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Time to make Remembrance Day a national holiday

It is time for Canada to make Remembrance Day a statutory holiday. For the last number of years, in more than one newspaper, I have advocated that the federal government should make Remembrance Day a national statutory holiday.

It is time for Canada to make Remembrance Day a statutory holiday.

For the last number of years, in more than one newspaper, I have advocated that the federal government should make Remembrance Day a national statutory holiday.

And for a brief period of time, it looked like I might actually get my wish. A little over two years ago former NDP MP for Scarborough Southwest, Dan Harris, introduced a private members bill (C-597), that if passed would have seen Nov. 11 a national statutory holiday. Other national holidays include Christmas Day, New Years Day, Good Friday and Labour Day.

Unfortunately the bill did not pass third reading, despite what looked like to be overwhelming support.

One of the reasons why these bills haven’t become law is due to opposition from some veterans groups who argue that by making Remembrance Day a holiday is that schools would no longer hold Remembrance Day services, given the day is a holiday.

Really?

I don’t know about you, but any school I have ever attended, either in Alberta and B.C. where Remembrance Day has been a stat for as long as I can remember has held its own ceremonies. As does every school in our readership area, so I doubt that schools will suddenly stop honouring veterans by no longer holding their own ceremonies.

It just seems, for whatever reason, Remembrance Day has never really gotten the respect it is due. In the British Commonwealth, Armistice Day was first celebrated in 1919 on Nov. 11, the day hostilities ceased in First World War.

Two years later the date was changed to the second Monday in November, creating a single long weekend linked to Thanksgiving in large part due to pressure from the business community. The business community argued that having a set day that would fall on a different day, usually in the middle of the week would cause too much of a disruption to business.

The new Armistice Day proved to be unpopular with veterans and the public alike, so in 1931, B.C. MPs, A.W. Neill and C.W. Dickie introduced a motion, in the House of Commons to rename Armistice Day as Remembrance Day and to hold it on Nov. 11.

Unfortunately it is one not everyone has the ability to honour because it isn’t a national holiday.

Currently only Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia do not recognize Nov. 11 as a statutory holiday.

Yet, if it is a stat in Alberta, why should we care if it is a national holiday? Simply because the men and women who served or are serving in the Canadian Armed Forces are doing it on behalf of our nation. Therefore, Remembrance Day should be recognized by our nation.

That being said, having one day to honour the men and women of our Armed Forces, who have or continue to serve, on behalf of our nation is not enough.

As Lyle Saumer, a Canadian Armed Forces Veteran who served with the Princess Patricia Light Infantry including two-peace keeping tours in Cyprus says, Remembrance Day should be everyday.

Certainly true, but a good first step in raising our collective consciousness is first make it truly a national holiday of remembrance.


Barry Kerton

About the Author: Barry Kerton

Barry Kerton is the managing editor of the Barrhead Leader, joining the paper in 2014. He covers news, municipal politics and sports.
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