Newsline Canada

Canadian Federal Elections
Excerpt from: The Catholic Register
Paul Martin was returned to the prime minister's chair with a minority government in the June 28 national vote. His Liberal party took 135 of t308 seats. A majority would have required the Liberals to win 155 seats.The Conservatives will form the Official Opposition after winning 99 seats, while the Bloc Quebecois to 54 seats, the New Democrats 19 with one independent.
Catholic observers say that a minority government is a major step forward for social justice agendas of faith communities.
Excerpts from:
http://news.mantraonline.com/forafptopstory.jsp?id=81893
10 South Asians make it to Canadian Parliament
The general elections, which concluded Monday, returned a Liberal Party minority government at the Federal level saw 10 South Asian candidates winning seats around the country.
The biggest number of South Asians - five -- has come from Ontario, which sends the largest numbers of MPs to the Canadian parliament. Alberta and British Columbia have contributed two and three South Asian candidates respectively, reports South Asian Observer.
The old guard Gurbux Singh Malhi, Navdeep Bains, Ruby Dhalla, Wajid Khan and Yasmin Ratansi are new MPs from this province and Deepak Obhrai and Rahim Jaffer retained their seats in Alberta. Ujall Dosanjh, Nina Grewal and Gurmant Grewal won their seats in British Columbia.
Ujjal Dosanjh, the former premier of British Columbia who joined the Liberal Party just before the elections, has won from Vancouver South with a comfortable margin.
It is first time that three women of South Asian origin have been elected to parliament. Nina Grewal has been elected Fleetwood-Port Kells riding in BC and Ruby Dhalla and Yasmin Ratansi had respectively won from Brampton-Springdale, a new riding and from Don Valley east. By any yardstick this is a notable achievement since before this South Asian women were not that visible in the Canadian politics.
Notably, this is first time a husband-wife will be seen in the upper house as Nina Grewal is the wife of Gurmant Grewal, an old guard who has retained his seat in British Columbia.

Canadian housing market demonstrates continued strength in second quarter
Average prices rise in all major markets
TORONTO, July 6 /CNW/ - Canadian real estate gathered strong momentum in the spring market buoyed by an influx of inventory that helped drive exceptional sales activity and higher average prices, year-over-year, according to a second quarter report released today by Royal LePage Real Estate Services.
Of the national markets examined, 94 per cent of those with detached bungalows increased in value; 91 per cent with standard two-storeys increased in price and 80 per cent with standard condominiums increased, year-over-year.
The average price of a detached bungalow rose to $249,200 (+6.8%), a standard two-storey home increased to $311,509 (+8.5%), and a standard condominium appreciated to $176,013 (+6.5%).
Best-ever sales activity occurred in many of the major markets in the quarter, including Toronto, Edmonton and Regina.

Konkani Troupe flies from UK to stage "Chukh" in Toronto
The A-Team and the whole team of over 20 members financed their own travel to Canada - all for the love of Konkani.!!!
Article by Pamela Vasandani ..... Click to read more

Monte De Guirim Ex-Students celebrate feast of St. Anthony
By: Felix Coalco
On the occasion of the 10th anniversary of their reunion the Toronto chapter of the ex-students of St. Anthony's High School, Monte-De-Guirim, Goa celebrated the feast of their patron St. Anthony on June 19, 2004.
The function was held at the International Banquet hall in Mississauga. There was a celebration of the Eucharist followed by a dinner and dance. Over 400 people consisting of ex-students, their families and friends attended the grand gala, which was a huge success. A live band and a DJ provided dance music. For full text click here.

News Clips from Goa
by Joel D'Souza & Fred Noronha

Missin' Monsoons
In recent years Goa has been experiencing some of the most erratic monsoons, and this year is no exception. It rained for just four days in the beginning, giving the impression that we were in for a bountiful monsoon. The few, early days of rain relieved the water scarcity and helped reduce the rising heat. But thereafter it has been a long, dry period, putting the farming community in a quandary, as their paddyfields are being effected adversely. The rain clouds rise up regularly from the Arabian sea in the West, but just fly over Goa without transforming into rain, despite the weather bureau having predicted that Goa would have a good monsoon this year. So far the rainfall figure this year is merely 731 mm.

Jamir is new Goa Governor
SC Jamir, the former Nagaland Chief Minister, has been appointed by the Centre as the new Governor of Goa. On July 2, the Union Home Ministry dismissed Goa governor Kidarnath Sahani from office along with three other governors - Vishnu Kant Shastri (UP), Kailashpati Mishra (Gujarat) and Babu Parmanand (Haryana). Moments after he was unceremoniously removed as Governor of Goa, Kidar Nath Sahani criticised the Centre's decision and termed it "fascist". Goa’s chief minister Manohar Parrikar raised a ruckus because he was not consulted by the Centre before deciding to change the governor. The Goa Legislative Assembly was adjourned for half an hour on its opening day following pandemonium by Opposition Congress alleging 'misuse' of official machinery by the Governor Kidarnath Sahni and his office.

Jazz junction at Pune garden
Jazz Junction from Goa has been featuring some internationally acclaimed jazz musicians. The band was released a debut album recorded live at the Razzberry Rhinoceros in Mumbai and has been invited to perform at the Malaysian jazz festival at the end of this year. The band's current lineup for Pune’s Jazz Garden on July 10 showcased the amazing vocal talent of UK jazz singer Helen Jones, who has a varied repertoire of style that always orientates towards Jazz. She trained with an opera singer and studied Jazz for two years at Goldsmiths University, London. Her soulful rendition of jazz standards is laced with an exuberant stage presence. Jazz Junction also featured virtuosos in their own right Shyam Raj on saxophone, Xavier Fernandes on keyboards, Colin D'Cruz on bass and Rex Monsorate on drums.

Stormy assembly session
The current assembly session does not seem to have a smooth run, after having witnessed pandemonium by the Opposition Congress on the opening day June 28 itself. Adjournments appear to be the order of the day for one reason or the other. However, it’s one occasion when the government gets a change to reel out statistics of its achievements and the Opposition takes upon itself to run the treasury benches for all ills afflicting the state.For full text click here.

Dr Miguel's 150th birth anniversary

The 150th birth anniversary of Gen Dr Miguel Caetano Dias, the only Goan general in the Portuguese Army Medical Corps was celebrated near his statue at GPO, Panaji, at 8.30 am on June 9. The function was attended by Gen Sunith Rodrigues, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, Power Minister Digambar Kamat and Panaji Mayor Ashok Naik. In another function at the Goa Marriott the same evening Gen Rodrigues released a book on the life and achievements of Dr Miguel Caetano Dias. Miguel Caetano Dias was born in the village of Juvem-Santo Estevam.

Events
For listing of events in 2004 please click here

Goan Soccer League (Toronto)
For 2004 Events go to:http://www.goansoccer.com/gsl/index.php

People Places and Things

Warren Saldanha Among Scholarship Winners
(Edited excerpt from the weeklyvoice.com)
Warren Alec Francis Saldanha (St. Michael's College School) from Misssissauga, was one of the twelve young Canadians in the GTA area winning the Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation's Millennium Excellence Awards. The awards recognize community involvement, demonstrated leadership abilities, innovative thinking, and academic achievement. For full text click here.

Canada: Patricia D'Souza wins awards
From:http://www.goanvoice.org.uk/
2 Jul. Nunatsiaq News (Canada). Former Managing Editor Patricia D'Souza came first in the best features page competition for her story on the memorial service held for Joamie School last July. She also won the prize for best photo essay, for pictures of a gathering of Nunavut and Nunavik elders. [Patricia D'Souza is now editor of THIS magazine - see http://www.track0.com/ogwc/archives/000353.html]

Tid-Bits from Indo-Asian News Service
http://www.eians.com/
Parrots are London's new immigration problem London, London has an immigration problem of the bird kind -- thousands of wild parrots originally from India and Brazil have been swamping the parks and gardens of the British capital's leafy suburbs. For full text click here.

Indian American tops national essay contest
Washington, Indian American Vivek Viswanathan has bagged the first prize of $10,000 college scholarship in this year's National Peace Essay Contest, sponsored by the US Institute of Peace (USIP).
Sikh traffic agent vindicated by US body New York, New York's Human Rights Commission (HRC) has ordered the New York Police Department (NYPD) to reinstate its traffic agent Jasjit
Singh Jaggi and allow him to wear a turban while on the job.

Indian Bank Offices make fewer mistakes
HSBC in row with UK union over report on outsourcing
Bank says offshore centres make fewer errors than UK staff
By NEIL BEHRMANN IN LONDON
http://business-times.asia1.com.sg/story/0,4567,121523,00.html
HSBC has infuriated Unifi, the UK finance union, by claiming that offshore Indian and Malaysian offices make fewer mistakes than British staff. Research by the operations division of the bank found that UK staff made 50 mistakes for each million transactions, compared with only eight mistakes by workers in the Indian and Malaysian centres that service HSBC.

Obituary

From Goan Voice- UK
6 Jul. Norbury, London. CAJIE FERNANDES (ex Nairobi), Husband of Julie. Father of Pier/Mathias (Germany), Glenn/ Pauline, Elaine/Brian,(Southampton). Grandfather of Carlos, Alexander, Shivona. Brother-in-law of Priscilla, late Esmania, Eddie, Olga, Manu, Ivy, late Joyce, Elly and Jovita.
Cremation Service at Croydon Crematorium, Mitcham Road on Wed. 14 Jul. at 12 p.m. followed by a reception at St. Mary's Church Hall, Wellesley Road, Croydon. No flowers please. Donations to Marie Curie Cancer Care, No. 12 Bournemouth Road, Chandlers Ford, Eastleigh Hampshire SO53 3DB. Condolences to Elaine Fernandes elaine.fernandes@ukgateway.net
[Cajie played hockey & football for Kenya. He was Vice-Chairman of the Goan Institute and a renowned artist. 14 Jan. 2000. East African Standard. Headline: Age Only Makes Cajie Better. By Bernadette Murgor. For text see:
http://www.goacom.com/news/news2000/jan/msg00041.html]

5 Jul. Southampton, UK. MRS PAULINA ASPULQUETA DE SOUZA nee Caldeira (ex-Nairobi). Wife of the late John Joseph Francis de Souza (PWD). Mother of late Nympha, Sr Trifa, Fabian/Clara, Philomena (Mena), Ita and Pio/Philo. Grandmother of Agnel, Denzil and Charlene.
Funeral will be held at 10.00 am. Tue. 13 July at St Vincent de Paul Church, 418 Coxford Road, Lordswood, Southampton. Enquiries to Ita De Souza, 023 8077 5784. Condolences to piophilo@yahoo.com

26 Jun. London. LEO HILARY MONTEIRO (ex-Mombasa). Husband of Liseth (nee Alphonso). Father of Mark and Malcolm. Son of Joaquim & Maria Monteiro.
Brother of Celine(Lazarus Pereira-Toronto), Teresa, Francis and late Maggie. Funeral service took place Fri. 2 July at St. Anthony's R.C Church, 4 Genoa Road, Penge, London Condolences to monteiro76@yahoo.co.uk

27 Jun. Canada. JUSTINE FERNANDES. Wife of Francis Fernandes. Mother of Theresa/Benny Fernandes (Sweden), Tina/Justin Sequeira (Canada), Effie/Sisinio D'Souza (Canada). Grandmother of Sirikitt Fernandes (Sweden), Shaun Sequeira (Canada), Avril Sequeira (Canada), Brendon Sequeira (Canada), Samantha D'Souza (Canada). Sister of Henry D'Souza/Antoinet (UK), Bonnie D'Souza (UK), Philu Rodrigues (Goa), Lia Rodrigues (Bombay); Funeral took place June 30 with burial at Assumption Cemetery.

22 Jun. Bordon, Hampshire, UK. CECIL JOHN FERNANDES. Husband of Tina. Son of late Max Caraciol and Mrs. Conceicao (ex Nairobi). Brother of Derick/IIona, Irwin/Marie, Tony, Doreen/Carlos, Pia/Francis.