UPDATE: Trudeau confirms a new statutory holiday is coming

(UPDATE: Aug. 16 @ 11 a.m.) - Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has confirmed that the Liberal government is moving forward to create the country's seventh statutory holiday.

It will be aimed at remembering the dark legacy of residential schools and reflecting on a path towards reconciliation.

Today, he told reporters that the government is currently consulting with First Nations, Inuit and Métis groups to choose an appropriate date and decide how the holiday will be framed.

NDP MP Georgina Jolibois, who initially introduced a private member's bill to establish the holiday, proposed June 21, which is National Indigenous Peoples Day.

Trudeau, however, said a date has yet to be set.

Creating a statutory holiday for the purpose of awareness and reconciliation for the church-run, government-backed residential schools was one of the 94 recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation commission.

With files from the Canadian Press.

(Original story: Aug. 15 @ 1:50 p.m.) - Canada could soon be getting a seventh statutory holiday.

This one would be about far more than the day off, however, as it would acknowledge the dark legacy of Canada’s residential school system.

The federal government has been consulting with Indigenous organizations about creating the holiday, which would honour survivors and raise awareness about the church-run, government-backed schools.

According to an anonymous government official, Indigenous leaders still haven’t settled on whether the day should be a federal holiday or a day or tribute that would offer some form of symbolic recognition.

For now, the Liberal government plans to back a private member’s bill introduced by NDP MP Georgina Jolibois.

That bill proposes that the country establishes a statutory holiday on June 21, which is National Indigenous Peoples Day.

The potential holiday is one of 94 recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which heritage minister Pablo Rodriguez says the government is fully committed to.

“Call to Action 80 asks the government of Canada to establish a National Day for Truth and Reconciliation to honour the survivors of residential schools," said spokesman Simon Ross.

"That’s exactly what we will do, and we will do that in partnership with Indigenous Peoples."

AFN National Chief, Perry Bellegarde, tweeted about the news today in a response to a tweet from Conservative MP Maxime Bernier.

“A day to recognize the painful legacy of residential schools will help increase public understanding of our shared history and build a better country for all of us,” he said.

If parliament did approve of a National Day for Truth and Reconciliation as a stat holiday, it would only apply to federally regulated workplaces, like the civil service, marine ports, airports, airlines and telecommunications companies.

Provinces and territories would have to amend their existing labour codes to establish any additional day off for the remaining workforces.

With files from the Canadian Press.