Yukon moves to make National Aboriginal Day a holiday – CBC

Dec 10, 2015

MLAs vote unanimously for holiday, but allow for consultation first

Yukon MLAs are all for another day off in the territory, but they’ll first consult with Yukoners about making National Aboriginal Day a holiday.

The opposition NDP introduced a motion to make June 21 a statutory holiday. That would make Yukon only the second jurisdiction to do so, after the N.W.T.

“We can be leaders. We can signal to the rest of the country that it’s time they also step up to the plate,” said NDP MLA Kevin Barr in the legislature.

“Making this day a stat holiday would recognize the contributions of Yukon’s indigenous peoples, and support efforts at reconciliation and understanding between aboriginal and non-aboriginal people,” he said.a