In a speech today, Maxime Bernier MP (Beauce) has attacked the province of Quebec for dependence on the rest of Canada, an oversized bureaucracy, and a “spoiled child” mentality which he perceives to exist in the province. Full text of the speech is available on his blog, or here.
The President of Poland, Lech Kaczyński of the conservative Law and Justice party, has been killed in a plane crash this morning, along with either 95 or 96 others, including his wife Maria. Details are in short supply, but it is known that the Polish Government plane, a Tu-154, crashed into trees just short of the runway at Smolensk North Airport on what appears to be an attempted landing. The President, who was on his way to mark the 70th anniversary of the Katyn massacre, where Soviet troops massacred captured Poles, was likely the victim of crew error. The President’s plane, according to Polish sources, had been recently refurbished, so any problems were unlikely to have been mechanical. The black box has been recovered, and a full investigation is underway. Unconfirmed reports indicate that his pilot was instructed to divert to Moscow due to thick fog, but refused to comply, and crashed on the fourth landing attempt. The aircraft crashed at approximately 10:56 Moscow Time.
A list of notable individuals who were killed is below. Rest in peace.
Lech Kaczyński, President of Poland
Maria Kaczyńska, First Lady of Poland
Krystyna Bochenek, Deputy Speaker of the Senat
Vice Admiral Andrzej Karweta, Commander-in-Chief of the Navy of Poland
Przemysław Gosiewski, member of the Sejm/former Deputy Prime Minister
Janusz Kochanowski, Polish Ombudsman
Piotr Nurowski, President of the Polish Olympic Committee
General Franciszek Gągor, Chief of the General Staff of the Polish Army
Tadeusz Płoski, bishop of the Military Ordinariate of the Polish Army
Sławomir Skrzypek, President of the National Bank of Poland
Ryszard Kaczorowski, President of the Polish Government-in-Exile (during the Soviet occupation)
Aleksander Szczygło, Head of the National Security Bureau
Multiple Members of the Sejm and Senat
The following is a copy of a Facebook statement by Nick Bergamini, a member of the Carleton University Student’s Association.
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Tonight I went out to the bars downtown. It was a great night with my roommate Mark Klibanov. Around 1:45am, as we were leaving the bar, and we heard the shout of “Zionist” in Arabic. As it stands now, we weren’t sure if the shouts were directed at myself, a known a supporer of Israel, or Mark, an actual Israeli.
Quickly, we both responded that yes we were Zionists. All of a sudden we were surrounded by 10-15 men who began to shout at us in Arabic. We tried to back out and run away. All of a sudden, I was struck in the back of the head. I’m not sure if it was a fist, a rock or a pipe but it left me dazed and bleeding.
We quickly ran back to the bar and stood beside the bouncers. The crowd of anti-Israel thugs dispersed.
About 10 minutes later, assuming that it was safe, we began to walk home. We were walking through a parking lot when a car pulled up next to us. The driver shouted “I fucking hit you, you Jew.”
We stood our ground. Quickly we had three guys around us. We were able to push them away. As the cowards that they were, they retreated. Then I heard, shouts of “Open the trunk!” One of them opened the trunk and I saw glistening in the street light the reflection of a 12-inch machete. “Fucking Jew,” he shouted. I began to run for my life as he was only 5 or 6 feet away.
I ran, and as I looked back, I saw the long shiny blade slicing through the air about 12 inches from my neck. I ran as fast I could and, thanks to my grade 9 track and field training, got away.
People who were around the scene said the blade came within inches of my neck.
Now, the debate on campuses has reached the next level. In this country, people are no longer safe if they support Israel. But you know what? I will never take back my beliefs. I support Israel 100 per cent.
But I will say this. Some of the guys who tried to kill us are Carleton students and I recognize who they are. What is this country coming to?
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I will echo that sentiment. What is this country coming to where people are attacked, with weapons, by their fellow students for taking a political stance? For being of a certain religion? For being supporters of a certain country?
The Canada I call home is a Canada of freedom. It values the concept that one should be allowed to state their mind freely, without the threat of physical violence. The individuals who attacked Mr. Bergamini do not represent the fundamental values of Canadian society.
I am glad that Mr. Bergamini is safe, I am thankful that he chose to share his experiences with us, and I am confident that these individuals will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
