Queen Elizabeth funeral: Canadians have mixed reaction to federal holiday, days before National Day of Truth and Reconciliation
Canada is set to mark the death of Queen Elizabeth II with a national day of mourning on September 19, 2022 - the day of the monarch's funeral.
PM Justin Trudeau said it was 'important' for Canadians to mourn for the late Queen. Discussions are occurring with provinces, but unless provinces agree, only federal workers will receive a day off.
"We will be working with the provinces and the territories to try and see that we're aligned on this. There are still a few details to be worked out, but declaring an opportunity for Canadians to mourn on Monday is going to be important," Trudeau said from a Liberal caucus retreat in New Brunswick.
Both New Zealand and Australia have declared that they will hold one-time-only national holidays to mark the occasion.
New Zealand announced that it will have its "Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Day" holiday on Sept. 26. Australia said it will hold its one-off national holiday on Sept. 22.
While some think it would be a "sign of respect for the Queen", others think the costs are too high for declaring such a bank holiday. Canadians, in particular, have also highlighted the paradox of marking a holiday for a symbol of 'genocidal colonialism', when 11 days later the country will mark the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation to mark the tragic history of violence against Indigenous Peoples.
Here are some public reactions in Canada to the news of a holiday for the Queen:
On the national day of mourning, I will mourn the victims of colonialism and imperialism and the souls of my ancestors and loved ones.
— Zilla Jones - decolonizing word by beautiful word (@zilla_jones) September 13, 2022
So 11 days apart we’ll have a holiday celebrating genocidal colonialism and another celebrating the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in the same month? #cdnpoli
Make it make sense.— Red Velvet Cake (@wickdchiq) September 13, 2022
Bozo Prime Minister Justin Trudeau suddenly says “Let’s make Sept 19 a National Holiday”.
No consultation with Provinces. Or businesses. Only Feds will get this day off…🤡🌍🇨🇦— Roller (@myfriendtheend) September 13, 2022
Hear me out: Every Monday should be a holiday.
— David Moscrop (@David_Moscrop) September 13, 2022
I’ll mourn if it’s a paid holiday
— Blacknically MS RACHEAL (@stupendouslymi) September 9, 2022
Will be interesting to see if all the anti Royalists who mock the Queen's passing will be taking a day off work on the national holiday declared for her funeral.
— Kathryn CJ Hall Editor 📚 (@kathrynhall_) September 10, 2022
@fordnation Dear Premier Doug Ford, I would like to request that you agree to declare Sept 19 as the National holiday for mourning the loss of our Head of State. To do so would make us in common with the rest of the Commonwealth. To not do so, it's disrespectful to our Queen.
— Maria Lung (@MariaLung) September 13, 2022
Around the world, the same mixed feelings for the holiday surfaced:
ABC News Breakfast this morning taking a swipe at Albo over his
“disruptive” one-off National Holiday to honour the Queen.
Apparently businesses (who are not forced to close) are complaining of profit losses & confusion (none were named).
PM just can’t win on ABC 🤦♂️— stranger (@strangerous10) September 11, 2022
I would like to see a national day of mourning in Australia each year for the atrocities committed against First Nations peoples. This week shows it can be done. We just need the same political will.
— Kon Karapanagiotidis (@Kon__K) September 12, 2022
The fact that its only a holiday (on Sept 19) for Federal Workers is ridiculous
— Jacob Downs (@Jacob_Downs35) September 13, 2022
Three stat holidays in Sept? I’m here for it. Queen’s National Day Sept 19.
— Doyin O-A, MD (@TheLensLady_) September 13, 2022
This is going to be the shittest Bank Holiday weekend outside of covid restrictions ever
— skillichuks 🇯🇲 (@BourdillonDon) September 13, 2022
Is Monday 19th September a bank holiday
Or
Unofficial lockdown— Eric dunn (@Ericdun19416783) September 13, 2022
Really looking forward to the incoming “if you don’t like The Monarchy, why you taking the public holiday off?” Tweets in the forthcoming days.
— Kev “𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲” Murray (@KevMurray01) September 13, 2022
In the maintaining/ standing down NHS activity for the bank holiday next week, there will be various views, but it’s important to remember NHS staff don’t exist in a vacuum - when economic & social infrastructure isn’t running (school, childcare, transport…) they are affected
— Kate Jarman (she/her) 💙 (@KateBurkeNHS) September 13, 2022
I just don’t understand it. The Queen was held in genuinely high esteem by millions of people and even many republicans respected her. The country doesn’t need to be forced or corralled into performative grief. Let people go to the shops and enjoy their damn holidays
— Jonathan Lis (@jonlis1) September 13, 2022
