Minutes of the Monthly Meeting held on June 8, 2015, at Committee Room No 2, City HallPresent:
Agenda1. Welcome Remarks by the chair. 2. Minutes of the previous meeting 3. Report of the President. 4. Presentation by Andrea Horwath leader of Ontario NDP 5. Presentation by Bill Blair Nomination Candidate for Liberal Party of Canada for the riding of Scarborough Southwest. 6. Presentation by Eve Adams – Nomination Candidate for Liberal Party of Canada for the riding of Eglinton-Lawrence 7. New Business 8. Adjournment Welcome Remarks by the Chair:Mr. Thomas Saras chaired the meeting and declared the meeting open. Dr. Tajdolati moved a motion to approve the agenda. Maria Saras- Voutsinas seconded it. The motion was carried
Minutes of the previous meeting:Dr. Tajdolati moved a motion to approve the minutes of the previous monthly meeting Maria Saras-Voutsinas seconded it. The motion was carried. President’s Report/Discussions: President Thomas Saras announced this year the ethnic press festival which took place on the week of May 3- May 10 with the opening ceremony on Monday May 4 at the rotunda of City Hall was a huge success. The opening ceremony took place to mark the “World Press Freedom Day” in solidarity with the journalists who lost their lives in the line of duty last year and all the others in jails in the various country of the world, they are guilty for serving the international public by informing them correctly and responsibly, the president said and added that being a journalist in not a crime, it is an honor to inform the public. The event was attended by many dignitaries from all levels of government. NEPMCC hosted a grand reception at the rotunda of the City Hall with full dinner and wine along with spectacular live entertainment. More than 350 members with their family participated in the celebrations. The event was very successful. Due to PanAm games – there will be no meeting in the month of July. For the same reason the president asked for authorization to prepare the August 10th meeting at the Marriott Downtown (Eaton Centre) hotel, as the city hall will be occupied by the Parapam games. Authorization for the expense was granted. The organization will also participate at the annual CNE exhibition in Toronto from Friday August 21 to Monday September 7, 2015. The president was authorized to take care for this project and also he authorized to cover from the treasury of the organization the necessary expense for the participation. Canada Day Dinner tickets were distributed for nominal fee of $20 per ticket. Presentation by Andrea Horwath, Leader of Ontario NDPMaria Saras Voutsinas introduced Hon. Andrea Horwath to the council. Andrea Horwath thanked NEPMCC for the invite to discussions.
Presentation by Bill Blair Liberal Party of Canada.Bill Blair thanked NEPMCC for the invite. He acknowledged the role of ethnic media. Suleiman Guven, Jonathan Annobil, Janus, Rakhee Prabhakar, Janus Raudkavi, Emmanuel Aikyu, Mila Garcia, Dr. Tajdolati and other members asked questions on a wide variety of issues such as Diversity, Job Creation, Youth Issues, Specifics concerning the riding of Scarborough Southwest, Bill C-51 and other pertinent issues. Presentation by Eve Adams Liberal Party Nomination Candidate for the riding Eglinton-LawrenceMaria Saras Voutsinas introduced Eve to the council. She thanked to be in the invited. Acknowledged the work of ethnic media. Multicultural media plays a bridge in a manner mainstream media cannot. Following are the quote of her speech. “I’m so very pleased to join such a vital part of the Canadian media landscape. Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area, are the very heart of Canadian multiculturalism. Just look at Eglinton-Lawrence, where I am currently running for the Liberal Party’s nomination. The most recent census data shows that over a third of residents speak another language other than English as their mother tongue. It’s a beautiful mosaic. As my leader, Justin Trudeau recently put it, “Toronto represents the most hopeful vision of what their future could look like. Here we are blessed to call it our present.” Information may be prevalent in the internet age, but is journalists such as yours that fulfill the important role of sorting the wheat from the chaff; curating; pulling out the important information which keeps people in communities across the city and the country informed about what is happening in their own backyard and also what is happening back in the countries from which they’ve come. Multicultural media builds bridges between communities the way that traditional outlets might not. I am so much more aware of what is going on in other communities when I open up one of your papers or tune in to your programming. We grow stronger, together as Canadians, when we know more about one another. Building diversity is essential. Canada’s immigration system used to be an international leader. We welcomed the world’s fearless emigrants who hoped to build a better life in Canada. Like my parents, immigrants are courageous. There are so many success stories – like my friend Rose. Rose came to me a few years ago with a serious family matter for which she needed help from the federal government. Me and my office worked diligently to get it resolved and we were so happy when it was. Rose moved to North York while we were still resolving her case, so I was pleased to meet her again when I announced my candidacy for the Liberal Party’s nomination in Eglinton-Lawrence. This mother, student and chef is making an incredible difference in her community and I’m glad to have helped. When we put together all the stories like Rose’s – all those people who have come to Canada and are helping make our communities better we have a lot of stronger cities and a stronger Canada. Unfortunately, earlier this month we learned that Canada dropped out of the top 5 countries for the first time in the Migration Integration Policy Index. The authors of the study pointed specifically at the failure of the Conservative government to reunify families. Since 2007 wait times for family reunification have skyrocketed. Wait times for spouses and children have increased more than 70%. Wait times to sponsor parents and grandparents are up an astounding 500%. Our reputation as a country is suffering internationally as a result “Earlier this year I called on the Conservative government to do more to provide for those who are coming to Canada to provide a better life for their families. I’ve heard too often at the doors and at community events about those who are feeling abandoned as they wait to be deported after working so hard to build up a strong Canada. These men and women in communities across the GTA support families back home with their earnings and now are about to be sent away – unable to see their extended families and friends here for at least 4 years. Canada used to offer strong pathways to citizenship and should at least allow those temporary foreign workers who have applied for permanent residence to stay through the process and have their work permits extended. In return for their help to build a stronger Canada, we have to offer a better chance to more fully join the communities these women and men are helping to create. We have promised that a Liberal government will make the tax system fairer and cut the middle class tax rate by seven percent. Huge thanks to Thomas Saras (President of this auspicious group of learned journalists). Mr. Saras does an incredible job in promoting and providing a voice to so many communities. The National Ethnic Press and Media Council of Canada is a vital institution and it is in great part because of his leadership”. New BusinessTickets for Canada Day were distributed during the meeting. Adjournment:Mohammad Tajdolati moved a motion to adjourn the meeting Srimal Abeyawardene seconded it. The motion was carried. The Chair President Thomas Saras adjourned the meeting at 10:00 pm. The next monthly meeting would take place August 10, 2015 at Marriott Downtown (Eaton Center) Hotel, at the meeting room Carlton Theater from 6:00 to 9:30 PM.
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