Social Security Tribunal of Canada

Advancing truth and reconciliation

Month
February
Year
2021

December 2020 marked the five-year anniversary of the final report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. In recognition of that landmark, the Social Security Tribunal (SST) commits to advancing truth and reconciliation in our workplace. The Commission developed 94 calls to action to foster reconciliation between Indigenous peoples and Canadians. We want to do our part to advance reconciliation in our work as an administrative justice system that serves all Canadians.

This is why we have been developing training for staff and members where truth and reconciliation intersect with our mandate. In 2021 this will include further training on active adjudication and new training on Trauma Informed Practice. We want to encourage deeper thinking about our obligations to advance truth and reconciliation, and how these obligations fit with our overall goal to ensure access to justice.

This is important to everyone at the SST. As Senator Murray Sinclair, former Chief Commissioner of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission once said: “This is not just an Indigenous story. This is about us all as Canadians. This is about how we have been educated. This is about how our ancestors acted and interacted and therefore, we need to figure out how our participation will move this conversation forward.”

I encourage you to learn more about reconciliation intiatives in Canada, and how each of us can play a constructive part. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada is a great place to start.

Paul Aterman
Paul Aterman
Chairperson
Social Security Tribunal of Canada
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