Bill C-501 (Historical)

Mathieu Da Costa Day Act

An Act to establish Mathieu Da Costa Day

This bill was last introduced in the 39th Parliament, 2nd Session, which ended in September 2008.

Sponsor

Marlene Jennings  Liberal

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

Status

Outside the Order of Precedence (a private member's bill that hasn't yet won the draw that determines which private member's bills can be debated), as of Feb. 6, 2008
(This bill did not become law.)

Summary

This is from the published bill. The Library of Parliament often publishes better independent summaries.

This enactment designates the first Monday in February in each and every year as “Mathieu Da Costa Day”.

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.

Mathieu Da Costa Day ActRoutine Proceedings

February 6th, 2008 / 3:35 p.m.
See context

Liberal

Marlene Jennings Liberal Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine, QC

asked for leave to introduce Bill C-501, An Act to establish Mathieu Da Costa Day.

She said: Mr. Speaker, as a Canadian of African descent from Quebec, it is an honour for me to introduce this bill which would designate the first Monday in February in each and every year as Mathieu Da Costa Day.

An interpreter, Mathieu Da Costa is credited with being the first black man in Canada and was likely an important player in European exploration of the continent. Da Costa is believed to have worked alongside both Pierre du Gua de Monts, a leader in the establishment of French settlements in eastern Canada, and Samuel de Champlain, who selected the site for the settlement that later became Quebec City.

Given this is the 400th anniversary of the founding of Quebec City, it is my hope that my colleagues in the House will support my efforts at having Da Costa's contributions to our country's history recognized.

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