Canadian Tamils head to the polls on June 20 to elect council

Toronto - On June 20, Tamils across Canada will head to the polls to take part in a nationwide election to vote for the National Council of Canadian Tamils (NCCT). Several Canadian Tamil organizations are working together to help form this national council.

In December 2009, Digital Journal reported on the more than 50,000 Canadian Tamils who took part in a national referendum. Approximately 99.8 percent voted in favor of a separate Tamil state within the nation of Sri Lanka. A referendum also took place around the world, including France and Norway. On June 20, 2010, thousands more are expected to take part in a nationwide election to elect 51 candidates, who have submitted their nomination documents and papers, to the national, provincial and regional levels of the NCCT, according to a press release e-mailed to Digital Journal.

Election

Canadian Tamils taking part in the Dec. 19, 2009 national referendum.

image:70443:3::0

Election

image:70446:3::0

The NCCT consists of 9 national level executive directors, 13 provincial directors and many regional directors in areas where a high population of Tamils live. NCCT election committee officials state that the number of provincial directors is based on proportional representation, which measures the percentage of votes that candidates obtain and the percentage of seats they receive. “It’s a pioneering effort from a community to develop a grass root organization to cater to the needs of their community to bring the democratic principles best at work,” said Anojini Kuamr, a NCCT election committee official. “There was an elaborate community consultation initiated ahead of the proposed body and the election. Twenty percent of the seats allocated to youth and women are another unique aspect of the National body.” Shan Thaya, one election commissioner, explained that they are making the necessary arrangements and adjustments in order to ensure a fair and balanced election. The commissioner added that there will be more than 30 polling centers in the Greater Toronto Area alone.