(West Nova MP Colin Fraser and N.B Senator Joseph Day of N.B. at the Memorial Chamber in Parliament Wednesday viewing Canada’s Book of Remembrance, listing the names of those who died in the service of our country. -Facebook)
The MP for West Nova says he’s very pleased that a private member’s bill he introduced last year has become law, officially recognizing Remembrance Day as a legal holiday.
Colin Fraser says Bill C-311 was given Royal Assent Wednesday.
“I’m very pleased that this bill has been passed and I thank very much Senator Joseph Day who sponsored the bill in the Senate. I believe it’s important to take every chance available to raise the profile of veterans issues and the solemnity of Remembrance Day. I’m on the Veteran’s Affairs Committee and one of the reasons I got involved in politics is because I wanted to make a difference for those that served our country, so this is a small way to do that and it’s important that our government follow through with its commitments to our veterans.”
Fraser says it was important for him to see passage of the bill into law as another way to remember and honour Canada’s veterans.
The law doesn’t create a national statutory holiday—it’s a provincial and territorial responsibility to determine whether workers have time off.
A number of provinces do recognize Remembrance Day as a paid non-working day for workers under federal jurisdiction.
Here is a link to the bill: http://www.parl.ca/Content/Bills/421/Private/C-311/C-311_3/C-311_3.PDF