Passage of Bill 75 proclaims August as Emancipation Month in Ontario

BY PAUL JUNOR

On Thursday, December 9^th,2021, Bill 75 (Emancipation Month Act) received royal assent to proclaim August as Emancipation Month. Mitzie Hunter, MPP for Scarborough-Guildwood revealed the good news in her newsletter to her constituents on Saturday, December 11^th, 2021.

The passage of Bill 75 was the culmination of Mitzie’s hard work along with MPP Laura Mae Lindo of the NDP, MPP Mike Schreiner of the Green Party and MPP Andrea Khanjin of the Progressive Conservatives. Details of Bill 75 can be seen at the Legislative Assembly of Ontario’s website: https://www.ola.org. It is fitting that August be recognized as Emancipation Month considering that the first Monday in August is a statutory holiday and is celebrated as the day that slaves were freed in Ontario. It is particularly more poignant given the climate in which the province finds itself with an increased awareness of the effects of systemic anti-Black racism and attempts to combat it.

The preamble to Bill 75 states, “Anti-Black racism has been prevalent in the history of Ontario. Slavery, inequities, exclusion and many other forms of discrimination have been the basis of much of Ontario’s past.” It is within this context that the passage of Bill 75 takes on added significance. The preamble notes, “By proclaiming August as Emancipation Month, Ontario is following the UN General Assembly’s adoption of the period of 2015 to 2024 being the International Decade for People of African Descent to ensure people of African descent receive the recognition, justice and access to opportunities they deserve.”

When Ontario celebrates its first Emancipation Month in 2022, it will be a time of deep reflection and celebration. It will ensure that, “Ontario pays tribute to the important contributions and leadership that the Black communities have made and continues to make Ontario as a major part of the vibrant social, economic, political and cultural fabric of our province.”

By highlighting significant milestones in the contributions of diverse Black Ontarians’ stories, histories, experiences and success it will be an occasion to celebrate. The preamble concludes, “Emancipation Month is a time for healing, unification and restoration. It is about eliminating discrimination by continuing to educate and advance the importance of racial equity across the province. Emancipation Month will help build a more inclusive province, where everyone is treated with fairness, respect and dignity.”

In many ways the work of these members of the Provincial Parliament must be applauded and recognized for ensuring that the Emancipation Month Act received royal assent. Their hard work, perseverance, determination, and effort ensured that there was cooperation of all four parties to bring this legislation into effect after three readings over a period of a few months. Specifically, MPP Hunter has relentlessly pressed ahead, spurred by the actions of many in the Black community to ensure its successful passage. She states in her newsletter, “Thank you Dewitt Lee, Emancipation Day Canada & Ontario Black History for your advocacy and leading us to this important step of collective growth.”