S-214International Mother Language Day Act
An Act to establish International Mother Language Day
Senate public bill, introduced in the Senate on November 24, 2021
- Status
- Became law on April 27, 2023 · S.C. 2023, c. 5
- Sponsor
- Mobina S.B. JafferSenator
- Senator
What it does
Designates February 21 as International Mother Language Day across Canada and says it is not a legal holiday.
What it does
- Designates the 21st day of February each year as International Mother Language Day throughout Canada.
- States that International Mother Language Day is not a legal holiday or a non-juridical day.
- Adds a short title for the Act, the International Mother Language Day Act.
Who it affects
- Canadians who observe the day
- Schools and public institutions
- Governments
Where it is
Senate
First reading
Completed.
Second reading
Completed.
Committee
Skipped. Skipped
Third reading
Completed.
House of Commons
First reading
Completed.
Second reading
Completed.
Committee
Completed.
Report stage
Completed.
Third reading
Completed.
Royal assent
Royal assent
Completed.
Introduced by a senator. If the Senate passes it, it goes to the House of Commons, where an MP must agree to sponsor it. How a bill becomes law
How the House voted
2nd reading of Bill S-214, An Act to establish International Mother Language Day
Vote 156,
Passed
325 yeato0 nay · 6 paired
Party breakdown for vote 156 Party Position Yea Nay Did not vote Liberal Yea 151 0 8 Conservative Yea 115 0 4 Bloc Yea 31 0 1 NDP Yea 25 0 0 Green Yea 2 0 0 Independent Yea 1 0 0 Total 325 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.
LiberalKen Hardie· March 31, 2022
“This is a time when our nation is weathering some very formidable challenges that some would use to draw out our differences, namely to challenge that most fundamental Canadian value, the one where we care about and act in the common good.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caConservativeJohn Nater· March 31, 2022
“The bill also includes the greater clarity line, which confirms that this does not result in the date of February 21 being a legal holiday. It is not a statutory holiday and would not provide a day off work for those working in federally regulated industries.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caBlocLuc Desilets· March 31, 2022
“This evening we are debating Bill S-214, an act to establish international mother language day. Specifically, the bill would designate February 21 of every year as international mother language day in Quebec and Canada.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caNDPBlake Desjarlais· March 31, 2022
“I agree with the hon. members who spoke previously in support of this bill. We need to do far more, though.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.ca
Read the source
LEGISinfo status: Royal assent received. Bill data from LEGISinfo, votes from openparliament.ca and the House of Commons. Last updated October 13, 2026.