Ontario’s new statutory holiday - Family Day

One of the first acts the government of Ontario announced after the election was the creation of a new statutory holiday – Family Day.  Family Day falls on the third Monday of every February and has become the ninth paid public holiday under the Employment Standards Act, 2000.

Family Day is governed by the Employment Standards Act and is treated the same as any other public holiday.  The following days are considered public holidays in Ontario:  New Years Day, Family Day, Good Friday, Victoria Day, Canada Day, Labour Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and Boxing Day.  

In addition to these public holidays some employers give their employees a holiday on Easter Sunday, Easter Monday, the first Monday in August, and/or Remembrance Day.  However, these days are not considered public holidays under the Employment Standards Act; therefore employers are not required by provincial law to provide employees with these paid days off.

With the addition of Family Day, most employers are now required to give their employees nine public holidays.  However, the following exceptions apply:  if an employee works in a job that is exempt from public holidays as part of the Employment Standards Act or works in an industry with special rules - an employer may not be required to provide Family Day or any other public holiday to the employee.

For more details about jobs and industries that are not covered by the public holiday portion of the Employment Standard Act, or to which special rules apply please click on the following link: http://www.labour.gov.on.ca/english/es/factsheets/fs_covered.html   

For more information on Ontario’s Public Holidays and the Employment Standards Act please click on the following link:    http://www.labour.gov.on.ca/english/es/factsheets/fs_public.html