Do you feel like half of your paycheque goes toward paying taxes? Well, that’s not just a feeling or an exaggeration.
A study has found that the average Canadian family spends most of its income on taxes instead of necessities.
The Fraser Institute released the 2024 edition of the Canadian Consumer Tax Index in July, revealing how much households spent on taxes in 2023.
The report found that the average family spent 43% of its income on taxes last year, more than the 35.6% spent on basic needs like housing, food and clothing combined. “Taxes remain the largest household expense for families in Canada,” said Jake Fuss, director of Fiscal Studies at the public policy think-tank and co-author of the study.
According to the report, the average household
earned an income of $109,235 and paid, in total, taxes equaling $46,988.
The Fraser Institute says this is a dramatic shift since 1961, when the average family spent less of its income on duties (33.5%) than on bare necessities (56.5%).
“Taxes have grown much more rapidly than any other single expenditure for the average Canadian family,” reads the report.
However, it’s important to note that today’s tax-funded federal programs and social services may not have existed back then. One example is the Canada Health Act, which passed in 1984 and provides Canadians with free healthcare.
The Fraser Institute also attributes this spike in spending to “visible and hidden” costs like income, payroll, sales, property, carbon, health, fuel, and alcohol taxes.
Avtar Gill wants to bring change to Fleetwood and Surrey
Avtar Gill wants to change BC for the better – and he wants to start with the Surrey Fleetwood area.
Gill is running as a BC Conservatize candidate in Surrey Fleetwood riding to unseat long timer NDP MLA and provincial trade minister Jagrup Brar. A realtor and community worker in the South Asian Community, Gill says he has been listening to complaints about the NDP government from people over the past several years.
“Everywhere I go, people complain about problems in the education, health care and crime. People want a change, and I am part of that change,” he said. Continued on Page 12...
Rachna Singh entered politics in 2017, was re-elected in 2020. She is now running for her third term. As the current Minister of Education, Rachna Singh was asked about SOGI. “SOGI is one of the big issues for parents in BC. Can you please explain to our readers what SOGI is.” The Asian Star.
Continued on Page 7...
Ravi Kahlon Talks to The Asian Star
Ravi Kahlon’s inspiration for entering politics came from watching his grandfather advocate for seniors in Victoria. His grandfather, a retired military officer who migrated to Canada in the mid-1970s, played a vital role in organizing the senior South Asian community and pushing for the construction of a senior center that still stands across the gurdwara. Continued on Page 6...
Obituary: Ratan Tata, the 'modest' Indian tycoon
Ratan Tata, who has died aged 86, was one of India's most internationally recognised business leaders. The tycoon led the Tata Group - known as a "salt-to-software" conglomerate of more than 100 companies, employing some 660,000 people - for more than two decades. Its annual revenues are in excess of $100bn (£76.5bn).
Founded by Jamsetji Tata, a pioneer of Indian business, the 155-year-old Tata Group straddles a business empire ranging from Jaguar Land Rover and Tata Steel to aviation and salt pans. The ethos of the company "yokes capitalism to philanthropy, by doing business
in ways that make the lives of others better", according to Peter Casey, author of The Story of Tata, an authorised book on the group. Tata Sons, the holding company of the group, has a "number of companies that includes privately held and publicly traded companies, yet they are in essence all owned by a philanthropic trust", he explains. Ratan Tata was born in 1937 in a traditional family of Parsis - a highly educated and prosperous community that traces its ancestry to Zoroastrian refugees in India. His parents separated in the 1940s.
Continued on page 10...
Rachna Singh - running for her third term
Poilievre backs mandatory psychiatric, drug treatment for kids, prisoners
care despite their repeated attempts to keep her in treatment. “There is no question in my mind that she should have been in mandatory, involuntary psychic and substance abuse treatment rather than in a homeless encampment in a tent,”
He said earlier this summer he was open to the idea, but needed to study the issue more closely. The Conservative leader says he’s “still researching” how mandatory treatment would
Leaders condemn ‘hateful rhetoric’ at BC pro-Palestinian protest on Oct. 7
and held on the anniversary of the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel that killed about 1,200 people while triggering a war that has left about
The comments at the protest drew universal condemnation among federal and provincial politicians, with the federal Conservative Party vowing to add Samidoun to the terrorist entities list if it forms the next Canadian government.
“While Jewish Canadians live in fear, terror groups like Samidoun are free to fund raise and support organizations like Hamas and the (Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine) who seek to kill innocent Jews,” federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said in a statement. “We’ve seen what happens when these groups aren’t taken seriously.” During question period in Parliament Tuesday, Conservative members repeatedly demanded that Samidoun be added to
“If they took action, they would have listed them already,” said Thornhill Conservative MP
Income inequality in Canada rises to the highest level ever recorded: Statistics Canada
Income inequality in Canada has hit the highest level ever recorded as wealth becomes increasingly concentrated in fewer hands, says Canada's statistics agency.
The gap in the share of disposable income between the richest two-fifths of Canadians and the bottom two-fifths grew to 47 percentage points in the second quarter of 2024, Statistics Canada reported Thursday. That's the widest gap recorded since 1999, when Statistics Canada first started collecting such data. The gap was driven by the top 20 per cent of income earners, who saw the largest increase in their share of disposable income, the report said. That increase was driven largely by investment gains,
which the statistics agency attributed to high interest rates. Inflation, interest rates hit lower-income Canadians' purchasing power harder: report Canada's budget watchdog re-ran the numbers on the carbon tax — and found largely the same thing CBC ExplainsInterest rates are dropping. What, if anything, will get cheaper?
"While higher interest rates can lead to increased borrowing costs for households, they can also lead to higher yields on saving and investment
accounts," the report said.
"Lower income households are more likely to have a limited capacity to take advantage of these higher returns, as on average they have fewer resources available for saving and investment."
BC party leaders clash over vaccines, housing among other issues
David Eby accused John Rustad of being an anti-vaxxer during the sharpest exchange of Tuesday's televised debate, a charge Rustad refuted by saying that he is "anti-mandate." The debate featured frequent clashes between B.C. NDP
Leader Eby and Conservative Party Leader of B.C. Rustad as their parties stand neck and neck in the polls, with B.C. Greens Leader Sonia Furstenau interjecting with some of the evening's sharpest lines. The exchange between Eby and Rustad over vaccines happened during a question about ensuring quality of life for seniors. Eby used the question to criticize the record of the B.C. Liberals when Rustad was part of their caucus. He then pivoted toward criticizing Rustad himself. "He is still
anti-vaxxer," Eby said, adding he would not fire B.C.'s public health officer Bonnie Henry, as the Conservative leader has suggested he would do, but rather hire family doctors for British Columbians. Rustad responded that he is triplevaccinated. "I'm not anti-vax, I'm antimandate," he said. "I believe that people should have choices."
Furstenau noted that her party does not have candidates that supported the Freedom Convoy, adding Greens believe science works and keeps people safe. She also accused Eby of hypocrisy in citing Henry when it served his purpose, but ignoring her advice on safe supply for people dealing with addictions and mental health problems.
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Even the minimum wage hikes, workers are falling behind
By Ricardo Tranjan On Oct. 1, the minimumwage increased in Ontario,Manitoba, Saskatchewan,and Prince Edward Island.
All other provinces exceptAlberta brought inincreases earlier this year.That means mostminimum-wage workers aredoing better, right? Not necessarily.
Minimum-wage workers living on their own are mostlikely to rent. In recent years, rent increases haveoutpaced minimum wage increases, eating away atworkers’ additional income. According to the latestcalculations by the Canadian Centre for PolicyAlternatives (CCPA), this is happening almosteverywhere in Canada.
The “rental wage” is the hourly wage required to payrent while working a 40-hour week, 52 weeks a year, andspending no more than 30 percent of one’s income onhousing.
Put simply, the rental wage is how muchpeople need to earn in order to pay their rent withoutsacrifi cing other basic needs.
Unfortunately, the rental wage is considerably higherthan the minimum wage in every province. The gapbetweentheminimumwage andthe rentalwage forone-bedroom apartments varies from $1.79 per hour inNewfoundland and Labrador ($15 vs. $16.79) to $13.21per hour in B.C ($16.75 vs. $29.96).The gap for two-bedroom units is even higher.
In B.C. and Nova Scotia, the two-bedroom rental wage ismore than double the minimum wage. That’s nearly thecase in Ontario, too. Quebec has the smallest gap, buteven there, workers need to earn $4.79 more per hour($15.25 vs. $20.04) to aff ord two bedrooms withoutspending too much on rent. The CCPA calculations include the rental wages for 62urban areas. Minimum-wage workers can aff ord a one-bedroom apartment in only nine of them. It’s no doubt a problem that minimum wage workers arepriced out of almost all urban areas in the country. Buteven more concerning is that the trend is worsening.
Continued from Page 1...
“My grandfather organized and drove seniors to the gurdwara, and it soon became clear that there was a need for a senior center in Victoria. I took part in the efforts as a child, helping to distribute leaflets and attending rallies.”
Ravi’s political career took off after meeting Harry Bains and Adrian Dix. He served as the deputy Chief of Staff for Adrian Dix when Dix was in the opposition and also worked with Premier John Horgan during his time in opposition. These early roles helped shape Kahlon's path in BC politics.
The Asian Star asked him about the most pressing issues of our time, affordable housing crisis. And the changes made to the BC RTB - BC Rental Tenancy Branch - impacting landlords negatively.
Here is his response. “As Minister of Housing, wait times at the Residential Tenancy Branch (RTB) were reduced from six months to four weeks by investing more resources, hiring additional adjudicators, and changing outdated laws. One of the key improvements included bringing in facilitators to mediate disputes, resolving 65% of cases through this process. We made a lot of changes and now we have the fastest time for decisions in the country.” In fact, Ontario recently called them to ask how they shortened the wait times.
Kahlon also mentioned the upcoming launch of a new insurance program designed to cover lost rent for landlords when tenants fail to pay. This initiative, developed in consultation with the Landlord BC association, will help protect landlords by covering the rent for the two-month period during which eviction proceedings are carried out. The goal is not only to safeguard current landlords but also to encourage others to rent out properties with greater security, while ensuring that the program is not vulnerable to abuse.
On housing shortage, “there is no way we are going to address housing (shortage) without increasing housing supply. John Rustad has said that he will cancel all the changes we are transitioning into right now. He’s party is not going to let people build three or four units on single-family lots. If you are not going to cut red tape for approval for housing, how are you going to address this?”
“What is their solution?” The Asian Star asked. “There has been no offer of any solution from
John Rustad and the Conservatiove Party of BC. Their response on the media and in public has consistently been that they will let municipalities decide. Slow approvals contributed to the housing scarcity we have now. Talk to anybody who is a home builder, they will tell you that status quo hasn’t been working. If we just approve housing, it will get built. It’s that simple.”
According to Ravi BC NDP’s short-term rental rules have helped rent to go down for the first time in twenty years. “We are seeing some positive results but housing shortage doesn’t get fixed overnight. It takes time for that to happen but its already heading in that direction. We gave local governments $51 million dollars to do all the zoning changes needed. We also launched a digital tool so that when an application or home design is made through a computer program it can automatically be checked for code compliance.” He continued, “Just last year we gave a billion dollars for infrastructure (to local governments). City of Surrey got $90 million. 70 million dollars of that went to the brand-new ice complex in Cloverdale. No one knows that because the city never released where their money went. When I hear from local governments or mayors that say ‘we need money for infrastructure’, I say let’s celebrate the fact that you got 70 million from us for this ice complex, let’s celebrate the fact that you are putting millions of dollars we gave you, into the bear Creek Park track and the stadium upgrade that is being built.”
Ravi shared BC had over two hundred and fifty thousand people move here in the last two years. Out of that number, “I would say a large portion moved to Surrey. Here’s another stat people may not know – 1 in 11 people in this province are temporary residents. Such high population surges make it hard to move our infrastructure to meet that demand overnight.”
BC man gets $598 ticket for no insurance on his electric skateboard
A Coquitlam, B.C., man who was handed a ticket for nearly $600 says he plans to dispute it.
Tony Savino was given a $598 ticket for having no insurance for his electric skateboard.
Savino said he was in East Vancouver this week when a Vancouver police officer pulled him over.
“He said, ‘licence and insurance please’,” Savino said. “I almost thought it was a joke.”
Savino said his doctor had written a letter saying his board is a mobility and assistance device but the officer issued him a ticket for
violating Section 24 (3) (b) of the Motor Vehicle Act. “A person must not drive or operate a motor vehicle or trailer on a highway unless… the motor vehicle and the trailer, if any, are insured under a valid and subsisting motor vehicle liability policy evidenced by an owner’s certificate,” the act states. However, Savino said the punishment is unfair because, in B.C., there’s currently no way of insuring motorized skateboards. “I wouldn’t mind paying insurance if they offered it, but they don’t, so…,” Savino said.
Rachna Singh talks to The Asian Star
Continued from Page 1...
“I’m very glad you brought this up. It’s all about letting the kids be who they are. It’s all about inclusivity. To make the schools more inclusive,” Rachna Singh.
Rachna Singh went on to explain what SOGI is and when it was implemented in BC schools. “SOGI is not new. It was introduced by the previous government, the BC Liberals in 2016. At that time, we knew the LGBTQ+ community in schools were targeted, and bullied by their peers. SOGI resources are not only for the students but also for the education community – teachers and the support staff – so that they are able to offer similar dignity to these kids.”
She continued to explain that there is “no moral policing, SOGI just gives these LGTBQ+ kids a safe place so they can be whoever they are.”
Rachna shared how her daughter responded to a question she had for her when SOGI started to garner negative reaction. Her daughter was in Grade 9 at the time. “Do you know about pronouns?”
When her daughter answered yes, Rachna followed-up with “do you know what that means?”
Her daughter’s response was that she has a friend in school that only identifies as they/ them. Rachna shares that as she was listening, her daughter thought that mom was judging her friend. ““Mama that is okay. It doesn’t matter, they are my friend.” To my daughter that child is just a child and that child is my daughter’s friend. To the kids, that’s all that matters to them.”
The Asian Star asked if the information is also provided in different languages?
“When this whole disinformation/ misinformation was happening, the Ministry of
Education did ask the school districts to provide that information in culturally sensitive way, especially in the languages that student population is coming from. I think the Surrey School District has done an amazing job of getting those materials in a simple language and translated into the languages commonly spoken here and sent home with every child.” Parents with any concerns or questions, are encouraged to reach out to the teachers.
“When my child goes to school, I don’t want my child to be bullied, or discriminated. It could be the accent, wearing a hijab, or a turban or just looking different. This is bringing kindness, acceptance of all students. This is what schools are all about. This is what every parent is seeking.”
The BC NDP brought in Anti-racism Action Plan in 2023, and also brought in mental health resources to address the changing needs of the communities since COVID.
BC NDP also made the learning of indigenous people’s history mandatory to graduate. First jurisdiction in Canada to do so.
‘SOGI stands for sexual orientation and gender identity. Since we all have a sexual orientation and gender identity, it includes all of us.’ Excerpt from www.sogieducation.org
UBC Economist skeptical of both BC NDP, BC Conservatives after Eby promises middle-class tax cuts
BC NDP Leader David Eby returned to the campaign trail following Tuesday night’s televised election debate, promising to cut taxes for the province’s middle class. Speaking in Richmond Wednesday morning, Eby revisited his commitment to tax cuts, claiming his party’s plan addresses the needs and living arrangements of British Columbians. In comparison, Eby says BC Conservatives Leader John Rustad’s tax scheme leads to “long waits” and is limited to housing costs. “And this is one of the ways that we’re supporting people with those costs,” said Eby. “By providing immediate support through this income tax cut, rather than asking people to wait five years before seeing the benefit.”
But Tsur Somerville, a professor at UBC’s Sauder School of Business, isn’t thrilled with the logistics of the NDP’s tax plan either. He says the BC NDP have “taken a page” from the BC Conservatives’ playbook by offering a press release with minimal
details. Somerville says the NDP’s plan appears to promise a bigger tax cut to a smaller proportion of people, meaning it leaves out some of the wealthier people who would benefit from the ‘Rustad Rebate.’ “It seems that the NDP is excluding folks with household incomes above $150,000,” said Somerville. He says neither party has shown its work and told voters how it intends to cut taxes, fix the province’s deficit, and avoid cutting crucial services. “At some point, you’ve got to be worried about how we afford everything, and that we may not be able to afford to give everybody their money back and then spend on everything we want to spend on,” said Somerville. Somerville says the two parties are both “incoherent” with their promises.
BC Conservatives are
the best option: Zeeshan Wahla
Woman charged with murder after Surrey stabbing victim dies
Umendra Singh:
The BC Conservative candidate for Surrey City Centre believes that the NDP government has been destructive for this province for the past 7 years and he wants to stop the destruction.
“I want to get rid of the NDP Government because I want to protect our kids, protect our economy, protect our health care and stop crime and drugs,” Zeeshan Wahla said in an interview.
“The NDP is just wasting taxpayers’ money and have increased the deficit to $6 billions from a surplus of $2 billion when they took over the government seven years ago,” Wahla said. He said that Conservative government will decrease and erase the deficit. How?
“We will cut waste,”: he said.
he is committed to uphold the values of truth, honesty, and trustworthiness and safeguard human life and welfare and the environment.
He is married with four daughters. Wahla said he is committed to protecting kids in BC schools and said parents have a right to have a say in their kids’ education and upbringing. “No SOGI,” he promised.
Wahla also promised to build more hospitals and schools at cost much cheaper than what the NDP is doing.
“I am an engineer, and I know builders and contractors are being paid a higher rate by the NDP government. I will bring that rate down because I know how much it costs to build buildings, hospitals, schools, etc.,” he said. Wahla is a Professional Engineer with experience in engineering and planning, running an engineering consulting business. He is registered P. Eng. in four provinces. He migrated from Pakistan 20 years ago and has been living in BC since then. He says
Zeeshan believes in the fundamental right of parents to make informed decisions regarding the education of their children. He advocates for a system in which parents are empowered to choose the educational path that best aligns with their values, beliefs, and aspirations for their children.
Whether it be through public, private, or homeschooling avenues, Zeeshan emphasizes the importance of government providing fair and equitable funding to support families in accessing the type of education they deem most suitable for their children's needs. Recognizing that each child is unique and may thrive in different educational environments, Zeeshan acknowledges the principle of educational diversity and choice. He understands that parents are in the best position to determine the educational setting that will nurture their children's talents, interests, and learning styles.
A woman has been charged with murder after a woman who was stabbed a month ago in Whalley died of her injuries. Surrey RCMP said the stabbing was initially reported as a a pedestrian who appeared to have been hit be a vehicle at 108th Avenue and King George Boulevard shortly after 2 a.m. on Sept. 8.
The victim was taken to hospital with lifethreatening injuries and a female suspect was
arrested nearby.
Police described it at the time as a targeted stabbing. Jennifer Kipp, 36, was charged later that day ith assault with a weapon and aggravated assault. The victim died in hospital five days later.
On Oct. 3, Kipp was charged with seconddegree murder.
1st-degree murder charge laid in Vancouver Downtown Eastside shooting
Vancouver police say a man has been charged in a fatal shooting in August in the city’s Downtown Eastside. Officers found Terry Bachtis, 43, at the intersection of East Cordova and Carrall streets just before 3:30 a.m. on Aug. 29. He died at the scene.
On Thursday, police said Felix Emond Moro, 28, had been charged with first-degree murder in the killing. It was not immediately clear if the two men knew one another or what the motive was in the shooting.
Canada’s Concord Pacific Racing Set To Make History At Inaugural Puig Women’s America’s Cup
Barcelona, Spain – October 4, 2024 – Canada is on the brink of making history as Concord Pacific Racing prepares to compete in the firstever Puig Women’s America’s Cup, marking a new chapter in the 173-year history of the world’s oldest international sporting competition.
Led by veteran sailor Isabella Bertold and representing the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club as Yacht Club of Record, the Canadian team will be one of the first women’s crews to race in this groundbreaking event in world sailing.
“It’s about time women were on this stage,” said Bertold. “This isn’t just about competing— it’s about breaking barriers and showing that women belong at the highest level of sailing. We’re not just making history for Canada, but for every young girl who dreams of being part of this sport.”
It’s the culmination of a project more than two years in the making, with Bertold working on this project since early 2022, when she first heard
about the possibility of a Women's America’s Cup.
“The idea was planted in my mind in February 2022, and since then, it’s been an incredible journey of building this team and programme from scratch. The amount of work that’s gone on behind the scenes to get us to this point is almost hard to believe,” she shared.
The team has been rigorously preparing for this historic moment, training on the high-performance AC40 foiling monohull this week, which can fly above the water at speeds exceeding 80 kph. Despite limited on-water training time, Bertold is confident in the team's readiness. "We’ve had to learn fast," she said. "Every day counts, and the progression we’ve made has been incredible. Earlier this week, we hit 44 knots (81 kph) downwind, and we’re feeling strong and focused."
A key aspect of their preparation has been the use of a simulator, allowing the team to fine-tune their communication and skills. “The teamwork we’ve developed in the simulator has translated
on simulators to sharpen their performance due to limited boat access. Nevertheless, invited teams have the chance to disrupt the established order and showcase their skills on the global stage.
well to the boat,” Bertold said. “It’s been a steep learning curve, but we’ve built a cohesive team. When we’re out there, it’s about trusting each other and staying calm when the boat is flying above the water.”
APPLIANCES REPAIR SERVICE
As the team looks ahead to the competition, Bertold remains optimistic. “The competition is fierce, but we’re ready to prove ourselves on the world stage. We’ve got the skill, the preparation, and the determination to make our mark in this event.”
The confirmed Concord Pacific Racing Women’s Team for the 2024 Puig Women’s America’s Cup is as follows:
Isabella Bertold (Royal Vancouver Yacht Club, Captain)
Ali Ten Hove (Kingston Yacht Club)
Mariah Millen (Royal Canadian Yacht Club)
Maura Dewey (Royal Victoria Yacht Club)
Spare sailors:
Maggie Drinkwater (Royal Vancouver Yacht Club)
Georgia Lewin-LaFrance (Chester Yacht Club / Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron)
The Puig Women’s America’s Cup features two types of competitors: America’s Cup syndicate teams and invited teams. Syndicate teams, such as Emirates Team New Zealand and Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli, have close ties to the senior America’s Cup teams, giving them more time and resources on the AC40 boats. Invited teams, like Concord Pacific Racing, have relied heavily
The competition kicks off this Saturday with qualification races. Concord Pacific Racing will take to the water for the first time on Sunday, with the top three teams from their pool of six advancing to the semi-finals.The event concludes with a match-race final on October 13, crowning the first-ever Women’s America’s Cup champion.
“We’ve had less time on the water compared to some of the other teams, but we’ve made the most of every opportunity,” Bertold said. “We’ve worked incredibly hard in the simulator, and the progress we’ve made has been fast. Now, we’re ready to show what we can do.”
Bertold was quick to acknowledge the key supporters who helped get the programme off the ground. "We wouldn’t be here without the incredible backing from our sponsors and donors," she said. "Terry Hui, CEO of Concord Pacific, has been instrumental, not only in providing financial support but in opening doors and helping us connect with the right people. RBC, TELUS, and Dilawri have also been amazing partners, fully aligned with our vision of gender equity and helping us get to where we are today.”
Earlier this week, the team launched the “It’s Time” campaign, a bold rallying call to inspire the next generation of female athletes and challenge the status quo in a traditionally male-dominated sport. The campaign, which has already struck a chord with audiences across Canada, is a powerful push for increased visibility and support for women in sailing.
Fans across Canada can watch the races live on TSN, Telus Optik TV, and the official America’s Cup website.
"We’re excited to have the support of fans back home, and we can’t wait to show the world what Canada’s women can achieve on the water,” said Bertold. “This is a defining moment, not only for our team but for women’s sport everywhere.”
Obituary: Ratan Tata, the 'modest' Indian tycoon
Continued from Page 1...
Tata went to college in the US, where he got a degree in architecture at Cornell University. During his seven-year-long stay, he learned to drive cars and fly. He had some harrowing experiences: he once lost an engine while flying a helicopter in college and twice lost the single engine in his plane. "So I had to glide in," he told an interviewer. Later, he would often fly his company's business jet. He returned to India in 1962 when his grandmother Lady Navajbai fell ill and called for him. It was then that JRD
Tata - a relative from a different branch of the family - asked him to join the Tata Group. "He [JRD Tata] was my greatest mentor... he was like a father and a brother to me - and not enough has been said about that," Tata told an interviewer. Ratan Tata was sent to a company steel plant in Jamshedpur in eastern India where he spent a couple of years on the factory floor before becoming the technical assistant to the manager. In the early 70s, he took over two ailing group firms, one making radios and TVs and the other textiles.
Sayed- Khaiyum, Voss and Ali face 66 counts of various charges
Former Attorney General Aiyaz SaiyedKhairum, former Executive General of Corporate Affairs, Fiji Airways Shaenaz Voss, Fiji Airways General Manager Safety, Security and Quality, Sharun Ali and Fiji Airlines T/A Fiji Link face 66 counts of various charges sanctioned by the DPP. Mr Sayed-Khaiyum is charged with 11 counts of unlawful carriage of firearm on aircraft, 11 counts of receiving a corrupt benefit, 11 counts of breach of trust by person employed in the public service and 11 counts of abuse of office. “Shaenaz
Voss is charged with three counts of giving a corrupt benefit and Sharun Ali is charged with 11 counts of giving a corrupt benefit,” DRR said in a release. “Additionally, Shaenaz Voss, Sharun Ali and Fiji Airline T/A Fiji Link are charged with five counts of breach of mandatory reporting of security occurrences and three counts of breach of airline security. “The accused persons are charged under the Civil Aviation (Security) Act 1994, Civil Aviation (Security) Regulations 1994 and Crimes Act 2009.”
Resign! That’s the call made by the Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre (FWCC) on the Speaker of Parliament, Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu.
This after the FWCC accused the Speaker of having leadership that “did not belong in an evolving democracy like Fiji”. Ratu Naiqama has been criticised for being racist towards Opposition parliamentarian, Aliki Bia during a Parliament sitting on September 6. “Fiji is still grappling in ways large and small with the legacy of slavery and racism and Ratu Naiqama has no right to minimise people’s experiences,” the FWCC statement said. The FWCC said that Fiji’s leaders and the authorities must be vigilant and active to deal with this because hate speech leads to hate crimes. Mr Bia had spoken about the state of the Melanesian community in Fiji, stating for 160 years, “they
have been crying for justice”.
“Mr Speaker, sir, we have no choice but just to go through the trauma of this painful memories and silently adjusting to the many injustices that confronts us in our daily lives,” he had stated.
Hansard records from that day reveals Ratu Naiqama spoke in iTaukei language, cautioning Mr Bia to be careful of his words. He had stated that a large portion of the Melanesian group were “not paying for anything”. “Some are registered within my village, within my other clans, Yavusa o Benau but been bracketed, descendants of Solomon Islanders. They are registered in the VKB and yet you still have the audacity to come and say you are being illtreated and mistreated, but you are part of us already.
‘No need to fear’
Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka says former Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption acting deputy commissioner Francis Puleiwai has nothing to fear from his government. And he said it was safe for her to return to Fiji. Mr Rabuka said these at a media conference yesterday where he also questioned the credibility of a recent interview Ms Puleiwai had with ABC Australia, which is yet to be aired.
An Australian Broadcasting Commission interview with Ms Puleiwai, where she made several claims against certain members of the judiciary and Government, was posted on social media by a Alexandra Forewood but it was taken down a few hours later.
In response to questions from The Fiji Times, the ABC said “an excerpt of the interview was aired on ABC News Channel on Friday, 27 September”. “We’re still doing reporting on the full story and a date for publication has not been locked in,” a spokesperson said.
The ABC did not respond to questions on who had access to the full interview and whether Ms Forewood, who had called for a
press conference on Ms Puleiwai’s behalf, was given a copy of the video interview.
The ABC also did not comment on whether Ms Forewood facilitated the interview with the television station. Ms Pulewai also did not respond to questions on why or in what capacity Ms Forewood called a press conference on her behalf. Ms Forewood, a former Fiji citizen, has been lodging complaints against several government ministers and members of Parliament to FICAC in recent months. Meanwhile, Mr Rabuka said he has not received any police report on the allegations of threats Ms Puleiwai had alluded to during the interview. “It would not come from the government that I lead, who is she afraid of?” he said. “I have not received any response from the police, and the report was put down by ABC as they questioned the credibility of some of the information disclosed there.
Rabuka to request President
to sanction COI
PRIME Minister Sitiveni Rabuka will request President Ratu Wiliame Katonivere to sanction a Commission of Inquiry into the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC). The anti-corruption body has been embroiled in several alleged transgressions over the past few weeks. These have roused a very public rebuke of the organisation, as well as its leaders, and their credibility. When quizzed, Mr Rabuka said he himself could not order a Commission of Inquiry. “That can only be commissioned by His Excellency the President on my advice,” he said.“I’m
still looking at the Commissions of Inquiry Act (1946), which will be the formula for my recommendation to His Excellency. “After that, the Terms of Reference will be drawn up to be announced also in conjunction with the approval from HE (His Excellency) by me as head of Cabinet.” He said he did not raise the issue of the commission with Cabinet. “I just told Cabinet that I am going directly to His Excellency through the Constitution and the Commissions of Inquiry Act. I did not have to have Cabinet approval.”
Avtar Gill wants to bring change to Fleetwood and Surrey
Continued from Page 1...
“It has come to a point where it is hard to realise, we are living in BC or somewhere else - the standard of living and affordability have fallen so low,” he said.
Gill pointed out that Surrey has only one hospital while Vancouver, which has almost half the population of Surrey, has seven hospitals.
“We the BC Conservatives will build more hospitals in Surrey,” he promised.
He promised that every patient should have direct access to a doctor, which would lead to shorter emergency wait times and reduced waiting lists for care. There should be no delays for important surgeries, and everyone in Surrey should have access to timely treatment. Compared to Vancouver with seven hospitals, Surrey’s one is insufficient to meet the growing demand for healthcare services, he said.
BC Conservatives will implement a patient first model, where patients are put on the forefront of care. This would ensure that Surrey’s healthcare resources are allocated based on everyone’s individual needs without being restricted by many months of waitlists. He accused the NDP of firing doctors and nurses and said that a BC Conservative government will hire back those doctors and nurses. Education needs more input from parents and more choices for kids and parents. Parents should not be shut out of making choices for their kids. He said Surrey Fleetwood is currently facing a shortage of 10 schools, including only two existing high schools, which highlights a critical gap in infrastructure. Every child should have access to a consistent learning environment with teachers who have time to focus on each child’s individual learning needs, he said.
Gill wants to build more schools and eliminate portable classrooms, to ensure students have an equal environment to support their education. Additionally, Gill advocates for giving parents the
opportunity to provide consent when it comes to the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) curriculum. “Our children’s education should focus on teaching students how to think critically, rather than prescribing specific viewpoints,” he said.
And he said that crime was plaguing all British Columbians. Gills says that loss of affordability under the NDP government has driven many people to drug abuse and crime.
“We the BC Conservatives will bring affordability back for the people, He said he wants to make community members in the Surrey-Fleetwood feel safe and protected from crime and addiction.
“Build programs in prison that promote career advancement and training opportunities to stop released criminals from repeating past mistakes. Build recovery centres to house recovering addicts instead of putting them back on the street after prison,” he said. Gill prioritizes growing Surrey’s infrastructure to promote economic growth to match the pace of our rapidly growing population. He wants to focus on improving infrastructure to reduce traffic and increase the flow of Surrey’s goods and services. Secondly, work to eliminate the carbon tax.
Gill prides himself for his deep commitment to Surrey, and advocates for equality, social justice, and community service. He says he lives by the principles of honesty, compassion, and integrity. His volunteer work with organizations like Akal Academy and Guru Nanak’s Free Kitchen highlights his dedication to social welfare and cultural enrichment. Gill is educated in Agriculture Sciences (BSc. Hons from Punjab University) and studied real estate at Sauder School of Business at UBC and expertly blends grassroots knowledge with advanced business strategies. His tenured real estate career with Sutton Group showcases his empathetic client service approach.
Cocaine worth Rs 2,000 crore seized in west Delhi
In the second big drug haul in a week, Delhi Police have seized 208 kg of cocaine worth Rs 2,080 crore from a rented shop in west Delhi, an official said on Thursday evening. The drugs were hidden in plastic packets of snacks with 'Tasty Treat' and 'Chatpata Mixture' written on them. About 20-25 such packets kept in cartons were recovered from a small narrow shop in west Delhi's Ramesh Nagar, the official said. The seizure is linked to an earlier recovery of 562 kg of drugs worth over Rs 5,000 crore from southwest Delhi's Mahipalpur, he said. He said the recovered seizure weighs around 208 kg, which is worth Rs 2,080 crore in international market.
Official sources said the consignment was kept there by an Indian-origin UK citizen who is now on the run. "We got a tip-off during investigations of our previous seizure and arrest. On Thursday evening, a team of the Special Cell was sent to the shop and recovered the consignment," a police officer said.
The UK citizen, who was identified by the police, managed to escape before the arrival of the team. He had taken the shop on rent a few days ago, the
officer said, adding two people including the owner of the shop have been detained and questioned. The owner told the police that the shop was taken on rent for business related to garments, the officer said. It is suspected that the UK citizen wanted to transport the drug consignment to other parts of
the country but he fled after the police's previous seizure, he said. The Special Cell, on October 2, had seized over 560 kg of cocaine and 40 kg of hydroponic marijuana estimated to be worth Rs 5,620 crore from a godown in Mahipalpur in south Delhi and arrested four people. Two more persons were subsequently apprehended from Amritsar and Chennai.
PM Modi announces 10-point plan to strengthen India-ASEAN
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday announced a 10-point plan to strengthen India-ASEAN comprehensive partnership and asserted that ties with the regional grouping were critical to guiding Asia's future.
Addressing the 21st India-ASEAN Summit here, Modi noted that India-ASEAN trade had doubled to over USD 130 billion in the past decade and announced a review of the trade in goods agreement to harness the greater economic potential of the partnership.
“I believe that the 21st century – the
ties
Asian century – is the century of India and ASEAN nations,” the Prime Minister said while addressing the leaders of the ASEAN nations that include Malaysia, Thailand, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Vietnam, Laos and Singapore. The Prime Minister said India was commemorating the 10th anniversary of its Act East Policy, which has given new energy, direction and momentum to the historic relationship between India and the ASEAN nations.
With Shah’s backing, Narbir eyes Dy CM post after Badshahpur win
Former BJP minister Rao Narbir, who secured a resounding victory in Haryana’s largest Assembly segment, Badshahpur, is now in the running for the Deputy Chief Minister post. Sources have revealed that Narbir, leveraging his new-found proximity to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, has entered the race following his win. After the election, Narbir reportedly met the party’s central leadership to discuss the possibility. Speaking to The Tribune, Narbir said, “The victory has been encouraging. I am ready for any role the party assigns me, but I’m hopeful the party will reward me for one of the biggest victories in the state. I hope to serve the people in a prominent position.” Narbir faced significant internal opposition to secure his ticket, only receiving it after intervention from Amit Shah, who rallied in his support. During
the campaign, Shah assured voters that Narbir would become a “big man” if elected. Now, having won with a margin of over 60,000 votes, Narbir is looking to claim what was hinted at during the campaign. A senior BJP leader from Haryana said, “Narbir cannot be overlooked in the Cabinet formation. He has not only won the state’s largest segment but did so after being written off. The fact that he stayed loyal to the party despite being denied a ticket in 2019 and then excelled in this election strengthens his case. Having been a strong Cabinet member from 2014 to 2019, he will likely be considered for a major Cabinet role.” With leaders already lobbying for Cabinet positions, particularly from the Ahirwal region, Narbir has emerged as a strong contender, though not aligned with the Inderjit camp.
No alternative to close ties with India: Muhammad Yunus
Bangladesh interim government’s Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus has said DhakaDelhi relations should remain ‘very close’ despite the recent regime change in the country, asserting that it is in the interest of both countries.
“Relations between the two countries must be very close. There can be no alternative to this. They need this, we need this. This is essential from any angle, whether it’s about economics, security or water,” he was quoted as saying by Bengali language daily Prothom Alo on Tuesday. When asked for
his comments on recent tensions in bilateral ties, Yunus said the recent incidents in Bangladesh might have ‘disheartened’ India and ‘they were not pleased with the changes’. He did not mention the incidents. “It will be difficult for us to move along without each other. It is only natural that we have close ties and good relations in every sphere,” he said. India has urged the interim government to ensure peaceful religious events for the Hindu community in the South Asian country. More than 600 persons, including Hindus, were killed during violent protests in Bangladesh following the ouster of Hasina-led government, according to a UN report.
Punjab and Haryana High Court denies anticipatory bail to Bharat Inder Singh Chahal
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has dismissed the anticipatory bail application of Bharat Inder Singh Chahal, former media advisor to the then Punjab chief minister, who is accused of possessing disproportionate assets. Justice Mahabir Singh Sindhu asserted custodial interrogation was required to ascertain the source of the alleged assets and facilitate fair probe. “The arrest of the petitioner is very much necessary to interrogate him for eliciting the actual source of disproportionate assets and to complete the investigation in a fair and transparent manner”, Justice Sindhu asserted.
Chahal served as media advisor from April 1, 2017, to August 31, 2021. The FIR in the
matter was registered on August 2, 2023, under the provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act within two years of his demitting the office.
“The plea of old age at the instance of petitioner would not be convincing, when he remained posted on such an important assignment till the age of 72,” the court asserted Justice Sindhu asserted Chahal’s total income during the check period was recorded at approximately Rs 7.85 crore, while his expenditures were assessed at over Rs 31.79 crore. “Hence, prima facie, he is in possession of disproportionate assets to the known sources of income; rather he accumulated the same while abusing his power and position as media advisor to the then chief minister.”
Punjab CM Mann's 'blunder' led farmers into crisis: Partap
Partap Singh Bajwa, Leader of Opposition in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, on Thursday called for immediate intervention from Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, holding him accountable for the paddy crisis caused by the Aam Aadmi Partyled government's ill-advised promotion of certain paddy varieties, including PR-126.
As rice millers across the state refused to accept PR-126 and other hybrid varieties, the crisis in grain markets has deepened. “Paddy lifting has slowed to a crawl, leaving farmers stranded in mandis for days, forced to endure
Bajwa
growing distress among farmers. He said the AAP government aggressively pushed the PR126 variety ahead of the transplant season, claiming it would save water and electricity. Despite these assurances, rice millers have refused the crop, citing concerns over a lower than expected out-turn ratio (postmilling yield). The Punjab Government has since ordered retesting of the variety to clarify the yield, but farmers remain at risk.
To make matters worse, rice millers and commission agents were on strike, further disrupting the paddy procurement
