( February 1, 2013, Toronto, Sri Lanka Guardian) Rathika Sitsabaiesan Canadian MP for the Scarborough Rouge River Riding, this morning tabled a Private Member’s Bill designating January as Tamil Heritage Month in the Canadian parliament! Rathika is known for a series of firsts, being the first Tamil Member of Parliament in Canada and the first MP to speak in Tamil, French and English in her maiden speech in Parliament. http://rathikasitsabaiesan.ndp.ca/post/tamil-heritage-month The text of the Bill can be found here: http://www.parl.gc.ca/LegisInfo/BillDetails.aspx?Language=E&Mode=1&billId=5944827. The Bill is hailed as an endorsement of the contribution made by the Canadian Tamil community and is expected to receive all party support, reflecting the multicultural nature of Canadian society.
Text of Bill:
HOUSE OF COMMONS OF CANADA
BILL C-471
An Act to designate the month of January as Tamil Heritage Month
Whereas Tamil Canadians have established deep roots and flourished in communities across the country, thereby enriching Canada’s social, cultural, economic and political fabric;
Whereas the month of January is an opportunity to celebrate the contributions of Canadians of Tamil heritage to our communities as well as to raise awareness of Tamil history and culture;
And whereas the people of Canada wish to honour the contributions of Tamil Canadians 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 Tamil Heritage Month Act.
TAMIL HERITAGE MONTH
2. Throughout Canada, in each and every year, the month of January is to be known as “Tamil Heritage Month”.
 Rathika Sitsabaiesan Canadian MP for the Scarborough Rouge River Riding, this morning t...){kind=link}