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Manitoba government says no statutory holiday for National Day for Truth and Reconciliation this year

Manitoba says Orange Shirt Day on Sept. 30 will not be a declared a statutory holiday this year, but the government continues to discuss with Indigenous communities.

The PC government still plans to make Sept. 30 a statutory holiday, just not this year

Steve Lambert · The Canadian Press ·
Three women in orange shirts
Thousands of people wearing orange march from the Forks through the downtown area in support of Every Child Matters on Sept. 30, 2021, the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The Manitoba government says they still have plans to declare Sept. 30 a statutory holiday, but it won't happen this year. (Gary Solilak/CBC)

The Manitoba government is still planning to make the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation an official statutory holiday but says it's too late for the change to take effect this year.

"It would be very disrespectful of everybody to introduce something at this point," Labour Minister Reg Helwer said Wednesday.

"We did have legislation we were working on, and went through consultation with labour and business — and continuing consultation with First Nations and other groups — and that pointed out to me that we need much more advice from many people on how this should run."

The day — also known as Orange Shirt Day — was established in honour of the experience of Phyllis Webstad, whose gift of clothing from her grandmother was taken away on Webstad's first day at a residential school.

The federal government recently made the day, which falls on Sept. 30, a statutory holiday for its workers and federally-regulated workplaces. The Northwest Territories government followed suit with an announcement in July.

Manitoba Premier Heather Stefanson said earlier in the summer that her Progressive Conservative government might follow in time for this year. But with less than a month to go, provincially-regulated businesses have not been told they must give staff the day off.

Helwer said consultations with Indigenous groups on how to mark the day are still ongoing. He also said businesses would need more advance notice than 30 days.

"It would be very uncomfortable for business to spring that on them."

The Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce is supporting the idea of a statutory holiday. Some 70 per cent of members who participated in a recent survey favoured the change.

The Opposition New Democrats pushed for a bill to enact the statutory holiday months ago.

Chamber president Loren Remillard said he understands the province needs more time to ensure the holiday is not just a day off work but an opportunity to reflect on reconciliation.

"No one wants to see this holiday just be a day off with no learning that comes as a result," Remillard said.

"It's not our place to say how to best recognize truth and reconciliation. It's a partnership, but that must be something that is informed and driven by Indigenous voices and leadership."

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