Mr. Speaker, today, September 30, is recognized as Orange Shirt Day. On this day we encourage all Canadians to wear orange to raise awareness of the legacy of residential schools and to honour the thousands of first nations, Inuit and Métis survivors.
As colleagues know, there is no relationship more important to us than the one with indigenous peoples. That is why our government introduced a bill to establish a national day for truth and reconciliation on September 30. I would like to highlight that the NDP has seconded the introduction of this bill and to recognize the work of Georgina Jolibois, former member of Parliament for Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River, on this file in the previous Parliament. This bill would implement the 80th call to action in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's report.
Public commemoration of the tragic and painful history and legacy of residential schools is vital on the path toward reconciliation.