Nunavut MLAs table bill for truth and reconciliation stat holiday

Nunavut is another step closer to making Sept. 30 a statutory holiday to mark the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation.

In the legislature Thursday, labour minister Craig Simailak introduced Bill 5, which would make the day an official holiday throughout the territory.

Last year, Nunavut’s Justice Department consulted business and other organizations, asking if they would support the creation of the new statutory holiday, and what negative financial or other effects might come as a result of adding it to the calendar.

In August, the federal government designated Sept. 30 as Truth and Reconciliation Day in response to a call to action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada.

That made the day a holiday for all federal employees, but left it up to each province and territory to decide whether to make it a holiday for other workers.

Last year, Sept. 30 was a paid day off for Nunavut government employees only.

Nunavut’s then-minister of human resources, David Akeeagok, said the government didn’t have enough time before Sept. 30 to make it a holiday for everyone.

Now that Bill 5 has passed second reading in the legislature, it will be referred to committee for further study. There was no indication this week when it might come up for a final vote.