Minutes of the Monthly Meeting held on February 10, 2025, at City Hall, via Zoom

Present/Attendees

Thomas S. Saras

Mohammad Tajdolati

Neel Nanda

Maria Saras-Voutsinas

Rosemary Sadlier

Ricky Castellvi

George Guzman

Bill Fastis

Nishantha Don

Hon. Basilio Giordano

George Bakoyiannis

Dimitri Papadopoulos

AR Nathan

Arif Ahmed

Zenaida Ferry

Ravi

Ranjit Wicks

Hermie Garcia

Ghulam Rasool

Manan Gupta

Elsayed Nasr

Khalid Hamid

Thanasis Kourtesis

John Saraidaris

Ernesto Donan

Martha Pinzon

Nishantha Don

Bridgette Fontille

Sukumar Tamil Journal

Roberto Hausman

Jonathan Annobil

Emmanuel Ayiku

Mohammad Bagher Samimi

Kathy Gerasklis

Rick Esquerra

Mila Garcia

Medhat Oweida

Syed Hasson

Sima Ghaffarzadeh

Shahidul Mintu

Lui Queano

Denis Poirier

Jennifer Zhu

Hon. Joe Volpe

Ayubowan Sri Lanka

Leila Monteiro Lins

Deborah Shatz

Gezahegn Mekonnen

Daniela Spirlac

Lankathas Pathmanathan

Susana Donan

Kethes Kumar

Michael Li

Shail Prasad

Essie

Veronica Cusi

Ragee Arasaratnam

Fiza Syeda

Yuri Natchetoi

Khalid Hamid

Michale Li

Maria Swietorzecki

Lucy Yang

Elsayed Nasr

George Guzmas

MB Samimi

Susana Donan

Neel Nanda

Mohammad Tajdolati

Olga Kaleev

AR Nathan

Ragee

Nishantha Don

Ayuban SriLanka

Basilio Giordano

Manan Gupta

Ernesto Donan

Kathy Lin

Sima Ghaffarzadeh

Denis Poirier

Ghanian News

Fiza Syeda

Rue Hayer-Bains

Leila Monteiro- Lins

Eugenia Bakchinow

Ghulam Rasool

Ranjith Wicks

Kathy Gerasklis

Hermie Garcia

Luba Cherny

Helen Wang

Taso Chatzitheofanou

Sean Pickard

Jonathan Annobil

Said Henry

(Names as per Zoom)

Mila Garcia

Goyum

Tausif

Zuhair Alshaaer

MB Samimi

Gonzalo Cooper

Thomas Saras

Ragee Arasaratnam

Mohammad Tajdolati

Ned Blair

Helen Wang

Dimitri Papadopoulos

Pooyan Tabatabaei

Elsayed Nasr

Margaret Bonikowska

Ernesto Donan

Susana Donan

Yuri Natchetoi

Deborah Shatz

Roberto Hausman

Tamil Journal

Olga Kileev

Neel Nanda

Hermie Garcia

Kathy Gerasklis

Rosemary Sadlier

Shahidul Mintu

George Guzmas

Basilio Giordano

Logan Logendralingam

John- CCTimes

Lucy Lyang

Elena Iliadi

Houman

Kamal Nava

Ayubowan SriLanka

Liisa Qureshi

AR Nathan

Martha Pinzon

Zenaida Ferry-Kharroubi

Ghulam Rasool

Jennifer Zhu

Syed Hassan

Shail Persaud

Ramsankr Sivanathan

Agenda of the day:

• Welcome Remarks by the chair.
• Minutes of the previous meeting
• President’s Report/Discussions
• Presentation by Hon. Stephen Lecce, former Provincial Minister of Energy and electrification and PC MPP candidate for King-Vaughn
• Presentation by Hon. Bonnie Crombie -Leader of Ontario Liberal Party and former Mayor of Mississauga
• New Members/New Business
• Adjournment

 

 

Welcome Remarks by the Chair:

Mohammed Tajdolati chaired the hybrid meeting of January 20, 2025, and declared the meeting open. Nishantha Don moved a motion to approve the agenda. Dimitri Papadopolous seconded it. The motion was carried unanimously.

Minutes of the previous meeting:

Dimitri Papadopolous moved a motion to approve the minutes of the previous monthly meeting and Bill Fastis seconded it. Minutes of the previous monthly meeting were approved unanimously.

.

 President’s Report/Discussions:

• President Thomas Saras welcomed everyone to the monthly meeting of February 10, 2025.
• President, informed that Ontario government might allocate funds to ethnic publications based in Ontario.
• He mentioned that printing costs are rising and many printing companies are shutting down due to increasing costs. He suggested that with the available funds with NEPMCC and a bank loan, NEPMCC could buy a machine for printing newspapers. Hon Joe Volpe suggested of creating committee for setting up the purchase for the printing machinery and equipment.
• President, informed members that he is hoping that federal Government will improve Aid to Publishers Program and increase Federal Government Advertising.
• He mentioned that the internship program is ongoing. The council has received ninety applications.
• Thomas Saras thanked Maria Voutsinas for her tireless work towards the betterment of the members of NEPMCC.
• President, informed the members of the International Press Freedom Day to be celebrated on the first week of May. Motion International Press Freedom Day to be celebrated on May 02, 2025. The motion was unanimously carried.
• Thomas Saras met with the ministry of Canadian Heritage on various programs like LJI, PAP. There may be consolidation of various programs and organizations. President Thomas Saras will again visit the ministry in March to revisit certain rules governing certain federal programs for ethnic publications.

 

• President Thomas Saras mentioned about the upcoming Educational Seminar. He said a survey will be send out to members to a need analysis of the courses that members would like to take during the educational seminar.

 

• Motion: President Thomas Saras reminded the members of a previous resolution where it was decided to allocate funds to members who are working on the committees LJI and Educations Seminar. Ernesto Donan moved the motion supporting the above, seconded by Dimitri Papdopolous. The motion was unanimously carried.

 

• President Thomas Saras mentioned that NEPMCC will working towards creating a foundation for the members who need help during a crisis.

 

• President Thomas Saras encouraged everyone to apply for the student internship program and LJI.

 

• President Thomas Saras mentioned that Educational Seminar will be held next year. The office of the President of NEPMCC is working towards the educational seminar and more updates will be provided after finalizing the planning.
• President Thomas Saras informed the members that any members receiving funds from either LJI or Aid to Publications should declare that they have received funding funds from the Government of Canada. He also mentioned that anyone authoring an article under LJI should acknowledge that he is a LJI reporter.
• President Thomas Saras mentioned that in person meeting at City Hall will resume once broadcasting from City Hall will be permitted by technological requirements. President Thomas Saras wants `the meeting to be accessible to members in all parts of Canada.
• President Thomas Saras mentioned that NEPMCC has been trying hard to negotiate a better deal from Google regarding the compensation for the members of the ethnic media industry.
• Members of NEPMCC receive numerous benefits and for NEPMCC to continue supporting its members, it is necessary for members to pay their membership fees on time.
• Naga Logendralingam suggested that we should honour journalists who have lost their lives for the cause of the freedom of the press. Hon. Joe Volpe suggested that this should be brought to the attention of the committee.
• There were various discussions on the method of payment of Annual Membership fees as some members suggested e-transfer and other methods of payments. After various consultation it was decided to keep the existing payment method of payment of Annual Membership fees via cheque mailed to the office of NEPMCC

Presentation by Hon. Stephen Lecce, former Provincial Minister of Energy and electrification and PC MPP candidate for King-Vaughn

Stephen’s first experience in politics was in his hometown of Vaughan, involved in the 1999 election of the late MPP Al Palladini. Since then, he has served as the Chief spokesperson for former Prime Minister, the Honourable Stephen Harper, as Deputy Government House Leader, the Parliamentary Assistant to the Ministry of Infrastructure, the Parliamentary Assistant to the Premier. Hon Stephen Lecce served as the longest Education Minister since the late Bette Stephenson, serving for nearly five years.  In the most recent Ontario Cabinet, he was the Minister of Energy and Electrification. As Ontario’s Minister of Energy and Electrification, Stephen has kept energy bills down for residents and businesses across Ontario, while expanding one of the cleanest grids in the world with reliable and affordable energy.

During his address to the council, he highlighted the following key approaches:

• Team Canada approach
• We need to wake up and encourage more business in Canada
• We need to protect the job of every Ontarians and Canadians.

Bill Fastis, Said Henry, Lankathas Pathmanathan, Rue, Manan Gupta and others pertinent questions affecting the people of Ontario. Hon. Stepehen Lecce candidly answered all questions raised by the members of NEPMCC.

Presentation by Hon. Bonnie Crombie -Leader of Ontario Liberal Party and former Mayor of Mississauga

The chair introduced Hon. Bonnie Crombie to the meeting.

Bonnie’s life story is proof that hard work should pay off and that, in Ontario, anything is possible. Her Polish mother and grandparents taught her the values of hard work and community. A successful business leader and entrepreneur, Bonnie is also a proud mother of three. As Mayor of Mississauga, Bonnie implemented a progressive vision to build a thriving city and to carefully manage the budget. She was elected three times in landslide victories. Bonnie also served as an MP and city councillor.

Hon. Bonnie Crombie’s policy has the following highlights

Guarantee everyone a family doctor in four years, ensure mental healthcare is covered under OHIP, and support seniors to age with dignity. Slash taxes, saving you thousands annually by permanently cutting income tax for Ontario workers and eliminating sales tax (HST) on home heating and hydro bills. Build more homes you can afford by eliminating development charges, restoring the dream of homeownership, and bringing fairness back to the rental market. Permanently double ODSP so Ontario’s most vulnerable are not left behind. Clear the school repair backlog, keep kids and educators safe at school, and provide education that prepares Ontario for the future.

Hon Bonnie Crombie then opened the floor for questions.

Said Henry, Isabel Inclan, Lankathas Patmanathan, Maria Swietorzecki, Logan Logendralingam, Bill Fastis, Arif Ahmed, Hon Joe Volpe and other participated during the question-and-answer session.

New Business/New Members

Maria Saras Voutsinas updated on the status of funds regards to LJI. Further information will be communicated about the cheques and electronic devices.

 

Hon. Volpe highlighted that the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), the body overseeing the Canadian Journalism Collective (CJC) initiative, had made significant progress. However, he noted the following complications: Members who had not applied or believed they were eligible to apply were required to submit applications again. Eligibility for funding does not guarantee acceptance for 2025; those who miss this opportunity may have to wait until subsequent years. He urged members to vote for A7 for Hon. Volpe and A2 with Mr. Saras on February 24

Adjournment: Hon Joe Volpe moved a motion to adjourn the meeting, and Yuri Natchetoii seconded it. The motion was carried. The Chair, Dr. Tajdolati adjourned the meeting at 8:15 PM. The next monthly meeting will take place on Monday, February 10 ,2025, via Zoom.

The above notes from the minutes of February 10, 2025, were prepared by Secretary General and Senior VP of the NEPMCC, Neel Nanda.

Minutes of the Monthly Meeting held on January 20, 2025, at City Hall, via Zoom

Present/Attendees

Thomas S. Saras

Mohammad Tajdolati

Neel Nanda

Maria Saras-Voutsinas

Rosemary Sadlier

Ricky Castellvi

George Guzman

Bill Fastis

Nishantha Don

Hon. Basilio Giordano

George Bakoyiannis

Dimitri Papadopoulos

AR Nathan

Arif Ahmed

Zenaida Ferry

Ravi

Ranjit Wicks

Hermie Garcia

Ghulam Rasool

Manan Gupta

Elsayed Nasr

Khalid Hamid

Thanasis Kourtesis

John Saraidaris

Ernesto Donan

Martha Pinzon

Nishantha Don

Bridgette Fontille

Sukumar Tamil Journal

Roberto Hausman

Jonathan Annobil

Emmanuel Ayiku

Mohammad Bagher Samimi

Kathy Gerasklis

Rick Esquerra

Mila Garcia

Medhat Oweida

Syed Hasson

Sima Ghaffarzadeh

Shahidul Mintu

Lui Queano

Denis Poirier

Jennifer Zhu

Hon. Joe Volpe

Ayubowan Sri Lanka

Leila Monteiro Lins

Deborah Shatz

Gezahegn Mekonnen

Daniela Spirlac

Lankathas Pathmanathan

Susana Donan

Kethes Kumar

Michael Li

Shail Prasad

Essie

Veronica Cusi

Ragee Arasaratnam

Fiza Syeda

Yuri Natchetoi

Khalid Hamid

Michale Li

Maria Swietorzecki

Lucy Lyang

Elsayed Nasr

George Guzmas

MB Samimi

Susana Donan

Neel Nanda

Mohammad Tajdolati

Olga Kaleev

AR Nathan

Ragee

Nishantha Don

Ayuban SriLanka

Basilio Giordano

Manan Gupta

Ernesto Donan

Kathy Lin

Sima Ghaffarzadeh

Denis Poirier

Ghanian News

Fiza Syeda

Rue Hayer-Bains

Leila Monteiro- Lins

Eugenia Bakchinow

Ghulam Rasool

Ranjith Wicks

Kathy Gerasklis

Hermie Garcia

Luba Cherny

Helen Wang

Taso Chatzitheofanou

Sean Pickard

Jonathan Annobil

Said Henry

(Names as per Zoom)

Mila Garcia

Goyum

Tausif

Zuhair Alshaaer

MB Samimi

Gonzalo Cooper

Thomas Saras

Ragee Arasaratnam

Mohammad Tajdolati

Ned Blair

Helen Wang

Dimitri Papadopoulos

Pooyan Tabatabaei

Elsayed Nasr

Margaret Bonikowska

Ernesto Donan

Susana Donan

Yuri Natchetoi

Deborah Shatz

Roberto Hausman

Tamil Journal

Olga Kileev

Neel Nanda

Hermie Garcia

Kathy Gerasklis

Rosemary Sadlier

Shahidul Mintu

George Guzmas

Basilio Giordano

Logan Logendralingam

John- CCTimes

Lucy Lyang

Elena Iliadi

Houman

Kamal Nava

Ayubowan SriLanka

Liisa Qureshi

AR Nathan

Martha Pinzon

Zenaida Ferry-Kharroubi

Ghulam Rasool

Jennifer Zhu

Syed Hassan

Shail Persaud

Ramsankr Sivanathan

Agenda of the day:

• Welcome Remarks by the chair.
• Minutes of the previous meeting
• Moment of Silence for Late Ioannis (John) Saraidaris
• President’s Report/Discussions
• Presentation by Wendy Cukier – President, Coalition of Gun Control Canada
• Presentation by Sonya Fatah, and Steph Wechsler -Canada Press Freedom Project
• New Members/New Business
• Adjournment

 

 

Welcome Remarks by the Chair:

Mohammed Tajdolati chaired the hybrid meeting of January 20, 2025, and declared the meeting open. Dimitri Vohaitis moved a motion to approve the agenda. Dimitri Papadopolous seconded it. The motion was carried unanimously.

Minutes of the previous meeting:

Syed Saifi moved a motion to approve the minutes of the previous monthly meeting and Tamil Journal seconded it. Minutes of the previous monthly meeting were approved unanimously.

Moment of Silence in honour of NEPMCC Senior Vice -President Ioannis Saraidaris

A moment of silence in honour of John Saras who passed away on January 1, 2025.  Ioannis Saraidaris was remembered for his tireless work as a respected journalist, community leader and a founding member of NEPMCC. His departure leaves a huge void among all in NEPMCC.

 President’s Report/Discussions:

• President Thomas Saras welcomed everyone to the monthly meeting of January 20, 2025.
• President Thomas Saras informed that Ontario government might allocate funds to ethnic publications based in Ontario.
• He mentioned that printing costs are rising and many printing companies are shutting down due to increasing costs. He suggested that with the available funds with NEPMCC and bank loan, NEPMCC could buy a machine for printing newspapers. Hon Joe Volpe suggested of creating committee for setting up the purchase for the printing machinery and equipment.
• President Thomas Saras informed members that he is hoping that federal Government will improve Aid to Publishers Program and increase Federal Government Advertising.
• He mentioned that the internship program is ongoing. The council has received ninety applications.
• President Thomas Saras thanked Maria Voutsinas for her tireless work towards the betterment of the members of NEPMCC.

• President Thomas Saras mentioned about the upcoming Educational Seminar. He said a survey will be send out to members to a need analysis of the courses that members would like to take during the educational seminar.

• Motion: President Thomas Saras reminded the members of a previous resolution where it was decided to allocate funds to members who are working on the committees LJI and Educations Seminar. Ernesto Donan moved the motion supporting the above, seconded by Dimitri Papdopolous. The motion was unanimously carried.

• President Thomas Saras mentioned that NEPMCC will working towards creating a foundation for the members who need help during a crisis.

• President Thomas Saras encouraged everyone to apply for the student internship program and LJI.

• President Thomas Saras mentioned that Educational Seminar will be held next year. The office of the President of NEPMCC is working towards the educational seminar and more updates will be provided after finalizing the planning.
• President Thomas Saras informed the members that any members receiving funds from either LJI or Aid to Publications should declare that they have received funding funds from the Government of Canada. He also mentioned that anyone authoring an article under LJI should acknowledge that he is a LJI reporter.
• President Thomas Saras mentioned that in person meeting at City Hall will resume once broadcasting from City Hall will be permitted by technological requirements. President Thomas Saras wants `the meeting to be accessible to members in all parts of Canada.
• President Thomas Saras mentioned that NEPMCC has been trying hard to negotiate a better deal from Google regarding the compensation for the members of the ethnic media industry.
• . Members of NEPMCC receive numerous benefits and for NEPMCC to continue supporting its members, it is necessary for members to pay their membership fees on time.
• Naga Logendralingam suggested that we should honour journalists who have lost their lives for the cause of the freedom of the press. Hon. Joe Volpe suggested that this should be brought to the attention of the committee.
• There were various discussions on the method of payment of Annual Membership fees as some members suggested e-transfer and other methods of payments. After various consultation it was decided to keep the existing payment method of payment of Annual Membership fees via cheque mailed to the office of NEPMCC

Presentation by Wendy Cukier – President, Coalition of Gun Control Canada

Gun violence in diverse communities continues to be a serious problem across Canada in large cities like Toronto and Montréal but also smaller communities. The presence of firearms increases risks for violent crime, gender-based violence, and hate crimes

About Bill C-21

New legislation prohibits all semi-automatic handguns and all nans military style semi-automatic firearms which are different from hunting rifles. It also bans the sale, import and transfer of handguns. This legislation also improves screening of gun owners and improves border controls to prevent smuggling of guns from the US. The largest inquiry into gun violence in Canadian history, the Mass Casualty Commission, which examined the Portapique massacre in Nova Scotia stressed the need for stronger gun control and the measures that are reflected in this new legislation.

Impact of Gun Violence on Our Communities

There is a very real and tangible impact of gun violence on diverse peoples starting with the presence of firearms in communities. Not all communities are affected equally – in some neighborhoods in Toronto children have near constant exposure to gun violence while in others there is very little. As Reverend Sky Starr, a grief and trauma specialist, who works with the survivors of gun violence noted, “Too many young people are dying. The devastation is not just to their families but the entire community. Handguns are the main weapon used in communities. Mothers, siblings and immediate families are especially affected and endure life-long trauma. Out Of Bounds has been fighting for a ban on handguns for almost 20 years.” Nearly 4 in 10 homicides were committed with a firearm in 2023. The gun most often used in these crimes is a handgun. These guns are not used for hunting and the risk outweighs the utility. While smuggled guns are a problem, many of the guns used in crime were at one time legally owned. Legal guns are used in most cases of domestic violence as well as mass shootings including the Montréal massacre, the murder of Rajwar Gakhal and seven members of her family in Vernon BC, the shooting at Dawson College and most recently in the Québec Islamic Centre massacre and the mass shooting at a condo in Vaughan where five people plus the gunman

were killed in 2022. Legal guns are also diverted to illegal markets, for instance, the gun used in the Toronto Danforth mass shooting in 2018, was stolen from a gun shop in Saskatchewan. In some cities like Calgary, most of the guns recovered in crime were at one time legally owned in Canada. While border controls are needed to prevent smuggling, we also need controls over legal guns to prevent their misuse and diversion to illegal markets.

The ban on the import, sale and transfer of these weapons is long overdue. It was first proposed in 1993 following a mass shooting by a legal gun owner at Concordia University in Montreal. At that time, there were about 260,000 legally owned handguns, now there are over 1 million. We have only to look south of the border to see where unfettered access to firearms leads, as last year alone 20,000 Americans were murdered with handguns. In contrast, the United Kingdom with twice as many people as Canada, had about 30-gun murders, having banned handguns almost thirty years ago. Global research shows, where there are more guns, there are more deaths. There is no right to bear arms in Canada. There is a right to safety and freedom from fear.

Following the presentation many members participated in the group discussions. Members were encouraged to carry the message to their respective readership.

Presentation by Sonya Fatah, and Steph Wechsler -Canada Press Freedom Project.

The Canada Press Freedom Project is a hub for information and education surrounding freedom of the press issues in Canada.

 

The project is dedicated to building professional community and public awareness around media rights in Canada by maintaining an ongoing database of press freedom violations, and tools and resources for media workers, organizations, educators and students to understand and counter those threats.

Launched by J-Source in 2022, the CPFP was developed with the support of the inaugural Michener-L. Richard O’Hagan Fellowship for Journalism Education. It is inspired by the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker, which was founded by the Freedom of the Press Foundation and the Committee to Protect Journalists in 2017. The CPFP reports on and tracks incidents in which an individual’s right to access, gather and report information is violated when attempting an act of journalism in good faith; or when they are otherwise targeted for having done so. There are a variety of individuals who participate in the process of newsgathering and are impacted by press freedom conditions but may not consider themselves journalists. When describing people who may experience press freedom violations collectively or broadly, the CPFP will refer to that group as media workers. These professionals may include but not be limited to those who identify as reporters, videographers, photojournalists and content creators. The CPFP tracks incidents of press freedom violations that affect media workers in Canada, those based in Canada but working internationally or those based internationally working for a Canadian media organization.

A Needs Assessment survey, which, aims to produce programming and supports that will help multilingual and third language/ethnic media organizations to strengthen their work would be sent to all the members of NEPMCC. CPFP would like to hear from media organizations to understand some of their challenges and need.

 

 

 

New Business/New Members

Maria Saras Voutsinas updated on the status of funds regards to LJI. Members in Toronto who were approved for LJI can collect the cheques from the office of the President. Members who applied for LJI tech can expect to collect their devices from the office of the President and those outside the GTA the devices will be shipped.

Maria Saras-Voutsinas gave an update on the compensations from Google based on the Online News Act. The CJC-CCJ has announced that the applications are now open for news businesses that wish to share in compensation from the Online News Act. The Canadian Journalism Collective-Collectif Canadien de Journalisme (CJC-CCJ) has signed an agreement to act as the collective responsible for receiving and distributing $100 million annually from Google in support of Canadian news businesses under the Online News Act. As outlined in the final regulations of the Act, the Collective will work with all eligible news businesses that came forward during the open call process. The CJC-CCJ commits to equitably support the full diversity of the news ecosystem, ensure marketplace fairness, and encourage innovation and sustainability. The CJC-CCJ is responsible for reviewing all news publishers that responded to the open call process, accepting all that submitted valid attestations, and then distributing funds across publishers in accordance with the distribution formula prescribed by the Online News Act regulations. The CJC-CCJ intends to establish robust governance and distribute funding as swiftly and transparently as possible. News businesses that missed the previous open call conducted by Google may also apply, but their eligibility to receive funds is subject to a pending decision by the CRTC.

Hon. Volpe highlighted that the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), the body overseeing the Canadian Journalism Collective (CJC) initiative, had made significant progress. However, he noted the following complications: Members who had not applied or believed they were eligible to apply were required to submit applications again. Eligibility for funding does not guarantee acceptance for 2024; those who miss this opportunity may have to wait until subsequent years.

Adjournment: Hon Joe Volpe moved a motion to adjourn the meeting, and Kathy Gerasklis seconded it. The motion was carried. The Chair, Dr. Tajdolati adjourned the meeting at 8:15 PM. The next monthly meeting will take place on Monday, February 10 ,2025, via Zoom.

The above notes from the minutes of January 20, 2025, were prepared by Secretary General and Senior VP of the NEPMCC, Neel Nanda.

National Ethnic Press and Media Council of Canada

Minutes of November 11, 2024, online meeting

Time: 18:00 (06:00pm)

Location: Online (Zoom) meeting

Chair: Dr. Mohammad Tajdolati

Minute taker: Demetris Vohaitis

Participants: 48

 

A	J	Roberto Hausman
A. R. Nathan	Joe Volpe	Rosemary Sadlier
Anfisa Lyasola	K	S
Arif Ahmed	Kathy Gerasklis	Shahidul Mintu
Ayubowan Srilanka	Kathy L. L. Lin	Shail – India Journal
C	Kethees Kumar	Sima Gharrarzadeh
Cittadino Canadese Basilio Giordano	L	Sohi Kheradmand
D	Lankathas Pathmanathan	Sukumar – The Tamil Journal
Demetris Vohaitis	Liisa Qureshi	Syed Hassan
Denis Poirier	Lucy Lyang	T
Dimitris Papadopoulos	M	Tamilexpress
Dr. Mohammad Tajdolati	M. B. Samimi	Thomas S. Saras
E	Manan Gupta	Tom Bijvoet
Eduardo Vieira	Maria Saras-Voutsinas	W
Elsayed Nasr	Max Zhou	Weera Fonseca
Ernesto	Mila Garcia	Y
Eugenia Blachinow	O	Yugam Radio
G	Olga Knopka	Yuri Natchetoi
Ghulam Rasool	P	Z
Guzmas	Phoebe Li	Zenaida Kharroubi
H	Pooyan Tabatabei	Zolen Georgievska
Hermie Garcia	R	Zuhair
Houman	Ragee Arasaratnam

Guest of the evening:   Amrita Roy Chowdhury Majumbar, Marketing and Communications Manager, Catholic Community Services of York Region

1. Call to order

At 18:08 (06:08 pm) the meeting was called to order.

The Chair of the meeting, Dr. Mohamad Tajdolati, did the opening and the welcoming remarks.

2. Approval of the agenda

Motion to approve Agenda: Roberto

Seconded by: Sukumar

Outcome: Approved as all participants were in favour

 

3. Approval of previous meeting minutes

Reference date of previous meeting:

Corrections/Amendments: None

Motion to approve: Pooyan Tabatabei

Seconded by: Tom

Outcome: Approved as all participants were in favour

4. Matters arising from previous minutes

None

5. Agenda items

5a        i. Thomas Saras, CEO of the NEPMCC, began by expressing his gratitude to all attendees for their participation.

1. Saras highlighted the cost-effectiveness of online meetings compared to in-person gatherings. With humor, he noted: “Online meetings are much cheaper than live ones, as even for coffee, we must pay $300!” (laughter from the audience).

iii. He then shifted focus to the importance of members applying for available programs.

2024. To support members more effectively, Saras reminded attendees of his earlier request for all members to inform Maria Saras-Voutsinas about their equipment needs. He extended the request for those to send requests to November 15, 2024.
2025. Saras addressed the concept of “remote communities,” offering clarification on its interpretation.

• He emphasized that “remote communities” does not imply sending individual copies of publications, as single copies are designated for subscribers who have paid for the service.
• Saras elaborated on the term by stating:
• “In communities where the number of members is very small and they lack the resources to publish a newspaper, or where there are community members who do not understand English or French, it is imperative that your publication reaches them. Therefore, you should send a bundle of newspapers, containing at least 25 copies, to such communities to ensure they have access to important information.”

Building on this definition, he requested that, should such circumstances apply -even in large cities where there are newly arrived community members who would benefit from receiving these publications- publishers should inform him accordingly to facilitate the distribution.

• Looking ahead, Saras announced details of the annual Holiday event, scheduled for the 20th of December. He revealed that Premier Doug Ford is expected to attend, along with an unspecified leader from Ottawa. Regarding logistical arrangements, he noted the following:

• 350 tickets have been ordered for 35 tables.
• Each ticket is priced at $70.
• In closing, Saras emphasized inclusivity, stating: “For those whose financial circumstances make it difficult to purchase a ticket, please inform me, and we will explore how to ensure your attendance, as I want all of you to be there.”

 

1. Saras informed the attendees that:

• Nominations would close in four days due to the time required to prepare the awards. He stated that his office had already received 10 nominations, with an additional 10 expected for the best publications category.
• He encouraged members to promptly nominate individuals from their communities who have demonstrated exceptional work, emphasizing the importance of submitting these nominations as soon as possible.
• Saras proceeded to outline the monetary awards associated with this year’s recognitions:Best Articles: $1,000 will be awarded to the best articles published this year.

LJI Publications: Articles produced under the Local Journalism Initiative (LJI) program or by interns working on LJI projects will also be eligible for a $1,000 award, along with an official recognition.

Exceptional Intern Performance: An additional $500 will be awarded to an intern for outstanding work, accompanied by an award.

• Saras reiterated the need for members to inform him if their publications included LJI-related content or articles prepared by interns that meet the criteria for recognition.

vii. The general manager of the NEPMCC, Maria Saras-Voutsinas spoke about the LJI program and how the committee is finalizing the remaining applications. She thanked everyone for their patience in receiving their funding.

viii. Updates from Joe Volpe

1. Mohamad Tajdolati inquired if the General Manager of NEPMCC, Maria Saras-Voutsinas, had any updates regarding the Google situation. Maria responded that there were no new developments and referred the question to Joe Volpe for further information.
2. Joe Volpe prefaced his remarks by stating that his information, while accurate at the time, was approximately 36 hours old and might no longer be entirely current. He outlined three key issues discussed in ongoing conversations:

iia. Volpe highlighted that the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), the body overseeing the Canadian Journalism Collective (CJC) initiative, had made significant progress. However, he noted the following complications:

Members who had not applied or believed they were eligible to apply were required to submit applications again. Eligibility for funding does not guarantee acceptance for 2024; those who miss this opportunity may have to wait until subsequent years.

The structure of the CJC’s Board of Governors (BoG) will determine future opportunities, with decisions expected by the end of this year.

iib. Volpe confirmed his application for a seat on the BoG under two conditions:

• To represent himself independently.
• To represent the interests of the NEPMCC and its members, as this group is underrepresented.

He urged other qualified members to consider applying for the BoG, emphasizing the need for collective representation. He stressed the injustice of excluding certain groups and the importance of ensuring their voice is heard within the decision-making framework.

iic. Volpe addressed challenges faced by NEPMCC members in aligning with CJC’s categories. He noted that broadcasters and digital media often face different standards compared to traditional print media, such as Global News, which qualifies as both. He urged members from all media backgrounds to apply and recommended doing so immediately to avoid delays in the next cycle.

iid. Volpe stated that the final decision on applications would be followed by a general meeting to elect BoG members. This timeline is expected to progress quickly, with funding to be distributed by the end of 2024 or early 2025.

iie. Volpe underscored the political motivations driving the urgency to disburse funding. With speculation of a federal election looming before next October, concerns have arisen that a potential change in government could favor Google and derail the initiative. The priority is to secure the first $100 million in funding, benefiting eligible organizations, including those in the NEPMCC.

iif. Volpe concluded by encouraging members to submit applications for funding and to consider applying for BoG positions. He emphasized his willingness to support these efforts, reiterating the importance of accessing the available $63 million (net of administrative fees). He remarked “Even a small portion of that funding is better than having nothing at all.”

5. New business

Amrita Roy Chowdhury Majumbar, the Marketing and Communications Manager of Catholic Community Services of York Region (CCSYR), was presented to the floor and she likely highlighted the organization’s central role in supporting the community during the Christmas season. CCSYR provides various services, focusing on inclusivity and aid to vulnerable groups.

• Support for Newcomers: CCSYR is known for its programs assisting immigrants and refugees with settlement services, including orientation, language training, and cultural integration. Around Christmas, the organization emphasizes helping new families celebrate the holiday in a welcoming environment, especially those unfamiliar with Canadian traditions.
• Community Outreach: Likely, Majumbar spoke of initiatives such as holiday food drives, gift donations for underprivileged families, and organizing community events that foster belonging and togetherness.
• Mental Health and Wellness Support: CCSYR provides counseling and emotional support services, crucial during the holiday season, a time that can bring stress or feelings of isolation to many.
• Volunteer and Donor Engagement: She also called for community involvement through donations, sponsorships, or volunteerism, ensuring the continuity of programs during the festive period.
• Cultural and Religious Inclusivity: CCSYR often incorporates diverse cultural and religious practices into its services, which might have been emphasized to include all members of the community in holiday celebrations.

6. Next meeting

Date and Time: Monday, December 9, 2024 at 6:00pm (18:00) Eastern Time (US and Canada).

Location: Zoom meeting.

Meeting link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86037003092?pwd=6iUxTFKJwy5Q6aSfeMrjVnj1V4XNOp.1

Meeting ID: 860 3700 3092

Passcode: 592006

 

7. Adjournment

Time: 07:17pm (19:17)

Closing remarks: A proposal was made for everyone to secure tickets for the upcoming holiday event scheduled for the 20^th of December. Tickets are priced at $70 each, and tables seating ten people are available for $700. This festive gathering promises to bring together community members to celebrate the season, likely featuring a mix of networking opportunities, entertainment, and acknowledgments of collective achievements throughout the year. The emphasis on early bookings suggests a high level of anticipated interest and the importance of ensuring participation in this key end-of-year celebration.

Motion to approve adjournment: Yuri Natchetoi

Seconded by: Anfissa Lyasola

Minutes of the Monthly Meeting held on October 21, 2024, at City Hall, via Zoom

Present/Attendees

Thomas S. Saras

Mohammad Tajdolati

Neel Nanda

Maria Saras-Voutsinas

Rosemary Sadlier

Ricky Castellvi

George Guzman

Bill Fastis

Nishantha Don

Hon. Basilio Giordano

George Bakoyiannis

Dimitri Papadopoulos

AR Nathan

Arif Ahmed

Zenaida Ferry

Ravi

Ranjit Wicks

Hermie Garcia

Ghulam Rasool

Manan Gupta

Elsayed Nasr

Khalid Hamid

Thanasis Kourtesis

John Saraidaris

Ernesto Donan

Martha Pinzon

Nishantha Don

Bridgette Fontille

Sukumar Tamil Journal

Roberto Hausman

Jonathan Annobil

Emmanuel Ayiku

Mohammad Bagher Samimi

Kathy Gerasklis

Rick Esquerra

Mila Garcia

Medhat Oweida

Syed Hasson

Sima Ghaffarzadeh

Shahidul Mintu

Lui Queano

Denis Poirier

Jennifer Zhu

Hon. Joe Volpe

Ayubowan Sri Lanka

Leila Monteiro Lins

Deborah Shatz

Gezahegn Mekonnen

Daniela Spirlac

Lankathas Pathmanathan

Susana Donan

Kethes Kumar

Michael Li

Shail Prasad

Essie

Veronica Cusi

Ragee Arasaratnam

Fiza Syeda

Yuri Natchetoi

Khalid Hamid

Michale Li

Maria Swietorzecki

Lucy Lyang

Elsayed Nasr

George Guzmas

MB Samimi

Susana Donan

Neel Nanda

Mohammad Tajdolati

Olga Kaleev

AR Nathan

Ragee

Nishantha Don

Ayuban SriLanka

Basilio Giordano

Manan Gupta

Ernesto Donan

Kathy Lin

Sima Ghaffarzadeh

Denis Poirier

Ghanian News

Fiza Syeda

Rue Hayer-Bains

Leila Monteiro- Lins

Eugenia Bakchinow

Ghulam Rasool

Ranjith Wicks

Kathy Gerasklis

Hermie Garcia

Luba Cherny

Helen Wang

Taso Chatzitheofanou

Sean Pickard

Jonathan Annobil

Said Henry

(Names as per Zoom)

Mila Garcia

Goyum

Tausif

Zuhair Alshaaer

MB Samimi

Gonzalo Cooper

Thomas Saras

Ragee Arasaratnam

Mohammad Tajdolati

Ned Blair

Helen Wang

Dimitri Papadopoulos

Pooyan Tabatabaei

Elsayed Nasr

Margaret Bonikowska

Ernesto Donan

Susana Donan

Yuri Natchetoi

Deborah Shatz

Roberto Hausman

Tamil Journal

Olga Kileev

Neel Nanda

Hermie Garcia

Kathy Gerasklis

Rosemary Sadlier

Shahidul Mintu

George Guzmas

Basilio Giordano

Logan Logendralingam

John- CCTimes

Lucy Lyang

Elena Iliadi

Houman

Kamal Nava

Ayubowan SriLanka

Liisa Qureshi

AR Nathan

Martha Pinzon

Zenaida Ferry-Kharroubi

Ghulam Rasool

Jennifer Zhu

Syed Hassan

Shail Persaud

Ramsankr Sivanathan

Agenda of the day:

• Welcome Remarks by the chair.
• Minutes of the previous meeting
• President’s Report/Discussions
• New Members/New Business
• Adjournment

 

 

Welcome Remarks by the Chair:

Mohammed Tajdolati chaired the hybrid meeting of October 21, 2024, and declared the meeting open. Roberto Hausman moved a motion to approve the agenda. Pooyan Tabatabaei seconded it. The motion was carried unanimously.

 

Minutes of the previous meeting:

Dimitri Papadopolous moved a motion to approve the minutes of the previous monthly meeting and Yuri Natchetoi seconded it. Minutes of the previous monthly meeting were approved unanimously.

 President’s Report/Discussions:

• President Thomas Saras welcomed everyone to the monthly meeting of October 21, 2024.

The President informed that Ontario government might allocate funds to ethnic publications based in Ontario.

• The President informed members that he had meeting with the officers from the ministry of Heritage in Montreal.
• He mentioned that the internship program is ongoing. The council has received ninety applications.
• President Thomas Saras thanked Maria Voutsinas for her tireless work towards the betterment of the members of NEPMCC.

 

• He also mentioned about the upcoming Educational Seminar. He said a survey will be send out to members to a need analysis of the courses that members would like to take during the educational seminar.

 

• Motion: President Thomas Saras reminded the members of a previous resolution where it was decided to allocate funds to members who are working on the committees LJI and Educations Seminar. Ernesto Donan moved the motion supporting the above, seconded by Dimitri Papdopolous. The motion was unanimously carried.

 

• President Thomas Saras mentioned that NEPMCC will working towards creating a foundation for the members who need help during a crisis.

 

• President Thomas Saras encouraged everyone to apply for the student internship program and LJI.

 

• The President mentioned that Educational Seminar will be held next year. The office of the President of NEPMCC is working towards the educational seminar and more updates will be provided after finalizing the planning.
• President Thomas Saras informed the members that any members receiving funds from either LJI or Aid to Publications should declare that they have received funding funds from the Government of Canada. He also mentioned that anyone authoring an article under LJI should acknowledge that he is a LJI reporter.
• President Thomas Saras mentioned that in person meeting at City Hall will resume once broadcasting from City Hall will be permitted by technological requirements. President Thomas Saras wants `the meeting to be accessible to members in all parts of Canada.
• President Thomas Saras mentioned that NEPMCC has been trying hard to negotiate a better deal from Google regarding the compensation for the members of the ethnic media industry.
• President Thomas Saras thanked Susana Donan for her generous donation of $12,000, Hon Joe Volpe for his generous donation of $3000, Dimitri Papadopolous for his generous donation of $2000, Hon Basilio Giordano for his donation of $2000. Kathy Lin for her generous donation of $5000. President Thomas Saras also thanked all other members who generously donated to NEPMCC. He also reminded the members for renewing their membership by paying their annual membership fees. Members of NEPMCC receive numerous benefits and for NEPMCC to continue supporting its members, it is necessary for members to pay their membership fees on time.
• The President mentioned also the Annual Get- Together will be held on December 20 at the Hungarian Canadian Cultural Centre. As per previous meeting the ticket cost for the Annual Get-Together was set at $70 per person by a motion. Members were encouraged to attend this event with their families.
• Naga Logendralingam suggested that we should honour journalists who have lost their lives for the cause of the freedom of the press. Hon. Joe Volpe suggested that this should be brought to the attention of the committee.
• There were various discussions on the method of payment of Annual Membership fees as some members suggested e-transfer and other methods of payments. After various consultation it was decided to keep the existing payment method of payment of Annual Membership fees via cheque mailed to the office of NEPMCC

 

New Business/New Members

Echo Liu -Author, Skyky Cultural Publishers. Skyky Cultural Publishers is dedicated in providing a diverse range of genres, offering ambitious authors a platform to express their emotions and beliefs to readers worldwide. Our imprints cover a wide spectrum, including fiction, non-fiction, children’s literature, educational works, arts, and poetry. Skyky Foundation would present the fifth Skyky Youth Charity Concert at the prestigious Roy Thomson Hall on November 10th, 2024. This grand event aims to support SickKids Hospital, showcasing exceptional talents and fostering a platform for young musicians to shine.

Jeremey Grimaldi Jeremy Grimaldi, a former journalist at Metroland, has made a significant transition from crime reporter to award-winning author executive director, of the highly popular Netflix documentary titled “What Jennifer Did.” Grimaldi’s book, “A Daughter’s Deadly Deception: The Jennifer Pan Story,” published in 2016, earned him the prestigious 2017 Arthur Ellis non-fiction award. Netflix took notice of the book and decided to adapt it into a documentary in 2021. As the book’s author, Grimaldi was appointed as the executive director of the film.

Finaly, Maria Saras-Voutsinas, gave an update on the compensations from Google based on the Online News Act. The CJC-CCJ has announced that the applications are now open for news businesses that wish to share in compensation from the Online News Act. The Canadian Journalism Collective-Collectif Canadien de Journalisme (CJC-CCJ) has signed an agreement to act as the collective responsible for receiving and distributing $100 million annually from Google in support of Canadian news businesses under the Online News Act. As outlined in the final regulations of the Act, the Collective will work with all eligible news businesses that came forward during the open call process. The CJC-CCJ commits to equitably support the full diversity of the news ecosystem, ensure marketplace fairness, and encourage innovation and sustainability. The CJC-CCJ is responsible for reviewing all news publishers that responded to the open call process, accepting all that submitted valid attestations, and then distributing funds across publishers in accordance with the distribution formula prescribed by the Online News Act regulations. The CJC-CCJ intends to establish robust governance and distribute funding as swiftly and transparently as possible. News businesses that missed the previous open call conducted by Google may also apply, but their eligibility to receive funds is subject to a pending decision by the CRTC.

Adjournment: Hon Joe Volpe moved a motion to adjourn the meeting and Roberto Hausman seconded it. The motion was carried. The Chair, Dr. Tajdolati adjourned the meeting at 8:15 PM. The next monthly meeting will take place on Monday, November 11 ,2024, via Zoom.

The above notes from the minutes of October 21, 2024, were prepared by Secretary General and Senior VP of the NEPMCC, Neel Nanda.

 

Minutes of the Monthly Meeting held on September 09, 2024, at City Hall, via Zoom

Present/Attendees

Thomas S. Saras

Mohammad Tajdolati

Neel Nanda

Maria Saras-Voutsinas

Rosemary Sadlier

Ricky Castellvi

George Guzman

Bill Fastis

Nishantha Don

Hon. Basilio Giordano

George Bakoyiannis

Dimitri Papadopoulos

AR Nathan

Arif Ahmed

Zenaida Ferry

Ravi

Ranjit Wicks

Hermie Garcia

Ghulam Rasool

Manan Gupta

Elsayed Nasr

Khalid Hamid

Thanasis Kourtesis

John Saraidaris

Ernesto Donan

Martha Pinzon

Nishantha Don

Bridgette Fontille

Sukumar Tamil Journal

Roberto Hausman

Jonathan Annobil

Emmanuel Ayiku

Mohammad Bagher Samimi

Kathy Gerasklis

Rick Esquerra

Mila Garcia

Medhat Oweida

Syed Hasson

Sima Ghaffarzadeh

Shahidul Mintu

Lui Queano

Denis Poirier

Jennifer Zhu

Hon. Joe Volpe

Ayubowan Sri Lanka

Leila Monteiro Lins

Deborah Shatz

Gezahegn Mekonnen

Daniela Spirlac

Lankathas Pathmanathan

Susana Donan

Kethes Kumar

Michael Li

Shail Prasad

Veronica Cusi

Ragee Arasaratnam

Fiza Syeda

Yuri Natchetoi

Khalid Hamid

Michale Li

Maria Swietorzecki

Lucy Lyang

Elsayed Nasr

George Guzmas

MB Samimi

Susana Donan

Neel Nanda

Mohammad Tajdolati

Olga Kaleev

AR Nathan

Ayuban SriLanka

Basilio Giordano

Manan Gupta

Ernesto Donan

Kathy Lin

Sima Ghaffarzadeh

Denis Poirier

Ghanian News

Fiza Syeda

Rue Hayer-Bains

Leila Monteiro- Lins

Eugenia Bakchinow

Ghulam Rasool

Ranjith Wicks

Hermie Garcia

Luba Cherny

Helen Wang

Taso Chatzitheofanous

Sean Pickard

Jonathan Annobil

Said Henry

(Names as per Zoom)

Mila Garcia

Goyum

Tausif

Zuhair Alshaaer

MB Samimi

Gonzalo Cooper

Thomas Saras

Ragee Arasaratnam

Mohammad Tajdolati

Ned Blair

Helen Wang

Dimitri Papadopoulos

Pooyan Tabatabaei

Elsayed Nasr

Margaret Bonikowska

Ernesto Donan

Susana Donan

Yuri Natchetoi

Deborah Shatz

Roberto Hausman

Tamil Journal

Olga Kileev

Neel Nanda

Hermie Garcia

Kathy Gerasklis

Rosemary Sadlier

Shahidul Mintu

George Guzmas

Basilio Giordano

Logan Logendralingam

John- CCTimes

Lucy Lyang

Elena Iliadi

Houman

Kamal Nava

Ayubowan SriLanka

Liisa Qureshi

AR Nathan

Martha Pinzon

Zenaida Ferry-Kharroubi

Ghulam Rasool

Jennifer Zhu

Syed Hassan

Shail Persaud

Agenda of the day:

• Welcome Remarks by the chair.
• Minutes of the previous meeting
• President’s Report/Discussions
• New Members/New Business
• Adjournment

 

 

Welcome Remarks by the Chair:

Mohammed Tajdolati chaired the hybrid meeting of September 09, 2024, and declared the meeting open. Roberto Huzman moved a motion to approve the agenda. Dimitri Papadopoulos seconded it. The motion was carried unanimously.

 

Minutes of the previous meeting:

Roberto Huzman moved a motion to approve the minutes of the previous monthly meeting and Helen Wang ( Manitoba) seconded it. Minutes of the previous monthly meeting were approved unanimously.

 President’s Report/Discussions:

• President Thomas Saras welcomed everyone to the monthly meeting of September 9, 2024. He mentioned that the booth at the CNE was huge success.
• President Thomas Saras informed that Ontario government might allocate funds to ethnic publications based in Ontario.
• He mentioned that the internship program is ongoing. The council has received 90 applications.
• President Thomas Saras thanked Maria Voutsinas for her tireless work towards the betterment of the members of NEPMCC.

• The president mentioned about the upcoming Educational Seminar. He said a survey will be send out to members to a need analysis of the courses that members would like to take during the educational seminar.

• Motion: President Thomas Saras reminded the members of a previous resolution where it was approved to allocate funds to members who are working on the committees LJI, Internship program and Educational Seminar he proposed for this year the amount to be up to five thousand dollars for each one of them. Ernesto Donan moved the motion supporting the above, seconded by Dimitri Papadopoulos. The motion was unanimously carried.

 

• The president also mentioned that NEPMCC will working towards creating a foundation for the members who need help during a crisis, the foundation will help also journalists in crisis internationally and their families in case of jailed ones. The Motion approved unanimously.

 

• The president encouraged everyone to apply for the student internship program and LJI.

• The president mentioned that Educational Seminar will be held next year. The office of the President of NEPMCC is working towards the educational seminar to be organized with the Toronto Metropolitan University (School of Journalism) the first or second weekend of October 2025.and more updates will be provided after finalizing the planning.
• President Thomas Saras informed the members that any member receiving funds from either LJI, special measures to publishers or Aid to Publications should declare that they have received funding funds from the Government of Canada as ( Other Income)  They don’t pay GST for this amount. He also mentioned that anyone authoring an article under LJI should acknowledge that he is a LJI reporter.
• The president mentioned that in person meeting at City Hall will resume once broadcasting from City Hall will be permitted by technological requirements. President Thomas Saras wants `the meeting to be accessible to members in all parts of Canada.
• The president mentioned that NEPMCC has been trying hard to negotiate a better deal from Google regarding the compensation for the members of the ethnic media industry.
• The president Thomas Saras thanked Susana Donan for her generous donation of $12,000, Hon Joe Volpe for his generous donation of $3000, Dimitri Papadopolous for his generous donation of $2000, Hon Basilio Giordano for his donation of $2000. Kathy Lin for her generous donation of $5000. And all other members contributing financially to well being of the organization. The resident also thanked all other members who generously donated to NEPMCC financially or in kind. He also reminded the members for renewing their membership by paying their annual membership fees. Members of NEPMCC receive numerous benefits and for NEPMCC to continue supporting its members, it is necessary for members to pay their membership fees on time.
• The president also mentioned the Annual Get- Together event, will be held on Friday evening December 20 at the Hunguarian Canadian Cultural Centre. Motion: There were discussions to increase the price of the entrance of the annual get-together to $70 as the catering costs are significantly increased over the years. Pooyan Tabatabaei moved a motion supporting the ticket price to be raised to $70 and Yuri Natchetoi seconded the motion. The motion was unanimously carried.
• Naga Logendralingam suggested that we should honour journalists who have lost their lives for the cause of the freedom of the press. Hon. Joe Volpe suggested that this should be brought to the attention of the committee.
• There were various discussions on the method of payment of Annual Membership fees as some members suggested e-transfer and other methods of payments. After various consultation it was decided to keep the existing payment method of payment of Annual Membership fees via cheque mailed to the office of NEPMCC for reasons of technicality.

 

New Business/New Members

Muhammad Ali Bukhari mentioned that journalists in Bangladesh is facing persecution after the civil unrest and mentioned a report by Reporters without Borders. A statement for the journalists facing persecution in Bangladesh would be followed and once the draft being approved would be forwarded to the Consulate General of Bangladesh in Toronto.

New Member – Christos Manikis BHMA, (Montreal). The chair and the President welcomed the new member to the council.

Adjournment: Hon Joe Volpe moved a motion to adjourn the meeting and Tamil Journal seconded it. The motion was carried. The Chair, Dr. Tajdolati adjourned the meeting at 8:15 PM. The next monthly meeting will take place on Monday, October 21 ,2024, via Zoom.

The above notes from the minutes of September 09, 2024, were prepared by Secretary General and Senior VP of the NEPMCC, Neel Nanda.

Minutes of the Monthly Meeting held on July 08, 2024, at City Hall, via Zoom

Present/Attendees

Thomas S. Saras

Mohammad Tajdolati

Neel Nanda

Maria Saras-Voutsinas

Rosemary Sadlier

Ricky Castellvi

George Guzman

Bill Fastis

Nishantha Don

Hon. Basilio Giordano

George Bakoyiannis

Dimitri Papadopoulos

AR Nathan

Arif Ahmed

Zenaida Ferry

Ravi

Ranjit Wicks

Hermie Garcia

Ghulam Rasool

Manan Gupta

Elsayed Nasr

Khalid Hamid

Thanasis Kourtesis

John Saraidaris

Ernesto Donan

Martha Pinzon

Nishantha Don

Bridgette Fontille

Sukumar Tamil Journal

Roberto Hausman

Jonathan Annobil

Emmanuel Ayiku

Mohammad Bagher Samimi

Kathy Gerasklis

Rick Esquerra

Mila Garcia

Medhat Oweida

Syed Hasson

Sima Ghaffarzadeh

Shahidul Mintu

Lui Queano

Denis Poirier

Jennifer Zhu

Hon. Joe Volpe

Ayubowan Sri Lanka

Leila Monteiro Lins

Deborah Shatz

Gezahegn Mekonnen

Daniela Spirlac

Lankathas Pathmanathan

Susana Donan

Kethes Kumar

Michael Li

Shail Prasad

Essie

Veronica Cusi

Ragee Arasaratnam

Fiza Syeda

Yuri Natchetoi

Khalid Hamid

Michale Li

Maria Swietorzecki

Lucy Lyang

Elsayed Nasr

George Guzmas

MB Samimi

Susana Donan

Neel Nanda

Mohammad Tajdolati

Olga Kaleev

AR Nathan

Ragee

Nishantha Don

Ayuban SriLanka

Basilio Giordano

Manan Gupta

Ernesto Donan

Kathy Lin

Sima Ghaffarzadeh

Denis Poirier

Ghanian News

Fiza Syeda

Rue Hayer-Bains

Leila Monteiro- Lins

Eugenia Bakchinow

Ghulam Rasool

Ranjith Wicks

Kathy Gerasklis

Hermie Garcia

Luba Cherny

Helen Wang

Taso Chatzitheofanou

Sean Pickard

Jonathan Annobil

Said Henry

(Names as per Zoom)

Mila Garcia

Goyum

Tausif

Zuhair Alshaaer

MB Samimi

Gonzalo Cooper

Thomas Saras

Ragee Arasaratnam

Mohammad Tajdolati

Ned Blair

Helen Wang

Dimitri Papadopoulos

Pooyan Tabatabaei

Elsayed Nasr

Margaret Bonikowska

Ernesto Donan

Susana Donan

Yuri Natchetoi

Deborah Shatz

Roberto Hausman

Tamil Journal

Olga Kileev

Neel Nanda

Hermie Garcia

Kathy Gerasklis

Rosemary Sadlier

Shahidul Mintu

George Guzmas

Basilio Giordano

Logan Logendralingam

John- CCTimes

Lucy Lyang

Elena Iliadi

Houman

Kamal Nava

Ayubowan SriLanka

Liisa Qureshi

AR Nathan

Martha Pinzon

Zenaida Ferry-Kharroubi

Ghulam Rasool

Jennifer Zhu

Syed Hassan

Shail Persaud

Agenda of the day:

• Welcome Remarks by the chair.
• Minutes of the previous meeting
• President’s Report/Discussions
• New Members/New Business
• Adjournment

 

 

Welcome Remarks by the Chair:

Mohammed Tajdolati chaired the hybrid meeting of July 08, 2024, and declared the meeting open. Yuri Natchetoi moved a motion to approve the agenda. Dimitri Papadopoulos seconded it. The motion was carried unanimously.

 

Minutes of the previous meeting:

Dimitri Papadopoulous moved a motion to approve the minutes of the previous monthly meeting and Margaret Bonikowiska seconded it. Minutes of the previous monthly meeting were approved unanimously.

 President’s Report/Discussions:

• President Thomas Saras welcomed everyone to the monthly meeting of July 8, 2024. He hoped the coming months will be great for everyone. He also reminded members to pay their annual membership fees to continue to get the benefits and privileges as a member of NEPMCC. He mentioned that those who applied for media passes can collect it.
• President Thomas Saras informed that Ontario government might allocate funds to ethnic publications based in Ontario.
• President Thomas Saras thanked Maria Voutsinas for her tireless work towards the betterment of the members of NEPMCC.

• President Thomas Saras mentioned about the upcoming Educational Seminar. He said a survey will be send out to members to a need analysis of the courses that members would like to take during the educational seminar.

• President Thomas Saras mentioned the NEPMCC will be participating at the CNE this year. There will be a reception during the opening ceremony of the NEPMCC booth at CNE.

• Motion: President Thomas Saras reminded the members of a previous resolution where it was approved to allocate funds to members who are working on the committees LJI and Educations Seminar. Ernesto Donan moved the motion supporting the above, seconded by Dimitri Papdopolous. The motion was unanimously carried.

• President Thomas Saras mentioned that NEPMCC will working towards creating a foundation for the members who need help during a crisis.

• President Thomas Saras encouraged everyone to apply for the student internship program and LJI.

• President Thomas Saras mentioned that Educational Seminar will be held next year. The office of the President of NEPMCC is working towards the educational seminar and more updates will be provided after finalizing the planning.
• President Thomas Saras informed the members that any members receiving funds from either LJI or Aid to Publications should declare that they have received funding funds from the Government of Canada. He also mentioned that anyone authoring an article under LJI should acknowledge that he is a LJI reporter.
• President Thomas Saras mentioned that in person meeting at City Hall will resume once broadcasting from City Hall will be permitted by technological requirements. President Thomas Saras wants `the meeting to be accessible to members in all parts of Canada.
• President Thomas Saras mentioned that NEPMCC has been trying hard to negotiate a better deal from Google regarding the compensation for the members of the ethnic media industry.
• Naga Logendralingam suggested that we should honour journalists who have lost their lives for the cause of the freedom of the press. Hon. Joe Volpe suggested that this should be brought to the attention of the committee.
• President Thomas Saras thanked Hon Joe Volpe and all other members who generously donated to NEPMCC. Although the industry and members of NEPMCC are struggling financially, he encouraged everyone that can do so to donate. He also reminded the members for renewing their membership by paying their annual membership fees.
• There were various discussions on the method of payment of Annual Membership fees as some members suggested e-transfer and other methods of payments. After various consultation it was decided to keep the existing payment method of payment of Annual Membership fees via cheque mailed to the office of NEPMCC

 

New Business/New Members

Maria Saras Voutsinas updated on the disbursement of funds under LJI.

She then took questions on the components of Special Measures for Journalism and Business Innovation Grant.

The CJC-CCJ is currently preparing its submission to the CRTC, taking into account feedback they have heard from stakeholders to date. It is understood that the stakeholders expect the CJC-CCJ to establish a governance structure that represents the full diversity of the news ecosystem and processes for fund distribution that are transparent, fair, and cost-effective, in accordance with the Online News Act and regulations. One can find more information in the link below

https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2024/2024-143.htm

Geroge Bakoyannis, Margaret Bonikowska, Dimitri Papadopolous, and others participated in discussions on the relevant issues raised during the meeting.

Adjournment:  Dimitri Papadopoulos moved a motion to adjourn the meeting and Margaret Bonikowska seconded it. The motion was carried. The Chair, Dr. Tajdolati adjourned the meeting at 8:15 PM. The next monthly meeting will take place on Monday, August 12 ,2024, via Zoom. (Meeting may be postponed due to the preparation of the CNE Ethnic Press Booth)

The above notes from the minutes of July 08, 2024, were prepared by Secretary General and Senior VP of the NEPMCC, Neel Nanda.

Minutes of the Monthly Meeting held on June 10, 2024, at Committee Room No 2, City Hall, hybrid meeting via Zoom and in person.

Present/Attendees

Thomas S. Saras

Mohammad Tajdolati

Neel Nanda

Maria Saras-Voutsinas

Rosemary Sadlier

Ricky Castellvi

George Guzman

Bill Fastis

Nishantha Don

Hon. Basilio Giordano

George Bakoyiannis

Dimitri Papadopoulos

AR Nathan

Arif Ahmed

Zenaida Ferry

Ravi

Ranjit Wicks

Hermie Garcia

Ghulam Rasool

Manan Gupta

Elsayed Nasr

Khalid Hamid

Thanasis Kourtesis

John Saraidaris

Ernesto Donan

Martha Pinzon

Nishantha Don

Bridgette Fontille

Sukumar Tamil Journal

Roberto Hausman

Jonathan Annobil

Emmanuel Ayiku

Mohammad Bagher Samimi

Kathy Gerasklis

Rick Esquerra

Mila Garcia

Medhat Oweida

Syed Hasson

Sima Ghaffarzadeh

Shahidul Mintu

Lui Queano

Denis Poirier

Jennifer Zhu

Hon. Joe Volpe

Ayubowan Sri Lanka

Leila Monteiro Lins

Deborah Shatz

Gezahegn Mekonnen

Daniela Spirlac

Lankathas Pathmanathan

Susana Donan

Kethes Kumar

Michael Li

Shail Prasad

Essie

Veronica Cusi

Ragee Arasaratnam

Fiza Syeda

Yuri Natchetoi

Khalid Hamid

Michale Li

Maria Swietorzecki

Lucy Lyang

Elsayed Nasr

George Guzmas

MB Samimi

Susana Donan

Neel Nanda

Mohammad Tajdolati

Olga Kaleev

AR Nathan

Ragee

Nishantha Don

Ayuban SriLanka

Basilio Giordano

Manan Gupta

Ernesto Donan

Kathy Lin

Sima Ghaffarzadeh

Denis Poirier

Ghanian News

Fiza Syeda

Rue Hayer-Bains

Leila Monteiro- Lins

Eugenia Bakchinow

Ghulam Rasool

Ranjith Wicks

Kathy Gerasklis

Hermie Garcia

Luba Cherny

Helen Wang

Taso Chatzitheofanou

Sean Pickard

Jonathan Annobil

Said Henry

(Names as per Zoom)

Mila Garcia

Goyum

Tausif

Zuhair Alshaaer

MB Samimi

Gonzalo Cooper

Thomas Saras

Ragee Arasaratnam

Mohammad Tajdolati

Ned Blair

Helen Wang

Dimitri Papadopoulos

Pooyan Tabatabaei

Elsayed Nasr

Margaret Bonikowska

Ernesto Donan

Susana Donan

Yuri Natchetoi

Deborah Shatz

Roberto Hausman

Tamil Journal

Olga Kileev

Neel Nanda

Hermie Garcia

Kathy Gerasklis

Rosemary Sadlier

Shahidul Mintu

George Guzmas

Basilio Giordano

Logan Logendralingam

John- CCTimes

Lucy Lyang

Elena Iliadi

Houman

Kamal Nava

Ayubowan SriLanka

Liisa Qureshi

AR Nathan

Martha Pinzon

Zenaida Ferry-Kharroubi

Ghulam Rasool

Jennifer Zhu

Syed Hassan

Shail Persaud

Agenda of the day:

• Welcome Remarks by the chair.
• Minutes of the previous meeting
• Presentation by Heritage Canada
• Presentation by Meetu Madahar, Communications Manager, United Way of Greater Toronto
• President’s Report/Discussions
• New Members/New Business
• Adjournment

 

 

Welcome Remarks by the Chair:

Mohammed Tajdolati chaired the hybrid meeting of June 10, 2024, and declared the meeting open. Manan Gupta moved a motion to approve the agenda. Pooyan Tabatabaei seconded it. The motion was carried unanimously.

 

Minutes of the previous meeting:

Arif Ahmed moved a motion to approve the minutes of the previous monthly meeting and Dimitri Papadopoulous seconded it. Minutes of the previous monthly meeting were approved unanimously.

 President’s Report/Discussions:

• President Thomas Saras welcomed everyone to the monthly meeting of June 10, 2024.  He hoped the coming months will be great for everyone.  He also reminded members to pay their annual membership fees to continue to get the benefits and privileges as a member of NEPMCC. He mentioned that those who applied for media passes can collect it.
• President Thomas Saras thanked Maria Saras Voutsinas and members in the committee who worked towards the “Freedom of Press” Celebration at City Hall. The event was a huge success.

 

• President Thomas Saras welcomed a delegation of officers from Canadian Heritage  to the monthly meeting of June 10, 2024.

• President Thomas Saras mentioned about the upcoming Educational Seminar. He said a survey will be send out to members to a need analysis of the courses that members would like to take during the educational seminar.

• President Thomas Saras mentioned the NEPMCC will be participating at the CNE this year. There will be a reception during the opening ceremony of the NEPMCC booth at CNE.
• Motion: Miniter of Heritage demanded a coordinator to be a liaison between the federally run LJI and Student Internship programs and NEPMCC. The name of Maria Saras Voutsinas was suggested as the coordinator of the Federally run programs. George Guzmas moved the motion supporting Maria Saras as the coordinator of the Federally run programs funded by the Ministry of Canadian Heritage. Shahidul Islam Mintu seconded it. The motion was unanimously carried.

• President Thomas Saras mentioned that Educational Seminar will be held next year. The office of the President of NEPMCC is working towards the educational seminar and more updates will be provided after finalizing the logistics.
• President Thomas Saras informed the members that any members receiving funds from either LJI or Aid to Publications should declare that they have received funding funds from the Government of Canada. He also mentioned that anyone writing an article under LJI should acknowledge that he is a LJI reporter.
• President Thomas Saras mentioned that in person meeting at City Hall will resume once broadcasting from City Hall will be permitted by technological requirements. President Thomas Saras wants `the meeting to be accessible to members in all parts of Canada.
• President Thomas Saras mentioned that NEPMCC has been trying hard to negotiate a better deal from Google regarding the compensation for the members of the ethnic media industry.
• Naga Logendralingam suggested that we should honour journalists who have lost their lives for the cause of the freedom of the press. Hon. Joe Volpe suggested that this should be brought to the attention of the committee.
• President Thomas Saras thanked Hon Joe Volpe and all other members who generously donated to NEPMCC. Although the industry and members of NEPMCC are struggling financially, he encouraged everyone that can do so to donate. He also reminded the members for renewing their membership by paying their annual membership fees.
• There were various discussions on the method of payment of Annual Membership fees as some members suggested e-transfer and other methods of payments. After various consultation it was decided to keep the existing payment method of payment of Annual Membership fees via cheque mailed to the office of NEPMCC

Presentation by Heritage Canada PCH – Canada Periodical Fund

The Chair invited the delegation to make their presentation.

The delegation included

France Fortier, Director, Periodical Publishing Policy and Programs,

Karine Morin, Manager, Aid to Publishers, Canada Periodical Fund

Andrea Simms-Karp, Manager Collective Initiatives, LJI, CPF

Sridaya Srivastan, Policy Analyst Magazines Policy

Brigette Fontille, Program Officer, LJI

Cynthia D’Amours, Senior Program Officer, LJI, SMJ

Canada  Periodical Fund (CPF):

Overview of CPF components

Special Measures for Journalism (SMJ):

The SMJ component provides funds to Canadian magazines and community newspapers. The SMJ component will provide funds for the 2024-2025 fiscal year to publishers that have a free circulation model or low levels of paid circulation, or are published in digital format. Funding is distributed proportionally according to the total of eligible editorial expenses of each recipient.

Aid to Publishers (ATP):

The Aid to Publishers component is designed to provide eligible Canadian publishers of print magazines, print community newspapers (non-daily) and digital periodicals with the financial support they need to produce and distribute high-quality, Canadian editorial content for Canadian readers.Funding is distributed proportionally according to the number of eligible copies distributed by each recipient; eligible editorial expenditures of each recipient for print magazines and community newspapers. For digital-only periodicals, funding is distributed proportionally according to eligible editorial expenditures.

Business Innovation (BI):

The Business Innovation component offers support for projects to eligible small and mid-sized print and digital magazines, and print and digital non-daily community newspapers. BI is designed to fund projects that have clear objectives and measurable results. Your application will be evaluated based on the criteria below. It will be compared and prioritized with other applications in relation to the funds available. Funding will be disbursed as a grant or as a contribution.

Collective Initiatives (CI):

The Collective Initiatives component funds projects for organizations designed to increase the overall sustainability of the Canadian magazine and community newspaper (non-daily) industries. CI is designed to fund projects that have clear objectives and measurable results. Your application will be evaluated based on the evaluation criteria below. It will be compared and prioritized with other applications in relation to the funds available.

Intake periods for current and upcoming funding cycles

SMJ 2024-2025

This component is currently receiving applications (opened May 31, 2024). The

deadline to apply is July 12, 2024. Following the deadline date, there is a 30-week

service standard to issue funding decisions.

BI 2024-2025

This component is currently receiving applications (opened June 10, 2024). The

deadline date to apply is July 12, 2024. Following the deadline date, there is a 20-

week service standard to issue funding decisions.

CI 2024-2025

This component is currently receiving applications (opened June 10, 2024). The

deadline date to apply is August 30, 2024. Following the deadline date, there is a

20-week service standard to issue funding decisions.

ATP 2025-2026

This component will launch the next funding cycle in October 2024 with a

deadline date to apply of end of November 2024. Following the deadline date,

there is a 30-week service standard to issue funding decisions.

Frequently recurring issues

Reproduced content

Content previously published on other platforms or in other publications.

The Program requires periodicals to contain at least 51% of original

content that has not been published elsewhere previously.

Unoriginal translated content

Translated content that was previously published on other platforms or in

other publications. Translation of previously published content does not

constitute original content. Translations of previously published content

may constitute up to a maximum of 49% of applicant’s submitted

content in an application.

Paid copies reported on forms

For subscription copies sold, a subscribers list may be requested to

confirm numbers reported on the form. For single-copy/newsstand sales,

points of sale reports showing each individual transactions may be

requested to confirm numbers reported on form.

Following the presentation, the chair Dr. Tajdolati opned the floor for questions and answers to members present in person and members attending all over Canada via Zoom.

Kathy Geskalis, Dimitri Papadopoulous, Manan Gupta, Hon Joe Volpe, Pooyan Tabatabaei, Margaret P. Bonikowska, Lisa, Manan Gupta, Shai l,Olga Kileev , Sean Pickard, Mareck Goldyn, Zuhair Alshaeer, Logan Logendranalingam, George Guzmas, Mila Garcia and others asked relevant questions to the delegation.

Presentation of plaques to the delegation fron from Heritage Canada

President Thomas Saras presented plaques to the delegation in appreciation of their time and guidance to the members of NEPMCC

 

.

.

Toronto

New Business/New Members

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Adjournment:  Shahidul Islam Mintu moved a motion to adjourn the meeting and George Guzmas seconded it. The motion was carried. The Chair, Dr. Tajdolati adjourned the meeting at 8:15 PM. The next monthly meeting will take place on Monday, July 08, 2024, via Zoom.

The above notes from the minutes of June 10, 2024, were prepared by Secretary General and Senior VP of the NEPMCC, Neel Nanda.