Ontario Giving Workers, Retailers and Consumers More Choice on Family Day and Victoria Day

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As part of its plan to protect Ontario, support workers and businesses, and provide more choice and convenience for families, the provincial government is proposing changes that would allow retail business establishments across the province to open on Family Day and Victoria Day, while maintaining strong protections for workers who wish to take the holiday off.

With this proposal, retail business establishments would have the option to stay open and serve consumers and families, and eligible retail employees could work and earn time-and-a-half premium pay, in addition to automatically receiving their full public holiday pay. These changes would create a fairer, more consistent approach for businesses and workers while allowing families to enjoy the convenience of select retail stores on these days.

"By giving retailers the option to open on Family Day and Victoria Day, we are supporting employees and businesses while giving families more choice and convenience to shop at their local retail stores," said Stephen Crawford, Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement. "These changes will give many employees the flexibility to agree to pick up extra shifts at increased pay, while maintaining their right to take the day off."

Family Day and Victoria Day are non-religious, statutory holidays observed across Ontario, making them well-suited for a harmonized retail framework. The proposed approach would only apply to those two holidays, continuing to respect Ontario's long-standing commitment to protecting religious observance and worker choice. All employee rights under the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA), including public holiday pay, premium pay and the right for many retail employees to refuse work on a public holiday will remain fully in place.

Currently, retail business holiday rules vary significantly across municipalities, creating a fragmented and confusing patchwork for consumers and an uneven playing field for businesses and their employees. In some municipalities, stores may open on these holidays, while in neighbouring regions they are required to close. As a result, a worker in one area of the province such as York Region, has the choice to take on time-and-a-half premium pay shifts while a similar worker in Peel Region is not given that same option. The proposed changes will address these gaps by bringing a fairer, more consistent approach for these two holidays that will enhance consumer convenience, give more choice to workers and allow business to thrive.

"Exploring a consistent, province-wide approach for retailers on Family Day and Victoria Day would give businesses greater flexibility while respecting the choice of workers," said David Piccini, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. "As Ontario continues to grow, it's important our rules keep pace with how people live, work and shop today. Our government will continue protecting workers while strengthening Ontario's economic resilience and productivity so businesses can thrive, invest and create more opportunities for workers across the province."

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