Mr. Speaker, this morning, Canada gained a new citizen. In my opinion, Nelson Mandela is the entire world's number one citizen.
In the last century, there have been three great champions who have fought for the freedom of their people: Ghandi, Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandela.
Emerging from prison after 27 years, Mandela forgave his tormenters and in so doing averted bloody civil war in his country. Yesterday in a gesture that was vintage Mandela, our new citizen said he wanted to speak to the hon. member who had initially blocked his citizenship. In the event that hon. member declined to return Nelson Mandela's call.