Thanksgiving: New Brunswick Stat Holiday

Thanksgiving is considered a day of rest in New Brunswick, but it is not a statutory holiday. This means businesses are closed, but whether employees receive holiday pay depends on their company's policies.

Thanksgiving is a day of rest in New Brunswick

In New Brunswick, there are two types of holidays: statutory holidays and days of rest. These are defined by separate acts and are therefore found on separate sites. Statutory holidays include New Year's Day, Good Friday, Canada Day, New Brunswick Day, Labour Day, Remembrance Day, and Christmas Day. Days of rest include the weekly day of rest (Sunday) and eleven prescribed days of rest throughout the year. These are New Year's Day, Family Day, Good Friday, Victoria Day, Canada Day, New Brunswick Day, Labour Day, Thanksgiving Day, Remembrance Day, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day.

Thanksgiving is one of the eleven prescribed days of rest in New Brunswick, as outlined in the Days of Rest Act. This means that businesses must be closed on this day, and employees are entitled to a day off. However, it is not a statutory holiday, so there is no legal obligation for employers to provide holiday pay for employees who work on Thanksgiving. Whether or not employees receive holiday pay for working on Thanksgiving depends on their company's policies.

It is important to note that the date of Thanksgiving in New Brunswick is fixed by proclamation of the Governor in Council. This means that the specific date may vary from year to year, and individuals should refer to the official proclamation to confirm the date of the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday.

There are two types of holidays in New Brunswick

There are two types of holidays recognized in New Brunswick: statutory holidays and public holidays.

Statutory Holidays

Statutory holidays are days off with pay for all regular full-time, part-time, and seasonal employees, as well as casual/temporary employees with a minimum of six months of continuous service. These holidays are established by the government and typically include the following in New Brunswick:

• Family Day (third Monday in February)
• New Brunswick Day (first Monday in August)
• Christmas Day

Some sources also list New Year's Day, Good Friday, Canada Day, Labour Day, Remembrance Day, and the birthday of the Sovereign as statutory holidays in New Brunswick.

Public Holidays

Public holidays, also known as prescribed days of rest, are days when businesses are required to be closed according to the Days of Rest Act. These holidays include the weekly day of rest (Sunday) and eleven other prescribed days:

• New Year's Day
• Family Day
• Good Friday
• Victoria Day
• Canada Day (July 1st, unless it falls on a Sunday, then observed on July 2nd)
• New Brunswick Day
• Labour Day
• Thanksgiving Day
• Remembrance Day
• Christmas Day
• Boxing Day

While Thanksgiving is recognized as a public holiday in New Brunswick, it is not a statutory holiday, along with Victoria Day and Boxing Day.

Stat holidays in New Brunswick

In New Brunswick, Canada, there are several statutory and public holidays throughout the year. These holidays are regulated by the government and provide paid leave for employees in specific sectors. While the statutory holidays may vary across different provinces in Canada, here is an overview of the statutory and public holidays observed in New Brunswick:

New Year's Day: This marks the beginning of the new year and is celebrated on January 1st. It is a time for new beginnings and resolutions.

Family Day: Observed on the third Monday in February, Family Day is a day to celebrate and spend time with family. It is a relatively new addition to the list of statutory holidays in New Brunswick.

Good Friday: The Friday before Easter Sunday is recognised as a day of rest and reflection, commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

Victoria Day: While Victoria Day is a federal national holiday in Canada, it is not a statutory holiday in New Brunswick. It usually occurs on the third Monday before May 25th and celebrates the birthday of Queen Victoria.

Canada Day: Celebrated on July 1st, Canada Day marks the anniversary of Canadian Confederation. When July 1st falls on a Sunday, the following Monday, July 2nd, becomes a legal holiday known as "Canada Day".

New Brunswick Day: This holiday is observed on the first Monday in August and is a civic holiday unique to the province of New Brunswick. It is a time to celebrate the culture and heritage of the province.

Labour Day: Occurring on the first Monday in September, Labour Day honours the contributions of workers and the labour movement. It is a day to promote the rights and well-being of working people.

Thanksgiving Day: Although Thanksgiving is a federal national holiday in Canada, it is not a statutory holiday in New Brunswick. It is typically celebrated on the second Monday in October and is a time for giving thanks, feasting, and spending time with family and friends.

Remembrance Day: Observed on November 11th, Remembrance Day is a memorial day to honour those who have served and sacrificed in military conflicts.

Christmas Day and Boxing Day: Christmas Day, celebrated on December 25th, and Boxing Day, observed on December 26th, are festive holidays recognised across New Brunswick. Employees are entitled to paid leave during this period.

It is important to note that the specific dates of these holidays may vary from year to year, and there may be additional provincial or national holidays proclaimed from time to time. Additionally, holiday entitlements and work scheduling can differ based on employment status and sector.

Days of rest in New Brunswick

In New Brunswick, the Days of Rest Act identifies specific days during the year that businesses must be closed. These include the weekly day of rest, which is Sunday, and eleven prescribed days of rest.

The eleven prescribed days of rest are:

• New Year's Day
• Family Day
• Good Friday
• Victoria Day
• Canada Day
• New Brunswick Day
• Labour Day
• Thanksgiving Day
• Remembrance Day
• Christmas Day
• Boxing Day

Three of these days—Boxing Day, Victoria Day, and Thanksgiving Day—are not considered paid public holidays in the Employment Standards Act. However, employees are entitled to leave with pay for all statutory holidays. This includes regular full-time, part-time, and seasonal employees, as well as casual/temporary employees with a minimum of six months of continuous service.

If a holiday other than Christmas coincides with an employee's day of rest, the holiday is moved to the employee's first working day following their day of rest. Additionally, if a holiday occurs while an employee is on sick or vacation leave, the holiday is still considered granted, and no deduction is made from the employee's leave credits.

Thanksgiving holiday pay in New Brunswick

Thanksgiving is a statutory holiday in New Brunswick. For employees in the province's public service, the government provides leave with pay for all statutory holidays to regular full-time, part-time, and seasonal employees, as well as casual/temporary employees with a minimum of six months of continuous service.

To qualify for public holiday pay, individuals must meet the following criteria:

• Have been employed for at least 90 calendar days in the 12 calendar months before the public holiday.
• Have worked their scheduled day of work before and after the public holiday, unless there is a good reason for not doing so (most reasons related to illness are considered acceptable).
• Report for and work their shift, unless there is a good reason for not doing so, and they had agreed to work on the public holiday.
• Not be employed under a continuous arrangement where they can decide when to work or not.

When a public holiday falls on an employee's working day, the employer should provide another working day as a holiday, which should not be later than the employee's next vacation period. If a public holiday falls on a non-working day, the employer must either provide another working day as a holiday or pay the employee their regular wages for the public holiday.

Employees who work on a public holiday are entitled to receive 1.5 times their regular wage rate for each hour worked. Employees who qualify and do not work on the public holiday must receive their regular day's pay for that day.

Frequently asked questions