Formerly called Christmas Party had some political “A” listers, and it wasn't even their election year.
This year's “Christmas Party” was impressive since the Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne, Toronto Mayor John Tory, Julie Dabrusin, Toronto-Centre MP, (Esto House member), Reverend Donald Oliphant, MP, Don Valley West (St.Peter's Lutheran Church member), Mitzie Hunter, MPP Scarborough-Guilwood provincial(Ehatare/Eesti Kodu member), Sue Wong MPP, Scarborough-East, Toronto City Councillor Jim Karygiannis of Scarborough and many more. NEPMCC President and CEO, Thomas Saras overdid himself this year.
Both Wynne and Tory spoke of meeting the Syrian refugees at the Pearson International Airport the previous day with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Tory mentioned meeting Vietnam refugees in the seventies, how people were afraid of them importing crime. “Now they can be seen at all levels of Canadian society, contributing to the communities they live in”, said Tory.
Estonian Life asked Premier Wynne if she shouldn't have supported Prime Minister Trudeau so enthusiastically since the federal and provincial governments have never been of the same party. “I am aware of that but I have always gone against the grain, and I feel confident I can do it again,” answered Wynne.
Julie Dabrusin, Federal MP for Esto House had wrested the riding away from the several decades of the New Democratic Party (NDP), including it having been the political home of ‘Saint' Jack Layton, late leader of the NDP.
Donald Oliphant, Federal MP for St.Peter's Lutheran took the riding back from the Tory, Carmichael after he lost the riding in the last federal election. Both are religious Christians. Oliphant is a United Church minister, while Carmichael is a supporter of Joel Osteen, evangelical evangelist.
Regrets were sent by Prime Minister Trudeau and Progressive Conservative (provincial) leader Patrick Brown who sent an executive assistant to speak.
It was a terrific evening especially for a political junkie.
Adu Raudkivi
