Early election 'more likely' after NDP pulls out of deal to support Trudeau
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says he’s aware pulling his party out of the supplyand-confidence agreement with the Liberals makes an early election “more likely,” but he dropped the deal because Prime Minister Justin Trudeau “has let Canadians down.”
Facing questions for the first time Thursday, after making the major announcement Wednesday in a campaign-style video, Singh
doubled down on his assertion that the Liberals “can’t deliver change.”
“We've got a lot done… but it became very clear to me that Justin Trudeau is too beholden to corporate interests to go further,” Singh said. “We know that that makes the election timing more uncertain and, frankly, more likely.”
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Punjabi musician AP Dhillon’s BC home shot at with two vehicles set on fire
Gunshots were fired into the Vancouver Island home of popular singer and music producer AP Dhillon early Monday morning.
A video posted by media outlets in India showed a person firing 14 shots into the front of a house and a garage, while a black truck and another smaller vehicle were on fire in the driveway.
The Punjabi singer, who moved to Canada from India in 2015 and is based in Victoria, B.C., posted a brief statement on his Instagram story Monday evening saying he was OK.
"I'm safe. My people are safe. Thank you to everyone who reached out. Your support means everything," he wrote. "Peace and love to all."
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David Eby at a rally in North Delta’s campaign office
Members of the BC NDP welcomed party Leader David Eby and other MLAs to a new party office on the border of Surrey and Delta Tuesday
David Eby was at a rally in North Delta’s campaign office on September 3rd for the upcoming provincial election. He was greeted with protesters from the Landlord Rights Association of BC which is upset with the new laws for Rental Tenancy Branch.
A wild brawl erupted inside a Tauranga Sikh Temple which spilled over to a nearby mall where swords and baseball bats were allegedly used, and at least one person was taken to hospital with injuries. A police spokesman said police were investigating a disorder incident at a large community gathering and were seeking assistance from the public.
Police were notified of the incident on Cheyne Rd, Pyes Pa about 5.30pm on Saturday.
Later that evening, police were again called to a reported assault near a Pyes Pa mall where the fight spilled over. Continued on Page 7...
India is emerging as a key player in the global AI race
His message included, “the hopeful vision of where we can be, homes you can afford, decent high-quality health care for you and your family when you need it.”
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David Eby started his speech talking about the why of politics, “to make life better for people, and we feel government is the way to do that, and as a community for us to come together and improve life for people.”
As Asia’s richest man, Mukesh Ambani, addressed his shareholders during a muchanticipated yearly address last Thursday, he also unveiled “JioBrain,” a suite of artificial intelligence (AI) tools and applications that he says will transform a spate of businesses in energy, textiles, telecommunications and more that form his multinational conglomerate, Reliance Industries. “By perfecting JioBrain within Reliance, we will create a powerful AI service platform that we can offer to other enterprises as well,” Ambani said during his speech.
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Quebec’s
freeze on temporary foreign workers is just a ‘political move,’ immigration lawyer
A Quebec immigration lawyer says the province’s upcoming measures to limit the number of temporary immigrants will have no impact on the government’s “stated intention.”
Among the measures coming into effect Tuesday, there will be a sixmonth freeze on certain applications and renewals to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) in the Montreal area. It includes workers earning less than $57,000 a year – the median salary in Quebec – as well as those not working in certain sectors such as health care, education, construction, agriculture and food processing.
Lawyer Krishna Gagné believes this is a “political move” on behalf of the François Legault government, “rather than a measure that will have a significant effect.”
“It seems to be more political, to get the population on their side, because we don’t see how this could really improve the situation in Quebec,” said Gagné, the vice-president of the Quebec Association of Immigration Lawyers (AQAADI).
Abbotsford senior charged with running down teens with car
believes
Gagné says only about 3,500 of the 600,000 temporary immigrants in the province are being targeted. She also feels the new measures can be circumvented rather easily.
“There are many ways to go around it,” she said. “You can do remote work. If a business has two different addresses, they can go outside of Montreal and have a worker employed there.”
Legault’s CAQ says the measures are aimed at reducing the number of immigrants in Montreal, which could also reduce the impact on housing and public services.
“If the stated intention is to reduce the pressure on the housing, health-care system, education, and to promote the French language, it’s a very, very ambitious intention for such a project.
“The only thing that that will affect is families. I’m thinking about the families who have to change school to go back to their countries or change their life. Such a crucial time of the year, which is September for kids. I’m just having a thought about them.
“And I think that maybe the government didn’t take into consideration the human side of it.”
Vancouver's chief of police says the city's collective sense of safety has been shaken after one man was killed and another was seriously injured in what police say were two unprovoked, random attacks in the city's downtown early Wednesday.
"Attacks like these shake our collective sense of comfort and safety, and we're grateful that a suspect was quickly taken into custody by our officers," said Vancouver Police Department (VPD) Chief Const. Adam Palmer at a news conference from police headquarters on Wednesday afternoon.
Police said around 7:40 a.m. PT they received reports of a man who had been attacked near Cathedral Square, at Richards Street and Dunsmuir Street.
Officers found a man in his 50s who had been attacked with a knife, was bleeding from his head, and had one hand severed.
VPD said he was taken to hospital for emergency treatment and is expected to survive.
The driver who allegedly ran down a group of teens in Abbotsford, B.C., in February has now been charged.
Michael Brian Gerty, 85, is charged with one count of dangerous driving and three counts of assault with a weapon after two teens were hurt in the incident.
Less than 10 minutes later, officers were called to West Georgia Street and Hamilton Street after a second man was attacked outside the Queen Elizabeth Theatre. First responders were unable to save the man's life. Police have not confirmed his age or identity, but Palmer said he appeared to be around 70 years old. Police said patrol officers were able to obtain images of a suspect and confirm the two attacks were linked.
Around 9 a.m. officers located the suspect on Habitat Island, near the Olympic Village, after receiving reports of a man behaving erratically and yelling at a stranger, police said.
The statement from VPD said the suspect, a 34-year-old White Rock resident, was taken into custody.
Palmer said investigators are working toward recommending "serious" charges to the B.C. Prosecution Service. Police are not naming the suspect because he has not yet been charged.
Police were called to Carlsrue Avenue between Princess and Victoria streets on Feb. 14 after reports of a motor vehicle incident.
At the time, police said it appeared the teens were playing pranks on neighbours by ringing doorbells and knocking before running away. Gerty allegedly chased them with his vehicle,
hitting two of them.
Video from the scene shows a car racing towards the teens before a crashing noise followed by screaming. The two teens received minor injuries.
Gerty was arrested at the scene but has since been released from custody awaiting his first court appearance.
Alex Fraser Bridge heavily backed up after 7-car crash cleared
A multi-vehicle crash along the Alex Fraser Bridge temporarily closed multiple lanes in both directions Wednesday, creating massive delays for morning commuters. The seven-car crash happened midspan in the southbound lanes. The crash was cleared just before 7:45 a.m.
Emergency crews blocked the northbound left and centre lanes along with the southbound left and centre lanes.
BC real estate agent suspended after forging signatures
British Columbia's real estate regulator has suspended the licence of an agent for six months after he admitted to forging signatures on a land assembly deal in Richmond, B.C., nearly a decade ago. The B.C. Financial Services Authority (BCFSA) said Ramandeep Singh Kooner has also agreed to pay a $10,000 penalty and $5,000 in enforcement expenses based on a consent order proposed by the agent and accepted by the regulator in July.
"Licensees have a duty to act honestly, with reasonable care and skill and these actions undermine the integrity of the real estate industry and constitute wrongful or deceptive dealing," Raheel Humayun, BCFSA's director of investigations, said in an Aug. 30 press release about the case.
for the sale of their respective properties — pending a land assembly approval from the city.
Kooner, who was licensed with Sutton Group Seafair Realty at the time, got involved the same day to assist with the deal.
On Sept. 22, Kooner provided the city's letters of authorization to a colleague at Seafair Realty to have them signed by the property owners. Two of them didn't do so and went to the city on Sept. 24 to ask about the risk of signing the letters. City staff told them that their letters had already been signed and submitted. The owners, however, didn't recognize their supposed signatures and told City staff that they hadn't allowed him to act on their behalf.
According to the consent order, three unidentified owners wanted to sell their properties in a land assembly deal in Richmond in 2015.
On Aug. 21, 2015, the owners signed contracts
Kooner said in the consent order that he had gotten verbal consent from the third owner that he could sign the letters for all of them, but the agent acknowledged that he didn't confirm this with the other two owners before submitting the forms to the city.
BC Conservatives decry 'lawlessness' after gruesome Vancouver stranger attacks
After two grisly stranger attacks in downtown Vancouver, members of the BC Conservatives were quick to decry the crimes as the most recent example of the lawlessness and violence plaguing the city – directly contradicting statistics and assurances to the contrary provided by the chief of police.
The attacks – which were reported within minutes of one another just after 7:30 a.m. –left one man dead and another with a severed hand and knife wounds to the head, according to police. A 34-year-old man, who authorities say had a violent criminal record and was on probation for assault, was arrested roughly an hour and a half later.
With six weeks left until voters head to the polls in what will now be largely a two-way race between the governing BC NDP and the BC Conservatives – the latter issuing a media release saying violent crime has become "increasingly
common" under Premier David Eby and his government.
"These latest assaults and killings are not isolated incidents—they are part of a broader pattern of lawlessness that has taken hold in our communities because of David Eby’s weak stance on crime and public safety,” said BC Conservative Leader John Rustad, in a news release.
“The BC NDP has prioritized the rights of criminals over the safety of our citizens, and it’s the people of British Columbia who are paying the price.”
In a joint news conference, Vancouver Police Department Chief Const. Adam Palmer and Mayor Ken Sim said the attacks were horrific, disturbing and apparently completely random.
Still, Palmer urged concerned residents and others to put the crimes in context, repeatedly describing Vancouver as a safe city overall while also saying crime, violent crime, and unprovoked
BC Greens pledge to make public transit free if elected
B.C. Green Party Leader Sonia Furstenau announced an election policy to make all public transit in the province free.
She said Thursday that free transit will relieve financial strain on families, create more livable communities and reduce carbon emissions.
"I think transit is a gift," she said in an interview. "It's a gift of time. It's a gift of freedom. It's a gift of mobility."
The Greens' proposal also calls for hourly services on key regional routes, a doubling of city buses within four years and a tripling within eight years. One researcher isn't convinced the policy will be an effective way to have more people use public transit.
Nate Wallace, clean transportation manager
would make transit more accessible, it might not boost ridership or address serious gaps in funding for TransLink, Metro Vancouver's transit provider.
"I think their hearts are in the right place, for sure, to be promising this," Wallace said. "But I'm just a bit worried about how it's not really fully grasping the scope of both the operating deficit and service expansion needs." The party, which currently has two MLAs in the 87-seat legislature, says $720 million in funding for TransLink and B.C. Transit would come from "reprioritizing existing funding," with $420 million from the provincial budget and savings from improved efficiency.
Furstenau said in a statement that free transit was a "win-win," saving families money while
stranger attacks are trending downward.
"Let me assure you that incidents like these –while high-profile and deeply disturbing – they are rare," he said.
"Vancouver is not dying, Vancouver is not dead, Vancouver is not unsafe. That's all hyperbole, and it's not actually factual," he later added.
In terms of statistics, Palmer said violent crime is down seven per cent and serious assaults are down 17.8 per cent year-over-year.
Regarding unprovoked stranger attacks, the chief said they are "half of what they used to be." While he did not elaborate on that, CTV News has reported on the VPD data(opens in a new tab) showing a steady decline in these attacks since their reported peak in 2021.
"Two years ago when I became an MLA, Vancouver was plagued by random violent stranger attacks. Today,
under David Eby and the NDP, nothing has changed," she posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Premier David Eby acknowledged that what happened in Vancouver Wednesday has left people shaken and fearful – while also commenting on public safety more generally. No charges have been approved in the case and the suspect has not been named.
2 charged in New Westminster
Police in New Westminster, B.C., say two people have been charged in a kidnapping last month.
In a media release, police said the abduction was reported in the early hours of Aug. 17.
Officers were able to locate the victim within 24 hours, with the help of numerous regional police agencies.
The victim was taken to hospital for treatment, but their condition is unclear.
“We were deeply worried about this person’s safety,” New Westminster police Sgt. Andrew Leaver said.
“Time is of the essence in kidnapping investigations, and thanks to the hard work and expertise of numerous police teams, we were
kidnapping
Richard Favel, 38, has since been charged with assault, assault with a weapon and uttering threats.
Jess Heerema, 45, has been charged with assault with a weapon and uttering threats. Anyone who saw something suspicious in the 500 block of Front Street, near 6th Avenue, on the evening of Aug. 16 is asked to contact police.
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Changes to temporary foreign worker program signal a long overdue course
By Sylvain Charlebois : In response to growing immigration challenges and high youth unemployment rates, the Trudeau government is finally tightening its Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP).
Beginning September 26, the government will halt the processing of Labour Market Impact Assessments for the Low-Wage stream of the TFWP in certain census metropolitan areas. This suspension will affect cities with an unemployment rate of six6 percent or higher, though the specific locations have not yet been disclosed.
Exceptions will be made for sectors vital to food security, such as primary agriculture, food processing, and fish processing. Still, the food service industry will not be exempt from these changes.
The TFWP, established in 1973 under Pierre Trudeau, was initially designed to address labour shortages by allowing employers to hire foreign nationals when qualified Canadians or permanent residents were unavailable. Over time, the program expanded to include a “low-skilled workers” category, introduced in 2002 under Jean Chrétien’s Liberal government. This category has since become the backbone of the temporary foreign workforce in Canada. However, many sectors have become overly dependent on this program to fill low-wage positions, leading to systemic abuses that the government should have addressed long ago. Businesses will now be encouraged to invest in productivity improvements. Still, monitoring how these changes will impact the entire food supply chain, including the food service sector, is crucial. The road ahead will not be without challenges.
Restaurants Canada, a key industry group, has already expressed concern. The organization notes that while only three percent of food service employees are hired through the TFWP, the program is essential for restaurant operators who struggle to find Canadian workers for specific roles.
The new limitations, which cap the use of temporary foreign workers at 10 percent across all industries and shorten the maximum employment duration from two years to one year, could significantly disrupt the food service sector.
Canfor Corp. has announced it is shutting two northern British Columbia sawmills in a move it says will affect about 500 workers, partly blaming “punitive” U.S. tariffs imposed last month.
It said in a statement Wednesday that shutting the Plateau mill in Vanderhoof and its Fort St. John operation would also remove 670 million board feet of annual production capacity. The company blamed the closures on the challenge of accessing economically viable timber, as well as ongoing financial losses and weak lumber markets, but said the final blow was the big increase in U.S. tariffs.
President and CEO Don Kayne said in a statement that Canfor’s B.C. operations had lost “hundreds of millions of dollars” in recent years, something he also connected to “increasing regulatory complexity.”
But the company’s challenges were exacerbated by the “punitive U.S. tariffs”
announced on Aug. 14, he said.
He said that delaying the closures of the Vanderhoof and Fort St. John mills would “prolong the punishing anti-dumping duties and put additional operations at risk.”
On Aug. 14, the U.S. nearly doubled duties on softwood lumber, in a move the Canadian government called unfair and unwarranted. The duties increased from 8.05 per cent to 14.54 per cent.
Kayne said the wind down of operations at the mills was expected to be completed this year, calling it “an incredibly difficult decision.”
“We are devastated by the decline in our province’s foundational forest industry, and we recognize the impact these closures will have on our employees and their families, as well as our First Nation partners, contractors, suppliers, communities and customers,” Kayne said.
Greater Vancouver Realtors says home sales in the region dropped 17.1 per cent in August from a year earlier and were more than a quarter below the 10-year seasonal average.
The real estate body says sales in the market totalled 1,904 last month, down from the 2,296 recorded in August 2023.
The composite benchmark price for all residential properties in Metro Vancouver was $1,195,900, a 0.9 per cent decrease over August 2023 and a 0.2 per cent decrease compared with July. There were 4,109 newly listed detached, attached and apartment properties in August, which was 4.2 per cent more than the same
month last year.
Greater Vancouver Realtors’ director of economics and data analytics Andrew Lis says sales remained in a “holding pattern” in August, suggesting buyers were still feeling the pinch of higher borrowing costs despite the Bank of Canada’s two previous cuts to its key interest rate.
He says he’s optimistic buyers will come off the sidelines after the central bank’s third consecutive decrease by a quarter percentage point, announced Wednesday, coupled with the fact September typically sees more homes changing hands.
Back to school in Surrey means back to portables and crowded classrooms
As Surrey students head back to school, they’re also heading back to crowded classrooms and a growing number of portables.
Enrolment in the Surrey School District, B.C.’s most populous, is expected to increase by up to 2,000 students for a total of 85,000 this year. The rapid population growth is far outpacing the construction and expansion of schools, leaving the district reliant on between 350 and 400 portables this year.
“We need 20 new schools, 19 additions and 21 site acquisitions just for today, not counting … students who are here new this year,” Surrey Board of Education chair Lori Larsen said. The crowding issue has already forced the school district to extend teaching hours for senior students in six schools, who are now on a five-block system.
“What that means for us is it allows us to increase the capacity of the school by about 10-15 per cent, allows our kids to be able to have all the same services, all the same classes, but just spread them out through the day,” Surrey School District superintendent Mark Pearman said. “It is something we are
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He said he thinks Trudeau is “too weak and too selfish to stop Pierre Poilievre,” framing the next election as a choice between the NDP and the Conservatives. Designed to inject stability in exchange for policy progress when it was inked back in 2022, the two-party pact was set to expire in June 2025, when the House of Commons is to wrap ahead of the next fixed-date election.
Pressed by reporters on why he extracted his party from the deal, and whether Liberals’ handling of the recent national rail labour dispute was a factor, Singh said it added to his case. He called it a “concrete example” of Trudeau “caving to corporate greed.”
looking at for this year obviously with the implementation of six, and we may have to do that moving forward as well.”
Parents have long expressed concerns about both the crowding and the use of portables.
Those concerns are also being echoed by Surrey’s business community, which says the government needs to move to build five to seven schools immediately.
“What we need is a dedicated emergency fund for our Surrey school system, and we know we need to work with the development community to ensure that there is adequate space for our students and growing population,” Surrey Board of Trade spokesperson Jasroop Gosal said.
Trudeau
“We always knew that at some point we would have to make this decision, that we weren't going to stay in this forever,” Singh said.
In taking the certainty of NDP support off the table, the Liberals will once again have to look for political support on a case-by-case basis on key votes in the House of Commons in order to stay in power.
As for his intentions when it comes to future confidence votes that could determine when the next federal election is called, Singh said he plans to consider each confidence measure on its merits.
“We will look at every vote as it comes and make a decision as it comes. I'm not going to presuppose the outcome of a vote before it happens,” he said.
Woman jailed for defrauding Surrey seniors posing as care worker
The Surrey RCMP says a woman has been sentenced to four years in prison after she posed as a care provider and defrauded seniors.
Mounties say multiple seniors in the Lower Mainland were defrauded of funds and robbed by a woman acting as a care aid between December 2021 and April the following year.
Investigators found she would attend the residences or care homes of elderly victims under the guise of providing them health services.
Upon gaining their trust, she would get their banking information and withdrew funds from their accounts. On some occasions, police say she stole property from them including cellphones, jewellery and wallets containing cash.
2022. Chamdal was arrested on July 27, 2022 after she was discovered to be defrauding a 95-year-old in White Rock.
She was released again on bail and ordered not to engage in any private or care-facility based work.
On January 20, 2023, 65 fraud and assault-related charges were approved against Chamdal and she was arrested again.
In all, Mounties estimate she defrauded 20 victims in Surrey, Richmond and White Rock, whose losses totalled more than $60,000.
The Surrey RCMP Economic Crime Unit arrested Ana Chamdal on April 13, 2022, and searched her home. After she failed to comply with her release conditions — police say she continued to commit fraud — another warrant was issued for her arrest on June 29,
“It is disheartening to see an elderly person taken advantage of, especially by a person entrusted with providing care for them,” Corp. Vanessa Munn said in July of 2022. “This also serves as a reminder that is it important to monitor elderly family members’ finances to ensure that they are not being exploited.”
On Monday, Chamdal was sentenced to four years in jail — minus credit for her time already served — two-years probation and was ordered to pay $60,000 in restitution.
Punjabi musician AP Dhillon’s BC home shot at with two vehicles set on fire
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In a separate Instagram post Monday, Dhillon shared a video of himself singing with a caption that said, "Keep Spreading Love."
RCMP said in a news release that they got occupants evacuated from a residence after finding two vehicles on fire and evidence that multiple shots had been fired into the home. Police said their preliminary investigation suggests it was "a targeted event" and they do
not believe the general public is at risk.
Media outlets in India have reported that Rohit Godara, a member of the India-based Lawrence Bishnoi gang, claimed responsibility for the shooting on social media.
According to The Times of India, Godara warned Dhillon to "Stay in your place, or you will meet a dog's death." The post mentions Bollywood star Salman Khan's appearance in Dhillon's recent video for the song Old Money.
Worshippers injured after mass brawl at Sikh Temple in New Zealand
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According to a statement by the Tauranga Sikh Society, the temple on Cheyne Rd had been booked for a private function that evening. It said there had been an ongoing management dispute at the temple for the past three years between two groups, each claiming management rights to the temple.
While members of one group were having a meeting, members from the other group started arriving. Tensions escalated and a physical altercation broke out between the two groups. The society alleged members from the other group “arrived with 40 to 50 people, some carrying weapons such as hockey sticks, rods, cutters, baseball bats and knuckles”.
14-year-old girl set 15-year-old girl on fire in Saskatoon high school
A 15-year-old girl was set on fire by a fellow student at Evan Hardy Collegiate in Saskatoon on Thursday, according to police.
"The suspect we have in custody started the other victim on fire," Saskatoon Police Service Sgt. Ken Kane told reporters at a news conference Thursday afternoon.
The incident happened over the noon hour Thursday.
Teachers helped extinguish the blaze, Kane said. The 15-year-old victim was transported to hospital. She sustained what are believed to be serious injuries. One teacher was also taken to hospital. Kane said the victim's parents are with her, but there was no update on her condition.
After the incident, a school resource officer
(SRO) who was already on scene for a different matter arrested a 14-year-old female suspect immediately. Other police, fire and ambulance crews arrived shortly after, Kane said. SROs will continue to work closely with school board officials as the investigation continues.
Kane said the suspect remains in custody and that it's unclear what charges might be laid or when that could occur.
"This investigation is obviously very early and ongoing," he said.
He said police are working with the school division to share information and "ensure staff and students are cared for."
Kane said it's also been difficult on the officer and others who responded.
BC Conservatives decry 'lawlessness' after gruesome Vancouver stranger attacks
After two grisly stranger attacks in downtown Vancouver, members of the BC Conservatives were quick to decry the crimes as the most recent example of the lawlessness and violence plaguing the city – directly contradicting statistics and assurances to the contrary provided by the chief of police.
The attacks – which were reported within minutes of one another just after 7:30 a.m. –left one man dead and another with a severed hand and knife wounds to the head, according to police. A 34-year-old man, who authorities say had a violent criminal record and was on probation for assault, was arrested roughly an hour and a half later.
With six weeks left until voters head to the polls in what will now be largely a two-way race between the governing BC NDP and the BC
Conservatives – the latter issuing a media release saying violent crime has become "increasingly common" under Premier David Eby and his government.
"These latest assaults and killings are not isolated incidents—they are part of a broader pattern of lawlessness that has taken hold in our communities because of David Eby’s weak stance on crime and public safety,” said BC Conservative Leader John Rustad, in a news release.
“The BC NDP has prioritized the rights of criminals over the safety of our citizens, and it’s the people of British Columbia who are paying the price.”
In a joint news conference, Vancouver Police Department Chief Const. Adam Palmer and Mayor Ken Sim said the attacks were horrific, disturbing and apparently completely random.
Using parking lots for temporary shelter nixed in tight Victoria council vote
The idea of allowing temporary overnight shelters on surface parking lots in the city was rejected by Victoria council Thursday in a tight vote. Council voted 5-4 to defeat a motion brought forward by Mayor Marianne Alto that would have given some churches and community organizations a tax break in exchange for the use of their surface parking lots to house the homeless. Councillors Jeremy Caradonna, Matt Dell, Stephen Hammond, Marg Gardiner and Chris Coleman voted against the motion, which would have made it possible for 13 properties to reclaim tax exemptions that are being phased out. Alto and councillors Krista Loughton, Susan Kim and Dave Thompson voted in favour of the initiative.
Non-profit facilities with parking lots that cover more than 50 per cent of their properties lost tax-exempt status for the lots last year.
Those groups, including the Anglican Church of St. Barnabas, the Victoria Edelweiss Club, the B.C. Muslim Association, the Polish White Eagle Hall and Bayanihan Cultural Society, are expected to see a 20 per cent property tax increase on the parking lots over the next five years.
The motion would have allowed those that decided to give up parking space for temporary housing to get an exemption on the tax. The tax rate varies based on the size and assessed value of the property. Anne Sharpe, general manager of the Edelweiss Club in James Bay, which has 33 parking stalls, said .
Man convicted of killing suspect in money-laundering case
A B.C. man has been convicted of killing an individual once alleged to have been at the centre of an international money-laundering operation.
B.C. Supreme Court Justice Jeanne Watchuk has found Richard Reed guilty of the first-degree murder of 44-year-old Jian Jun Zhu, the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) said in a statement Thursday.
Reed was also convicted of reckless discharge of a firearm and possession of a prohibited firearm.
A date for sentencing has yet to be set.
"This outcome is a testament to our commitment to justice and to our investigations," said IHIT's Cpl. Chase Smith in a statement.
The verdict comes almost four years after Reed fatally shot Zhu at a Japanese restaurant in Richmond, B.C., on Sept. 18, 2020. Zhu was one of the key figures in the RCMP's failed E-Pirate investigation into money laundering that was launched in 2015.
Documents related to E-Pirate alleged that Zhu ran an underground bank that laundered more than $200 million per year. All charges against Zhu, who denied any wrongdoing, were eventually stayed in November 2018. Zhu's name arose repeatedly at B.C. Supreme Court Justice Austin Cullen's commission into money laundering, which was established in May 2019 to examine the alleged flow of billions of dollars worth of dirty money through the province's casinos, real estate market, luxury car sales and the drug trade.
Whether you have a variable rate mortgage or are looking to buy your first home, British Columbians can expect a bit of a break in the cost of borrowing after the Bank of Canada lowered its key interest rate by 25 basis points on Wednesday. But it may not make homes any more affordable. The third consecutive rate cut was widely expected by economists and brings the central bank’s benchmark interest rate to 4.25 per cent. “We are going to start to see affordability conditions materially improve. However, it remains to be seen if it’s going to happen now or if they’re still awaiting further rate cuts,” hubrate.ca mortgage expert Penelope Graham said. “If you’re a home buyer, you might really be questioning your timing if you have the luxury of waiting it out. And so we might still see people sticking to the sidelines. But I
do think that we’re in store for a busier fall than certainly the spring and the summer.” Graham expects lenders to lower their prime rates to 6.45 per cent, and the lowest five-year variable mortgage rates to fall to around 5.3 per cent.
Homeowners with a variable rate mortgage can expect their next payment to be a little lower, while those with a fixed payment schedule will see more of their payment go towards their principle, instead of interest. Anyone shopping for a fixed rate mortgage may also be in luck, Graham says, as those rates are strongly influenced by the bond market, and bond yields have been dropping since Wednesday morning’s announcement.
“Last I checked, they are in that 2.8 per cent range and that will put downward pressure on fixed mortgage rates,” she said.
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Canadian woman faces life in Australian prison after 14.4kg of meth allegedly found in luggage
A Canadian woman is facing serious allegations that could end with her spending a life sentence in an Australian prison after border officials allegedly found millions of dollars worth of methamphetamine in a piece of luggage.
According to the Australian Border Force and Australian Federal Police, the unnamed woman began her journey in Vancouver, flying to Brisbane International Airport via Fiji.
On July 28, the 24-year-old woman was stopped to have her bags examined, the ABF
shared in a release on Monday. It explains officers allegedly found methamphetamine wrapped inside towels “that has been soaked in vinegar and layered with coffee beans.”
“Testing of the packages returned a presumptive positive result for methamphetamine,” the ABF stated. “The AFP charged the woman with one count of importing a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug, contrary to section 307.1 of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth). The offence carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.”
India Is Emerging as a Key Player in the Global AI Race
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The Reliance Chairman’s latest offering comes as India emerges as a crucial player in the global AI ecosystem, boasting a high-powered IT industry worth $250 billion, which serves many of the world’s banks, manufacturers and firms. As the world’s most populous country, India also has a robust workforce population with nearly 5 million programmers at a time when AI talent is in short supply globally, with analysts predicting that India’s AI services could be worth $17 billion by 2027, according to a recent report by Nasscom and BCG.
Puneet Chandok, the President of Microsoft India & South Asia, points to research that finds India has one of the highest AI adoption rates among knowledge workers, with 92% using generative AI at work—significantly
higher than the global average of 75%. “These insights highlight the significant impact of AI on the Indian workforce and the proactive steps being taken by both employees and leaders to integrate AI into their daily routines,” Chandok says, adding that the company is also powering initiatives that aim to equip 2 million people with AI skills by 2025.
The spotlight on India comes at a time when many countries around the globe are keen to foster their own competing AI systems rather than turning to the U.S. or China. In the last few years, the Indian government has nurtured an ecosystem where global players like Google and Meta, Indian businesses like Reliance Jio and Tata Consulting Services, and homegrown startups can take advantage of its cost-efficient technological landscape.
David Eby at a rally in North Delta’s campaign office
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The NDP leader went on to say “this hopeful vision is not untenable” and that the NDP wants British Columbians to have “a fair shot at building a good life in this province.” On a sidenote the Premier shared how BC has grown by 180,000 people last year.
He went on to emphasize how John Rustad, previously a BC Liberal party MLA and now the leader of the BC Conservative party, has a completely different view on what government should be. That the opposition party is proposing a huge cut to the health care budget.
“We cannot have quality health care if we cut four billion dollars from health care budget.”
He added how John Rustad “also stands against every single affordable housing initiative we put forward.”
The Premier also made a point to ask “why is it always Surrey that was the target of the BC Liberals.” He pointed out the lack of new schools being built in the fastest growing city, of tolls on Port Mann bridge which the residents of Surrey and south of the Fraser depend on and impacted the most. He conveyed a message of how the residents of Surrey and south of the Fraser have been left behind by the
BC Liberals, who are now calling themselves BC Conservative. He also touched on the fact of one of the BC Conservative party candidates who identifies as a white nationalist, of overt sexism towards women and how all this is not what the NDP stands for.
The Asian Star asked the Premier why isn’t the government taking on the responsibility for building affordable housing for low-income residents instead of depending on developers. Here’s his answer:
“One of the problems we had was the kind of housing needed was illegal in many parts of the province.” Here he is speaking of being able to build a duplex, triplex or fourplex without needing public hearings for approval to build multi-unit homes. All that took time, and now that red-tape is gone.
The Premier also informed how the government has given money directly to municipalities building and developing department to help fund them through the process of expediting new building permits. Premier Ebby stated how new building laws have also helped reduce the work city halls were doing previously when issuing building permits.
Nari Sabha celebrates 100 Years of championing women's rights and social progress
As Nari Sabha marks its 100th Anniversary, the organization honours its legacy of advocating for women's empowerment and social reform while pledging to continue shaping a brighter future for the next generation.
Speaking at the centennial celebration of Shri Sanatan Pradhinidhi Sabha in Nawaka, Nadi, Assistant Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection Sashi Kiran says their is a need for societal change, calling for stronger focus on youth and women's welfare.
She says according to the alarming statistics, two out of every three women face violence in their own homes. She adds our ancestors gave us spiritual knowledge and it is our responsibility to create a society where our children, youth, and women can thrive. She urges the community leaders to revive social reform efforts alongside spiritual gatherings that has
passed down by our ancestors. Kiran says our ancestors, despite having fewer resources, stood firm in their commitment to Dharma and social reform but it’s now our responsibility to create a society where our children, youth, and women can thrive by following the principles of the Ramayana and Gita. Kiran also calls for leaders to implement programs which should aim at curbing violence, drug abuse, and other social issues, emphasizing the need for role models who can inspire positive behavior.
Biman on issue of informal settlements
Mechanisms and plans to address the issue of informal settlements would be a feature of the National Development Plan (NDP), Finance Minister Professor Biman Prasad says. He told a stakeholders meeting with Nadawa area representatives and residents on Tuesday the plan would be launched soon. Prof Prasad said the Government was committed to addressing fundamental issues within informal settlements, and that the mid to long-term strategy was ensuring affordable housing to all the people of Fiji. “And part of
our National Development Plan, which will be launched very soon, will also establish mechanisms and plans to address the bigger issue of informal settlements,” he said.
“I don’t want to promise today that the issues will be resolved tomorrow. “We want to understand the situation well which has happened in the past 25 years. What was the agreement?” Prof Prasad said resolving long-standing issues would include residents obtaining proper titles, drainage and access to utility services such as sewerage, electricity and water. The Nadawa meeting included representatives from the Finance Ministry, Housing Ministry, Nasinu Land Purchase & Housing Co-operative Ltd.
Meth, cocaine, and marijuana found in high-stakes raid
Police have arrested a man believed to be one of the key players in the country’s drug trade. In a statement, Assistant Commissioner of Police Crime (ACP) Mesake Waqa confirmed the man was arrested by the Fiji Police Force’s Serious Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) with officers in the Western Division.
He said the team was gathering intelligence and information into the 29-yearold suspect’s involvement in the distribution of drugs. Following this, a joint raid was conducted at a home in Lautoka, which resulted in the seizure of white crystals, white powder, and dried green leaves, which were all confirmed to be methamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana respectively. He said smoking apparatuses, a digital weighing machine, a packing machine, and local and foreign currencies believed to be proceeds of crime were also seized from the home. In addition to the 29-year-old, two other men and a woman, 20, were arrested.
He said during the execution of the search
warrant, the suspect allegedly released his dog and tried to flee the scene. However, Mr Waqa said the man was pursued and arrested by officers. Meanwhile, three men and two women were arrested following a raid in Namaqumaqua, Serua. Mr Waqa said a mixture of white liquid and white substances, confirmed as methamphetamine, were seized during the raid. SOCU is the Fiji Police’s Narcotics Bureau, which changed its name after the Counter Narcotics Bureau was formed.
“The renaming of the unit also reflects the FPF’s comprehensive approach to tackling the illicit drug trade and associated serious organised crime such as money laundering, human trafficking and arms smuggling to name a few,”
Mr Waqa said. Mr Waqa said the Fiji Police Force was committed to seeing key players in the distribution of illicit drugs brought to justice.
He urged patience, as such efforts took time and needed an evidence-based approach to ensure a successful prosecution.
Rabuka unaware of concerns
Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has clarified he is unaware of any concerns raised by the Methodist Church of Fiji on Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection Lynda Tabuya’s statement.
Ms Tabuya received criticism on her suggestion for the death penalty on those who traffic excessive amounts of drugs.
“No, I have not been informed, I have not
heard from the MCIF directly,” Mr Rabuka told this newspaper.
When this edition went to press, Mr Rabuka had yet to respond to whether he would be meeting with Ms Tabuya when he returns to Fiji.
Mr Rabuka is presently in Tonga attending the 53rd Pacific Island Forum Leaders Meeting. The meeting will end tomorrow.
Officer, 3 others kidnapped by insurgents freed
Insurgents have freed four people, including an army officer who was abducted three days ago from a former stronghold of the Pakistani Taliban, the military said. Lt Col Khalid Ameer was kidnapped on Wednesday while he at a mosque to receive mourners after attending his father’s funeral, according to local police. The “unconditional release” of Ameer and three of his relatives on Saturday was secured due to the role played by tribal elders and “all the abductees have safely returned home,” the
military said in a statement without giving any further details.
No one claimed responsibility for the kidnappings in Dera Ismail Khan, a district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in northwest Pakistan. However, in video statements released hours after they were kidnapped, two of the abductees said they were in the custody of Pakistani Taliban. They also urged the government to accept their abductors’ demands, although these were unclear.
Breaking barriers: Hindu woman makes mark in
Pakistan's police force
Pakistani actress Nimra Khan suffered a near abduction ordeal last month while waiting for her car outside a hotel in Karachi's posh Defence Housing area. “Initially there were fingers pointed at me as well and many trivialised my incident in the media and social media platforms but the fact that DSP Manisha Ropeta handled my case helped me calm down and deal with the situation better,” she recalled. Nimra said speaking with an educated female police officer made her realise she was right in speaking about the incident in public.
Nimra just didn't speak with a female police officer; her case was handled by the first Hindu female officer in Sindh police, Ropeta, who has now spent two years on the force and become a name to reckon with. Given the fact that there are very few educated female officers in Pakistani police, Ropeta stationed as Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) in the Defence area has already made a big difference to the image of the police force in Sindh province.
“It keeps me inspired and motivated that the reasons I joined the police force have turned out to be correct,” DSP Ropeta said. “I have got respect and admiration from my fellow officers and those who I supervise purely on the basis of my work.
In the end, there might be some gender issues but I don't feel out of place nor does it count for anything that I am a Hindu woman. Even today when I put on my police uniform, it is a matter of pride for me and I hope girls in our community are inspired by my story to follow in my path,” she said.
In Pakistan police, there are two types of officer categories: the rankers who come through to higher positions on the basis of their experience, and those who get posted and promoted after clearing the Central Superior Services (CSS) examinations. Ropeta, who belongs to Jacobabad, passed her Sindh Public Services Commission examination in 2021, a rarity at that time even for her progressive-minded middle-class family.
Pakistan reports fourth case of mpox virus
Authorities in Pakistan on Sunday reported another case of monkeypox (mpox) virus amid the confusion about the total number of cases confirmed so far in the country.
The fourth case was detected in KhyberPakhtunkhwa (KP) province where authorities confirmed three previous infections of the virus. “The medical team at Peshawar airport transferred the patient (fourth case) to the Police and Services Hospital (PSH) after detecting symptoms of the virus during the screening,” KP Health Director Dr Irshad Ali Roghani said. All
patients returned from abroad and so far there was no local case reported.
Pakistan hasn’t learned lessons from 2022 deadly floods, experts say
ISLAMABAD (AP) — Millions of people in Pakistan continue to live along the path of floodwaters, showing neither people nor the government have learned any lessons from the 2022 devastating floods that killed 1,737 people, experts said Thursday, as an aid group said half of the victims among 300 people killed by rains since July are children.
Heavy rainfall is currently drenching those
areas that had been badly hit by the deluges two years ago.
The charity Save the Children said in a statement that floods and heavy rains have killed more than 150 children in Pakistan since the start of the monsoon season, making up more than half of all deaths in rain-affected areas.
The group said that 200 children have also been injured in Pakistan because of rains, which have also displaced thousands of people. Save the Children also said that people affected by floods were living in a relief camp in Sanghar, a district in the southern Sindh province, which was massively hit by floods two years ago. “The rains and floods have destroyed 80% of cotton crops in Sanghar, the primary source of income for farmers, and killed hundreds of livestock,” the charity said, and added that it’s supporting the affected people with help from a local partner.
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4 Indians burnt alive in Texas road mishap
Four Indian nationals, including a woman, lost their lives and several others were injured in a tragic multi-vehicle road accident in the US state of Texas during the Labour Day weekend.
According to the Collin County Sheriff’s Office, the accident involving five vehicles occurred on the northbound US 75 just past White Street at Anna near Dallas. Consul General of India in Houston DC Manjunath confirmed the identities and shared that the Consulate General of India (CGI) is in touch with the families and community organisations, providing full support during this tragic moment. According to witnesses and preliminary reports, traffic was at a standstill on the highway and an SUV was among those vehicles
that were halted when the accident took place on Friday afternoon. A truck travelling at a high speed failed to slow down and struck the rear of the SUV. The force of the collision was such that the SUV caught fire and the four occupants were trapped inside which resulted in their deaths. It took days to officially identify the victims as the bodies were charred beyond recognition.
Several others sustained non-life-threatening injuries though the exact number remains unclear. The victims were identified as Aryan Raghunath Orampatti from Kukatpally suburb of Hyderabad, his friend Farooq Sheikh, Lokesh Palacharla, another Telugu student, and Darshini Vasudev from Tamil Nadu.
In constant touch with India over Ukraine conflict: Putin
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday named India among the three countries he was constantly in touch over the Ukraine conflict and said they were sincerely making efforts to resolve it, state-owned TASS news agency reported.
Reporting on his remarks at the plenary session of the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) in Vladivostok, US media outlet Politico reported him as also saying, "If there is a desire of Ukraine to carry on with the negotiations, I can do that."
Putin's remarks came within two weeks after
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's historic visit to Ukraine where he held talks with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
"We respect our friends and partners, who, I believe, sincerely seek to resolve all issues surrounding the conflict, primarily China, Brazil and India. I constantly keep in touch with our colleagues on this issue,” Putin was quoted as saying by the Russian news agency.
19-year-old ‘raped’, murdered in Karnataka’s Bidar district, 3 arrested
A case of rape and murder has been registered after the body of a 19-year-old woman was found with multiple injuries days after she went missing from her home at Gunateerthawadi village in Bidar district of Karnataka, police said on Thursday.
Three persons have been arrested in connection with the incident, which allegedly happened on August 29, they added.
She was allegedly killed after being hit on head with a stone, and later her body was dumped in bushes, police said, adding, they suspect she was sexually assaulted. However, investigators are awaiting medical reports for confirmation. The victim was missing since August 29 and her parents lodged a complaint at the Basavakalyana police station two days later, police said. “We registered a missing case and started investigating. On September 1, her body was recovered with multiple injuries on her body including head. We registered
a case of murder initially and the accused were unknown. Then based on the technical evidence, we started searching for the accused and we found three people who were in contact with her on the day of her disappearance,” a senior police officer said. One of them, who also hails from the same village, was in direct contact with her. “So, we picked the accused and during interrogation, he confessed to the murder. During interrogation, he said that he went along with two others who were guarding him during the incident,” he said. “All the three accused have been arrested. We are waiting for the medical reports of the victim. She sustained head injuries among other injuries. On suspicion of sexual assault and based on interrogation, we have added sections of rape in the FIR,” he said. The prime accused and the victim knew each other well, police said, adding her parents were unaware of it. Further investigation is underway.
‘I am not a threat to society, grant me bail,’ Kejriwal urges Supreme Court; verdict reserved
Asserting that he was not a threat to society, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday urged the Supreme Court to grant him bail in a corruption case linked to the Delhi excise policy ‘scam’ even as the CBI said he can’t be given special treatment just because he’s an influential person.
Four prominent accused in the Delhi excise policy ‘scam’— AAP leaders Sanjay Singh and Manish Sisodia, BRS leader K Kavitha and AAP’s former communication in-charge Vijay Nair—have already been granted bail by the Supreme Court in cases relating to the scam. On July 12, the top court had granted interim bail to Kejriwal in the money-laundering case but he continued to be in jail following his June 26 arrest by the CBI in the corruption case.
On behalf of Kejriwal, senior counsel
Abhishek Manu Singhvi told a Bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan that being a constitutional functionary, he was not a threat to the society or a flight risk. Singhvi sought to highlight that Kejriwal was not named in the CBI FIR and he was not arrested for nearly two years in the excise policy ‘scam’. It was an ‘insurance arrest’ made on June 26 after he got bail in the “harsher” money laundering case, he added. The Bench expressed concern over the amount of time spent on hearing Kejriwal’s bail plea, wondering if such extensive hearings were afforded in routine bail cases. “Both sides we will hear… But we are wondering how long we should hear in a bail matter. Do ordinary mortals get this much time?” the Bench asked as Singhvi went into details of the alleged illegality of Kejriwal’s arrest by the CBI.
Flipkart told to refund Rs 29,890
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission here has directed Flipkart International Pvt Ltd to pay compensation of Rs 10,000 to a city resident who received a dummy mobile instead of the actual phone. The commission also directed to refund Rs 29,890 along with interest at 9 per cent per annum to the resident, Sumit Syal, a resident of Panjab University.
In the complaint filed before the commission, he said he had ordered a mobile phone online through Flipkart and made a payment of Rs 29,890 on September 25, 2019. When he opened the parcel he was stunned to see a dummy mobile phone inside. He took the photographs of the
dummy phone and complained to Flipkart but the issue did not get resolve. On the other hand, Flipkart and Ekart Logistics, appeared before the commission through their counsel and claimed that the complaint was not maintainable. Flipkart stated that it was e-commerce platform which acted as an intermediary to facilitate sale transactions between independent third party sellers and independent customers, so it or its operation entity could not be held liable. It falls in the definition of an “intermediary” under Section 2 (1) (w) of the information Technology Act, 2000. After hearing the arguments the commission said the record reveals that the amount had not been refunded, nor the dummy phone was replaced. Hence, the opposite parties were directed to refund the amount.
Insurance company, car owner , driver told to pay Rs 18.50 lakh compensation
The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal, Chandigarh, has directed an insurance company, driver and owner of a car to pay compensation of Rs 18.50 lakh to parents of a 23-year-old student Kapil, who died in an accident six years ago.
The claim petition has been filed by claimants Yashpal Sharma and Neelam, father and mother of Kapil, under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act for compensation. The claimants, both residents of Pathankot district, said on May 1, 2018, their son was going from Jammu to Pathankot in a car. On the way, when he reached Swankha Mor near Vijaypur police station, his car collided with a wrongly
parked tractor-trailer. They alleged that the car was being driven by the driver in a rash and negligent manner.
After the accident their son was taken to Government Medical College and Hospital, Jammu, where he was declared brought dead. An FIR under Sections 279 and 304-A of the IPC was registered against the driver with regard to the accident. The claimants said their son was a student of A&M Group of Institutes of BCA. The claimants claimed compensation of Rs 50 lakh along with interest at the rate of 18 per cent per annum from the date of accident till realisation. On the other hand, the driver and the owner of the car denied the allegations.
Chandigarh Administration implements system to check liquor smuggling
Five months after the introduction of the Excise Policy 2024-25, the UT Excise and Taxation Department has partially implemented the track and trace system to curb interstate smuggling of liquor.
The new excise policy has marked the first attempt by the department to implement a comprehensive track and trace system for monitoring the entire liquor supply chain. This system involves assigning a unique QR code to each liquor bottle at the production stage. Both individual bottles and cases would carry these unique identifiers, enabling stakeholders to verify the source and track the distribution flow by scanning the codes.
An official stated that the system had been made applicable to the new stock and it would take nearly two weeks to fully implement the system. He emphasised that licensees have been warned that no stock will be allowed to move without adhering to the track and trace system. A mobile application has been developed to verify the authenticity of liquor bottles by scanning their QR codes.
The track-and-trace system begins at the production stage, where each liquor bottle is assigned a unique identification code, a QR code. Both bottle and its packaging will carry these unique identifiers, allowing the source and movement of liquor to be traced accurately.
Punjab increases fuel rates, partially scraps power subsidy to boost revenue
The Punjab council of ministers on Thursday announced two major initiatives for raising revenue receipts of the cash-strapped state. The government has increased the prices of retail fuel and also withdrawn the scheme of giving subsidised power to domestic consumers having up to 7 KW load.
The decisions were taken at a meeting of the Punjab Cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann here. The prices of petrol have been increased by 61 paise per litre and those
of diesel by 92 paise per litre. This will help the state earn an additional Rs 1,500 crore to Rs 1,700 crore per annum. The government, which is under fiscal stress and found it “challenging” to even meet its committed liabilities for the month of August, delaying the release of salaries and pensions by four days, has taken these steps to keep the fiscal system going. It has also been decided to withdraw the scheme of giving subsidised power (at Rs 2.50 per unit) to domestic consumers having upto 7 KW of load. The scheme was announced by the previous Congress government when Charanjit Channi was the chief minister.
Announcing this, Finance Minister Harpal Cheema said the AAP government would continue giving 300 units of free power per month to domestic consumers. “But some consumers were getting dual subsidy. We have decided to abolish this. In doing so, the state will save Rs 392 crore per annum,” he said.
