By battlefordsNOW

Province to decide on stat holiday to recognize residential school history

Aug 20, 2018 | 6:00 PM

While the provincial government is still deciding on whether Saskatchewan will have a new stat holiday as a National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Saskatchewan NDP Leader Ryan Meili says he supports the idea.

“This was one of the recommendations coming out of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission,” Meili said. “It’s something that both federal and provincial governments have committed to enacting those recommendations.

“The fact that this is proceeding is a good thing,” he added. “This is a way to recognize a pretty negative part of our history, but also work towards making sure we don’t repeat those same kinds of mistakes, and that we create a Canada that is more inclusive, more equal, more just.” 

Meili said if a national holiday goes forward that recognizes Canada’s residential school legacy, then Saskatchewan should also recognize the day as a stat holiday. 

“It would be extremely embarrassing if Saskatchewan, a province that has so much history of residential schools, still has so many people whose lives have been negatively impacted by that legacy, if we were to not be recognizing that, while the rest of the country was. That would really send a very dark message,” he said.

Fundraiser for Humane Society

Guitars and Cars Show 'n Shine to include live music

17h ago

Trial proceedings

Man charged after violent assault at Prince Albert jail, cleared of any wrongdoing

18h ago

Joins defending-champion, Mariners

North Stars' Burgeson commits to Vancouver Island University

18h ago

The federal government announced last week it would be creating the new holiday and would be consulting with Indigenous people to decide on the date and the name for the holiday.

When speaking to reporters last week just after the announcement was made, Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe said the province will still need to decide whether to make the day a stat holiday within Saskatchewan.

“We’ll have to have those discussions on whether or not we implement it as a full statutory holiday here in the province, and what the cost to employers would be, understanding that the Government of Saskatchewan is also a large employer here in the province,” said Moe. “We do understand the move the federal government has made here today, and we’ll have those discussions in the days ahead with respect to what we do as a province.”

“I think in no way whether or not you make it an actual statutory holiday does that speak to whether you’re supportive or non-supportive of any of the federal statutory holidays we have,” Moe added. “There are actually four provinces that have not adopted Remembrance Day as a statutory holiday; Manitoba being one of those.”

He added a holiday can be recognized without making it a stat holiday.

“I think it’s fair to say that the people of Manitoba very much respect Remembrance Day and everything that it signifies. But it is not an actual statutory holiday, with the payments that come with that to employers in that province,” Moe said. “So we’ll have those discussions on whether or not it will be a provincial stat holiday here in the days and weeks ahead. But I do understand that the federal government’s position that they have made this announcement today.”   

Angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW