Retailers in Manitoba cannot open before 1 p.m. on Remembrance Day

Essential businesses excluded

In Manitoba, most non-essential businesses cannot open their doors before 1 p.m. on Nov. 11, Remembrance Day.

This year, Remembrance Day falls on a Sunday and retailers in Manitoba communities that normally allow Sunday shopping can be open, but must follow both the Remembrance Day rules and the Retail Businesses Holiday Closing Act (Sunday shopping rules). This means retail businesses can be open no earlier than 1 p.m. and must close no later than 6 p.m, according to the provincial government.

Manitoba’s Remembrance Day legislation applies to retailers that sell or offer to sell goods and services; tradespeople or professional services; rental companies; and businesses charging admission to performances such as movies, concerts, theatre, exhibits and sports events.

The prohibition of work on Remembrance Day does not apply to workers such as:

•employees of hotels, restaurants and continuous operation businesses (excluding retail)

•police officers, firefighters and security officers

•hospital, domestic, child care and home care employees

•employees required to supply heating, gas, lighting, electrical or water services, or to provide emergency repairs for these services

•hotels, restaurants and continuous operation businesses (excluding retail) employees

•employees providing transportation services for goods or passengers by railway, aircraft or motor vehicle

•employees in care of perishable products or live animals, or in the farming industry

•employees of registered brokers who conduct business for clients on stock exchanges outside Manitoba

•commemorative or religious service providers

•employees of newspapers, telecommunication carriers, television or radio stations and cable television companies.

Employees working on Remembrance Day are entitled to one-and-a-half-times the regular rate of pay for all hours worked, but not less than one-half the normal working hours of a regular working day, in addition to five per cent of their earnings in the 28 days before Remembrance Day.

Employees in retail establishments in Manitoba have the right to refuse work on Remembrance Day, as they do on Sundays, by providing 14 days notice.

Manitoba is the only province with special considerations for Remembrance Day when it falls on a Sunday.

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