[Main] [About NPMCC] [Forms] [Members] [Editorials].[Archives].[Minutes].

[Ethnic Media] [.Contact] .

 

Minutes of the Monthly Meeting held on May 11, 2015, at Committee Room No 2, Toronto City Hall.

Present:


Thomas S. Saras
Neel Nanda
Maria Saras-Voutsinas
Tatyana Fursenko
Jacques varbedian
Suleyman Guven
Ricky Castellvi
Justin N.
Teshome Worldeamanuel
Mohammad-Bolgher Samimi
ISA MELO
Daniel Pascaggi
Mark Tissinaton
Jenna Hay
Suleyman Guven
Ishan Ghazarian
Adu Raudkavi
Maria Swietorzecha
R. Roman
Mark Goldyn
Mike Yolosongie
Nihi Nanda
Charles Sousa (minister)
Bill wittager
Janus Nienkzyk
Mohammad Tajdolati
Jonathan Annobil
Emmanuel Ayiku
John Saraidaris
Ned Blair
Patrick Long
Ernesto Donan
Susana Donan
Ahmed Hotaki
Andre Mazurece
Mulgeta  Zergaber
C. Senthi
Hai-Tien Lin
Luba Cherny
Ishkhan Ghazarian
Luije Aparicio
Paula McKeygei
Srimal Abeyewardene
John Saraidaris
Muhammed Enad
Charles deva
Hermie Garcia
Mila Garcia.

Agenda


1. Welcome Remarks by the chair.
2. Minutes of the previous meeting
3. Report of the President.
4. Presentation by Hon. Charles Sousa
5. New Business
6. 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. 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. The event was very successful.
•President Thomas Saras reminded the members that the nomination for this year’s annual awards will close on June 30. No nominations will be accepted after that date.  He also urged members to pay the annual membership fee if they have not done so by now as it helps the council carry out various projects during the year which benefits all members of the ethnic media industry. Motion: “Dr. Tajdolati moved a motion that members who are not in good standing and not paid the membership fee cannot avail the privilege of services from the Office of the President of NEPMCC”. Jonathan Annobil seconded it. The motion was unanimously carried.

•The President informed the members that some applications for funding have been rejected as the said publications were not clearly indicating about the writers of their articles. To this context the President suggested the need for a special information session for all members. President mentioned that he would travel to Ottawa to meet with the officials of Canadian Heritage to share the grievances of the members of NEPMCC. He mentioned that CCAB the preferred auditing company is not in touch with the reality of Ethnic Media and will take up the cause of the members with Heritage Canada and CCAB. Motion: “President brought to the floor the motion “If Canadian Heritage continues to act alone without any consultations with the office of the president, which considered to be against the interests of ethnic media – the President has the authority to bring it up with the Government of Canada and the responsible minister, if we in the council realize that the actions of Canadian Heritage are going against the interests of ethnic media and the program for funding of the publishers”. The motion was seconded by Janus and was carried unanimously. The President stated that he is working to organize an informative session together with the expertise of the Canadian Heritage in order to communicate to all members the rules of the program.
•President Thomas Saras suggested that planning and final logistics for the “Canada Day” event be left till next meeting and that a committee should be formed. President Thomas Saras will look for a sponsor for the Canada Day event. The Canada Day dinner tickets may be distributed in the next meeting.
•Motion: Janus Raudkavi brought a motion that the expenses of the President of NEPMCC be covered by the organization. The motion was seconded by Mila Garcia and was carried unanimously.

Presentation by Hon. Charles Sousa Minister of Finance Ontario


Maria Saras Voutsinas introduced Hon. Charles Sousa to the council.
Charles Sousa thanked everyone for making NEPMCC a success He mentioned that the work that ethnic media does is critical.  “We have 200 languages spoken in Toronto alone. He mentioned that ethnic media plays a very important role in Canadian Society and praised the hard work and dedication for all involved in the ethnic media industry.  We have budget that is progressive and fiscally sound.  The budget is based on four major pillars.” Renewing and expanding public infrastructure supports Ontario's industries, creates jobs and positions Ontario to better compete in the global economy while meeting the education, health care, and road and transit needs of the future. When Ontario invests, it is building -- and when it is building, it is growing. The 2015 Budget continues and expands on Ontario's plan to make an unprecedented investment of more than $130 billion in public infrastructure over 10 years. He also mentioned that Ontario has taken the necessary steps to move the Province forward. He gave his views on other issues relating to the budget, economy and infrastructure and then opened the floor for discussions Mareck Goodyn, Isa Melo, Mila Garcia, Janus, Dr. Tajdolati, Janus Raudkavi, and other members participated in the roundtable discussions and asked questions on a wide variety of issues such as housing, infrastructure, tax credits, PanAm games and so on.
Hon. Charles Sousa candidly answered all questions to everyone’s satisfaction.
President Thomas Saras thanked the minister for his time. Following the roundtable discussions there was a picture taking opportunity with the members.

New Business -


New Members: - Canadian Polish Congress.
Muhammad Nadeem – Pakistan Times.
President Thomas Saras hoped that the new members will make valuable contributions towards the cause of the NEPMCC.

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 June 08, 2015 at City Hall, committee room #2.