Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring attention to the Canada-Poland youth internship program, CPYIP. This first of a kind bilateral internship exchange allows young Canadians an opportunity to seek an internship in the Polish Sejm and young Poles an opportunity to intern in the Canadian Parliament.
Thanks in large part to the establishment of the Youth Mobility Agreement between Canada and Poland in 2009, the Canada-Poland youth internship program is taking full advantage of the opportunity for youth from both countries to experience each other's respective democratic institutions, further enhancing cultural, economic, diplomatic and political ties.
The first group of interns from Poland, Anna Batowska and Arkadiusz Cygan, arrived in Ottawa in September and have been hard at work during this fall session.
I thank the members and executive of the Canada-Poland Youth Internship Society that oversees the Canadians end of the exchange, the Polish Heritage Foundation, the Canadian Polish Congress, the Polish Embassy and all of the generous donors for making this bilateral internship possible.
I think I speak on behalf of all parliamentarians when I say to the interns, “Welcome and enjoy your stay”.