Bill C-456

2nd Session, 40th Parliament,

57-58 Elizabeth II, 2009

house of commons of canada

BILL C-456

An Act to establish Leif Erikson Day

Whereas Leif Erikson is thought to have been the first European to land in North America, around the year 1000, making him the forerunner of recognized later European explorers and, therefore, the first to open European exploration of North America;

Whereas there is historical and archaeological evidence to suggest that Leif Erikson established the oldest known Norse settlement in North America, in what is today L’Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site of Canada in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador;

Whereas the people of Canada wish to honour and recognize the significant historical voyage of Leif Erikson, which included landing on the North American continent;

And whereas the people of Canada also wish to honour the valuable contributions of the Scandinavian peoples of Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Iceland to Canada;

Now, therefore, Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows:

SHORT TITLE

1. This Act may be cited as the Leif Erikson Day Act.

LEIF ERIKSON DAY

2. Throughout Canada, in each and every year, the ninth day of October shall be known as “Leif Erikson Day”.

3. For greater certainty, Leif Erikson Day is not a legal holiday or a non-juridical day.