h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Canada Day is covered by federal legislation. Currently, federal law says when July l falls on a Sunday, the holiday is observed on Monday, July 2.


My conversation with someone from the Canada Labour Board....

"Hi, I want to know why I don't get Canada Day off this year like most Canadians"

"Well, because Canada Day falls on Sunday this year, the holiday observed on July 2nd."

"So, I don't get Canada Day, which is July the 1st off."

"The public holiday is on the 2nd."

"So. The fireworks and parades and celebrations are on the 2nd this year? Someone better tell the NCC because they are holding the celebrations on the 1st."

"Really? Well, Canada Day on the 2nd."

"Well, there are posters up, the fireworks are on July 1st, radio, television and news all have the celebrations on the Sunday...."

"Really?!?"

"I am confused. You mean that Canada Day is on the 1st but the HOLIDAY is on the 2nd. 99% of Canadians are celebrating the holiday on the 1st. I, on the other hand, don't get Canada Day off. I have to work while Canada celebrates."

"Well, they can't make you work on Canada Day."

"So, if I work on the 1st I get time and a half?"

"No. If you work, you get regular pay. If you work on July 2nd you get time and a half.... unless you got another day of in lieu of the holiday."

"I see.... so, what you are saying is that, because I don't get to celebrate Canada Day with the rest of Canada and have to work, I get the "luxury" of working at regular pay, but if I got the day which is not Canada Day off, which to the rest of Canadians a regular day, I would get paid for the holiday....?"

"Yes. Because Canada Day is observed on the Monday...."

"No, Canada Day is being "observed" on Sunday and the holiday on the Monday."

"Yes. Canada Day is on the Monday."

"But Canada Day is recognized as being July 1st in the newspapers, on TV, by Canadians across this great land."

"Well, yes, Canada Day is July 1st unless it is on a Sunday and then it is on the Monday."

"That makes no sense."

"It is fairly straightforward.... Canada Day, this year, in on the Monday."

"Then why, in God's name, are all the celebrations still held on the Sunday....????"

"Maybe its a local thing...."

"Yes. That has to be the answer. It must be a "local thing" that the Snowbirds, all the entertainment, the visit of the Queen, all on Parliament Hill, with the NCC putting up banners for "July 1st -- Canada Day"..... "

"I guess so...."

You can bet that she was out on July 1st celebrating with the rest of Canada on "the wrong day."

The point of this long discussion was that, no one "observes" Canada Day on any day but July 1st. The fact that some businesses have used the act to remain open, denying a certain segment of the population to miss out on "Canada's Day" is lost on those who made up this rule.

In fact, that particular year, the owner of the store I worked for insisted that we had to stay open for regular business hours on July 1st, despite the fact that not a single "customer" darkened the door. As well, because we were a small store with only a few employees, by law we had to work otherwise the employer would have to close the store. Since the law worked to his favor stating that he could order some of us to work so that his doors could stay open to the (nonexistent, in this case) public.

I have to admit - I read this entire journal thinking to myself, 'but July 1st is a Friday... '

So will you get the day off this year?
I have Friday off, so I'll have a beer in your honor

Well, it doesn't affect me at all, now. It just burns me that people I know are affected by the law.... and that no one seems to "get" the stupidity of the whole thing.