A little over a year ago former NDP MP for Scarborough Southwest, Dan Harris, introduced a private members bill (C-597), that if passed would have seen November 11 a national statutory holiday, treating it like other statutory holidays, such as Canada Day. Other national holidays include Christmas Day, New Years Day, Good Friday and Labour Day.
Unfortunately for proponents of the bill, it did not pass third reading, despite what looked like overwhelming support.
During second reading only two Conservative MPs voted against the bill. However, 42 MPs did abstain from voting.
Nor is it the first time an elected member of a Canadian legislature has tried to successfully pass a private member’s bill in an effort to make Remembrance Day a statutory holiday. Currently only Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia do not recognize Nov. 11 as such.
In 2010, MPP Lisa MacLeod introduced ‘Respect for Ontario Veterans, Soldiers &War Dead Act,’ to the Ontario legislature. Like the Harris bill, it too was defeated.
One of the reasons why these bills haven’t become law is due to opposition from some veterans groups who argue by making Remembrance Day a holiday schools would no longer hold Remembrance Day services, given the day is a holiday.
Perhaps, but I doubt it. Growing up in B.C. and Alberta, all the schools I ever attended, at the very least, always had their own Remembrance Day ceremony even though Nov. 11 was a holiday.
However, I believe I may have found a way around this argument. Pass legislation at both the federal and provincial level that would cement the Act of Remembrance into the school curriculum.
Currently, the Alberta government is in the mid to late stages of a process that will see the province overhaul the Kindergarten through Grade 12 curriculum in every course. Add Remembrance Day ceremonies and activities to the curriculum of every grade across the nation.
Do this and one of the biggest obstacles for the federal government making Remembrance Day a national holiday would finally be overcome.
How can the federal and provincial governments not make Nov. 11 a national holiday?
Certainly the men and women who have and continue to make tremendous sacrifices, and often the ultimate sacrifice, to protect the ideals of our nation deserve at least this much.
Last year in the Leader, Lyle Saumer, a Canadian Armed Forces Veteran who served with the Princess Patricia Light Infantry including two peace keeping tours in Cyprus, told a BES Grade 5 class that Remembrance Day should be everyday.
This is true, but they also deserve to have a national holiday and the first step to help make this happen is to make sure our school curriculum never forgets what our veterans have done for our country.
