Summary#

This bill designates February 21 of every year as International Mother Language Day across Canada. It recognizes Canada’s linguistic diversity and aligns with a UNESCO day noted by the United Nations. The bill states the day is not a legal holiday and does not change work, school, or business schedules (Not a legal holiday clause).

• Names February 21 as International Mother Language Day across Canada (International Mother Language Day clause).
• Affirms Canada’s many languages, including more than 60 Aboriginal languages (Preamble).
• Aligns with UNESCO’s 1999 proclamation and a 2007 UN General Assembly call to protect languages (Preamble).
• Does not create a statutory holiday or non-juridical day (Not a legal holiday clause).
• Imposes no programs, mandates, or reporting requirements (Bill text).

What it means for you#

• Households:

  • The day is recognized nationally. It does not provide a day off or change benefits (Not a legal holiday clause).
  • The Act does not require any action by residents (Bill text).

• Workers:

  • No paid holiday, overtime change, or scheduling rule changes result from this Act (Not a legal holiday clause).

• Businesses:

  • No closure requirements or labor rule changes apply. Normal operations continue on February 21 (Not a legal holiday clause).

• Schools and universities:

  • The Act does not mandate programs, events, or schedule changes. Education calendars remain under provincial or institutional control (Bill text).

• Local and provincial governments:

  • No required observances or spending. Provinces and cities that already recognize the day may continue to do so (Preamble; Bill text).

• Federal institutions:

  • The Act designates the day but does not require federal departments to run programs or issue reports (Bill text).

Expenses#

Estimated net cost: Data unavailable.

• Explicit appropriations in the bill: None (Bill text).
• New mandates on governments, schools, or businesses: None (Bill text).
• Fee or revenue changes: None (Bill text).
• Official fiscal note: No publicly available information.
• Notes: The Act expressly does not create a legal holiday (Not a legal holiday clause).

Proponents' View#

• It recognizes and affirms Canada’s linguistic diversity, including more than 60 Aboriginal languages, which supports cultural inclusion (Preamble).
• It aligns Canada with UNESCO’s 1999 proclamation and the 2007 UN General Assembly call to preserve and protect languages (Preamble).
• It provides a clear national date for voluntary observance, which proponents say can raise awareness at minimal cost because it is not a legal holiday (Not a legal holiday clause; assumption about awareness effects).
• It complements existing provincial and municipal recognitions, creating a consistent national signal without imposing mandates (Preamble; Bill text).

Opponents' View#

• The bill is symbolic only; it creates no programs, funding, or legal rights, so practical impact may be limited (Bill text).
• Without dedicated resources, opponents argue the designation is unlikely by itself to preserve or revitalize languages (assumption; no funding in Bill text).
• There is a risk of public confusion about whether the day is a holiday, despite the clause stating it is not a legal holiday (Not a legal holiday clause; assumption about public understanding).
• Federal designation does not change provincial or local control over schools or services, so outcomes may vary widely and remain unchanged in many places (Bill text).