Canada

Canadian bloggers gushing about Miskolc

The Canadian Feather and the Wind travelling couple – Felicia and Wesley – visited Miskolc in December. Turizmusonline shows some videos and photos about their experiences.

The blogger group started to explore the world based on the saying “you only live once”. They visited Mexico, Japan, France, Germany, Poland and many other places. They think that travelling is cheaper than many think. They make their dreams come true and collect several happy memories via travelling.

11 things were emphasized on their blog about Miskolc. One of them is the Miskolctapolca Cave Bath which enchants everyone by its wonderful atmosphere and natural cave pathes.

When visiting the Diósgyőr Castle they could get to know a historic castle where the world of the Middle ages becomes alive.

According to them, travelling to Lillafüred by the little train is a picturesque must-see. In one of the titles of their videos they compare their trip to Lillafüred to a fairy-tale and they advise everyone travelling to Miskolc to see Palotaszálló with a walk next to the Hámori Lake.

They found the taxodiums, the interactive and playful places, and the photo exhibition Inverse Everest (until the 15th January) of the Pannon Sea Museum amazing. The photo exhibition shows the expedition to the deepest caves available with dry feet.

They gush about the old streets of the downtown. They think that going on a sightseeing tour in the city of Miskolc is a great idea, because the streets of the inner city are for pedestrians only.

They did not forget about the Hungarian local dishes. They emphasized the typical Hungarian cousins: fish soup, stuffed cabbage and goulash soup. While they suggest Kis Anna Halászkert and Kispipa Halászcsárda for those loving the Hungarian kitchen, A Leves gastro workshop and Reinpold’s KOLbice, which is famous for its sausage ice cream, are suggested for the fans of modern gastro experiences.

The blogpost of Filicia and Wesley can be found here.

Photos: Feather and the Wind

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Nearly 33,000 Hungarians living abroad get pension from home

Budapest, January 2 (MTI) – Nearly 33,000 Hungarians living abroad, mostly in Germany, get pension or other pension-type benefits sent from Hungary, daily Magyar Idők said on Monday citing data from the Central Statistical Office (KSH).

Around 85 percent of the total number or nearly 30,000 people get their age pension sent abroad, some 2,500 get widow’s pension and parent’s pension benefits, and some 500 get orphan’s benefit. A third of those getting their pension sent abroad were born between 1945 and 1949 and only 122 get their benefits from early retirement.

The majority of people getting their pension sent abroad have only 15 years of registered employment history so their average monthly pension was below 45,000 forints in January, which is slightly more than a third of the average Hungarian pension.

After Germany, most Hungarians get their pension sent over to Austria, followed by Canada, the US, Sweden, Slovakia and Australia, the paper said.

Great Hungarian successes at the Short Track World Cup in Canada

The first ISU Short Track Speed Skating World Cup of the 2016/17 season brought huge successes: the event ended with two gold and two bronze medals for the Hungarian skaters, report moksz.hu and hvg.hu.

Two individual and two relay medals were won by the Hungarian skaters at the ISU (International Skating Union) Short Track Speed Skating World Cup in Calgary, on November 4-6. World Champion skater, Sándor Liu Shaolin won gold in the 500m event with a time of 40.342 and set the new national record herewith.

Furthermore, in the 1000m event Shaoang Ádó Liu ran against two Canadian and a Dutch skaters, and eventually only the two Canadians could finish the laps before him, thus, he won bronze and also set a new national record of 1:23.600.

short-track-world-cup-calgary-hun

The other gold was won in the men’s relay of 5000m by Shaoang Liu, Shaolin Sándor Liu, Csaba Burján and Viktor Knoch. After the Korean team slipped 24 laps before the final, it was the battle of the Hungarian and Canadian skaters, alternating at the leading position. Only 9 laps were left when the Canadians slipped, which allowed the Hungarians to focus only on keeping their top position.

They succeeded in doing so and, for the second time, after last year’s victory in Shanghai, they were the ones to receive the gold medals. At the victory ceremony, Bence Oláh joined the boys and also received a medal, because he was running in the pre-heat instead of Knoch.

The ladies’ relay too ended rather successfully for the Hungarians: Zsófia Kónya, Andrea Keszler, Sára Luca Bácskai, and Petra Jászapáti started off carefully, secured the fourth position, and after the Canadians slipped they made no mistake and won bronze for 3000m.

short-track-world-cup-calgary-hun-relay-female

Hungarian viewers of the World Cup could also rooted for Petra Jászapáti in the final of the 500m event, where she ran a new national record, 42.895 in the quarter-final, and later reached the fourth position.

Skaters of 33 nations, 81 female and 80 male athletes, including the 11 Hungarian skaters competed in Calgary at the World Cup. The series continue in Salt Lake City, starting on November 11.

The Hungarian results on the final day of the competition, as compiled by the Hungarian National Skating Federation:

Ladies:

500m: 4. Petra Jászapáti, 30. Rebeka Szilicei Németh

1000m: 19. Sára Luca Bácskai, 22. Andrea Keszler, PEN Zsófia Kónya

3000m relay: 3. Hungary – Zsófia Kónya, Andrea Keszler, Sára Luca Bácskai, Petra Jászapáti

Men:

500m: 1. Shaolin Sándor Liu, 21. Csaba Burján, 42. Alex Varnyú

1000m: 3. Shaoang Liu, 22. Bence Oláh, 24. Viktor Knoch

5000m relay: 1. Hungary – Shaoang Liu, Shaolin Sándor Liu, Csaba Burján, Viktor Knoch, Bence Oláh

 

Photos: facebook.com/MagyarOrszagosKorcsolyazoSzovetseg

Copy editor: bm

Hungarian foreign minister: Europe faces big challenges

hungary eu flag

Ottawa/Washington, October 25 (MTI) – Europe faces around five big challenges, Hungary’s foreign minister has told Canada’s CBC television in an interview.

Péter Szijjártó mentioned migration, terrorism, the conflict in Ukraine, energy security and Brexit as the main issues on Europe’s agenda.

In connection with the recent failure of the CETA trade agreement between the European Union and Canada, the minister said “the biggest danger is if Europe turns inward”.

Asked about Hungary’s migration policy, Szijjártó said that the migration issue facing Europe was not a matter of international law or human rights, since the right to a safe existence was a basic human right. No basic human right exists that says someone can choose a country where they wish to live and go there at any price while violating borders, he added.

He reiterated the government’s standpoint that priority must be given to helping countries most affected by the migration crisis near conflict zones such as Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey.

Concluding CETA in Hungary’s interest, says foreign minister in Ottawa

 

Washington, DC, October 24 (MTI) – Concluding the CETA free trade pact between the European Union and Canada is a vital Hungarian interest, the Hungarian foreign minister said in Ottawa, after talks with Canadian officials on Monday.

“Signing CETA as soon as possible would undoubtedly be in Hungary’s economic interests, since Hungarian companies currently suffer a disadvantage on the Canadian market against US and Mexican competitors that have trade agreements with Canada,” Péter Szijjártó said.

Signing would also help in marketing Hungarian-made vehicles as well as pharmaceutical and food products in Canada, Szijjártó said, noting the 535 million dollar credit line opened by Hungary’s Eximbank to support this goal.

The minister held talks with counterpart Stephane Dion in the morning and laid a wreath at the monument for Hungary’s 1956 revolution. Afterwards he met influential Canadian business people, including Hungarian-born gold-mining magnet and philanthropist Peter Munk.

Assessing his talks, Szijjártó told MTI by phone that Canada and Hungary would continue to be close allies, primarily in economic, trade and defence cooperation.

He announced the agreement reached with Canada’s supplier Linomar under which the auto industry supplier would invest 7 billion forints (EUR 22.7m) to create an additional 80 jobs at its plants in Orosháza and Békéscsaba, in south-eastern Hungary, where 2,300 people work already.

Szijjarto also announced that he agreed with Air Canada on its operation from next year of five flights per week between Toronto and Budapest. It is hoped this will further add to the 40,000 Canadian tourists who visited Hungary in 2015.

He said the two countries further strengthened military cooperation under which the training of Hungarian pilots will continue in Canada until 2021.

Szijjártó said he had expressed thanks to his partners for Canada’s taking in some 38,000 Hungarian refugees after the 1956 revolution.

“We are proud that today a community of more than 300,000 Hungarians is strengthening Canada,” the foreign minister said.

Several commemoration events were marking the 1956 anniversary in Canada

Washington, DC, October 24 (MTI) – Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó and Economy Minister Mihály Varga took part in several commemoration events marking the 60th anniversary of Hungary’s anti-Soviet uprising of 1956 in Canada over the weekend.

Speaking in Montreal, Szijjártó said that rather than opting to build a parallel society in their new home, Hungarians living in Canada had contributed to the achievements of that country.

“If someone were to look back on our history, they would have no doubt that the Hungarian nation is not only a nation of freedom-loving people but also one of freedom fighters,” the foreign minister said.

Szijjártó said the revolution of 1956 had proved that dictatorship “cannot take root” in Hungary. It also became clear then that if the freedom or sovereignty of the Hungarian people “appears to be violated in the slightest degree” then they are prepared to rise up even against “a superior force”, he added.

However, when Soviet forces entered the country to crush the revolution, Hungarians “like so many times throughout their history, were left to fend for themselves,” Szijjártó said. “Although it was clear to the world what was happening in Hungary, the international community remained silent… Even the UN Security Council failed to provide help to Hungary,” he said.

Szijjártó said Hungary was proud of the Hungarians who had contributed to making Canada the “great country” it is today, expressing gratitude to the country for taking in Hungarian refugees in 1956.

Meanwhile, Economy Minister Mihály Varga attended commemoration events in Toronto. Speaking to MTI over the phone after the celebrations, Varga said he had attended a wreath laying ceremony in the city’s Budapest Park. The event was also attended by Canadian politicians, including the speaker of Ontario’s legislative assembly. Forty Hungarians living in Canada took their oaths of citizenship at the event. Varga said that the skills and qualifications of Canadian-Hungarians had helped them become instrumental in Canada’s progress over the years.

The Hungarian Hello Wood’s installation in Budapest Park (Toronto)

 

Photo: MTI, Hello Wood/Gergely Szinnay

Hungarian foreign minister: EU-Canada free trade deal ‘uncertain’

Luxembourg, October 18 (MTI) – It continues to be uncertain if the free trade agreement between the European Union and Canada could be signed next week as planned, the Hungarian foreign minister said on Tuesday.

Speaking after a meeting of foreign and trade ministers of the EU, Péter Szijjártó said that several countries had voiced doubt about the agreement.

It is in Hungary’s interest that the European Union should remain competitive in a new global economy for which it is crucial to have a free trade agreement with Canada that takes each member state’s sensitivities into consideration, Szijjártó said. Europe needs to be a part of global economic trends, he added.

If the EU is unable to sign free trade agreements, then it will fall behind in international trade and economic competition, which will also have a very negative effect on Hungary, Szijjártó said.

The council of foreign and trade ministers has made it clear that the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) must not force any EU member state to amend their current regulations pertaining to environmental protection, food safety, public services and public procurements, he said.

Hungary’s current GMO regulations are not under threat in any way because the agreement contains safeguards that no European import licences can be issued for products that have not passed preliminary health and other checks.

The ministers agreed that food safety, consumer protection and water management would remain in national sphere of authority, and that the current level of environmental regulation must not be lowered in Europe.

Szijjártó confirmed that the way CETA addresses Hungary’s concerns in agriculture and food production, including maize, poultry, beef, pork and eggs, is reassuring. The agreement is favourable to Hungary also in terms of the designation of origin and geographical indications applied to Tokaji wine and Szeged salami, he added.

Government: Hungary aims to get migrant quotas taken off EU agenda

Budapest, October 18 (MTI) – The aim of the Hungarian government is to persuade Brussels to take mandatory migrant quotas off the European Union’s agenda, the government office chief said at his weekly press briefing on Tuesday.

The government needs the help of every Hungarian politician in this “battle”, János Lázár said. He noted that Prime Minister Viktor Orbán had initiated meetings with the leaders of every parliamentary party to garner support for Hungary’s challenge of migrant quotas.

He said the prime minister had already met Socialist Party leader Gyula Molnár in the matter and that he was meeting Gábor Vona, the head of Jobbik, on Tuesday afternoon.

In his talks with Molnár, the prime minister asked the Socialists to support Hungary in its political debates with the EU, even if the party had not supported the government-initiated constitutional amendment proposal on migrant quotas, Lázár said.

The Socialist Party confirmed in a statement that Molnár had met Orbán on Tuesday to discuss the topics that will be on the agenda at this week’s EU summit. The party reiterated, however, that it was not willing to discuss the constitutional amendment proposal with the prime minister.

With the Socialist Party having made it clear that it would not hold talks about amending the constitution “without a mandate from the majority of voters”, the prime minister “accepted” the offer to discuss security policy matters, the statement said.

The party said the meeting, which had been initiated by Orbán, focused on the topics that will be covered by the European Council, including migration, Russia and the proposed EU-US and EU-Canada free trade deals.

The Socialists said Orbán and Molnár disagreed on the state of public life, democracy, press freedom and the rule of law in Hungary.

Photo: MTI

Hungarian government authorisises foreign ministry to assess CETA text

Budapest (MTI) – The government has authorised Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó to assess the final text of the free trade deal between the European Union and Canada, a resolution published in Monday’s official gazette Magyar Közlöny shows.

According to the resolution, the government supports the pact’s preliminary text and has tasked the foreign minister with issuing an authorisation document for its finalisation.

Once the text is assessed, the foreign minister and Justice Minister László Trócsányi are to present to the government draft legislation on the enactment of CETA.

If the temporary implementation of certain clauses of CETA that fall under the EU’s joint exercise of powers require the amendment of Hungarian laws, Hungary will begin the necessary amendment procedures “in due time”, the resolution said.

Jobbik wants European Court ruling over CETA pact

Budapest, October 11 (MTI) – The Jobbik party wants the European Court of Justice to rule on the bloc’s free trade pact with Canada, which it said would violate EU law.

Current European Union laws prohibit operating parallel courts, the party’s deputy group leader, Gábor Staudt, said on Tuesday, expressing concern that the pact would disregard European environmental regulations.

“Considering that the pact is not up to EU legal standards, any political debate over it would be fruitless,” he told a press conference.

Tibor Bana, another Jobbik lawmaker, accused the ruling Fidesz party of maintaining “a cynical position” over CETA. Fidesz presents its stance on the pact as if it had been doing its utmost to protect Hungary’s national interests. Yet CETA would put the country’s self-determination, environment and health and safety protection at risk, he added.

Bana accused Fidesz of giving up Hungary’s free GMO status, and argued that the pact hurts employees and small and medium-sized firms.

He criticised the planned dispute settlement mechanism allowing multinational companies to bring nation states to court, adding that both CETA and the planned TTIP accords should be scrapped.

On this weekend: Bryan Adams in Budapest

This week, on October 9, Bryan Adams arrives to Budapest, again. The world famous singer brings his new Get Up Tour to the Hungarian audience. You’d better put on your dancing shoes!

Venue

Papp László Budapest Sportaréna, Budapest

 

Bryan Adams released his thirteenth studio album, Get Up, in last October. Produced by the famous ELO frontman Jeff Lynne and co-written with his long-time collaborator Jim Vallance the album features nine new songs and four acoustic pieces. The album’s lead single, Brand New Day is supported by the official music video directed by Adams and features BAFTA Award-winning actress, Helena Bonham Carter along with musician Theo Hutchcraft from the acclaimed synth-pop duo, Hurts.

As Canada’s best-known ambassador, Adams has spent the last three decades making music history. He has sold upward of 65 million records, toured six continents and achieved #1 status in over 40 countries around the world. He has been awarded the Order of Canada, has been inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame and has a Star on Canada’s Walk of Fame. Adams has also been nominated for — and won — several Academy Awards, Golden Globes and Grammy Awards. He has a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and has been inducted into Wembley’s Square of Fame. His latest tour kicked off on February 11 in New York City at the historic Beacon Theatre before hitting cities throughout North America, UK, Ireland and Europe through the end of 2016.

Tickets are still available on www.livenation.hu and at Ticketpro as well.

Copy editor: bm

Fidesz lawmakers authorise PM to sign CETA

Budapest (MTI) – Lajos Kósa, the head of Fidesz’s parliamentary group, said Fidesz lawmakers on Tuesday authorised the prime minister to give Hungary’s consent to the start of talks on an EU-Canada free trade deal. Kósa said that no temporary measures would take effect under the CETA deal which would require Hungary’s authorisation.

Yesterday Marcel Szabó, the deputy ombudsman in charge of future generations, and green organisations lobbied the government not to sign the planned free trade agreement, as in their view it holds the danger of allowing the spread of GMOs, it is unclear on how disputes between investors and states can be settled and its temporary effect would be problematic.

Green opposition LMP spokesman József Gál said that by supporting CETA, the Hungarian government has once again proven that it represents the interests of multinational corporations instead of Hungarian workers and businesses. CETA will only favour companies that view Hungary as “an assembly plant,” he said. When CETA enters force, “Hungary’s autonomy will significantly decrease” because “an anti-democratic procedure for settling disputes” will enter into force that grants special rights to companies registered in Canada, he added.

Photo: MTI

Ombudsman, civil organisations lobby against CETA free trade deal with Canada

Budapest, October 4 (MTI) – Marcel Szabó, the deputy ombudsman in charge of future generations, as well as representatives of civil organisations on Tuesday called on Hungary’s government not to sign a planned free trade agreement between the European Union and Canada.

Addressing a conference organised by the ombudsman’s office, the National Council for Sustainable Development and the National Society of Conservationists, Szabó asked the government to turn to the European Court and ask for a review of the planned treaty with Canada. He said problematic issues in the draft included the spreading of GMO, procedures of potential disputes between investors and states and the agreement taking temporary effect before its ratification.

Szabó said the agreement is not in line with criteria approved by Hungarian lawmakers in June on free trade agreements and it is also unconstitutional.

Foreign state secretary Lászlo Szabó told parliament’s sustainable development committee on Monday that the CETA free trade deal with Canada would create far better conditions for Hungary than its current bilateral agreement with Canada.

Foreign ministry: Majority of EU states view CETA free trade deal as favourable

Daily News Hungary

Budapest, October 3 (MTI) – The planned free trade deal between the European Union and Canada would create far better conditions for Hungary than its current bilateral agreement with Canada, and the majority of EU member states view the pact positively, a foreign and trade ministry official said on Monday.

State secretary László Szabó told a meeting of parliament’s sustainable development committee that any EU member state would be able to block the outcome of five years of negotiations. Support for the putative agreement, however, is much stronger than for TTIP, the pact being negotiated between the United States and the EU, he said.

Szabó warned that the process of ratification of the CETA pact could take years. A meeting of the EU General Affairs Council on October 18 would not end with the signing of a final agreement but a temporary one pending ratification, he added.

For the process to advance forward, Hungary’s parliament must approve the agreement in its current form. Before final approval there will be time to negotiate its precise wording, he said.

The ombudsman for future generations told the meeting that his office did not support the signing of the agreement. Hungary needs euroconform solutions that would improve CETA, he said. Its introduction on a temporary basis would make ratification symbolic because the agreement would be in effect anyway.

He suggested that Hungary could add a legal appendix to the text of CETA which could prevent future disputes that would work against the country’s benefit.

The committee’s head, Benedek R Sallai of the opposition green LMP party, said CETA did not conform with Hungary’s constitution and violated the principle of staying GMO free so he did not agree with ratification.

On his initiative, the committee submitted an amendment proposal that was passed with five votes in favour and three abstentions.

Szijjártó comments CETA, TTIP in talks with EU trade commissioner

Budapest, September 26 (MTI) – Hungary’s government will seek parliament’s position on the subject of a free trade agreement with Canada (CETA) before deciding on whether to support it, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said on Monday after talks with Cecilia Malstrom, the European Union’s trade commissioner.

Brussels must formulate an official position on this issue by October 18, he noted at a press conference. He said Canada is an important trading partner for Hungary and Canadian investments play an important role in the national economy, too.

On the subject of a free trade agreement with the United States (TTIP), Szijjártó said it was premature to talk about “something which only exists in negotiations”.

Hungary is an open economy which depends heavily on exports and its ability to attract investments, Szijjártó said. The EU currently has 37 free trade agreements and it is negotiating 20 others, he said, adding that it was welcome that the EU is open to attracting external partners.

Hungary has a few “red lines”, namely staying free of GMO products, which is laid down in its constitution. Hungary’s GMO-free stance has been made clear in connection with negotiations on the TTIP and the CETA, and the latter would guarantee that GMO-free status can be maintained, he said.

Because of NAFTA (the US-Canada-Mexico trade pact), European companies are at a disadvantage on North American markets, he said. It is in Hungary’s interest to compete there on equal terms, he added. Another agreement, the TPP, between 12 Pacific countries under the leadership of the United States, also excludes Europe, Szijjártó noted.

A decline in European competitiveness affects Hungary’s open economy acutely, but some national interests are key, such as the GMO issue. he said.

Malstrom said she trusted Hungary would support CETA as this would bring “immediate economic benefits” for Hungary. She said there is a growing consensus on the pact and it is hoped it can be signed in October. As for the TTIP, she said efforts were being made to speed up negotiations which would be continued under the next US presidency.

Budapest, 2016. szeptember 26. Cecilia Malmström kereskedelempolitikáért felelõs uniós biztos és Szijjártó Péter külgazdasági és külügyminiszter a megbeszélésüket követõen tartott sajtótájékoztatón az Országházban 2016. szeptember 26-án. MTI Fotó: Bruzák Noémi

István Mikola, state secretary at the foreign ministry, said that Hungary needed free trade agreements so as not to be excluded from any world market.

Addressing a forum with Malstrom in the Budapest Business School, Mikola called CETA a good pact that is in the making after five years of hard bargaining.

Malstrom said the free trade agreements enable Europe to shape economic globalisation rather than passively suffering from it.

The ruling Fidesz party said that a decision would be made at next week’s meeting of the party’s parliamentary group on whether or not to back the CETA pact. Gergely Gulyás, the deputy group leader, said the party had not yet established a unified standpoint on the matter. Fidesz also awaits the opinions of opposition parties, he told journalists.

He said there were several points of vital importance on which a reassuring answer was needed before the party could lend its support to the agreement. Among them are the issue of legal authority when it comes to settling disputes and the question of GMOs.

The opposition LMP party accused the EU of involving multinational companies in free trade agreements and only listening to the voices of member states and its citizens after they make protests. Erzsébet Schmuck, the party’s parliamentary group leader, noted after a meeting of parliament’s trade committee attended by Malstrom that LMP had been an ardent critic of the TTIP agreement and had lobbied the prime minister to withhold his support for it.

Schmuck said Europeans are less and less satisfied with the prospect of such trade pacts, since they feel it is “not on their behalf” that the EU is signing them. Malstrom “must sense this uncertainty”, as she is visiting Hungary and other member states to discuss the subject, she added.

Photos: MTI

Court turns down owner’s plea against Hungary’s listing Munkácsy painting

Budapest, September 19 (MTI) – A municipal court on Monday turned down an appeal submitted by the owner of Munkácsy’s Golgotha against listing the painting as artwork under national protection.

The court said that the picture was an “irreplaceable” part of Hungary’s cultural heritage, and left in place an earlier decision by the national heritage authority, under which the monumental painting cannot be removed from the country without a special permit and which ensures pre-emptive purchase rights to the Hungarian state.

The decision can be appealed before the supreme court.

Hungarian-American Imre Pakh, the owner, ordered the painting to be veiled from public view at a museum in estern Hungary last year, after failing to reach an agreement on its sale to the state of Hungary.

The painting belongs to Munkácsy’s famous “Christ Trilogy”, all three of which hang in Debrecen’s Deri Museum. The state has owned “Ecce Homo!” for years and it recently acquired “Christ Before Pilate”, another of the three, from Canada’s Art Gallery of Hamilton for 5.7 million US dollars, with funding from the National Bank of Hungary’s programme to buy national art treasures.

The central bank earlier indicated it was willing to pay 6 million dollars to acquire “Golgotha”, but Pakh asked for 9 million dollars. Pakh’s offer included the loan of all 52 Munkácsy paintings in his collection for a period of twelve years as well as pre-emption rights for the works.

Photo: MTI

Budapest mayor visits Montreal to prepare twinning

Washington (MTI) – Mayor of Budapest István Tarlós visited Montreal as part of a Hungarian Week organised there. Tarlós prepared plans with the local mayor Denis Coderre to sign a twinning agreement between their cities next year.

The mayors attended the unveiling of a commemorative plaque in Montreal for the 1956 anti-Soviet Hungarian revolution and freedom fight. Coderre addressed the ceremony attended by the great grandchild of Hungarian-born composer and pianist Ferenc Liszt.

Tarlós told MTI over the phone on Wednesday that the purpose of his visit to Montreal was to prepare the twinning agreement which was initiated by Coderre. “Such a connection will mainly involve cultural ties,” he said, adding that city development, environmental and waste management issues were also discussed.

Tarlós said he rejected Coderre’s question of whether Budapest would join a statement signed by several Canadian, US and African cities on accepting migrants, which Coderre acknowledged. Tarlós said Budapest would not sign such an agreement as that would be against the Hungarian government’s position and “the opinions of a vast majority of Hungarians.” Tarlós noted that in Europe only Brussels, Paris and Lyon signed the agreement.

The Canadian market is flooded by imported Hungarian duck-meat

HVG.hu reports, based on a CBC.ca article, that the Canadian market is full of duck products imported from Hungary which are repackaged and relabeled, and then being sold as products “made in Canada”, deceiving Canadian consumers.

According to CBC News, there has been a major increase in the demand for duck-meat in the country, which resulted in duck producers aiming to boost their production. Even though, it is more expensive than chicken, duck is more often being chosen “as an alternative to beef, which has experienced steep price increases”, as noted by CBC.

Producers, therefore, aim to expand their supplies and offer more kinds of duck products. One of the processor companies, Brome Lake Ducks also aims “to expand its export business, which took a 35 per cent hit in 2004…”, whereas the largest duck processor company of Canada, the King Cole Ducks would also increase its exports to Mexico to get a foothold on the market as Brome Lake became a serious competition.

[button link=”https://dailynewshungary.com/people-love-hungarian-chimney-cake-canada/” color=”red” newwindow=”yes”] Also, Canadians seem to love the Hungarian chimney cakes[/button]

However, the situation of the Canadian duck processors is not that easy: they do not only have to compete with each other but also with the “[f]lood of cheaper import… especially from Hungary that has flooded the Canadian market over the last two years”. Debbi Conzelmann, CEO for King Cole suspects, based on the increase of the imports, that Hungarians will “probably take over a third of the country’s production this year…”

Moreover, consumers are constantly being misled, as Hungarian products are being repackaged and relabeled as if they were actually made in Canada, whereas they were, in fact, exported to the North-American country from Europe. Ken Falk, president of Fraser Valley Specialty Poultry, claimed that these imported products are “one of the biggest threats facing Canada’s duck sector”, and complained about the government’s non-interference.

Copy editor: bm