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National Thanadelthur Day Act

An Act to establish National Thanadelthur Day

Summary

  • The bill designates February 5 each year as "National Thanadelthur Day" across Canada.
  • It recognizes the historical contributions of Thanadelthur, a Denesuline woman who brokered peace between the Cree and Denesuline and supported the early fur trade.
  • The observance is commemorative only and explicitly not a legal holiday, creating no employment or juridical obligations.
  • The Act creates no programs, spending, or regulatory changes; it is purely symbolic.

Builder Assessment

Neutral

This is a low-cost, purely commemorative bill with no direct impact on economic freedom, productivity, investment, exports, taxes, or service efficiency. While culturally meaningful, it does not advance Build Canada’s growth-focused tenets and diverts attention from large-scale prosperity measures.

  • No direct effect on wealth creation, competitiveness, exports, or tax incentives.
  • Does not reduce red tape or improve public service efficiency.
  • Symbolic recognition yields intangible cultural benefits; economic impacts are indirect and uncertain.
  • Suggestions to better align:
    • Pair the day with a voluntary, cross-sector Indigenous–industry commerce forum each year (hosted by chambers, trade commissioners, and RDAs) to catalyze partnerships without new bureaucracy.
    • Use the date to publish transparent metrics on Indigenous procurement, permitting timelines for Indigenous-partnered resource projects, and export-readiness outcomes.
    • Encourage private-sector sponsorship of a "Thanadelthur Prize" recognizing excellence in negotiation, trade, and Indigenous entrepreneurship to spur ambition and investment.

Question Period Cards

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Principles Analysis

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Canada should aim to be the world's most prosperous country.

A symbolic day does not affect economic policy or growth outcomes.

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Promote economic freedom, ambition, and breaking from bureaucratic inertia (reduce red tape).

No regulatory or bureaucratic changes; any inspirational impact is indirect and non-binding.

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Drive national productivity and global competitiveness.

No changes to productivity drivers such as capital formation, skills, technology, or competition policy.

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Grow exports of Canadian products and resources.

Does not modify trade policy, market access, or export support mechanisms.

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Encourage investment, innovation, and resource development.

No incentives, permitting reforms, or investment measures; benefits are cultural and indirect.

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Deliver better public services at lower cost (government efficiency).

The bill imposes negligible cost and clarifies it is not a holiday, but it does not improve service delivery or efficiency.

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Reform taxes to incentivize work, risk-taking, and innovation.

No tax changes are proposed.

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Focus on large-scale prosperity, not incrementalism.

The measure is purely symbolic and does not advance large-scale economic reforms or prosperity goals.

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S-225

PartySenate
StatusAt second reading in the Senate
Last updatedJun 3, 2025
TopicsIndigenous Affairs
Parliament45