When you have role models like Lincoln Alexander, there is a sense of belonging to a community irrespective of where you've come from. We see a lot of marginalized young people today, Mr. Sweet, and we have been working hard. I can take examples from what Linc has done to strengthen our African Canadian community. That resonates. We have over a million blacks in this country.
I was just in Montreal this weekend for the 107th year of the Union United Church. There is a rich history of individuals like Oscar Peterson and Oliver Jones, musicians who touch our hearts, individuals that we can look to. Lincoln Alexander was that kind of individual in terms of his contribution. I think it's high time; I think it's the right time to do it. We have Martin Luther King Day in the United States. We do not have an African Canadian hero like Lincoln Alexander that our young people can look up to and that the African diaspora can truly embrace—and that all Canadians, for that matter, can embrace. But, more importantly, he's an example for us to be able to work together, to show that we can overcome challenges in this country.
As we grow into this 150th year of this country in 2017, I believe that we'll be doing a great service to this country by recognizing a man who has made great contributions to this country.