The federal government is planning to announce a new statutory holiday aimed at marking the destructive legacy of residential schools in Canada.
CTV News has confirmed the government is actively consulting with Indigenous groups on how best to move forward.
It appears there are two dates being considered: either June 21, which is marked as National Indigenous Peoples Day, or Sept. 30, which is recognized as Orange Shirt Day.
Last year, an NDP MP tabled a private member's bill aimed at making June 21 as a stat holiday. The idea behind Orange Shirt Day refers to the experience of one former residential school student, Phyllis Webstad, who had a shiny orange shirt taken away from her on her first day at a residential school.
The notion of creating a national statutory holiday was one of the 94 recommendations from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Five days are currently marked as statutory holidays: Christmas, New Year's Day, Canada Day, Labor Day and Good Friday. Other holidays, such as Victoria Day and Thanksgiving, are federal holidays which aren't recognized in every province.
Making June 21 as a new stat holiday would clash, of course, with Quebec's St. Jean Baptiste Day three days later.