Note: After the release of this statement, the federal government clarified that Sept. 19 will be a paid holiday for the federal civil service only.
Toronto, September 13, 2022 – The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) is urging provincial governments not to declare next Monday, Sept. 19, a statutory paid holiday following the federal government’s announcement of a federal paid holiday.
With a six-day notice, it would be deeply unfair for small businesses and cost the economy billions.
For many small businesses, such as restaurants, hotels and movie theatres, this would mean paying more in order to stay open.
Small businesses are already struggling with labour shortages and requiring them to close or pay time and a half to their employees with no notice would be extremely costly or result in a day’s lost productivity.
The provinces should follow the suit of the United Kingdom and leave Monday as a commemorative holiday with no requirement for businesses to close or pay in lieu. Guidance for workers and employers in United Kingdom can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/bank-holiday-announced-for-her-majesty-queen-elizabeth-iis-state-funeral-on-monday-19-september.
- Dan Kelly, President, Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB)
For media enquiries or interviews, please contact:
Dariya Baiguzhiyeva, CFIB
647-464-2814
public.affairs@cfib.ca
About CFIB
The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) is Canada’s largest association of small and medium-sized businesses with 95,000 members across every industry and region. CFIB is dedicated to increasing business owners’ chances of success by driving policy change at all levels of government, providing expert advice and tools, and negotiating exclusive savings. Learn more at cfib.ca.