Please read the following statement from Elizabeth May, MP for Saanich–Gulf Islands and Leader of the Green Party of Canada, recognising Emancipation Day:
“I was proud to support the 2021 motion to establish Emancipation Day in Canada, which marks the anniversary of the coming into effect of the 1833 Slavery Abolition Act across the British Empire. Our legacy of slavery in Canada must not be sanitized.
Today, nearly 200 years later, there are more humans living as slaves than in all of human history. I remain committed to seeing the UN Sustainable Development Goals fulfilled, which include eradicating forced labour, human trafficking, child labour and modern slavery.
This is a day steeped in history, but also one that reminds us to continue this fight to ensure human rights for all.”