Emancipation Day Act, 1998 Brown, Jim — Bill 46 (36th Parliament, 2nd Session)

Bill 46, 36-2

Ontario — Bills

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Bill 46, Emancipation Day Act, 1998

Brown, Jim

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B046_E

Bill 46 1998

An Act proclaiming Emancipation Day

Preamble

The British Parliament abolished slavery in the British Empire as of

August 1, 1834 by enacting

an Act being 3 & 4 Will. IV, c. 73 (U.K.) on

August 28, 1833. That Act resulted from the work of abolitionists who

struggled against slavery, including Lieutenant Governor John Graves Simcoe

who promoted the passage of

an Act restricting slavery in Upper Canada, being

33 Geo. III, c. 7 (U.C.) enacted on July 9, 1793. Upper Canada was the

predecessor of the Province of Ontario. Abolitionists and others who

struggled against slavery, including those who arrived in Ontario by the

underground railroad, have celebrated August 1 as Emancipation Day in the

past.

Ancestors of Ontario's Black community were one of the founding

communities of Ontario and Canada. The Black community has been present in

Ontario for more than 300 years.

The year 1998 marks the 20th anniversary of the founding of the Ontario

Black History Society, which is dedicated to the study, preservation and

promotion of the history of Ontario's Black community, and the 30th

anniversary of the martyrdom of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in the United

States of America.

It is important to recognize the heritage of Ontario's Black community and

the contributions that it has made and continues to make to Ontario. It is

also important to recall the ongoing international struggle for human rights

which can be best personified by Lieutenant Governor John Graves Simcoe and

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Accordingly, it is appropriate to recognize August

1 formally as Emancipation Day and to celebrate it.

Therefore, Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the

Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, enacts as follows:

Emancipation Day

1. August 1 in each year is proclaimed as Emancipation

Day.

Commencement

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

Assent.

Short title

3. The

short title of this Act is the Emancipation Day Act,

1998 .

Copyright © 1998

Office of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario

Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Date Bill stage Activity Committee

June 22, 1998

First Reading

Carried

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Document details

Collection	Ontario — Bills
Citation	Bill 46, 36-2
Type	bill
Volume / chapter	p36 s2 bill 46 html
Language	en
Format	html
Source	PROVINCIAL
Identifier	af75b6da754deb483182108b9805856c45a56a4d

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