Toronto-based humanitarian activist Craig Kielburger only had minutes to spare between going to the washroom and getting miked up to address the Surrey Regional Economic Summit today (October 20) at a Guildford hotel.

However, he did not hesitate in granting the Georgia Straight a walking interview about how he feels being on the same bill as Bill Clinton and George W. Bush.

“Freedom of speech,” Kielburger, 28, brother of Marc and cofounder of youth-empowerment organization Free the Children, told the Straight. “We’re going to be talking about corporations advancing social change through positive [action].

“I look forward to hearing and I am very intrigued as to what the two presidents will be talking about. But I appreciate the fact that they get a chance to balance out the message, to have individuals talking about the need for corporate social responsibility and the role that companies must play in making positive social changes.”