Who Is Considered an Essential Worker in Canada?

Essential workers in Canada are people who provide services necessary to protect public health, safety and the basic needs of communities. They often include health care workers, emergency responders, utility employees, food supply workers and people responsible for critical infrastructure.

There is no single list of essential workers that applies to every situation in Canada. Who qualifies depends on the province, industry and reason for the designation.

On This Page

• What Is an Essential Worker?
• List of Essential Workers
• Essential Workers by Province
• Are Teachers Essential Workers?
• Employment Rights
• Frequently Asked Questions

What Is an Essential Worker in Canada?

An essential worker performs a job that helps maintain services critical to public health, safety or everyday life.

For example, hospitals, emergency services, electricity, water systems and food distribution all rely on workers whose services may be considered essential.

However, being an essential worker isn’t the same as being legally designated to provide an essential service. The legal meaning of essential services can differ between provinces and may apply specifically to maintaining public safety during strikes or labour disputes.

List of Essential Workers in Canada

Jobs commonly associated with essential services include:

• Health care: Doctors, nurses, paramedics, hospital staff and long-term care workers.
• Emergency services: Police officers, firefighters and emergency dispatchers.
• Food supply: Grocery workers, food production employees and workers involved in food distribution.
• Utilities: Employees maintaining electricity, natural gas, water and wastewater systems.
• Transportation: Workers supporting essential transportation, shipping and supply chains.
• Critical infrastructure: Employees maintaining telecommunications and other systems necessary for public safety.
• Social services: Workers supporting vulnerable individuals and people who need emergency assistance.

This is a general list, not a universal legal classification. Whether a particular employee or service is officially designated essential depends on the applicable law and circumstances.

Who Is Considered an Essential Worker in Ontario, Alberta and BC?

Ontario

Ontario has specific rules for essential services in certain workplaces, particularly parts of the public sector.

Health care, emergency services and other critical operations may be subject to essential-service requirements. However, not every worker in these industries is automatically covered by the same legal designation.

Alberta

Alberta’s labour laws provide for essential services arrangements in designated public-sector workplaces. These can include health care and other services where interruptions could threaten public health or safety.

The rules depend on the employer, bargaining arrangements and services involved.

British Columbia

Under BC’s Labour Relations Code, services can be designated essential during a labour dispute when their interruption would pose a serious threat to the health, safety or welfare of residents.

These designations establish which services must continue during a strike or lockout. They are different from the broader essential-worker classifications used during public emergencies.

Are Teachers Considered Essential Workers in Canada?

Teachers aren’t automatically classified as essential workers across Canada. Their legal status depends on provincial legislation and the circumstances.

Education is an important public service, but that doesn’t mean every teacher is legally required to continue working during a strike or emergency.

For example, rules concerning essential services and public-sector labour disputes vary between Alberta, British Columbia and Ontario.

A teacher’s designation should be determined under the applicable provincial rules, not simply by whether education is considered important.

Do Essential Workers Have Different Employment Rights?

Being classified as an essential worker doesn’t automatically give an employee more severance pay or remove their protection under employment law.

Essential-service designations may affect whether certain unionized employees can participate in a strike or must maintain critical services. Other workplace rights depend on the employment laws that apply to the employee.

Can Essential Workers Be Fired or Laid Off?

Yes. Essential workers can be terminated or laid off, subject to applicable employment laws and protections.

Non-unionized employees in Ontario, Alberta and BC who lose their jobs may be entitled to severance pay. Their full entitlement can be significantly higher than the minimum amounts outlined in employment standards legislation.

Depending on their circumstances, severance can reach up to 24 months’ pay.

Learn more about your rights:

• Severance Pay in Ontario
• Severance Pay in Alberta
• Severance Pay in British Columbia

You can also use our Severance Pay Calculator to estimate what you may be owed.

Essential Workers in Canada: Frequently Asked Questions

Who is considered an essential worker in Canada?

Essential workers commonly include health care professionals, emergency responders, utility workers, food supply employees and others who support critical services. Official designations depend on the applicable laws and circumstances.

Are grocery store workers essential workers?

Grocery store employees have been included in essential-worker classifications during public emergencies because they help maintain access to food. However, that doesn’t automatically make them legally designated essential-service employees for every purpose.

Are teachers essential workers in Alberta?

Teachers aren’t automatically designated essential-service workers simply because they work in education. Their status depends on applicable Alberta legislation and the circumstances.

Can essential workers go on strike?

The rules depend on the province, occupation and applicable labour legislation. Some employees may be required to maintain essential services during a legal strike or lockout.

Are essential workers entitled to severance pay?

Yes, eligible employees may be entitled to severance when their employment ends. Essential-worker status alone doesn’t determine how much compensation they’re owed. Unionized employees are typically subject to their collective agreements and applicable labour laws.

Lost Your Job? Understand Your Employment Rights.

If you’ve been fired or laid off, your occupation doesn’t determine your full severance entitlement.

The employment lawyers at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP help non-unionized employees in Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia understand their rights, review severance offers and pursue the compensation they’re owed.

Before you sign, always check first.

➡️ Get a Consultation or call 1-855-821-5900.