The provincial government appears to be considering legislation that would ensure Nova Scotia workers get Canada Day off – in future.

Under the federal Holidays Act, retail stores must close on July 2 if July 1falls on a Sunday.

That means major retailers will stay open on Sunday to ensure they don’t miss out on long weekend spending, which means most retail workers in Nova Scotia will have to work on Canada Day this year.

Eight provinces have legislation that supercedes the federal rules and allows retailers to close on Canada Day Sunday, then reopen on July 2.

Nova Scotia’s labour minister said as recently as May 30 that such legislation wasn’t under consideration.

However, a department spokesman tells the Herald in an email they’re now open to hearing from stakeholders about ways to update the regulations.