An Act to amend the Holidays Act and to make consequential amendments to other Acts

This bill was last introduced in the 37th Parliament, 3rd Session, which ended in May 2004.

Sponsor

Pat O'Brien  Liberal

Introduced as a private member’s bill. (These don’t often become law.)

Status

Not active, as of March 24, 2004
(This bill did not become law.)

Elsewhere

All sorts of information on this bill is available at LEGISinfo, an excellent resource from the Library of Parliament. You can also read the full text of the bill.

Holidays ActRoutine Proceedings

March 24th, 2004 / 3:10 p.m.
See context

Liberal

Pat O'Brien Liberal London—Fanshawe, ON

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-497, an act to amend the Holidays Act and to make consequential amendments to other acts.

Mr. Speaker, the rationale behind the bill is that as a nation we go some 14 weeks between January 1 and Easter with no national holiday. During that time period there are a number of important events that we could single out to honour and also to have a long weekend to recharge our batteries as a people during the toughest time of winter.

After consulting with a number of people across the country, because the bill has had considerable interest, two particular days emerged as probable days, or leading contenders one might say, the first one being St. Patrick's Day, March 17.

The second possible and worthy day would be flag day. On February 15, 1965, Lester B. Pearson, The Liberal Prime Minister of Canada, through his courageous efforts, saw us have our new flag.

The bill calls on the government to establish a national holiday, a long weekend, and then to conduct appropriate consultations with Canadians in order to have such holiday in place for next winter.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)