The Government of Yukon is considering creating a new general holiday for National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in the Yukon and is seeking public input through an online survey from March 8, 2022, to April 30, 2022. In addition, the Yukon government is engaging directly with Yukon First Nations governments to determine their support to create the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation as a general holiday in the territory.
As a new general holiday, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation would provide Yukoners with an important opportunity to honour Survivors, families and communities impacted by residential schools in Canada and address the continued trauma faced by Indigenous communities.
Developed in partnership with the Yukon Bureau of Statistics, the online survey will seek feedback from local businesses and Yukoners to determine the support for the new general holiday and understand the potential economic impact it could have in the territory.
A What We Heard report with the results of the survey will be released later this year.
Creating a new general holiday would require an amendment to the Employment Standards Act and other legislation.
The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is one of the Calls to Action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and serves as an annual reminder that we all need to continue working towards reconciliation with First Nations across Canada. We are asking First Nation governments, businesses and Yukoners to share their thoughts about a new general holiday in the Yukon for National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Through their feedback, we will better understand the support for the new general holiday and how it may impact local businesses in the Yukon.
Minister of Community Services Richard Mostyn
On June 3, 2021, the federal government passed Bill C-5, creating a statutory holiday every September 30 to commemorate the tragic legacy of residential schools in Canada, the “National Day for Truth and Reconciliation”. All employees who work in federally regulated workplaces are entitled to the statutory holiday.
Employees regulated by the Yukon’s Employment Standards Act are currently not entitled to this holiday or pay in lieu.
Renée Francoeur
Cabinet Communications
867-334-9194
renee.francoeur@yukon.ca
Bonnie Venton Ross
Communications, Community Services
867-332-5513
bonnie.ventonross@yukon.ca