The federal government is working with Indigenous groups to create a new statutory holiday, the Globe and Mail reports. The new holiday will commemorate the painful legacy of Indigenous residential schools. Creating such a holiday was one of the 94 recommendations from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
The federal government and First Nations groups are currently trying to nail down a date for the new holiday. The Assembly of First Nations initially suggested June 21st, which is National Indigenous Peoples Day, but that date was put aside due to concerns it’s too close to Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day and Canada Day.
Other dates on the table include September 30 – Orange Shirt Day – which is around the same time of year Indigenous children were separated from their families to be placed in residential schools, where many were abused. The school system operated for over 100 years.
Once adopted, this statutory holiday will immediately become a day off for federal employees. However, provinces will need to individually update their labour codes in order for other Canadians to have the day off as well.