Remembrance Day: A holiday for some, but not all | In the news

Every November 11^thwe celebrate the end of the First World War in 1918 with Remembrance Day. For some workers it is a public holiday, but for others it is a normal working day. Why the difference?

Formerly known as Armistice DayRemembrance Day was created to honor all the people who defended Canada in the First World War. During that war, nearly 65,000 Canadians died and another 172,000 were wounded. Ceremonies in their honor are held in Quebec and the other provinces. The day is symbolized by a red poppy, a flower chosen because it sprouted on the lands decimated by bombing during the war.

Is this a vacation for you?

The answer depends on where you work. Remembrance Day is a statutory holiday for employees of federally regulated businesses because those businesses are covered by Canada Labor Code instead of Quebec’s Act in compliance with labor standards.

Some examples of these companies are:

• Radio stations
• Telecommunications
• Banks
• Postal services
• Uranium mining and refining companies
• The nuclear energy industry
• Interprovincial or international transport companies (by boat, train or plane)

Employees covered by Canada Labor Code are generally entitled to the same holidays as those fixed by Act in compliance with labor standards. However, they have extra holidays on Remembrance Day, the day after Christmas (December 26) and National Truth and Reconciliation Day on September 30.

Even if your workplace is not federally regulated, you may be entitled to these extra holidays as part of a collective bargaining agreement or an internal workplace policy.

To learn more about federal labor standards, read our article.