Discussions

So now the government of Manitoba wants to make Remembrance Day a stat holiday. How do you feel about that?  
 
Remembrance Day is meant to honour and remember the sacrifice and service of men and women in the Armed Forces. We are to take 2 minutes on the 11th month of the 11th day of the 11th hour. It is a time to stop and reflect. The services that are put on in the schools: in the legions: halls and grave sites are terrific and it makes me glad to see those that attend to remember.  
 
But a stat holiday? I don't think so. As a stat, will that mean that if Remembrance Day falls on a weekend, we would get Monday or Friday off because it is Stat? Then what are we remembering? How do we honour our vets by taking a working day off because it is Saturday?  
 
I believe some Federal and Provincial employees have this and they take a Monday or Friday if Remembrance Day is on a weekend. I ask again, what is being remembered on Monday or Friday?  
 
Look up Terry Kelly's Pittance of Time music video to get a great meaning toward remembrance day and why making it a stat could make it irrelevant. Our Veterans fought for our security and freedom but I don't believe that the Purpose of Remembrance Day was to have a day of work no matter what day of the week Remembrance Day falls.

What's your source? I know that there is a federal private members bill but never heard anything from the MB govt.

It was mentioned in the conclusion of the Throne Speech at the Legislature.  
 
"We recognize the record number of Manitobans participating in Remembrance Day ceremonies this year. In honour of our veterans who have sacrificed so much to protect our democracy, we will now take the necessary steps to make November 11th a full statutory day of Remembrance."  
 
http://manitoba.ca/thronespeech/thronespeech_2015.html

....they meant it was going to be a holiday. It could mean they want to go back to the days of shutting down all but what some deem necessary commerce.

Life must go on. Maybe sounds like a dumb thing to say, but I feel that stopping and having a service and a moment of silence and then returning to work reflects more on how the world was not only after both great wars but during the wars themselves. I sort of look at the countries where much of the fighting took place and realize that the loss and sacrifice on these countries was great because not only did the war take from them but it left a challenge of rebuilding, and there was no time to stop and take time off.  
 
Sometime the inconvienence of only a hour off carries more significance that allowing a person a day off to do as they please.  
 
Just my thoughts, and I guess I'll just go with the flow, but maybe in the future we can change it to make it a long weekend, where we can forget about the actual idea of the eleventh hour on the eleventh day of the eleventh month.

does that mean the province will close their cash cows? The liquor stores?

I remember way 'back in the day' everything used to close on Remembrance Day regardless.  
 
I guess the way some people see it is that veterans fought and died for your right to shop.

don brown said "Life must go on. Maybe sounds like a dumb thing to say, but I feel that stopping and having a service and a moment of silence and then returning to work reflects more on how the world was not only after both great wars but during the wars themselves. I sort of look at the countries where much of the fighting took place and realize that the loss and sacrifice on these countries was great because not only did the war take from them but it left a challenge of rebuilding, and there was no time to stop and take time off.     Sometime the inconvienence of only a hour off carries more significance that allowing a person a day off to do as they please.     Just my thoughts, and I guess I'll just go with the flow, but maybe in the future we can change it to make it a long weekend, where we can forget about the actual idea of the eleventh hour on the eleventh day of the eleventh month. "

i totally agree, i feel that it was more respectful when it was still a work day with an interruption, will the next move be to celebrate on the closest monday so that it becomes a long weekend?

It's a tough one. For me personally I prefer to have the day off and not just because it's a day off. I spend more time remembering that day, it turns into a morning of remembrance other than a few minutes. This year I got to take the time with my daughter and to explain to her the importance of Remembrance Day as well as showed her while we watched the Remembrance Day service on TV.  
 
For myself I am paid for that day off. In the past my husband has not been paid for it (not sure this year as he has a new job). That day without pay definitely hurts. It's not that he wants the day off, he would gladly work so that we don't loose a day's pay.  
 
I guess it will be what it will be.

don brown said "Life must go on. Maybe sounds like a dumb thing to say, but I feel that stopping and having a service and a moment of silence and then returning to work reflects more on how the world was not only after both great wars but during the wars themselves. I sort of look at the countries where much of the fighting took place and realize that the loss and sacrifice on these countries was great because not only did the war take from them but it left a challenge of rebuilding, and there was no time to stop and take time off.     Sometime the inconvienence of only a hour off carries more significance that allowing a person a day off to do as they please.     Just my thoughts, and I guess I'll just go with the flow, but maybe in the future we can change it to make it a long weekend, where we can forget about the actual idea of the eleventh hour on the eleventh day of the eleventh month. "

Some people treat it as just another day off as it is.  
 
I don't think it should be a holiday, it negates what those who fought did.

How about making it a half-day, so it is not a full stat and is not subject to rules like getting a different day off in lieu or whatever.  
 
The Remembrance Day ceremonies etc. are in the morning, from 11-noon. I would like to see businesses closed in the mornings so that people can attend the ceremonies in their communities, watch the coverage of the national ceremony on TV, or remember in their own way. Then, employees can return to work after noon for a regular work day and it is up to employers to make it a full day if they wish, but nobody is required to.  
 
I am opposed to making it a stat holiday like all of the rest. It is not a day for shopping and business as usual, that is why so many businesses are closed that day or closed for the morning by choice. It is not a holiday, it is a day of Remembrance.  
 
 
 

I like the idea of a half day off as Starhc suggested. It would make it more relevant and perhaps encourage greater participation in ceremonies, etc. I worked in Ontario for a few years and it is just a normal work day there, and in several other provinces. I felt that working that day was disrespectful.

In theory, we should be getting paid for it. Business owners that don't pay their employees on Remembrance Day (and other non stat days) won't like it for obvious reasons. Personally, I would like to see all non essential services closed on Remembrance Day (and on Christmas too).

Goverment workers get Remembrance Day off. So if it's on a wensday they get wensday off. They don't just get a Friday or Monday of for a long weekend.

For some people--like my husband--the businesses close up shop for Remembrance Day. Problem is, he lost 8 hours of pay off of his paycheque, because it isn't a Stat here, so his employer didn't have to pay him. If businesses are going to close regardless, I'm glad it's a stat, so people are at least paid properly.

a tricky subject. In some places, it's a normal workday, stop for 11 am to observe, then continue. For the rest of the day, what to you do? Do you spend the entire day remembering?  
 
If it becomes a stat, then it just becomes another holiday.

I am a legion member and Remembrance day should of stayed a stat holiday. I know may veterans of all ages and some where feeling that remembrance day would be forgotten in 20 years. Some are saying lets get up with the times, but lets take a moment and think about what happened in France and today a bomb threat in Germany. Who is protecting the country, not a grocery store clerk. Freedom is something we all take for granted but it came at a deadly price. Be thankful, you do not hear bombs over head, remember women in other countries cannot even go to school or work. Food for thought, would you like to be searched every time you left the city. I am glad to be a Canadian and thankful for the men and women who serve in the armed forces.

Where have you been? It is a Statuatory Holiday.

I believe it should be a stat nothing worse than being forced to work on day with so much significance. When I worked in BC it was a recognized stat and the mine I worked in we all donated the pay for the day to charity for wounded vets.

Marie1955 said "Where have you been? It is a Statuatory Holiday. "

no- it's not. It has it's own rules, it is a stat ONLY if you work it, if the place you work is closed they are not required to pay you stat pay.

don brown said "Life must go on. Maybe sounds like a dumb thing to say, but I feel that stopping and having a service and a moment of silence and then returning to work reflects more on how the world was not only after both great wars but during the wars themselves. I sort of look at the countries where much of the fighting took place and realize that the loss and sacrifice on these countries was great because not only did the war take from them but it left a challenge of rebuilding, and there was no time to stop and take time off.     Sometime the inconvienence of only a hour off carries more significance that allowing a person a day off to do as they please.     Just my thoughts, and I guess I'll just go with the flow, but maybe in the future we can change it to make it a long weekend, where we can forget about the actual idea of the eleventh hour on the eleventh day of the eleventh month. "

totally agree with all that don said , and i expect his idea of the weekend will be coming sooner than later , unfortunate but true

I have always had this day off due to business being closed on that day. Also never been paid for that day because it's not a stat.

should not be a full stat. period, bad idea. It will just become another holiday.  
 
what we need to do is go back to what it was years ago and that is a 1/2 day off in the morning, everything closes, gas stations, stores government offices ...everything, till noon or 1 pm.  
 
If your on salary, no change, if your on by the hour, well your out 4 hours.  
 
1/2 day off in the morning gives those that wish to participate in services or just at home with family the opportunity to do so.  
 
 
 
it is not a holiday, and the sooner we get that out of our vocabulary the better.  
 
It is a day of remembrance and observance of the sacrifices others have given for our and other freedoms that we enjoy.  
 
It is a very moving ceremony they have in Ottawa.  
 
people will say" well each celebrates in their own fashion" such as going toboganning with the kids well you can do that any day. I suggest we keep the morning dedicated to the memory of those that gave up their opportunity to go tobaganning with the kids.  
 
it is a 1/2 day in the morning, with 2 min of silence at 11 am folks, pretty simple.

I think by going to a stat day it will help those that don't get paid for it. My employer pays us for the day off if fallen between Mon-Fri. It is the only holiday we cannot work on.  
 
http://www.gov.mb.ca/labour/standards/docremembrance-dayfactsheet.html  

Personally I think that a day that you are not allowed to work should be paid. I would rather work it and have a full pay cheque.

It will never automatically be a day tacked onto a wkd like Victoria Day/ May long. Whatever day of the week it's on is the day people (may) get off. If it falls on a Wednesday people would get a day off of work in the middle of the week (and hopefully go to a service or have a couple of minutes of silence to reflect). If it falls on the weekend they may not get a day off in lieu of the following week (depends on official statutory holiday status and federal/provincial law).  
 
Edited by campfire3, 2016-01-18 17:14:37

This is a toughie. The biggest advantage of having it a stat is it would force employers to pay their employees if they are not already doing so. The business community wouldn't like that idea for obvious reasons. At the same time, Remembrance Day shouldn't be treated like in lieu of like most other holidays or just be blown off as a day off.  
 
Personally, non essential businesses and services should be closed on Remembrance Day, Christmas and New Years Day.

Having served overseas, when I got out and went to work at Freightliner and I had to take holiday time to remember friends lost I was pissed and disgusted. All the rest of the Stats that Canadians enjoy would look a bit different had the war ended differently. Employers have to give you time off on November 11th but they don't have to pay it.

People that honor Remembrance Day will continue to do so no matter if it is a Stat Day or not. People that do not honor Remembrance Day will continue to do so no matter if it is a stat day or not. There are only 4 provinces that do no consider it a stat day and Manitoba is one of them. The biggest difference it would make is people would get the day off with pay instead of being forced to take it off with no pay.