Bill S-227 explained in plain English

This artifact is a record of a Senate sitting on March 16, 2021. The sitting included Senators' Statements paying tribute to various individuals, Routine Proceedings where committee reports and notices of motions were presented, and the introduction of several bills, including Bill S-227, An Act respecting a National Ribbon Skirt Day. The sitting also featured Question Period where Senators asked questions to the Government Representative in the Senate on various topics, and concluded with debate on several Orders of the Day, including the consideration of messages from the House of Commons on Bill C-7 (medical assistance in dying), second reading debates on trade agreements, EI and recovery benefits, and other bills. The artifact details the procedural steps taken during the sitting but does not include the full text of any bill or enact any legal changes itself.

On March 30, 2021, the Senate convened. After proceedings like Senators' Statements, Routine Proceedings, and Question Period, the Senate moved to Orders of the Day. Notably, Bill S-227, An Act respecting a National Ribbon Skirt Day, was read for its second reading and the debate was adjourned. This means the Senate discussed the bill's principles but did not vote on it, and the discussion will continue at a later date. Other items addressed included the passage of Appropriation Bills No. 6 and No. 1, and debates on various inquiries and other bills.

During the Senate's second reading debate on Bill S-227, an Act respecting a National Ribbon Skirt Day, Senator Mary Jane McCallum delivered a speech. She explained that the bill aims to establish January 4th each year as National Ribbon Skirt Day to promote understanding and education of Indigenous culture and heritage, specifically highlighting the significance of the ribbon skirt. Senator McCallum shared statements from Chief George Cote of Cote First Nation and from Isabella Kulak, the 10-year-old girl whose experience inspired the bill, detailing the ribbon skirt's symbolism of strength, resilience, cultural identity, and womanhood. The Senator also included a statement from Isabella's parents, Christopher and Lana Kulak, emphasizing the need to confront racism and intolerance and to work towards reconciliation. Senator McCallum noted that this bill would not be a legal holiday but would serve as an important reconciliation initiative, and expressed hope for a swift passage of the bill.

This record details a Senate sitting on June 8, 2021. The sitting included a moment of silence and tributes for the victims of the London, Ontario tragedy, followed by discussions on Anti-Muslim Extremism. Several other Senate business items were addressed, including the presentation of committee reports, motions to resolve into a Committee of the Whole, and the tabling of a report from the Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association. Question Period covered a range of topics including consultations on Bill C-15, the Federal Pathway Report, telecommunications competitiveness, beneficial ownership registries, and human rights in Myanmar. The Senate then moved to Orders of the Day, where various bills were discussed at different stages, including Bill C-8 (Citizenship Act), Bill C-210 (Canada Revenue Agency Act), Bill S-202 (Assisted Human Reproduction Act), Bill S-209 (Canada Elections Act), Bill S-210 (Commissioner for Children and Youth in Canada), Bill S-227 (National Ribbon Skirt Day), Bill S-229 (decriminalization of illegal substances), Bill C-204 (Canadian Environmental Protection Act), and Bill C-237 (national framework for diabetes). Several motions were also debated, including one condemning the detention of Senator Leila M. de Lima of the Philippines, a motion concerning the genocide of Uyghurs, and a motion concerning the closure of programs at Laurentian University. A motion to designate August 1 as "Emancipation Day" was also presented. The sitting concluded with the adjournment of the Senate.

On June 8, 2021, the Senate debated Bill S-227, An Act respecting a National Ribbon Skirt Day. This bill proposes to designate January 4 of each year as National Ribbon Skirt Day to celebrate the resiliency, identity, and heritage of Indigenous women. The discussion at second reading included a speech from an opposing senator who acknowledged the bill's positive intentions but raised points about the meaning and history of ribbon skirts, their cultural significance in different Indigenous communities, and the history of their incorporation into Indigenous clothing. The opposing senator also noted the grassroots origins of the initiative, stemming from an incident where an Indigenous girl was shamed for wearing a ribbon skirt to school. Ultimately, the opposing senator expressed support for the bill, encouraging colleagues to do the same, emphasizing its role in fostering mutual understanding and education between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Canadians and its connection to National Indigenous History Month.

The Senate convened for a sitting on June 21, 2021. The sitting included Senators' Statements on various topics, Routine Proceedings, Question Period, and Orders of the Day. Several bills were addressed, including Appropriation Bills, amendments to the Citizenship Act, Criminal Code, Canada Labour Code, the National Framework for Diabetes Bill, and the "An Act respecting a National Ribbon Skirt Day" bill. The sitting concluded with Royal Assent being given to several bills.

This record documents proceedings in the Senate on June 21, 2021. The Senate engaged in various activities including Senate Statements, Routine Proceedings, Question Period, and Orders of the Day. Notably, Bill S-227, An Act respecting a National Ribbon Skirt Day, was read for the second time and then referred to committee. Several other bills were at various stages of discussion or progression, including appropriation bills, amendments to the Citizenship Act, Criminal Code, Canada Labour Code, and others related to victims' rights, environmental protection, and national days. The day also included discussions on topics like COVID-19 vaccine rollout, National Indigenous Peoples Day, tributes to veterans, and international affairs.