Three of the four Atlantic provinces recognize Remembrance Day as a paid statutory holiday, but Nova Scotia isn’t one of them. With growing calls for Atlantic Canadian provinces to better align their policies more closely together, some Nova Scotians are asking why the province hasn’t made the move and followed the other provinces. Halifax resident Alan Sloan told CTV News that given Nova Scotia’s military history and the large naval presence, if there’s one province that should make Remembrance Day a paid holiday, it should be this one. “Given the sacrifice of Nova Scotia in the past, we need to honour that by actually letting people be able to attend Remembrance Day ceremony,” says Sloan. Dalhousie student Owen Huisman agrees, given the rich naval history and the co-ordination between Atlantic provinces, it only make sense to align policy. “We are so connected, some people might have family that are veterans in some of the other Atlantic provinces, so it would be nice to be able to get families together for that sort of stuff,” says Huisman. But the Nova Scotia Progressive Conservative government isn’t currently considering the change. Labour Minister Nolan Young says the government hasn’t looked at adding any statutory holidays to its list, however he adds the province is always open to looking at new policy. “What I would say is, if we were to look at statutory holidays, certainly Remembrance Day would be at the top of the list,” says Young. He says making it a paid holiday would have a major impact on businesses and employers and would require consultation with several groups. “The reality is that any changes that we make would have an impact on business,” said Young. “And there would have to be a thorough consultation with businesses, with veterans, with their families and industry.” The Royal Canadian Legion (RCL) doesn’t support making any changes to Remembrance Day or making it a paid holiday in Nova Scotia, arguing that taking part in a ceremony should remain a voluntary decision. “People should be able to go to a ceremony if they wish,” says Nujma Bond, national communications and public relations manager with the RCL. “We don’t necessarily want it to be a holiday where people might decide to do other things.” For now in Atlantic Canada, Nova Scotia remains the exception when it comes to recognizing Nov. 11 as a paid holiday. For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
