Ottawa, ON – The Hon. Pierre Poilievre, Leader of the Conservative Party of Canada, released the following statement on Polish Constitution Day:
“Two hundred and thirty-four years ago, the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth adopted what we now remember as the Constitution of May 3. In it, the Great Sjem introduced both political and social reforms, creating the first constitution of its kind in Europe.
“Subsequent history has made this holiday bittersweet. Foreign intervention, launched in part to crush the new constitution, would wipe the storied Commonwealth from the map. Through those long years of statelessness, today’s celebration was a powerful – and often illegal – symbol of the Polish national spirit.
“Among many other things, today is a testament to the Polish people’s centuries-old devotion to democracy. Here in Canada, our historic and accomplished community of Polish heritage has exemplified those values over many generations.
“Since the end of the Cold War, Poles have worked tirelessly to embody the ideals of their forebearers. Today, some three decades after the end of communist misrule, Poland has consistently demonstrated the strength of its democratic institutions and civil society. As our trading partner and NATO ally, Warsaw has proven – time and again – that they are ready to stand for freedom.”