多伦多福清商会对有关不实报道发布声明
【多伦多福清商会2023-4-20来稿】
多伦多福清商会今日就有关不实报道并涉嫌种族歧视发布了声明，全文如下：
近期，加拿大环球邮报及部分中文媒体对多伦多福清商会进行了一系列不实、抹黑和歪曲的报道。
为了捍卫多伦多福清商会及其会员的正当权益，澄清事实真相，我们特发布此声明。
一、自2019年6月在加拿大成立至今，多伦多福清商会秉持法治精神，全体会员均为合法居民或公民。
商会始终遵循加拿大法律法规，我们的企业家们在当地为居民创造了数万个就业机会，为政府贡献了大量税收。
我们的使命和宗旨是努力成为中加两国友好关系的民间桥梁，致力于维护加拿大社会的多元文化，推动新移民更好地融入加拿大生活，鼓励新移民为加拿大作出更多贡献。
同时，我们也致力于为会员提供优质服务，并积极为当地社区作出贡献。
二、自2022年4月起，特别是近期，针对华裔参政和经商人员的无差别攻击日益严重。
我们对加拿大环球邮报及部分中文媒体是否破坏加拿大民主、团结包容精神，以及是否充当恶意造谣、散播恐慌、扰乱社会经济秩序的角色表示担忧。
在过去的一年多里，这些媒体多次利用所谓的信息，越界法律法规，借助媒体优势地位，对多伦多福清商会进行不实、抹黑、歪曲的定性。
我们对这些行为表示严重关切。
三、商会自成立以来，一直致力于为加拿大社会作出贡献。
在全球疫情期间，商会成功筹集数十万加元，采购抗疫物资，并向多伦多当地医院及养老机构进行了多次捐赠。
会员们也积极向所在区域捐赠防疫物资。此外，商会本着人道主义精神，向中国红十字会捐款，支持抗击疫情，并为促进中加友谊做出了积极贡献。
四、新冠疫情爆发导致中加航班停飞，部分中国驾照持有的福建籍加拿大居民面临驾照过期和撤销问题。
他们希望保留中国驾照并寻求多伦多福清商会的协助。
商会在确认这些请求符合其宗旨且不违反加拿大法律法规后，发挥沟通和桥梁作用，帮助他们联系驾照服务部门解决问题。
关于个别媒体对多伦多福清商会协助因疫情停航导致无法飞往中国办理驾照延期的会员服务的不实报道，我们进行如下澄清：
A.商会仅在法律法规允许范围内，发挥沟通和桥梁作用，协助会员解决问题。
B.商会的行为完全符合加拿大的法律法规。
五、部分媒体，如环球邮报，无视多伦多福清商会多年来对加拿大多元、包容、民主立国之本的忠实贡献，通过违法泄密，制造谣言和歪曲事实，将商会抹黑为不合法机构。
这些行为抹杀了商会在促进中加友好关系方面所作的努力。
我们对此表示强烈抗议，要求删除所有相关不实报道，并向商会作出正式书面道歉。
我们保留追究相关法律责任的权利。
针对加拿大环球邮报及部分中文媒体对多伦多福清商会的不实报道，我们提出以下诉求：
A.删除所有不实报道。
B.公开向多伦多福清商会及其会员道歉。
C.保留追究法律责任的权利。
在此，我们向支持多伦多福清商会的各界人士表示衷心的感谢。
多伦多福清商会坚定致力于维护自身合法权益，对社会关切采取积极回应，坚决捍卫加拿大多元文化价值观。
我们将持续为加拿大社会做出贡献，并热衷于参与中加友好交流活动。我们将继续为加拿大的多元文化和中加友谊贡献力量。
特此声明。
多伦多福清商会
2023年4月18日
Toronto Fuqing Chamber of Commerce’s Opposition to False Reporting and racism
APRIL 18, 2023
An Open Letter to Our Community:
Most recently, The Globe and Mail Canada and several Chinese-language media outlets published a series of false, defamatory, and distorted reports about the Toronto Fuqing Chamber of Commerce. To defend the legitimate rights and interests of the Chamber and its members and to clarify the truth, we’re issuing this open letter in response to the false reporting.
- Since its establishment in Canada in June 2019, the Toronto Fuqing Chamber of Commerce has upheld the rule of law, with our members who are legal residents or citizens. The Chamber has always followed Canadian laws and regulations. Our entrepreneurs have created tens of thousands of job opportunities for local residents and contributed significant tax revenue to the government. Our mission and purpose are to strive to be a bridge between China and Canada to deepen our friendship, maintain Canada’s multicultural society, promote better integration of new immigrants into Canadian life, and encourage new immigrants to make more contributions to Canada. At the same time, we are committed to providing quality services to our members and actively contributing to the local community.
- Since the beginning of April 2022 up until today, there have been an increasing amount of severe indiscriminate attacks on Asian ethnicity political and business leaders. We are extremely concerned about whether The Globe and Mail Canada and some Chinese-language media outlets are undermining Canadian democracy and unity, and whether they are playing a role in spreading malicious rumors, panic, and disrupting our social and economic order. Over the past year, these same media outlets have repeatedly used so-called information to overstep legal boundaries and use their media advantage to falsely defame and distort the Toronto Fuqing Chamber of Commerce. We have serious concerns about these actions and allegations.
- Since its establishment, the Chamber has wholeheartedly dedicated itself to contributing to Canadian society. During the global pandemic, the Chamber successfully raised hundreds of thousands of Canadian dollars to purchase anti-pandemic supplies, and made multiple donations to local hospitals and nursing homes across Toronto. Our members also actively donated epidemic prevention materials to their communities. In addition, the Chamber, in the spirit of humanitarianism, donated to the Chinese Red Cross to support the fight against the epidemic and made positive contributions by promoting positive friendship between China-Canada.
- Due to the outbreak of COVID-19, this has led to the suspension of flights between China and Canada. During this time, some Canadian residents of Fujian origin holding Chinese driver’s licenses were facing license expiration and revocation issues. They hope to retain their Chinese driver’s license and sought assistance from the Toronto Fuqing Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber, after confirming that these requests are in line with its purpose and do not violate Canadian laws and regulations, played a role in communicating and helping them to contact the driver’s license service department in China to resolve the issue.
Regarding the false reporting by the media on the Toronto Fuqing Chamber of Commerce’s assistance to members who could not fly back to China to renew their driver’s licenses due to flight suspensions, we would like to clarify the following:
- The Chamber only played a role in communication and bridging within the scope of legal regulations and by assisting members in solving their problems.
- The Chamber’s actions fully comply with Canadian laws and regulations.
- From last year, media outlets such as The Globe and Mail, have ignored the ongoing loyal contributions and dedication made by the Toronto Fuqing Chamber of Commerce to Canada’s diversity, inclusiveness, and democracy. By illegally leaking information, spreading rumors, and distorting facts, the media have defamed the Chamber as an illegal organization. These actions negate the Chamber’s efforts in promoting China-Canada friendly relations. We strongly protest these false accusations.
In response to the false reporting by The Globe and Mail Canada and several other Chinese-language media outlets about the Toronto Fuqing Chamber of Commerce, we have the following demands:
- Remove all false reports about the Toronto Fuqing Chamber of Commerce.
- Request a public formal written apology to the Toronto Fuqing Chamber of Commerce and its members.
- Reserve the right to pursue legal action.
We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to all those who continue to support the Toronto Fuqing Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber is committed to safeguarding its legitimate rights and interests, actively responding to societal concerns, and resolutely defending Canadian multicultural values. We will continue to contribute to Canadian society, be enthusiastic about participating in China-Canada friendship exchange activities, and to further Canada’s multiculturalism.
Sincerely,
Toronto Fuqing Chamber of Commerce
