Jan. 21 (HOL) - The Somali Community Of Toronto held a large pre-election gathering attended by about 300 community members on Thursday January 19, 2006 at the Day’s Inn Hotel in order to endorse the Liberal Party of Canada in the upcoming January 23, 2006 election. The meeting was attended by many important Toronto members of Parliament, including Hon. Alan Tonks, Hon. Borys Wrzsesneskjy, Hon. Judy Sgro and Hon. Roy Cullen. The meeting was upbeat and was moderated by Avv. Abdurahman Hosh Jibril and several Somali Community leaders and the members of parliament made presentations.

Ahmed Dhabaryare made a an impassioned speech about how the Liberal party has been a good friend of the Somali community over the years and he asked the members of Parliament to assist the community with the processing of the Somali refugees stranded in Kenya, Yemen, Ethiopia and Djibouti. He also pressed the politicians to give a lending hand to the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia.

 

Professor Mohamed Kassim reminded the politicians that Canada as a multicultural society is a work in progress and that the emerging immigrant communities like the Somali community should be included into the policy formations of the country. Avv. Haredo Ibrahim Boolis reminded the community not to trust the Conservative party, because it is the Liberal Party that stands for the rights of minorities. She urged the community to come in force and help the party back to power.

The members of the parliament took turns and all promised that if elected they would work tirelessly for the needs of the community. Mark Persuad, CEO of the Canadian International Pecae Project and head of the Standing Committee on Multiculturalism of the Liberal party of Canada also reminded the community of the changing face of Canada and urged the community to get involved in politics.

Abdi Hashised (Abdigaab)

And in the end Abdi Hashised( Abdigaab) who organized the meeting thanked the men and the women who attended the meeting and also the members of Parliament.

Source: HOL, Jan. 21, 2006