Mr. Speaker, September 30 is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Also known as Orange Shirt Day, we remember the indigenous children who were taken away through the residential school system, and we honour their families and communities that continue to feel the weight of that loss.
Orange Shirt Day began with Phyllis Webstad in Williams Lake, British Columbia, which is also the hometown of my seatmate. At just six years old, Phyllis had her new orange shirt taken away on her first day at residential school. That shirt has become a symbol of what was stolen and a reminder that every child matters.
Reconciliation cannot be marked by a single day. It is, yes, about wearing orange but also about listening, learning and committing to action every day and ensuring that no indigenous child should ever again feel invisible, neglected or unworthy.
Let us remember the children who never came home, honour the survivors who carry those stories and work toward a future where justice, respect and dignity are the foundation of true reconciliation. Let us say today, and every day, never again.