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Employee BenefitsBenefits Canada NewsStatutory Holidays in Quebec: 2025 Guide

Statutory Holidays in Quebec: 2025 Guide

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Statutory holidays in Quebec provide employees significant opportunities to rest, celebrate, and spend time with loved ones. For employers, statutory holidays impact payroll, scheduling, and operations.

As a resident in Quebec, knowing the statutory holidays in Canada for the year can help you plan vacations and long weekends effectively. This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about statutory holidays in Quebec in 2025.

We’ll explore each statutory holiday on the calendar, eligibility rules, pay calculations, operational impacts, and key dates. Read on for a detailed overview of Quebec’s statutory holiday laws, compliance, and best practices.

How Do Statutory Holidays Differ From Public Holidays in Quebec?

While often used interchangeably, there are subtle differences between statutory and public holidays in Quebec:

  • Statutory holidays are mandated by provincial legislation in Quebec. Employers are legally required to provide paid time off or statutory holiday pay.
  • Public holidays are designated at a federal level by the Government of Canada and apply across the entire country.

Quebec observes all 6 nationwide public holidays. However, the province has not adopted the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (September 30), Remembrance Day (November 11), or Boxing Day (December 26) as statutory holidays. Most employers remain open on these days.

This gives Quebec a total of 8 statutory holidays compared to 9 nationwide public holidays recognized in other provinces.

Key Dates for Statutory Holidays in Quebec for 2025

Key Dates for Statutory Holidays in Quebec in 2024
Key Dates for Statutory Holidays in Quebec in 2024

Here are the critical dates for statutory holidays in Quebec in 2025:

HolidayDate
New Year’s DayWednesday, January 1
Good FridayFriday, April 18
Victoria Day/National Patriots’ DayMonday, May 19
Fête nationale du QuébecTuesday, June 24
Canada DayTuesday, July 1
Labour DayMonday, September 1
ThanksgivingMonday, October 13
Christmas DayThursday, December 25

Employers can substitute Good Friday or Easter Monday with a written employee agreement.

Eligibility for Statutory Holiday Pay and Time Off in Quebec

Under the Act Respecting Labour Standards, the vast majority of Quebec employees are eligible for general statutory holidays. This includes full-time, part-time, permanent, and contract employees.

To qualify for a given statutory holiday, employees must:

  • Have three months of continuous service with the employer
  • Have worked the scheduled shift before and after the holiday (with permission for absences)

Probationary employees with less than three months of continuous service are eligible if they meet a threshold for hours worked in the month preceding the holiday:

Months of Continuous EmploymentRequired Hours Worked in the Previous Month
1 month60+ hours
2 months120+ hours

There are specific categories of employees exempt from statutory holiday eligibility rules, including:

  • Management and professional staff
  • Students working during holidays
  • Some agriculture and aquaculture workers

It is the employer’s responsibility to verify eligibility for each employee per the Act.

How Do Statutory Holidays Impact Pay in Quebec?

Quebec has specific statutory pay calculation rules that must be followed on statutory holidays:

  • Hourly or Salaried Employees: Entitled to their regular day’s wages as statutory holiday pay
  • Commissioned Employees: Receive 1/60th of total commissions earned in the 12 previous weeks.
  • Employees Working on the Holiday: Must receive a substitute day off in addition to their regular daily pay

Key things to note:

  • Employers cannot swap statutory holidays for alternate dates.
  • Statutory pay must be provided, even if the holiday falls on a non-working day like the weekend.
  • Salaried employees receive regular salaries even if they do not work on the statutory holiday.

These standardized statutory holiday pay practices aim to ensure all employees receive fair compensation for their paid time off on these important cultural dates.

Substitute Holiday Rules in Quebec

The Act Respecting Labour Standards contains provisions for substitute holidays under specific conditions.

These rules apply to three statutory holidays:

  • Canada Day
  • Labour Day
  • Thanksgiving

For these days, an employer can substitute a different day off if:

  • The employer and the majority of employees agree in writing
  • The substitute day is taken within three weeks before or after the actual holiday

This provides some flexibility in scheduling. However, employers cannot unilaterally impose substitute days and must secure employee agreement.

Premium Pay for Working Statutory Holidays in Quebec

Premium Pay for Working Statutory Holidays in Quebec
Premium Pay for Working Statutory Holidays in Quebec

Employees required to work on a statutory holiday are entitled to premium pay by law in Quebec.

If the employee is qualified for the holiday, they must receive:

  • Their regular daily wages as statutory holiday pay
  • Overtime pay for any hours worked on the holiday

Alternatively, by agreement, the employee can receive:

  • Regular wages for hours worked on the holiday
  • A substitute day off with pay within three weeks

The premium pay compensates employees for working a statutory holiday instead of spending that time off.

How to Maximize Statutory Holidays for Long Weekends and Vacations

With some strategic planning, you can maximize statutory holidays in Quebec to provide you with cherished long weekends and mini-vacations throughout the year.

Here are some tips to make the most of your statutory holiday benefits in 2025:

Take Fridays Off Before Long Weekends

Scheduling days off on the Fridays preceding statutory holidays allows you to extend long weekends. Some ideal opportunities in 2025 include:

  • Friday April 17 + Easter Monday April 21
  • Friday May 15 + National Patriots’ Day May 18
  • Friday June 23 + Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day June 24

Bookend Your Vacation with Statutory Holidays

The Christmas and New Year’s holidays provide the perfect bookends for a winter vacation. In 2025, you could take December 21-24 off and December 28-31 off to create an extended holiday break.

Plan Summer Vacations Around the Construction Holiday

Quebec’s last 2 weeks of July are a popular vacation period, as many sights and attractions will be less crowded once construction halts.

Take Advantage of Holiday Mondays

The Easter, Labour Day, Thanksgiving, and National Patriots’ Day statutory holidays all fall on Mondays in 2025. This makes them convenient three-day weekends requiring only one vacation day.

Explore Quebec City During the Saint-Jean-Baptiste Long Weekend

Quebec City celebrates Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day in grand style. If you want festive parades, shows, and crowds, schedule your visit during this patriotic summer holiday.

No matter when you plan to take time off, refer back to the complete 2025 statutory holiday schedule to optimize your vacation strategy.

Key Takeaways for Statutory Holidays in Quebec

The major takeaways on statutory holiday compliance and management in Quebec include:

  • Eight statutory holidays in 2025
  • Most employees qualify for time off with pay
  • Pay depends on whether the employee works or not
  • Substitute days are allowed under certain conditions
  • Premium pay is required for working holiday
  • Many operational impacts beyond just payroll
  • Proper planning, policies, and communication are key

Employers must comply with all requirements while also strategically using holidays to promote work-life balance and employee morale. With preparation and leadership, holidays can be a win-win for employers and staff.

While we have covered surrounding statutory holidays in Quebec, each Canadian province and territory has its own set of public holiday legislation. Some key provincial statutory holiday references:

Who is eligible for statutory holidays in Quebec?

Most employees in Quebec are eligible for statutory holidays after 3 months of continuous service. This includes full-time, part-time, permanent and contract employees. Probationary employees may qualify if they meet a minimum hours threshold.

How is statutory holiday pay calculated in Quebec?

If an eligible employee has the statutory holiday off, they receive their regular daily wages as holiday pay. For hourly workers, it's the hourly wage x hours in a regular workday. For salaried employees, it's their prorated daily salary. For commissioned workers, it's 5.5% of gross wages in the prior 4 weeks.

What if an employee has to work on a statutory holiday in Quebec?

Employees who work on a statutory holiday must receive their regular statutory holiday pay, plus premium pay of 1.5 times their hourly wage for hours worked, or regular wages plus a substitute day off within 3 weeks.

Can statutory holidays be substituted in Quebec?

Yes, for Canada Day, Labour Day, and Thanksgiving, the employer can substitute another day off with majority employee agreement and if it falls within 3 weeks before or after the actual holiday

What are some key compliance tips for statutory holidays in Quebec?

Key compliance tips include: plan schedules in advance, communicate policies clearly, update payroll systems, watch for unauthorized absences, pay accurately, and use holidays strategically for work-life balance.

Is Boxing Day a statutory holiday in Quebec in 2025?

Yes, Boxing Day on December 26, 2025 is a statutory holiday in Quebec. Most employees can take the day off with pay. It was added recently and is not observed in all provinces.

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