NDP MP calling for establishment of “National Hockey Day”

Move over, Family Day: Canadians could soon be lacing up for another February holiday if NDP MP Linda Duncan has her way.

Duncan is once again calling for the establishment of National Hockey Day, tabling her private members’ bill in the House of Commons on Tuesday.

“I’m probably the least logical person to be calling for this, because I’m not a big fan of professional sports and overpaid hockey players,” Duncan told CityNews.ca in a phone interview.

“But I am a big supporter of people getting out to their local ponds and their local rinks and having fun with it.”

Duncan, who has represented Edmonton – Strathcona since 2008, first proposed National Hockey Day in 2009. The bill made it to its first reading.

This year, Duncan is proposing that Canadians should celebrate on the third Friday in February.

The bill claims that hockey is enjoyed by Canadians of “all ages, genders, abilities, and cultural backgrounds,” and establishing a National Hockey Day would encourage more people to play. It would also encourage community involvement.

“It’s part of our Canadian identity and it can involve anybody,” Duncan said.

“The whole concept of the bill is to set aside a day where everyone in the community gets together and has fun around our national sport.”

The bill is not calling for the establishment of a federal holiday. However, Duncan said she was open to the government proposing a federal holiday.

“We have long winters in this country and people get into the doldrums and it’s just a way for people to get out and have fun,” Duncan said.

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