On Monday, many Nova Scotians will mark Heritage Day - a statutory holiday meant to honour the people, places and events that contribute to our heritage.
While most people will be enjoying a long weekend, not everyone has the day off.
Since Heritage Day is a provincial holiday, it's business as usual for those who work in a federally-regulated industry – which means postal service is not affected, train stations are open and even banks are exempt, although most choose to give their employees the day off anyway, so they will be closed on Monday.
Restaurants are among those still allowed to open, as are convenience stores and gas stations.
“It's a huge expense to open on a holiday where all of our employees get double time and a half,” says restaurant owner Todd Abbass.
Any business that would be required to close on days such as Christmas and New Year's Day are required to close on Heritage Day as well. Abbass can open his restaurant, but won’t because of the expense.
While Heritage Day isn't a holiday for everyone in Nova Scotia, some provinces don't have a February holiday at all. In Quebec, Newfoundland, and New Brunswick, everybody will be working.
“I know that when we look at productivity and we look at the economy as it is, I don't think now is the right time to put the onus back on business to pay for another day off,” says New Brunswick Progressive Conservative Interim leader Bruce Fitch.
The New Brunswick government agrees a February holiday is not a priority and The Canadian Federation of Independent Business wishes the Nova Scotia government had agreed.
“Heritage Day is supposed to be good for Nova Scotia’s well-being, but in fact it's making small business owners stressed and 56 per cent of our small business members are against it,” says Nick Langley of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business.
With files from CTV Atlantic's Kayla Hounsell
