Official Visit to Canada of a Parliamentary Delegation led by His Excellency Longin Hieronim Pastusiak, President of the Senate of the Republic of Poland

From October 17 to 22, 2004, the President of the Senate of the Republic of Poland led a parliamentary delegation composed of Mrs. Krystyna Helena Sienkiewicz, Senator, Mr. Janusz Stefan Bielawski, Senator, Mr. Jozef Sztorc, Senator, Mr. Krysztof Szydlowski, Senator, Mr. Adam Witalec, Head of the Chancellery, and Mrs. Anna Szklennik, Deputy Director of the International Relations Bureau, to Ottawa, Toronto and Calgary at the invitation of the Honourable Dan Hays, Senator, Speaker of the Senate of Canada.

While in Canada the delegates met with the following officials:

The Right Honourable Paul Martin, P.C., M.P., Prime Minister of Canada; the Honourable Dan Hays, Senator, Speaker of the Senate; the Honourable Peter Milliken, M.P., Speaker of the House of Commons; the Honourable Raymond Chan, P.C., M.P., Minister of State (Multiculturalism); the Honourable Pierre Pettigrew, P.C., M.P., Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Honourable Jim Peterson, P.C., M.P., Minister of International Trade, the Honourable Judy Sgro, P.C., M.P., Minister of Citizenship and Immigration; the Honourable James K. Bartleman, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario; the Honourable Frank Iacobucci, Interim President of the University of Toronto; members of the Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association, the Honourable Alvin Curling, M.P.P., Speaker of the Ontario Legislative Assembly; the Honourable Marie Bountrogianni, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration for the Government of Ontario.

The visit allowed Canada and Poland to pursue the long-standing friendship both countries share. Discussions were held on the political situation in Poland, trade relations and investment, visa requirements, multiculturalism and academic collaboration. As well, President Pastusiak participated in a ceremonial laying of a wreath at the Commonwealth Air Forces Memorial in Ottawa, and delivered an address on "A New World Order" at the University of Toronto. This visit was also an opportunity for the delegates to visit the National Gallery of Canada, the Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica in Ottawa, and the Banff Centre, and as well to meet with members of the Polish community in Ottawa, Toronto and Calgary.

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The Honourable Dan Hays, Senator, Speaker of the Senate of Canada, officially greets His Excellency Longin Hieronim Pastusiak, President of the Senate of the Republic of Poland, and his delegates

From left to right: Mr. Adam Witalec, Head of the Chancellery of the Senate of the Republic of Poland, Mr. Krysztof Szydlowski, Senator, Mr. Jozef Sztorc, Senator, His Excellency Longin Hieronim Pastusiak, President of the Senate of the Republic of Poland, The Honourable Dan Hays, Senator, Speaker of the Senate of Canada, Mrs. Krystyna Helena Sienkiewicz, Senator and Mr. Janusz Stefan Bielawski, Senator

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The Honourable Peter Milliken, M.P., Speaker of the House of Commons of Canada, meets with His Excellency Longin Hieronim Pastusiak, President of the Senate of the Republic of Poland

From left to right: His Excellency Longin Hieronim Pastusiak, President of the Senate of the Republic of Poland and the Honourable Peter Milliken, M.P., Speaker of the House of Commons of Canada