Itihash Desh Samaj

Right Honorable Justin Trudeau                                            Date:   February 07, 2017

Prime Minister

House of Commons

Ottawa, Ontario

K1A 0A6

Subject:          

International Mother Language Day may be considered a Statutory Holiday in Canada.

Dear Prime Minister;

During your tenure as the leader of our great country, you have perhaps received a few proposals for a new federal statutory holiday. In this context, I’d like to kindly draw your attention towards the 21st of February, International Mother Language Day, a day to celebrate, by the proclamation of UNESCO, one’s native language. Perhaps you are aware that cities such as Toronto, Vancouver and Richmond, as well as the province of Ontario have already recognized International Mother Language Day as a special day. Thus, nation wide recognition of the day is hopefully not too far away. For several years now, I’ve attempted to draw the attention of renowned politicians towards the importance and unique significance of International Mother Language day. My efforts piqued the interests of the Honorable Reza Moridi, MPP of Ontario. Mr Moridi prepared motion (#66) for the legislative assembly, and on May 28, 2009 it was unanimously passed, recognizing International Mother Language Day in Ontario.

Mr. Prime Minister, Canada is known to the rest of the world for its diverse linguistics and multicultural tolerances. This diversity is something we should be proud of and something we should openly celebrate. I am optimistic that International Mother Language Day will stimulate conversations about what makes everyone’s mother tongue unique while also highlighting aspects that make them alike. I am hoping that this can be a day where we embrace languages foreign to us, while also educating others of our own. For this reason, Mr. Prime Minister, I encourage you to lead the modern world in recognizing the importance of one of Mankind’s most contentious assets, language. With regrets, I have to say, my proposal, to the former two Prime Minister’s, did not receive enough attention. I strongly believe, your personal attention and backing of the 21st of February, as a new statutory holiday in Canada, will not only receive the appreciation of Canadians, but also of citizens worldwide. As commemoration for our 150th birthday, let us demonstrate to the world that language is valued and celebrated in our country.  

I thank you Mr. Prime Minister for giving me your valuable time.

Sincerely yours

Akhtar Hossain

Scarborough Ontario                                                                                                                    

From the UNESCO web page

International Mother Language Day aims at promoting linguistic diversity and multilingual education, and at raising awareness of linguistic and cultural traditions based on understanding, tolerance and dialogue.

Today, about half of the 6,000 or so languages spoken in the world are under threat. Over the past three centuries, languages have died out and disappeared at a dramatic and steadily increasing pace, especially in the Americas and Australia. At least 3,000 tongues are endangered, seriously endangered or dying in many parts of the world.

International Mother Language Day, which is celebrated on 21 February every year throughout the world, was launched at the 30th session of the General Conference of UNESCO in 1999