Province says changes would increase flexibility for workers, retailers and consumers while maintaining labour protections
The Ontario government is proposing changes that would allow retail businesses across the province to open on Family Day and Victoria Day, a move it says will give consumers more convenience while providing workers and businesses greater flexibility.
The proposal, announced Friday by the Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement, would allow retailers to choose whether to open on the two statutory holidays while maintaining existing labour protections for employees. Under the plan, eligible retail workers who agree to work those days would receive time-and-a-half premium pay in addition to their regular public holiday pay.
Provincial officials say the proposed changes are intended to create a more consistent approach across Ontario while offering families more options for shopping and services on holidays.
“By giving retailers the option to open on Family Day and Victoria Day, we are supporting employees and businesses while giving families more choice and convenience to shop at their local retail stores,” said Stephen Crawford, Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement. “These changes will give many employees the flexibility to agree to pick up extra shifts at increased pay, while maintaining their right to take the day off.”
If approved, the policy would allow retail establishments to open voluntarily on the two non-religious holidays while preserving worker protections under Ontario’s Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA). Those protections include public holiday pay, premium pay for those who work the holiday and the right for many retail employees to refuse work on public holidays.
The government said the proposed framework is designed to modernize retail rules while respecting longstanding commitments to religious observance and employee choice. The changes would apply only to Family Day and Victoria Day, leaving existing closure requirements for other public holidays unchanged.
Addressing inconsistent retail rules across municipalities
Currently, rules governing whether retail stores may open on certain holidays differ significantly across Ontario municipalities. Some jurisdictions permit stores to operate, while neighbouring communities require them to close, creating what the province describes as a fragmented system for both consumers and businesses.
That variation can also affect workers’ opportunities for additional earnings. For example, employees in one municipality may have the option to work premium shifts on those holidays while similar workers in nearby regions do not have the same opportunity.
The government says the proposed changes aim to reduce those inconsistencies by establishing a uniform approach across the province for Family Day and Victoria Day.
“Exploring a consistent, province-wide approach for retailers on Family Day and Victoria Day would give businesses greater flexibility while respecting the choice of workers,” said David Piccini, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. “As Ontario continues to grow, it’s important our rules keep pace with how people live, work and shop today. Our government will continue protecting workers while strengthening Ontario’s economic resilience and productivity so businesses can thrive, invest and create more opportunities for workers across the province.”
Under the proposal, the two holidays would be removed from the Retail Business Holidays Act (RBHA), which currently governs retail closures. The change would also remove municipal authority to require stores to close specifically on those two holidays.
However, Family Day and Victoria Day would remain recognized public holidays under the Employment Standards Act. As a result, employee protections — including public holiday pay and the right for many retail workers to refuse holiday work — would remain fully in place.
Retailers would retain choice on whether to open
Provincial officials emphasized that the proposed policy would not require retailers to open on the holidays. Instead, businesses would retain the discretion to decide whether operating on those days aligns with their staffing levels and customer demand.
The government said the measure is intended to balance business flexibility with employee rights while responding to changing consumer expectations.
If implemented, the province aims to have the changes in place before Victoria Day in 2026.
Officials say the proposal is part of a broader plan to support Ontario’s workforce, improve consumer convenience and create a more consistent regulatory environment for retailers as the province’s population and economy continue to grow.