Bill C-244: An Act to establish Leif Erikson Day

Short Title Leif Erikson Day First Session, Forty-second Parliament, 64-65 Elizabeth II, 2015-2016 HOUSE OF COMMONS OF CANADA BILL C-244 An Act to establish Leif Erikson Day FIRST READING, FEBRUARY 26, 2016 Mr. Julian 421065 SUMMARY This enactment designates the ninth day of October in each and every year as “Leif Erikson Day”. Available on the Parliament of Canada Web Site at the following address: http://www.parl.gc.ca 1st Session, 42nd Parliament 64-65 Elizabeth II, 2015-2016 HOUSE OF COMMONS OF CANADA BILL C-244 An Act to establish Leif Erikson Day Preamble Whereas Leif Erikson is believed to have been the first European to land in North America, around the year 1000, making him the forerunner of the well-known European explorers that followed and, therefore, the first to open the European exploration of North America; Whereas there is historical and archaeological evidence to suggest that Leif Erikson established the oldest known Norse settlement in North America, in what is today L’Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site of Canada in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador; Whereas the people of Canada wish to honour and recognize the significant historical voyage of Leif Erikson, which included landing on the North American continent; And whereas the people of Canada also wish to honour the valuable contributions of the Scandinavian peoples of Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Iceland to Canada; Now, therefore, Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows: Short Title Short title 1 This Act may be cited as the Leif Erikson Day Act. Leif Erikson Day Leif Erikson Day 2 Throughout Canada, in each and every year, the ninth day of October is to be known as “Leif Erikson Day”. Not a legal holiday 3 For greater certainty, Leif Erikson Day is not a legal holiday or a non-juridical day. Published under authority of the Speaker of the House of Commons