The Free Press

Rattan Mall, editor of the Indo-Canadian Voice newspaper, is on an editorial warpath. In just one issue (May 20), he takes the RCMP’s Giuliano Zaccardelli to task for his “unacceptable couldn’t-give-a-rat’s-ass attitude towards the women and minorities of his force”; attacks the “negative stereotyping of Indo-Canadians by the white-controlled mainstream media” in a story about a beating in Surrey; and goes on to denounce exploitation of Mexican workers in California, as witnessed on a recent trip there. Now that’s the kind of bold, up-front, and strident editorial positioning The Republic can applaud!

By contrast, the Apna Roots newspaper, aimed at the same community, has an editorial about taking more interest in your child’s schooling, surrounded by stories with headlines like, “Man loses bet, hair and job,” “Beans on toast made simple,” “Boy finds snake in loo,” “Man molests woman with lemon,” and “Man jailed for sending vulgar mails.” And the purpose for producing such a thing? It isn’t clear at all why this paper exists—but it does have a lot of advertising.

The Link newspaper, serving the Sikh community in Vancouver, reports that three prominent Sikh Members of Parliament in Ontario, including the co-host of the recent Liberal Party convention, Navdeep Singh Bains, have backed Gerard Kennedy for leadership of the federal party. This has proved a very significant bloc in recent Liberal Party doings.