Bill 217 Royal Assent (PDF)
EXPLANATORY NOTE
This Explanatory Note was written as a
reader’s aid to Bill 217 and does not form part of the law.
Bill 217 has been enacted as Chapter 15 of the Statutes of Ontario, 2021.
The Bill proclaims the month of June in each year as Filipino Heritage Month.
Bill 217 2021
An Act to proclaim the month of June as Filipino Heritage Month
Preamble
Ontario is home to over 337,000 people of Philippine origin. The Filipino community has contributed to all aspects of Ontario's prosperity and diverse heritage for generations. The Province of Ontario recognizes the positive impact the Filipino Canadian community has made and continues to make in Ontario and throughout the rest of Canada and the world, as well as the countless economic contributions the Filipino community has made to Ontario for generations.
June is an important month for the Filipino community. Every year on June 12th, the Filipino community around the world celebrates Philippines Independence Day. Filipino Heritage Month in Ontario will provide all Ontarians, both today and in future generations, with an opportunity to learn about and celebrate the rich heritage and histories of the Filipino Canadian community. It will also give Ontarians an opportunity to reflect on the roles and contributions of Filipino Ontarians in communities across the province, including the work of those Filipino Ontarians who are essential workers in keeping Ontarians safe and healthy and keeping the province moving during the COVID-19 pandemic.
By proclaiming the month of June to be Filipino Heritage Month in Ontario, the Province of Ontario publicly acknowledges and affirms the contributions that Filipinos make in Ontario as part of the vibrant social, economic, political and cultural fabric of our province.
Therefore, Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, enacts as follows:
Filipino Heritage Month
1 The month of June in each year is proclaimed as Filipino Heritage Month.
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 Filipino Heritage Month Act, 2021.