Mr. Speaker,
[Member spoke in Greek and provided the following translation:]
One hour of freedom is worth 40 years of slavery and prison.
[English]
This is a famous Greek phrase as we mark the bicentennial of Greek independence today.
March 25 marks the 200th anniversary of the beginning of Greece's struggle to regain independence after four centuries of oppression under the Ottoman Empire. This fight ultimately led to the return of democracy in Greece, 2,000 years after its birth.
This victory was won thanks to the sacrifices of all Greeks who loved their freedom, their language, their culture and their religion.
It is with immense pride that I rise in the House to pay tribute to the sacrifices of my ancestors and celebrate the vibrant culture and heritage of Greece. I invite all Canadians to join our community in celebrating this historic milestone.
[Member spoke in Greek]