Sask. MP 'hopeful' bill marking Indigenous Peoples Day a holiday passes
Georgina Jolibois' bill has reached second reading in the House
A Saskatchewan MP isn't giving up in her bid to make National Indigenous Peoples Day a statutory holiday.
A private member's bill introduced by NDP MP Georgina Jolibois was stuck at second reading when the House of Commons rose Wednesday for the summer break.
But Jolibois — who represents the riding of Desnethe-Missinippi-Churchill River — isn't giving up the fight to make June 21 an official holiday.
Jolibois says as an Indigenous person and member of Parliament, she remains "hopeful" that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will support the bill when debate on it resumes in September.
Jolibois says she sees National Indigenous Peoples Day as a way to honour and respect Indigenous language, culture and heritage, and that awareness of the day increases every year.