Most Canadians say governments must do more on residential school legacy

Three-quarters of Canadians say governments need to take more action to recognize the legacy of residential schools, a new poll says.

As the country marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, new polling is showing a clear majority of Canadians feel both governments and individuals should do more to recognize the legacy of residential schools.

The polling by Ipsos, done exclusively for Global News, found 75 per cent believe governments need to take more action not only on the legacy, but the missing children, the families left behind as a result of these schools, and the survivors of these institutions.

Another 70 per cent say individuals need to do more, with 64 per cent saying employers must do the same.

However, while a large majority want more action not just by governments but individuals themselves, just 22 per cent say they would learn more about Indigenous history in Canada and 11 per cent would attend events in person.

Another 23 per cent said they would wear an orange shirt to honour the survivors of residential schools and remember those who died. That article of clothing is typically worn on Sept. 30 for “Orange Shirt Day,” which was established in memory of Phyllis Webstad, whose new clothing was taken away when she arrived at a residential school.

In 2020, the federal Liberals chose that day for their statutory holiday for federally regulated workers to commemorate the victims and survivors — a day 58 per cent of Canadians say is important.

In the years since, B.C., Manitoba, the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Prince Edward Island, and the Yukon have adopted it as a stat for all workers, while provincial government employees in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick also get the holiday.

But four provinces, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario and Newfoundland and Labrador, don’t mark the day as a statutory holiday though ceremonies are held in recognition in some, with residents encouraged to wear an orange shirt. Federally regulated workplaces do receive the day off, but otherwise it is up to businesses to decide if they give employees a holiday in these provinces.