EIGHTH MEETING OF THE

RACE RELATIONS COMMITTEE FOR 2007

TOWN OF MARKHAM

Ontario Room, Markham Civic Centre

Monday, November 5, 2007 – 7:30 p.m.

MINUTES

ATTENDANCE: Committee Rochelle Bowmile Heather Christian-Simmonds Jan Godschalk Vilvan Gunasingham Aisha Manji Linda Stewart, Chair Gordon To Regional Councillor T. Wong Ghulam A. Sajan Nisha Mehta Jobson Easow Staff Laura Gold, Committee Clerk Sharon Laing, Director of Human Resources

Regrets Kevin Koo Councillor L. Kanapathi

The ninth meeting of the Markham Race Relations Committee in 2007 convened at 7:35 p.m. with Linda Stewart in the Chair.

1. CHAIR OPENING REMARKS

Linda Stewart, Chair, welcomed Elizabeth McIsaac, Executive Director, Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council (TRIEC), a division of the Maytree Foundation.

2. PRESENTATION BY MAYTREE FOUNDATION

Ms. McIsaac provided a presentation regarding Bill 124 and foreign trained professionals. She explained TRIEC’s primary concern is immigrant employment, advising that while immigrants are generally more skilled then their Canadian counterparts, they are performing worse in the labour market. Ms. McIssac explained that the Maytree Foundation is involved with the following initiatives: 1) funding of community agencies that work directly with immigrants seeking employment; 2) providing information and advice to all three levels of government regarding policies that remove barriers for foreign trained professionals; and 3) providing awareness to employers regarding the benefits of hiring foreign trained employees.

Ms. McIsaac informed the Committee that 20% of immigrants are working in professional fields, 80% have independent businesses, and 20% are not permitted to practice their profession. One of the reasons foreign trained professionals experience difficulty securing work in their profession is because of long unrealistic qualifying processes by professional associations. Some associations also have strict quotas regarding the number of foreign trained licenses they provide per annum.

Ms. McIsaac advised the Committee the purpose of Bill 124 is to make professional associations accountable to the public. The Bill requires professional associations to provide clear instructions explaining the steps and requirements required of foreign trained professionals to enable them to practice in Ontario. Written decisions by professional associations must be provided in a timely fashion. The Bill permits an audit to be conducted at any time by the Office of the Fairness Commissioner. Regulatory bodies can be charged a penalty of up to $50,000 for not being open and transparent. A new office called Global Experience Ontario was opened in Toronto to provide immigrants with information pertaining to a number of different professions. She explained the goal of the Bill is not to take power away from the associations or to reduce the quality of regulated professions, but to provide fair access to regulated services.

Ms. McIsaac explained the Maytree Foundation helps bridge the employment gap by working with employers to establish internships that help immigrants get the required Canadian work experience needed to become licensed in their field. It achieves this objective through organizing internships and setting up mentorship programs. She informed the Committee that about 70% of immigrants that participate in the mentorship program find employment in their field. Career Bridge, a corporate partner of the Maytree Foundation, is an organization in York Region that helps foreign trained professionals bridge the employment gap.

Ms. McIsaac indicated that employers need to be educated on how to evaluate foreign credentials and on the benefit of providing internships for foreign trained professionals. She noted the Maytree Foundation encourages people who are interested in immigrating to Canada to research the steps required to obtain employment in their profession before coming to Canada. She advised of a pilot project being conducted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs whereby foreign “Referral Offices” (located in various Canadian embassies throughout the world) are created to educate prospective immigrants of employment opportunities in Canada (information has also been posted on the Ministry’s website).

Regional Councillor Tony Wong invited Ms. McIsaac to come speak at a York Region Character Community meeting regarding this issue. The Committee also expressed interest in learning more about the Town’s hiring, promotion, and career development policies.

3. MINUTES OF THE OCTOBER 1, 2007 MEETING OF THE RACE RELATIONS COMMITTEE HELD IN 2007

Moved by Vilvan Gunasingham

Seconded by Jobson Easow

“That the Minutes of the Town of Markham Race Relations Committee meeting held on October 1, 2007 be adopted”.

CARRIED

4. CHAIR ELECTION PROCESS

The Committee was advised that a letter was being sent to the Chair and Vice Chair requesting they continue with their roles until new members are elected. Regional Councillor Tony Wong informed the Committee that the Chair and Vice Chair are elected at the first meeting of each year. Laura Gold, Committee Clerk, will inquire if there is an existing policy for the election of Chair and Vice Chair and report back to the Committee at the next meeting.

5. DECEMBER GATHERING - CHRISTMAS DINNER

The Committee expressed interest in having a Christmas dinner on December 3, 2007 at 6:30 p.m. at a local restaurant (location yet to be confirmed).

SUB-COMMITTEE UPDATES

a) Event Sub-Committee -

Many Faces of Markham

Committee members were advised Paige Pedlar is the confirmed 2008 keynote speaker for the “Many Faces of Markham” event. Paige is the author of Who Will Cuddle Them When They Sleep, a book she wrote when she was seven; asking people to save AIDS orphans in Africa by helping fund AIDS orphanages and by making available to pregnant women the medications that prevent the transmission of the disease during childbirth. She will present her speech with performer Glenn Marais, singer, songwriter, and musician. The Committee believed Ms. Pedlar and Mr. Marais will appeal to a younger audience.

b) Policy

No report was provided.

6. NEW BUSINESS

a) Corporate Communications Calendar

A 2008 calendar provided by Markham’s Corporate Communications Department was reviewed. The Committee was asked to provide feedback regarding the addition of any significant holidays that were omitted from the calendar. The Committee believed the following significant holidays should be added:

1) First Day of Muharram (Islamic New Years) – January 9, 2008

2) Mahashivaratri (Hindu observance for Lord Shiva) – March 6, 2008

3) International Women’s Day – March 8, 2008

4) Miraj-un-Nabi (Islam) – July 29, 2008

5) Nisfu-Shaban (Islam) – August 16, 2008

6) Islamic Heritage Month – October 2008

7) Sukkot (Judasim) – September 27 – October 3, 2008

7. DATE OF NEXT MEETING

The next meeting of Race Relations Committee is scheduled for Monday, January 7, 2008 at 7:30 p.m. in the Ontario Room.

8. ADJOURNMENT

The Markham Race Relations Committee meeting adjourned at 9:15 p.m.