An act to establish IMLD: Historic Bill S-214
Upon the request of our Vancouver based Mother Language Lovers of the World Society (MLLWS) of British Columbia (BC) International Mother Language Day was
tabled in the Canadian Parliament in 2007 for the first time by
Honourable Sukh Dhaliwal MP
as a Private Bill C-407. The bill didn't
pass at that time.
The Second effort was taken again by MLLWS. This time it was proposed by
Honourable John Aldag MP for Cloverdale - Langley City of BC. He tabled in Canadian Parliament on 21st of February 2017.
He mentioned, 21st February is a very special day, it is recognized by the global community as
International Mother Language Day. Also mentioned, in 1999, UNESCO recognized 21st February as International Mother Language Day to celebrate the
linguistic heritage of peoples across the World. This effort would have been impossible without the effort of the Vancouver based organization, the
Mother Language Lovers of the World Society.
This private bill taken to the Canadian Senate and presented as Bill S-247 as An Act to establish International
Mother Language Day, sponsored by Sen. Mobina S. B. Jaffer. Introduction and First Reading was tabled on 22nd March, 2018; reading was passed. Second
Reading was tabled on 5th December, 2018; reading had been passed. The bill S-247 was reffered to the Standing Committee of Senate on Social
Affairs, Science and Technology for further and final review but didn't go further.
Currently, Bill S-214 passed 3rd hearing in the Senate, 2nd hearing in
the House of Commons and is under review by the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage for the IMLD national declaration. We are confident
that we will have an official International Mother Language Day (IMLD) to celebrate on February 21, 2023 all over Canada. On behalf of the MLLWS a
big "Thank You" to Honourable Ken Hardie MP and
Honourable Senator Mobina S.B. Jaffer, Q.C. for their
tireless effort and outstanding support.