The Saskatchewan opposition party is calling on the provincial government to recognize September 30th as an official holiday.
The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation was recently declared a statutory holiday for all federal workers. Provinces and territories like British Columbia, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, and the Northwest Territories have chosen to observe the day as well.
Saskatoon, Prince Albert, and Regina will also be recognizing the day as a statutory holiday for their workers.
On Wednesday, Betty Nippi-Albright, NDP Critic for First Nations and Métis Relations called upon the Sask. Party government to ensure the day would be a paid day of recognition for everyone in Saskatchewan.
“The federal government has ensured that the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation will be a paid day for all workers in federally regulated workplaces, but that only applies to a very small group of workers in our province,” said Nippi-Albright. “Every person in our province should be able to take the time they need on September 30 to reflect on and learn about the history of residential schools in Canada.”
The Sask. Party government has previously said they don’t plan to make the day a statutory holiday for the province. They say that a change in a holiday would require a legislative change and they haven’t ruled out a change on future holidays.
The legislative assembly isn’t scheduled to reconvene until October 27.
Nippi-Albright noted that the NDP has called for the legislature to be reconvened to address COVID-19, and that she would work with the government to make any amendments required to ensure all workers will be able to take a paid day of recognition on September 30.
“With the discovery of hundreds of unmarked graves at residential school sites in Saskatchewan, we need to come together and ensure that we are doing everything we can to stand with First Nations and Métis communities and address the damaging legacy of residential schools in our province.”
September 30th, formerly known as Orange Shirt Day, is a day to remember survivors of Canada’s Residential School system.
(PHOTO: Betty Nippi-Albright, courtesy Twitter @BettyNippi.)