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Bill 134, Caribbean Heritage Month Act, 2019

Coteau, Michael

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Debates

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Bill 134 Original (PDF)

EXPLANATORY

NOTE

The

Bill proclaims the month of October in each year as Caribbean Heritage Month.

Bill 134 2019

Act to proclaim the month of October Caribbean Heritage Month

Preamble

Canada

is home to a large and vibrant Caribbean-Canadian community in excess of

800,000, with more than half of them residing in Ontario.

The

Caribbean is a region and a culture made up of 42 distinct nations. In spite of

their brutal history of colonialism, slavery and indentured servitude, today’s

Caribbean peoples manifest a beautiful and complex mosaic of ancestries,

including Amerindian, African, Asian, South American and European, and a

Dutch, Spanish, Creole and Papiamento. This remarkably unique region is proudly

represented in the newly designed Caribbean Heritage Month symbol and flag.

Despite

their rich diversity, Caribbean peoples hold, in common, a long-standing

connection to Canada. Since the first Caribbeans arrived in Canada in the late

1700s, Caribbean-Canadians from across Ontario have made significant

contributions across all fields and industries, including science, education,

information technology, medicine, health and wellness, trades, agriculture,

food, academia, broadcasting, law, politics, business, sports, philanthropy and

arts and culture.

October

is a significant month for the Caribbean-Canadian community. Improvements to

the Immigration Act (Canada) in October 1967 and

the introduction of the Multiculturalism Policy in October 1971 opened new

doors, allowing Caribbean people to see Canada as a place to establish roots,

raise their children and become a part of Canada’s mosaic.

Caribbean-Canadians

continue to make important contributions to Ontario’s social, economic,

political and cultural fabric. Caribbean-Canadians have helped build Ontario

into the multicultural success story that it is and have helped to build this

province into the best place to live, work and raise families. They continue to

help foster growth, prosperity and innovation throughout Ontario.

Therefore,

Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of

the Province of Ontario, enacts as follows:

Caribbean

Heritage Month

The

month of October in each year is proclaimed as Caribbean Heritage Month.

Commencement

This Act comes into force on the day it receives Royal Assent.

Short

title

The

short title of this Act is the Caribbean Heritage

Month Act, 2019 .

Date Bill stage Event Outcome Committee

October 28, 2019

First Reading

Vote

Carried

Debates and Progress

First Reading

October 28, 2019

Committee

Second Reading

Committee

Third Reading

Royal Assent

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