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Polish
April 7, 2008
Canadian Polish Congress President – Wladyslaw Lizon joined Prime Minister Stephen Harper on recent visit to Poland
On April 4th and 5th, 2008 Prime Minister Stephen Harper paid a visit to Poland after attending the recent NATO leader's summit in Bucharest.
The news release is posted on Polish Congress Webiste, as well as on Citizenship and Imigration Canada website under Press Releases.
Accompanying the Prime Minister on this trip as an official member of his delegation was Wladyslaw Lizon, President of the Canadian Polish Congress.
"It was an honour to be invited to join the Prime Minister's official delegation to Poland”, stated Mr. Lizon. "With the recent announcement of Canada lifting visa requirements on Polish nationals visiting Canada this was an opportune time for both government's to meet and discuss bilateral relations."
While in Poland Mr. Lizon attended two significant ceremonies: The first was the signing of A Social Security Agreement between Canada and Poland. This agreement once enacted will bring benefits to thousands of Polish-Canadians, by coordinating pension benefits between Canada and Poland. Mr. Lizon also accompanied Prime Minister Harper on a tour of the Nazi-German death camps at Auschwitz and Birkenau.
"Canada and Poland share fundamental values of human rights, the rule of law and democracy. Our two countries are experiencing unprecedented levels of co-operation which is leading to mutual benefit. Canada's lifting of the visa requirement and Poland's increased commitment to the NATO lead mission in Afghanistan are just two examples of such co-operation. On behalf of Canadians of Polish heritage I would like to commend Prime Minister Harper on bringing Canada's relationship with Poland to a new level," concluded Mr. Lizon.
Social Security Agreement between Canada and Poland
This agreement once enacted will bring benefits to thousands of Polish-Canadians, by coordinating pension benefits between Canada and Poland. People who have lived or worked in Canada and Poland will now find it easier to qualify for social security benefits both from Canada and Poland.
Individual who have worked in Poland and now live in Canada when they retire will be able to have their pension cheques mailed from Poland to Canada. Polish Canadians who choose to retire in Poland will also be able to have their pension cheques mailed from Canada to Poland.
In attendance at this official signing was the Minister of Labour and Social Policy - Jolanta Fedak the Canadian Ambassador to Poland David Preston, and Wladyslaw Lizon, President of the CPC. The Social Security Agreement was signed in the Ministry of Social Planning Building in Warsaw, Poland.
Youth Mobility Agreement between Canada and Poland
Thursday April 3 - Wladyslaw Lizon, President of the CPC witnessed the signing of a formal Letter of Intent on the Promotion of Youth Mobility by Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Poland Professor Barbara Kudrycka.
The youth mobility programs gives young Polish and young Canadians, aged 18 to 35, the opportunity to acquire professional or hands-on experience and to improve their knowledge of the languages, culture and society of the other country while holding a temporary work permit. (http://www.international.gc.ca/culture/123go/works-en.asp).
Friday April 4:
Prime Minister Harper arrived in Poland to meet with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk. After formal introductions Prime Ministers Tusk and Harper, and Wladek Lizon retire
d to a private meeting to discuss the formal agreements previous signed and future plans.
Saturday April 5:
Prime Minister Harper began his day with a meeting with former Polish President Lech Walesa. Prime Minister Harper met with Lech Walesa in his office in the old town section of Gdansk.
After his meeting with Lech Walesa Prime Minister Harper travelled to Wawel Castle in Krakow where he viewed tapestries and other artefacts with Wladek Lizon that Canada helped preserve during the Second
World War II.
From Wawel Castle Prime Minister Harper travelled to Auschwitz and Birkenau, where along with Alexander S. Wertheim and Wladyslaw Lizon he laid a wreath at the Death Wall Memorial. Mr. Wertheim a Canadian - is the son-in-law of a death camp survivor. Prime Minister Harper spent a few moments in prayer and then talked in private with Mr. Wertheim.
At the conclusion of his tour of Auschwitz and Birkenau, Prime Minister Harper, Mr Wertheim and Mr. Lizon lit a candle at the International Monument in memory of all those who died at both camps.
Sunday April 6:
Prime Minister Harper concluded his visit to Poland and flew home. Wladyslaw Lizon took this opportunity to thank the Prime Minister for his invitation to attend this momentous event but also to continue talks with the Prime Minister about various other issues concerning Polish Canadians.