Ukrainian Heritage Month Act

Summary#

This bill would make September “Ukrainian Heritage Month” across Canada. It is a symbolic designation. The bill does not create programs, funding, regulations, or legal obligations (Bill, Ukrainian Heritage Month).

• Designates September as Ukrainian Heritage Month nationwide (Bill, Ukrainian Heritage Month).
• Aims to recognize contributions of more than 1.3 million Ukrainian Canadians (Preamble).
• Seeks to educate Canadians by celebrating Ukrainian heritage each year (Preamble).
• Does not change services, benefits, taxes, or laws (Bill, Ukrainian Heritage Month).
• Contains no enforcement, reporting, or implementation requirements (Bill, Ukrainian Heritage Month).

What it means for you#

• Households:

  • No change to benefits, services, or legal rights. The month is a formal recognition only (Bill, Ukrainian Heritage Month).
  • You may see federal acknowledgments or community events in September, but the bill does not require them (Bill, Ukrainian Heritage Month).

• Workers:

  • No new workplace rules or paid holidays. The bill does not create any employment obligations (Bill, Ukrainian Heritage Month).

• Businesses:

  • No new compliance duties or costs. The bill does not mandate activities or reporting (Bill, Ukrainian Heritage Month).

• Community organizations and schools:

  • No requirements are set. Any events or education efforts would be voluntary, not mandated by the bill (Bill, Ukrainian Heritage Month).

• Federal, provincial, and municipal governments:

  • The bill names the month at the federal level. It does not direct any government body to undertake specific actions or spend funds (Bill, Ukrainian Heritage Month).

Expenses#

Estimated net cost: Data unavailable.

• No appropriations, taxes, fees, or mandates appear in the bill text (Bill, Ukrainian Heritage Month; Short Title).
• No reporting or program delivery requirements are included that would drive administrative costs (Bill, Ukrainian Heritage Month).

Proponents' View#

• Recognition affirms the historic and ongoing contributions of Ukrainian Canadians, a community of more than 1.3 million people (Preamble).
• An annual, nationwide observance can help educate Canadians about Ukrainian history and culture (Preamble).
• The designation aligns with Canada’s past actions and positions noted in the preamble, including early recognition of Ukraine’s independence and recognition of the Holodomor as genocide (Preamble).
• A clear federal designation (“throughout Canada, in each year”) standardizes the observance across the country (Bill, Ukrainian Heritage Month).

Opponents' View#

• The bill is symbolic only; it does not change services, rights, or funding, which limits practical impact (Bill, Ukrainian Heritage Month).
• The text does not define any implementing actions, performance measures, or reporting, so there is no way to assess effectiveness (Bill, Ukrainian Heritage Month).
• Without specified responsibilities, any observances would rely on existing resources and voluntary actions by communities or institutions, creating uncertainty about consistency and scope (Bill, Ukrainian Heritage Month).