Nunavut Day – stat holiday legislation explained
Share this article
Every year on July 9, Nunavummiut folks in Nunavut celebrate the “birthday” of their unique territory, which was established in 1999. While the holiday previously applied solely to government employees, it became applicable to employees in territorially-regulated industries as of 2020.
Businesses with locations or employees in Nunavut: this is a great opportunity for you to dive into how this legislation may apply to you and your crew, and to plan ahead for the upcoming summer vacation requests. Let’s set you up for success!
What is Nunavut Day?
Within the territory, Nunavut Day is one of the 10 general holidays and one of 13 public service holidays for government employees. Employees who meet the conditions prescribed in the Labour Standards Act are eligible for a day off with pay.
Let’s take a closer look at the legislation surrounding Nunavut Day:
To whom doesn’t this paid holiday apply?
Canadian employers need to know that Nunavut Day is designated as a statutory or paid holiday exclusively in the territory of Nunavut. It’s not a recognized statutory holiday for federally regulated employees and workplaces, unless specified in their collective agreement.
To whom does this paid holiday apply?
As mentioned, Nunavut Day is one of the 10 general holidays in the territory, and as such is generally observed by territorial government employees and workplaces, municipal government offices, many federal government institutions located in Nunavut, and various businesses. Eligible employees who don’t work on this day are entitled to a regular day’s pay. If they work on the general holiday, they’re entitled to either another day off with pay or a normal day’s pay plus 1.5 times the regular rate of pay for hours worked on the general holiday. For more on eligibility and exceptions, visit the Nunavut Labour Standards Compliance Office.
Looking for a handy-dandy guide to help you navigate important dates?
Whether the legislation for Nunavut Day is applicable to your business or not, questions surrounding stat holidays are some of those most frequently asked of our knowledgeable Customer Service Team members. Setting up your payroll, paying staff accurately, and ensuring legislative compliance is always top of mind for Canadian businesses (and Payworks!). We’re here to help you stay up-to-date with critical payroll legislation information and all the important dates you need to know, like federal and provincial statutory holidays. Download a free copy of the Payworks Payroll Guide to help keep yourself and your team in the loop: https://www.payworks.ca/landing-pages/campaigns/payroll-guide.
