Manitoba PM says new holiday of reconciliation could happen this fall – Winnipeg

Manitoba could have a new public holiday by September to mark National Truth and Reconciliation Day, says Prime Minister Heather Stefanson.

“Certainly I’d like to move on and I just want to make sure we go through a respectful consultation process,” Stefanson said in an interview this week.

“I don’t want to see it (just) as a holiday. This is about a reminder of truth and reconciliation.”

Also known as Orange Shirt Day, the day was created to honor Phyllis Webstad’s experience of taking a gift of clothes from her grandmother on Webstad’s first day at boarding school.

The federal government recently made the day, which falls on September 30, a public holiday for its workers and government-regulated workplaces.

Manitoba already marks the day by closing schools and many non-essential government offices. Stefanson said last December the province would consult with Indigenous groups, the business community and others to make the day a public holiday for provincial regulated workers.

The Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce said it approved the idea after speaking to its members

“Seven out of ten of our members answered yes,” said Chamber President Loren Remillard.

“Half of businesses would close or limit hours regardless of what the province does.”

Remillard reiterated Stefanson’s goal of ensuring the day was more than a paid day off for workers and would instead include ceremonies or education. The Chamber closed its doors to the public on September 30 and asked staff to attend online training on reconciliation.

“We closed for a reason,” he said.

The idea of ​​a provincial holiday was pushed by the opposition New Democrats last year.

In order for it to go into effect this September 30th, a bill would have to rush through the legislature, which is not scheduled to meet again until September 28th. Stefanson said a swift passage can be achieved with all political parties on board.

“I think where there’s a will, there’s a way.”