INNISFAIL – Town employees have been given the opportunity to fully observe the new National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
They will now be given the day off every Sept. 30, beginning in 2021, to recognize the new holiday. However, they will no longer have a paid day off on Easter Monday.
The issue was brought to town council at its regular meeting on Aug. 23. Council was reminded that on June 4 of this year the federal government received Royal Assent for an amendment to the Canada Labour Code to create the new federal statutory holiday.
Erica Vickers, director of corporate services, presented her report on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, and how it could impact Town of Innisfail staff. The newly established holiday only directly impacts federally mandated employees, including all bank employees and anyone working under a federal program. It is not recognized by the provincial government.
“It is a federal statutory holiday but not a provincial statutory holiday, so if we choose not to recognize it, we would not follow under that unless we recognize it as a holiday,” said Vickers. As to what other provincial municipalities are doing with the new federal holiday, she was able to confirm that the Town of Canmore replaced Easter Monday with the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation about three weeks ago.
Vickers told council the Town of Innisfail has two different types of holidays for staff, with the first being legislated general holidays, that are mandated by the province. This list includes New Year's Day, Alberta Family Day (third Monday in February), Good Friday, Victoria Day, Canada Day, Labour Day (first Monday in September), Thanksgiving Day, Remembrance Day and Christmas Day.
There are also designated general holidays. They are not provincially mandated but as holidays the Town of lnnisfail has chosen to recognize they must be treated like legislated holidays. The town’s designated general holidays include Easter Monday, Alberta Heritage Day (first Monday in August) and Boxing Day.
“I think I would agree that Easter Monday is kind of sketchy,” said Coun. Danny Rieberger. “I never had Easter Monday off in my life.
“There would be no financial impact by taking away Easter Monday,” he added, believing National Day for Truth and Reconciliation was important and the town should “get on board” with recognizing the initiative.
Rieberger then advanced a motion that council recognize Sept. 30 as National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, and that it be designated a general holiday for the Town of lnnisfail and replacing Easter Monday. It was approved unanimously.
