Mr. Speaker, as many of my colleagues in the House today have just stated, Nelson Mandela, world citizen, has become an honorary citizen of Canada, and what a great day this is.
After spending 27 years in prison, Nelson Mandela has shown himself a great world leader and a model for all humankind in the embracing of fundamental human life and in the embracing of peace, tolerance and respect of diversity.
This is a great day for Canada to be able to say that we have and can count in our Canadian family a world citizen of the stature of Nelson Mandela.
It is a great day for Canada, it is a great day for all Canadians, but it is an especially great day for Canadians of African descent to know that one of our community has been recognized by our government, by our country, as being worthy not only to be recognized around the world but within our own country.