The Ontario NDP is calling on the Ford Government to make the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation a statutory holiday in Ontario.
The call comes after the Province said it will not be a statutory day off this year.
Party leader Andrea Horwath says they’re asking Premier Doug Ford and Minister of Indigenous Affairs Greg Rickford to step up to the plate.
“To make it clear that the current government also recognizes and acknowledges their obligations in terms of the Calls to Action,” says Horwath, “and make sure that September 30th in the province of Ontario will be a statutory day off.”
She says it’s something that needs to be done.
“We have an obligation to make sure that Canadians and Ontarians are given the space and opportunity to reflect on what’s happened in Canada and certainly in our own province here in Ontario.”
Sol Mamakwa is the NDP’s Critic for Indigenous and Treaty Relations and says that it’s disappointing, but not shocking, that September 30th won’t be a statutory day off in Ontario this year.
“We know that they are not allies to Indigenous people. I think it’s so important that we have a day of reflection…a day to mourn…a day to remember our lost children.”
He goes on to say that by not making the change the Ford Government is part of the problem.
“They are the ones that are looking away from these issues…(they’re) not wanting to address (them), become allies, change the history of Canada (going forward).”
The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation became a federal statutory holiday earlier this year, which means as it stands only federally regulated workplaces are required to give their employees the day off on September 30th.
