QUEBEC NATIONAL ASSEMBLY ADOPTED MOTION TO DECLARE FEBRUARY 11 NELSON MANDELA DAY

Montreal, March 9, 2015 — On February 26, 2015, four MNAs from different parties in the National Assembly of Quebec, Maka Kotto, Opposition Critic for Immigration; Christine St-Pierre, Minister of International Relations and responsible for the Francophonie; Sylvie Roy and Amir Khadir, jointly introduced a motion calling on the National Assembly to “affirm its wish that February 11 be proclaimed the Nelson Mandela Day in Quebec.”

The motion was unanimously adopted by the Assembly.

This motion is the result of an initiative launched in February 2014 by a group of citizens, who submitted two proposals to the National Assembly, calling on the Quebec Government to celebrate on a permanent basis the legacy of Nelson Mandela, a universal icon.

“We are very happy to learn that the National Assembly has recognized and emphasized the scope of Nelson Mandela’s contribution to the world,” said Myrlande Pierre, Committee spokesperson. Knowing that Quebecers believe in friendship among peoples and international solidarity, she also stressed the hope of seeing the National Assembly support the creation of a monument in honor of the late President of the Republic of South Africa.

Different political parties and more than thirty organizations signed, in February 2014, a Declaration to support the Citizens Initiative Committee’s proposals. The Citizens Initiative Committee is composed of Myrlande Pierre, Fo Niemi, Jean-Claude Icart and Brenda Paris.