Canada is grappling with what truth and reconciliation means. We have faced several ugly truths over the last few years. We have mourned with the families of hundreds of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. We have watched this government promise to end long-term drinking water advisories – and then break that promise. We have experienced collective shame and outrage as the existence of mass graves at residential school sites across Canada were confirmed.  

These are horrible, unjust realities and not much has been done to change them. You don’t have to look farther than the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action – after seven years, only 14 have been completed. 

Sure, there has been some progress. Canada named its first Indigenous Governor General, Mary Simon. National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is a statutory holiday. And British Columbia is now the first province where Indigenous communities have authority over their own child and family services – a crucial step towards self-determination. 

But this is not enough. The reconciliation process has been slow. Too slow. 

Truth and reconciliation require action. It is not about having good intentions – it is about making real change. It is about reflecting on how our institutions and we as individual settlers, including myself, have contributed to upholding the status quo. It is about coming to terms with the horrible legacy of colonization and working to correct the inequity that it has created.  

It is not enough to simply acknowledge the wrongs of the past – we must actively work to make it right. 

As your union, we recognize that we need to do better. PSAC has often put human rights at the forefront, but we cannot escape the reality that our structures were built on a colonialist past. We know we must change this. We are re-examining our practices, our collective agreements, and our policies. We are striving to become more inclusive, more equitable and more accountable. 

This edition of Our Union Voice is a snapshot of some of the work we are doing. We have a lot more to do, and it will take some time for us to get it right. We also know part of that work is listening to and following the lead of Indigenous communities, leaders, and members. 

I hope that you will be inspired to join us on the path to reconciliation. This journey is one that we must take together, collectively, and in solidarity.