Bill C-5 (Historical)

An Act to amend the Bills of Exchange Act, the Interpretation Act and the Canada Labour Code (National Day for Truth and Reconciliation)

This enactment amends certain Acts to add a new holiday, namely, National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, which is observed on September 30.

Bills of Exchange Act

[Todd Doherty, Conservative, Cariboo—Prince George, BC]

Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to be here. Imagine living beside a home for years and knowing the families who went through there, only to find out, after growing up and moving away, that unspeakable horrors took place in that house. Members should put themselves in that position right now, because for me, that is what we are talking about today.

Orange Shirt Day originated in my hometown of Williams Lake. St. Joseph's Mission was just down the road from where I grew up. I played ball hockey there. I swam there. Later in life, I rode motorbikes, played in the fields and rode horses through there. I played with many of the kids. I know many of the kids who came through there. Orange Shirt Day for me, every year, strikes home the fact that we never know exactly what is going on right beside us.

Over the years I have gotten to know a number of survivors of the residential school program. They tell horrific stories. My wife and my children are from the Esdilagh First Nation. One of my dear friends and mentors, even though he is younger, is Chief Willie Sellars of the Williams Lake Indian Band. St. Joseph's Mission and the remnants of the mission still reside in their community. As people drive by it, every day, it is a constant reminder of the atrocities that took place right there. That is what Orange Shirt Day means to me.

In the House we were talking about Remembrance Day and the significance of remembering, every day, those who serve our country and our community. It is not enough for us to use one day to remember their service. We have to remember it every day. Orange Shirt Day, for me and for many, is similar: Every day we must remember these atrocities.

We have to understand our past. We currently live in an era of a cancel culture. We want to erase all this: Tear down statues and erase the past. What we need is to remember our past. Without our past, we do not know where we have been. Without our past, we have no idea who we are today. Without our past, we do not know where we are going.

I had the honour of speaking during debate on the Indigenous Languages Act. I spoke of an elder in my riding, Lheidli T'enneh elder Mary Gouchie, who was one of the last speakers of the Dakelh language in my riding. I had the honour of being with her and sitting with her, and she would share stories with me. She instilled in me that our past is so important. Culture is so important, and knowing one's culture. As I said, my children, my son and my daughter, are first nations, yet they have very little knowledge of their past or their history. I think that is shameful.

I mentioned my friend, Chief Willie Sellars. He is a mentor who is leading his community to overcome its challenges and to learn from the mistakes of the past. He is leading them to greater opportunities moving forward.

He is an accomplished author, and wrote Dipnetting with Dad and Hockey with Dad. I urge my colleagues in the House and those who are listening to please source those books. They are easy reads, but they are impactful.

Orange Shirt Day is the story of Phyllis Jack. Her grandmother took her to a store and bought her a nice orange shirt for her first day of school. She went on the bus to St. Joseph's Mission, and immediately upon arriving on the mission grounds, she had that orange shirt ripped off of her. The residential school program was designed to eradicate the race: the first nation, or the native, in those children. Over 150,000 first nations, Inuit and Métis children went through that program, and so many did not make it out.

September 30 is a day to honour the survivors: those who came through the program. It is also to remember those who did not make it through. My colleague had a great question for the minister about the teaching of this subject. My worry with the program is that it becomes just another excuse for a holiday. I will go back to my earlier comments: Imagine living beside a house of horrors. We should never forget. We need to learn from that past and ensure that it never happens again. The orange shirt slogan is that every child matters. We need to ensure that we are bringing equity up so that every child truly does matter.

I think we use reconciliation like a buzzword at times. We have seen it with certain programs and policies that have taken place. We have seen that we still have boil water advisories in first nations. I will be the first to admit those boil water advisories have been longstanding and that no one case is the same as another. It is not one-size-fits-all. It is very complex, but we have to work to be better.

We have suicide epidemics, where children as young as four years old are choosing death to get out of their lot in life. One of the first emergency debates that I took part in, in the House, was regarding the Attawapiskat First Nation suicide epidemic. Sadly, today we still have those same concerns and those same challenges are taking place. Reconciliation is about walking a path together, not pitting one first nation against another first nation, picking winners or losers, or pitting first nations against non-first nations. If we are truly devoted and committed to reconciliation, it is about working together and learning from one another.

I spoke to a couple of first nations leaders about my speech today. They have heard me talk before. They have heard my comments about reconciliation being more than a buzzword: more than something for a politician to stand with hand on heart and perhaps a tissue in hand to dab away a fake tear and say, “This is my most important relationship,” while we still have communities that have boil water advisories and that suffer atrocious living conditions.

If we are truly going to walk the path, we have to educate. We cannot develop indigenous policy without indigenous people at the table. We cannot chart a path forward unless we have honest conversation, and honest conversation means we are not always going to agree. In my riding of Cariboo—Prince George, an area that I grew up running through, and fishing, hunting and hiking in, belongs to the Tsilhqot’in Nation, where the Supreme Court decision in the William case took place.

We have challenges with first nations and non-first-nations people who have lived side by side for generations. It is a delicate balance for me always, because I have friends and relations on both sides. We always have to remember that the path forward is through honest conversation and education.

Phyllis Jack, in writing and telling her story, hoped that it would spur a movement and that it would help to educate people. The conversation that we are having today on this, and that we have had over the last number of years, is so important. Our shared history, our connection to our past, is often immediate. The way we understand our heritage is passed down, for the most part, through books, memories and communication among communities. However, our shared history is also influenced by our own race, colour and creed. Although these are shared between people, they are also shared very differently. It is so important, as we walk together, that we understand that we all have different stories. I am sure some of my colleagues are hearing this story for the first time today. Phyllis's story is important, and is but one. I urge my colleagues to listen.

I sat in some of the talking circles when the truth and reconciliation study was going on, and we heard heartbreaking stories. Last September 30 on Orange Shirt Day, I did a healing circle in my hometown, and some survivors were there. The generational effects of residential school still impact those families. Although the last school closed in 1981 or 1984, that generational negative impact is still going on to this day. It is seen in lateral violence. It is seen in substance abuse. It is seen in the abject poverty these communities live in.

I hope my colleagues listening in or who are in the House today are taking pause. We should be looking at some things in the legislation and hopefully making amendments to strengthen it and make it better.

When talk about education, school district 27 in my riding was chosen by the first nations education steering committee to pilot curriculum changes for all grade five and 10 students, reflecting on the residential school experience. The events were designed to commemorate the residential school experience, to witness and honour the healing journey of survivors and their families and to commit to the ongoing process of reconciliation.

Phyllis (Jack) Webstad told her story about the first day at the residential school when the shiny new shirt her grandmother bought her was taken from her. She was six years old.

The minister mentioned September 30 and why it was chosen. For kids right across our country and for parents too, for the most part, that back to school day is a sense of excitement. It is excitement for the parents because they are able to send their kids to school and are free for a few hours every day. They are excited to see their children go off on a journey of learning. However, that time of celebration for many is still one of reflection for others. It is very traumatic, and I have witnessed it first-hand.

While we say every child matters, we need to remember that all children matter even if they are now adults. We have so many people who are still locked in that time when they were in that program.

A first nations leader called me last night. I had reached out to let him know I was speaking on this. He asked much of what my colleague from Sturgeon River asked. Will this do anything to solve the boil water advisories, the systemic racism or the suicide epidemics? No, it will not, but it is a step in the right direction to further educate about this. Education is such a critical component and it needs to be included in the bill.

We cannot just make a holiday for the sake of giving people another long weekend to load up their campers and go away. At the very end, we will be doing a disservice to the original intent of the bill. It is important we build that into the bill to ensure we never forget.

Whether it is September 30, as proposed, or some other day, we must remember the over 150,000 residential school children, the first nations, Inuit and Métis who went through that. We must honour the survivors and never forget the children who never made it home.

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada and to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, the comments of the minister, I mean the member opposite no doubt come from the heart, and I genuinely appreciate that.

Throughout this debate, it is important for us to recognize that a commission recommended 94 calls to action. The vast majority, 70-plus, indicated that the federal government needed to be more directly involved, and this is one of those.

The general feeling is that the legislation is a positive step forward. It is more than symbolism. The best way to deal with truth and reconciliation is through education. In many ways it is the key in dealing with truth and reconciliation. I think we underestimate the potential of that cross-cultural awareness and education. These things can make be profoundly positive and make a difference.

By recognizing a day to allow civil society to take advantage of that through educational programs, we will all be better as a society. Could the member comment on that?

[Todd Doherty, Conservative, Cariboo—Prince George, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my hon. colleague for the promotion he gave me by calling me “minister”; hopefully someday.

I agree that education is critically important. I spent a lifetime overseas working with other countries. I always used to say that we spent millions upon millions of dollars, billions likely, to figure out other cultures and how to do work and do business with them, but we have failed to do that at home. We have not sat down and learned our lessons. As I said in my comments, that educational component is vital and it is lacking in the current act. We need to ensure that education is critically important.

[Christine Normandin, Bloc, Saint-Jean, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his speech.

I would like him to comment further on something he touched on earlier, which is the fact that this statutory holiday must not be just another day off. It is meant to be an opportunity to fulfill our duty to commemorate and educate.

I would like to know what he expects from parliamentarians in particular.

For example, what would he like us all to do in our ridings to honour this day?

[Todd Doherty, Conservative, Cariboo—Prince George, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I fear that it becomes just another excuse for people, for families, to load up their trailers, go camping and be together.

We, as the 338 members of Parliament who were elected to be here, have to act as examples. We try to do our very best in my riding to participate in events. Sometimes we are here and we acknowledge that day in the House of Commons.

There are many things we could do. I urge my colleagues to reach out to their local first nations communities, to truly find the elders within those communities and see if they are willing to openly talk about the impacts they may have experienced with residential schools programs.

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Mr. Speaker, my colleague's comments were heartfelt and they did move me today.

I am a teacher by training, so listening to the member talk about the value of education is very important to me. I am also a mother, so thinking about what happened to children and their parents with residential schools is very important to me. I shudder at what they have gone through.

This week in Alberta, there were some leaked curriculum documents in which the education on residential schools was pulled from the curriculum. At a time when we all need to be doing more to ensure Canadians know about what happened with residential schools, it is being taken out of our curriculum in Alberta.

Remembering history is important, acknowledging harm done is important and recognizing what was done to indigenous peoples is important.

I wonder if the member could let us know if he will support the expedited passage of the bill to the Senate.

[Todd Doherty, Conservative, Cariboo—Prince George, BC]

Mr. Speaker, there was a lot in that question. This is the second time we have discussed this bill. I have expressed some of my concerns on it. Obviously, I think my colleagues can see where I and my party stand on this.

We want to ensure that due diligence is done, and not just with this bill. We want to ensure that what has taken place in Alberta does not take place elsewhere. We want to ensure we work with our provincial colleagues and with those in the House and in the other place to ensure the bill receives royal assent and becomes possible, so we have a national day of recognition. However, we have to ensure that the significance of this day is never lost, that we remember that every child matters and that we strive to do better.

I will be working hard with our shadow minister on this issue and with those across the way.

[The Deputy Speaker, Conservative, Bruce Stanton]

We will need to leave that for the moment. The hon. member for Cariboo—Prince George will have three minutes remaining for questions and comments when the House gets back to debate on this matter.

The House resumed consideration of the motion that 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), be read the second time and referred to a committee.

[The Deputy Speaker, Conservative, Bruce Stanton]

When the House last took up the question, the hon. member for Cariboo—Prince George had three minutes remaining for questions and comments, so we will go to that now.

The hon. member for Oshawa.

[Colin Carrie, Conservative, Oshawa, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I want to start off my comments by giving thanks. I want to give thanks to indigenous Canadians for giving us the opportunity in this imperfect Parliament and this imperfect country to work toward reconciliation. I also want to give thanks to my colleagues, because this debate has been very non-partisan and I think there is a willingness to move forward. I want to particularly give thanks to my colleague from Cariboo—Prince George. I do not know if people watching now saw him give his speech, but he had a whole pile of notes and he hardly looked at them. He gave us a speech that came from the heart, and I think everyone who heard what he had to say is going to be affected by it.

My colleague mentioned living next door to a house of horrors. Sadly, many Canadians are in that situation, and they do not understand the whole situation with regard to indigenous Canadians. I know my colleague has sat down with too many families, too many victims and too many people who have been affected negatively.

We have heard over and over that this day cannot just be a holiday. I will go on the record as saying I do not think it should be a holiday for federal employees. They should be working this day to help indigenous Canadians.

I wonder if my colleague could comment on what we could do to improve the bill so that this day is about celebration and education and is not just another holiday.

[Todd Doherty, Conservative, Cariboo—Prince George, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I opened my speech with an analogy: Imagine living beside a house of horrors and knowing the families and children who came through there, only to find out later on in life about the horrors that took place. It chokes me up when I speak of it. My staff had to compile a number of documents for me, but I did not refer to them because I have spent a considerable amount of time, not just during my political career but throughout my lifetime, seeing this. My friends and family are from the area that went through this program, and they live today with the scars.

My fear in making this a national holiday for federal employees or public sector employees is that the meaning and importance of this day will be lost. As I have said a number of times, it will just be another day for people to load up their RV and go on a holiday.

It is so important that we build a national education strategy within the bill. This is just one amendment I would like to see, but it is very important. It is critical to the success of this.

[Caroline Desbiens, Bloc, Beauport—Côte-de-Beaupré—Île d’Orléans—Charlevoix, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to split my time with the member for Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou.

I thought my riding was the only one to have such a long name, but I see that my colleague's riding does too.

[The Deputy Speaker, Conservative, Bruce Stanton]

Does the hon. member for Beauport—Côte-de-Beaupré—Île d'Orléans—Charlevoix have unanimous consent to share her time?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.