Panda
Perseverance
Paid
Off,
Panda-man
Councillor
Mammoliti
says
3
Trips
to
China
Sealed
Deal
It
couldnt
be
done.
Councillor
Giorgio
Mammoliti,
as
Chair
of
the
Toronto
Zoo,
was
told
by
former
Mayors
Mel
Lastman
and
David
Miller
as
well
as
by
Prime
Ministers
Chretien
and
Martin,
who
refused
to
sign
letters
to
the
Chinese
government
asserting
Toronto
Zoo
interest
in
hosting
the
furry
diplomats.
Many
were
actively
discouraging.
To
be
honest,
Mayor
Ford
has
also
said
the
same
discouraging
things,
Mammoliti
reveals.
They
all
basically
said
I
was
wasting
my
time,
Mammoliti
continues.
So
I
went
out
to
China
as
Chair
of
the
board
in
the
2001,
I
headed
up
an
economic
development
delegation
then
and
that's
when
we
negotiated
with
the
Chongqing
Zoo
officials
(Toronto's
sister
Zoo)
for
the
first
time
to
add
giant
panda's
to
the
list
of
animals
we
would
work
toward
in
exchanges
programme
with
the
Chongqing
Zoo
and
the
Beijing
government.
He
pauses,
clearly
excited.
We
have
re- affirmed
that
deal
with
me
as
an
official
representative
for
the
Zoo
and
City
of
Toronto
twice
since
then
with
myself
heading
up
the
delegation
trips.
Initially
Took
Media
Hits
for
Efforts
On
all
occasions
when
visiting
China,
in
2001,
2005,
2008,
I
took
a
hit
in
the
media
and
with
my
colleagues
calling
it
a
junket
with
nothing
that
will
come
out
of
it.
everyone
was
initially
skeptical.
Where:
Fed
Ex
World
Service
Centre
6895
Bramalea
Rd.
Mississauga
When:
9:30
AM
for
invited
guests
Monday,
March
25,
2013
Now,
I
am
going
to
be
joined
by
zoo
officials
and
Mrs.
Harper
at
the
airport
as
Fedex
invited
us
to
join
them
on
the
arrival.
Fedex
is
the
official
sponsor
to
get
them
here.
Finally
they
are
here.
After
bear
hugs,
I
might
even
help
the
Pandas
with
their
luggage,
Mammoliti
smiles.
For
more
information
please
contact
(416)
395-6401
Councillor
Giorgio
Mammoliti
Councillor
Mammoliti
&
Panda
at
Chongqing
Zoo,
China
-30-