Updated September 2026. Stat holiday pay in Canada isn’t a fixed “one day’s pay”. Ontario divides four weeks of wages by 20, BC averages the last 30 days over the days you actually worked, and Quebec leaves out overtime. Choose your province, enter your recent wages and — if you worked on the holiday — your hours, to see what you should be paid.
Stat Holiday Pay Calculator
How Holiday Pay Is Calculated by Province
| Jurisdiction | Holiday pay formula | Who qualifies | If you work the holiday |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ontario | Regular wages + vacation pay in the 4 work weeks before the holiday’s work week, ÷ 20 | No minimum length of employment; work your last scheduled shift before and first after (unless reasonable cause) | Holiday pay + 1.5 × for hours worked, or regular pay + a substitute day off |
| British Columbia | Wages in the 30 calendar days before ÷ days worked or earned wages | Employed 30 calendar days and worked or earned wages on 15 of the last 30 days | 1.5 × for the first 12 hours (2 × after) + an average day’s pay |
| Alberta | Average daily wage: wages in the 4 weeks before ÷ days worked | Worked 30 days in the 12 months before; holiday on a normal work day (or regular work pattern) | Average daily wage + 1.5 × for hours worked, or regular pay + a substitute day |
| Quebec | 1/20 of wages (no overtime) in the 4 complete weeks before the holiday’s week | Must not be absent without authorization or valid reason the working day before or after | Regular pay + the indemnity, or a compensatory day off |
| Manitoba, Saskatchewan | 5% of wages (no overtime) in the 4 weeks before | Work your scheduled shifts before and after (Manitoba); Saskatchewan has no minimum service | Holiday pay + 1.5 × for hours worked |
| Federal workplaces | 1/20 of wages (no overtime) in the 4 weeks before the holiday’s week | From the first day of work | Holiday pay + 1.5 × for hours worked |
| Atlantic provinces and territories | Usually a regular day’s pay, with averaging rules for variable hours | Varies — often 30 days of employment and working the shifts around the holiday | Usually 1.5 × plus holiday pay, or a substitute day |
Interpretation: the number of paid holidays also differs — Ontario has 9 public holidays, BC 11, Alberta 9, Quebec 8 and federal workplaces 10 (see the 2027 statutory holiday calendar). A day like Remembrance Day or Civic Holiday is only paid where it is on your province’s list.
Worked Example (Ontario)
You earned $3,000 in regular wages and $120 in vacation pay in the four work weeks before the week of Thanksgiving. Your holiday pay is ($3,000 + $120) ÷ 20 = $156. If you also work 8 hours on Thanksgiving at $20 an hour and are paid premium pay, you receive $156 + (8 × $30) = $396.
Part-Time, Casual and New Workers
- Part-time workers are generally entitled to holiday pay; the formulas above scale it to what you earn.
- Casual and on-call workers most often lose it through the “shift before and after” rules or, in BC and Alberta, the minimum-days tests.
- New employees: in Ontario and federal workplaces you can qualify in your first week. In BC and Alberta you need about a month first.
- Work permit holders have exactly the same holiday pay rights.
If You Think You Were Underpaid
- Check your pay stub: holiday pay should be a separate line, not hidden in regular hours.
- Recalculate with the formula for your province (the calculator above) and raise it with payroll in writing.
- If it is not fixed, file a free claim with your provincial employment standards office, or with the federal Labour Program if you work in a federally regulated industry.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is stat holiday pay calculated in Ontario?
Add your regular wages and vacation pay for the four work weeks before the work week with the holiday, and divide by 20.
Do I get time and a half on a stat holiday?
In most provinces, yes — 1.5 times your wage for hours worked plus holiday pay, unless you agree to a substitute day off. Quebec pays your regular rate plus the indemnity, or gives you a compensatory day.
Is Boxing Day a paid holiday?
It is a public holiday in Ontario and for federal workplaces, but not in most other provinces.
Do I get holiday pay if I’m on vacation?
Generally yes — you get holiday pay or an extra day off, depending on the province.
Related Tools and Guides
- Overtime calculator
- Vacation pay when you quit
- Minimum wage by province
- Long weekends 2027
