For Immediate Release:
March 24, 2011
Queens Park – Haldimand-Norfolk MPP Toby Barrett today voiced his support for colleague Elizabeth Witmer’s Private Members Bill to declare May as Dutch Heritage Month.
The Dutch Heritage Month Act, originally introduced by the Kitchener Waterloo MPP passed second reading debate earlier today.
“The fact that the Netherlands was liberated from its World War II occupation by Canadian forces on May 5, 1945 underlines the significance of this time of year to the historical ties for the Dutch-Canadian community,” Barrett noted. “There is certainly strong Dutch representation in Haldimand and Norfolk Counties and I look forward to joining with them for Dutch Heritage Month if this worthy initiative receives government support.”
Canada is now home to about 1 million Dutch-Canadians, 500,000 of whom currently live in Ontario.
“It’s an immense honor to be able to introduce a Bill that will finally recognize the outstanding contribution Dutch-Canadians have made to the social, political, cultural and economic fabric of Ontario,” said Witmer. “This is a very simple but important way to recognize the contributions and the close ties of friendship between the two countries.”
– 30 –
For more information, please contact MPP Toby Barrett at
(519) 428-0446 or (905)-765-8413, 1-800-903-8629