Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Polish Canadians and in particular to the Polish community in my riding of Parkdale—High Park who yesterday celebrated the 207th anniversary of the Polish constitution.
May 3 is a national holiday for Poles, a day to reflect on and celebrate the heritage and ideals of humanitarianism, tolerance and democracy.
The constitution of May 3, 1791 was the first liberal constitution in Europe and second in the world, after the constitution of the United States. It was an attempt to secure rights for broad sections of the population and to mobilize the nation against rising threats to independence. The constitution of 1791 was the instrument that gave rise to parliamentary supremacy. It also gave Polish citizens new found access to parliament.
Constitution day is a proud heritage for Canadians of Polish descent and a confirmation of the basic values and freedoms of our society.