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Government Holidays/Store Hours
| The information contained below is designed to help you review retail business holiday rules and regulations in your area. Since there are many exceptions in some jurisdictions, you are encouraged to check with your local municipality or provincial/territorial government, if you have any specific questions.
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2013 RCC Calendar  For a complete Calendar of Retail Holidays and RCC Events, click here. |
| British Columbia | Retailers can be open on holidays as long as they pay their employees according to law. ** Please contact the Government of British Columbia's Employment Standards Branch to ensure that there are no exceptions. > If located in a mall, retailers must follow mall rules. > To ensure compliance in your area — contact your local Employment Standards Branch Office. |
| Reference | > Statutory Holiday Interpretation Guidelines: British Columbia Employment Standards Act and Regulations > Statutory Holidays in British Columbia Fact Sheet > Employment Standards Branch Office Locations > For more information contact the B.C.'s Employment Standards General Enquiries, Call Toll-Free in B.C. 1-800-663-3316 |
| Alberta | There is no law preventing retailers from opening. ** Please contact the Government of Alberta's Employment Standards Branch to ensure that there are no exceptions. > If located in a mall, retailers must follow mall rules. > To ensure compliance in your area — contact your local MLA. |
| Reference | > Statutory Holiday Guidelines > MLA Finder > For more information contact the Government of Alberta's Employment Standards Branch: (780) 427-3731 |
| Saskatchewan | Retailers can be open on holidays as long as they pay their employees according to law (please see link to Labour Standards below) and if they are usually open on Sundays. **Please contact the Government of Saskatchewan's Department of Labour Standards to ensure that there are no exceptions. In many cases, municipalities set store opening guidelines. Contact your municipal clerk to ensure compliance. |
| Reference | > Labour Standards > For more information contact the Government of Saskatchewan Labour Standards Office: (800) 667-1783. |
| Manitoba | Most retailers are NOT allowed to open during the following Holidays: New Year's Day For Retail Businesses In Winnipeg And Municipalities With A By-Law In Effect The City of Winnipeg has passed a by-law to adopt liberalized Sunday and holiday shopping laws. In Winnipeg, all retail businesses regardless of the number of persons employed are able to open for business on Sundays and designated holidays. For those businesses, which normally employ more than four persons at any one time, there are some restrictions, as described below. Businesses which normally operate with more than four staff at any one time, including the owner:
Businesses that operate with four or fewer staff at any one time may open for business at any time on Sundays and Holidays. Businesses that normally operate with more than four staff at any one time may operate at any time on Sundays and Holidays with four or fewer employees. Source: Manitoba Labour Employment Standards Source: Manitoba Labour Employment Standards |
| Reference |
> Remembrance Day Restrictions Fact Sheet > Remembrance Day 2007 > The Retail Businesses Holiday Closing Act > Sunday and Holiday Shopping Fact Sheet > Province of Manitoba — Department of Justice > Louis Riel Day Fact Sheet |
| Ontario | Most retailers are NOT allowed to open during the following Holidays; Family Day (Third Monday of February) Good Friday Easter Sunday Victoria Day Canada Day Labour Day Thanksgiving Day Christmas Day
Exempt from the act are book or magazine stores under 2,400 square feet with a maximum of three employees, pharmacies under 7,500 square feet, flower shops and gas stations.
Minimum fines for individuals opening businesses on prohibited days of retail operation are $500 for the first offence, $2,000 for a second offence and $5,000 for a third or subsequent offence. Retail outlets may be fined up to $50,000 or the total amount of gross sales for the holiday, whichever is greater. |
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| Reference |
> Retail Business Holidays Act > Ministry of Government and Consumer Services > Ministry of Labour — Public Holidays > Map of the City of Toronto Municipal Boundaries |
| Quebec | Most retailers are NOT allowed to open during the following Holidays; Easter Sunday June 24th July 1st the first Monday in September December 25th To inquire about which types of retail operations are exempt from the act, please refer to the Act respecting hours and days of admission to commercial establishments below or call Developpement economique Innovation et Exportation Commerce Branch at (514) 499-2176. |
| Reference |
> An Act Respecting Hours and Days of Admission to Commercial Establishments > Province of Quebec — English > Developpement economique Innovation et Exportation |
| New Brunswick |
New Year’s Day, Good Friday, Canada Day, New Brunswick Day, Labour Day, Remembrance Day, Christmas Day. To inquire about which types of retail operations are exempt from the act, please refer to the Days of Rest Act below or call the Ministry of Local Government at (506) 453-2434. |
| Reference |
> Days of Rest Act > Province of New Brunswick — Department of Local Government |
| Nova Scotia | ATTENTION NOVA SCOTIA RETAILERS: Recent changes to retail holiday closings in Nova Scotia
Most retailers are NOT allowed to open during the following Holidays;
Of these holidays, the following are paid public holidays: Please note that Remembrance Day closing falls under the Remembrance Day Act with different exemption rules. The following days are commonly recognized as holidays but are not paid holidays under the Nova Scotia Labour Standards Code and do not fall under the Retail Business Designated Closing Day Act. Easter Monday, Victoria Day, Natal Day (August holiday) Retailers are free to open on these days and retail employees do not have the right to refuse to work. To inquire about which types of retail operations are exempt from the act, please refer to the Retail Business Designated Closing Day Act and Remembrance Day Act. You can also call the Ministry of Labour and Workforce Development at 888-315-0110. |
| Reference |
> Retail Business Designated Closing Day Act > Remembrance Day Act |
| Prince Edward Island | Most retailers are NOT allowed to open during the following Holidays;
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| Reference |
> Retail Business Holidays Act > An Act to Amend the Retail Business Holidays Act > Province of Prince Edward Island |
| Newfoundland & Labrador | Most retailers are NOT allowed to open during the following Holidays:
Of these days, the following are paid holidays: In addition to the foregoing holidays, The Shops Closing Act sets for observance as holidays, the following: The Shops Closing Act requires that all shops, other than those defined as exempt shops, be closed on the above holidays. To inquire about which types of retail operations are exempt from the act, please refer to the Shops' Closing Act. For further information, please contact the Department of Human Resources, Labour & Employment at telephone number (709) 729-2742, toll-free 1-877-563-1063; e-mail: kclements@gov.nl.ca. |
| Reference | > Shops Closing Act > Shop Closing Act Regulations > Newfoundland & Labrador Labour Relations Agency |
| Yukon | Retailers are allowed to open 365 days a year. If located in a mall, retailers must follow mall hours and regulations. If located outside of a mall, normal business operating hours apply. ** Please contact the Government of Yukon's Department of Community Services to ensure that there are no exceptions. > To ensure compliance in your area — contact your local MLA. |
| Reference | > Department of Community Services > MLA Finder > For more information contact the Government of Yukon's Department of Community Services: (867) 667-5811. |
| Nunavut | Retailers can be open on holidays as long as they pay their employees according to law. ** Please contact the Government of Nunavut's Employment Standards Branch to ensure that there are no exceptions. > To ensure compliance in your area - contact your local MLA. |
| Reference | > MLA Finder > For more information contact the Government of Nunavut's Communications Department: (867) 975-6000. |
| Northwest Territories | Retailers are allowed to open 365 days a year. If located in a mall, retailers must follow mall hours and regulations. If located outside of a mall, normal business operating hours apply. ** Please contact the Government of the Northwest Territories to ensure that there are no exceptions. > To ensure compliance in area — contact local MLA. |
| Reference | > MLA Finder > For more information contact the Government of the Northwest Territories: (867) 873-7500. |
