Mr. Speaker, I have two petitions to table in the House today. The first petition is on behalf of over 100 members of the Polish community in Hamilton and all of their friends.
Poland is a free, democratic and proud country within the European Union. As a member of the EU, Poland uses all of the same secure passport identification that other EU countries use, including biometric passport technology. In light of those circumstances, it is bizarre that people coming to Canada from Poland still need a visitor's visa.
Why do we not lift the visitor visa requirements, so that we can increase family visitation, tourism, cultural exchanges and trade missions? That is exactly what the petitioners are asking from the Parliament of Canada. I am delighted to promote their call for action by tabling this petition on their behalf today.