Meeting Minutes - Oct. 15, 2007

NATIONAL ETHNIC PRESS AND MEDIA COUNCIL OF CANADA Conseil national de la press et des medias ethniques du Canada                     Canada's Other Voices   October 15, 2007 Meeting Minutes Meeting Location: Toronto City Hall, committee room # 2 The meeting called for 5:30   Present: Thomas S. Saras Clyde McNeil Josivaldo Rodrigues Bikram Lamba Dr. Irene Keroglidis Saeed Soltanpour Sima Sahar Zerehi (Recording Secretary) Hassan Zerehi Massood Mashadi Mohammad Tajdolati Karsten Mertens Iraj Emad William Doyle-Marshal Edward Ginglo Robert Lin K. Arasaratnam K. Saghdejian Maryam Aghvami Roland Isaj Suku Balasubramaniam Soo Wen Tamas Yovanovski Jan Jelieleh David Ferdinands Ranjit Wickromasherh Mila Astorga-Garcia Shabnam Janani Cindy Gu Shrimal Abeyewardene Luba Cherny Ahmad Hotaki John Saraidaris Teshome Worldeamanuel Trifon Haitas Aaron Berhane Kebina Tessfazigi Kathy Lin Hai tien Lin C. Senthi Jan Jelvieleh Enzo Di Mauro Neel Nanda Neil Armstrong Ned Blair Alamgir Housein Danielle Zhu   AGENDA 1. Welcome Remarks by the Chairman -Welcome remarks cut short for the early arrival of the Mayor -Chair remarks on the early turn out of the members 2. A call to order by the Chair -Meeting called to order 3. Presentations: 3a. His Worship David Miller, Mayor of Toronto           Address to Council: · Delighted to be here · Asked for few minutes to talk about cities financial situation · NEPMCC has tremendous role, way of outreaching to · Time of great opportunity and great risk · Put cities position in context · Amidst incredible economic boom · 1867 institutions set up, taxes that generate strong revenue · Property taxes controlled by cities · Incredible pressure on our infrastructure · Montreal bridge collapse – lack of investment · Approach to try to address historic condition through simple tactics · City of Toronto Act – powers city hall has given me · Letter from local restaurateur – $2,500 to city of Toronto in taxes and $64,412 to Queens Park in taxes · What Toronto is responsible for is similar to Provinces like hospitals, TTC, Police, Fire, Ambulance, Social Housing, Administration, Debt payments · Fundamental problem · Dynamic of provincial election, city of Toronto Act and 1cent campaign now endorsed by Premiere · Gave us two taxes, one for land transfer tax and one for vehicle registration · $1.1 billion short/ year as estimated by conference board to meet needs of growing city · Province has to upload some of social services, they are trying to find a way to do it · Federal government has to do its part and that's what 1cent campaign is aiming at · People support public services clear in Provincial election – such as public education · TTC did a survey over 60% said rather pay higher taxes than see services cut · People have said overwhelmingly to find a way to maintain public services and create new ones · Services like libraries and newcomer programs · Invest in programs to preserve our environment · Refers to diagram: Penny cut up compares Toronto revenue sources with top US cities' source of revenue · If we are to compete with major cities like Chicago waterfront: they have different sources of revenue · Our property tax system taxes people based on assessed value – property values increase and taxes go up – forcing seniors to go up · Land transfer tax taxes people when they sell – when they have wealth · Strong consensus across Toronto – people asking when rapid transit built · People understand that city is not sustainable · If Council does right thing we can go to Federal Gov · Cost of not having money is a risk, since amalgamation – we have been using our social service reserves and we can't do this any more · We have all the ingredients to be successful, we can be very strong on a Provincial and National campaign · A little bit of taxes should stay where people live · We have to make governments work for cities and the people in them Q & A: · Business man, we have to have budget before implement the plan.  If the Provincial Gov tell you as a city what to do but we do not have the funds, should this not be an illegal A: Province legislates cost sharing for certain programs However Province does not pay their cost share Provincial gov can legislate what they want on parts of the city Unfunded mandates happens all the time Even more challenging in smaller municipalities; lost of small town in Ontario do not have money for building sewage plants For all of Eastern Ontario they have to spend $500 mill on roads they only have $100 million, roads were downloaded Imagine if Gov passed law that you had to publish extra 50 pages in newspaper for them without funds Q: Why is it not possible that mayors of this country to decide to operate outside of Provincial mandate A: City of Toronto Act has tried to do this in some way Torontonians generated $9 billion for Federal Gov Somebody in Ottawa has to say yes Federal Gas Tax Provincial Gas Tax – these are some measures Shanghai example is an inspiration allow cities to generate wealth and maintain wealth We have had some success: now we need to achieve more It is about capital investment, we had money to buy buses now we have to generate money to run them Q: Arts, musicians, they are living on poverty line, not being respected by funding agencies, haven’t heard politicians speak about arts and support, what is your and councils position on support for the arts A: I support the arts very strongly, very few increase in areas of funding, we have increased funding in police, shootings are down and we are solving more crimes Increased funding in Parks and recreation and the arts Arts is a place to come together, significant centre for the arts We are a place the mobile businesses will come SAS world’s largest software company, people want to be in exciting environment 150, 00 people in creative industries employed Creative industries will thrive in creative areas like bio-medical industry Q: Transportation: Metro pass increase A: my first 3 years the metro pass did not increase, not priced as 42 tokens worth while if you go to work every day, now it is also transferable, if employers buy in bulk it is cheaper, now subsidy is $0.75, City has done our part but not the Province and Feds Q: Outreach A: When cuts come the most marginalized get the least – neighbourhoods deliberate political choices of where to invest Public services like public library: we have an immigration portal as the city for people thinking of coming here Campaign was translated into 13-14 languages: designed to draw people to website, the website is set up in various languages People get the funding crisis and people get it Issues are complicated and a bit of money every time you spend money should be invested in the city Q: First term talked about linking to GO with TTC, what I want to know how close are we to making this a reality, how do we serve underserved communities, is the service provision in these areas better A: Physical integration like linking at Dundas station where there is no elevator between the GO and subway Progress in underserved communities, people appreciate the fact that there is effort to meet their needs, focus on youth, focus on strengths in neighborhoods, like Job Fair in Lawrence Heights had a successful job fair Progress that city and United Way have made – community health centres, more that Provincial Gov can do Apprenticeship programs like carpenter program in Toronto community Housing for young people under 25 who are unemployed We need to multiply that by a thousand This is about bringing everybody together   Q: What is the chance of the tax being passed, A: I will take strong position if the tax is passed or not, real estate industry is lobbying furiously Q: Cricket, 50% population crazy about game, our team not that great, talent that is out there, no proper plan for cricket in Canada, will you do something to correct this situation A: We are working with cricket community to address facilities, we have same problems with soccer, I hope that waterfront may be able to solve solution, we are trying to find better soccer and cricket solutions in Toronto Last year in under 14 a girl won as best batter   Q: Is there no legal precedent, can't we say to Queens Park how dare you tell us where to spend our money A: We house more people in Social Housing than live in PEI, we Court security cost City of Toronto We have to hike taxes 3% to provide court security Recreation centres or court security – Court security is the job of Province They are talking about building new courts Q: Editorial reaches out to all people of Toronto, your own Council doesn't want to approve your taxes, how much money did Toronto spend on Ethnic Media last year A: I come to this council regularly There are 44 political parties and me Last election I said I would implement new revenues Budget for Ethnic Press, required by law to do certain kinds of ads in   3b.The Hon. Stephane Dion, Leader of the Official Opposition   Address to Council: · I realize that you represent many newspapers · We have a colleague of your from a Russians newspaper · You have the news but no truth, truth and news – joke · Speak and publish the truth and defend free speech · Quotes mandate of NEPCC · This is exactly what Canada hopes to do · To do this with so many communities is an achievements · Truth in news in all the languages and cultures that you represent · Diversity is a strength, not a weakness, nightmare or threat – it is the way that you succeed – but cannot be taken for granted · Vision of multiculturalism is not closed ghettos · Purpose of this country is to show that each human being no matter what background must be seen as a human being · Incredible diversity – never taken for granted · The same for my Party, lIberal party must not take support from communites for grantes · We are the culture that brought multiculturalism, Trudeau- I am prowd to be successor of Trudeau · Not in our gene or blood to be tolerant but it is because we had a leader who fought for these values in me you will have such a leader Q & A: Q: German Newspaper: Spend 20 million on committee for immigration, a committee that consisted in every party, a recommendation was made but not implemented, Andre Telegbi a champion for many immigrants, review and modification of IRPA what is your prespective? A: I never break my word,  our party supported it, what role will Mr. Telegbi play in your government? Q: Regularization program A: Party will respect the party vote Q: How are you going to act to throne speech tomorrow? A: If throne speech is not reasonable we will not be able to make this work, if it is a provocative throne speech rather than a moderate one than we will not be able Poles move very fast, when an election starts people follow politics more closely Q: Recent study about 3 Provincial leaders, study in Globe and Mail A: What is your gov prepared to do to assure that all Canadians don’t have this problem Link between environment and health need to move toxins out of air and water Specially for kids and seniors Gov has information on what to do thanks to Liberal Gov Gov is sitting on it and doing the minimum Q: Does Mr. Harper want to go to an election A: His press conference was provocative, he was dismissing parliament, it was unacceptable, I will not accept you will let me govern or its an election If it is the case we will give him the fight of his life Q: One of hallmarks of governments is how it treats its most vulnerable and marginalized sector, live-in-caregivers, would your party would be willing to listed for a change in immigration laws, would Liberal Party allow them to come in as skilled immigrants rather than as vulnerable live-in caregivers, separated with family for four years, would you be willing to have that change, so the two year requirements is taken away, shown in recent murder A: majority of workers under live-in caregivers are women from Philipines, many are subjected to abuse of labour standards, I would say that we need to look at it very carefully We will find the best solutions Q: Massive Lib victory in Ontario, ethnic communities voted for Liberals, how do Feds feel about this great victory? A: I am a Liberal, and I will be a Liberal everywhere in Canada I was very prowd of what Ontarians decided to do, McGuinties father is working very close to me, Q: Afghanistan A: combat mission 3 more years to Feb 2009, we think at that time combat mission is over and we can integrate in training and rebuilding Not responsible to get out, we made commitments, if we give word to other parts of the word you keep your word Prime Minister gave his word I disagree with Mr. Layton as much as I agree with Mr. Harper Our job is to make they will do their job to create their own country otherwise we’ll be there forever We need to know if NATO can work as a multilateral party What we will fo In Feb 2009 needs to be figures out I need to work with my allies and gov of Pakistan as border is open – I need to be elected My mission is to end combat mission in Kandehar is 2009, I hope to hear this in the Throne Speech but I am not optimistic Q: Global Warming, Immigration – clean up, The big booming business is a thrift and goodwill store, as a new Liberal leader are you willing to change living standards for people – as a leader do you have ambition to see education level rising and earning more money – immigration issues are everywhere, Do you have any ideas to raise average living standards A: Why I want to be Prime Minister and why I am a Liberal: to create wealth and to share wealth, the NDP never understood market economy, Conservatives never valued social programs, we liberals think that if we have well designed social economy we can have better standards of living, social justice and economic progress go together In 21 century social justice and economy – we need better child care, parents need to have ability to work, need to be mobile These two pillars economic growth and social justice – we need to consider sustainability, planet can’t follow us, we live in danger of next generations, 50% of water reserve in Mid-East is in danger of disappearing Afghanistan water is most poorly managed resource in world I want Canada to be a champion of environmental sustainability Newcomers what to do: tough decision, we need talents & skills of everyone, how can we prosper if we are preventing so many people from contributing like women, aboriginals. Tare down barriers to allow everyone to contribute and develop skills Q: Afghanistan, Lib gov committed to $1 million aid to Afghanistan, how come we place our soldiers in front line and donated our money from UN which has been known to misspent? A: Our mission is poorly done, Canadians are losing faith, we are not reaching people in need, we need to make sure have strong accountability Q: Committee on Afghanistan A: We have Mr. Manly there, not an expert on Afghanistan, atleast he has gone there, others are there because of their relationship between US and Canada, as though Harper is saying I need okay from Mr. Bush All have connection to Mr. Mulroney, Committee has not been chosen very wisely, chosen to gain okay of Mr. Bush Q: Shortage of skilled workers in Canada, stated numerous times by conference board of Canada, backlog of 800,000 immigrants, are we going to reform point system We are doing job fairs in Germany A: Canada is in fortunate situation, only way to come to Canada through US or ocean, we are in situation of choosing our immigration, an asset that we do not use enough We have a shortage of skilled workers, we need to look at this carefully to make sure that skilled workers come Baby boomers will leave – biggest generation of workers are going to be retired – I am concerned particularly about nurses and doctors I want to help and premieres like Dalton are there moving forward Federal gov also has a responsibility Q: Are you going to re-visit the immigration act? A: Yes we are Q: Where do you stand on Macedonian issue? A: I am against it.  Not easy to solve. Q: Sad day when Canada turned from piece keeping nation to a peace making nation.  I want to know what your government will do to reverse this? A: Liberal Prime Minister invented peace keepers at same time Canada was always there when there was the need to fight We need to continue to be strong in Peace Keeping If I thought people in Afghanistan saw us as occupying forces like Russia I would pull out, but we are supported in Afghanistan We have a positive role to play in Afghanistan Q: What is your government prepared to do to make sure that our sovereignty is maintained in Arctic? A: Solution is to have an international group to recognize Canadian sovereignty, the best way to earn respect is in how we take care of the arctic, In order to help world to make a rule on arctic we need to send strong ministers Q: Foreign Policy regarding Eritrea? A: Canada must buy – when possible democracy – we can’t fight everywhere, we have seen what Mr. Bush has done in Iraq and we don’t want to do that In some way we need to invent a European Union for these countries, we don’t have the equivalent in Africa Q: Chinese dissidents in Canada, 50% of Canada’s anti-intelligence used for spying on Chinese Governments, many Chinese dissidents tracked here in Canada, Chinese students also hired by Chinese Gov to spy on fellow students A: we need to protect our citizens against threat and intimidation, we need to invest in it, We need to invest to protect our citizens Q: Dali Lama – being given honourary citizenship in Canada – human rights and economic benefits A: Strong relationship with Gov of China, engage China to create progress Q: Canadians apathetic, how would you feel about paying A: to vote is a duty, we don’t teach that to our kids anymore In some countries people risk their life to vote In our country we don’t vote Example in 2000 if Canada had chosen Stockwell Day or Harper we would have been in Iraq Q: A member of Parliament called Macedonians a derogatory name what can you do. Mr. Karijianis said this in Globe and Mail A: you give me this evidence and I will look at it Q: Stephen Harper 2006 banned Tamil Tigers as terrorist, 300,000 Tamils in Canada call this group freedom fighters, will you lift this ban? A: I will never change it for political reasons I will only change it if group labeled as terrorist are no longer terrorist Q: Duceppe Star editorial 4. Minutes Approved from Previous Meeting. Dr. Lamba motion to approve, Mr. Soltanpour seconded, all in favour 5. Reports by the President: 5a. Ethno media 2007: Awards Presentation by the L. Governor · Mr. Saras states Monday October 29 there will be an award ceremony · Plaque, certificate and metal are awarded · Lieutenant Governor is going to be asked to hand over the plaque, they will pose and honorees will go to main floor to obtain certificate and metal from Dr. Lamba · Queen's Park will have a list of people being honoured to take them to location for ward giving · John will take pictures, to make sure that we have pictures of everyone we will get one more picture · Cindy, Mr. Zerehi, Maryam, Irene, Shabnam, will be there early to set up they will be there at 5:30 latest · Please do not bring people who did not receive invitations   5b. Word on the Street Festival · Word o n the street this year for one more time was a great success with the cooperation of many members publications. Thousands of visitor were asking information about the ethnic press and media. · Thanks to Clyde McNeil, the Ahmad Shah Hotaki, to Massood Mashadi, to Irene keroglidis, to Hassan Zerehi, To Sima Zerehi, and Iraj Emad, to Mohammad Tajdolati, to Mila Garcia, to Suku Balasubramaniam and to K. Arasaratnam and other volunteers we are reporting today a full success of this important festival. 6. New Business/Motions: 6a. Annual Gathering in December · Annual get together in December will be Friday December 14.  Location will be the same as before as cuisine and price are suitable.  Last year we had much less than 200. If we work together to bring people out we can have a good event.  Otherwise, we will only have 100 people. · Hassan will print tickets, they will be designed by Mr. Balasubramaniam, they will be numbered · The ticket will be $20/person · Motion of date for gathering being December 14, seconded by Chair – motion passes · Motion to set price at $20, seconded by Chair – motion passes · Gathering will take place at Cypress Centre at 36 Thorncliff 7. ADJOURNMENT The Next meeting is scheduled for Monday, November 12, 2007, Committee Room #2 of the Main Legislative building, Queen’s park, Toronto. Our meeting for December 10, 2007 is also going to take place as planned in Committee room #2 of the Main Legislative building in Queens Park, Toronto.