Inaugural Meeting of the Canadian-Tamil Parliamentary Friendship Group
For Immediate Release
November 22, 2016
Ottawa, ON – The Canadian-Tamil Parliamentary Friendship Group was formed on Monday, November 14, 2016, at the Parliamentary Precinct. Several items of business were passed at this inaugural meeting, including a Constitution, election of the Executive and consensus to build relations with groups such as the All Party Parliamentary Group for Tamils in the United Kingdom. The current group comprises 31 members from four different Canadian Political parties.
The following Executive Positions were elected:
Chair
Mark Holland, MP, Ajax (Liberal)
Vice-Chairs
Alex Nuttall, MP, Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte (Conservative)
Murray Rankin, MP, Victoria (NDP)
Secretary-Treasurer
Gary Anandasangaree, MP, Scarborough—Rouge Park (Liberal)
Directors
Salma Zahid, MP, Scarborough Centre (Liberal)
Sven Spengemann, MP, Mississauga—Lakeshore (Liberal)
Garnett Genuis, MP, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan (Conservative)
Canadian-Tamil Parliamentary Friendship Group aims to build on the strong relationship between Canada and the worldwide Tamil diaspora. This Group will also serve as a forum for continued focus on issues important to Tamil-Canadians, including advocacy on human rights, and accountability for violations against Tamils.
The collaborative nature of the group flows from the recently passed Tamil Heritage Month Motion passed unanimously by Parliament on October 5th, 2016. The Group will develop a programme of work for next year to address issues of importance to the Tamil-Canadian community.
Quotes:
“I am honoured to Chair the Canadian-Tamil Parliamentary Friendship Group and I look forward to working with my colleagues from all parties to maintain a focus on the issues that are important to Tamil-Canadians and to build closer ties to the worldwide Tamil community.” – Mark Holland, Chair
“I am very proud to have been named Vice Chair of the Canadian-Tamil Parliamentary Friendship Group. I look forward to working together with my Parliamentary colleagues and the Canadian-Tamil community to advocate for peace, democracy and human rights for Tamils worldwide.” – Alex Nuttall, Vice-Chair
“I look forward to working with my MP colleagues and the active Tamil-Canadian community to continue to foster good relations with one of Canada’s fastest growing ethnic groups, and to keep working for better protection of human rights in their home countries” – Murray Rankin, Vice-Chair
(Left to Right) MP Irene Mathyssen, MP Murray Rankin, MP Mark Holland, MP Gary Anandasangaree , MP Anthony Rota, MP Chandra Arya, MP Salma Zahid
(Left to Right) MP Gary Anandasangaree, MP Anthony Rota, MP Chandra Arya, MP Salma Zahid, MP Alex Nuttall, MP Irene Mathyssen, MP Murray Rankin, MP Sven Spengemann, MP Mark Holland.
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For additional information, please contact:
| Mark Holland, MP
Chair Mark.Holland@parl.gc.ca
|
Alex Nuttal, MP
Vice-Chair
|
Murray Rankin, MP
Vice-Chair |
| Gary Anandasangaree, MP
Secretary-Treasurer
|