Statement on National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

October 2, 2023

QUEEN'S PARK — Ontario Greens leader and MPP for Guelph Mike Schreiner released the following statement marking the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

“The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation offers us an important opportunity to confront Canada’s history of sustained and systemic violence against Indigenous peoples.

To remember the sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, parents and elders tragically lost to the horrendous acts of cultural genocide committed by our governments through the residential school system.

Reckoning with these truths – no matter how painful they may be – is an important step to repairing their lasting damage.

But our work does not stop there.

As government leaders, we all have a duty to undertake the hard work of building respectful nation-to-nation relations with Indigenous communities as we walk the long path to reconciliation.

To support the continued search for those who never returned home from residential schools.

To commit to clean water, economic empowerment, honoured treaties, and meaningful processes of cooperation, consultation and consent.

Ontario Greens are fully committed to implementing the provincial calls to action laid out in the Final Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada.

We’ll continue to urge the Ford government to listen to the Indigenous leaders and elders calling for the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation to be recognized as a provincial statutory holiday in Ontario.

May we all walk the path to Truth and Reconciliation together with a commitment to respect and healing.”

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