Following the discovery of what are believed to be the remains
of 215 indigenous children in unmarked graves at a former
residential school in Kamloops, BC, the federal government
fast-tracked Bill C-5, An Act to amend the Bills of Exchange
Act, the Interpretation Act and the Canada Labour Code (National
Day for Truth and Reconciliation). The legislation received
royal assent on June 3, 2021 and comes into force two months after
that date.
The legislation establishes a new federal holiday, the National
Day for Truth and Reconciliation, on September 30th of
each year. Federally regulated employers should know that this day
has been added to the list of general holidays under the Canada
Labour Code for which employees are entitled to paid time off
in accordance with the Code. These employers should plan for
providing this paid holiday beginning this fall.
