Why not?

The Canadian government announced today that Federal employees and employees under federal jurisdiction will have a day of mourning on Monday Sept 19. They have declared it a "public holiday", not a statuary one.
This means that non federal and private sector employees.who work on that day will not be entitled to extra pay.
In BC, it basically means that except for government and schools, everyone is working. So I don't get a day off? 
Why not?

Smoked salmon tacos? Why not?

Ah well...