Statement by NDP Leader and Canadian Heritage critic Tyrone Benskin congratulating Canada’s Oscar nominees

The NDP team would like to congratulate all the Canadian Oscar nominees from this year’s Academy Awards. In all, 18 Canadians were singled out by the Academy for outstanding achievement in categories such as animation, music, and Best Foreign-Language Film.

We extend particularly warm congratulations to Christopher Plummer, who won Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Beginners. At the age of 82, Plummer is the oldest actor to have ever won an Oscar. An Ontario native who spent much of his childhood in Quebec, Plummer is a Canadian treasure, familiar to audiences for his work in such classic films as The Sound of Music and his work on stage at venues like Ontario’s Stratford Shakespeare Festival.

The Academy’s recognition of Canadian achievements in the field of motion pictures reminds us all that the talent in our country is second to none.