Minutes of the monthly Meeting held on June 6,2016 at Committee room # 2,Toronto City Hall

Present:

Thomas  S. Saras
Maria Voutsinas
Ricky Castellvi
Pooyan Tabatauei
Helia Ghazimirsaeid
Sandeep Prabhakar
Rakhee Prabakhar
Saad Alsafar
Mohammad Tajdolati
Rosemary Sandlier
Mohammad-Bagher Samimi
Patrick Long
Mary Chen
Teshome Wooldeamanuel
Isa Melo
Jonathan Annobil
Ahmad Hotaki
Marek  Goldyn
Miecryslaw Kolosowsski
Tharmasrira Jah Thirunavu
Suhanthy Tharmasrirajan
Nethan Shah
Valeri Roman ov
Mathew  Watson
Claudia Waldstein
Karin Waldstein
Lankathas Pathmanathas
Muhammrd Ened
Raji Arasaratnam
Hermie Garcia
Mila Astra Garcia
Susana Donan
Ernesto Donana
Sivamohan  Thaliou
Kirupu
Nesathurai  Balasubramanian
Arif Ahmed
Elizabeth Muzak
John Saraidaris

Agenda:

1 Welcome remarks by the Chair
2 Minutes of previous meeting
3 Report by President and Dr Tajdolati
4 Presentation by Neethan Shan NDP candidate in Scarborough Rouge River
5 New Business
6 Adjournment

Mr Thomas Saras chaired the meeting and called it to order. The motion to approve the agenda was unanimously approved by all the members present. The motion was carried.
A motion to approve the minutes of previous monthly meeting in May was also unanimously approved by all members present. The motion was carried.
Welcome greetings by Thomas Saras.
Agenda accepted and a motion was passed to accept the minutes of May 2016. Motion by Sandeep and seconded by Saad. Passed unanimously.
Thomas Saras and Dr. Tajdolati gave the group an overview of their visit to Ottawa to meeting before the committee.
Thomas gave a brief history lesson about our organization. He also explained the collective struggles of our membership. Dr. Tajdolati was able to give specific examples. The most telling was that the committee was not aware that most publishers/editors have two jobs.
Enthusiasm is quite high that positive changes will be noted by the ethnic media industry. Mr. Saras was able to conclude to the committee that if they believe in multiculturalism, then more funds need to be given to ethnic media outlets.
Neethan Shan, Ontario NDP Candidate in the yet to be called by-election for Scarborough-Rouge River spoke to the group. He explained that he is also a member of the ethnic media and appreciates the service of our group.
Dr Tajdolati updated all the members regarding their trip to Ottawa to present NEPMCC to the Inter Parliamentary committee. Lots of information regarding the NEPMCC was given to the committee and questions were raised by them too, to which both Mr Saras and Dr Tajdolati responded with confidence. The main aim to do this was to convince this committee was to allot more funding towards the ethnic media because the members of the ethnic media are holding 3 jobs but with a lot of pride and sincerity is publishing newspapers or magazines weekly or monthly.

NDP Provincial candidate for Scarborough Rouge River Neethan Shan made a presentation to the members. Shan has a higher profile than other Ontario NDP candidates in Scarborough, where Liberals have held all the provincial seats for a decade.
A former youth worker and York Region public school trustee, he has also run, unsuccessfully, for a provincial seat in Scarborough-Guildwood and against Cho in 2010 for the councillor’s chair in the city’s Ward 42. Through a question answer interaction with the members Neethan Shan conveyed the message of his commitment towards improving and uplifting the education system in Ontario. The members wished him the best for his upcoming election.

The President continued his report and asked the members to sanction the expense for the CNE exhibition. Mr Saad suggested that instead of paying the CNE for the booth why can all the members not provide the equivalent (money wise) ads for free for CNE? Sandeep of The Weekly Asian Connections also agreed to do so. The President will discuss this matter the marketing team of CNE and revert to the members. President is trying to arrange for 400 tickets for CNE. The Premier has been invited for the opening ceremony and in case she accepts this year it may not be possible to serve alcohol after the official opening ceremony. Mr Ricky will be reimbursed for his services at the CNE for all the days he is in attendance.
Members were notified that Minister Chan rejected application for financial support to the organization. Last year they gave 10 k out of which $1000 was paid to the accountant. They are demanding Chartered accountants report for the expense which will cost the organization minimum $ 7000. Receiving 10 k and spending 7k for CA firm did not make any sense. This point of concern was raised at the Ottawa meeting also informed Dr Tajdolati.
The Aga Khan Foundation has awarded NEPMCC that they will receive an award of repute for outstanding work towards the community.

Mr Saras requested all members to pls purchase tickets for the Canada day celebration that is happening on July 1st at the Cypriot hall. He will be sending out invitation to politicians to be guest at this event only if adequate number of tickets are sold, otherwise the event may have to be cancelled. As the event is next month members can book the tickets and make payments via e transfer.
Mr Ranjit Wiks proposed NEPMCC sell raffle tickets at CNE for a dollar to win a car, but that was put on hold due to licensing required for selling raffle tickets.
Mr Marek was applauded for receiving an award from Diversity expo for his contribution towards journalism. He also announced a Diversity Expo on June 7 and all are invited.
No new members were introduced neither was new business announced. So at 8.05 pm all agreed to adjourn the meeting until next meeting on July 11 2016, at the Toronto City Hall, committee room N#2, at 6:00 pm, the Hon. Minister of Finance of Canada is expected to speak to our members.
Shan has a higher profile than other Ontario NDP candidates in Scarborough, where Liberals have held all the provincial seats for a decade.
A former youth worker and York Region public school trustee, he has also run, unsuccessfully, for a provincial seat in Scarborough-Guildwood and against Cho in 2010 for the councillor’s chair in the city’s Ward 42.