INAN - Question Period Card Minister of Canadian Heritage - Jan 28, 2021

Truth and Reconciliation Commission Call to Action 80

Issue

Truth and Reconciliation Commission Call to Action 80 - National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Update

September 30, 2020

Source

Various

Synopsis

To address the legacy of residential schools and advance reconciliation, the Government committed to implement the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. In response to Call to Action 80, which calls for the creation of a National Day for Truth and Reconciliation as a statutory holiday, the Minister of Canadian Heritage introduced, on September 29, 2020, 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).

Recommended response

• Our Government is committed to advancing reconciliation and renewing the relationship with Indigenous peoples based on recognition of rights, respect, co-operation and partnership.
• In response to Call to Action 80 of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Report, we have introduced Bill C-5 to establish a National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
• This new proposed statutory holiday on September 30 will honour survivors, their families, and communities, and ensure that public commemoration of the tragic history and legacy of residential schools remains a vital component of the reconciliation process.

On Orange Shirt Day

• September 30 is recognized as Orange Shirt Day. Today, we encourage all Canadians to wear orange in order to raise awareness of the history and legacy of residential schools, and to honour the thousands of survivors.

Background

• To address the legacy of residential schools and advance reconciliation, the Government committed to implement the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Call to Action 80 calls “upon the federal government, in collaboration with Aboriginal peoples, to establish, as a statutory holiday, a National Day for Truth and Reconciliation to honour Survivors, their families, and communities, and ensure that public commemoration of the history and legacy of residential schools remains a vital component of the reconciliation process.”
• In 2017, a private member’s bill (Bill C-369) was introduced for the creation of a National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The proposed legislation died on the order paper. During the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage’s study of Private Member’s Bill C-369 in 2018 and 2019, witnesses from Indigenous organizations were in favour of the creation of a statutory holiday to commemorate the history and legacy of residential schools.
• Bill C-5 would amend three pieces of legislation in order to establish the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation: the Bills of Exchange Act, the Interpretation Act, and Part III of the Canada Labour Code.
• The new statutory holiday would apply to employees in the federally regulated private sector (i.e. those covered under Part III of the Canada Labour Code), and due to existing provisions in all federal public service collective agreements, as well as past practices to extend similar terms of employment to the Canadian Armed Forces and the RCMP, these employees would also be entitled to this federal holiday.
• Orange Shirt Day, commemorated on September 30, is a prominent example of an unofficial commemorative day. Orange Shirt Day honours the children who survived Residential Schools and remembers those who did not. This day relates to Phyllis Webstad’s experience on her first day of school, where she arrived dressed in a new orange shirt, which was taken from her. It is now a symbol of the stripping away of culture, freedom and self-esteem experienced by Indigenous children over generations.
• To raise awareness of the history and legacy of residential schools and to create a positive environment for reconciliation, Budget 2019 committed $7 million over two years, starting in 2019-20, to be delivered through the Celebration and Commemoration Program for activities recognizing and commemorating the legacy of residential schools.
• The Celebration and Commemoration Program is providing $650,000 to the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation for a large-scale national event on September 30, 2020 in Winnipeg.

Prepared by: Claudia Fournier (613-790-7151)
Program Director: Sacha Richard (613-218-6033)
Manager of Communications: Adèle Blanchard (819-956-9795)
Director General: Emmanuelle Sajous (613-867-0371)
Assistant Deputy Minister: Joëlle Montminy (613-552-5298)

Truth and Reconciliation Commission Call to Action 81

Issue

Truth and Reconciliation Commission Call to Action 81 - Residential Schools National Monument

New

October 19, 2020

Source

Canadian Heritage

Synopsis

To address the legacy of residential schools and advance reconciliation, the Government committed to implement the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, including Call to Action 81, which calls for the creation of a Residential Schools National Monument in Ottawa to honour Survivors and all the children who were lost to their families and communities. Work on Call to Action 81 is in the early planning stages, specifically regarding engagement with Indigenous peoples.

Recommended response

• Call to Action 81 of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission calls on the federal government, in collaboration with Survivors, to install “a publicly accessible, highly visible, Residential Schools National Monument in the city of Ottawa to honour Survivors and all the children who were lost to their families and communities.”
• Preliminary work on this important project has already begun, in collaboration with Survivors. Our Government will collaborate with First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples on the various phases of this commemorative project.
• Our Government is committed to advancing reconciliation and renewing the relationship with Indigenous peoples based on recognition of rights, respect, co-operation and partnership.

Background

• The Government of Canada is named as the lead in this call to action. Canadian Heritage is the designated department given its responsibility as lead department for monuments in the Capital under the Policy on National Commemorative Monuments on Federal Lands in Canada’s Capital Region.
• PCH organized a Survivor Engagement Workshop in October 2019, in Ottawa. It was the first formal exchange with Indigenous communities on the development of a vision for the monument. The workshop was designed and led by Dr. Marie Wilson, former Truth and Reconciliation Commissioner, who subsequently engaged with the National Indigenous Organizations to share the results of the workshop in January and February 2020.
• Currently, no source of funds have been secured for this monument project.
• Once funding is confirmed for the project, a Steering Committee will be established to make recommendations on key decisions throughout the duration of the project.
• Once the Steering Committee is formed, the next steps would be to begin the site selection process and to establish the approach for the design competition.

Prepared by: Sacha Richard (613-218-6033)
Director of Communications: Kariane Lusignan (819-953-7753)
Director General: Emmanuelle Sajous (613-867-0371)
Assistant Deputy Minister: Joëlle Montminy (613-552-5298)

Truth and Reconciliation Commission Call to Action 89

Issue

Truth and Reconciliation Commission Call to Action 89 - Call upon the federal government to amend the Physical Activity and Sport Act to support reconciliation

New

October 19, 2020

Source

Various

Synopsis

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Call to Action #89, calls upon the federal government to “amend the Physical Activity and Sport Act to support reconciliation by ensuring that policies to promote physical activity as a fundamental element of health and well-being reduce barriers to sports participation, increase the pursuit of excellence in sport and build capacity in the Canadian sport system, are inclusive of Aboriginal peoples”. The 2003 Act sets out the Government of Canada’s policies regarding physical activity and sport as well as the mandate of the Minister of Canadian Heritage (Sport) in respect of physical activity and sport.

Given that changes to the legislation will require consultation with other federal government departments in collaboration with the Aboriginal Sport Circle, discussions with Indigenous sport stakeholders have concluded that this will be a longer-term deliverable.

Recommended response

• Our government is committed to fulfilling the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action.
• Engagement with Indigenous Peoples, including the Aboriginal Sport Circle, is essential, to ensure that the sport related Calls to Action are addressed, including the commitment to amend the Physical Activity and Sport Act.
• Our Government is committed to advancing reconciliation and renewing the relationship with Indigenous peoples based on recognition of rights, respect, co-operation and partnership.

Background

• There are five Calls to Action that specifically relate to sport: #87 to #91. Sport Canada is engaged on numerous fronts in responding to these Calls to Action, and works closely with Indigenous organizations, particularly the Aboriginal Sport Circle to ensure the sport based Calls to Action are addressed in a manner which respects Indigenous views and Reconciliation.
• Call to Action #87 calls on all levels of government “to provide public education that tells the national story of Aboriginal athletes in history”. In response to this Call to Action, Sport Canada supports The Tom Longboat Awards program, which honours Indigenous athletes for their outstanding contributions to sport in Canada. The 2019 Award recipients were presented at the Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in October 2019.
• Call to Action #88 calls on all levels of government to take action to “ensure long-term Aboriginal athlete development and growth, and continued support for the North American Indigenous Games”. Sport Canada has been a consistent funder of the hosting of the North American Indigenous Games since its inception, consistent with the terms of the North American Indigenous Games Funding Framework.
• Call to Action #89 calls on the federal government “to amend the Physical Activity and Sport Act”. Discussions with Indigenous sport stakeholders have concluded that this will be a longer-term deliverable given that changes to the legislation will require consultation with other federal government departments in collaboration with the Aboriginal Sport Circle. The ongoing work in other areas related to Indigenous sport development will lay the foundation for the future amendment of the Physical Activity and Sport Act.
• Call to Action #90 calls on the federal government “to ensure that national sports policies, programs, and initiatives are inclusive of Aboriginal peoples”. In response to these two Calls to Action, the Government of Canada is investing $18.9 million over five years, starting in fiscal year 2017 to 2018, and ongoing funding of $5.5 million every four years thereafter, to support Indigenous youth and sport initiatives in the following four areas: Indigenous sport leadership; Culturally relevant sport programming; the North American Indigenous Games; and Sport Canada’s data and research.
• More specifically, investments were allocated to:
  • The Aboriginal Sport Circle to assume a greater leadership role on Indigenous sport development, i.e., have the capacity to assume and maintain a national leadership role on Indigenous sport including to facilitate Provincial/Territorial Aboriginal Sport Bodies, National Sport Organizations and Multisport Services Organizations aligning their existing programming with the Aboriginal Long-term Participation Pathway, and ensuring that a data strategy is developed.
  • Provinces and territories, through bilateral agreements, to increase the operational capacity of Provincial/Territorial Aboriginal Sport Bodies, increase the offering of culturally relevant sport programming including North American Indigenous Games team preparation and travel; and,
  • National Sport Organizations and Multisport Services Organization to ensure long-term Indigenous athlete development and growth through increasing the offering of culturally relevant sport programming.
• Call to Action #91 calls upon officials and host countries of major games “to ensure that Indigenous peoples’ territorial protocols are respected” and that local Indigenous communities are engaged in all aspects of planning and participating in the events. In response, Sport Canada has included this Call to Action in its documents shared with bid and host organizations and other stakeholders that are responsible for developing or supporting major sport event bids. These considerations are also included in Sport Canada’s ongoing coordination to develop a national bidding and hosting framework for major sport events involving provincial and territorial governments, as well as other major events stakeholders.
• In addition to the sport-specific Calls to Action, Sport Canada also delivers the Sport for Social Development in Indigenous Communities program, which it launched in 2019 expressly to help address the social development Calls to Action, i.e., Call to Action #7: eliminate educational and employment gaps between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Canadians; Call to Action #19: identify and close the gaps in health outcomes, between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities; and, Call to Action #38: eliminate the over-representation of Aboriginal youth in custody.

Prepared by: Terri-Ann Wint (613-795-5981)
Director General of Communications: Chantal Reinert (819-983-1711)
Director General: Vicki Walker (873-353-9238)
Assistant Deputy Minister: Joëlle Montminy (613-552-5298)

Truth and Reconciliation Commission Call to Action 90

Issue

Truth and Reconciliation Commission Call to Action 90 - Ensuring that national sports policies, programs and initiatives are inclusive of Indigenous peoples

New

October 19, 2020

Source

Call to Action # 90 of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada

Synopsis

The Government of Canada is committed to fulfilling the sport-related Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada.

Recommended response

• The Government of Canada is committed to fulfilling the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action and is working in collaboration with key Indigenous stakeholders to design and implement sport programming in Indigenous communities.
• The Government, through Budget 2017, has invested to support Indigenous youth and sport initiatives in the following four areas: Indigenous sport leadership; culturally relevant sport programming; the North American Indigenous Games; and, Indigenous sport data and research.
• Through Budget 2018, the Government of Canada invested to expand the use of sport for social development in more than 300 Indigenous communities for the purpose of achieving outcomes in the areas of health, education, at-risk behaviour, and/or employability.

Background

• Through Budget 2017, the Government of Canada invested $18.9 million over five years, starting in fiscal year 2017 to 2018, and ongoing funding of $5.5 million every four years thereafter, to support Indigenous youth and sport initiatives. The four point approach of the Indigenous Youth and Sport investment captures the essence of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action and is designed to address systemic barriers that prevent Indigenous children and youth from participating in sport by investing in the following areas:
  • Indigenous sport leadership
  • culturally relevant sport programming
  • the North American Indigenous Games
  • Sport Canada’s data and research
• More specifically, investments were allocated to:
  • the Aboriginal Sport Circle to assume a greater leadership role on Indigenous sport development;
  • provinces and territories, through bilateral agreements, to increase the operational capacity of provincial and territorial Aboriginal sport bodies, increase the offering of culturally relevant sport programming including North American Indigenous Games team preparation and travel;
  • national sport organizations and multisport service organizations to ensure long-term Indigenous athlete development and growth through increasing the offering of culturally relevant sport programming; and,
  • the North American Indigenous Games on a four-year cycle starting in fiscal year 2019–20 to ensure the Games are hosted in Canada every four years.
• Through Budget 2018, the Government of Canada invested $47.5 million over five years, and $9.5 million per year ongoing, to expand the use of sport for social development in more than 300 Indigenous communities.
• The announcement resulted in the May 31, 2019, launch of the Sport for Social Development in Indigenous Communities (SSDIC) component of the Sport Support Program, delivered by the Department of Canadian Heritage (Sport Canada branch).
• Drawing from these Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action, the four intended outcomes of the Sport for Social Development in Indigenous Communities component are: improved health; improved educational outcomes; reduction of at-risk behaviors; and, improved employability.
• The framework for the delivery of the SSDIC was developed by a joint design team formed by representatives from Sport Canada and the Aboriginal Sport Council (ASC), including some of its Provincial/Territorial Aboriginal Sport Body (PTASB) members. ASC/PTASB representation was meant to ensure Indigenous voices from various regions were central to the SSDIC’s co-design.

Prepared by: Michael McWhinney (613-715-2237)
Director General of Communications: Chantal Reinert (819-983-1711)
Director General: Vicki Walker (873-353-9238)
Assistant Deputy Minister: Joëlle Montminy (613-552-5298)

Truth and Reconciliation Commission Call to Action 91

Issue

Truth and Reconciliation Commission Call to Action 91 - Ensure that Indigenous peoples’ territorial protocols are respected, and local Indigenous communities are engaged in all aspects of planning and participating in major international sport events.

New

October 19, 2020

Source

Various

Synopsis

The Government of Canada is committed to fulfilling the sport-related Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada.

Recommended response

• The Government of Canada is committed to fulfilling the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action.
• The Government will work with bid societies to ensure that Indigenous communities are engaged in all aspects of major sport events.

Background

• The federal government is committed to fulfilling the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action. While sport can contribute to many of the Calls to Action, there are five specifically related to sport (#87 to #91). Canadian Heritage/Sport Canada works closely with Indigenous organizations, particularly the Aboriginal Sport Circle, a federally funded organization and the national voice for Indigenous sport, to ensure the sport-based Calls to Action are addressed in a manner which respects Indigenous views and Reconciliation.
• Call to Action #91 states: We call upon the officials and host countries of international sporting events such as the Olympics, Pan Am, and Commonwealth games to ensure that Indigenous peoples’ territorial protocols are respected, and local Indigenous communities are engaged in all aspects of planning and participating in such events.
• Sport Canada has included Call to Action #91 in documents shared with bid and host organizations and other stakeholders that are responsible for developing or supporting major sport event bids.
• Sport Canada is coordinating the development of a national bidding and hosting framework for major sport events. This work involves leading provincial and territorial governments, as well as other major event stakeholders in reviewing best practices, lessons learned and strategies for future major sport events in Canada.
• Call to Action #91 is a federal priority for all future events and will be entrenched both within the bidding and hosting framework. The manner in which Indigenous groups were engaged in the development of a potential Calgary 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games bid, as well as the planning and delivery phases of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games and the Toronto 2015 Pan and Parapan American Games, will serve as a model for development of the framework and for future requirements for major sport events.

Prepared by: Allison Carroll; Director: Dennis Blinn (613-796-7908)
Director General of Communications: Chantal Reinert (819-983-1711)
Director General: Vicki Walker (873-353-9238)
Assistant Deputy Minister: Joëlle Montminy (613-552-5298)