Tweet
PRO-ARMENIAN POLITICIAN RUNS IN TORONTO ELECTIONS
October 20, 2014
After more than 25 years as Member of Parliament representing the
Toronto suburb of Scarborough-Agincourt, Hon. Jim Karygiannis resigned
his position earlier this year to run as councillor in the upcoming
October 27 Toronto municipal elections in Ward 39, which covers the
same area. Because of the significant number of Armenians who live
in Ward 39 and because of his long-time friendship with the Armenian
community, Keghart.com interviewed Mr. Karygiannis on October 4, 2014.
Keghart.com: What are the three most important initiatives you would
like to realize when you become Councillor?
Jim Karygiannis: The three big issues are transportation, hospital
care, and responsible community development.
I will work with my colleagues and federal and provincial partners
to ensure the extension of the Sheppard subway line becomes a reality.
The federal and provincial governments must come to the table to ensure
that the Sheppard subway line is extended to Scarborough Town Centre
Over the years I have witnessed the deterioration of services at the
Scarborough Hospital-Birchmount Campus. I have fought over the last
25 years, and will continue to fight, to make sure that Scarborough
Hospital-Birchmount Campus continues to operate as a full functioning
hospital that meets the needs of the residents of Ward 39.
Responsible community development is another priority.
Keghart.com: Why do you think you are the best qualified to represent
your ward as Councillor?
Jim Karygiannis: As the Member of Parliament for Scarborough-Agincourt
for more than twenty five years, I was an effective voice for the
people of Scarborough-Agincourt and have vast political experience
and a proven record of public service.
I have forged good working relationships with my colleagues at the
municipal, provincial and federal levels of government. Together, we
worked on issues of critical importance to the community including:
establishing, with law enforcement agencies and various government
departments, a Task Force to combat marijuana grow houses;
strengthening community safety; helping to ensure the safety of
residents of rooming houses in Scarborough-Agincourt; and, quickly
addressing the issue of salaries, through Employment Insurance, of
people who were affected by and working on the front lines against
SARS.
I will bring political experience to City Hall and a proven track
record of working with residents, other levels of government and
community organizations to meet the needs of Ward 39.
Keghart.com: How much do you know about the Toronto Armenian community
and its concerns?
Jim Karygiannis: For many years, I worked with the Armenian Diaspora
with respect to issues of concern to the community, most notably,
recognition of the Armenian Genocide.
In 1999, I introduced a Private Member's Motion in the Canadian House
of Commons calling the House to recognize the Armenian Genocide. That
Motion did not pass. Over the years, several of my colleagues and I,
together with the Armenian Diaspora in Canada, pressed Parliament to
recognize the Armenian Genocide.
In a landmark vote conducted in the House of Commons on April 21,
2004 on Motion M-380, the House acknowledged "the Armenian genocide of
1915" and condemned "this act as a crime against humanity." Members
of Parliament voted overwhelmingly in favour of the Motion. On April
19, 2006, the Prime Minister affirmed that the Government of Canada
officially recognized the Armenian Genocide.
I was privileged to lead a Canadian delegation to Armenia on the
90th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. We joined millions of
Armenians from around the world, in laying flowers at the Genocide
Memorial's Eternal Flame. Armenians, members of the international
Armenian Diaspora and diplomats from around the world sent a powerful
message - the atrocities of 1915 will never be forgotten.
I was the first Canadian Member of Parliament to visit Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic, to observe the 2012 Presidential Elections.
In the fall of 2014, The President of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan, decreed
that I will be awarded the Mkhitar Gosh medal for 'his substantial
input in international recognition of the Armenian Genocide.' I am
humbled and honoured by this recognition of my work with the Toronto,
Canadian and International Armenian communities on social justice
and human rights issues.
Keghart.com: The previous council deferred to the upcoming council
the decision to erect an Armenian Genocide memorial in Toronto. Would
you support such an edifice?
Jim Karygiannis: Toronto's Armenian community wants the City of Toronto
to commemorate the Armenian genocide with a donated monument on public
land marking the 100th anniversary in 2015.
In April 2014, The City of Toronto's Executive Committee voted to send
the request to staff for consultation with both Armenian and Turkish
groups along with the federal and provincial governments. A report
back isn't expected until early 2015 - after the municipal election.
I, along with members of the Toronto Armenian community, was very
disappointed that the previous Toronto City Council deferred the
decision to erect this monument.
I support the construction of the memorial. If elected to Toronto
City Council, I will advocate on behalf of the community on this issue.
*****
Click on Hon. Jim Karygiannis to visit his website and on map to view
the boundaries of Ward 39.
http://www.jimkarygiannis.net/home
http://jimkarygiannis.net/yahoo_site_admin/assets/docs/W39map.140230906.pdf
http://www.keghart.com/Interview-J-Karygiannis
October 20, 2014
After more than 25 years as Member of Parliament representing the
Toronto suburb of Scarborough-Agincourt, Hon. Jim Karygiannis resigned
his position earlier this year to run as councillor in the upcoming
October 27 Toronto municipal elections in Ward 39, which covers the
same area. Because of the significant number of Armenians who live
in Ward 39 and because of his long-time friendship with the Armenian
community, Keghart.com interviewed Mr. Karygiannis on October 4, 2014.
Keghart.com: What are the three most important initiatives you would
like to realize when you become Councillor?
Jim Karygiannis: The three big issues are transportation, hospital
care, and responsible community development.
I will work with my colleagues and federal and provincial partners
to ensure the extension of the Sheppard subway line becomes a reality.
The federal and provincial governments must come to the table to ensure
that the Sheppard subway line is extended to Scarborough Town Centre
Over the years I have witnessed the deterioration of services at the
Scarborough Hospital-Birchmount Campus. I have fought over the last
25 years, and will continue to fight, to make sure that Scarborough
Hospital-Birchmount Campus continues to operate as a full functioning
hospital that meets the needs of the residents of Ward 39.
Responsible community development is another priority.
Keghart.com: Why do you think you are the best qualified to represent
your ward as Councillor?
Jim Karygiannis: As the Member of Parliament for Scarborough-Agincourt
for more than twenty five years, I was an effective voice for the
people of Scarborough-Agincourt and have vast political experience
and a proven record of public service.
I have forged good working relationships with my colleagues at the
municipal, provincial and federal levels of government. Together, we
worked on issues of critical importance to the community including:
establishing, with law enforcement agencies and various government
departments, a Task Force to combat marijuana grow houses;
strengthening community safety; helping to ensure the safety of
residents of rooming houses in Scarborough-Agincourt; and, quickly
addressing the issue of salaries, through Employment Insurance, of
people who were affected by and working on the front lines against
SARS.
I will bring political experience to City Hall and a proven track
record of working with residents, other levels of government and
community organizations to meet the needs of Ward 39.
Keghart.com: How much do you know about the Toronto Armenian community
and its concerns?
Jim Karygiannis: For many years, I worked with the Armenian Diaspora
with respect to issues of concern to the community, most notably,
recognition of the Armenian Genocide.
In 1999, I introduced a Private Member's Motion in the Canadian House
of Commons calling the House to recognize the Armenian Genocide. That
Motion did not pass. Over the years, several of my colleagues and I,
together with the Armenian Diaspora in Canada, pressed Parliament to
recognize the Armenian Genocide.
In a landmark vote conducted in the House of Commons on April 21,
2004 on Motion M-380, the House acknowledged "the Armenian genocide of
1915" and condemned "this act as a crime against humanity." Members
of Parliament voted overwhelmingly in favour of the Motion. On April
19, 2006, the Prime Minister affirmed that the Government of Canada
officially recognized the Armenian Genocide.
I was privileged to lead a Canadian delegation to Armenia on the
90th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. We joined millions of
Armenians from around the world, in laying flowers at the Genocide
Memorial's Eternal Flame. Armenians, members of the international
Armenian Diaspora and diplomats from around the world sent a powerful
message - the atrocities of 1915 will never be forgotten.
I was the first Canadian Member of Parliament to visit Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic, to observe the 2012 Presidential Elections.
In the fall of 2014, The President of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan, decreed
that I will be awarded the Mkhitar Gosh medal for 'his substantial
input in international recognition of the Armenian Genocide.' I am
humbled and honoured by this recognition of my work with the Toronto,
Canadian and International Armenian communities on social justice
and human rights issues.
Keghart.com: The previous council deferred to the upcoming council
the decision to erect an Armenian Genocide memorial in Toronto. Would
you support such an edifice?
Jim Karygiannis: Toronto's Armenian community wants the City of Toronto
to commemorate the Armenian genocide with a donated monument on public
land marking the 100th anniversary in 2015.
In April 2014, The City of Toronto's Executive Committee voted to send
the request to staff for consultation with both Armenian and Turkish
groups along with the federal and provincial governments. A report
back isn't expected until early 2015 - after the municipal election.
I, along with members of the Toronto Armenian community, was very
disappointed that the previous Toronto City Council deferred the
decision to erect this monument.
I support the construction of the memorial. If elected to Toronto
City Council, I will advocate on behalf of the community on this issue.
*****
Click on Hon. Jim Karygiannis to visit his website and on map to view
the boundaries of Ward 39.
http://www.jimkarygiannis.net/home
http://jimkarygiannis.net/yahoo_site_admin/assets/docs/W39map.140230906.pdf
http://www.keghart.com/Interview-J-Karygiannis