Ontario Giving Workers, Retailers and Consumers More Choice on Family Day and Victoria Day

March 13, 2026

Our government is proposing targeted changes that would allow retail businesses across Ontario to choose to open on Family Day and Victoria Day, while maintaining strong protections for employees who wish to take the holiday off.

Employee rights under the Employment Standards Act would remain fully in place, including public holiday pay, premium pay where applicable, and the right of retail employees to refuse work on a public holiday.

These changes will create a fairer and more consistent province‑wide approach, replacing the current patchwork of municipal rules that vary from community to community.

Family Day and Victoria Day are non‑religious public holidays, making them well‑suited for a harmonized approach that respects worker choice while improving convenience for families.

The proposal would only apply to these two holidays. All other public holidays would remain unchanged, and businesses would not be required to open.

As Ontario continues to grow, our government is ensuring retail rules keep pace with how people live, work, and shop today, while continuing to protect workers and support local businesses.