Minutes of the Monthly Meeting held on August 14, 2023, through video conference via Zoom

Present/Attendees

• Thomas S. Saras
• Mohammad Tajdolati
• Neel Nanda
• Maria Saras-Voutsinas
• Rosemary Sadlier
• Ricky Castellvi
• Hon. Basilio Giordano
• George Bakoyiannis
• Dimitri Papadopoulos
• AR Nathan
• Zenaida Ferry
• Ravi
• Hermie Garcia
• Ghulam Rasool
• Manan Gupta
• Elsayed Nasr
• Khalid Hamid
• Thanasis Kourtesis
• John Saraidaris
• Ernesto Donan
• Martha Pinzon
• Nishantha Don
• Bridgette Fontille
• Josee Shanks
• Sukumar Tamil Journal
• Roberto Hausman
• 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 SyedaDimitri Papadopoulos
• AR Nathan
• Zenaida Ferry
• Ravi
• Hermie Garcia
• Ghulam Rasool
• Manan Gupta
• Elsayed Nasr
• Khalid Hamid
• Thanasis Kourtesis
• John Saraidaris
• Ernesto Donan
• Martha Pinzon
• Nishantha Don
• Bridgette Fontille
• Josee Shanks
• Sukumar Tamil Journal
• Roberto Hausman
• 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

Agenda of the day

• • Welcome Remarks by the chair.
  • Minutes of the previous meeting
  • Presentation by Josee Shanks- Department of Canadian Heritage
  • President’s Report/Discussions
  • New Members/New Business
  • Adjournment

  Welcome Remarks by the Chair:

  Mohammed Tajdolati chaired the virtual monthly meeting and declared the meeting open. Roberto Hausman moved a motion to approve the agenda. Joe Volpe seconded it. The motion was carried unanimously.

  Minutes of the previous meeting:

  Nishantha moved a motion to approve the minutes of the previous monthly meeting and Roberto seconded it. Minutes of the previous monthly meeting were approved unanimously.

  A moment of silence was observed in honour of our brother and colleague, Srimal Christopher Abeyewardene. We will miss him greatly. May his memory be eternal.

  PreSENTATION BY JOSEE SHANKS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF CANADIAN HERITAGE:

  The presentation can be found here:

  Canada Periodical Fund

  Business Innovation
  Magazines
  and
  Community Newspapers

  Objectives of Business Innovation

  • support innovation and the use of new technologies;
  • strengthen the financial viability of Canadian print magazines, print community newspapers (non-daily) and digital periodicals;
  • increase access to the market by Canadian print magazines, print community newspapers (non-daily) and digital periodicals;
  • encourage the development of the next generation of Canadian periodical publishing professionals; and
  • enhance the diversity of titles and Canadian editorial content available to readers and advertisers

  Canada Periodical Fund (CPF)

  Aid to Publishers (ATP)

  • This 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.

  Collective Initiatives (CI)

  • Funds projects for organizations designed to increase the overall sustainability of the Canadian magazine and community newspaper (non-daily) industries.

  Canada Periodical Fund (CPF)

  Business Innovation (BI)

  • A component that supports projects for small and medium-sized publishers of print and digital magazines.
  • This component has two subcomponents:
    • Magazines
    • Community Newspapers

     

  Canada Periodical Fund (CPF)

  Magazines and Community Newspapers Publisher Eligibility

  • be a private-sector entity, which includes corporations, not-for-profit organizations, partnerships and sole proprietorships;
  • be majority owned and controlled by Canadians.

  Periodical Eligibility

  • contain an average of at least 80% Canadian editorial content in the issues published during the reporting period.
  • Ethnocultural periodicals must contain an average of at least 50% Canadian editorial content in the issues published during the reporting period;
  • contain an average of no more than 70% advertising in all issues published during the reporting period. Advertising content is calculated as a percentage of total content published. Note that advertorial and sponsored content are included in this calculation; and
  • contain at least 50% original content in the issues published during the reporting period.

  Magazine Eligibility – Print

  • appear in consecutively numbered or dated issues;
  • Have at least two issues in the past 12 months;
  • average circulation – no less than 250/no more than 100,000;
  • subscription price of $12 per year or $1 per copy;
  • paid circulation magazines must:
    • have at least 50% paid or request circulation, or a combination of
      these equaling 50%.
    • Indigenous, ethnocultural, official-language minority and 2SLGBTQI+
      magazines must demonstrate paid or request circulation, but are not required to maintain the 50% threshold;

     

  Magazine Eligibility – Digital

  • maintain a regular publishing schedule in which the majority of editorial content changes at least twice during a 12-month period;
  • have articles date-stamped with identified authors;
  • maintain one of the following types of verifiable circulation over six months:
    • paid subscription service: priority will be given to periodicals that maintain an average of at least 250 subscribers;
    • email-based service: priority will be given to periodicals that maintain an average of at least 1,000 registered email
      recipients; or
    • open access-service: priority will be given to periodicals that maintain an average of at least 2,500 unique monthly visitors;
    • maintain an editorial function where the editor is named;
    • regularly present written editorial content from more than one person;
    • have generated a minimum revenue of $2,500 in the fiscal year (e.g., subscription revenues, advertising sales, etc.)
    • the minimum revenue does not apply to official-language minority, Indigenous, ethnocultural and 2SLGBTQI+ digital publications;
    • present a clearly displayed masthead or contact page that includes, at minimum, the names of the publisher and
      editor and how to contact the publication; and
    • have a total revenue of less than $500,000 for the publication.

     

  Community Newspapers Eligibility – Print

  • be printed and appear in consecutively numbered or dated issues published under a common title;
  • have published between two and 52 regular issues and no more than 56 issues during the financial year, including special issues;
  • paid circulation community newspapers must:
    • have sold at least 3,500 paid copies through subscription copies and single-copy/newsstand copies during the financial year.
    • Official-language minority, Indigenous, ethnocultural and 2SLGBTQI+ community newspapers must have sold at least 2,000 paid copies during the financial year;
    • have subscriptions sold at a minimum average subscription price of $12 per year; or at a minimum average subscription price of $0.50 per copy;
    • have single copies and newsstand copies sold at a minimum average single-copy price of $0.50 per copy;
    • have both the subscription and single-copy prices appear on the cover or in the masthead of the community newspaper.
    • The minimum prices do not apply to official-language minority, Indigenous, ethnocultural and 2SLGBTQI+ community newspapers.

     

  Community Newspapers Eligibility – Digital

  • be available through a valid URL, an app for download, email format, or a third-party publishing platform and provide access to the program;
  • maintain a regular publishing schedule, editorial content changes at least twice during a 12-month period;
  • have articles date-stamped with identified authors;
  • maintain a verifiable circulation over six months:
  • have generated a minimum revenue of $2,500 in the fiscal year.
  • The minimum revenue does not apply to official-language minority, Indigenous, ethnocultural and 2SLGBTQI+ digital publications;
  • have Canadian editorial content levels that are above 80%
  • at least 50% of content must be in written format and videos uploaded as content must have a corresponding text article to count towards eligibility.
  • maintain an editorial function where the editor is named;
  • present a clearly displayed masthead or contact page that includes, at minimum, the names of the publisher and editor and how to contact the publication; and
  • have a total revenue of less than $500,000 for the publication.

  Eligible Projects

  • • be a new activity not repeated from previous Business Innovation projects;
    • be outside of and in addition to regular, recurring or ongoing operations, including editorial, production and distribution activities; and
    • align with the objective of the Canada Periodical Fund, and at least one of the objectives of the Business Innovation component.

  Changes 2023-24

  • • • Magazine applications must be submitted through the portal
      • Community newspapers must fill out an application form
      • Contact the Program to request an application
      • You can claim expenses starting April 1st 2023, if you have started the
        project.
      • Start-ups amount has gone up from $5,000 to $10,000
      • Business Innovation amount has gone up to $500,000 per year.

  Eligible Project

  • • • be a new activity not repeated from previous Business Innovation projects;
      • be outside of and in addition to regular, recurring or ongoing operations, including editorial, production and distribution activities;

  Eligible Expenses

  • • • venue and equipment rental;
      • specialized software licensing during the project period only;
      • promotion and marketing costs;
      • professional fees;
      • Training;
      • project-related travel expenses;
      • project-related salary costs of employees (less than 25% – cannot be in-kind);
      • project-related overhead costs; and
      • costs of an audited financial report for the project (for contributions over $250,000).

  In-Kind Expenses

  • • • are essential to your project’s success;
      • are eligible and would otherwise have to be purchased or paid for by you;
      • can be measured at fair market value (i.e., in relation to similar goods and services);

  We reserve the right to limit the amount claimed as in-kind contribution.

  Project Examples

  • • • new or improved business models, methods, or processes;
      • new or improved products or services;
      • new or improved systems or tools;
      • digitization of back issues;
      • rebranding or redesign;
      • a special issue, outside of the regular publishing schedule (must be free);
      • adoption or use of new media;
      • mobile applications;
      • web design and development;
      • expansion into new markets; and
      • advertising and promotional campaigns.

  Deadline

  September 15, 2023
  Portal closes at 11h59 local time
  Paper applications must be received before 11h59 local time
  No extensions will be granted

  Portal

  https://pch-financement-funding.canada.ca/en-CA/fundingopportunities/

  Contact

  Email : fondsdesperiodiquescanada-canadaperiodicalfund@pch.gc.ca

  Telephone: 1-866-811-0055 (toll-free)

  President’s Report/Discussions:

  • • • Thomas Saras welcomed everyone to the online monthly meeting.
      • President Saras discussed the CNE Opening Ceremony that will take place on Sunday, August 20th at noon. We will be honouring the CG of the USA to Toronto, the CG of Serbia, the CNEA President, MPP Aris Babikian and Zis Parras of the CNE.
      • Entrance tickets can be arranged via Maria
      • We will also be hosting a reception after at The Beer Garden and since Maria may not be able to attend, Katerina will be making sure that everyone is taken care of.
      • The CNE booth will be staffed by Ricky and Demetre.
      • Mr. Saras asked all members to mail 25 copies of their latest issue to the office for display at the CNE.
      • President Saras explained that all Internship funding will be on hold until the Fall.
      • President Saras mentioned that we will be going through all outstanding LJI applications shortly and new applications will still be accepted. He also reminded all LJI recipients to email Maria their tech requests.
      • President Thomas Saras thanked all the members who generously donated to NEPMCC. Although the industry and our members are struggling financially, he encouraged everyone that can do so to donate.

  Adjournment:

  Ernesto Donan moved a motion to adjourn the meeting and Thanasis Kourtesis 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, September 18, 2023, via Zoom.

  The above notes from the meeting of August 14, 2023, were prepared by Maria Saras-Voutsinas on behalf of Secretary General and Senior VP of the NEPMCC, Neel Nanda.

Minutes of the Monthly Meeting held on July 10, 2023, at City Hall Committee Room # 2 (hybrid meeting)

Present/Attendees

• Thomas S. Saras
• Mohammad Tajdolati
• Neel Nanda
• Maria Saras-Voutsinas
• Rosemary Sadlier
• Ricky Castellvi
• Hon. Joe Volpe
• Hon. Basilio Giordano
• Daniela Sprilac
• Michael Li
• Helen Wang
• Rue Hayer-Bains
• Zuhair Alshaaer
• Elsayed Nasr
• Ned Blair
• Jonathan Annobil
• Shahidul Mintu
• Deborah Shatz
• Kamalavasan Navaratnamv
• Pooyan Tabatabaei
• Martha Pinzon
• Nishantha Don
• Lankathas Pathmanathan
• Linda Karuks
• Liisa Qureshi
• Zenaida Ferry-Kharroubi
• George Guzmas
• Roberto Hausman
• Arif Ahmed
• Fiza Syeda
• Denis Poirier
• Ragee Arasaratnam
• Lydia Sun
• Leila Monteiro Lins
• Mohammed Bagher Samimi
• Ali Mahmoud
• Ghulam Rasool
• Anfisa Lyasota
• Ranjit Wicks
• Sandie De Freitas
• Norman Hart
• Kathy Lin
• Teshome Woldramanuel
• Khalid Magram
• Mooka Tamil
• Bobby Wang
• Maria Swietoizacki
• Mike Kolososki
• Khalid Hamid
• Nagamany Logendralingam
• Hermie Garcia
• Mila Garcia
• Eugenia Bakchinow
• Michael Li
• Sima Ghaffarzadeh
• Cezar Bangu
• Rui Yang
• HaiTien Lin
• Isa Melo
• Yuri Natchetoi
• John Saraidaris
• Said Henry
• Tom Bijoet
• Dimitri Papadopoulos
• Ahmad Shah Hotaki
• Kathy Gerasklis
• Athanasios Kourtesis
• Bill Fatsis
• Nishantha Don
• Thanasis Kourtesis
• Dimitri Papadopoulos
• George Bakoyannis
• Rosemary Sadlier
• Elsayed
• Tom Bijvoet
• John Saras
• Mohammad Tajdolati
• Manan Gupta
• Sean PICKARD
• John Jia CC Times
• Michael Li
• Emmanuel Ayiku
• Yuri Natchetoi
• Kathy Lin
• Ernesto Donan
• Susana Donan
• AR Nathan
• Watan E Maa (Popalzai)
• Denis Porier
• Syed Hassan
• Lucy Yang
• Weera Fonseka
• Krishalingham
• Ayuban Sri Lanka
• Raul (student from Corriere)

Agenda of the day

• Welcome Remarks by the chair.
• Minutes of the previous meeting
• President’s Report/Discussions
• Presentation by TBDC –Toronto Business Development Centre
• New Members/New Business
• Adjournment

Welcome Remarks by the Chair:

Mohammed Tajdolati chaired the virtual monthly meeting and declared the meeting open. Rosemary Sadlier moved a motion to approve the agenda. Roberto Hausman seconded it. The motion was carried unanimously.

Minutes of the previous meeting:

Ahmed Shah Hotaki 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:

• Thomas Saras welcomed everyone to the first in person monthly meeting of 2023 in July. He gave update of the various projects undertaken by NEPMCC.
• President Thomas Saras informed that all the members who were qualified for the LJI will be receiving cheques soon. He further added members qualified and hired students intern under the internship program will be also receiving their cheques in the coming weeks.
• President Thomas Saras informed the council that he will be visiting Vancouver to meet members of NEPMCC from the Province.
  President Saras and Chair Tajdolati reminded members of the annual membership fees for 2023.
• President Thomas Saras informed the members that the opening ceremony of the Ethnic Press Festival will take place on August 20, 2023. President Thomas Saras mentioned that NEPMCC will participate in this years Ethnic Press festival at CNE and will have the same booth as last year.
• He requested the members to submit copies of their publication for display at the NEPMCC booth at the CNE.
• President Thomas Saras informed the members under LJI, there are three computers available for members who applied. President Saras reminded all participants in the LJI and Internship programs that they must declare on their outlets that they are receiving financial assistance from the Government of Canada. Maria shared a link to the Government of Canada site with the logo and statement that must be declared by the member publication that has received funding.
• President Thomas Saras expressed disappointment as very few members have applied for the Student Internship program. He mentioned that this program may be could potentially terminated in future if there is lack of participation in the Student Intern Program by the members.
• President Saras encouraged participation in the Student Internship program. It has been a remarkably successful project and both students and publishers are benefiting immensely.
• President Saras explained that audits for the various programs we are administrating are happening.
• President Thomas Saras informed the members about the Business Innovation Program. President Thomas Saras informed the members that the Special Measures for Journalism has been launched and members who qualify can apply. The Special Measures for Journalism component provides funds to Canadian magazines and community newspapers. The Special Measures for Journalism component will provide funds for the 2023-2024 fiscal year to publishers that have a free circulation model or low levels of paid circulation or are published in digital format. Daily newspapers are not eligible for this component. The deadline for this application is July 21, 2023.

 Presentation by TBDC –Toronto Business Development Centre

• Sanjeev Verma along with his colleagues from TDBC made a detailed presentation on OINP-ESI

OINP –ESI (Entrepreneur Success Initiative)

• TBDC is an Ontario-wide business incubator, helping businesses launch, grow, and scale since 1990. TDBC is a not-for-profit multi-sector incubator set up in 1990 by the City of Toronto, that brings 30 years of experience in building businesses and business networks in Ontario. TDBC is proud to serve as a bridge between entrepreneurs worldwide and Ontario’s investors, industry associations, and government. The OINP Entrepreneur Success Initiative is a two- year initiative administered by the Toronto Business Development Centre to help prospective immigrant entrepreneurs identify business opportunities in Ontario and apply to the OINP Entrepreneur Stream. The OINP Entrepreneur Stream is a pathway for experienced international entrepreneurs to get a nomination for permanent residence in Canada by starting a new business or buying an existing one. The OINP Entrepreneur Stream is a pathway for experienced international entrepreneurs to move for more to Ontario by starting a new business or buying an existing one. This means you can come to Ontario as a temporary resident and if, after 20 months, you meet program requirements, you can be nominated for permanent residence in Canada. The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program is the province of Ontario’s economic immigration program to attract the skills and experience Ontario needs. In partnership with the Government of Canada through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), it is a pathway to permanent residence in Canada. The Entrepreneur Success Initiative is a two-year initiative supported by Ontario’s Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training, and Skills Development and is administered by Toronto Business Development Centre (TBDC). The Entrepreneur Success Initiative is for entrepreneurs who are interested in immigrating to Canada by establishing a new business or buying and growing an existing business outside of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).
• Following the presentation by TBDC there was questions and answer period.
• Yuri Natchetoi, Nishant Don, Maria Saras Voutsinas, Neel Nanda asked various questions on the scope of work by TBDC.
• TDBC would forward an article based on the scope of OINP-ESI for the members of NEPMCC.
• The chair thanked all the members from TBDC for their presentation.

New Business/Discussions

• The chair asked if there are any new business for discussion, as nobody asked for the floor, the Chair moved to next item. Maria Saras Voutsinas gave everyone an update on the various ongoing projects under NEPMCC.

Adjournment:  

Ahmed Shah Hotaki moved a motion to adjourn the meeting and Yuri Natchetoi seconded it. The motion was carried. The Chair, Dr. Tajdolati adjourned the meeting at 8:30 PM. The next monthly meeting will take place on Monday, August 14 10, 2023, via Zoom.

The above notes from the meeting of July 10, 2023, were prepared by Secretary General and Senior VP of the NEPMCC, Neel Nanda.

Minutes of the Monthly Meeting held on June 12, 2023, through video conference via Zoom

Present/Attendees

• Thomas S. Saras
• Mohammad Tajdolati
• Neel Nanda
• Maria Saras-Voutsinas
• Rosemary Sadlier
• Ricky Castellvi
• Hon. Joe Volpe
• Hon. Basilio Giordano
• Daniela Sprilac
• Michael Li
• Helen Wang
• Rue Hayer-Bains
• Zuhair Alshaaer
• Elsayed Nasr
• Ned Blair
• Jonathan Annobil
• Shahidul Mintu
• Deborah Shatz
• Kamalavasan Navaratnam
• Pooyan Tabatabaei
• Martha Pinzon
• Nishantha Don
• Lankathas Pathmanathan
• Linda Karuks
• Liisa Qureshi
• Zenaida Ferry-Kharroubi
• George Guzmas
• Roberto Hausman
• Arif Ahmed
• Fiza Syeda
• Denis Poirier
• Ragee Arasaratnam
• Lydia Sun
• Leila Monteiro Lins
• Mohammed Bagher Samimi
• Ali Mahmoud
• Ghulam Rasool
• Anfisa Lyasota
• Ranjit Wicks
• Sandie De Freitas
• Norman Hart
• Kathy Lin
• Teshome Woldramanuel
• Khalid Magram
• Mooka Tamil
• Bobby Wang
• Maria Swietoizacki
• Mike Kolososki
• Susana Donan
• Ernesto Donan
• Khalid Hamid
• Nagamany Logendralingam
• Hermie Garcia
• Mila Garcia
• Eugenia Bakchinow
• Michael Li
• Sima Ghaffarzadeh
• Cezar Bangu
• Zuhair Alshaaer
• Rui Yang
• HaiTien Lin
• Isa Melo
• Yuri Natchetoi
• John Saraidaris
• Said Henry
• Lui Queano
• Tom Bijoet
• Dimitri Papadopoulos
• Ahmad Shah Hotaki
• Kathy Gerasklis
• Athanasios Kourtesis
• Bill Fatsis
• Nishantha Don
• Thanasis Kourtesis
• Dimitri Papadopoulos
• George Bakoyannis
• Rosemary Sadlier
• Elsayed
• Tom Bijvoet
• John Saras
• Mohammad Tajdolati
• Joe Volpe
• Manan Gupta
• Hermie Garcia
• Mila Garcia
• Bill Fatsis
• Roberto Hausman
• Sean PICKARD
• Isa Melo
• Basilio Giordano
• John Jia CC Times
• Michael Li
• Emmanuel Ayiku
• Yuri Natchetoi
• Kathy Lin
• Jonathan Annobil
• Khalid
• Ernesto Donan
• Susana Donan
• AR Nathan
• Pooyan Tabatabaei
• Shahidul Mintu
• Rue Hayer-Bains
• Watan E Maa (Popalzai)
• Arif Ahmed
• Denis Porier
• Syed Hassan
• Sima Ghaffarzadeh
• Lucy Yang
• Ahmad Hotaki
• Weera Fonseka
• Leila Monteiro-Lins
• Zuhair Alshaaer
• Liisa Qureshi
• Martha Pinzon
• Krishalingham
• Kamal Navaratnam
• Ned Blair
• Kathy Gerasklis
• Ayuban Sri Lanka
• Said Henry
• Lankathas
• Raul (student from Corriere)
• Fiza Syeda

Agenda of the day

• Welcome Remarks by the chair.
• Minutes of the previous meeting
• President’s Report/Discussions
• Presentation by Nathaniel Erskine Smith MP Beaches East York and leadership candidate for Ontario Liberal Party
• Presentation by Toronto Mayoral Candidate Anthony Furey
• New Members/New Business
• Adjournment

Welcome Remarks by the Chair:

Mohammed Tajdolati chaired the virtual monthly meeting and declared the meeting open. Rosemary Sadlier moved a motion to approve the agenda. Roberto Hausman seconded it. The motion was carried unanimously.

Minutes of the previous meeting:

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

 President’s Report/Discussions:

• Thomas Saras welcomed everyone to the online monthly meeting of June. He gave update of the various projects undertaken by NEPMCC.
• President Thomas Saras informed that all the members who were qualified for the LJI will be receiving cheques soon. He further added members qualified and hired students intern under the internship program will be also receiving their cheques in the coming weeks.
• President Thomas Saras informed the council that he will be visiting Vancouver to meet members of NEPMCC from the Province.
• President Thomas Saras informed the members under LJI, there are three computers available for members who applied. President Saras reminded all participants in the LJI and Internship programs that they must declare on their outlets that they are receiving financial assistance from the Government of Canada. Maria shared a link to the Government of Canada site with the logo and statement that must be declared.
• President Thomas Saras expressed disappointment as very few members have applied for the Student Internship program. He mentioned that this program may be terminated due to lack of participation.
• President Saras encouraged participation in the Student Internship program. It has been a remarkably successful project and both students and publishers are benefiting immensely.
• President Saras explained that audits for the various programs we are administrating are happening.
• President Thomas Saras informed the members about the Business Innovation Program. President Thomas Saras informed the members that the Special Measures for Journalism has been launched and members who qualify can apply. The Special Measures for Journalism component provides funds to Canadian magazines and community newspapers. The Special Measures for Journalism component will provide funds for the 2023-2024 fiscal year to publishers that have a free circulation model or low levels of paid circulation or are published in digital format. Daily newspapers are not eligible for this component. The deadline for this application is July 21, 2023.
• President Thomas Saras mentioned that NEPMCC will participate in this years Ethnic Press festival at CNE and will have the same booth as last year.

 Presentation by Nathaniel Erskine Smith MP Beaches East York and leadership candidate for Ontario Liberal Party.

• The chair Mohammad Tajdolati introduced Nathaniel Erskine Smith to the meeting.
• She began her address by mentioning that on May 10 she will be stepping down as a MPP because she wants to run for the Mayor of Toronto.
• Nathaniel Erskine Smith became (Nate) the M.P of Beaches-East York. on October 19, 2015, after a successful grassroots open nomination in December 2014. Before politics, Nate was a lawyer at a commercial litigation firm downtown Toronto. He supplemented his practice with volunteer legal work for a range of clients and causes, which included fighting public interest matters in court, and research for the Canadian Civil Liberties Association. Nate regularly attends events around Beaches-East York, volunteers his time in support of local charitable activities, and visits local schools to talk to young Canadians about the importance of participating in the democratic process. Nate was raised in the east end of Toronto, where he attended public school and played baseball. His parents are retired public school teachers and his first experience with politics was supporting them on the picket lines during the Harris years. He went on to obtain his BA and JD from Queen’s and his Master of Laws from Oxford, where he studied constitutional law. He also pitched for baseball teams at both universities. Nate practiced commercial litigation before pursuing politics. Nate’s wife Amy is a chef and nutrition professor, currently completing her PhD at the University of Toronto. She also works with HSI’s Forward Food program and as the director of the supper club program at Gilda’s Club Greater Toronto. Originally from Lambton County, her dad still lives on the family farm. Nate and Amy have two young boys. Nate Erskine-Smith is one of those rare members of parliament. He considers himself a loyal Liberal. But he will vote against his party when he thinks the leadership is wrong. That’s ensured two things: first, he’ll never be in Justin Trudeau’s cabinet, and second, he gets a lotta props from people who aren’t necessarily Liberals. In any event, it’s prompted Erskine-Smith to look at the vacant Ontario Liberal leadership post and in fact, he was the first candidate to toss his hat into the ring. Ontario Liberal leadership candidate Nate Erskine-Smith is pledging to create a provincially owned construction agency to build new affordable housing, part of the first major policy push of the campaign. Solving the housing problem in Ontario has become a central preoccupation for political parties at Queen’s Park, after Doug Ford’s Progressive Conservatives made housing construction a key focus of the party’s second term in office.
• Lankathas Pathmanathan, Maria Saras Voutsinas, Bill Fastis, Neel Nanda, Sean Pickford, Isa Melo, Shahidul Islam Mintu, Arif Ahmed, and others asked a wide variety of questions on pertinent topics from housing to healthcare to public safety. Nathaniel Erskine Smith candidly answered all questions that were raised to him. He thanked NEPMCC to provide him with the opportunity to meet with the members of NEPMCC and mentioned he was open to ideas from the members regarding various aspects affecting the ethnic media industry in Ontario and Canada.