Caribbean Heritage Month Act

Bill S-248, the Caribbean Heritage Month Act, would officially designate July of each year as "Caribbean Heritage Month" across Canada. It is a symbolic recognition bill rather than one that changes any laws, rights, or government programs.

The bill's preamble explains the reasoning behind it, noting that people of Caribbean origin have been part of Canadian society since the late 1700s and have contributed significantly to Canada's economic, social, political, and cultural life. It points to events like the Toronto Caribbean Carnival as examples of the cultural presence and impact of Caribbean-Canadian communities, and notes the broader influence of Caribbean culture on things like music, food, sport, and language in Canada.

Beyond the short title and the formal designation of July as Caribbean Heritage Month, the bill contains no other operative provisions. It does not create new holidays with time off work, allocate funding, or impose obligations on individuals, businesses, or governments — it simply gives official recognition to July as a month for acknowledging and celebrating Caribbean heritage in Canada.

This bill designates the month of July in each year as "Caribbean Heritage Month" and creates no new powers or duties.