A Brampton resident has launched a Change. org petition urging KFC to reverse its decision to serve exclusively halal meat eventually in all of Canada.
Roop Sandhu says the policy — which the company announced in a memo to franchisees in May for Ontario (except Thunder Bay and Ottawa) with a plan to roll it out nationwide by year’s end — dismisses the dietary
in Canada
preferences of religious communities which prohibit the consumption of halal meat.
“A lot of Canadians including Indian religious groups like Sikhism and Hinduism, prohibit the consumption of halal meat.
This seemingly small decision inadvertently dismisses the dietary preferences and religious sentiments of large communities, making us feel excluded.”
Read more at Page 6...
Parliamentary committee to investigate how ISIS terrorist became a Canadian citizen
A parliamentary committee, including the governing Liberals, voted unanimously on Tuesday to investigate how a terrorism suspect with alleged ties to ISIS was able to enter Canada.
The hearings are set to begin on Aug. 26, with former longtime Liberal cabinet minister and current High Commissioner of Canada to the United Kingdom Ralph Goodale among the names on the witness list.
The Opposition Conservatives and federal New Democrats both requested the public safety committee to launch a probe into how 62-year-old Ahmed Eldidi and his son, 26-year-old Mostafa Eldidi, entered Canada.
The RCMP arrested the pair in a Richmond Hill, Ont., hotel room and announced various terrorism charges on July 31, alleging that they were in “the advanced stages of planning a serious, violent attack in Toronto.”
They both remain in custody and their case is subject to a publication ban, according to police.
The RCMP alleges they were in possession of a machete and an axe. The 62-year-old Eldidi was also charged with aggravated assault, which stems from an incident that occurred outside of Canada in 2015 and that was done in the service of ISIS.
Read more at Page 7...
Details emerge after doctor raped and murdered in India as thousands protest
Thousands took to the streets of Kolkata early Thursday to condemn the rape and murder of a local doctor, demanding justice for the victim
and an end to the chronic issue of violence against women in Indian society.
The discovery of the 31-year-old's brutalized body last week at a state-run hospital has sparked nationwide protests, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi demanding swift punishment for those who commit "monstrous" deeds against women. Large crowds marched through the streets of Kolkata in West Bengal to condemn the killing, with a candlelight rally at midnight coinciding with the start of India's independence day celebrations on Thursday.
Read more at Page 15...
Thanks to Trudeau, young Canadians left jobless amid influx of cheap foreign workers
It’s getting harder for young Canadians to find a job. A post-pandemic influx of cheap foreign workers in restaurants and retail stores may be making it tougher.
Two years ago, the jobless rate for people 15 to 24 years old was a little over nine per cent. Now it’s 14.2 per cent — the highest level in more than a decade outside of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Read more at Page 7...
Extortion threats targeting South Asian businesses prompt campaign to draw tips
Ongoing extortion attempts targeting South Asian businesses have prompted a series of ads on Punjabi-language radio stations in Metro Vancouver, with the goal of catching those responsible.
The ads are being launched by Crime Stoppers. They urge anyone with information about the threats to anonymously report them to the organization or reach out to police and make a report.
“We know people are concerned for their safety, and that’s why we want everyone to know that anyone with information about who’s behind the threats can ANONYMOUSLY give those details to us at Crime Stoppers if they prefer,” said Linda Annis, executive director of Metro Vancouver Crime Stoppers, said in a statement.
Read more at Page 6...
SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 2024
BC tenancy branch allows 2 landlords to hike rent by 23.5%
In a recent decision, the Residential Tenancy Branch (RTB) allowed a pair of B.C. landlords to raise rent by 23.5 per cent over two years — on top of the province's annual allowable rent increase of 3.5 per cent for 2024.
The RTB says the landlords were able to prove their current financial situation was not sustainable after their mortgage interest rates rose.
"I find the world and economic events in reaction to the pandemic were not reasonably foreseeable and have impacted the landlords," the RTB decision reads.
"Significant increases in the mortgage interest rate occurred due to unforeseen events."
The decision, made in May, allowed the landlords to increase the rent of four units by nearly seven times more than the annual limit set by the province in 2024. The decision said the landlords proved their mortgage rates had risen to a point where the allowable rent increases would have meant they incurred significant financial losses.
The RTB did not include the names of the tenants and landlords to protect their identity.
The trial against four Indian nationals accused of killing Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey resumed on Wednesday. A mostly procedural morning, proceedings were soon over with Crown waiting to review thousands more submissions, on top of the 10,000 it already had received.
Nijjar, a high-profile pro-Khalistan activist, was shot and killed in broad daylight outside the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara on June 18, 2023.
Karanpreet Singh, Kamalpreet Singh, and Karan Brar were arrested in Edmonton in May and are all facing charges of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder. Amandeep Singh was arrested and charged with the same offences just a few days later while he was already in the custody of Peel Regional Police in Ontario
for unrelated firearms charges.
Nijjar’s many supporters have been following the case and were stationed in front of the Surrey court on Wednesday, waving Khalistan flags. The case has frayed Canada-India relations after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said credible intelligence linked Nijjar’s death to Indian government involvement.
Nijjar’s killing prompted protests outside Indian consulates and accusations of foreign involvement in the murder. Nijjar was a key organizer of unofficial referendums for an independent Sikh state in India and was regarded by India’s government as a terrorist.
The case was adjourned for a fourth time Wednesday, to Oct. 1.
The start of interest rate cuts from the Bank of Canada has done little to stoke a fire in the Canadian housing market, fresh data from July shows.
Despite a “spotty” summer in residential real estate, experts say a lower borrowing costs will bring many buyers back into the fold this fall as pockets of affordability open up in some markets across Canada.
The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) said Thursday that home sales retreated by 0.7 per cent month to month in July, giving back some of the gains seen after the first central bank rate cut in June. “While there were early signs of renewed momentum in June following the Bank of Canada’s first interest rate cut since 2020, activity in Canada’s housing market took a pause in July,” CREA said in a release. CREA senior economist Shaun Cathcart tells Global News that the month was a mixed picture
with some gains and some declines depending on conditions in local markets, the Bank of Canada’s latest rate cut didn’t come in time to fuel any jump in home sales like the tick-up seen in June.
The Bank of Canada has delivered two quarter-percentage-point rate cuts in back-toback months, the most recent coming on July 24, impacting only the final week of the month’s sales. Declines in the benchmark interest rate in Canada help to lower the barrier to entry into the housing market, making it easier for prospective buyers to afford a home.
Expectations heading into the July decision that the Bank of Canada might pause its easing cycle at some point in 2024 have been replaced by growing calls among major lenders that the central bank will instead deliver at least a small rate cut at every meeting for the remainder of the year.
Cost of Surrey-Langley SkyTrain surges to $6B amid ‘market challenges’
The estimated cost to build the SurreyLangley SkyTrain line has surged by nearly 50 per cent, to just under $6 billion, according to the province. The project had previously been pegged at just over $4 billion, with a projected completion date of 2028.
In an update Thursday, the Ministry of Transportation said the line is now expected to be in service by late 2029. The increased cost has been blamed on “market conditions, including rising inflation costs and key commodity escalation, supply-chain pressures and labourmarket challenges” resulting in “higher price proposals from contractors.”
BC Conservative leader John Rustad took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) where he posed in front of a sculpture of the “Angel of Death” calling it the “unofficial
mascot” of the SkyTrain line.
“It is so sad to see what is happening. A conservative government will make sure we get this done, will make sure we get it done in an affordable way.”
BC United Leader Kevin Falcon called the cost escalation “alarming,” pinning the blame on the NDP’s Community Benefits Agreements, which prioritize unions, First Nations and women in certain public works projects.
“At a time when British Columbians are struggling with skyrocketing costs and an affordability crisis, the NDP’s reckless mismanagement of public funds and major infrastructure projects is not just deeply concerning — it’s a threat to funding for essentials like healthcare, housing, and education,” Falcon said.
Federal government won’t say if it approved CBC head’s bonus
The Liberal government is refusing to say if it approved a bonus for the head of the Canadian Broadcasting Corp., as Opposition Conservatives demand answers and New Democrats call for a ban on bonuses. It is up to the federal government to approve a bonus for Catherine Tait following a review of her performance and recommendation by the board of directors at CBC/Radio-Canada.
CBC deferred questions to the federal government. Canadian Heritage, which oversees the Crown corporation, then deferred questions to the Privy Council Office, which supports cabinet and the prime minister.
Citing privacy laws, a spokesperson for the Privy Council Office said it cannot disclose details, even though some of that information from past years has been made public. In May, Tait told the House heritage committee that she last received a bonus for the fiscal year 2021-22, and that she had not yet received performance pay for the fiscal year 2022-23, information that’s also available on the CBC website. Tait’s salary range is between $468,900 and $551,600, with the government setting her bonus between seven per cent to 28 per cent of her salary, if she meets certain criteria. Opposition Conservatives want Tait to return to the parliamentary hot seat and provide answers around bonuses. The CBC/Radio-Canada board of directors recently approved over $18.4 million in bonuses for nearly 1,200 employees, managers and executives for the 2023-24 fiscal year after it eliminated hundreds of jobs.
The Privy Council Office wouldn’t say if the board had recommended a bonus for Tait, or if the federal government gave a stamp of approval.
“Clearly, Justin Trudeau and the Liberal government are content to give CBC executives and their handpicked CEO huge multimilliondollar taxpayer funded bonuses amid dwindling
viewership and increasing irrelevancy so long as they remain good servants to their masters and continue to act as the propaganda arm of the Liberal party,” said Heritage critic Rachael Thomas in a statement on Wednesday. CBC’s editorial independence from government is enshrined in law. Twice in the last year Tait has been called to the heritage committee to answer for cuts at CBC/ Radio-Canada, and was interrogated by MPs over whether she would accept a bonus for the fiscal year that ended March 31.
The New Democrats didn’t say if they want Tait to return to the Canadian Heritage committee, but accused Liberals of failing to protect jobs at the public broadcaster and “rein in the greed from CBC executives.”
They also swiped at the Conservatives, saying that while the Tories want to defund CBC, the NDP would improve it.
“Our public broadcaster provides an invaluable service to Canadians. They’re also accountable to Canadians,” said NDP heritage critic Niki Ashton in a statement. “Therefore, it’s time to ban the CBC from paying executive bonuses and use that money to save local journalism.”
In June, the broadcaster’s board publicly acknowledged the negative optics of giving out bonuses during the same fiscal year that it made cuts, and has since launched a review of its compensation regime for future years.
Between December 2023 and March 31, when the last fiscal year ended, CBC/Radio-Canada eliminated 346 jobs from the organization by laying off 141 employees and eliminating 205 vacant positions. Members of the committee unanimously concluded in a report to the House of Commons earlier this year that given the job cuts, it would be inappropriate for CBC to grant bonuses to executive members.
BC adds $2.65 billion for Fraser Valley Highway 1 improvement initiative
The funding will go toward upgrades between Mount Lehman Road west of downtown Abbotsford to Highway 11 on the opposite side of the city.
The money builds on $2.34 billion in funding approved last fall for upgrades between Mount Lehman Road and 264th Street in the Township of Langley.
A statement from the Ministry of Transportation says that work will begin this year and include four new interchanges, as well as the rebuilding of several highway overpasses to increase the clearance height for commercial vehicles.
It says procurement for work for the latest funding will begin next year, with major construction starting in 2026 and wrapping up in 2031.
Premier David Eby says the widespread flooding that hit the Sumas Prairie in fall 2021 is one of the factors that has delayed the highway improvement.“On the upside, it creates the potential for the road work that we’re going to do on the other side of Highway 11 to be not just a
road, but also to be infrastructure to protect the community from future floods,” Eby told a news conference.
“That’s why I was so devastated and frankly a little bit pissed off that the federal government gave us $0 on the funding that was going to go to flood mitigation” in that area, the premier said.
Eby said he hopes his aggravation is “timelimited” and funding will come to support the national trade and agricultural corridor.
The Fraser Valley Highway 1 improvement program will eventually see the route expanded through the Sumas Prairie in Abbotsford toward Chilliwack.
BC fruit group, $50 million in debt to bank, files for creditor protection
British Columbia’s fruit growers co-operative that served farmers for almost a century has filed for creditor protection, citing more than $58 million in liabilities and a disastrous crop failure this year that it called “the final tipping point.” But a former board member of the B.C. Tree Fruits Cooperative said the board’s decision to close the business was made amid a power struggle for control and member discontent over its management.
Amarjit Lalli, an apple grower in the Okanagan, said Tuesday that the co-op’s board “didn’t want to give up control of the organization” at a special general meeting, so they decided to shut the organization down instead.
The co-op, which has provided storage and packing services for farmers for almost 90 years, announced last month it would shut down.
In a petition filed in the B.C. Supreme Court on Monday seeking creditor protection, it cites several factors for its financial woes, including declining crops, increased competition and disputes with members who disagreed about plans to sell off its real estate holdings, delaying divestment.
But Lalli laid the blame on the board, and said high costs had caused members to switch to private fruit packers.
“The scenario that they’re feeding people is incorrect,” he said.
Lalli said some apple growers were so disenchanted with the board that they didn’t provide crop estimates to the co-op last month because they felt “the company was being mismanaged and their fruit was mishandled last year.”
“It’s been mismanaged and the overhead is way too high. So the margin that we have is quite small, whereas with the private packers, what happens is they’re getting relatively the same price as we are and in some cases more, but their overhead is quite low, so their margins are quite a bit higher and that’s why they’re thriving.”
Surrey mayor proposes higher fire safety penalties to address escalating risks during summer
Surrey, BC – At Monday’s Special Council Meeting, Mayor Brenda Locke introduced a Notice of Motion directing staff to conduct a review of financial penalties for violations during open fire bans. The motion aims to ensure public safety by increasing and potentially doubling fines for violations of fire safety regulations, which include the discharge of fireworks, when an open fire ban is in effect.
“By taking this step, we are sending a clear message that the safety of our community is our
summertime and heatwaves, we must equip ourselves with the necessary tools to protect our environment and residents. It's essential that everyone understands the serious consequences of violating these regulations, as they directly impact our ability to keep our city safe.”
Staff will prepare a report for Council’s consideration on the potential of increasing financial penalties.
Since May 1, Surrey Fire Service has responded to over 403 brush and grass fires, most of which
fire regulations is being enhanced in City parks and Bylaw Services will be working closely with the Surrey RCMP and Surrey Fire Services to ensure a coordinated response. Contravention of By-laws can come with significant financial penalties, including up to $5,000 for the use of fireworks and up to $2,000 for campfires, plus the costs of prosecution. Individuals may also face a penalty of up to $2,000 for smoking or setting a fire in City parks.
In 2023, the City of Surrey issued 30 tickets
11 for smoking where prohibited (parks), and 8 for unlawful fire. This year, the City has issued a total of 15 tickets: 10 tickets for unlawful burning, 3 for smoking where prohibited (parks), and 2 for unlawful fire.
The City of Surrey encourages residents to
Ph: 604-591-5423
Fax: 604-591-8615
editor@theasianstar.com
Editor:
Umendra Singh
Marketing and Sales: Ravi Cheema 604-715-3847
Shamir Doshi 604-649-7827
Harminder Kaur 778-708-0481
Parminder Dhillon 604-902-2858
Pre-Press: Iftikhar Ahmed
www.theasianstar.com
Publication Mail Agreement No 428336012
Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to Circulation Dept.
# 202 - 8388, 128 St., Surrey, BC V3W 4G2
Self-serving politicians are undermining our long-term prosperity
By Roslyn Kunin: Many political leaders around the world do not prioritize improving their citizens’ lives. Some are outright autocrats only interested in maximizing their own power and glory. Putin in Russia comes to mind. Others are kleptocrats, maximizing the amounts they can steal for themselves and their cabals. Some limit their care to their extended family, tribe, or place of origin, a common issue in parts of Africa, to the detriment of the people of that continent.
In Canada, we often elect politicians who believe their primary responsibility is to serve their party and those who voted for them. Some may even focus primarily on those who provided financial support. How many of these elected oficials consider the well-being of the entire nation and work toward its long-term prosperity? Too few. Although it is not the only measure of our well-being, our material standard of living is an important component. We desire a comfortable lifestyle with prices low enough to make it affordable. Rising prices prevent us from achieving this goal.
When it comes to trade, politicians often overlook Canadians’ cost of living. They introduce tarifs and other trade barriers, making essential goods scarcer and more expensive. The most common justification is to protect Canadian jobs, but at what cost? For example, a bicycle manufacturer saw his business threatened by cheaper imported bicycles. He asked a member of parliament to introduce a tariff on imported bicycles to protect his operation and its jobs. However, the MP looked at the big picture and decided that saving a few hundred jobs in one area was not worth adding $72 to the cost of each bicycle for all Canadian bike riders. To keep his factory and its jobs, the bike manufacturer would have to improve the effciency and competitiveness of his operation.
Another example is the dairy industry, which provides essential nutrients that contribute significantly to our health and wellbeing, especially for children. However, politicians have allowed the interests of fewer than 10,000 dairy farms in Canada to drive up the cost of these vital products for 40 million Canadians.
Our restrictive dairy import policies not only limit our meal options but also affect other sectors. Trading partners often use our dairy import restrictions as a reason to impose limitations on our exports of other products.
BC Conservatives continue to gain support
The latest polling ahead of October’s provincial election suggests the BC Conservatives continue to surge in support.
This latest survey from Leger puts the Conservatives neck and neck with the governing BC NDP.
Leger says its poll found support for the NDP sits at about 42 per cent, with the Conservatives just narrowly behind at 39 per cent — a 13-point boost in just a few months for John Rustad’s party.
The poll also found the Conservatives are doing well with younger British Columbians, which experts say is a little odd. Most younger voters tend to lean more progressive, however, pundits say this latest poll could be an indication that younger voters aren’t happy with the establishment, which in this case, is the NDP.
Housing, health-care, and the cost of living crisis continue to be the most important issues for voters, Leger shared.
Meanwhile, support for BC United has “declined significantly” between March and August this year, and now sits at around 10 per cent of the voting share, Leger said. The BC Greens were polled in fourth at around 8 per cent. However, Premier David Eby still has the highest approval rating of all party leaders, commanding a share of 44 per cent.
Leger’s latest polling sample was 1,001 people in B.C. 18 years and older. The upcoming provincial election is slated for Oct. 19.
BC judge refuses cash award to claimant who takes part in ’underground economy’
A provincial court judge in Surrey has thrown out a small claims case between a lumber company and a fence building firm because of an “unlawful scheme” between the two to avoid paying GST and PST.
The principal of Top Quality Lumber Ltd., Amarjit Dhaliwal, told the court in June that H & R Fencing owed his company almost $21,000, but H & R’s owner said it was closer to $4,000 in unpaid bills.
However, Judge Jay Soloman said in his ruling issued July 29 that Dhaliwal admitted to taking cash from customers to avoid paying taxes, and he inferred from the evidence that Top Quality was active in the “underground economy.”
Soloman ruled he was unsure of the accuracy of the balance owing, given the “absence of legitimate record keeping,” and while he found the owner of H & R, Kamal Hehar, an unreliable
Extortion
witness, the claimant didn’t prove his case. Even though Hehar admitted to owing $4,000, the judge declined to award even that amount, saying both companies took part in an “unlawful scheme,” but it was the seller’s responsibility to charge and remit PST and GST.
The judge said the evidence presented at the hearing showed that Dhaliwal intentionally conducted his business affairs in an unlawful manner, noting the defendant paid over $64,000 in cash for products that weren’t invoiced.
threats targeting South Asian businesses prompt campaign to draw tips
Continued from Page 1...
“We’re airing these messages in English and Punjabi to encourage people to contact us with any information that can help police put an end to this. No one calling will ever be identified or have to go to court.”
Extortion threats have been made for months in the Lower Mainland and in other Canadian cities. In many cases, police say they are not reported.
Crime Stoppers says its ads are being launched to support the work of police departments in gathering the necessary
information to identify those behind the written and telephone threats.
“An RCMP National Coordination and Support Team investigating the threats has issued a public appeal asking anyone contacted not to pay any demanded payments and report the threats to police,” Crime Stoppers said in an email Thursday.
In February, the RCMP established a national team to help coordinate investigations and information sharing about extortion schemes targeting South Asian businesses in B.C., Alberta, and Ontario.
Brampton man wants KFC to reconsider going halal in Ontario, eventually Canada
Continued from Page 1...
“I, as a Canadian feel marginalized by the decision of KFC to serve exclusively halal meat,” wrote Sandhu, who started the petition on July 15 and so far has 82 signatures as of Tuesday mid-day.
Sandhu emphasizes he’s not questioning the significance of halal meat in Islam but wants to ensure “the dietary preferences of all individuals are recognized and respected.”
“Serving exclusively halal meat disregards the dietary requirements of a substantial minority. We recognize and respect the significance of halal meat in Islam and categorically affirm this is not about questioning those values,” wrote Sandhu.
“We therefore urge KFC Canada to reconsider its decision and instead offer a variety of meat options that cater to different dietary preferences and religious requirements. Join us in standing
up for inclusivity and respect for all religious dietary restrictions”
The switch to a menu that caters to Muslim dietary restrictions means KFC franchises will have to ensure that all chicken products are halal certified and not sell products that include bacon, unless they are joint KFC-Taco Bell locations.
Fast-food chains like Popeyes and Mary Brown’s already offer halal chicken in most locations.
Halal is Arabic for “permissible” under Islamic law according to the Canadian Halal Food Certifying Agency, which says food products are not halal if they have “gone through improper slaughtering processes.”
Repeated attempts to ask KFC about the policy change back in July went unanswered and another query about the policy and petition weren’t immediately responded to on Tuesday.
Vancouver fire sends 8 to hospital, displaces dozens Man found dead in Maple Ridge was homicide victim
Homicide investigators have taken over the case of a man found dead in Maple Ridge two months ago. Ridge Meadows RCMP found Kristoffer Rich Ong, 42, while responding to a report of a sudden death in the 12300 block of 224 Street on the afternoon of June 8. Investigators have since deemed the death a homicide, and handed the file to the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team.
“We’re releasing Kristoffer’s name in hopes
that those out there who had recent contact with him, will reach out and help us develop a timeline of his activity leading up to his death,”
IHIT Cpl. Chase Smith said in a media release.
“We’re asking anyone who had contact with Kristoffer, or anyone with information, to please call IHIT immediately.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact IHIT at 1-877-551IHIT (4448) or by email at ihitinfo@rcmp-grc.gc.ca.
Young Canadians left jobless amid influx of cheap foreign workers
Continued from Page 1...
For younger immigrants — those who’ve landed in Canada in the past five years — the unemployment rate is around 23 per cent.
An analysis of government data by Bloomberg News shows explosive growth in the number of temporary foreign workers in food and retail over the past five years. The number of them approved to work in those two sectors jumped 211 per cent between 2019 and 2023.
The rapid surge is partly fuelled by the increase in demand for immigration to Canada after pandemic travel restrictions eased. Many newcomers saw these temporary jobs as a step to help gain permanent residency, and many employers relied on the program when the economy reopened.
Business lobby groups have argued the temporary foreign worker program — originally designed to help farmers deal with
seasonal labour needs — is critical to fill vacant positions. But in cities like Toronto, the state of the labour market is undermining their case. Canada’s largest metropolis is hardly short of young, available workers. The region had more than 120,000 unemployed people aged 15 to 24 as of July — an increase of 50 per cent in just two years, according to Statistics Canada data.
“We’ve noticed more youths are coming to us partially because of the influx of new Canadians,” said Timothy Lang, chief executive officer of Youth Employment Services, which helps young Toronto residents get training and find jobs. “Sadly, some companies will take people with more experience so they’re knocking some youths out.”
“Wages should go up until labour supply equals labour demand,” Worswick said. “Labour shortages should be filled by wage increases. The only thing stopping a wage increase is the profitability of the firm.”
All parties vote to study how alleged ISIS terror suspect entered Canada
Continued from Page 1...
Eldidi is a Canadian citizen, according to the RCMP, who confirmed his 26-year-old son is not. Police said last week officers were awaiting more details as to the younger Eldidi’s status, but have since referred all questions to the federal immigration department, which cities privacy legislation.
Further questions emerged following a Global News report, citing unnamed sources, that the 62-year-old immigrated to Canada and gained citizenship after having allegedly been involved in committing violence against an ISIS prisoner, according to a video
released by the terrorist group. Last week, Opposition House leader Andrew Scheer rejected suggestions that federal privacy laws prevented government minsters from sharing details about how the Eldidis came to Canada.
Besides current ministers, the committee also agreed to call on former public safety minister Ralph Goodale to testify, who was requested by the Conservatives. Goodale lost his Regina seat in the 2019 general election.
The head of the RCMP, as well as interim director of CSIS and CBSA president have also been asked to appear, along with department officials.
First responders say eight people have been sent to hospital and 38 have been displaced after a fire that began early Wednesday in a low-rise residential building in Vancouver's Kitsilano neighbourhood.
Firefighters say the three-storey, woodframed Seven Maples building on West 7th Avenue at Maple Street sustained significant damage to three suites along with smoke damage to much of the structure.
Trevor Connelly, deputy chief of operations for Vancouver Fire Rescue Services, said the fire started on a couch in a second-storey unit before spreading to a neighbouring unit and a unit above through an open window.
He said two of the eight people injured are still in serious condition. B.C. Emergency Health Services said four people were in critical condition when they were taken to hospital. Video shared with CBC News shows firefighters
arriving at the site as flames burned a balcony and up the side of the building. The video also shows firefighters spraying water on the flames.
Charred and blackened balconies could be seen on several units of the building later Wednesday morning. Connelly said crews put out the fire and then worked to rescue residents trapped in their suites due to a build up of smoke and gas in the building.
"There were some dramatic rescues that did take place," said Connelly. Eoin Logn, who lives across the street from the Seven Maples building, which is run by B.C. Housing, told CBC News he was awoken by the fire and residents from the building calling out for help from their balconies.
"We could hear people on the third floor screaming to get out and we could see firefighters taking them out by ladders on the other side at 3:30 a.m.," he said.
BC court orders assets frozen of 'mastermind' behind $1 billion international stock fraud
A U.S. regulator has won a court victory in its efforts to collect millions in penalties from West Vancouver businessman Frederick Langford Sharp, who is accused of being the “mastermind” of a US$1 billion pump-anddump stock fraud. In a B.C. Supreme Court ruling released this week, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission was granted a freezing order over Sharp’s assets in B.C., which are largely unspecified.
Sharp, 71, owes nearly US$29 million in American penalties that were determined to be enforceable in British Columbia in a summary court judgment in June. Only about $2.2 million of the U.S. penalty is secured by a previous B.C.
Securities Commission asset freezing order. Sharp’s lawyer, Joven Narwal with Narwal Litigation LLP, said Wednesday that appeals have been filed by his client on the freezing order and on the recent summary judgment to recognize the SEC penalty in B.C.
As part of B.C. Supreme Court Justice Amy D. Francis’s ruling released this week, Sharp will have to produce a list of assets.
However, Francis has ordered the asset list sealed until the conclusion of criminal proceedings south of the border against Sharp over the same pump-and-dump scheme. That’s over concerns from Sharp that the list could be used against him in the U.S. criminal case.
Delta police remove 6 impaired drivers in 3.5 hours 5
On Friday August 9th, in a concerted effort to keep our roads safe, the Delta Police Department conducted a proactive road safety blitz. This proactive engagement during a 3.5-hour period resulted in the removal of six impaired drivers including a taxi driver, from our shared roadways. This operation underscores the ongoing dangers of impaired driving and the department's unwavering commitment to protecting the community. Incident Summaries:
Stop 1 - 9:41 pm: An officer stopped a vehicle shortly after it left a local pub. The driver provided a roadside breath sample that registered
a “Warn.” As a result, the officer issued a 3-day driving prohibition, and a sober driver drove the vehicle away.
Stop 2 - 9:42 pm: Officers responded to a collision involving an off-duty taxicab that had struck a parked car. The officer suspected impairment, and the taxi driver subsequently provided breath samples at and near 4 times the legal limit. The driver was issued a 90-day administrative driving prohibition, a 24-hour prohibition, and the taxi was impounded. The driver also faces criminal impaired driving charges.
Police nab duo in $10,000 theft spree across Ottawa
Ottawa Police Service (OPS) have arrested two individuals who took part in a large-scale theft operation from a number of Ottawa businesses.
Suspects were later located and apprehended safely, said OPS.
Recovered stolen items have been valued at over $10,000, from 13 different stores across the city.
On Aug. 4, officers were informed of a vehicle description with two suspects involved in thefts of cosmetics and toiletries from stores in the Stittsville area, wrote Ottawa Police Service in a press release.
While Ottawa police located the vehicle, suspects quickly abandoned the scene and officers continued their pursuit by foot.
The Ottawa arrests have led to both suspects being identified in numerous thefts in other jurisdictions across Canada, that took place over the past four months.
According to OPS, suspects are Florin Curt, 25, and Izabella Curt, 24, that have been jointly charged with:
Theft Under $5000 x13
Possess property or thing by crime over $5000
Obstruct/resist a public/peace officer
While both suspects were held in custody, they have been released and will appear in court. The date has not yet been determined. OPS is asking anyone with anonymous tips to call Crime Stoppers toll-free at 1-800-2228477 or reach out to crimestoppers.ca.
Five men have been charged following a series of raids in Maple Ridge and Coquitlam by the RCMP’s Clandestine Laboratory Enforcement and Response Team.
In an update on their two-year-long investigation, Mounties in B.C. say the five men now face multiple charges.
In spring 2022, RCMP officers began their investigation which they say led to the “identification of multiple persons and properties believed to be involved in the production, and trafficking of MDMA.”
In August of that year, the Clandestine Laboratory Enforcement and Response (CLEAR) team executed four search warrants in properties in the Lower Mainland, which found five people and “located a large sophisticated economic-based synthetic drug lab that was capable of producing multi-kilograms of MDMA per cycle.”
“In total, 49 kilograms of MDMA were seized, with additional precursor chemicals capable of
potentially producing a further 80 kilograms of MDMA. A Mercedes-Benz G-Class SUV, a Tesla 3, and over $51,000 cash were also seized,” Sgt. Shawn MacNeil said in a statement Wednesday. Police say the seizure has “prevented an estimated 2.5 million doses of MDMA from entering our communities.”
Dennis Halstead, Shawn Cappis, Balbinder Johal, Richard Waugh, and Christopher Alves are now facing charges in relation to drug, car, and cash seizures. The men are expected to face court on Aug. 14.
Scam targets BC Hydro customers
Mounties and BC Hydro are warning people of a new scam, which targets customers and tricks them into providing personal information to a fraudulent customer support number. The BC RCMP and utility provider say they’ve received over a hundred reports of the scam across the province. The scam appears to be a paid advertisement that poses as BC Hydro and urges customers to call a number to set up a new service or reconnect their service.
The RCMP notes the ads feature BC Hydro’s name but the link attached directs customers to a fake site. “These false sites are often found online via search engines. When BC Hydro customers call the fake number, the scammers ask the caller a similar set of scripted questions which BC Hydro uses in its own contact centre
to verify customer identity,” Mounties warn. Police and BC Hydro say they are working to have the fraudulent ads and websites removed from search engines. However, in the meantime, they are urging people who may have fallen victim to this scam to reach out to law enforcement. BC Hydro is reminding people it does not ask for credit card or banking information over the phone, email, or by text. The utility provider notes that account holders who are behind on payments will receive notices in the mail, adding it will use “an autodialer” to remind them to make a payment.
The status of your account can also be reviewed online. People who come across this scam can report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
Recent analysis from Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) shows that human-caused climate change made summer heat waves two to 10 times more likely in June and July.
Using its Rapid Extreme Weather Event Attribution system, ECCC studied the recordbreaking heat waves that affected the country during those two months.
The system uses one model to represent the climate of the 1800s, based on levels of atmospheric gases that existed before the Industrial Revolution, and another for the climate of today, based on observed levels of greenhouse gases and other results of human activity.
The department says several days after a heat wave, scientists can compare the number of heat waves in pre- and post-industrial era climates,
and then calculate the difference between the two to find how much human activity has changed the chances of a heat wave happening. Between July 14 and 22, the system found temperatures in southern British Columbia to be 9.2 degrees Celsius higher than average. With that result, it found the heat was two to 10 times more likely to have been the result of human influence on the climate.
Similarly, in northern B.C., the system found it was 7.2 degrees higher than average between July 17 and 22.
“Prolonged heat waves are a major contributor to more intense wildfires across Canada. The 2023 wildfires in Canada burned almost 15 million hectares of forest and cost Canadians tens of billions of dollars in damages,” the department said in a release Monday.
APPLIANCES REPAIR SERVICE
PICS opens Prince George office
Progressive Intercultural Community Services (PICS) Society has opened a new office in Prince George, at Unit 203 – 715 Victoria Street.
The new office offers a comprehensive range of services, including credential navigation pathways, career counseling, job-readiness coaching, mentorship, resume building, and pre-arrival services. By bringing these essential resources closer to the community, PICS Society aims to empower individuals to achieve their professional and personal goals, both before and after their arrival in Canada.
The grand opening event was attended by over 150 people, including a diverse group of local dignitaries and community leaders including the Mayor of Prince George Simon Yu, Member of Parliament Todd Doherty, and representatives from the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC), Work BC Centre – Prince George, Prince George Chamber of Commerce, local Sikh temple leaders, and numerous local business professionals. Their presence underscored the collaborative spirit of this initiative and highlighted the strong support from the community.
Satbir Cheema, CEO & President of PICS Society, commented on the event: “The successful opening of our Prince George office represents a major milestone in our mission to provide high-quality support to diverse communities across British Columbia. We are deeply grateful for
the support of our local partners and leaders, who share our commitment to enhancing the lives of residents in Northern BC.”
The open house provided an opportunity for attendees to tour the new office and learn more about the range of services available, including the pre-arrival support designed to assist newcomers before they even set foot in Canada. Raj Brar, Director of Career and FCR Services at PICS, shared her enthusiasm: “We are excited to extend our services to Prince George and strengthen our support for the region.
The presence of so many esteemed guests and community members at our open house was truly inspiring. We look forward to collaborating with local organizations and individuals to help them navigate their career and educational journeys, both pre-arrival and upon arrival in Canada.”
BC United promises largest income tax cut in BC history if elected in October
Kevin Falcon says a BC United government would eliminate provincial income tax on the first $50,000 earned by British Columbians — $2,050 in average savings for taxpayers at a cost of $5.4 billion annually to provincial coffers.
“Today I am proud to announce the largest middle-class tax cut in British Columbia’s history,” Falcon said in an election campaign announcement, delivered Tuesday across from the B.C. legislature, outside Good Earth Coffee in Victoria. Raising the provincial basic personal exemption to $50,000 from the current $12,580 would eliminate provincial income tax for about 60 per cent of taxpayers or 2.4 million British Columbians including seniors and students, he said. Taxpayers pay both provincial and federal taxes. The federal basic personal tax exemption in 2024 is $15,705. There are tax exemptions for a wide array of factors, including if one is supporting children, people with disabilities, or attending school. The average individual income in B.C. was $58,300 in 2022, the most recent year for which Statistics Canada has information, while the median was $43,900.
B.C. seniors had a median annual income of about $30,750 in the same year. Under the proposed tax cut, a minimum-wage worker earning $36,000 annually would pay “no provincial income tax” for a savings of $1,134, said Falcon. A two-income family with each earning from $50,000 would see a combined savings of $4,104. “Importantly, a senior living on a fixed pension of $40,000 and struggling to adjust to skyrocketing costs under the NDP will pay zero dollars in provincial income tax,” said Falcon. BC United expects to offset the revenue loss of $5.4 billion with what it believes will be an increase in economic activity, consumer spending, and job creation as a result of the tax cut. Falcon said the lost tax revenue will come from the government’s $4-billion contingencies fund, “eliminating entire layers of administrative bureaucracy” in health authorities and instead directing money to front-line services and service providers, delivering capital projects on time and on budget while ending Community Benefit Agreements and opening bidding to private contractors.
Artist finds calling crafting dream homes
When it comes to creating art, making sure your work stands out is arguably the most important aspect of the job.
It’s also a philosophy Shani Naleshni has been acutely aware of long before entering the property development industry just a few years ago.
The builder, developer and designer has taken standing out from the crowd to new heights as part of her refreshingly unique approach to building dream homes.
The 31-year-old is the Founder and CEO of one of Australia’s leading luxury home construction companies, “The Home Establishment”, taking vacant blocks of land and transforming them into some of Australia’s best boutique high-end residences from start to finish. A striking contrast to your typical tradie boss, Shani’s passion for art, design and fashion formed the foundation behind the petite Sydneysider success.
She says those childhood dreams of making art have fueled her success in the New South Wales luxury home market.
Initially going to university to study film and philosophy with a dream to make movies, it was her study-side job working alongside her brother at a property development firm that
made her swap the camera for the concrete.
She quickly developed a love for property construction, begging her builder dad to take her under his wing and teach her everything he knew.
Shani told Build-it she still has a passion for storytelling but now does so through the homes she builds instead.
“I’ve always been fascinated by how stories can be told, not just through words or film but through the spaces we live in,” she said.
“I believe that every home should be as unique as the people who live there, a reflection of their stories, their dreams.”
Shani’s ambition to bring art into home construction has seen her go from future filmmaker to Australia’s Jack -or Jill- of all trades, as she spends most of the week on the tools bringing her construction creativity to life.
‘Future of Fiji at risk’
THE future of Fiji is at risk if effective measures are not take to address the issue of drugs, warns Bua paramount chief Ratu Makutu Nagagavoka.
Ratu Makutu said while the nation was still trying to control marijuana, new and more drugs continued to emerge.
“Marijuana was the primary drug of concern,
Voss in court
however, the situation has become more complex,” he said. “This with the introduction of methamphetamine, commonly known as “meth” or “ice.” He said the roots of this problem lied within the community and that solutions must start at home.
“It needs a more proactive approach to drug prevention and intervention.”
He said the key to tackling the drug problem lied in strengthening family and community structures.
“If we want to address this issue effectively, we need to focus on prevention, education, and support within our own families and communities.”
He said the state of Fiji will be bad if nothing was done now to address the issue.
FORMER Fiji Airways chief customer services officer Shaenaz Voss will re-appear in the Nausori Magistrate’s Court on August 12.
Ms Voss appeared before Magistrate Vinti Prasad on Tuesday for charges relating to alleged unlawful carriage of firearms aboard a domestic flight. It is alleged that on October 8, 2018, at Nausori Airport, Ms Voss failed to comply with the requirements of the Fiji Link Operation Airline Security Program on board domestic flight FJ 32. In April last year, Ms Voss pleaded not guilty to one count of failure to comply with the requirements of the operator’s airline program.
‘Muck around’ money | Minister claims FSC paid $80k to foreigner with no job description
The brother of a former chief executive officer of the Fiji Sugar Corporation was paid an annual salary of $80,000.
Minister for Sugar Charan Jeath Singh made the claim yesterday, saying this information was shared by the FSC board.
He said the man came from South Africa to Fiji for a holiday and no one knew what post he held at the FSC.
In addition, he said proper procedures were not followed when the foreigner was hired for the job. “There was no advertisement put out in the media for the post,” Mr Singh said.
“This is what I have been told.
“I’m not sure what job or
posts he had, as he had no job description. His job was to muck around.”
He said apart from being paid, the FSC reimbursed his airfares.
“They reimbursed his fare from South Africa to Fiji. I was told all this by the board.”
When asked whether he would report the matter to the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption, he said he would wait for the board.
“I cannot do it by myself.”
He said he would wait for the board’s advice before taking the necessary action.
The minister made the statements while speaking to farmers at Bucaisau on the outskirts of Labasa Town.
78th Independence Day: Movement needed to save Punjab's water, says CM Bhagwant Mann
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann hoisted the national flag at Guru Gobind Singh stadium here on Thursday. Mann inspected the parade and took a salute from the march past. Delivering his speech, from behind a bullet proof glass module, on the occasion of 78th Independence Day, Mann recalled the contribution of martyrs, including freedom fighter Bhagat Singh.
“It has been 78 years since the country's Independence and freedom has special meaning for Punjabis. 80 per cent sacrifices for freedom were made by Punjabis. Be it the Kuka Lehar, Ghadar Movement, Komagatamaru incident, Babbar Akali movement or other movements, Punjabis were at the forefront. …freedom came at a very heavy price but the contributions made by Punjabis for the country despite these wounds, remains unprecedented,” he said. He also spoke about his government initiatives such as an increase in the utilization of canal water for irrigation, setting up Schools of Eminence, and opening of more mohalla clinics which provide
free medical treatment and giving over 44,000 government jobs.
Mann said that green revolution proved very expensive for the state as the water has depleted. “It has gone down to 600 feet. Named after five rivers, Punjab is in a water crisis of underground, surface as well as drinking water.
“To address this, a movement will have to be started. AAP government has begun working on this. Old canals, drains, tributaries, rivulets etc are being revived so that canal water goes to fields,” he added.
Mann said his government was setting up a 150-km Malwa canal which will cater to the irrigational needs of nearly 2 lakh acres in the southern part of the state.
He said this is the first ever canal, which is being set up in the state in the post-independence era. He also said his government set up the 'Sadak Surakhya Force' to streamline traffic movement and check road accidents.
Mann said 14,381 drug smugglers and peddlers have been arrested and 10,394 drug cases have been registered in the past two and half years.
The state police have recovered 1,207 kg of heroin and 1,012 of opium and 816 kg of ganja and seized smugglers' properties worth Rs 173 crore, he said.
The CM said in the police department, 10,000 new posts will be created.
On the occasion, Mann also conferred state awards to 15 eminent personalities for their outstanding contribution in various fields besides bestowing Chief Minister’s Rakshak Padak on three police officers/officials, CM’s Medal for outstanding duty to 18 cops and Shaheed Bhagat Singh Punjab State Annual Environment Award to two.
A new Kashmir rail bridge that could be a game-changer for India
It took more than 20 years for the Indian railways to finish the bridge over the River Chenab in the Reasi district of Jammu.
The showpiece infrastructure project is 35m taller than the Eiffel Tower and the first train on the bridge is set to run soon between Bakkal and Kauri areas.
The bridge is part of a 272km (169 miles) all-weather railway line that will pass through Jammu, ultimately going all the way to the Kashmir valley (there is no definite timeline yet for the completion). Currently, the road link to Kashmir valley is often cut off during winter months when heavy snowfall leads to blockages on the highway from Jammu.
Experts say the new railway line will give India a strategic advantage along the troubled border region.
The Himalayan region of Kashmir has been a flashpoint between India and Pakistan for decades. The nuclear-armed neighbours have fought two wars over it since independence in
1947. Both claim Kashmir in full but control only parts of it.
An armed insurgency against Delhi's rule in the Indian-administered region since 1989 has claimed thousands of lives and there is heavy military presence in the area. "The rail bridge will permit the transport of military personnel and equipment around the year to the border areas,” said Giridhar Rajagopalan, deputy managing director of Afcons Infrastructure, the contractor for the Indian railways that constructed the bridge.
In his 11th Independence Day speech, PM Modi calls for secular civil code and one nation, one election
In his first Independence Day address after his re-election for the third consecutive time this June, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for a secular civil code and one nation, one election, terming both these reforms as the call of the time. The Prime Minister delivered
his longest Independence Day speech at 98 minutes as he addressed the country from the ramparts of historic Red Fort. Sporting a Rajasthani leheriya turban, Modi, delivering his 11th straight Independence Day address, also vowed to continue his war against corruption notwithstanding the personal price he has to pay
for this. “I want to create an atmosphere of feat for the corrupt. The glorification of the corrupt must end. My war against corruption will continue, even though I am aware of the personal price I have to pay for it but for me the country is greater than self,” he said.
The PM again sent out a message of solidarity with the Hindus and other religious minorities of Bangladesh even as he said India wished Bangladesh well for its development journey. He however urged the Bangladesh Government to secure the Hindus and the minorities in the wake of August 6 change of dispensation there.
Speaking close on the heels of fresh allegations by US short seller Hindenburg Research against Indian market regulator chief and top industrialist Gautam Adani, Modi said the world should not fear India’s rise.
Taking a veiled jibe at the Congress-led Opposition for “being unable to digest India’s growth”, and warning against such “disruptive forces”, the PM said forces within and outside were ranged against India but India is adept at challenging the challenges.
Seating LoP Rahul Gandhi in fifth row shows PM's pettiness, lack of respect for democratic traditions: Congress
The Congress on Thursday said that making Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi "sit in the fifth row" at the Independence Day celebrations at the Red Fort showed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "pettiness" and lack of respect for democratic traditions.
The opposition party's attack came after sources involved in organising the event said all seating arrangements were done "as per the table of precedence". They said it was decided this year that "Paris Olympics medal winners" would be honoured as special guests at the Independence Day celebrations.
Congress general secretary (organisation)
KC Venugopal said, "Modi ji, it's about time you wake up to the new reality post-June 4th.
The arrogance with which you relegated Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi ji to the last rows during the Independence Day ceremony shows that you have not learned your lesson."
"The defence ministry's feeble explanation that it was out of 'respect for Olympians' doesn't cut much ice. While Olympians deserve every bit of respect, I wonder how Cabinet ministers like Amit Shah or Nirmala Sitharaman ji get
front row seats ahead of them," he said. According to protocol, the Leader of Opposition (LoP) of both Houses must also be seated in the front row but the seats for Gandhi and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge were in the fifth row, he said.
"This was not only an insult to the post of LoP or Rahul ji; it was an insult to the people of India, whose voice Rahul ji represents in Parliament. It's amazing how uncomfortable the truth can make some people -- so much so that they'd rather rearrange the seating than face it," Venugopal said in a post on X. Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate claimed that Modi was a person with a "petty mindset" and he kept giving proof of that.
Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Lays Off 42,000 Staff In FY24; Netizens Say, ‘Sabki Salary Shaadi Mein Laga Di’
In FY24, the Reliance conglomerate reduced its workforce by 42,000, reportedly for costefficiency drive. With the 11% reduction in the talent pool, the company has also reduced hiring. According to the company’s annual report, Reliance had 389,414 employee strength last year, which is now reduced to 347,362 in FY24. The decline is more than a third of the head counts. Reliance Retail that is helmed by Isha Ambani Piramal saw the most job cuts, that went down from 245581 in FY23 to 207552 in FY24. Reliance Retail accounts for nearly 60% of the total Reliance conglomerate's employee strength.
RIL’s report adds that overall voluntary separations in FY24 is lower than the previous fiscal year.
Reactions poured in netizens taking a jibe at the never-ending Rs 5000 crore wedding bash of Anant Ambani-Radhika Merchant that was preceded by a handful of pre-wedding bashes and now post-wedding celebrations. “The cost of the
wedding of the century,” one user took a jibe at the report of layoffs at Reliance within a month of the grand wedding. “Sabki salary shaadi mei laga di,’ quipped another user. One user commented, “42000 job cuts due to high cost of confettis!”
“Layoffs are to mitigate the Great Ambani Wedding Costs,” another user took potshots.
Secretary of State Blinken wishes Indians on Independence Day; says US and India share deep bond
Predicting a bright future for the US-India strategic relations, Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said that the two countries share a deep bond, which is founded on their shared commitment to democracy, freedom, and human dignity.
Congratulating the people of India ahead of the country’s Independence Day, Blinken said: “On this momentous day, we celebrate the rich
and diverse history of the Indian people and the bright future of US-Indian relations.” India is celebrating its 78th Independence Day on Thursday.
“Our comprehensive global and strategic partnership is grounded in the deep bonds
between our peoples, our economies, and built on the foundation of our shared commitment to democracy, freedom, and human dignity,” Blinken said in a statement.
The US-India cooperation is expanding at a rapid pace as the two countries continue to work together to advance our shared vision of a free, open, stable, and prosperous Indo-Pacific, he said on Wednesday. The US, India and several other world powers have been talking about the need to ensure a free, open and thriving IndoPacific in the backdrop of China’s rising military assertiveness in the resource-rich region.
The Indo-Pacific is a biogeographic region, comprising the Indian Ocean and the western and central Pacific Ocean, including the South China Sea. China claims nearly all of the South China Sea, though Taiwan, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam claim parts of it.
Blinken pointed out that from climate and clean energy to defence and space technologies, US-Indian bilateral cooperation is more wideranging and stronger than ever before.
“I wish all those celebrating today, in India, in the United States, and globally through the Indian diaspora, a joyous Independence Day,” he said.
Details emerge after doctor raped and murdered in India as thousands protest
Continued from Page 1...
The protesters in Kolkata, who marched under the slogan "reclaim the night", called for a wider tackling of violence against women and held up handwritten signs demanding action.
"We want justice," read one sign at the rally. "Hang the rapist, save the women," read another. The march takes place just before India's Independence Day on Thursday. Outraged doctors have struck work both in the city and across India, demanding a strict federal law to protect them.
Modi, speaking in New Delhi on Thursday morning at independence day celebrations, did not specifically reference the Kolkata murder, but expressed his "pain" at violence against women.
"There is anger for atrocities committed against our mothers and sisters, there is anger in the nation about that," he said.
"Crimes against women should be quickly investigated; monstrous behavior against women should be severely and quickly punished," he added. "That is essential for creating deterrence and confidence in the society."
Doctors are also demanding swift justice and better workplace security in the wake of the killing, with those in government hospitals across several states on Monday halting elective services "indefinitely" in protest.
Protests have since occurred in several other hospitals across the country, including in the capital.
"Doctors nationwide are questioning what is so difficult about enacting a law for our security," Dhruv Chauhan, from the Indian Medical Association's Junior Doctors' Network, told the Press Trust of India news agency. "The strike will continue until all demands are formally met."
"Hearteningly, doctors and medical organizations are not the only ones involved," it said in an editorial. "The ranks of the protesters have been swelled by people from all walks of life." In the early hours of Thursday, a mob of some 40 people angry at authorities' handling of the case stormed the grounds of the R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital, the site of the murder. The men smashed property and hurled stones at police, who fired tear gas in response, authorities said.
