TAN – The Afro News

Talking Finances with Your Valentine

By Jason Alderman : As you and your spouse celebrate Valentine’s Day over a candle-lit dinner, you may want to avoid romance-killing topics like, “Honey, let’s talk about our financial future.” But you really should have that conversation sooner rather than later to keep your relationship on a healthy footing. Continue Reading

JW Cabin Exterior

Canadian Badlands, Alberta – February is Black History Month. John Ware, Alberta’s first black cowboy, will be recognized on a new Canadian stamp. The stamp is one of two that Canada Post will release on February 1st in honour of Black History month. John Ware defied stereotypes and rose to folk hero status in Alberta. Continue Reading

Why don’t we trust our leaders?

By Michael Stewart : Why is it that trust in our leaders seems to be eroding at an exponential rate?

Leaders may possess charisma, clearly articulate a clear vision, make big deals, and create positive buzz in the media, but if their words don’t match their actions consistently over time, they surely won’t be trusted. Continue Reading

S. Leung : Prior to entering politics, I had worked in public accounting, both in Canada and overseas, sold subway systems for the Urban Transportation Development Corporation (UTDC), which is a crown corporation, and was an entrepreneur for roughly twenty years. As an entrepreneur, I worked in exporting agricultural products, sea food products, and natural resources from Canada. My community work has centred on my involvement within local business associations as a Director, York Central Hospital, and the Toronto Regional Conservation Authority. My background, including both professional and personal work, has allowed me to do my work as a Parliamentarian more effectively.

TAN:  We have realized that most citizens are not getting their fair share of benefits for advancement in our society this has become critical to have a platform that can establish a better social, economic and political integration.

What are your thoughts on this subject and how are you planning to tackle this issue?

S. Leung :I think it is the responsibility of every citizen to be exercising their civic responsibility, social, and environmental responsibilities. The government of Canada has been very fair and generous with these shared benefits when we as citizens exercise our voice in a democracy. To that point, our government has tripled settlement funding to provinces since 2005-6. Prior to this, funding had been frozen by the previous Liberal government for years. Indeed, Minister Kenney recently announced that the allocation for settlement services in BC will be $109.8 million for the 2012-2013 fiscal year, an increase of $4.3 million from the current fiscal year. This funding is for a long list of services to help newcomers integrate and settle into Canada (including English and French training, orientation services, and employment-related services). The focus is on delivering services directly to newcomers and away from supporting expenses such as administration, travel or capital costs for organizations.

Additional information: Citizenship and Immigration Canada works with organizations, both overseas and in Canada, who provide settlement services to immigrants. These settlement services include information and orientation, language and skills development, labour market participation, community connections, needs assessments and referrals, and needs assessments and referrals. These programs set up by Citizenship and Immigration Canada continues to help newcomers settle into Canada and become successful participants of Canadian society. More information regarding settlement services for newcomers can be found on Citizenship and Immigration Canada’s website, http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/newcomers/before-settlement.asp

TAN:  What do you wish to accomplish and most succeed at in your role and appointment?

S. Leung :I wish to see the successful integration of people from diverse backgrounds into our pluralistic society and to make multiculturalism the main focus of our nation building.

TAN: We believe Canada’s great future will mostly rely on how well we integrate newcomers into the communities thus the need arises to form a proper structure that offers a good program and source for integration what reassurance message do you have for our youth and the Afric community at the present time and for the future integration process?

S. Leung :I would strongly recommend our youth and Afric community become engaged in their civic and social responsibility and to participate in the integration process. The structure and programs are already in place, such as the many settlement services available in British Columbia, and it is up to all of us to take the first step in participating fully in our pluralistic society. There are several settlement agencies in BC, such as SUCCESS, that have been successful in diversifying their services to greater numbers of cultural communities, and partnerships with such agencies should be explored. In addition, CIC administers the Inter-Action grant which supports meaningful inter-cultural and inter-religious encounters. To apply for a grant, please use the following link: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/multiculturalism/funding/index.asp

TAN: What is your wish for Canada and what inspires you most in life.

S. Leung :My wish for Canada is to build the most successful multicultural society in the world where freedom, rights, and acceptance are exercised and enjoyed by all. I am inspired by the fact my constituents have confidence in me to represent them in Ottawa

C.S. is a successful entrepreneur with business experiences in: disaster mitigation management, urban mass transit projects, building environmentally friendly houses, air & water purification, sports equipment retailing and red deer farming.

He is, presently, a business owner and Chief Executive Officer of four Richmond Hill small and medium size enterprises, as well as, a past director and audit chair of the Xenos Group, a Toronto Stock Exchange listed public company in software development and engineering.

His international business experience includes: being a member of numerous federal and provincial trade missions during the last two decades; the Toronto-Chongqing Sister City Twinning Mission; organizing the 1st Team Richmond Hill Mission to Asia Pacific; Richmond Hill – Shijiazhuang Sister City Twinning Mission, a member of the Advisory Board for Ontario Export Inc. and the bid team leader to host the 1997 World Chinese Entrepreneur Convention in Toronto.

As an active community participant, he has been: founding president of the Richmond Hill & Markham Chinese Business Association, a corporate cabinet director of the Conservation Foundation of Greater Toronto, a member of the Richmond Hill Naturalist, a director of the Richmond Hill Chamber of Commerce and numerous other bi-lateral trade or business related associations.

C.S. was the Candidate of Record in Willowdale for the Progressive Conservative Party in the 2000 federal election and the Candidate of Record in Richmond Hill for the Conservative Party of Canada in the 2008 federal election. He also served as a member of the National Policy Advisory Committee to the Progressive Conservative Party during the period 1999-2003.

Coretta Scott King and her husband Martin Luther King

As we celebrate Martin Luther King Day, it is important to reflect on King’s concept of the Beloved Community. In summarizing the efforts of the Civil Rights Movement, King stated, “Our goal is to create a beloved community and this will require a qualitative change in our souls as well as a quantitative change in our lives.” King envisioned a Beloved Community that was non-discriminatory, equitable, sensitive, and compassionate. Continue Reading

Honorable Senator Mobina Jaffer Photo by TAN

TAN : As a female leader amongst the African society how would you describe your success?

I have had some success and I can describe this success by sharing three rules, which I live by. The first rule is work harder than everybody else. The second rule is never taking no for an answer. If something tells me that I cannot do something I will work as hard as I need to in order to ensure that I achieve it. Finally my third rule is always aim to be just one percent better than you were the day before.

TAN :  What gave you the desire to enter politics?

My father was a Member of Parliament in Uganda so I grew up around politics. Unfortunately, when we came to Canada as refugees I was afraid that my dream of becoming a politician had been shattered. Although I did still have a desire to be involved in politics I picked up odd jobs with the Liberal Party and began to work my way up.

I quickly learned that as a lawyer I could help individuals but if I wanted to make a difference for many people I would have to make policy changes. This is why in 1993 and in 1997 I ran to be a Member of Parliaments. Although I was unsuccessful in 2001 I was given the biggest honor a Canadian can receive and was asked by Prime Minister Jean Chretien to become a member of the Senate of Canada.

Now as a Parliamentarian, I work hard to change the lives of the people in Canada and abroad.

TAN : Many people who have immigrated from Africa to Canada are experiencing difficulty integrating into society. How would you go about helping newly arrived immigrants transition into living in a new country?

One of the biggest concerns I have is that there isn’t a strong network of African immigrants as there is for other communities such as the South Asians and the Chinese. This is why I truly respect the work that the SAGE foundation does as it helps newly arrived immigrants transition into a new life in Canada.

There is a lot of work that needs to be done and the first thing we need to do is stop thinking of our selves as coming from one country or another. We need to start thinking that we are from the same continent. If we come together and focus on what we have in common we will find strength and persevere.

TAN: You have been active in helping women across Africa. What are some of the issues you focus on?

For a number of years I have been travelling to villages across Africa in an effort to help eradicate polio and malaria. Recently I have also been working quite closely on maternal health initiatives as I am of the belief that maternal health is a human right. Just a few months ago I travelled to Uganda and visited a maternal health clinic located in Kawempe. I was truly shocked at what I saw. Shortly after arriving I learned that there had no been electricity or water for over three weeks. This meant that each night an average of 20 births took place by candlelight. In addition to this the clinic was extremely over crowded which meant that each bed was occupied by at least 3 women. I believe that this is unacceptable and I continue to work hard to ensure that clinics like the one I visited in Kawempe have access to the resources they need to assist women.

TAN: What is your hope in you political life?

Canada is one of the most privileged countries in the world. We have a lot to be thankful for. My hope is that in my political life I can help ensure that our country plays a bigger role in helping those countries, which are not as fortunate. I also wish to work on issues of diversity and multiculturalism, as I believe these are both extremely important issues and our ones, which Canada can lead the way on.

TAN: What is your advise to youth?

To all young people I would like to share with you three pieces of advice: One, never forget the power of an education. You are fortunate to live in Canada, which is home to several world-renowned universities. Knowledge is power, work hard and make the most of your education. Two, learn as many languages as you can as this will prove to open doors for you in the future. Three, while you are young take the opportunity to work in another country, as this will indeed change your perspective.

Honorable Senator Mobina Jaffer

Biography : The Hon. Mobina S.B. Jaffer, Q.C., LL.B.

Appointed to the Senate June 13, 2001, by the Rt. Honourable Jean Chrétien, Senator Mobina Jaffer represents the province of British Columbia and the Senatorial Division of British Columbia.

Senator Jaffer served as Canada’s Special Envoy for Peace in Sudan from 2002- 2006 and as the Chair of the Canadian Committee on Women Peace and Security from 2002 – 2005. In addition, Senator Jaffer sits on various Senate committees and is the current Chair of the Senate Standing Committee on Human Rights.

An accomplished lawyer, Senator Jaffer has practiced law at the firm Dohm, Jaffer and Jeraj since 1978. Made a Queen’s Counsel in 1998, Senator Jaffer has a distinguished record of service to the legal profession. Since 1997, she has been Vice-Chair of the Canadian Membership Committee for the Association of Trial Lawyers of America. Since 1994, she has been working with the Immigration and Refugee Board on gender and race issues, and since 1993 she has been a member of the Board of Governors of the Trial Lawyers of British Columbia. In 1994-95, Senator Jaffer served as a Member of the Canadian Bar Association Multicultural Committee; from 1995 to 1999 she was a Member of the Peoples Law School Committee, and from 1992-96 she was a Member of the Law Society Multicultural Committee.

International Conference on ICT for Africa

By Wallace Mawire : Benin will host the eLearning Africa 2012, the 7th international conference on ICT for development,education and training.

According to the organizers, ICWE, eLearning Africa is the continent’s largest conference on education and technology, providing a forum for discussion and networking.

The organizers say that it is an event to find out more about ICT for development,education and training in Africa.

lt is also expected to bring together ICT supported education and training professionals from all sectors in Africa.

Theme categories will include:Sustainable technologies and infrastructure,elearning for sustainable communities,sustainable change management,elearning and sustainable resources, including sustainable economy,culture and society.

Development of the Agricultural Sector

By Josiah Dimbo : Denmark and DANIDA is back in Zimbabwe. Denmark has resumed a more active role in its engagement with Zimbabwe and is one of the five largest bilateral donors. Recently Josiah Dimbo(JD)a freelance journalist based in Zimbabwe caught up with Mr.Ketil Karlsen (KK) Charge d’Affaires of The Royal Danish Embassy and had a chat with him pertaining bilateral relations between Denmark and Zimbabwe and projects being undertaken by DANIDA in Zimbabwe. Continue Reading

Tyler Nelson: Young and Talented!

Hollywood Profile

By Robert Waldman:Often not much is known about young stars. Consider Tyler Nelson to be a rare diamond in the rough. Biographical details on this newcomer are sparse. Good looks and raw talent will leapfrog him into the mainstream leagues of Hollywood celebrity in a hurry. Continue Reading