Thank you, Chair.
Thank you, gentlemen, both for your time and to Mr. Ray for travelling the great distance today.
Mr. Ray, I'd like to read you some comments regarding this bill and then ask you a question, if I may.
This is from a debate in the House on the bill. There's a reference that says it's an act to make Remembrance Day a national statutory holiday. There's another reference that says it would have “the same legal status as Victoria Day and Canada Day, the two legal holidays listed in the Holidays Act.” It says, “I am far from the first to suggest making Remembrance Day a national statutory holiday.” It says, “Canadians I have spoken with wish to be able to attend ceremonies to pay their respects”, in other words, refers to a day off.
It says, “There are also arguments against making Remembrance Day a national statutory holiday”, and then it says, “Some believe productivity would increase if their staff had another day off.” There's a reference made to a CEO who said, “Consumers only have so much money to spend. If they cannot spend it today, they will spend it tomorrow”. That refers to a day where the stores are closed, otherwise known as a holiday.
It says, “ The most compelling argument I have heard for not making November 11 a statutory holiday is that kids should be in school to observe services.” It says, “ I am also drawn to what happens here in Ontario, where it is not a statutory holiday, though it used to be”. There's a reference to a ceremony in Scarborough, where a service is held on the Sunday night before November 11, and once again in reference to it being a holiday. Then there's a reference that says “Just as the decision whether to observe November 11 as a holiday rests with the provinces, so does the curriculum.”
The puzzle, I think, could be answered in further comments from the same debate. Here's what it says:
The federal government passed a bill to make it a holiday within federal jurisdiction, and all 50 states passed their own bills so that its application is universal across the United States of America. We can achieve the same here in Canada. A united voice from Parliament would be a big encouragement in that regard, while still respecting each province's ability to choose for itself.
There's one other reference here at the end, “[I]t is time to make November 11, Remembrance Day, a national statutory holiday.“
Now, the words that I just read to you from the debate were all made by Mr. Harris who conceived and presented this bill in the House.
What does this speech tell you about the intent of Mr. Harris with regard to this bill?