Vol. XXXI No 5 May 2013 http://www.filipinostar.org FNAQ Gala celebration marks 21st anniversary and Nurses Week The Filipino Nurses Association of Quebec (FNAQ) held a gala event on May 4, 2013 at the Holiday Inn Diamond Room. to celebrate its 21st anniversary as well as Nurses Week from May 12-18 in Quebec this year and Mothers’ Day. The guest of honor was Mme Lucie Tremblay, president and chief executive officer of the Order of Nurses (Ordre des Infirmiers et Infirmieres du Quebec), accompanied by her husband, Mr. Gerald Perron. Upon their arrival, they greeted and chatted with all the guests consisting of mostly doctors, nurses, government officials, community leaders, their friends and families. The evening’s program started with the welcome addresses by President Cresconia Fernandez and Vice-President Josefina Toledo. This was the first time that FNAQ had both officers give the welcome The Executive Board 2012-2014 - L-R: Christian B. Plaza, Eugenia F. Magalit, Myrna Sarmiento, Preciosa G. Emboscado, Cirila D. Carrera, address and wish to make it a tradition from Mila Gobeil, Thelma Untalan, Aderlina R. Gracia, Clarice A. Mackay, Cresconia A. Fernandez, Sophie R. Toledo, Malou P. Dee, Dolly S. now on. Belandres, Corazon D. Abdon, Shirlyne D. Chin, Elvira C. Maximo, and Maggie Calcetas. (Photo: Al Abdon) The Director of Nursing and Chief Nursing Officer of McGill University Health the FNAQ Founder, Maggie Calcetas. contributions of the Filipino nursing performance of the healthcare system in Center (MUHC), Ms. Patricia O’Connor, Ms. O'Connor paid tribute to the community, both in their roles played as Montreal and Quebec. Ms. O'Connor then was the inspirational speaker. She was outstanding leadership of the Filipino expert clinicians in diverse care settings, shared stories of how nurses and patient escorted to the stage by her husband, Dr. Nurses Association of Quebec over the 21 and as leaders who have dramatically Emmett Francoeur. She was introduced by years. She noted the incredibly rich influenced the quality of care and overall See Page 4 Filipino Nurses Aquino Allies Take Lead in Election in Philippines MANILA — Philippine voters appeared crucial for consolidating his power over to have strengthened President the unwieldy Philippine legislature to Benigno S. Aquino III’s hand in advance his anticorruption and advancing his political agenda, economic-growth program and to according to early unofficial election influence the choice of his successor. returns on Tuesday that showed his The Philippines has one of the political allies poised to take control of fastest-growing economies in Asia, the Senate. and international organizations and Mr. Aquino was not up for re- ratings agencies have credited Mr. election in the vote on Monday. He has Aquino’s policies for that success. three years remaining in his six-year term and is not permitted to run again. See Page 4 President Aquino But the midterm elections were seen as www.filipinostar.org 2 The North American Filipino Star May 2013 Harper Government conducting proposes new measures to connect projects for the larger arterial roads in Canadians with available jobs and our area. consultations on Canada Job Grant equip them with the skills and training they need. These include the Canada Traffic Calming - The Borough will across the country Job Grant, creating opportunities for extend its traffic calming measures this Toronto, Ontario, May 14, broad range of input from employers, apprentices and providing support to year. The speed limit on all residential 2013— The Honourable Peter Van labour organizations, training under-represented groups, including streets is 40 kph. Speed bumps will be Loan, Leader of the Government in the institutions, industries and regions persons with disabilities, youth, installed on several streets including House of Commons, on behalf of the across the country. The consultations Aboriginal peoples and newcomers. McLynn Avenue and Circle Road . Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of provide an opportunity for For more information, visit Bollards will be placed in dozens of Human Resources and Skills stakeholders to inform the design and www.actionplan.gc.ca. streets across the district to slow traffic. Development, today announced a implementation of the Canada Job -30- Some will be narrowed. series of cross-Canada roundtable Grant, which will be introduced as part For more information, contact: discussions with stakeholders on the of the renewal of the Labour Market Jan O’Driscoll Multiculturalism - I am proud to have new Canada Job Grant, an Economic Agreements, negotiated between the Press Secretary piloted through Borough Council Action Plan 2013 initiative that will Government of Canada and the Office of Minister Finley several dossiers supporting events in create jobs by transforming the way provinces and territories. 819-994-2482 our multiracial , multicultural Canadians receive skills training. The Grant will transform the Media Relations Office neighbourhood. The Borough will thus “Through Economic Action way Canadians receive training by Human Resources and Skills again partner with the Filipino Plan 2013, the Harper Government placing skills training decisions in the Development Canada community for Independence Day and continues to create jobs and pave the hands of employers and Canadian 819-994-5559 Pista sa Nayon. Support will also be way for long-term prosperity by putting workers. It could provide $15,000 or Follow us on Twitter given to a Bangladesh communities skills training front and centre,” said more per person, including a IF THERE IS A DISCREPANCY Bangla Mela and for Jamaica Day. Minister Van Loan. “The Canada Job maximum $5,000 federal contribution BETWEEN ANY PRINTED VERSION Grant will take skills-training choices and matching contributions from AND THE ELECTRONIC VERSION OF The Triangle - The old industrial area of out of the hands of government and provinces/territories and employers. THIS NEWS RELEASE, THE Namur-Jean Talon is being transformed put them where they belong: in the Once it is fully implemented, nearly 130 ELECTRONIC VERSION WILL into housing. Nearly 1000 units already have been built and 350 more will be hands of employers with unfilled jobs 000 Canadians each year will have PREVAIL. constructed this year. City Council and Canadians who want to work.” better access to the training they need recently approved $30.9 million for work This week, Members of for a new or better job or to reskill for to transform this area which all benefit Parliament will conduct over 20 their current job. Newsletter from City from aqueduct and sewer work as well consultations across the country for a Economic Action Plan 2013 Councillor Marvin Rotrand as sidewalk and road reconstruction, the redesign of Pare, Buchan, Jean To the Residents of Talon and arts of Mountain Sights as Marché Coop Snowdon District well as the creation of a new park, creation of walkways and planting of The Filipino Solidarity Cooperative, Inc. trees. Eventually this project will have Permit me to share the following good 400 new housing units. 5320-A Queen Mary Road news about coming events and (between Decarie & Coolbrook) improvements for our district: Philippine Tel: 514-485-7861 Independence Day is E-Mail: filipinocoop.com celebrated on June 16 Website: marchecoop.com by W. G. Quiambao Business Hours Apart from the Pista sa Nayon, one of the most anticipated events in the Monday - 1:00 - 9:00 p.m. Filipino community in summer is the Tuesday - 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Philippine Independence Day Wed. to Friday - 1:00 - 6:00 p.m. celebration . Preparations are Saturday - 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. underway to celebrate it on June 16, Sunday - 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. Sunday . Since the tents will be installed the night before, the tentative Members can make appointment to time for the restaurant owners to set up their equipments at the park is 6:00 shop outside these hours. Phone Councilor Marvin Rotrand a.m. your orders and you can pick them The assembly time for the cars and up by appointment as well. Parks - The City will invest nearly $2 floats participating in the parade is 10 million for park improvements in our a.m. at St. Kevin, corner Victoria and Delivery service available for Cote neighbourhood. A new synthetic high Westbury Streets. des Neiges & NDG areas between quality soccer field will replace the The route will be from Mackenzie King 6:00-8:00 p.m. ( $5.00 delivery current soccer field at Van Horne Park Park, St. Kevin St., left to Victoria St., service fee.) thus substantially improving availability right to Van Horne Ave., left to Legare for soccer in the Borough. As well, the St., and back to MacKenzie King Park., We sell phone cards & chalets of Mandela , Macdonald and Maurice Cullen Parks will be gift certificates. Following the parade is a mass at the completely renovated. Most of this Mackenzie King park officiated by Fr. work will start in September. Frank Alvarez . There will be pot luck lunch . then short speeches by Roadwork - The Borough has from the federal, provincial confirmed $952,000 for residential politicians streets in our district. Streets to be and municipal governments who have repaved will include Macdonald been supporting the Filipino between Isabella and Queen Mary, community,. One of the highlights of Bourret between Lemieux and Victoria, the program will be a multicultural St. Kevin between Lemieux and show that includes Filipinos, Peruvians, Victoria, Mountain Sights between Japanese, etc. Plamondon and Van Horne, Circle Road between Glencairn and Ponsard and Labarre between de la Savane For more information, call James de la and Sorel. As well, City Council is Paz at (514) 577-7787 examining topping up these funds with www.filipinostar.org May 2013 The North American Filipino Star 3 Letter to the Editor Editorial Jason Kenney It is clear that the Conservative Nursing, leadership, and caring continues to keep government does not care or A statement from the inspirational course.