Summit to Look at Political Power of Jamaicans in Canada

The political power of Jamaican nationals in Canada will be assessed at the upcoming ‘Summit of Jamaicans’, organised by the Jamaican Diaspora Canada Foundation (JDCF).
The event, which is in celebration of Diaspora Day 2009, will take place on Saturday, June 13, at the Jamaican Canadian Centre, 995 Arrow Road in Toronto, under the distinguished patronage of Jamaica’s High Commissioner to Canada, Evadne Coye.
President of the JDCF, Sharon Ffolkes-Abrahams, said the summit will feature presentations by several Canadian Government officials and politicians on the topic: ‘Is the Jamaican Diaspora a Political Force in Canada?’
Presenters include Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, Jason Kenney; Minister of State for Foreign Affairs (Americas), Peter Kent; Chair of the Canada Caribbean Parliamentary Friendship Group, Raymonde Folco; Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, Michael Ignatieff; Leader of Canada’s New Democratic Party (NDP), Jack Layton; Ontario’s Minister of Health Promotion, Margarett Best; Toronto City Councillor, Michael Thompson; and Ontario’s Fairness Commissioner, Jean Augustine.
“Jamaicans have been living in Canada for a long time now. We are here and we intend to help shape the policies of this country,” said Ms. Ffolkes-Abrahams.
“At the end of the day, we expect that the political doors will be open to Jamaicans to become increasingly engaged in representational politics across the board, and that the political landscape of Canada will be clearly more reflective of all who make this nation great,” she added.
Each presenter will be allotted a total of 45 minutes, with a 30-minute question and answer period.
Jamaican Diaspora Day is celebrated each year on June 15.