KJIPUKTUK (Halifax) – On Monday Aug. 3, Nova Scotia celebrates Natal Day – a day off with pay for the lucky 25% of workers who are represented by a trade union. But it’s likely a normal workday for people who work in retail, food service, tourism and accommodation. 

Retail workers, shop assistants, grocery clerks, gas station attendants, are among the many low paid workers who must work on Natal Day.  If your workplace whether an office, a warehouse, a garage, or florist is closed, you get the day off, but the employer is not obliged to pay you for your day off.

Natal Day is a “civic” rather than a public holiday and it does not have to be paid, or even observed. There are only 6 statutory holidays (or paid public holidays) in Nova Scotia each year – we tie with Newfoundland and Labrador for the lowest number of paid holidays off work. 

Natal Day is another “punishing” holiday courtesy of the NS government.

Almost every store and business in NS will be open on Natal Day, some at reduced hours.  But it is not a retail closing day, so any store or shop is entitled to choose whether or not to be open. And what is worse, if you work on Monday, you will work for your regular pay; there is usually no premium paid for work on Natal Day (unless you are represented by a union). 

This is another “punishing” holiday from the NS government.

For the next paid holiday (public holiday), you will have to wait until Labour Day, Monday September 7.

If you want to get a paid holiday on Natal Day next year, please contact me to find out how to organize a union. You deserve the day off with pay.

Statutory holiday provision in Canadian provinces:

Painting at the top and below: Nenookassi –Ruby-throated Hummingbird (2025) by Dee Barsy who is Ojibwe, from Treaty 1 territory (near Winnipeg).