Georgina Jolibois. Photo courtesy of georginajolibois.ndp.ca
The Member of Parliament based in northern Saskatchewan, Georgina Jolibois, is taking the next step in making Indigenous Peoples’ Day a national holiday.
A private member’s bill, proposing the recognition of June 21 as a statutory holiday, had its first reading in the House of Commons October 24.
Jolibois is a member of the federal NDP, but hopes her motion will be passed in the spirit of reconciliation.
“The prime minister says that the most important relationship to him is the relationship with the First Nations, Metis and Indigenous peoples across Canada. And certainly when the TRC calls for it as a national holiday, I’m pretty optimistic that it stands a good chance,” said Jolibois. “There is an excellent opportunity here to think about what it really means when we talk about nation-to-nation.”
Indigenous Peoples’ Day would be celebrated on June 21 to honour First Nations people and reconciliation.
The bill is scheduled for debate in the House of Commons on December 8.