times the regular rate) and holiday pay or a substitute paid day off.
Nunavut maintains a similar working day count to the other Canadian territories, but it has its fair share of unique holidays such as Nunavut Day celebrated on July 9th. Factoring in statutory holidays and weekends, the territory has approximately 250 working days annually with 10 statutory holidays each year.
Employees qualify for holiday pay if they’ve worked for the same employer for at least 30 days in the past year and attend their scheduled shifts before and after the holiday.
Like most Canadian provinces and territories, holiday pay equals a regular day’s wage, and employees who work on a statutory holiday receive overtime pay (1.5 times their hourly rate) and of course, their regular pay or a substitute paid day off.
The number of annual working days can vary greatly depending on holidays, vacation time, and sick days, all of which are regulated differently across provinces in Canada.
We touched on this above but paid holidays such as Christmas and Canada Day, reduce the total working days each year, with each province recognizing specific holidays such as:
Provincial sick days also play a role in the amount of working days per year as in some provinces paid sick leave is available such as in the Yukon, where residents get up to five sick days per year after the first 90 days of employment.
Another thing to consider is vacation days. Most employees in Canada receive two to three weeks of vacation time each year if they work full-time and have been employed for longer than a year.
Holiday pay vs holidays vs working days per year in each province certainly varies. Calculating your annual working days vs holidays is a straightforward yet essential process that will help you plan effectively for the year ahead.
