Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Mr. Harris and I think everyone around this table agrees there's no amount of commemoration and no amount of ceremony that can properly acknowledge the efforts of our veterans; those who didn't return and those who returned to tell their story. There's no amount of compensation that can be paid to them that adequately recognizes the financial needs of those who returned ailing from injuries that are sometimes permanent and some less so. I applaud your efforts through this legislation to heighten the profile of Remembrance Day. I think more days than November 11 should be days in which we recognize the efforts of our veterans.
Having said that, I recall that I am one person at least. I know you consulted many, but I am one you talked to prior to second reading. As I understand the legislation, it would recognize Remembrance Day, November 11, as a legal holiday and that did not import with it that it would be a statutory holiday. In other words it's not automatic that schools and businesses are closed across Canada. That jurisdiction to close schools and business lies with the provinces in all matters except those that are federal in nature like banks and those other types of institutions.
Is that correct?