B.C. to make National Day for Truth and Reconciliation a paid statutory holiday
The B.C. government has introduced legislation to make Sept. 30 a paid statutory holiday marking the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
Labour Minister Harry Bains introduced a bill in the legislature Tuesday, saying the holiday will be observed this September and every Sept. 30 afterwards.
Bains told the legislature the government's decision on the holiday is in response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's call to action No. 80, which requested the federal government establish a holiday to honour residential school survivors, their families and communities. The feds established a holiday for their workers in 2021.
INDIGENOUS LEADERS REACT
"I'm elated, it's certainly long overdue,” President of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs, Grand Chief Stewart Phillip told CTV News.
While pleased, Phillip says the work of reconciliation needs to be year-round.
"The only way we're going to have a paradigm shift in racist attitude in this country is if it's society-wide,”
“Rather than one single event, it's going to have to become a way of life,” Phillip said.
Tsleil-Waututh Nation Chief, Jen Thomas says she’s pleased, but still wants to see more action from other governing bodies.
“Let’s see how the municipalities and the schools will incorporate the history of it,” she said.
Thomas’ father Stan is a survivor of St Paul’s Residential School in North Vancouver.
“I think he’s going to be happy about the acknowledgement of this day and what it means for survivors,” she said.
CONCERNS FROM THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY
While acknowledging the importance of the day, some members of the business community are voicing concerns about the impact of paying employees for another stat holiday.
"Reaction from businesses is that this is going to be yet another cost increase on top of many other increases that have occurred during the past year and of course even throughout the pandemic,” said the B.C. representative for the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, Annie Dormuth.
“Keep in mind just this year during the pandemic the B.C. Government added five employer-paid sick days to businesses as an additional cost,”
“On top of employer health taxes, with the rise of minimum wage and a tight labour market, all of this is adding up,” Dormuth said.
Dormuth says they’re calling on the province to include some type of financial relief for businesses in the annual budget later this month. ,
B.C. will join Prince Edward Island, the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Yukon and Canada as jurisdictions that have already designated Sept. 30 as a statutory holiday, if the legislation passes.
With files from The Canadian Press
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
'Sophisticated' cyberattacks detected on B.C. government networks, premier says
There has been a "sophisticated" cybersecurity breach detected on B.C. government networks, Premier David Eby confirmed Wednesday evening.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
Canucks claw out 5-4 comeback win over Oilers in Game 1
Dakota Joshua had a goal and two assists and the Vancouver Canucks scored three third-period goals to claw out a 5-4 comeback victory over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 1 of their second-round playoff series Wednesday.
Nijjar murder suspect says he had Canadian study permit in immigration firm's video
One of the Indian nationals accused of murdering British Columbia Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar says in a social media video that he received a Canadian study permit with the help of an Indian immigration consultancy.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.