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Bill 42, Ontario Religious Freedom Day Act, 2021

Sabawy, Sheref

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Bill 42 Original (PDF)

EXPLANATORY

NOTE

The

Bill proclaims October 27 each year as Ontario Religious Freedom Day.

Bill 42 2021

Act to proclaim Ontario Religious Freedom Day

Preamble

Canada

for many years has been a home and safe haven for thousands of peoples fleeing

religious persecution. These peoples have enriched our multicultural,

multi-faith and multi-ethnic society, especially here in Ontario. By

recognizing that religious freedom is a universal human right, Canada serves as

an exemplar of the principles of freedom of speech and freedom of religion,

which are cornerstone values in our society.

an attempt to flee religious persecution, countless lives have perished and

continue to perish around the world. It is important to honour these victims

and remind humanity of this injustice in an effort to prevent atrocities

worldwide. Unfortunately, even in our present time, we are witnessing a rise in

religion-based violence and persecution around the world.

Organizations

like the United Nations and nations like the United States have established international

days to honour the victims of religious persecution. October 27 has long been

recognized as the International Religious Freedom Day by democratic societies

all around the world, who come together on that day to honour the victims of

religious persecution and to advocate for religious freedoms. Ontario Religious Freedom Day will serve as a reminder that

Ontario continues to protect and advocate for religious freedoms and will be a

day for Ontarians to remember and reflect on religious persecution and to show

respect to the victims of religious persecution around the world.

Therefore,

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

the Province of Ontario, enacts as follows:

Ontario

Religious Freedom Day

October

27 in each

year

is proclaimed as Ontario Religious Freedom Day.

Monument

2 The Minister of Heritage,

Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries shall consider creating a monument to

honour the victims of religious persecutions around the world.

Commencement

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

Short

title

The

short title of this Act is the Ontario Religious Freedom Day Act, 2021 .

Date Bill stage Event Outcome Committee

November 30, 2021

Second Reading

Ordered referred to Standing Committee

Standing Committee on Social Policy

November 30, 2021

Second Reading

Vote

Carried

November 30, 2021

Second Reading

Debated

November 2, 2021

First Reading

Vote

Carried

Debates and Progress

First Reading

November 2, 2021

Committee

Second Reading

November 30, 2021

Mr. Sheref Sabawy, Mr. Tom Rakocevic, Mr. John Fraser, Hon. Stephen Lecce, Mr. Paul Miller, Mr. Mike Schreiner, Mr. Vijay Thanigasalam, Ms. Sara Singh, Mr. Billy Pang, Mr. Michael Parsa

Declared carried. Referred to Standing Committee on Social Policy.

Committee

Standing Committee on Social Policy

Third Reading

Royal Assent

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