Remembrance Day legislation becomes federal law

On March 1, Julie Payette, Canada’s Governor General, gave royal assent to Bill C-311, which officially recognizes Remembrance Day as a legal holiday under the federal Holidays Act.

Bill C-311 was introduced in the House of Commons by West Nova MP Colin Fraser, a member of the House of Commons’ Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs.

Now that the bill has become law, Remembrance Day within the Holidays Act has the same status at the federal level as Canada Day and Victoria Day.

“I am truly honoured that my bill has received royal assent and become law,” Fraser said. “I wish to thank everyone who has supported this legislation as it made its way through Parliament. This change demonstrates the will of Parliament in reaffirming the importance of Nov. 11 as a solemn day of remembrance in Canada, and in recognition of the sacrifices made by our veterans.”

This new legislation does not create a national statutory holiday, since it is a provincial and territorial responsibility to determine whether workers have time off in their jurisdiction.

Remembrance Day is already recognized as a paid non-working day for workers under federal jurisdiction and in a number of provinces and territories.

However, Fraser believes passage of this bill is important by adding consistency of language in federal law and ensuring that we consider the ways we remember Canada’s war dead and honour veterans.

He hopes jurisdictions that do not already do so may follow the federal government’s lead and consider placing Remembrance Day on an equal footing with other statutory holidays within their own legislation.

Bill C-311 was passed by a majority vote in the House of Commons in June 2017 and was subsequently passed by the Senate in February 2018. Remembrance Day service at the Yarmouth cenotaph, Nov. 11, 2017.