Bill 28 �German Pioneers Day Act, 2000�

 

Mr. Wayne Wettlaufer�s Private Members Bill 28 went through First Reading

7 December 1999, Second Reading 6 April 2000 and Third and Final Reading

22 June 2000. The official Bill 28 "German Pioneers Day, 2000", received Royal Assent Friday 23 June 2000 and was thereby proclaimed into law in Ontario. Bill 28 reads as follows:

"German immigrants began arriving in large numbers in Upper Canada, which is present day Ontario, during the eighteenth century along with other United Empire Loyalists after the American Revolution. They continued to settle in Ontario during the era of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in the nineteenth century.

They settled in various areas of Ontario and especially in and around the City of Kitchener, whose annual Oktoberfest festival provides a time for all citizens of Ontario to reflect on and celebrate our province's living German heritage.

As one of the founding groups of Ontario, German pioneers helped settle the province and made their rich cultural traditions and values an integral part of Canadian society. Ontario citizens of German descent continue to make a significant contribution to Ontario and Canada.

It is appropriate to establish a day on which to pay tribute to our historic German legacy in Ontario.

Therefore, Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, enacts as follows:

German Pioneers Day

1. The day following Thanksgiving Day in each year is proclaimed as German Pioneers Day

Commencement

This Act comes

 

2. into force on the day it receives Royal Assent.

 

Short title

 

The short title of

 

3. this Act is the German Pioneers Day Act, 2000.�