When the first batch of South Asian migrants came to Canada almost a century ago, they were a minority–visible or not. Mostly Sikhs belonging to the farming background settled in the BC region. Within four years, they were denied the federal vote and access to political office, jury duty, professions, public service jobs and labour on public works. The regulations didn’t change until 1947. Suffice to say, the first South Asian immigrants didn’t have it easy in Canada–a land so distant and alien to the one from which they immigrated from for a better life.

Within a century’s time, things have dramatically turned around. By 2006, Canada’s South Asian population swelled to 1, 316, 770 and is expected to grow exponentially. Still concentrated heavily in Vancouver and the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), some members of this community have also made other parts of Canada their home. In the GTA, there are regions that have more South Asian population than any other community–making this visible minority a majority in those particular pockets. A lot of employers now give preference to candidates well-versed with particular South Asian languages when picking prospective employees.

South Asians are no longer just represented by Sikh farmers either. They are well established in almost any trade and profession one can think of–from the federal government, to truck owners and software consultants. In this issue of South Asian Generation Next, we celebrate all of them by bringing into focus the shining stars from this community; those people who have truly defined the Generation Next of the initial batches of immigrants. Making Canada their home, they have also amalgamated unique facets of their home cultures into their lives here.

As you flip through the profiles of these achievers in their respective fields, be aware their stories are not a matter of chance. These individuals paved their way to the top by overcoming many an obstacle–be it financial, circumstantial or any other. Today, they stand as beacons of hope for the next generation of South Asians in Canada.

In this issue, we also celebrate influential South Asians globally. The accomplishments of this community are no longer confined within the geographic boundaries of South Asia. They have spread across all continents and, as will be evident to you from reading about the efforts of the Khan Academy–even to the World Wide Web.

However, as we revel in these successes, we must also reflect on the challenges that lie before South Asians in Canada.

Visible minorities still remain a pitiable minority when it comes to positions of prominence. Thankfully, advocacy groups such as Maytree are playing an active role in making this important issue heard.

The road ahead might not be silky smooth for South Asian immigrants and the Generation Next, but the journey sure promises to be an exciting one.

When a kid is born, the parents’ emphasis is that the kid learns to share and work together with his or her siblings. As the kid grows and goes to school and eventually post-secondary academic institutions, he or she is given tasks in a team, so that he/she learns to be a good team player. Indeed, as a society we must work together with mutual respect and fair play to grow. However, when these same kids grow up to be politicians, the sentiment of working together declines considerably.

Not only do politicians routinely insult one another, they mock each other not on the basis of policies, but on the basis of personalities. They talk over each other, they are rude to one another and civility seems to be something that is to be taught by highly-paid consultants to these politicians that we elect to represent us. Is this a reflection on our characters as well? We will leave that to our readers to determine.

Coming back to the point, there seems to be a major disconnect between what the municipal politicians want from the provincial politicians and what provincial politicians need from federal politicians.

City of Mississauga and City of Brampton, for instance, cannot agree on the urgent need of building the Goreway Bridge between Malton and Brampton. Ontario may agree with the City of Toronto on its transit program, but does not have money to forward to the City. (Surely the province does have money to pay someone $1,500 a day to find efficiencies in government spending. Similarly, the federal government that preaches belt tightening can spend $96,000 a day on consultants to find where costs can be saved. Perhaps the government could have started by saving taxpayer’s this $96,000 a day.)

The minority Ontario government, led by Premier Dalton McGuinty, is believed to be snubbing its opposition rather than working with it. It has already defied its election motto of “Forward. Together.” by giving an impression to their opposition peers that they are in majority in Ontario legislature. Reality check. Liberals are one seat shy of being in majority.

Ontario and the federal government cannot come to terms with how to deliver settlement services to Ontario’s newcomers who become role models and source of inspiration once they are settled.  In this week’s edition of Generation Next, you’ll read about Anu Srivastava who had come to Canada with her husband at a young age. Starting off with odd jobs, the couple is now a well-known contributor to Region of Peel’s cultural and social scene.

Politicians’ lack of collaboration for the betterment of people who have elected them for their welfare has made politics a dirty career in which very few people want to invest their time. The recent voter turnout is a clear indication of that. The global unrest among people and movements like Occupy Wall Street etc. is another sign that as a society we are not working together.

And the policy makers have an obligation to rectify that if that want to elevate themselves to the level of statesmen.

Otherwise it will just continue to be a dirty game that politicians must play to gain and remain in power.

Traditional spirit of South Asian ‘giving’ has take a formal philanthropic shape in the GTA. Hospitals paired the fundraisers for hospitals with traditional Indian festival of Diwali.

Trillium Diwali fundraiser has raised more than $4 million in the last decade. It is also believed to be the largest festival of its kind in the GTA. In its tenth year, the target was to raise $600,000 for endoscopy department.

United Health Network is the team of three Toronto hospitals: Toronto General Hospital, Princess Margaret Hospital and Toronto Western Hospital. They held Diwali fundraiser for the first time. Akshay Kumar, Canada’s Ambassador to India, joined the fundraiser to support the emergency services at the three  hospitals.

Aside from these two mega events, there are several small Diwali fundraisers over the next week or so.

The spirit of the South Asian ‘giving’ is undoubtedly commendable. South Asian community gives in various shapes and forms. It also feels responsibility to ‘give’ to their countries of origin to their poor relatives and neighbours.

Nonetheless, many of these mega and medium sized cultural festivals’ organizing committees look for a few individuals to support their events. Mr. Anil Shah, Board Director of Trillium Diwali pointed out a very important challenge that there is a ‘donor fatigue.’ The same individuals are stretched in every direction ‘for dollar here and dollar there,’ which means lesser community level engagement.

Moreover, giving opportunity to just the few to be part of the event is not only unfair, it damages the cause and restricts the community engagement. It gives an impression of creating a monopoly of the select few. So for example, if there is one media partner in this worthy cause, why can’t there be more partners, surely South Asian media wants to lend its contribution to worthy causes. Media can engage its viewers, listeners and readers to be more aware and more involved.

There are almost 1.2 million Indo Canadians, nearly the same number of Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Sri Lankan, Tamil, Afghani and Nepali Canadians have chosen Canada as their home. If these Canadians are engaged and involved, our institutions and our organizations will be stronger in ‘giving’ back to the Canadian society.

At the same time, South Asian organizations need to do a better job of increasing their membership and giving value to their membership.

The largest Indo-Canadian organization has only about 1,200 members in 1.2 million Indo Canadian population. This speaks volumes of doing more. The responsibility is not only of the organizations, it is also of small business owners, and individuals. After all we all have chosen Canada as our home.

October 6^th election is only a week away. It’s the day for Ontarians to decide which party and which leader they most trust to represent them.

Another recession seems to be looming just around the corner as we see that the US job market and housing market is no better than it was during recession. Undoubtedly it will affect Ontario’s manufacturing market yet again. With businesses uncertain about tomorrow, jobs will be scarce.

And Ontarians have an added pressure of making the right decision at the right time to choose their leadership.

What has been evident from this election campaign is that many South Asian families are not supporting any given party blindly. They are evaluating each party’s platform, perhaps not as thoroughly; nonetheless they are aware of the issues and what each party is offering.

During this election campaign families in the Region of Peel have asked whether their kids will be picked up by a school bus from their homes. Which party will provide funds to do so? Some of these parents have to literally give up work to ensure that one parent can pick up and drop off their kids to school.

In an economic climate where both partners have to work to provide a better living, families cannot afford to stay home just because their government is not willing to facilitate a school bus to pick up and drop off their kids to and from school.

South Asian families have also started noticing that many candidates who come to them as a South Asian and ask for their votes do not deliver once they are in the public office. Quietly they are skeptical of these South Asian elected officials who are not being vocal in addressing the issues of their constituents, yet when the time for elections come, they are all over them.

Many of the South Asian families also refuse to have a sign board of a South Asian candidate for fear of being taken negatively once the South Asian candidate from the other party gets elected.

Under these circumstances, the South Asian elected officials have added responsibility of reassuring their South Asian constituents that they will represent all of their constituents whether they voted for him/her or not.

Postsecondary education is the most expensive in Ontario. There is very little doubt about it. While it’s already almost unaffordable, universities continue to eye hiking the tuition to meet their expenses. Mr.

John Milloy, Liberal Minister of Colleges, Training and Universities does not appreciate anyone saying that the postsecondary education in Ontario is unaffordable; nonetheless families feel that they are paying too much money for a degree.

Minister Milloy counters by saying that Ontario ahs a very generous OSAP program that helps students pay the tuition. In a press conference with ethnic media a few months ago, he noted that the Liberal government in Ontario has introduced measures to ease off the pressure on students who cannot afford to pay back their university and college loans.

Although Ontario families feel the pinch of higher tuition fee, those who are teaching in postsecondary education system note that the Ontario’s education system is the best in the world and still cheaper than the other parts of the world.

In Generation Next’s this week’s edition, we conducted an informal survey with South Asian students studying in various programs in Ontario universities. There was a consensus that the tuition fee is very high. Many students said that any more tuition hikes, and they will be out of the universities. Others talked about financial pressures and stress to pay off for not only the tuition fee but for text books and other related expenses. Almost all of these South Asian students said that their parents are responsible for paying their tuition fee. However students work part time to pay for other related expenses. These students were quite angry that different faculties charge differently for the education they provide.

With provincial elections set in another 15 days, political parties are selling their postsecondary education platform to Ontario families. Liberals have committed 30 per cent grants to middle class families. They have also said that the next Liberal government will cap the student debt at $7,300 a year.

The PC has made a promise of easing off transferring of credits from one institution to the other, vowing to create 60,000 more student spaces. The promise to create 60,000 more spaces has also been made by Liberals.

The New Democrats, on the other hand have said that they will freeze the tuition fees for next four years and eliminate interest on provincial parts of student loans.

It is up to Ontario families and Ontario students to decide as voters which party will represent their best interests in the next Ontario legislature. While all parties are prone to skew the numbers, the responsibility of choosing your government rests with you and you alone.

Weigh your options carefully before you vote on October 6^th.

Almost all political candidates we have spoken to in the last few days say that the first issue raised on the door is lack of jobs for those who used to work in factories or in manufacturing sector. This follows the frustration about university and college graduates not being able to find jobs in the areas they have studied in. The youth unemployment remains higher than the national average here in Ontario. Another issue is of course of immigrants not finding jobs and living below poverty line. Their foreign credentials are not recognized and they don’t have the Canadian Experience. Unlike in North America, it’s not easy getting college and university certificates in a sealed and stamped envelop from the registrar’s offices in South Asia.

Lack of quality jobs is another issue. People are nostalgic about a time when they were secure in their jobs, now even the jobs with the government cannot provide peace of mind and stability to families.

Anytime Generation Next runs a profile of a community organization that does some work in helping people find employment, Generation Next gets calls from people. These people suggest that more needs to be done in creating jobs for people. Many of them are new Canadians, by the way.

We hear a lot about green jobs in today’s world, however there are very few people trained in these jobs. We also know that there are several thousand jobs that go unfilled. Perhaps, there can be a deliberate move to promote these jobs among Ontarians, so that some unemployment numbers translate into employment.

In such desperate circumstances, it is quite shocking to hear politicians tell us that we in Ontario are better than the rest of Canada and the United States. We hope that our politicians understand that while they are fighting for cushy jobs for next four years, and that fired politicians still get the best deal from companies, ordinary Ontarians are not so lucky.

Lack of jobs doesn’t just mean that there is not a job, it has far reaching consequences – social, psychological and economic. The general impression is that recent graduates are more likely to get hired than those who have been struggling to find a job for the last few years. Another impression is that older people cannot get hired because employers are looking for young energetic people who can work longer hours with lesser salaries and benefits.

But at the same time, many companies lay off people to save their profits rather than sharing some of the pain of losing a little profit here and there.

Investment in people can never be a bad investment. At least that’s what we were told growing up.

Tis’ the holly jolly season, but it doesn’t seem to be too happy for political circles. Ontario Liberal MPPs suspect that in the upcoming provincial elections in October 2011, they will probably be losing about 8 to 12 seats in Ontario Legislature, not having Harper-like majority but a majority that will have less in control in the face of opposition.

The situation with Federal Liberal Party attracting Liberal MPPs has made the situation worse for Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty. MPP Fonseca has resigned from his position as an MPP and will be a federal Liberal candidate from Mississauga-Cooksville in the upcoming federal election. There probably will not be a by-election but a general federal election where Mr. Fonseca will be a candidate.

Conservatives are eyeing the transition of Liberals from province to federal closely with the hopes that they can secure a seat from Mississauga Crooksville –  a riding next to Conservative MP Bob Dechert – Brampton Springdale, Mississauga Brampton South and possibly one from Etobicoke. How helpful can Mayor Rob Ford and his brother Doug Ford’s ties to Etobicoke be for Conservatives remains to be seen, but it has Liberals worried, both provincially and federally.

We don’t intend to be political pundits predicting any victories or losses as voters can be unpredictable. It has to be acknowledged that the Harper’s Conservatives have made inroads into the South Asian community of the Peel region.

Mr. Jason Kenney, the federal Minister of Citizenship & Immigration and Multiculturalism is very persuasive in his arguments even if the facts may not always be accurate. His name and his work with immigrants, refugees and settlement organizations provokes an intense debate among South Asian political circles. Some are extremely unhappy with him; some have nothing but to pat him on the back for his work with the South Asian community. Some remain skeptical of Conservatives as their nominated candidates are tight lipped on issues that are of concern to the community. Some believe that appointing Ms. Salma Ataullahjaan as a Senator was a very smart move by Prime Minister Stephen Harper. This appointment has softened not only the South Asian community but the Muslim community of the GTA toward Conservatives.

Province however is a different story. Premier McGuinty has sent out Season’s Greetings cards to almost every South Asian media outlet, wishing them in 31 languages including English and French. It’s a clear indication that “Celebrating Diversity” is not just the slogan for Ontario Liberals. While a lot more needs to be done, a good first step should always be appreciated.

With too much at stake for politicians, we wish them luck and Season’s Greetings and hope that they will return with not the politics of division, but a clear vision of how they will be leading our province and our country.

So it’s Christmas season. Santa parades and the jovial mood is in the air in spite of chilling frosty winds. Christmas parties are being held all over the place and people who are watching weight are worried. Well as South Asians we have even more to worry about when it comes to pounds. We have been celebrating since September when there was Eid-ul-Fitr, then there was Garba, then Diwali, then Eid ul Adha, then the birthday of Guru Nanak ji and now it’s the Holiday season. Cookies in mouth watering flavours and shapes – one can hardly resist the temptation!

And the deals on some of the items we keep thinking about throughout the year can be alluring too. Nonetheless, Canadians are being careful in how they spend their money. According to Ipsos survey 25 per cent Canadians are inclined to spend less than what they spent last year on Holiday presents for family and friends. Higher taxes on goods and items in Canada have made Canadians to turn to American retail market across the border to the United States. To attract them many retails stores offered packages to Canadians on Black Friday weekend, nonetheless more people chose to spend money in the United States.

But in this cheerful weather, expenses are not the only thing to worry about. One needs to be especially careful in how you dress up and drive. Roads are slippery and even the most experienced drivers have hard time navigating through slushy local roads and highways. Your car breaks might not work as they normally do in clear warm weather. And your car can be impounded if you are drunk and driving. SO be careful!

When Rob Ford as a mayoral candidate said “It’s more important that we take care of the people now, before we start bringing in more,” he was criticized for his remarks. Some said the remarks were anti-immigrants. Now he is the Mayor of one of the largest cities in North America, representing more than 2.7 million Torontonians.

Among those who were surprised is Mr. John Parker, Toronto City Councillor from Ward 26. He took Mr. Ford’s comments as “Oh gee Rob what are you saying!”

It is the reality of the Canadian society that Canada’s population is aging. The Canadian economy needs labour force. And this labour force is not there or at least not ready to take over the jobs that will be vacated by baby boomers. Experts have expressed this opinion and they unanimously agree on these facts.

How to regulate immigration policy so that new comers benefit from what our society has to offer them is an entirely different story though? Councillor Parker suggests that we need “properly managed immigration policy” that attracts immigrants to contribute to our economy.

But he also notes that Mayor Rob Ford has a point. “We have not done a very admirable job in integrating these new arrivals,” Councillor Parker says. These new Canadians come with hopes and expectations that their skills will be utilized for the best results for Canada as well for their individual growth.

There is much truth to those words. However, those who follow politics notice that new Canadians have become the subject of political games between different levels of governments and among political parties. So for example if Liberal Party of Canada disagrees with a Bill that is intended to change the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, the message it sends to human smugglers is “Canada is open for their criminal business.” Doesn’t this sound like dividing Canadians on an issue that tests Canadians’ humane values? Of course we want to be tough on criminals who take advantage of the most vulnerable, but doing so in a manner that divides us is probably not the best of the policies.

The federal government is rightfully proud of investing in new Canadians to integrate them sooner into the Canadian job market. At the same time it demands transparency in the use of funds, which obviously is the right thing to do. Here, the Ontario government should really look into how it uses the funds allocated for Ontario’s new comers. Though Canada Ontario Immigration Agreement Resolution has been passed in Ontario Legislature unanimously gaining all-party support, opposition’s amendment to demand more transparency was legitimate and a fair amendment.  And such should have been adopted by Ontario Liberals.

As Minister Jason Kenney announced funding for a local Immigration Partnership (LIP) and a City of Toronto Newcomer initiative, Mayor Ford didn’t even stop for a photo-op. His abrupt departure left many reporters to wonder if he was happy that his City is getting funding for his city’s new comers.

Councillor Parker tells us “Rob Ford you see is the Rob Ford you’ve got for the next four years.” And Mayor Ford will probably not changed “his unique and straightforward manner.”

There are rumours that the federal elections can be expected as early as in Spring of 2011. Certainly the tone of Mr. Jason Kenney, the federal Minister of Citizenship & Immigration and Multiculturalism suggested that the federal government is positing itself in a way that the Conservative’s achievements can  be compared with 13 years of Liberal government before them. Listening to him recount what the federal government has done in the past four years was like listening to Ontario Liberals talk about better healthcare, better education, better business opportunities and better governance than the Conservative Mike Harris’s days in Ontario. And “respect for tax dollars” slogan form Mayor Rob Ford seems to have already been borrowed by federal Conservatives.

In response to a question from Generation Next, if there indeed will be a Spring election, Minister Kenney said “the opposition parties will determine the timing of the next election, I suspect. We don’t think Canadians want an election. We want to continue governing, providing strong leadership to Canada. If the opposition parties decide that they are going to reverse the government and enforce and election, that will be their choice and there is a lot of speculation that it will happen in Spring. Personally I hope not because I wanna keep getting things done. Yes eventually we will have an election as we have to  in our democracy.” Minister Keeney was speaking at Punjabi Community Health Services (PCHS).

Perhaps the opposition will be discouraged from calling an election after Monday’s federal by election results. Liberals lost a seat in Vaughn to Conservatives, a seat that they had held for 22 years. But they also managed to win a seat from NDP in Winnipeg and Conservatives retained their seat in Manitoba.

Critics have it that the Conservative win is not Liberal’s loss or Conservative’s win, it’s Julian Fantino’s victory. But the fact remains; he is a Conservative who refused Liberal offer to run from the Liberal’s side.

In any case Liberals refer to British Columbia where the federal and the provincial elections have been held in the same year. For now, New Democrats do not seem to be really much into the election talk.