Truth and Reconciliation holiday considered
The Yukon government is considering creating a new general holiday for National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in the territory.
The Yukon government is considering creating a new general holiday for National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in the territory.
It’s seeking public input through an online survey available until April 30.
In addition, the government is engaging directly with First Nations governments to determine their support to create the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation as a general holiday in the territory.
The day would provide Yukoners with an important opportunity to honour survivors, families and communities impacted by residential schools in Canada and address the continued trauma faced by Indigenous communities, the government said Tuesday.
Creating a new general holiday would require an amendment to the Employment Standards Act and other legislation.
“The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is one of the Calls to Action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and serves as an annual reminder that we all need to continue working towards reconciliation with First Nations across Canada,” said Community Services Minister Richard Mostyn.
“We are asking First Nation governments, businesses and Yukoners to share their thoughts about a new general holiday in the Yukon for National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
“Through their feedback, we will better understand the support for the new general holiday and how it may impact local businesses in the Yukon.”
Developed in partnership with the Yukon Bureau of Statistics, the online survey will seek feedback from local businesses and Yukoners to determine the support for the new general holiday and understand the potential economic impact it could have in the territory.
A What We Heard report with the results of the survey will be released later this year.
On June 3, 2021, the federal government passed Bill C-5, creating a statutory holiday every Sept. 30 to commemorate the tragic legacy of residential schools in Canada, the “National Day for Truth and Reconciliation”.
All employees who work in federally regulated workplaces are entitled to that statutory holiday.
Employees regulated by the territory’s Employment Standards Act are not entitled to this holiday nor pay in lieu.
Comments (40)
Up 0 Down 0
Too Many Holidays Already on Mar 15, 2022 at 7:53 pm
Make June 21st National Aboriginal Everything Day. We don't need another virtue-signaling holiday.
Up 4 Down 9
Apex Parasite on Mar 15, 2022 at 3:40 pm
@yukongirl
"Here's a thought -- change Victoria Day which celebrates one of history's "great" colonial leaders to a day that recognizes the impact of that colonization. There will be no addition to paid days off and it would hopefully be one of many steps toward reconciliation."
That's a great idea actually,
Up 18 Down 1
Groucho d'North on Mar 15, 2022 at 12:33 pm
Consider the many contributions the Chinese have made to Canada over the centuries either as slaves or disposable workers. They should get a day too. Or perhaps one that involves most of us: National Taxpayer Day!
Up 24 Down 6
JustSayin' on Mar 14, 2022 at 10:04 am
What bothers me about this holiday, is it's a holiday. Instead of having workshops in our workplaces where we learn about the TRC and have discussions about what portions should and shouldn't be implemented, it's just a paid day off. Instead of making it culturally rich opportunity for everyone to grow, we consider it a vacation. I am sure this will help us move fwd to reconcile the past.
Up 19 Down 4
Charlie's Aunt on Mar 13, 2022 at 2:23 pm
@ I have a suggestion & yukongirl; Victoria Day may be named after Queen Victoria but our present stat is in recognition of our reigning Queen's 'official' birthday. You may be anti monarchy, but Elizabeth II is Canada's queen.
Up 10 Down 3
John on Mar 13, 2022 at 1:13 pm
I’m not sure why it has to be a paid statutory holiday.
Recognition could be held during the first weekend in june for two days. The entire territory could recognize it in many diverse ways throughout the entire weekend. It could be on any weekend but it would be nice to have it during warmer weather. I’d like something like that.
Up 30 Down 13
irony on Mar 12, 2022 at 6:25 pm
hhhmmmmmmmmm..... let's see another paid stat for government workers but the First Nations will probably have to work on those days. Wasn't it the govt that created the problems in the first place? How ironic. Cause damage, reward themselves but pretend it is for the ones that were hurt. Sounds like another well thought out virtue signal.
Up 32 Down 6
drum on Mar 12, 2022 at 5:35 pm
We all got killed off by who was here before us. Not just the present First Nations.
Look at the history of Europe - stronger clans killed off the weaker ones. It has happened for centuries - how many years do we have to pay for all of this.
Up 7 Down 36
sacallison on Mar 11, 2022 at 10:00 pm
For crying out loud, the usual suspects, all complaining about a paid day off!!
Wah, you all are so disappointing and predictable.
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yukonlibby on Mar 11, 2022 at 1:03 pm
The recommendation from the TRC reads to establish "a statutory holiday for a National Day of Truth and Reconciliation to honour Survivors, their families, and communities, and ensure that public commemoration of the history and legacy of residential schools remains a vital component of the reconciliation process."
I am not debating the merit of such a day or minimizing the damage done, First Nation people deserve this day.
However, the TRC recommendations were published in 2015, it's been known since then that the federal government would work with First Nation groups across the country to pick that date. Previous governments in the Yukon knew this.
However, Sandy, is all his brilliance, literally the first change he made after being elected, was to declare National Aboriginal Day a stat holiday in the Yukon. So, unless he hadn't actually read the TRC recommendations, he knew that he would be setting businesses up for yet another stat down the road.
Stats cost businesses huge money, in my industry work doesn't stop, high paid workers are still working long shifts with lots of overtime. The service industry, which is hardly hanging on thanks to the last two years, they definitely can't afford another stat.
So, I'm happy to support having this day, provided another is struck off the books. Whether it's Victoria Day or Aboriginal Day or frigging Easter, we don't need an additional stat.
Up 44 Down 6
Groucho d'North on Mar 11, 2022 at 9:33 am
It's sad that while many thump their chests and promote equality for all, the activities of late are to focus more on how races, cultures and ideology are unique and different. So how are we all equal? Anybody?
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yukongirl on Mar 11, 2022 at 8:38 am
Here's a thought -- change Victoria Day which celebrates one of history's "great" colonial leaders to a day that recognizes the impact of that colonization. There will be no addition to paid days off and it would hopefully be one of many steps toward reconciliation.
Up 20 Down 15
Tiered Societies Foster Anxieties on Mar 10, 2022 at 9:21 pm
LOL! A government holiday in which the words “truth” and “reconciliation” apply seems like the ultimate irony to me. There is no truth in government and they are a long way from any real reconciliation with the First Peoples. It is absolute smoke and mirrors. But hey, take the money and run.
Perhaps it should be a day off just for First Nations people… Everyone else should have to work! Trudeau needs to rent a surf board.
Up 33 Down 8
Justanotherwhiteman on Mar 10, 2022 at 4:07 pm
Yukon Liberal. You know nothing about residential schools. Were you ever in one? That whole thing has now become a money making program which should be on the stock market. And the money it's making, I would buy some stock.
Up 42 Down 9
Justanotherwhiteman on Mar 10, 2022 at 4:04 pm
“JustanotherIndian”. How many indiginous children were taken away never to be seen again? I was taken away from my mother at age 3 and was fostered out till I was 16. And by the way, I spent 3 years in a residential home. Never had a problem or complaint about that. Those days are long gone. Time to get over it and move on, like I and my 6 siblings.
Up 27 Down 6
Buick Creek on Mar 10, 2022 at 3:19 pm
…NO!
Up 60 Down 7
Dallas on Mar 10, 2022 at 1:55 pm
I already work more than most and I’m tired of payin taxes to those who want sumthin for nutin, another stat holiday is a joke and if Sliver wants to impose one the libs should pay for it, business shouldn’t be on the hook for liberal promises.
Up 61 Down 13
@JustanotherIndian on Mar 10, 2022 at 12:33 pm
If my ancestors are colonizers then so are yours. ALL our ancestors came here from some place else. Your ancestors came and killed off the people that came before them. Probably a lot more brutally than anything the Europeans did.
Up 36 Down 14
John McLeod on Mar 10, 2022 at 12:07 pm
A " Truth and Reconciliation Day" would imply that our First Nations have been told the truth and reconciled. That has not happened.
None of our political parties will do anything.. it is all hypocrisy and meaningless words.
When all the Native villages in Canada have clean potable water and housing, a promise never kept by any politician, then that might perk my interest. Another holiday to celebrate something that has not happened is ridiculous.
As an aside:
I thought all the lying politicians were using the Ukraine situation to divert us from their crumbling lies about their Covid virus policies.
Maybe some Government pollster has decided that we would be better diverted with another holiday in case their Ukraine lies come unstuck...which by the way they are now starting to do.
But of course this is all coincidence!!
Up 60 Down 8
marylaker on Mar 10, 2022 at 11:51 am
I missed Trudeau's latest giveaway to well off federal government workers.
Oh goody! Another paid holiday for federal government employees so they can reflect on the tragedy of First Nations' lost children!
This is about the most disgusting virtue signalling I've ever seen yet.
How about take all those holiday paychecks and giving them to truly underprivileged kids to buy sports equipment or a local gym or something? Trudeau is a real piece of work.
Now Richard Mostyn wants to extend the same "clutch your pearls and hanky" holiday to Yukon territorial workers, paid for through our taxes; and private employees with the bill footed by our local business owners. Is this REALLY about rectifying anything for First Nations kids?
Up 77 Down 11
Natalie on Mar 10, 2022 at 10:28 am
How about a “Let's be happy people with western values came here instead of the Russians” day instead? There are innocent men, women and children in the world experiencing real problems who are being shot and killed with real bullets right now.
Up 52 Down 9
TheHammer on Mar 10, 2022 at 10:23 am
'I have a suggestion@ your suggestion is woke cancel culture, trying to change history to suit your own agenda. Chief Sitting Bull and his people crossed over into Manitoba thanks to Queen Victoria. It wasn't the Crown that colluded with the Government to wipe out First Nations.
Up 44 Down 15
Mitch Holder on Mar 10, 2022 at 9:27 am
Since Yukon Liberal is so impassioned, might I suggest they give up their possessions for those they have wronged? Reconciliation is deed, not words. Something you Liberals are ignorant about to the point of systemic racism.
Up 51 Down 20
Wilf Carter on Mar 10, 2022 at 8:52 am
I want an Irish holiday.
Up 39 Down 13
Mitch Holder on Mar 10, 2022 at 8:50 am
Yukon Liberals can start paying our bills since they are so generous. Don't they know that they are the incarnate legacy of systemic racism perpetrated by Liberals that came before them?
Up 20 Down 43
Dawn on Mar 10, 2022 at 8:33 am
Majority of you should be ashamed!
Up 63 Down 11
Mitch Holder on Mar 10, 2022 at 8:31 am
No! There is already a day in June and a day in September. That is enough for anyone, do something on those days.
Up 54 Down 8
Yukoner ‘71 on Mar 10, 2022 at 4:11 am
100 years from now every week of the year will have a holiday attached to it as we accumulate ever more reasons for them. People already don’t pay any attention to them because it’s just so commonplace instead of a relatively rare event.
Up 25 Down 70
“JustanotherIndian” on Mar 9, 2022 at 10:41 pm
Hey colonizers. Imagine having your children taken away and you never get to see them again. They never came home. How dare you stick up your ugly nose at us and call it “goofy”. DO BETTER.
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bonanzajoe on Mar 9, 2022 at 8:17 pm
Absolutely NO! The have had enough reconciliation. It's payback time. We've given enough. Let's go back to the bartering system - you want something, you give something. We want something, we give something.
Up 53 Down 12
Austin on Mar 9, 2022 at 6:28 pm
More Liberal tactics to buy votes. I know which parties not to vote for or even think of voting for on the next election.
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Charlie's Aunt on Mar 9, 2022 at 6:14 pm
I think what he is saying is that there is already a Federal Stat on Sept 30 for this, but it doesn't apply to private industry and small business unless YT also mandates it as a holiday. Small businesses are already hurting and this won't help.
Up 57 Down 13
Bandit on Mar 9, 2022 at 4:46 pm
Let's all observe this as PM Trudope did... In Tofino hiding, haha what a fricking joke.
More Sandy Virtue signaling, Election details coming soon.
Up 16 Down 35
Nathan Living on Mar 9, 2022 at 4:32 pm
How about a half day holiday and business and governments are encouraged to host culture events and provide food etc.
A full day holiday just ends up being a holiday.
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I have a suggestion... on Mar 9, 2022 at 3:50 pm
Why don't they swap Truth and Reconciliation Day for Victoria Day? That way there are no additional stats (two and three weeks apart) and we can actually ditch a colonial holiday in favour of something better worth recognition.
I understand that there is significance to September 30th - but surely we can all see the benefit of removing 'Victoria Day' from our calendars, while keeping the May date for the holiday.
Up 106 Down 21
Mary on Mar 9, 2022 at 3:00 pm
Have a day set aside on a Saturday or Sunday. There is no need to have a holiday where 80% of the population will use it for a long weekend get away.
Besides there are enough goofy holidays already.
Up 104 Down 21
Olav on Mar 9, 2022 at 2:45 pm
Pretty soon there will be more holidays than work days.
These holidays cost small business..
Up 95 Down 22
Dave on Mar 9, 2022 at 2:38 pm
Pretty soon there aren’t going to be any working days left. Every second weekend will be a government paid holiday of one kind of the other.
Up 103 Down 23
John on Mar 9, 2022 at 2:26 pm
No
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Yukon Liberal on Mar 9, 2022 at 1:49 pm
Absolutely Necessary given what they have gone through. I feel for their loss and the abhorrent legacy of Canada's Residential school is a stain on this countries "legacy". One Day surely does not do justice and repayment and reparation's must be continued. There will hopefully be a day where our country is healed but I fear it is impossibly far away.