Bill C-416

1st Session, 41st Parliament,

60-61 Elizabeth II, 2011-2012

house of commons of canada

BILL C-416

An Act to proclaim Edison Arantes do Nascimento an honorary citizen of Canada

Whereas Edison Arantes do Nascimento, best known by the nickname “Pelé”, is widely regarded as the greatest soccer player of all time;

Whereas, during his playing career, Pelé was known as the “King of Football” and was also recognized for his vocal support of policies to improve the social conditions of the poor;

Whereas, since retiring from his playing career in 1977, Pelé has been appointed as a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 and as a Goodwill Ambassador by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 2003;

Whereas Pelé was appointed an honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire by Her Majesty the Queen in 1997;

And whereas soccer is Canada’s fastest-growing sport, with 845,000 registered players, 35,000 on-field officials and 1,500 soccer clubs;

Now, therefore, Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows:

1. This Act may be cited as the Edison Arantes do Nascimento Honorary Citizenship Act.

2. Edison Arantes do Nascimento is hereby proclaimed an honorary citizen of Canada.