Canadian Ethnic Media Association

By Suresh Jaura

(CEMA member Suresh Jaura, a journalist, is President (North America) Globalom Media and is based in Toronto. This article appears in the July issue of North America and internatioal editions of Global Perspectives. Visit

CEMA member Suresh Jaura

Suresh’s website or one of the papers he writers for such the South Asian Outlook.)

The June-end Summitry in Toronto promises to go down in history as a memorable piece in the legendary ‘how to …’ series. Not only because of the horrendous amount of money spent on security. But also what it means when compared to billions spent — or not spent – for things more sustainable.

The Good and the Ugly

Toronto the Good, Toronto the Summit City, became Bad and Ugly as more than 900 people were arrested in the violence after thousands of anti-G20 protesters, undaunted by heavy rain, marched through downtown, prompting police to use tear gas in the city for the first time. (more…)

A short personal sketch and a song by Tony Anthony, Author/Singer

SONG: GREAT COUNTRY, OUR HOME

I migrated to Canada in 1992 and since then I have been fortunate to be in a position to acquire what is neccesary to provide for my family. I recognize how bless I am being given this opportunity.

This is the sanctuary, and prospect Canada has offered and continues to make accessible to all who qualify to dwell on her shores.

My travel through this land has enabled me to acquaint and mingle with immigrants from around the world that now call this beautiful country home and one main commonality is the gratitude and love they all share for Canada. (more…)

CEMA has always stressed that its members should be aware of any controversy, publicity — negative or otherwise and other news of interest to new Canadians and our ethnic minorities.  Here is a great example of an anti-immigrant write-up in The Edmonton Journal and a quick letter to the editor response by CEMA member Arnim Joop.

Tories seeking balance on immigration;
As a class, immigrants currently consume more than they contribute

Lorne Gunter, The Edmonton Journal
Published: Sunday, March 16
For the past three decades, Canadian immigration policy has had two main purposes: to admit new voters for the party in power and to reaffirm the Canadian elite’s high opinion of itself.

(more…)

…Some are considered guilty (potential refugees) unless they prove themselves innocent

BY SURESH JAURA

CEMA MEMBER

The Canadian passport looks the same for all — until you open it. Once you do you will find two kinds of pictures; those of Canadian citizens that the Canadian government trusts, and those of Canadian citizens that the government does not.

The difference is easy to spot, because it is shamefully crude. It’s a difference in pigmentation. Given the rhetoric, you’d have thought that only the most outward manifestation of a variety and of a multiculturalism not to mention equality that Canadian leaders go on telling us that we celebrate. But the rhetoric begins increasingly to sound phoney; not just because there is a difference between policy and practice, but because the policy is itself discriminatory.

Ask a white Canadian who migrated from a non-Asiatic country the last time her or his relatives were denied a visit visa for a family celebration. Not one will have a story to tell. Ask an Indian or other non-white Canadians, and everyone does. (more…)

Say NO to unfair taxation!

By Dat Nguyen

Publisher, Thoi Bao Newspaper, and CEMA Director

Community newspapers are the lifeblood of Canada. They present hometown news no one else will publish. They reach out to 5.8 million Ontarians, including many new immigrants who first learn about their city and province through newspapers published in their own language.

But in Ontario today, many community newspapers are under attack by a regulatory loophole that is unfair to many publishers.

Ontario charges 8% provincial sales tax (PST) on most retail goods. Under the Retail Sales Tax Act, newspapers are included in the examples of the most common goods that are not taxable. Because of the key role they play in society, Ontario exempt newspapers from PST. They don’t pay PST for their supplies such as printing.

But in its attempts to tighten up tax laws, the Ontario government has defined many local newspapers as magazines which are taxable publications. That basically increases their costs by 8%. (more…)

By Jon Brazeau

December may be cold, but Canadian Multicultural Hockey (CMHL) Inc. is looking to heat up arenas with the third annual Canadian Multicultural Hockey Championships.Over 30 teams are expected to participate in the mens and womens tournaments, taking place from Dec. 27 to 30, making this years championships bigger than ever.

As in 2005 and 2006, Canadian Ethnic Media Associaton (CEMA) is one of the sponsorsof the league.

Also for the first time, all games will be played across Toronto at four different arenas:

• North York Centennial (Herb Carnegie) – (North End),
• Weston Lions Arena (West End),
• Scarborough Centennial (East End), and
• Ted Reeve Arena (South End).

An estimated 15,000 combined spectators witnessed last years tournament.

(more…)

By Tony Hine

CEMA Member & Coin Expert

At a dinner party recently, I spotted a gold coin ring which captured my eye.

It was worn by none other than CEMA president Ben Viccari. We were at a BBQ at the home of yet another CEMA member and its webmaster, Zuhair Kashmeri and his wife Carlotta Cattani. (more…)

By Tony Hine

CEMA Member & Coin Expert

Experienced birdwatchers are quite familiar with erratic birds well outside their usual habitat or migration route. Coin-collectors also see non-native currency far from home.

Just as thrifty Canadian tourists may try to tip an unwary third-world bellhop with

Sandy McTires Canadian Tire bills, so too some Caribbean immigrants know that some nickel coins from the West Indies, especially bearing a likeness of Queen Elizabeth, may pass as Canadian if added quickly to a TTC (Toronto Transit Commission) fare box. (more…)

Republished from Dialogue, an internal magazinefor the employees of National Bank Financial, one of the largest brokerages inCanada. Author: Cristelle Basmaji, NBFCommunications, Montreal.

On June 22, 2006, National Bank Financial welcomed a delegation of 12 bank managers from South Africa to exchange best practices in regards to managing diversity in the financial sector. This visit was part of a Canadian International Exchange Program offered by South Africas Banking Sector Education and Training Authority, often referred to as BANKSETA. (more…)