Prime Minister Justin Trudeau answers reporters questions during an event in Saint-Eustache, Que., Thursday, August 16, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says his government will move forward to create a statutory holiday dedicated to reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples.
Trudeau confirmed today the holiday will be aimed at remembering the legacy of residential schools and reflecting on a path toward reconciliation.
He told reporters in Saint-Eustache, Que., the government is currently consulting with First Nations, Inuit and Metis groups to choose an appropriate date and to decide how the holiday should be framed.
The creation of a statutory holiday is one of 94 recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation commission.
Trudeau said Canada failed in its duty to respect Indigenous Peoples, who for more than a century were ripped away from their families and sent to residential schools where they endured widespread sexual, emotional and physical abuse.
A private member's bill introduced by NDP MP Georgina Jolibois currently proposes establishing a statutory holiday on June 21, which is National Indigenous Peoples Day, but Trudeau said a date has yet to be set.
