Canada: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Is Now a Public Holiday in BC

Bottom Line

On March 9, 2023, British Columbia’s Bill 2, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Act, received Royal Assent. As a result, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is now statutorily recognized as a public holiday in the province of British Columbia.

The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation was established by the Government of Canada in 2021 to commemorate the history and legacy of the Canadian residential school system, which forcibly separated Indigenous children from their families and communities for more than a century. Observed on September 30 each year, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation honours the survivors of residential schools and the children who never returned home, and acknowledges the lasting impact that the residential school system has had on Indigenous families and communities.

Bill 2: What Happens Now?

Now that Bill 2 has received Royal Assent, British Columbia will join the list of Canadian jurisdictions that recognize the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation as a statutory holiday. The other Canadian jurisdictions that have formally recognized the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation are Prince Edward Island, Nunavut, the Northwest Territories, the Yukon, and the federal jurisdiction.

To establish September 30 as a statutory holiday, Bill 2 will enact the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Act and make corresponding amendments to the definitions of “holiday” under British Columbia’s Election Act, Employment Standards Act, and Interpretation Act.

Check the Box

As a result of Bill 2’s proclamation into law, provincially regulated employees in British Columbia are entitled to observe September 30 of each year as a holiday from work in accordance with the Employment Standards Act. Employers should review their existing workplace policies and make any necessary revisions to ensure compliance with this development. Employers with unionized workplaces will want to consider how the enactment of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Act may impact their existing collective agreements.