What you need to know about the September 30 holiday today
The second National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is here, and while it is not a statutory holiday in Ontario, there are some things you should know about.
Sept. 30 is observed in Ontario only as a federal holiday, which means provincially regulated businesses are not required to give employees the day off work.
The federal government established the new statutory holiday in July 2021 commemorate the tragic legacy of residential schools in Canada.
WHO GETS SEPTEMBER 30 OFF?
People who work for a federally regulated company that operates under the Canada Labour Code will receive a paid holiday for National Truth and Reconciliation Day.
Some examples of federally regulated businesses include Air Canada, Westjet, Canada Post, UPS Canada, Bell Canada, and Rogers Communications.
All federal public service workers in Ontario will also the day off work.
Banks will be closed, as they are federally regulated in Canada.
WHO DOESN'T GET SEPTEMBER 30 OFF?
Companies that are not federally regulated won’t be required to give their employees the day off. Private companies and organizations not federally regulated can decide for themselves if they want to give employees the day off.
Hospitals in Ontario are provincially regulated, meaning health-care workers won’t get the day off work either.
Ontario currently recognizes nine public holidays, which include New Year’s Day, Family Day, Good Friday, Victoria Day, Canada Day, Labour Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day.
ARE SCHOOLS CLOSED ON SEPTEMBER 30?
Schools in Ontario will be open and operating normally as they are provincially regulated. Teachers and education staff will have to work and will not get any sort of overtime pay.
WHAT IS OPEN?
Malls in the Greater Toronto Area will be open on Friday, though some will have reduced hours. Yorkdale Shopping Centre, Eaton Centre, Scarborough Town Centre, Vaughan Mills and Fairview Mall will be open.
The TTC and GO Transit will operate on a normal schedule.
The LCBO will be open on Sept. 30, though some locations may have modified hours.
Libraries and most grocery stores will be open.
Most tourist attractions, like the CN Tower and Ripley's Aquarium, will be open.
IS SEPTEMBER 30 A HOLIDAY IN OTHER PROVINCES?
The B.C. government formally recognized Sept. 30 as the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in the province in 2021 and announced the closure of schools, post-secondary institutions and some health sector workplaces.
Other provinces, including New Brunswick, Alberta and Saskatchewan, have decided they will not make the day a provincial statutory holiday.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Robert Pickton to remain in medically induced coma until later this week: police
Serial killer Robert Pickton will remain in a medically induced coma for at least the next few days following an attack in a Quebec prison Sunday, according to police spokesperson Hugues Beaulieu.
Charlie Colin, founding member of the pop-rock band Train, dies at 58
Charlie Colin, bassist and founding member of the American pop-rock band Train, best known for their early-aughts hits like 'Drops of Jupiter' and 'Meet Virginia,' has died. He was 58.
'Five feet nothing': Pickton's safety likely behind Quebec transfer, says ex-prison judge
When serial killer Robert Pickton was transferred from British Columbia's Kent Institution to a maximum security prison in Quebec about six years ago, correctional authorities gave no public explanation or confirmation at the time, citing privacy.
'I feel betrayed': Ottawa-area customers out thousands of dollars warn of bad faith contractor
A group of people from eastern Ontario and western Quebec is issuing a warning about Dennis Walker and his company Vue Windows.
Fancy pigeon outfitted in custom diaper has free rein in B.C. family home
When Chrissy Chin volunteered to take in a fancy pigeon abandoned on a park bench, she never imagined she would one day be ordering custom-made diapers for the bird – who lives in her house and has become a member of the family.
'We'll need all hands on deck': Details emerge after deadly boat crash near Kingston
Police say they have wrapped up their on-scene investigation into a deadly boat crash in eastern Ontario as details of the incident begin to emerge.
WestJet planning new fare category for travellers willing to forgo carry-on bag
WestJet Airlines plans to launch a new cheaper fare category that would be available to travellers willing to fly without a carry-on bag.
5 dead and at least 35 hurt in Iowa tornado: officials
Five people died and at least 35 were hurt as powerful tornadoes ripped through Iowa Tuesday, with one carving a path of destruction through the town of Greenfield, officials said.
Woman found dead in Lake Ontario in 2017 matches identity of missing person in Switzerland
Genetic genealogy has helped Toronto police identify a woman who was found dead in Lake Ontario in 2017.