Vacation pay and statutory holidays in Canada

Last updated: August 19, 2026

Applies to: Canadian employees (T4). US employees: see How PTO accrual and balances work and Holiday and premium pay.

Summary: As a Canadian employee you earn vacation pay and statutory holiday entitlements under the employment standards of your province of work — the exact percentages, holiday lists, and premium rules vary by province. Vacation pay accrues as you work and is handled through payroll; statutory holidays are paid per your province's rules, with premium pay if you work one.

Vacation pay

  • You earn a minimum amount of vacation with pay for each year of employment, accrued pro-rata as you work, per your province's employment standards (commonly starting around 4% of earnings / two weeks, increasing with service — the exact rate depends on your province).

  • Your accrued vacation pay is tracked through payroll. Depending on your assignment's setup, it's paid out when you take vacation or on each pay — your pay stub shows how yours is handled.

  • Unused earned vacation pay doesn't disappear — it's owed to you under employment standards, including when your employment ends.

Statutory holidays

  • Each province sets its own list of statutory holidays and its own eligibility rules.

  • If you're eligible and don't work the holiday, you receive statutory holiday pay per your province's formula.

  • If you work a statutory holiday, provincial rules provide premium pay and/or a substitute day off.

Because these rules genuinely differ by province (and Quebec has its own regime), don't assume another province's rules apply to you — check your province of work's employment standards, or email Ascen at support@ascen.com.

Requesting time off

Request vacation through your portal per your assignment's process — see How to request time off.

This is a general overview, not legal advice — your province of work's employment standards govern. If something on your pay stub doesn't look right, email Ascen at support@ascen.com — payroll questions in Canada go to Ascen, not your staffing partner.

  • Getting started in Canada — your onboarding checklist

  • When will I get my T4 (and Relevé 1 in Quebec)?

  • How to request time off