From Wiki
Question: Is it true that you only get two weeks' annual leave in Canada?
Answer: Yes. [but please see caveats]
- Many jobs start out with two weeks' annual leave. However their is no automatic holiday entitlement in the first year of employment. In BC for example an employer must give minimum 2 weeks of holiday only after 12 consecutive months of employment and at least three weeks after 5 years.
- More senior positions begin with three weeks and eventually work their way up to four weeks.
- Some (but not all) companies shut down between Christmas and New Year, which effectively gives their employees another week to ten days of leave. Boxing day is not an official holiday in many provinces of Canada.
- Be aware that there is some variation from one industry to the next and from one employer to the next.
- Many British expats report that they find life more relaxing in Canada and hence don't feel the need for as much vacation (holiday) time as they took in the UK.
- With that having been said, the short amount of vacation can become something of an issue for an expat. You can expect a good chunk of your vacation time to be taken up by visiting the UK or by showing your rellies around your part of Canada when they come to visit you. This can cut into the time you might have wanted to spend visiting other parts of the world or even just other parts of Canada.
