This bill has received Royal Assent and is now law.
Summary
This is from the published bill. The Library of Parliament has also written a full legislative summary of the bill.
This enactment amends certain Acts to add a new holiday, namely, National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, which is observed on September 30.
Similar bills
C-369 (42nd Parliament, 1st session)
An Act to amend the Bills of Exchange Act, the Interpretation Act and the Canada Labour Code (National Day for Truth and Reconciliation)
Elsewhere
All sorts of information on this bill is available at LEGISinfo, an excellent resource from Parliament. You can also read the full text of the bill.
Bill numbers are reused for different bills each new session. Perhaps you were looking for one of these other C-5s:
C-5 (2021)Law
An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act
C-5 (2020)
An Act to amend the Judges Act and the Criminal Code
C-5 (2016)
An Act to repeal Division 20 of Part 3 of the Economic Action Plan 2015 Act, No. 1
Votes
Nov. 2, 2020Passed 2nd reading of 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)
This is a computer-generated summary of the speeches below.
Usually it’s accurate, but every now and then it’ll contain inaccuracies or total fabrications.
Bill C-5 amends existing legislation to establish September 30 as the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, a statutory holiday for federally regulated workers.
Commemorate and educate canadians: The day honours survivors and those lost, encourages reflection on Canada's history and values, and educates Canadians about residential schools.
Fund commemoration events: The government is providing funding to support events commemorating residential schools and activities for the national day.
Conservative
Supports national day: The Conservative Party supports Bill C-5 to establish a national day for truth and reconciliation as a statutory holiday for federally regulated workers on September 30.
Implements TRC call: The bill implements Call to Action 80 of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and builds on the grassroots momentum of Orange Shirt Day.
Calls for education plan: Conservatives emphasize the importance of a reconciliation education strategy for Canadians, noting the current bill does not include such a plan but hoping one is developed soon.
Broader reconciliation needed: While supporting the holiday, the party stresses that more is needed for reconciliation, including supporting indigenous businesses and addressing outstanding TRC recommendations.
NDP
Supports Bill C-5: The NDP fully supports Bill C-5 to establish a national day for truth and reconciliation, urging its swift passage through Parliament to honour indigenous peoples and remember the trauma of colonization.
Holiday for learning: They emphasize the statutory holiday should be a day for learning about indigenous peoples, their culture, and history, and showing respect, not merely a day off.
Reconciliation needs action: While supporting the bill as an important step, the party stresses that reconciliation requires concrete action beyond words, citing issues like clean water access and legal battles.
Previous bill blocked: Members recall that a similar private member's bill was blocked by the Senate in the last Parliament and call for all parties to ensure Bill C-5 becomes law this time.
Bloc
Supports the bill: The Bloc supports Bill C-5 as a necessary step for commemoration, remembrance, and truth in the ongoing process of reconciliation.
Establishes needed day: The bill establishes a day (September 30) needed to focus on truth and reconciliation for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.
Calls for concrete action: While supporting the symbolism, the party stresses the urgent need for faster, concrete action to address systemic issues like water access and educational disparities.
Bill should go further: The speaker wishes the bill would go further to address the vitality of First Nations and First Nations children.
Green
Supports Bill C-5: The Green Party fully supports Bill C-5 and stands with colleagues in the House to see that it becomes law.
Necessary for truth and reconciliation: Bill C-5 is a necessary step to fulfill Truth and Reconciliation Commission recommendations and bring awareness to the horrors of residential schools and their ongoing impacts.
Truth must come first: The party emphasizes that truth about the full impact of residential schools must precede reconciliation, noting most Canadians are unaware of the intergenerational trauma.
Bill is overdue: While fully supported, the bill is acknowledged as being long overdue and reactive rather than proactive in addressing the issues it aims to address.
