Canada has made Malala Yousafzai its honourary citizen, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau presented her with a certificate documenting her as an honourary Canadian, only the sixth person to receive the honour and the youngest ever. He also presented her with the flag from atop the tower.
Few new Canadians go right from a citizenship ceremony to addressing Parliament. But then few people are like Malala Yousafzai — Nobel Peace Prize winner, a United Nations messenger of peace, a global advocate for girls education. And still just 19.
The Pakistan woman, who survived a Taliban attack five years ago, dazzled MPs and dignitaries Wednesday with a Parliament Hill speech sprinkled with inspiration, humour and a call for Canada to do more for global development.
The adoration was evident from the moment Yousafzai entered the House of Commons chamber to a sustained standing ovation. In his introduction, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau hailed her as “everyday” hero, the target of an assassination attempt simply for promoting the rights of girls and women to attend school.
“As the world prayed while she recovered, we were reminded that a bullet is no match for an idea,” Trudeau said.
“I am a Muslim, and I believe that if you pick up a gun in the name of Islam and kill an innocent person, you are not Muslim anymore,” she said.
Instead, she said the Ottawa assailant shared the hatred of all those who have perpetrated other attacks, such as the murders in a Quebec City mosque, the attack in London, and even those who attempted to kill her.
Yousafzai praised Canada and said she was humbled by the honorary citizenship. “Your motto and your stand “welcome to Canada” is more than a headline or a hashtag,” she said.
“It is the spirit of humanity that every single one of us would yearn for if our family was in crisis. I pray that you continue to open your homes and your hearts to the world’s most defenceless children and families, and I hope your neighbours will follow your example,” she said.
She said the answer to most of the world’s most challenging problems — conflict, economic instability, climate change — lies in the education of girls.
“I can tell you that the answer is girls. Secondary education can transform communities, countries and our world,” she said. “Education is vital to the security of the world, because extremism grows alongside inequality, in places where people feel they have no opportunity, no voice, no hope,” she said.
“The world needs leadership based on serving humanity, not based on how many weapons you have. Canada can take that lead,” Yousafzai said.
“Use your influence to fill the global education funding gap,” she said. “Today, only a quarter of refugee children can get secondary education. We should not ask children who flee their homes to also give up their dreams,” she said.
She had a message for young people, saying don’t wait to be a leader. “I have learned that even a child’s voice can be heard across the world,” she said. And she urged young women in Canada to “step forward, raise your voices,” adding, “the next time I visit I hope to see more of you filling these seats.”
As Yousafzai finished her speech, an impromptu rendition of “O Canada” began in a corner and then filled the chamber as others chimed in.
Malala just the elite group individuals including the Dalai Lama, Prince Shah Karim Al Hussaini, Aga Khan IV, Nelson Mandela, Aung San Suu Kyi and Raoul Wallenberg, the Swedish diplomat who rescued thousands of Jews during the Second World War on the list of Canada’s honourary citizens
