1 December 2003 – Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas F. Ople today lauded Filipino-Canadians in Toronto for asserting their leadership and emerging victorious at the Toronto municipal elections held on 11 November 2003.

“I congratulate our Filipino-Canadian kababayans who recently won in the Toronto municipal elections.  Councillors Viola and Chiu have added more laurels to the Philippines.  More than winning a position, their victory gives due recognition to Filipino leadership,” the Secretary said.

The Philippine Consulate General in Toronto reported that a number of Filipino-Canadians ran for political positions in the electoral race held in Toronto.  Of the 9 Filipino-Canadians who ran for the Office of Councilman in the cities and towns around the Greater Toronto area and the Niagara area, two of them were elected as councillors.  Art Viola of Niagara garnered the highest number of votes in the Councillors’ race and, as such, will also become a deputy mayor.  Re-electionist Alex Chiu of Markham City won by landslide.

Canada is home to approximately 400,000 Filipino immigrants, 48 percent of whom live in Toronto. END