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Fifth Session, Thirty-Ninth Legislature

This version is based on the printed bill that was distributed in the Legislature after First Reading.   It is not the official version.   If accuracy is critical, you can obtain a copy of the printed bill from Statutory Publications or view the online bilingual version (PDF).

Bill 214

THE UKRAINIAN HERITAGE DAY ACT


Explanatory Note

(Assented to                                         )

WHEREAS the first official Ukrainian immigrants, Vasyl Eleniak and Ivan Pylypiw, arrived in Canada on September 7, 1891;

AND WHEREAS soon afterwards, Ukrainian immigrants began arriving in Manitoba in larger numbers;

AND WHEREAS today Manitoba is home to more than 167,000 people of Ukrainian descent and there are over 1.2 million Canadians of Ukrainian descent across the country;

AND WHEREAS many Ukrainians fled their homeland to find freedom from oppression and a better life in Canada;

AND WHEREAS both Manitoba and Canada, by way of The Ukrainian Famine and Genocide (Holodomor) Memorial Day Act (Manitoba) and the Ukrainian Famine and Genocide ("Holodomor") Memorial Day Act (Canada), have recognized the genocide by famine that occurred in Ukraine from 1932 to 1933 under the Soviet Communist regime of Joseph Stalin;

AND WHEREAS on August 24, 1991, the Ukrainian parliament declared Ukraine as an independent democratic state from the Soviet Union and Canada was the first nation in the Western world to recognize Ukraine's independence;

AND WHEREAS Manitobans of Ukrainian descent have left and continue to leave a historic mark on our province and their contributions span communities across Manitoba and are reflected in our economic, political, social and cultural life;

AND WHEREAS Ukrainian Canadians have played an important role in the development of Manitoba into one of the most desirable places in the world to live and have contributed to making Canada the great country that it is today;

AND WHEREAS it is important to recognize and celebrate these contributions;

THEREFORE HER MAJESTY, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba, enacts as follows:

Ukrainian Heritage Day

1

September 7 in each year is to be known as Ukrainian Heritage Day.

C.C.S.M. reference

2

This Act may be referred to as chapter U9 of the Continuing Consolidation of the Statutes of Manitoba.

Coming into force

3

This Act comes into force on the day it receives royal assent.

Explanatory Note

This Bill proclaims September 7 in each year as Ukrainian Heritage Day.

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