C-232Arab Heritage Month Act
An Act respecting Arab Heritage Month
Private member's bill, introduced in the House of Commons on February 7, 2022
- Status
- Defeated at third reading in the Senate
What it does
Designates April as Arab Heritage Month across Canada each year.
What it does
- Designates the month of April, throughout Canada, as “Arab Heritage Month” each year.
Who it affects
- Arab Canadians
- People and organisations in Canada
Where it is
House of Commons
First reading
Completed.
Second reading
Completed.
Committee
Completed.
Report stage
Completed.
Third reading
Completed.
Senate
First reading
Completed.
Second reading
Completed.
Committee
Completed.
Third reading
Defeated here. Defeated
Royal assent
Royal assent
Not reached.
Introduced by an MP who is not a minister. These bills compete in a lottery for debate time, and most do not become law. How a bill becomes law
How the House voted
3rd reading and adoption of Bill C-232, An Act respecting Arab Heritage Month
Vote 264,
Passed
322 yeato0 nay · 2 paired
Party breakdown for vote 264 Party Position Yea Nay Did not vote Liberal Yea 150 0 8 Conservative Yea 113 0 2 Bloc Yea 32 0 0 NDP Yea 23 0 2 Green Yea 2 0 0 Independent Yea 2 0 0 Total 322 0 2nd reading of Bill C-232, An Act respecting Arab Heritage Month
Vote 100,
Passed
319 yeato0 nay · 6 paired
Party breakdown for vote 100 Party Position Yea Nay Did not vote Liberal Yea 148 0 11 Conservative Yea 113 0 6 Bloc Yea 30 0 2 NDP Yea 25 0 0 Green Yea 2 0 0 Independent Yea 1 0 0 Total 319 0
What MPs said
Each party’s first speech on this bill in the House, from Hansard. Excerpts are the speaker’s opening sentences, unedited.
LiberalDavid McGuinty· March 3, 2022
“Many stakeholders are supportive of this bill, including the Canadian Arab Institute.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caConservativeZiad Aboultaif· March 3, 2022
“It gives me great pleasure to rise today to offer my support for this bill, the Arab heritage month act. I want to thank the hon. member for Ottawa South for bringing this matter to the attention of the House.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caBlocLuc Desilets· March 3, 2022
“This bill was introduced by the member for Ottawa South, and it is at second reading stage. More specifically, Bill C–232 proposes that the month of April become Arab Heritage Month in Quebec and Canada.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caNDPBlake Desjarlais· March 3, 2022
“I am delighted and honoured to rise in support of the bill as the member of Parliament for Edmonton Griesbach. As a member who has the honour of representing one of Canada's largest and oldest Arab communities, I would like to take a moment to thank my colleague, the member for Ottawa South, for his leadership in drafting this important private member's bill.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.ca
Read the source
LEGISinfo status: At third reading in the Senate. Bill data from LEGISinfo, votes from openparliament.ca and the House of Commons. Last updated October 13, 2026.