Greek Canadians say they are anxious for the future of their homeland after the citizens of the beleaguered country decisively voted ‘no’ in a historic referendum.
The results of Sunday’s vote in Greece prompted mixed reaction from people gathered to watch the results in Greek restaurants in Montreal and Toronto.
While some with family still in Greece are worried about what the future holds, many said they are pleased with the vote outcome.
“A ‘yes’ I think would have been a complete catastrophe,” said George Giannou, a Greek Montrealer. “So the ‘no’ at least opens the door to something completely new to happen.”
Many in Montreal said relatives in Greece were at their wits’ end ahead of the vote, which followed tense negotiations in Europe.
“When I speak to my family in Greece, they all told me the same thing: ‘We have nothing to lose,’” Nick Drossos told CTV Montreal after the vote. “We can’t keep up with getting more cuts.”
Athens believes rejecting the measures will strengthen its position, which will, in turn, allow for a better deal.
But some Greek-Canadians don’t think new negotiations are possible.
“Brussels made them an offer, and they’re not going to make them better one,” one Montrealer said. “So where are they going to find the money – Russia, China?”
Many also fear this will push Greece out of the Eurozone.
John Antonaras said the blame for poor state of Greece’s economy should first fall on the country itself.
“What are they going to do now,” Antonaras said. “We have to first blame ourselves, and after, the rest.”
Antonaras added: “We are alone right now.”
Alex Alexakis, vice-president of Krinos Foods, says Canadian businesses that import goods from Greece are also worried that the country’s economic problems will have a ripple effect across the Atlantic.
“We have plenty of stock for a couple of months, but if the situation is not resolved soon, we’re going to have an issue, of course,” Alexakis said Monday.
Germany and France say they will respect the results of the referendum, but what that means for Greece is still unclear.
George Fotopoulos, a chef at a Greek restaurant in Toronto, said the country’s uncertain future has left him worried for his family living there.
“I call them every day, as a matter of fact,” Fotopoulos told CTV Toronto. “It’s very tough.”
But Fotopoulos is optimistic for the future.
“It will take some time, but things will go back to normal.”
With a report by CTV Montreal’s Natalie Nanowski and CTV Toronto’s Ben Mercer
