Truth and Reconciliation Day bill won’t be supported by Sask. government

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“Truth and Reconciliation Day is a day to honour our loved ones, for our ancestors to know their stories matter. It’s not just a day off. It’s a day of truth for us in our First Nation communities,” said Rynold Keepness.

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Shalene Keepness said the day offers an opportunity for people to show the Indigenous community it is supported.

“It’s making sure that people have the opportunity to partake, to have these hard conversations, to learn about the past, the history, to learn what’s still going on,” she said.

She said she was disappointed the Sask. Party government wouldn’t support the bill.

The provincial government has been recognizing the day through proclamations, similar to when it recognizes Skilled Trades and Technology Week, or Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Eric Schmalz, Saskatchewan’s minister responsible for First Nations, Métis and northern affairs, speaking to reporters in Regina on Nov. 9, 2026. (Image Credit: Lisa Schick/CJME)

“We want to make sure that we are giving due recognition to reconciliation in this province, and we’re doing it through real action,” said Eric Schmalz, Saskatchewan’s minister responsible for First Nations, Métis and northern affairs.

The minister said he believes that is enough, pointing out that the province has met 30 of 34 of the calls to action that were aimed at the province by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

He also pointed out that Saskatchewan already has 10 statutory holidays on the books, though he also said he wouldn’t preclude the government from adding another public holiday.

In the assembly, Schmalz pointed to Manitoba, saying that it doesn’t recognize Remembrance Day as a statutory holiday.

“People still find ways to go to these events and pay homage to reconciliation,” he said.

Labour agrees with the day off

The new president of the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour, Marilynne MacFarlane, was also at the legislative building to support Laliberte’s bill.

She said the union group has written to the provincial government to ask for the day to be made a public holiday, but the request has always been turned down.

“We want to make sure that we are giving due recognition to reconciliation in this province, and we’re doing it through real action,” said MacFarlane.

Schmalz said the government isn’t stopping employers from giving workers the day off, but MacFarlane said that’s not enough.

“It shouldn’t be something that’s used as a bargaining chip at a bargaining table,” she said.

“If I choose and I want to go and learn about the truth that happened to a group of people, then I should have the ability to go and do that.”

She said Saskatchewan is behind other western provinces on the issue, noting that both B.C. and Manitoba offer the day as a statutory holiday.

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