The provincial government has announced that Monday, September 19, will not be a provincial holiday but instead, a day of mourning.
Premier Doug Ford announced Tuesday afternoon that in place of a holiday, Ontarians may observe a moment of silence at 1 p.m. on Monday in memory of Queen Elizabeth II, on the day of her funeral.
“This will give all Ontarians an opportunity to reflect on the remarkable life of Queen Elizabeth II and her unrelenting commitment to service and duty,” said Ford in a statement. “It also allows students to be in school learning about the many contributions the Queen made to the people of Ontario, Canada, and the entire Commonwealth, as well as the accession of King Charles III.”
The decision comes after the federal government announced earlier Tuesday that Her Majesty’s funeral will be recognized as a holiday for federal government workers. Seamus O’Regan, Canada’s Minister of Labour has clarified that federally regulated employees do not automatically get the day off. Instead, those industries are being given the option of a day off.
September 19, 2022 will be a holiday for federal government employees. It will be a day of mourning for the passing of Her Majesty Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada.
Federally regulated employers are welcomed to follow suit, but they are not required to do so.
— Seamus O'Regan Jr (@SeamusORegan) September 13, 2022
Elsewhere in Canada, Quebec has also said that provincially regulated employees will not get the day off on Monday.
In New Brunswick, government offices and schools will be closed. However, it will be up to private employers to decide whether or not to give their employees a paid day off.
Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia have declared that September 19 will be a one-time statutory holiday for provincially regulated workers.
September 19 is to be recognized as a bank holiday in the United Kingdom. The Queen’s state funeral will take place at Westminster Abbey at 11:00 British Summer Time, 4 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.
