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Minutes of the Monthly Meeting held on March 12, 2018,

at Committee Room #2 City Hall.

Present:

Thomas S. Saras
Neel Nanda
Maria Saras-Voutsinas
Rosemary Sadler
Ricky Casttellvi
Daniela Spirlac
Jacques Varberian
Jonathan Annobil
Leila Monteiro Lins
Aysegul Kalkan
Ersoy Kalkan
Melite Kalkan
Khalid Magram
Maria Swietorzeski
Binkon Loo
Mohammad Tajdolati
Norman Hart
Sandie DeFreitas
Gege Cee
Arif Ahmed
Inga Cernei
Anna davydov
Cezar Bangu
Teshome Woldeamanuel
Yuri Natchetoi
Najib Popalzai
Anais Popoalzai
S. Krishnalingam
Isa Melo
Sherry Li
Elvrabeth Tamil
Mooka Tamil
Fereoboon Rahmeni
KumayanThambi
Mohammad Bagher-Samimi
Wilson Sons
Marek J.D. Goldyn
Hai Tien Lin
Kathy Lin
Ray Yang
Hanna Mamun
Nazma Hoque
Kathy Gerasklis
Stella Tsantila
John Saraidaris
Kolosowski Mike
Luba Cherny
Ahmad Rosti\omijan
Shahnaz Kamiab
Sivamohan Sivalingum
Mulugeta ZAergabr
Bento Sao Joe
BCI Media
Ranjit Wicks
Karim Mirhahi
Syed Tqban
Mian Maeem
Mohammad Tajdolati
Norman Hart
Ishkhan Ghazierian
Neel Nanda
S. Vashnalingam
Hannan Mamun
Nobodip News
Aysegul Kalkan
Ersoy Kalkan
Nishanta Don
Ali Mahboub
Srimal Abeyewardene
Janusz Niemczyk
Denis Brito
John Saraidaris
Kirubjk Ravi
Kathy Lin
Hai-Tien Lin
Anna Nieuinos
Naearajh V. Bangaloris
Geetha Nangarajh
Mila Astorga Garcia
Hermie Garcia
Syed Irbal
Dimitris Vohaitis
Euginea Bakchinow
Boddy Wang
AnastasiosChatzitheofanous
MuhacumadNaeemUl Islam

Total of 68 Members in attendance.
The minutes prepared by Neel Nanda, Senior Vice President and Secretary General of the NEPMCC.

 

Agenda of the day:

  • Welcome Remarks by the chair.
  • Minutes of the previous meeting
  • Report of the President/Discussions
  • Presentation by Undocumented Workers Committee – Manuel Alexander and Bento De Sao Jose.
  • Presentation by John Cartwright – President, Toronto & York Regional Labour Council:
  • New Members/New Business
  • Adjournment

  • Welcome Remarks by the Chair:

    Dr. Tajdolati chaired the meeting and declared the meeting open. Arif Ahmed moved a motion to approve the agenda. Jonathan Annobil seconded it. The motion was carried. .

     

    Minutes of the previous meeting:

    Jonathan Annobil moved a motion to approve the minutes of the previous monthly meeting Khalid Magram seconded it.  The motion was carried.

    President’s Report/Discussions of the day:

  • President Thomas Saras mentioned that the Government has allocated $50 million dollars for special support of the community News Papers for 5 years or 10 million per year for the next five years,  out of which 20% would be distributed to Ethnic Media. He encouraged all members to apply for funds under the Canada Periodical Fund and other such programs by Federal Government.
  • President Thomas Saras reminded the members to renew their membership this year in order to enjoy the benefits and privileges of being a member of NEPMCC. He expressed disappointed that only a portion of members have renewed their membership up to now.
  • President Thomas Saras met with a committee  representing Provincial  Government Advertising board of Ontario. The Government of Ontario will distribute advertising depending on the circulation of the publication. The President also met several times the committee responsible for federal advertising in Canada. There is an ongoing dialogue to increase government advertising in ethnic media.
  • President Thomas Saras encouraged members to submit their website to the Digital Publishing Platform who are yet to participate in the project. President Thomas Saras would send an editorial about increasing Government Advertising in Ethnic Media. Members could publish the editorial in their respective publications.
  • President Thomas Saras suggested that on May 3 NEPMCC celebrate UN designated day for PRESS FREEDOM DAY at the rotunda of City Hall. A Special celebration will be organized for this day with invited guests from the political establishment and the media organization of the province and the country.
  • He suggested also that art works from the multi-cultural communities which the NEPMCC represents could be displayed during the week of October 21 to October 28, 2018 at the Rotunda of the Toronto City Hall. He called the members to bring this event to the attention of their community and the people of the arts.
  • President Thomas Saras, informed the members that Turkey is the world's leading jailer of journalists, with more than 287 behind bars in relation to their work. He condemned the takeover by a Turkish government-affiliated body of one of the last remaining pro-Kurdish national dailies and called for authorities to immediately release media staff detained during the raid. He drafted a letter in support to improve press freedom in Turkey.

  • Motion:A motion was in the floor moved by Srimal Abeyawardene and seconded by Ranjit Wicks supporting the letter drafted by the President of NEPMCC. The motion was unanimously carried.

    Presentation by Undocumented Workers Committee- Manuel Alexander and Bento De Sao Jose.

    A delegation of Undocumented Workers Committee represented by their Chairman Manuel Alexander and Bento De Sao Jose made a presentation on the conditions of the temporary workers in Canada who are yet to be given a full legal status. They highlighted the important role that these temporary play in fulfilling the shortfall of labour in Canada. The delegation emphasized that workers who have contributed towards the economy of Canada should be given their due credit by giving them permanent residence. It is the duty of the government of Canada to look after the workers and their families and integrate them into society.
    Michael Homsi, Maria and others asked a wide variety of questions which were candidly answered by the committee.
    President Thomas Saras praised the delegation in their endeavours and encouraged members to run their stories in their respective publications.

    Presentation by John Cartwright- President, Toronto & York Regional Labour Council:

    John Cartwright made a brief presentation on the evolution of the Labour Council and its challenges in the early days that workers faced in contributing towards Canada’s economic growth. A carpenter by trade, he was formerly the Business Manager of the Construction Trades Council and co-chair of the Metro Jobstart Coalition.  John has served on the Boards of the Waterfront Regeneration Trust, the United Way Toronto, the Toronto 2008 Olympic Bid, and the Labour Education Centre.
    Over the years he has helped develop the Campaign for Public Education, Public Transit for the Public Good, and the Toronto Waterwatch campaign to defend vital public services in Toronto. John has been deeply involved in apprenticeship and training issues, as well as crafting the “Green Jobs Strategy” for the Canadian Labour Congress. In 2007 he led the successful $10 Minimum Wage campaign in Ontario, and went on to initiate the Good Jobs for All Coalition and the subsequent conference on Good Green Jobs for All.
    Since becoming Labour Council President, John has worked with affiliated unions to craft an aggressive equity agenda for Toronto’s labour movement.  The Council initiated ground-breaking Aboriginal/Workers of Colour (AWOC) Conferences, and has the most diverse leadership of any central labour body in the country. He is Co-Chair of the Toronto Community Benefits Network, which works to provide career opportunities for racialized communities on major infrastructure projects.  John also sits on the National Board of the Council of Canadians.
    He then invited Michelle Francis to speak about Toronto Community Benefits Network.

    Presentation by Toronto Community Benefits Network–Michelle Francis

    Michelle Francis made a brief presentation on TCBN
    The Toronto Community Benefits Network has built a strong community-labour partnership with a support base of workforce development agencies, learning institutions and funders.
    TCBN’s Primary Objectives :

    1. Provide equitable economic opportunities that promote economic inclusion for all Toronto residents
    2. Contribute to the development of a system of training and workforce development programs that can enable economic inclusion
    3. Support social enterprises and other related vehicles to economic inclusion through commitments to social procurement
    4. Contribute to sustainable communities with neighbourhood and environmental improvements built through new transit infrastructure.
    5. Ensure clear commitments and accountability from all parties to deliver on Community Benefits.
    6. The expansion of transit now happening in Toronto will result in opportunities for good jobs and create markets for new businesses. It will also set the conditions for economic growth and intensification of urban areas around a network of mobility hubs. We believe that all Torontonians should have access to these opportunities stemming from infrastructure investments.
      Maria, Freddon Rahimi, Arif Ahmed, Marek Goldyn and others asked a wide variety of questions, such as reducing traffic gridlock in Toronto, accessible housing, youth employment, job creation, infrastructural investments etc.

      Presentation by Yuri Natchetoi on the Digital Publishing Platform:

      Yuri Natchetoi provided an update on the progress of the Digital Publishing Platform. He informed how the project could benefit all members who are participating in the project. He said his committee is working out ways in generating advertising revenue for the print and digital media.
      New Members/ New Business:
      Waterfront Magazine will be celebrating 15 years by honouring 15 women in the Global Mail centre www.waterfrontawards.ca.
      The Waterfront Awards celebrates women through different mediums including film and television, dance, art, music, photography and theatre. This spectacular event will be held on April 27th, 2018. This is the second annual event on the International Women’s Day in support of Abuse Hurts, which is a national charitable organization since 1993.
      Gulam Rasool – Editor International Affairs (Canada) – Best Information International Magazine
      Rui Yang –CC Times

      Adjournment: Jonathan Annobil moved a motion to adjourn the meeting and Khalid Magram seconded it. The motion was carried. The Chair, Dr.Tajdolati adjourned the meeting at 9 pm. The next monthly meeting would take place on Monday, April 09, 2018 at the City Hall.