QUEEN'S PARK — The MPP for the Northwestern Ontario riding of Kiiwetinoong wants Ontario to declare the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation a paid provincial holiday.
September 30 is currently a statutory holiday for federally-regulated workers.
On the recommendation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, it was set aside in 2021 to recognize the history and the intergenerational trauma of the residential school system.
Mamakwa intends to introduce a private member's bill in the legislature to have Ontario follow Ottawa's lead, as several provinces and territories have already done, by making it a provincial holiday as well.
"In early November, I'll be introducing it in my own language, to have the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation recognized as a paid holiday," he confirmed in an interview Monday.
"Rather than just a day of reflection, rather than just a day of mourning, it should be a day where all Ontarians have a day to learn what Orange Shirt Day is, what truth is, and what reconciliation is.'
Mamakwa said he feels "holiday" isn't actually the appropriate word to use for this day.
"Over the past four years...it's always been First Nations taking the day off themselves to do their own thing, to reconcile with members of the community. All Ontarians should have the day off to learn the real history of Indian residential schools."
He mentioned that he had spent part of the weekend in Manitoba, where the day is being marked for the first time as a provincial holiday.
"With all the events and the announcements that they have for the closure of public places, it was just so different listening to that and being in a different province. Ontario needs to move in that direction where we take that day off, take some time to reflect, take some time to be with families as well. We have to take this path together. It's not something that we can just do by ourselves as First Nations people."
The Ontario government issued a statement Monday in recognition of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
Premier Doug Ford and Greg Rickford, Minister of Indigenous Affairs and First Nations Economic Reconciliation, said "The painful legacy of Indian residential schools has resulted in ongoing, intergenerational trauma for survivors, their families and Indigenous communities. As Ontarians, it is important that we continue to deepen our collective understanding, to honour those who survived and remember the thousands of children who did not make it home."