In 2020, the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Canadian Heritage, introduced Bill C-5 to establish a National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The bill received Royal Assent on June 3, 2021 and all federally regulated workers will observe, as of September 30, 2021, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

Historical background: For more than a century, several hundred First Nations, Métis and Inuit children were forced to attend residential schools regulated by the Catholic Church; many of them never returned home.

Following the recent discovery of several burial sites on the grounds of a former Kamloops establishment and in other regions, it is important, now more than ever, to raise awareness among Canadians about this chapter of our history.

The purpose of this new holiday is to honour the thousands of victims of these residential schools. In the image of the Remembrance Day holiday, the government invites the population to take this opportunity to reflect upon the trauma that resulted from these tragic events. In addition to paying tribute to the victims, this public acknowledgement of the harm done is a step forward in the reconciliation process.

Nethris is here for you

The Nethris team will support employers and help them to make the adjustments required for this new holiday and its impacts on payroll management. We will ensure that employees are paid on time, and will be available to answer your questions. Our customers will receive a customer notice explaining everything they need to know about this holiday.

For more information regarding the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, refer to the governmental news release.