Goldring recognizes ambassador Ogrodzinski’s work in Canada

November 20, 2009

Ottawa – Peter Goldring, Member of Parliament for Edmonton East paid tribute today to His Excellency Piotr Ogrodzinski, Ambassador of Poland to Canada, who after five years in Ottawa is returning to Poland for re-assignment.

Mr. Goldring says Mr. Ogrodzinski has been instrumental in working for closer ties between Canada and Poland. During Mr. Ogrodzinski’s term Canada has dropped visa restrictions for Polish citizens visiting here, and reached an agreement on youth mobility allowing those under age 35 to work and travel more easily between the two countries. Canada has also given veteran status to Polish WWII soldiers who served on the Western Front who are now living in Canada.

“Ambassador Ogrodzinski has been very effective in representing Poland in Canada,” Mr. Goldring says. “He understands the need for relationship that work both ways between our two nations.”

Mr. Goldring and Mr. Ogrodzinski first met in 2004 in Canada, just after the Orange Revolution in Ukraine when both were involved in helping to organize election monitors for the run-off presidential elections.

There are more than 800,000 Canadians with Polish ancestry. Poland is Canada’s largest trading partner in Central and Eastern Europe, with more than $1.2 billion in annual trade between the two countries. “It is also a country with shared values,” he points out, “a member of the European Union and NATO.