Minutes
of the monthly meeting held at Queen’s Park on October 18, 2004
Present:
Thomas Saras
Indranil
Nanda
Srimal
Abeyawardene
Maxwell Wynter
Hassan
Zerehi
Massood
Mashadi
Anne Dawson
Eva Wazda
Teshome
woldemmanuel
Kendrick Bob
B. Ubale
Elizabeth
Wolski
Ahmed
Mohamed
Ahmed Shah
Hotaki
Marek J.
Cooldyn
Clyde McNeal
Jai Oja
Maharaj
Luba Cherny
Emmanuel
Ayiku
Josivaldo
Rodridrigues
Iraj Emad
Shahram
Saremi
Nahed El
Taher
Cindy Gu
Emily Mills
Dirk Tissera
Mishelle
Tissera
Tanya Nutall
Special Guest: John
Cartwright –President Labour Council Toronto & York Region
Absent
Mona Feng
Dominique
Leval
Agenda
1 Minutes
of the previous meeting
2.
Presentation by John Cartwirght – President Labour Council – Toronto
& York Region.
3
President’s Report
4.
Discussions
5.End of
meeting
Jai
Maharaj chaired the meeting and called the meeting to an order. He asked
the council to approve the minutes of the previous monthly meeting held on
September 13, 2004.
Minutes
of the Previous Meeting:
Hassan
Zerehi moved a motion seconded by Elizabeth Wolski to approve the minutes
of the monthly meeting held on September 13, 2004. It was carried.
Presentation
by John Cartwirght: The Chair
welcomed John Cartwight, the President of the Labour Council Toronto &
York Region to the meeting and invited him to make his presentation to the
Council.
John
Cartwirght, thanked the chair for the invitation and made a video
presentation titled “Breaking Barriers”. The video reflected on the
story of equity and anti-racist work in Toronto in the past 30 years. The
video included personal stories and experiences of activists, who were
part of an anti-racism struggle within organized labour between 1970 and
2003.The analysis from this shows that the structures of organized labour
changed only after workers of colour organized, pushed for and forced
change while facing tremendous resistance and isolation.
After the
video presentation Mr. John Cartwright, spoke on the rapid changing
demographics in the GTA and the contributions that they are making to the
economy. He also spoke about the need to address the needs of the changing
demographics by providing a better deal and infrastructure for this City.
He stressed that the police force in the city should be a true reflection
of the multicultural face of Toronto.
Mr.
Cartwright then took questions from the members on various issues and
encouraged the ongoing partnership between the NEPMCC and the Labour
council.
Thomas Saras
suggested that the Labour Council could provide with regular articles on
Labour related issues to the members of the Council
Thomas Saras
thanked John Cartwright for his presentation and expressed confidence in
working together towards achieving a common goal, a just and equal
multicultural society.
President’s
Report/Discussions
The
President praised the efforts of Ahmadshah Hotaki. for his leadership in
the “ Word on the street Festival”. He also expressed disappointment
as very few newspapers from the members were displayed at the festival. He
said the Council should work together to promote the interest of the
industry. Thomas Saras mentioned that the Provincial Government is going
to provide advertisements on a monthly basis to the members of the
Council. He told the Council that he will be travelling to Ottawa on
October 20, to meet with executives from the Privy Council and Public
Works Canada, to discuss issues related to Government advertising. This
meeting was arranged from the PMO and thanked Mr. Reed for his help on
behalf of the R.H. Paul Martin.
He
said that he would also drop by the ministry of multiculturalism while in
Ottawa for discussions for the upcoming national conference.
There were
then discussions on the seasonal get together which was scheduled for the
month of December. Hassan
Zerehi suggested that Haroon Siddiqui, who is a columnist in the Toronto
Star, would be available as a guest speaker if the seasonal party takes
place on Monday December 6, 2004. Saras informed the Council that some
friends offered to sponsor the seasonal party at a restaurant in Etobicoke
or in the events hall of the Cypriot Community of Toronto at Toronto’s
East Thorncliffe Park, which located just next to an Islamic worship
centre. The President then
moved a motion to accept the invitation of the individuals and celebrate
the seasonal party on December 6, at a restaurant or at the Cypriot
Cultural Centre. It was carried.
The
President informed the members that there was an article published on the NEPMCC
by the Toronto Star and the Globe and Mail.
Thomas
Saras suggested that the Council could arrange for Guest speakers from
time to time to discuss on important policy issues.
End of meeting: The chair, Jai Maharaj adjourned the meeting at 8:30 p.m. The next meeting would take place on November 8, 2004 at Queens Park.
