40th PARLIAMENT, 3rd SESSION
UNEDITED HANSARD • NUMBER 026
OFFICIAL REPORT (HANSARD)
Thursday, April 15, 2010

Ms. Judy Wasylycia-Leis (Winnipeg North, NDP): Mr. Speaker, on this national day of mourning, we stand together with the people of Poland to mark a tragedy of unspeakable dimensions and to honour the lives of so many Polish people lost on April 10. On behalf of my colleagues, I offer our heartfelt condolences to the people of Poland and Polish people the world over, including the one million Canadians of Polish descent.

I know from many of the 40,000 Polish Canadians in Manitoba the depth of grief being felt. The loss of 96 people, including President Lech Kaczynski and his wife along with Polish political, military and civil society leaders, is a tragedy that has taken loved ones from their families, but has also taken from an entire country the hopes, ideals and aspirations that its citizens entrusted to its political representatives.

I can only imagine the sense of loss and grief being felt, but having been on a recent visit to Poland, I know that the faith, courage and perseverance the people of Poland have held on to over 1,000 years of adversity will be a source of strength for them now. Our thoughts and prayers go out to this grieving Polish nation. Czesc eeh pamianchee.