Canadian Prime Minister to travel to Poland to mark the 80 years since the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration and extermination camp

January 22, 2025 (Ottawa, Ontario) : On January 27, 1945, Allied forces liberated the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration and extermination camp. As the largest camp under Hitler’s regime, it became one of the most important symbols of the Holocaust – the genocide that killed six million Jews, with one million murdered in Auschwitz-Birkenau alone. The Nazis also killed 500,000 Roma and Sinti, and millions of others, including ethnic Poles. The persecution, murder, and unimaginable inhumanity of the Holocaust marked one of the darkest chapters in our history. Eighty years later, let us renew the vow: ‘Never again’.

The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today announced that he will travel to Poland, from January 26 to 28, 2025, to mark 80 years since the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration and extermination camp. He will be accompanied by Canadian Holocaust survivors as well as Canada’s Special Envoy on Preserving Holocaust Remembrance and Combatting Antisemitism, Deborah Lyons.

In Poland, the Prime Minister will attend a commemorative event and meet with Holocaust survivors to hear their stories, remember those whose lives were senselessly taken, and pledge to never waver in standing up to antisemitism, hatred, and bigotry. The Prime Minister will also hold bilateral meetings with the President and the Prime Minister of Poland, where he will emphasize Canada’s commitment to transatlantic security in the face of global instability and uncertainty. He will underscore the continued importance of support for peace and freedom in Ukraine, including in the context of Canada’s 2025 G7 Presidency. Prime Minister Trudeau will also discuss Canada’s potential contributions to Poland’s energy security through deepened co-operation and trade in clean energy, including nuclear.

Throughout his visit, the Prime Minister will meet with international partners to discuss ways to address key geopolitical challenges, including Russia’s ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine and the evolving situation in the Middle East. He will emphasize the importance of maintaining global unity in the defence of peace, democracy, and human rights.