Action Centre

Make Truth and Reconciliation Day a paid day of recognition and remembrance

National Day for Truth and Reconcilation

In July 2021, the federal government established a federal holiday to provide time for Canadians to honour the survivors of the residential school system, their families and their communities, and to commemorate those who did not survive. UFCW Canada stands firm that September 30th should be a paid Day of Recognition and Remembrance for all individuals living in every province and territory across Canada. 

Currently only the federal government, New Brunswick, British Columbia, Prince Edward Island, Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut recognize Truth and Reconciliation Day as a statutory holiday. The remaining provinces leave the decision over whether to grant the paid day of recognition and remembrance up to individual businesses. This means that while workers in the federal sector have paid time off on September 30, many First Nations, Métis, and Inuit workers across Canada are unable to get the day off or get statutory holiday pay. 

This year, we want to change this. We want all Indigenous workers across Canada to be able to join their community ceremonies, to reflect with friends and families and to have the time to heal as we all grapple with Canada’s dark colonial history. Survivors, families and communities have been irrevocably harmed by the residential school system. We need action on the promise of healing.

We need your assistance to put pressure on your provincial government to take this critical step.

Write to your provincial elected officials using the form below. 

The bottom line:

  • The creation of a National Day of Truth and Reconciliation was one of 94 Calls to Action of Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

  • Only a handful of provinces have recognized September 30th as a paid day of recognition and remembrance.

  • Many Indigenous workers were unable to take the day off to observe ceremonies held by First Nations communities.

  • We need action on the promise of healing.

We need provincial governments to make September 30th a paid day of recognition and remembrance!