Thorunn Howatt
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (June 19/02) - National Aboriginal Day is a statutory holiday in the Northwest Territories but not every one is going to have a day off.

"Federal employees fall under the Canada labour code and their counterpart to labour services is Human Resources Development Canada labour program which deals with federal jurisdiction," said NWT Labour Services' Janelle James.

Federal employees and those of crown corporations or broadcasting companies are all considered under federal employment rules.

And Aboriginal Day, although it is celebrated nationally, isn't a national statutory holiday, so they are not getting an Aboriginal Day holiday.

Holiday pay

Just about everyone else, from retail workers to mine employees fall under the territory's Labour Standards Act, so they are entitled to take National Aboriginal Day as a general holiday. If an employee is required to work, they should be paid general holiday pay. If they aren't paid extra, they have a case with labour standards.

"The employees can of course contact our office and we would get in touch with the employer," said James.

If an employee has to work, and meets requirements, they are eligible for extra pay at time-and-a-half. If they get the day off, they are entitled to an average day's pay. Another reason federal workers don't get the day off is due to their union deals.

"The holidays for the federal government are all bargained with a collective agreement," said Department of Indian and Northern Affairs' manager Mike Sadler. "In those collective agreements we have a number of holidays, one of which is the first of August and that is really our civic holiday. Most bargaining units go for the civic holiday."

In Quebec, St-Jean-Baptiste Day is celebrated and Albertans celebrate Family Day.

Federal employees can take personal leave or a 'floater' day during Aboriginal Day or they can use a special day dubbed Volunteer Day.

"That's really what Volunteer Day was all about -- to capture all the days, Family Day, Aboriginal Day, etc.," said Sadler.