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.

1.     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. 

2.     Since the beginning of April 2022 up until today, there have been an increasing amount of severe indiscriminate attacks on Asian ethnicitypolitical 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.

3.     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.

4.     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: 

A.   The Chamber only played a role in communication and bridging within the scope of legal regulations and by assisting members in solving their problems. 

B.     The Chamber's actions fully comply with Canadian laws and regulations. 

5.     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: 

A. Remove all false reports about the Toronto Fuqing Chamber of Commerce. 

B. Request a public formal written apology to the Toronto Fuqing Chamber of Commerce and its members. 

C. 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