NATIONAL ETHNIC PRESS AND MEDIA COUNCIL OF CANADA Conseil national de la press et des medias ethniques du Canada Canada's Other Voices
November 19, 2007 Meeting Minutes, Queens Park - committee room # 230
The meeting called for 5:30
Present: Thomas S. Saras Clyde McNeil Dr. Bikram Lamba Tanas Jovanovski Iraj Emad Dumitru Popescu Danielle Zhu Neel Nanda Ahmad Hotaki Massood Mashadi Iqbal Khosla Josivaldo Rodriques Irene Keroglidis Teshome Woldeamanuel Mohammad Tajdolati Sima Saher Zerehi Kathy L. L. Lin Hai Tien Lin Hassan Zerehi Bahram Bahrami Alamgir Hussain Mila Artega-Garcia Hermie Garcia Shabnam Janani Ranjit Wicks Davis Ferdinands Maryam Aghvami Luba Cherny Ned Blair Aaron Behrane
Absentee:
AGENDA 1. A call to order by the Chair · Meeting called to order
2. Welcome Remarks by the Chairman and meeting called to order · Welcome remarks
3. Minutes Approved from Previous Meeting · Dr. Lamba motion to approve, Mr. Soltanpour seconded, all in favor · Chair accepted vote to approve minutes · Remarks made about making sure to add names to agenda items in the future · Secretary requested that members state their names before making comments & moving agenda items
4. Reports by the President:
4a. President was received by Public Works and Government Services of Canada · Mr. Saras states stated that this is the ministry responsible for Government ads · They discussed the eligibility criteria for media plan cost guides to ensure that it is transparent · President wants to make sure that Federal institutions, the private sector as well as the industry are consulted · 3 elements are being considered: eligibility, evaluation and cost guide · Some changes include the fact that the publicist statement will have to be sworn under oath and a more complete information list will be required on the circulation · The major change will be the requirement of a signature from a notary public · The 3 latest issues of each publication must be submitted for circulation confirmation · The invoices of the last 3 issues must be submitted · Questionnaires will reach members from December to February · The printer invoices will be required for last 3 months to confirm circulation · Also the government has stated that newspapers should not have more than 70% advertising including ads on the cover · The page layout must be handled electronically · The format must be tabloid or broadsheet · The government has promised funds to educate media members on these specifications · The publication must have 8 pages minimum – NEPMCC suggested minimum 16 pages · President will contact government to speak about this issue and re-stress 10 page minimum · Newspapers with audited circulation will be identified with year of publication and ratio of advertisements to content · A community survey can also be asked for – it will cost $2,000 - $5,000 – the President will attempt to request funds for this purpose – to enlist community opinions regarding the publications · Effective immediately copies of the letter and questionnaire will be emailed to all members by President · Mr. President will request that Dr. Lamba or the Chair be accepted as Oath Officers to verify signatures
5. Member Survey and Educational Sessions · Short briefing from Sharifa from Balmoral was made · They called 3-400 people to update members list for survey · Report will be submitted to Heritage Canada and final report will be given to Minister of Culture · Beginning of the year the NEPMCC asked the government to accept the industry · If numbers are low a phone survey will follow the online survey · For any questions or to update contact info email
5a. Additional remarks about survey by President: · After many consultations & Ottawa visits the NEPMCC received a letter last month to start working on this issue · The government send the President a contract · The council had asked for $55,000 for phase one to prepare a questionnaire · Government said they could give $35,000 and stipulated that questionnaire must be conducted by a professional company and must be approved by the government · Balmoral worked with council to create questionnaire · Gov wanted to review questions, President set deadline for end of January · Concerned that there will be no time for phase two the educational for Ethnic Press Journalists · The survey will determine what members need · Members will receive the survey via email and be directed to a web-link · If you complete the survey early you will be entered into a draw for a laptop · As soon as survey is completed we can move to phase two · The PM’s office called the President and asked for the cost assessment of phase two, he was told $200-$250,000 · NEPMCC will issue certificated or diplomas for those who complete the educational · Seneca College will be responsible for accreditation · Educations will likely take place on a weekend to ensure that all can attend
5b. Questions regarding survey: · Chair asked if questions will be weighed – response was no · Sima asked if report will be circulated to members – response was no but it will be discussed and a top-line summary will be made to NEPMCC members · Dr. Tajdolati asked how electronic media will be categorized – response was audience ship · Aaron Berhane asked if members were consulted on the survey questions · Response was that elected executive was consulted on the questions
6. Annual Get Together in December · Mr. Zerehi prepared the tickets · The Premiere will be the guest speaker · The PM’s office will also send a Minister to the event · Leaders of all parties are invited · All members should plan to attend and bring guests
7. PST issue · NEPMCC was close to resolving issue with former Finance Minister Greg Sorbaro · We now have a new Minister of Finance and new obstacles · Mr. Jerry Phillips also promised resolution on the PST issue
8. Report on Presidents Meeting in Vancouver · Recently president flew to Vancouver for a meeting · There was some tension and serious debate with bureaucrats · The Minister of Justice sent a letter to the President on subject of accusations and pressures · The Minister of Multiculturalism has to establish a criteria and function according to criteria
9. New Business/Motions:
9a. Report back from Award Ceremony · Dr. Lamba stated that ceremony was well done · Dr. Lamba submitted to Council that we should make the awards more meaningful and submitted to the President to reduce number of wards in the future · This year we gave 48 awards, Dr. Lamba and President agreed on 20 awards next year (10 to publications and 10 to individuals) · In the future proper credentials must be given with the nominations · Each community should be represented in the awards/ but not possible to award all nominees · President remarked that a number of nominations came very late and even some were being requested the day before the award ceremony · Greater care must be taken in names as President had to remake plaques
9b. Raising Support for Bangladesh · Mr. Alamgir wants to raise support for victims in Bangladesh to deal with disaster and rescue efforts · Chair conveyed condolences to Mr. Alamgir and his family and conveyed the sympathy of the members of NEPMCC · Mr. Alamgir will forward President information of donating to the Red Cross Relief Fund efforts – Mr. Saras will forward to members for publication
9c. Placing Telephones on Silent or Vibrate · Mr. Ned commented on disruption to meetings from telephone rings · He stated that silencing phone rings should be enforced
9d. Members of NEPMCC running in elections · Mr. Ned asked if the council know about one of the members running in the previous Provincial election – members said no – as the information was not shared at a monthly meeting · NEPMCC did not run any candidates in previous elections
10. ADJOURNMENT
The Next meeting is scheduled for Monday, December 10, 2007, Queen’s Park, committee room N# 2, first floor, Please after 6:00 pm enter the building from the front south door, (next to the Main entrance of the building).
