PRESS RELEASE

April 4, 2003

 Local school trustee calls on government to assist

SARS affected residents and businesses.

 

            Mike Del Grande, the local Catholic School Trustee representing the area surrounding the Grace Hospital, calls for immediate Government assistance and support for residents and businesses adversely affected by the recent SARS outbreak.

             “The SARS medical disaster has had an unforeseen and severe impact on the community I represent.  The government must move quickly to help alleviate the negative impact it has wrought upon the many hardworking residents and proud small businesses that are located here.  Canadians take pride being multicultural.  The true test of our society is the caring and support we are prepared to give each other in times of need.”

             Almost 50% of Scarborough Agincourt residents are of Asian decent.  This proud Canadian community is facing never before seen prejudice and hardship, due to the unfounded fear that SARS may be spread through normal day-to-day interaction.

Social and economic assistance is required at all levels of government to:

  • Provide multi-lingual information on SARS; how the population can effectively prevent the spread of SARS while continuing its normal day-to-day affairs.
  • Open a clinic within Scarborough Agincourt to encourage the community to seek medical assistance and advice in matters specifically related to SARS.
  • Immediately run a media campaign to denounce the hysteria and unfounded racism now aimed at this community’s Chinese citizens.  This is not a “Chinese illness”.
  • Encourage high profile politicians to step up and provide leadership in the fight against this and all types of racism in our country.
  • Provide loan guarantees to those businesses which have been adversely affected by the SARS outbreak.  In many instances, business is down 30-70%.
  • Provide employment insurance for those who have been quarantined, either voluntarily or by law. Our local federal MP, Jim Karygiannis is firmly behind this effort.