OTTAWA – Finally the House of Commons of Canada has adopted the International Mother Language Day act after its third and final reading of the Bill S-214 (click here to read it) in the senate on March 30 evening local time, since it subsequently passed in the parliament on December 9, 2021. 

In its short title, it says, “Throughout Canada, in each and every year, the 21st day of February is to be known as ‘International Mother Language Day’.” However, by stating “Not a legal holiday,” it says, “For greater certainty, International Mother Language Day is not a legal holiday or a non-juridical day.”

Meanwhile, in the preamble of the act by referring to the UNESCO’s 1999 and the United Nations’ 2007 declaration, this act vitally cites that, “English and French are Canada’s official languages; more than 60 different Aboriginal languages are spoken in Canada; Canadians speak a multitude of languages that greatly enrich Canada and its culture; the Parliament of Canada wishes to recognize the value of linguistic and cultural diversity; therefore, Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts International Mother Language Day.”

On this occasion both the proposers of this Bill S-214, Hon. Liberal MP Ken Hardie from Fleetwood-Port Kells constituency and Liberal Senator of British Columbia Province Hon. Mobina S. B. Jaffer, QC joined Bangladesh High Commissioner to Canada, H.E. Dr. Khalilur Rahman in the House of Commons while they applauded the initiator Aminul Islam Moula, president of the Mother Language Lovers of the World Society in Canada, which originally excelled the idea of the day by late Rafiqul Islam and Abdus Salam.

In the pic above, Bangladesh High Commissioner Dr. Khalilur Rahman, Senator Mobina Jaffer and MP Ken Hardie as provided by MLLWS (Mother Languages Lovers of the World Society) president Aminul Islam Moula