moved for leave to introduce Bill C‑283, An Act to establish Somali Heritage Month.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce Bill C‑283, an act respecting Somali Heritage Month. If passed, the bill would declare July of every year Somali heritage month across Canada. I would like to thank the member for York South—Weston—Etobicoke for co-sponsoring the bill with me, and I hope members on all sides of the chamber will support the bill.
Canada is home to many Canadians of Somali heritage. They have left and continue to leave an important mark on our country and on communities across the country, and they have touched our economic, social and political life. Somali heritage month would give us an opportunity to celebrate that heritage and the role that Canada has played in supporting Somali Canadians, and to celebrate their contributions to Canada. Every July, it would give some Somali Canadians another reason to celebrate their Canadian pride and another reason to say, “Somalia hanoolaato”.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)