Bill 112 Royal Assent (PDF)
EXPLANATORY NOTE
This Explanatory Note was written as a reader’s
aid to Bill 112 and does not form part of the law.
Bill 112 has been enacted as Chapter 12 of the Statutes of Ontario, 2021.
The Bill recognizes May 10 in each year as Lupus Awareness Day.
Bill 112 2021
An Act to proclaim Lupus Awareness Day
Preamble
Lupus is an auto-immune disease which is typically characterized by inflammation in one or more parts of the body. It belongs to the family of diseases that includes rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, juvenile diabetes and scleroderma.
The disease affects one out of every 1,000 Canadian men, women and children. However, women are eight times more likely to contract the disease, particularly women between the ages of 15 to 45 years.
Although the cause of the disease still remains largely unknown, certain properties of the disease are discernible. Lupus attacks the body’s immune system, leaving it unable to differentiate between intruders and healthy tissue. As a result, vital organs are damaged, causing pain and organ dysfunction in the body.
The diagnosis and treatment for lupus are improving, allowing most people with lupus to live active and productive lives. Increasingly, the disease can be treated and controlled. It may come and go in cycles or, in a few cases, go into a permanent remission. However, sometimes lupus cannot be controlled and is fatal.
A better understanding of the disease and its symptoms are conducive to improving the diagnosis and treatment of the disease. Proclaiming a day of awareness of lupus will help to inspire, inform and support individuals with lupus and others. Many countries in the world, including the United States of America and the United Kingdom, have recognized May 10 as World Lupus Day and associate the colour purple with that day.
Therefore, Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, enacts as follows:
Lupus Awareness Day
1 (1) May 10 in each year is recognized as Lupus Awareness Day.
Same
(2) On Lupus Awareness Day, all Ontarians are encouraged to wear an item of the colour purple.
Commencement
2 This Act comes into force on the day it receives Royal Assent.
Short title
3 The short title of this Act is the Lupus Awareness Day Act, 2021.