Bill S-208: An Act respecting National Seal Products Day

Bill S-208 LEGISinfo First Reading Third Reading Royal Assent Bilingual view XML PDF Short Title National Seal Products Day First Session, Forty-second Parliament, 64-65-66 Elizabeth II, 2015-2016-2017 STATUTES OF CANADA 2017 CHAPTER 5 An Act respecting National Seal Products Day ASSENTED TO May 16, 2017 BILL S-208 SUMMARY This enactment designates May 20 as “National Seal Products Day”. Available on the Parliament of Canada Web Site at the following address: http://www.parl.gc.ca 64-65-66 Elizabeth II CHAPTER 5 An Act respecting National Seal Products Day [Assented to 16th May, 2017] Preamble Whereas human beings have depended on ocean resources, including seals and other marine animals, for nourishment for thousands of years; Whereas Canada’s Indigenous peoples and coastal communities have developed traditional knowledge of how to use ocean resources; Whereas this traditional knowledge and the traditions, culture and heritage of Canada’s Indigenous peoples and coastal communities respecting the use of ocean resources should be preserved and recognized; Whereas the use of ocean resources plays an important economic role for Canada’s Indigenous peoples and coastal communities; Whereas the extractors of Canada’s ocean resources play an important role in the sustainable management and preservation of populations of wild species and in the maintenance of ecosystemic balance; Whereas scientific knowledge of and methods for using ocean resources have evolved rapidly in recent years; Whereas the extraction and use of Canada’s ocean resources are compatible with the contemporary principles of animal protection, sustainable development, ecosystemic management and preventive regulation; Whereas the extraction and use of Canada’s ocean resources can be reconciled with a respectful and cruelty-free treatment of sea animals; Whereas the extraction and use of Canada’s ocean resources are compatible with the Convention on Biological Diversity’s objectives of conservation, sustainable use and a fair and equitable sharing; Whereas the use of Canada’s ocean resources accords with the principle of rational use advocated by the International Union for Conservation of Nature; Whereas ecosystemic balance is the fruit of a constant interaction between predator and prey; Whereas the human species is an integral part of the ecosystem and, as a result, its role as a predator cannot be separated from the rest of nature; Whereas the European Union has declared May 20 to be European Maritime Day in order to recall “the importance of a healthy marine environment both for the sustainability of economic activities on the seas and for the quality of life in coastal regions”; And whereas the importance of the seal hunt for Canada’s Indigenous people, coastal communities and entire population should be recognized by designating May 20 as National Seal Products Day; Now, therefore, Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons, enacts as follows: Short Title Short title 1 This Act may be cited as the National Seal Products Day Act. National Seal Products Day National Seal Products Day 2 Throughout Canada, in each and every year, the 20th day of May is to be known as “National Seal Products Day”. Not a legal holiday or non-juridical day 3 For greater certainty, National Seal Products Day is not a legal holiday or a non-juridical day. Published under authority of the Senate of Canada Publication Explorer Publication Explorer ParlVU