SCARBOROUGH: Earthquake brings swift response from Chinese community
'We have to do something. We have to do something now.'
With the death count from China's devastating earthquake at 12,000 and counting, members of Scarborough's Chinese community have flooded the phone lines of politicians and cultural associations begging to find out how they can help their loved ones.
"It is emotional and it is (only) 30 hours in. This thing is developing," Scarborough-Agincourt MP Jim Karygiannis said yesterday morning at a press conference to establish the China Sichuan Earthquake Relief Fund.
"We've had calls from people wanting to know about their loved ones."
Karygiannis, who sat alongside several members of the Chinese community at the press conference at the Ruby Restaurant at Woodside Mall, is appealing to the federal government to open Canada's doors to survivors of the earthquake.
He wants Ottawa to expedite immigration cases of relatives from southwestern China whose applications are already in process.
He also wants the government to issue visitor visas allowing survivors who have immediate family members in Canada to join their relatives here during the ordeal.
The Chinese community reacted quickly following Monday's earthquake, which measured 7.9 on the Richter scale.
"It is really a serious disaster that happened in the Sichuan province of China. We're launching a (disaster) relief fundraising campaign," said Ping Tan, executive co-chairperson of the National Congress of Chinese Canadians.
"We're appealing to everyone across Canada to help with our campaign to help the victims in China."
Bang-Gu Jiang, chairperson of the Chinese Association of Canada, said the initial shock of hearing about the disaster has now changed into a desire to help.
"I'm sure everyone coming here from China shared one fact, the last 20 to 30 hours we were very emotional. We had to accept the shocking news and we had to find out if our families, relatives and friends were safe," she said.
"Very quickly, we came to a sense of action and duty. We have to do something. We have to do something now. We're committed to doing whatever we can."
A fund has been set up at the Bank of China, which has a branch at 3300 Midland Ave. Unit 33, to collect donations. The account number is 04009072. Money will be given to the Red Cross in China.
While China is a powerful nation, Karygiannis said it is important for countries to come together in crises.
"China is one of the great countries and one of the great forces but at times like these, like in the U.S. when (Hurricane) Katrina struck, and the world community (came together)," he said. "We have to show you're not alone. We stand shoulder to shoulder. We're here to help."
He called on the government to pledge $10 million immediately for rescue, recovery and relief efforts and also wants Ottawa to match fundraising dollars donated by Canadians.
Meanwhile, he wants the Canada Revenue Agency to give the Chinese community a one-time charitable tax number so tax receipts can be issued.
"The former Liberal government instituted similar initiatives following the tsunami. (Prime Minister) Stephen Harper and his Conservative government must do no less," Karygiannis said. "Unfortunately, once again, our government is ignoring China and her people. The rest of the world has responded to this disaster. Canada should do the same."
Mayor David Miller, who recently returned from a business mission to China, expressed his sympathies for the earthquake victims and their families on behalf of all Torontonians.
"Toronto is proudly home to nearly 300,000 Canadians of Chinese descent and our thoughts and prayers are with all people with family and friends in the affected areas," he said in a statement.
"Toronto has a long-standing positive and healthy sister-city relationship with Chongqing, which is a few hundred kilometres from the epicentre but which still sustained serious damage. I have initiated direct contact with Mayor Wang (Hongju's) office in Chongqing to offer the support and condolences of Toronto in this time of crisis."
