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Bill 211, Persons Day Act, 2024

McMahon, Mary-Margaret

Clancy, Aislinn

Wong-Tam, Kristyn

Royal Assent received. Statutes of Ontario 2024,

chapter 39

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Status

Debates

Royal Assent

Original

Bill 211 Royal Assent (PDF)

EXPLANATORY

NOTE

This Explanatory Note was written as a reader’s

aid to Bill 211 and does not form part of the law.

Bill 211 has been enacted as

Chapter 39 of the Statutes of Ontario, 2024.

The

Bill proclaims October 18 in each year as Persons Day.

Bill 211 2024

Act to proclaim Persons Day

Preamble

October 18, 1929, five courageous Canadian women succeeded in having the word

“persons” defined as always meaning both women and men. This decision of the Judicial

Committee of the Privy Council of Great Britain, Canada’s highest court of

appeal at the time, delivered the first significant legal declaration that men

and women are equal.

Emily

Murphy, Louise McKinney, Henrietta Muir Edwards, Irene Parlby and Nellie

McClung, known as the Famous Five, challenged the meaning of the word “persons”

under the Constitution, which at the time prevented women from being appointed

to the Senate of Canada. As a result of what became known as the Persons Case,

both women and men could be appointed to the Senate of Canada, thus enabling

most women to participate more fully in public and political life. Furthermore,

by advancing equality between men and women, individuals and groups have been

able to build on the initial success of the Persons Case thanks to the Famous

Five, and significantly achieve equality in other areas.

The

Persons Case also introduced the concept of our Constitution as a “living tree”

that is able to evolve and adapt to the changing times. Marking October 18 as Persons

Day aims to inspire more girls, women and gender-diverse people to be nation

builders, and to expand the circle of leaders so that everyone can contribute

to building their communities and their country, and benefit from being a

Canadian.

Ontario

played an important role in the success of the Persons Case. By proclaiming

October 18 as Persons Day, we can ensure that women’s leadership can continue.

Therefore,

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

the Province of Ontario, enacts as follows:

Persons

Day

October

18 in each year is proclaimed as Persons Day.

Commencement

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

Short

title

The

short title of this Act is the Persons Day Act, 2024 .

Bill 211 Original (PDF)

EXPLANATORY

NOTE

The

Bill proclaims October 18 in each year as Persons Day.

Bill 211 2024

Act to proclaim Persons Day

Preamble

October 18, 1929, five courageous Canadian women succeeded in having the word

“persons” defined as always meaning both women and men. This decision of the Judicial

Committee of the Privy Council of Great Britain, Canada’s highest court of

appeal at the time, delivered the first significant legal declaration that men

and women are equal.

Emily

Murphy, Louise McKinney, Henrietta Muir Edwards, Irene Parlby and Nellie

McClung, known as the Famous Five, challenged the meaning of the word “persons”

under the Constitution, which at the time prevented women from being appointed

to the Senate of Canada. As a result of what became known as the Persons Case,

both women and men could be appointed to the Senate of Canada, thus enabling

most women to participate more fully in public and political life. Furthermore,

by advancing equality between men and women, individuals and groups have been

able to build on the initial success of the Persons Case thanks to the Famous

Five, and significantly achieve equality in other areas.

The

Persons Case also introduced the concept of our Constitution as a “living tree”

that is able to evolve and adapt to the changing times. Marking October 18 as Persons

Day aims to inspire more girls, women and gender-diverse people to be nation

builders, and to expand the circle of leaders so that everyone can contribute

to building their communities and their country, and benefit from being a

Canadian.

Ontario

played an important role in the success of the Persons Case. By proclaiming

October 18 as Persons Day, we can ensure that women’s leadership can continue.

Therefore,

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

the Province of Ontario, enacts as follows:

Persons

Day

October

18 in each year is proclaimed as Persons Day.

Commencement

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

Short

title

The

short title of this Act is the Persons Day Act, 2024 .

Date Bill stage Event Outcome Committee

December 19, 2024

Royal Assent

Royal Assent received

December 11, 2024

Third Reading

Vote

Carried

December 11, 2024

Third Reading

Question put

December 11, 2024

Third Reading

Debated

December 11, 2024

Second Reading

Ordered for Third Reading pursuant to the Order of the House

December 11, 2024

Second Reading

Vote

Carried

December 11, 2024

Second Reading

Question put

December 11, 2024

First Reading

Motion to arrange proceedings

June 6, 2024

First Reading

Ordered for Second Reading

June 6, 2024

First Reading

Vote

Carried

First Reading

June 6, 2024

Carried

Ordered for Second Reading

December 11, 2024

Motion to arrange proceedings

Second Reading

December 11, 2024

Question put

Carried

Ordered for Third Reading pursuant to the Order of the House

Third Reading

December 11, 2024

Clancy, Aislinn

Kitchener Centre

Dixon, Jess

Kitchener South—Hespeler

McMahon, Mary-Margaret

Beaches—East York

Wong-Tam, Kristyn

Toronto Centre

Question put

Carried

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