OTTAWA, February 8, 2005 -- Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Anne McLellan, Minister of Justice Irwin Cotler and Minister of State (Multiculturalism) Raymond Chan today announced the appointments of 15 members to the Cross-Cultural Roundtable on Security. “Over the course of the nomination period, we received a large number of applications from highly qualified Canadians from across the country, and choosing only 15 members proved to be a difficult task,” said Minister McLellan. “However, we are pleased that such a fine roster of individuals from such diverse backgrounds have agreed to serve in this extremely important function.” “Their collective experience, broad range of perspectives, and willingness to contribute to the development of security policy will be tremendous assets to the Roundtable,” said Minister Cotler. “This Roundtable is a good example of a partnership between Canadians and their government,” said Minister of State Chan. “Men and women from many different ethnic, racial, cultural and religious backgrounds will sit at this table. They will be able to guide us, on an on-going basis, in managing the security interests of all Canadians, as well as promoting mutual respect and common understanding in our diverse society.” Dr. Zaheer Lakhani will serve as Chair of the Roundtable, and Dr. Myrna Lashley will serve as Vice-Chair. Other members are: Mr. Leo Adler; Mr. Riazuddin Ahmed; Dr. David Bensoussan; Ms. Carolyn Fowler; Mr. Ashraf Ghanem; Dr. Kuldip Gill; Mr. David Gisser; Mr. Mohinder Grewal; Mr. Hussein Hamdani; Dr. Edna Keeble; Dr. Vettivelu Nallainayagam; Ms. Salma Siddiqui; and Mr. Solomon Wong. Profiles of all Roundtable appointees are provided in the attached backgrounder. The Roundtable will provide a forum to discuss emerging trends and developments emanating from national security matters. It will facilitate a broad exchange of information between the Government and diverse communities on the impact of national security issues, consistent with Canadian rights and responsibilities. The Roundtable will also serve to better inform policy makers by providing insights on how national security measures may impact Canada ’s diverse communities and promoting the protection of civil order, mutual respect and common understanding. The Roundtable will work with the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness and the Minister of Justice, who will consider its input in the ongoing development of matters relating to national security. The Government’s National Security Policy, which was released on April 27, 2004 , committed to the creation of both a Cross-Cultural Roundtable on Security and an Advisory Council on National Security. The Government will be making an announcement regarding the membership of the Advisory Council in the near future. The first meeting of the Roundtable will take place in early March in Ottawa . Interested parties are encouraged to check the Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada website for regular updates on the work of the Roundtable. - 30 - For further information: Alex Swann Office of the Honourable Anne McLellan Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness (613) 991-2863 Denise Rudnicki Office of the Honourable Irwin Cotler Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada (613) 943-8506 To arrange for an interview with Dr. Lakhani, please contact: Media Relations Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada (613) 991-0657 Backgrounder Members of the Cross-Cultural Roundtable on Security Dr. Zaheer Lakhani of Alberta , Chair of the Roundtable, holds a Bachelor of Medicine in Surgery from Leeds University . He has been a cardiologist and the Director of the Coronary Care Unit at the Surgeon General Hospital in St. Albert , Alberta since 1994. Dr. Lakhani was a member of His Highness Prince Karim Agakhan National Council for Canada from 1993-1996, was Vice-Chair of the Canadian Centre for Police-Race Relations from 1993-1996, and has been a member of the Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation from 2001 to the present. Dr. Lakhani has been recognized for his community work in a number of areas. Of note, in 2000, he received the Paul Harris Fellowship from the Rotary Clubs of Edmonton; in 1996, he was awarded a Humanitarian Award from the Mayfield Rotary Club; and in 1991, he received an Award of Excellence in the Outreach Category from the Ismaili Muslim Community of Edmonton. Dr. Myrna Lashley of Québec, Vice-Chair of the Roundtable, holds a PhD in Counselling Psychology from McGill University . She has been a Professor of Psychology at John Abbott College in Montreal since 2003 and was recently appointed Vice-President of the Governing Board of the École national de Police du Québec. Dr. Lashley has served as a consultant to the Jewish Family Services Centre, as well as the Ville Marie Social Services, both of Montreal . She was a member of the Centre for Research Action on Race Relations from 1999-2002 and is the Recipient of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Legacy Award from the City of Montreal in 2004, an award presented to an individual whose contributions to the community exemplify the work of Dr. King. Mr. Leo Adler of Ontario holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from McGill University , majoring in sociology and political science, as well as a law degree from Osgoode Hall Law School . Mr. Adler has been a criminal defense lawyer since 1975 when he was called to the Ontario bar and has since become a member of the Criminal Lawyers Association as well as the International Association of Defence Attorneys. In 1999, he was named Counsel and Director of National Affairs for the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies. Mr. Adler has participated as an NGO delegate at the Assembly of States-Parties meeting of the International Criminal Court at the United Nations as well as chaired various committees, groups and seminars dealing with different aspects of the justice system. Mr. Riazuddin Ahmed of Saskatchewan holds a Masters Degree in Urban Planning from the Middle East Technical University in Ankara , Turkey . Mr. Ahmed recently retired from the Government of Saskatchewan after working in various senior corporate planning, program management and administrative capacities. As a professional urban planner, Mr. Ahmed has extensive experience in community work, including organizing the 2004 Muslims for Peace and Justice Conference in Regina as well as a number of community workshops on the Anti-Terrorism Act for the Muslim community in Regina . He is also a founding member and two-term chair of the Regina Multifaith Forum (1993-2004) and is a founding member and community liaison director for Regina Muslims for Peace and Justice (2001-2004). Dr. David Bensoussan of Québec holds a PhD in Electrical Engineering from McGill University . He has been a professor in the department of electrical engineering at the Université du Québec since 1982. Currently, Dr. Bensoussan is the President of the Communauté Sépharade Unifiée du Québec and has been a member of the Comité, Québec-Israël since 1977. He has published works in a number of areas, including telecommunications and energy. His other accomplishments include receiving the Lauréat de la fondation internationale Matsumae from Japan in 1988 and the Prix du mérite et d’excellence du Centre communautaire juif in 2001. Ms. Carolyn Fowler of Nova Scotia holds a Masters Degree in Education from Mount St. Vincent University . Ms. Fowler is currently President of Carolyn E. Fowler and Associates, a consulting firm. Previously, she served as a public servant in a number of federal government departments, most recently as a Co-ordinator for regional diversity and employment equity at Health Canada , a position she held since 1997. Ms. Fowler was a board member of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ National Action Committee on Race Relations, and also was a member of the Visible Minority Committee for the City of Ottawa . She has also successfully mediated a number of cases for the Community Justice Society of Halifax . Mr. Ashraf Ghanem of New Brunswick holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of New Brunswick . Currently, he is employed as a financial analyst and assistant comptroller for the New Brunswick (Fredericton-Moncton) Project Company, a position he has held since 1999. Mr. Ghanem is the President of the New Brunswick Multicultural Council and is the Chair of the Ministerial Advisory Committee on Multiculturalism. In 2003, Mr. Ghanem presented a brief to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration, titled “Settlement and Integration”. Dr. Kuldip Gill of British Columbia holds a PhD in Anthropology from the University of British Columbia . She is an instructor in cultural diversity in health care with the Open Learning Agency of B.C. and is a Research Associate with the Institute of Asian Research with the University of British Columbia . Dr. Gill has extensive experience with various non-governmental organizations, and is currently the President of Immigrant and Visible Minority Women of B.C. and a Member of the Vancouver Police Chief’s Diversity Advisory Committee. Dr. Gill is a member of the Vancouver Working Group on UN Resolution 1325 – women, peace and security, as well as a board member and advisor for the Asian Heritage Month Society of Vancouver. She was elected as a fellow of the American Anthropological Association in 1993 and has been recognized with a Young Canadian Researchers’ Award from the International Development Research Centre. Mr. David Gisser of Manitoba holds a law degree from the National Law Program at McGill University . He has been employed as Crown Counsel for the Manitoba Department of Justice since 1985. Previously, Mr. Gisser was employed in general private practice, with emphasis in labour law, civil litigation and criminal law. He is a Member of the Board of Directors for the Jewish Federation of Winnipeg and was also the Chairperson for the Department of Justice’s All Charities Campaign in 2001. He also previously served as a member of the Board of Directors for the Jewish Child and Family Services of Winnipeg. He is also the recipient of an Outstanding Achievement Award with the Department of Justice in 2001. Mr. Mohinder Grewal of British Columbia holds a General Certificate of Education from the University of London , and is a graduate of the Royal Military Academy in Sandhurst , England . He has served as a board member for the Convention Refugee Determination Division with the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada. Mr. Grewal was also the Executive Director of the Sikh Professional Association of Canada and the President of the National Association of Canadians of Origin in India . Currently, Mr. Grewal is a member of both the Global Television Network Diversity Committee and the Vancouver Cross-Cultural Seniors’ Network. His other accomplishments include receiving the Ahili Mangku Negara and the Kesatria Mangku Negara awards from the Malaysian monarchy. Mr. Hussein Hamdani of Ontario holds a Bachelor of Law from the University of Western Ontario and a Master of Arts in International Relations from the University of Toronto . Mr. Hamdani is currently a Barrister and Solicitor with Simpson Wiggle LLP and a law instructor at Niagara College . He also serves as a Public Relations Officer with the Halton Islamic Association and a Senior Advisor to the Muslim Youth of North America Organization. Mr. Hamdani is a Director on the Board of the Hamdani Foundation of St. Catharines and the Settlement and Integration Services Organization of Hamilton. He co-coordinated the Toronto Muslim Summit in 2003 and is a founding member of the Ihya Foundation. Dr. Edna Keeble of Newfoundland holds a PhD in Political Science from Dalhousie University . Since 1990, she has been an Associate Professor with the Department of Political Science at St. Mary’s University in Halifax . Dr. Keeble has extensively researched and written about security issues, with special attention to human security aspects. She was a member of the Southeast Asia Co-operation Program in 1997, and is also a member of the Southeast Asian Nations Institute of Strategic and International Studies. She is also the author of the forthcoming publication “Gender, Security and Human Rights: The Empowerment of Women”, to be published in spring 2005. Dr. Vettivelu Nallainayagam of Alberta holds a PhD in Economics from McGill University . He has been an instructor in the Department of Economics and Political Science at Mount Royal College since 1998 and was the Chair of that department from 1993 to 1997. Since 2001, Dr. Nallainayagam has served as a Founder, Director and Research Chair with the Ethnocultural Council of Calgary , and from 1990 to 2002, he was a Board member, Vice-President and President of the Calgary Multicultural Centre. In 2001, he received the Immigrant of Distinction Award from the Calgary Immigrant Aid Society for community service and the Commemorative Medal for the Queen’s Golden Jubilee in 2002. Ms. Salma Siddiqui of Ontario owns and operates a corporate travel business agency. She is the 2nd Vice-President of the Circle of Canadians and is also a member of both the Canadian Ethnocultural Council and the Ottawa Muslim Association. Ms. Siddiqui organized the first annual Interfaith Dinner in Ottawa in 2001, and has also been involved in Black History Month celebrations. Mr. Solomon Wong of British Columbia holds a Master of Sciences in Planning degree from the University of Toronto . Mr. Wong is currently the Director of Security and Planning with Inter Vistas Consulting Inc. He has been involved in a number of community groups. Of note, he is currently the Director of the Multi-Lingual Orientation Service Association for Immigration Communities (MOSAIC). He also served a one-year term as President of the Association of Chinese-Canadian Professionals from 2003-2004. In 2002, Mr. Wong organized a multi-agency forum for the Vancouver region on the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
