Wednesday, October 30, 2024
AMAPCEO is proud to support the legislation sponsored by MPP Sol Mamakwa to designate the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (NDTR) as a statutory holiday for all provincially-regulated workers.
Since NDTR became a federal holiday in 2021, AMAPCEO has continued to take steps toward equity and healing by advocating for September 30 as a paid day off for members, recognizing the importance of public commemoration of the tragic history and ongoing impacts of residential schools. Today, we are in the process of negotiating a settlement for our Ontario Public Service (OPS) members after winning the fight to recognize NDTR as a paid day off for reflection. The OPS Employer had tried to recognize NDTR as a standard workday in 2022.
“September 30 should not be treated as business as usual in Ontario, and it cannot just be First Nations people reconciling Canada’s history,” said President Dave Bulmer. “Everyone shares in the responsibility to engage in reconciliation - to spend time in the company of family to reflect on how this time together was denied to Indigenous families for so long.”
AMAPCEO continues to take steps toward reconciliation and aims to establish the NDTR as a paid holiday for all of our members in their collective agreements. We call on the Ontario government to designate September 30 a statutory holiday so that everyone living in Ontario can observe the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
MPP Mamakwa expects to table his private member’s bill next month.