The Asian Star February 20 2016 by The Asian Star Newspaper

www.theasianstar.com Vol 15 Issue 3

Saturday, February 20, 2016

Tel: 604-591-5423

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2 i Saturday, February 20, 2016

LOCAL

Premier Christy Clark repeats warning to B.C.’s realtors

remier Christy Clark reissued a stern warning to B.C.’s realtors on Wednesday, saying she has no patience for unethical behaviour and will personally intervene if a pending investigation by the Real Estate Council of B.C. fails to solve problems plaguing the industry. Meanwhile, Carolyn Rogers, the chairwoman of the advisory group tasked with leading the investigation, is expected to announce early next week the candidates whom she hand-picked to serve on her team. The group has been ordered to submit an interim report by April. Clark’s reminder, delivered at a Vancouver Board of Trade luncheon, came some 24 hours after the government tabled a budget that was roundly criticized for not going far enough in addressing some of the factors fuelling Metro Vancouver’s hot real estate market. While acknowledging the majority of B.C. realtors conduct themselves in an “ethical, honest and upfront way,” Clark said a “small number of realtors” have not been living up “to their ethical obligation.” “This is a hot market, and in a hot market, there is all kinds of opportunity for unsavoury speculators and unsavoury operators to get involved,” Clark said. “We want to make sure the real estate industry and the hard working realtors in British Columbia maintain their good name.” Clark repeated her position that government will

get involved if the real estate council is unable to prove through their investigation into issues such as “shadow flipping” that unscrupulous or dishonest behaviour by realtors is being “found out” and “being penalized.” Clark, however, wouldn’t say if she was looking for, or wanting the council to return with, disciplinary action against specific realtors. She also wouldn’t commit her government to directly penalizing realtors should the investigation conclude the council hasn’t been responding appropriately. “I’m hopeful the report is going to come back and we will find out that the rules have been followed and, where they haven’t, the proper discipline has been meted out,” she said. Opposition housing critic David Eby said it was “ironic” that the premier was talking about enforcing rules, given that her government didn’t use this latest budget as an opportunity to close the tax loophole that some realtors are exploiting during “shadow flipping.” Eby said a scan of recent disciplinary decisions by the council suggests the reprimands levied against realtors have not been in line with the infractions they’ve committed. “I’ve seen examples of fraud, I’ve seen realtors cheating clients and ripping them off and getting 30-day suspensions, or at most, a year suspension,” he said. “It’s almost impossible to lose your licence to practice real estate in British Columbia.”

BC Liberal MLA tells taxpayers to get out of Vancouver if you a cant afford to buy a house

heated debate on housing prices took a sudden turn in the British Columbia legislature Monday when a sitting MLA said people don’t have a “God-given right” to live in Vancouver. While debating a motion on affordable housing, Liberal MLA Laurie Throness, of Chilliwack-Hope, rejected the notion that government intervention is required in the housing market. “I wanted to live in Vancouver, so I explored that option. I didn’t even explore the option of buying a detached home, but I looked for condos and soon found I wasn’t able to afford to live there,” said Throness, who makes a base salary of $102,878 and claimed $20,209 in expenses in 2013/14. “There’s nothing wrong with that. I didn’t go to the papers. I didn’t complain to government. I didn’t complain to the opposition. I didn’t go to the Human Rights Tribunal. I bought in Abbotsford.” He said the notion that everyone should

expect to be able to afford to live in Vancouver is “incorrect.” He suggested NDP Vancouver-Point Grey MLA David Eby – who has been demanding government action on skyrocketing housing costs, suspicious real estate activity and urging for more data on the potential impact of foreign money in the market – should move if he finds the city too expensive. “The member could come to Hope. He could come to Agassiz. He could come to Harrison Hot Springs. They’re all beautiful places to live and very affordable,” Throness said. “We can’t change what I would call the major structural elements of the Vancouver housing market. In fact, I would say that many homeowners are very happy about the rising value of their homes. “No one has a God-given right to live in a particular place. We all have to tailor our expectations to our income,” he concluded. “That means that people like me will probably never live in Vancouver, but I do not consider myself a victim.”

B.C. asbestos removal company faces contempt of court hearing

n asbestos-removal company is in court starting Monday to face accusations it repeatedly exposed its workers to the deadly construction material. Labour organizations in British Columbia are calling for jail time against Seattle Environmental Consulting Ltd. director Mike Singh and his son Shawn Singh. The B.C. Federation of Labour and the B.C. Insulators Union have released a statement saying the two men breached court orders on multiple occasions demanding that they not violate workplace regulations. Court filings from WorkSafeBC allege the violations have taken place since a 2013 B.C. Supreme Court decision, which fined the company and the Singhs $15,000. B.C. Insulators Union spokesman

Lee Loftus says jail time is appropriate when workplace safety rules are violated not just once but repeatedly. “It is intolerable that with asbestos being the leading cause of workplace deaths in B.C., that any contractor can violate worker health and safety regulations repeatedly and not face serious consequences,” said Loftus in a release. Hesaystheunionhasseenhundredsofmembers die from asbestos-caused mesothelioma and other cancers due to exposure on the jobs. “We want to see the B.C. Supreme Court set a strong example that workplace health and safety laws and regulations must not be violated,” he added. Asbestos is a substance traditionally used as a building insulator.

www.theasianstar.com

Vol 15

Issue 3 Saturday, February 20, 2016

Tel: 604-591-5423

How to plot the future of driverless cars

Woman of Substance: Manmohan Kaur Sekhon

Page

5 Canadian women have conceived children with ISIL fighters

n their bid to raise “the next generation of mujahedeen,” at least five Canadian women have conceived children with ISIL fighters, according to radicalization researcher Amarnath Amarasingam. “We think there’s about 10 to 12 Canadian women who have gone to (ISIL-controlled territory in) Syria, of those, three have had children and two are currently pregnant,” said Amarasingam. A post-doctoral fellow at Dalhousie University, Amarasingam has been conducting a detailed survey of Westerners who have left to become foreign jihadists. He’s talked to recruits to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) via social media. He’s interviewed fighters at the SyrContinued on page 6

Page

3 Indian-Americans could be US Supreme Court judge nominees

hree Indian-American legal luminaries may be among the possible candidates whom US President Barack Obama could nominate as a Supreme Court judge following the sudden death of conservative icon Justice Antonin Scalia. Within hours of the death of Scalia at a ranch in Texas, the name of Chandigarhborn Sri Srinivasan popped up as the top contender to the post. Sri Srinivasan, 48, is currently the US Circuit Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for

India’s $4 smart phone rings the world

ndian phone maker Ringing Bells launched a US$4 smartphone on Thursday, with huge customer demand promptly crashing the little-known company’s website hours after the phone went on sale. The Freedom 251 was unveiled a day ahead of the launch and is being sold for 251 rupees (US$3.66) — a price that skeptics said was far lower than what its components would cost. The smartphone went on sale in the Ringing Bells employees showing off the new ultra-cheap phone. morning but the company later stopped acRinging Bells, based in the Delhi satellite city cepting orders after its website crashed. “We of Noida, was set up only last year and the humbly submit that we are therefore taking launch event for the new phone on Wednesa pause,” it said in an apology to customers. Continued on page 6

the District of Columbia Circuit which many call as a stepping stone to the Supreme Court. He is not only considered as a favourite of Obama, who has called him as a trailblazer, but also his nomination to the Court of Appeals was confirmed by a record 97-0 votes, which is an achievement given the bitter political divide in the US Senate. The White House yesterday refused to give any indication of the list of persons Obama is looking into to zero in on his Continued on page 7

BC Budget won’t help families buy a home in Vancouver

he promise of the B.C. budget was that help is on the way so that more families can realize the dream of home ownership. The reality, say academics and economists, is that the measures will do little to allow those families to get into Metro Vancouver’s superheated real estate market. “It is like bringing a penknife to a gun fight,” said real estate economist Tom Davidoff of the University of B.C.’s Sauder School of Business. “The impact will be pretty darn minimal.” Tuesday’s budget increases the Property Transfer Tax on properties sold for more than $2-million, from the current 2 per cent to a rate of 3 per cent. That change is expected to pay for a new exemption from the Continued on page 7

South Asian ‘smiling bandit’ arrested

Another South Asian arrested for hold up of Newton TD bank branch

South Asian “smiling bandit” police believe is responsible for a series of bank robberies in Vancouver and Burnaby has been arrested. In Surrey Manpreet Singh was arrested after a hold up at TD’s Newton branch and charged. (See story on page 11) Vancouver Police issued a public appeal Thursday afternoon to help them nab a robber who appeared to flash a grin on his way into ‘Smiling bandit’ caught in action a bank. They received sevContinued on page 6 eral tips and the man was arrested at about 8:30 pm.

4 i Saturday, February 20, 2016 By Dr. Paul Kershaw remier Christy Clark criticized Alberta last week for failing to diversify its economy or manage its books, hoping to convince everyone that her province is doing much better. It’s not - at least from a generational perspective. For Canadians in their 20s, 30s, 40s and their children, B.C. has the worst economy in the country. The 2016 pre-election budget delivered last week does little to fix it. The bulk of today’s aging population came of age around 1976. Back then, young people in B.C. earned around $51,000 for full-time work (inflation adjusted). Today, full-time earnings pay the typical 25-to-34-year-old around $43,000. That’s the largest decline of any province in the nation. Simultaneously, housing prices have exploded here more than anywhere else. In 1976, a young adult could buy a B.C. home for around $217,000 (in today’s dollars). Now homes cost nearly $600,000 on average - even though many are smaller condos with balconies, not houses with yards. This divide between earnings and the cost of housing reveals that the standard of living for younger British Columbians has taken a

OPINION

B.C. drunk on high housing prices

nos e dive. It used to take five years for a typical young Canadian to save a 20 per cent down payment on an average home. Now it takes 12 years across the country, 15 years in Metro Toronto, 16 years across all of B.C., and 23 years in Metro Vancouver. Even if we ignore that average prices have been skewed by the uber-wealthy, just 15 per cent of homes in Metro Vancouver cost less than half a million dollars and have three bedrooms - enough rooms for a family with two kids. This region includes half the province’s population, residing in cities that stretch from Delta to Langley and Maple Ridge. No matter how much the premier and Finance Minister Michael de Jong brag about the province having the best growth rates in the country and about B.C.’s triple-A credit status, they are leading the worst-performing economy for younger Canadians when measured by the interaction of earnings relative to the cost of living. The 2016 budget offers little to tackle this problem. Yes, it allocates $355 million over five years to put toward housing affordability. While this money will help up to 2,000 families, it is not up to the

political parties heading into the 2017 election. Dr. Paul Kershaw is the founder of task of fixing a housing market that is bro- Generation Squeeze, and a policy professor ken for younger citizens, who number in the in the UBC School of Population and Pubhundreds of thousands. Exempting purchas- lic Health. ers from paying the property transfer tax on homes up to $750,000 is the only policy change that reaches this broad group of residents. But the resulting savings can’t compare with housing prices up hundreds of thousands of dollars. As Alcoholics Anonymous tell us, the first step to solving a problem is acknowledging it. It’s time for the B.C. government to concede that the existence of escalating housing prices is no longer an absolute good. While great for homeowners, especially those with decades of equity gains, increases are bad for their kids and grandchildren. The B.C. budget ignores this. It proposes no new annual taxes on housing wealth, nor does it offer any real measures to minimize speculation. The budget also does not reduce other major costs that young adults face. Child care still costs the equivalent of a second annual mortgage payment. Sharing time at home with a new baby on parental leave costs the equivalent of a third mortgage payment. Transportation, especially from the suburbs in Metro Vancouver, can approximate another mortgage payment. While B.C. isn’t spending substantially more to reduce these costs for younger Canadians, it is increasing spending on medical care ... again. Health spending is up by more than half a billion dollars. Now health-care spending on seniors alone adds up to one-third more than spending on all of grade school, or all of post-secondary schooling. This reflects the ongoing age-biased pattern in provincial government spending. When combined with federal and municipal expenditures, governments spend more than $33,000 per retiree compared to less than $12,000 per person under 45. Supporting the aging population is critical, including with their health care and retirement income security. But it is equally critical to fix the economic problems plaguing their children and grandchildren in B.C. Making this province work for every generation must become a top priority for all B.C.

Saturday, February 20, 2016

i 5

Local

6 i Saturday, February 20, 2016

India’s $4 smart phone rings the world

From page 1 day night was attended by a senior leader from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party. Company president Ashok Kumar Chadha said the Android smartphone would have pre-installed apps that tie into Modi initiatives such as ‘Make in India’ and ‘Clean India.’ “Let us see what can we do to bring about a real liberation of Freedom to all our brothers and sisters,” he said in a speech, referring to the name of the new phone to make a play on words. In its notice to customers the company said it was receiving 600,000 hits per second on its website, although it did not say how

many of those hits converted to real orders. India is Asia’s fastest growing smartphone market with 103.6 million smartphones sold in 2015. Most Indians still buy cheap smartphones that cost less than US$200. Although the company didn’t discuss the economics behind the operation, analysts questioned the business model. “It looks like it’s highly subsidized by the company and it’s not clear how they plan to sustain this,” said Tarun Pathak an analyst with Counterpoint Technology Research. Previous attempts at frugal engineering in India have not been very successful.

South Asian man to be “almost like PM” for a day

rabjote, or ‘PJ’ as his friends call him, is a teenager with a passion for politics.

In fact, his career goal is to become Canada’s prime minister someday. When PJ’s battle with Hodgkin lymphoma made him eligible to be a Make-A-Wish® recipient, he knew right away that his wish was to be the nation’s leader. Together with the assistance of staff at the Prime Minister’s Office, the Senate, the House of Commons, the RCMP, the Prime Minister’s Protection Detail, the Supreme Court of Canada and the Fairmont Chateau Laurier, Make-A-Wish has

planned a wish trip for PJ that will give him the chance to experience what it’s like to be the prime minister during his five-day visit to Ottawa this week. PJ, who is visiting from Toronto, will stay

in the Presidential Suite at the Chateau Laurier and receive a formal prime minister’s welcome from the hotel staff and management. The RCMP and Prime Minister’s Protection Detail have arranged a full day of activities including tours of their facilities and a visit to the Musical Ride Branch and stables.

5 Canadian women have conceived children with ISIL fighters From page 1 ian border. And, with the promise of strict anonymity, he has met with the Canadian families who harbour the terrible secret of having a son or daughter in the world’s most notorious jihadist group. “There’s a kind of trauma that many of these parents live with; they feel that they missed some kind of key sign,” he said. “A lot have been unable to go to work. At least one father has descended into alcoholism.” As Amarasingam explained, “it’s not simply that their child has made a mistake,” but they now have grandkids growing up in a war zone from which they likely may never emerge alive. Plus, ISIL has had no qualms about using young children as executioners. “Lions are obligated to teach their cubs hunting skills,” one ISIL fighter told Amarasingam in January when he asked why they were having their children “introduced to war and killing so young.” The Canadian women hail almost exclusively from urban areas and are aged between 19 and 26. They are either converts from Christian or secular families, or grew up in families

South Asian ‘smiling bandit’ arrested

From page 1 Thursday, following the 10th robbery at a Burnaby TD Bank. “With advances in video technology, evidence collection and security measures at banks, it’s not a matter of if you will caught for robbing a bank, it’s a matter of when,” said VPD Sgt. Randy Fincham. Police had earlier asked for the public’s help in catching what they described as a “prolific bank robber.” The thief is believed to have hit nine banks, including CIBC, TD and BMO, since Jan. 20, and each time the suspect said he had a weapon. The suspect was described as South Asian, in his 20s, about 5-foot-5, with a skinny build and short black hair. Cops released

aman@ewfinancial.ca

of lapsed Muslims. While Amarasingam said it has been the case in Europe that radicalized Muslim families have groomed a child for jihad, Canada’s ISIL recruits all turned their back on families they saw as decadent sellouts. Most notable was the case of RCAF Cpl. Wayne Driver, who was helping to train Canada’s anti-ISIL bombing mission when he received word that his son Aaron had been arrested while attempting to make his way to ISIL-controlled territory. “I still can’t understand how your kid could do something like that, especially when you did your best like any parent to raise him,” Driver told Postmedia in October. Amarasingam said the warning signs are usually subtle. New friends, new behaviours, more time spent online. And then suddenly, a child is either in RCMP custody or messaging home from the Middle East. “Because you have an 18-year-old, you don’t associate (these new behaviours) with Syria, you just think you have an asshole kid,” he said. “In hindsight everything starts to make sense.”

three photos of the suspect, including one in which he wears appears to flash a toothy grin on his way into the bank. At one time Vancouver was known as the bank robbery capital of North America, but the incidence ofrobberies has decreased dramatically over the last few years. Between 2003 and 2009, Vancouver averaged 152 bank robberies a year, peaking at 203 robberies in 2004. But between 2013 and 2015, the average rate was only 36 a year, according to figures supplied by the Vancouver police. Eight years ago, Vancouver’s per-capita rate of bank robberies (30 robberies per 100,000 population) was six times higher than Toronto’s.

LOCAL From page 1

Saturday, February 20, 2016

i 7

BC Budget wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t help families

tax on new homes sold for up to $750,000, a measure that was crafted to encourage more new home construction. But the savings to the home buyer who qualifies for that exemption, worth up to $13,000, could simply end up in the builderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pocket because of the fierce competition for homes in the under-supplied markets in the Metro Vancouver region, he said. Robert Kavcic, senior economist for BMO Capital Markets, agreed. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I honestly donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think it will do a lot to help affordability,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;At the end of the day, it could just end up boosting prices for new homes in that sub-$750,000 range. If some-

one is saving $10,000-$13,000 in taxes, there is $10,000-$13,000 more in their budget to bid.â&#x20AC;? Finance Minister Mike de Jong said in an interview Wednesday he can put more money into peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pockets with the measures announced in his budget but it may take some time before the new supply begins to make a measurable difference in the toughest markets. â&#x20AC;&#x153;For people sitting on Kits Beach, this might be challenging, but you have got to take into account the broader needs of the entire province of British Columbia. Housing challenges and the importance of getting into the housing market are not unique and exclusive to [Vancouverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s] Point Grey.â&#x20AC;?

3 Indian-Americans could be US Supreme Court judge nominees

From page 1

for the next Supreme Court judge. But given his track record - wherein he has appointed a record number of Indian-American judges to various US courts - and him publicly praising some of them, it would not be a big surprise that in addition to Srinivasan a few other individuals from the community too figure up in his list. Among them could be his home town resident Neal Katyal, who served as Acting Solicitor General of the US from May 2010 until June 2011 and California Attorney General Kamala Harris, who is considered to be very close to Obama. Harris, who traces her roots to Chennai, is currently running for the US Senate seat in California. On Monday several media outlets mentioned Harris as among the potential ones who could replace Scalia in the Supreme Court. Harris, 51, who was among the six

people mentioned by New York Times, has not reacted to the speculation so far. In 2011, she became the first African-American, Asian-American, Indian-American and woman to hold the post of California attorney general. Many say Katyal, who would turn 46 on March 12, could emerge as a dark horse in the process. With extensive experience in matters of patent, securities, criminal, employment, and constitutional law, he has orally argued 27 cases before the Supreme Court of the United States, with 25 of them in the last six years. Obama intends to nominate someone as Supreme Court judge who honours constitutional responsibilities, have impeccable credentials and understands how laws affect the daily realities of peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lives, the White House said.

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8 i Saturday, February 20, 2016

PERSON OF THE WEEK Chhavi Disawar

Saturday, February 20, 2016

i 9

Manmohan Kaur Sekhon - A woman of substance

hey say, ’hardwork pays off well’, and if that hardwork is mixed up with set goals and dedication, it create wonders. When someone starts off with one thing, he/she is excited for the result; however, in lieu of achieving success fast, they forget their targets and end up

messing things together. Talking about starters in Financial Services, it’s a matter of huge commitment and sincerity. The glittery field attracts almost everyone out there but sustaining is not everyone’s cup of tea. However if we talk about Manmohan, this lady with her commitment, hard work ,and result oriented approach has achieved the dream of millions who enter this field. Manmohan is an independent insurance broker who is working as a Financial Advisor at Desjardins Financial Security Independent Network at Richmond South Financial Centre. Being from education background and having worked as a Botany Professor at Govt. College of Girls, Sector 42, Chandigarh, India she likes to keep herself updated with ongoing matters in the fields of her interest. “I love reading, especially something that adds up to my skills of Financial Planning. I like to be at par and motivate myself to achieve more everyday”, told Manmohan in an interview with The Asian Star. Manmohan is a focused lady who has a clear vision of her targets. Her hard work and ideology of being consistent in her profession is the key for her to win Rookie of the Year award 2015 at such an initial stage which has also been covered by prominent Punjabi news channel in Canada and India. Manmohan has earned Master’s title in Desjardins Financial Security Independent Network in her first year that has put her amongst the elite of the network. “I am thankful to my MD Mr. Perminder

Chohan for his stupendous guidance for my success. I am in the field of Financial Planning with Desjardins from past one year but it feels great to see your toil reaping the fruit well deserved”, smiled Manmohan. Remembering her first achievement she

told, “I won 16/16 challenge earlier last year. This challenge is a part of our synergy training ,where we are suppose to complete 16 policies in 16-week’s time. I was so passionate for the field that I completed the full challenge within eight weeks.”

to her clients. She always analyses the need of her clients and prepare options catering to their priorities. “The problem today in Financial Services is that masses listen to the unlicensed people that becomes very difficult for a learned Financial Planner to tackle with. My advice to such people is that before making any decision, they should always seek for a second opinion from a licensed advisor”, told Manmohan. Manmohan’s husband Rajdeep Sekhon is also a well renowned Financial Advisor who’s serving the community with his services for past four years. Apart from this, his passion for singing has put him to the spotlight amongst various communities. “The support of your family is the most important element in your recipe of success. I am highly thankful to my partner and daughters for the unconditional support in my hard times”, said Manmohan. Manmohan started her career under the guidance of Mr. Rajdeep Sekhon who is currently training five new recruits in the field. Also he guides t h e m w i t h Marketing a n d Sales techniques in order to make

them successful like Manmohan. “ We as a team are proactive and we look forward to create a group of winning professionals who could inspire others in the community like we are inspiring at this point”, smiled Manmohan. Manmohan is a full-time Financial Planner unlike others who take it as a part-time profession and that makes all the difference. Apart from being a very professional lady, Manmohan’s creative side is worth appreciating. “ I like to do creative writing and cooking in my free time. Also I try to maintain my time schedule and spend quality time with my family”, told Manmohan. The Sekhon team is adroit at providing services inclusive of Life Insurance, Critical Illness Insurance, Disability Insurance, Super Visa, Visitor/ Travel/ Medical Insurance, RESP, RRSP and TFSA. For details and trustworthy services, Contact: Manmohan Sekhon (604) 358-0590 manmohan.sekhon@dfsin.ca

After winning the first task, she never looked back and with her perseverance she was elected as the leader of her financial centre by Desjardins Financial Security Independent Network and got her name in Top 10 list of DFSIN in submitted business, Canada wide in Pursuit of Excellence 2015 awards. “ I have won Recruit’s Conference, Toronto where I will be going in May this year. Also I will be heading towards Dubrovnik, Croatia and Vienna, Austria for Masters and Sales Conference respectively during the same time. Now my focus is to sustain my position and inspire other people to come along”, smiled Manmohan. The beauty of Manmohan’s consultancy is that she never rushes to sell products

Manmohan Kaur Sekhon

10 i Saturday, February 20, 2016

LOCAL

Saturday, February 20, 2016

Chinese investors by Vancouver’s real estate gem - four towers of Bentall Centre

hinese investors have won one of the most important commercial real estate auctions in Vancouver history, swooping in to grab a controlling interest in all four towers of the Bentall Centre. Sources confirmed to the Financial Post that Anbang Insurance Group Co. Ltd., a Beijing-based company with a reported US$114 billion in assets, is buying what amounts to a 66 per cent stake in Bentall I, II, III and IV — a sprawling commercial 1.5-million-square-foot office complex, with some retail, in the heart of Vancouver. It was reported in October that Ivanhoé Cambridge Inc., a subsidiary of Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, was selling its stake in the four towers. The price

paid by Anbang values the entire complex at more than $1 billion, according to sources. The deal has not yet closed. Anbang has been been looking for more opportunities in Canada after paying $110 million last year for a land lease of HSBC Building at 70 York St. Toronto. The Chinese company bought the land lease, which gives it ownership of the building for a set period of time, from Brookfield Office Properties in what was considered one of the highest recent valuations for a building in Toronto. It’s an absolute jewel of a property But the insurance company’s biggest North American splash was probably in 2014 when it bought the famed Waldorf Astoria in New York City for US$1.9 billion.

South Asian suspect arrested and charged after hold up at Newton TD branch

ed to be Manurrey police preet Singh, arrested a man of Surrey. without inciA crowd dent Tuesday after outside the he barricaded himbank apself inside a bank plauded. following a susThe man pected armed robappeared to bery hours earlier. be in his 20s Around 8:30 a.m. or 30s and police received mulwas weartiple calls about a ing a blue robbery in progshirt. ress at the TD A man, reportedly Manpreet Singh has been taken into plaid Shortly afterCanada Trust in police custody after a day-long incident at a TD Canada ward, Surrey Trust branch in Newton the 13600-block 72nd Avenue. RCMP announced on its Twitter account that Police tried unsuccessfully to make contact a man was in custody. No one else was located with anyone who might have been inside inside the building, police said in a release. The robbery unit will head up an investigation. the bank, using a variety of methods, and As of midday, police had said they weren’t a police negotiator had been standing by. sure whether the lone suspect was still Police tape blocked off the area where dozens of bystanders watched events unfold all inside the building or if he was armed. Surrey RCMP spokesman Cpl. Scotty morning. Patrol units, police dog services, the robbery unit and Lower Mainland emergen- Schumann told reporters at the scene that cy response team were deployed to the scene. the suspect indicated during the robbery The standoff ended without incident around that he had a weapon, but whether he actu2:20 p.m. with an Emergency Response Team ally had one wasn’t clear. He would not conofficer escorting a man from the building firm what kind of weapon was indicated. The standoff left roads in the vicinity closed toward a police truck, six hours after police were first called.The charged person is report- into the afternoon, including 72nd Ave-

Toronto, Vancouver at risk of correction, TD warns, after January home sales and prices surge

urging sales in the piping hot real estate markets of Toronto and Vancouver last month prompted one of Canada’s big banks to express concerns Tuesday that the cities may be at risk of a home price correction. The Canadian Real Estate Association reported Tuesday that sales of existing homes rose by eight per cent in January compared to a year ago, while the national average home price soared 17 per cent. But it was the sales figures for Vancouver and Toronto that drew considerable notice from economists. The average sale price in greater Vancouver rose 32.3 per cent year-over-year to nearly $1.1 million, while in greater Toronto it climbed 14.2 per cent to $631,092. The Multiple Listing Service benchmark price — a figure that CREA says is more representative of the market — rose to $775,300 in great Vancouver, an increase of roughly 21 per cent compared to January 2015. In greater Toronto, the benchmark price climbed roughly 11 per cent year-over-year to $578,400. TD economist Diana Petramala said some of the strength in the Toronto and Vancouver markets may have been bolstered by buyers looking to get into the market before new mortgage down payment rules took effect Monday. New federal regulations require larger down payments on homes that cost between $500,000 and $1 million. “While we continue to believe that

things just can’t get any hotter, markets in B.C. and Ontario continue to prove us wrong,” Petramala said in a note to clients.

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12 i Saturday, February 20, 2016

Budget 2016

Opposition raps ‘fantasy fund,’ MSP hike

he B.C. Liberal government’s new “prosperity fund” is effectively financed by Medical Services Plan fees, not the natural gas windfall promised by Premier Christy Clark three years ago, say opposition MLAs. In her response to the B.C. budget Tuesday, NDP finance critic Carole James said relief from MSP fees for lower-income families doesn’t take effect until January 2017, along with another four per cent overall rate increase. A new $100 million “fantasy fund” is raised through MSP revenue and other fee increases rising this year, James said. Changes introduced by Finance Minister Mike de Jong will exempt children from MSP rate calculations,

and raise the qualifying income for the full rate from $30,000 to $42,000 for single people. That single adult rate rises to $78 a month starting next January, the latest of a series of increases for Canada’s only dedicated medical service fees. Green Party leader Andrew Weaver said the MSP changes are a “halfway step” in the right direction. “We see individuals and families earning modest incomes continuing the pay the same rates as those who are earning six-digit salaries, and assistance remains contingent on an opt-in system,” Weaver said. James said contrary to de Jong’s description of a nation-leading provincial economy, B.C.’s private sector job growth is sixth among provinces and average consumer debt is $10,000 higher than the national average.

BC gov’t will ding taxpayers to pay for $20.6 billion in capital infrastructure projects

ictoria plans to dig deep into taxpayers pockets to help pay for $20.6 billion in capital infrastructure projects over the next three years. The cash is earmarked for hospitals, schools, roads and other infrastructure, and about $12 billion of it is taxpayer-supported, said Finance Minister Michael de Jong in Tuesday’s budget speech. “We do borrow,” de Jong said, shortly after boasting that his government’s “prudent and disciplined” actions have meant that British Columbians didn’t run up a grocery tab then ask their kids to pay it off. “Today, on the strength of our balanced operating budgets, we borrow only to build,” he continued. Most of that spending — a record level of investment, the minister claimed — will go to previously announced projects, but the budget included a sprinkling of new announcements. About $8.6 billion in spending is self-supported and will go toward BC Hydro, B.C. Lottery Corporation, Insurance Corp. of B.C., and Liquor Distribution Board projects among others. Jim Brander, a professor at the University of B.C.’s Sauder School of Business, explained the difference between the two types of debt. “If the government contributes money to BC Hydro to build a new dam … we sort of don’t worry about it. We know we can generate a lot of revenue off that dam,” Brander said. “Things like schools, hospitals, roads — assuming we’re not charging tolls — those

things are all taxpayer-supported debt.” About $3.1 billion of all that cash will help drive the province’s transportation infrastructure. The province earmarked $31 million in funding this and next year for the planning of the $3.5-billion George Massey Tunnel replacement project, but that interim cash will only be spent if a business case passes Treasury Board scrutiny, according to the government’s fiscal plan. Newly announced projects include changes to Highway 1 from Monte Creek to Pritchard and a widening of Highway 97 in Kelowna. Cash for the Evergreen rapid transit line, work on the Cariboo Connector and a rebuilt Fort Nelson River Bridge are also among the budget items. Federal Infrastructure Minister Amarjeet Sohi told reporters last week his government had yet to tell Victoria how much federal money would be injected into the province and that question mark appeared in the provincial plan for transportation spending. “Over the coming months, B.C. will continue to work with federal and municipal governments to identify priorities,” read a line in the fiscal plan, suggesting the province’s transportation plans could shift with news from Ottawa. Cash for the Centre for Mental Health and Addictions in Coquitlam is among some $2.9 billion in capital expenditures dedicated in the budget to health projects around the province. Much of the remaining cash will go to a new patient care tower at the Penticton Regional Hospital, a new acute care centre at Children’s and Women’s Hospital in Vancouver, new hospitals in Courtenay and Campbell River, a clinical services building at Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops

Budget 2016 Fourth consecutive balanced budget sees tweaks on housing taxes, MSP increase

he B.C. government delivered its Opposition housing critic David Eby fourth-consecutive balanced bud- said he was particularly disappointget on Tuesday, a “budgetary ed that the government didn’t move to grand-slam” that included modest steps close the loophole on shadow flipping, to address Metro Vancouver’s housing af- the loophole on the property transfer fordability crisis, tweaks to the Medical tax for bare trusts, or move to impose a Services Plan and a pledge to begin col- speculation tax on absentee internationlecting data on foreign home ownership. al investors, as has been proposed by a Headlining Finance Minister’s Mike de group of University of B.C. economists. Jong’s $47.5-billion budget, which project“(Those measures) would have generated ed a surplus of $264 million, were consid- tens if not hundreds of millions of dollars erable changes to the decades-old proper- for affordable housing initiative across the ty transfer tax, including the creation of a province,” he said. “Instead, they let the new tax threshold for high-end properties loopholes carry on so realtors can avoid that will see a three per cent charge on the this tax, and everyone else has to pay it.” value of a home over Budget 2016 the $2-million mark. also unveiled De Jong said the essignificant timated $75 million changes to the generated by this new much-mabracket will be offset ligned Medical by a new exemption of Services Plan, the tax that will apply which will to newly built homes come into efand condos priced up fect next Januto $750,000. The exempary. Under the tion, which will save a new formula, buyer up to $13,000 on children will be a new home, will apply excluded from to Canadian citizens or the calculation, permanent residents, remeaning the gardless of whether they monthly rate of are first-time buyers. each household “We are hoping this will will be based create an incentive to exclusively on construct more, develthe number of op more housing,” said Finance Minister Michael de Jong tries on his adults residde Jong. “This is a big newly soled Budget 2016 dress shoes at Olde ing there. AnTown Shoe Repair in Victoria change. We’ll be trackother change ing closely the changes to the MSP they have on market and market behaviour. “ will see premiums increased for couThe new exemption will exist alongside the ples, who will now pay twice the indicurrent first-time homeowner’s program vidual rate paid by single adults, a meathat applies to homes priced up to $475,000. sure that is expected to cost an estimated Further initiatives on the housing front 530,000 couples an extra $14 a month. will see government begin collecting specific This will be in addition the annual four information on who is purchasing proper- per cent increase to MSP premiums that ties, including the name and citizenship of is scheduled to take effect next January. individual and corporate buyers, as well as The business community responded fanew disclosure requirements around trans- vourably to the budget, with the Vancouferring properties into bare trusts — some- ver Board of Trade giving it an overall thing the government stopped doing in 1998. letter grade of “A” for the government’s De Jong stressed that this new measure “commitment to disciplined spending, was by no means an attempt to discourage paying down direct operating debt, and foreign investment in B.C. housing or from improving B.C.’s tax competitiveness.” foreigners coming to and living in B.C. The budget, which projects the economy The proposed changes received mixed re- to grow by 2.4 per cent in 2016, also includviews, with groups such as the Canadian ed a sprinkle of tax credits such as: a new Home Builders Association and the Real credit for farmers who donate food, the Estate Association of B.C. applauding the expansion of the seniors’ home renovation moves, and the B.C. NDP and Green Par- tax credit to include people with disability saying they don’t go far enough in ad- ties, and an extension of the mining explodressing the bigger forces behind Metro ration tax credit for another three years. Vancouver’s skyrocketing housing prices.

Saturday, February 20, 2016

Budget promises PST review, tracking of foreign home ownership

.C.’s Liberal government released its 2016 budget today, a document aimed at priming voters for a 2017 election. Here are 10 things you need to know: Housing affordability 1. The purchase of a newly built home valued at up to $750,000 will now be exempt from the property transfer tax, saving the buyer up to $13,000. The measure will be funded through an increase in the property tax transfer rate on homes with a value above $2 million, from two to three per cent. 2. Tracking foreign ownership: people buying homes in B.C. will again be required to disclose their citizenship. The data, which has not been collected since 1998, will be used to measure the impact of foreign investment on home prices. The government hasn’t said what measures it might consider once the data is collected. PST and MSP 3. A new commission will consider ways to modernize the existing sales tax, introduced in 1948. Of note, the review will not consider a return to the harmonized

sales tax. 4. Changes to premiums that exempt children will save single-parent families a minimum of $864 per year, but many couples who earn $45,000 or more will pay $20 more per month. Children in care 5. The Ministry of Children and Family Development will receive $217 million over three years. Some of the funds will be used to help implement recommendations in the Plecas report and hire 100 additional social workers. Prosperity fund A $100 million B.C. prosperity fund will be created out of the 2015-16 budget surplus. The government says it will be used to help eliminate the debt, invest in health care, education, transportation and family supports. Other measures 6. Disaster prevention: $85 million will be spent to prevent wildfires through measures such as reforestation and habitat restoration. Another $55 million will go to emergency preparedness, such as flood protection in vulnerable communities. Continued on page 14

14 i Saturday, February 20, 2016

LOCAL

Vancouver slaying victim said ‘hold on’ before being shot by two men, murder trial told

ust before he was allegedly shot to death by two men who are on trial for murder, Rajinder Singh Soomel pleaded with the gunmen to “hold on,” a prosecutor told a Vancouver jury Tuesday. Two accused, Colin Victor Stewart and Kevin James Jones, have pleaded not guilty to the September 2009 first-degree murder of Soomel, 35, in what might have been a case of mistaken identity. Crown counsel Michael Barrenger told the jury that the case against the two accused is largely based on DNA evidence from items of clothing discarded as a getaway vehicle fled from the scene near Cambie Street and West 19th Avenue. He said the shooting — near a halfway house where Soomel was staying after serving time in prison and being paroled — happened on a busy street and was seen by many witnesses, although the witnesses were not able to identify the shooters by sight. Barrenger said the two armed men found Soomel in the area of Cambie and 19th, where he had gone after leaving the halfway house. “The two men shot Raj as he was in the

road at Cambie Street. I anticipate a witness who saw the shooting, who was located close to it, will testify that Raj Soomel before he was shot, said, ‘Hold on, hold on, hold on.’” The prosecutor said eight bullets were fired into Soomel, piercing his head, chest and abdomen. “Raj Soomel collapsed in the road dead, just south of the intersection of Cambie and 19th.” The two armed men got into a vehicle and sped from the scene, throwing the two guns and various items of clothing out of the vehicle. Police recovered one firearm in a nearby alleyway and a second gun in a nearby intersection. Both weapons were used to kill Soomel, said Barrenger. DNA from Stewart was found on two gloves and a hoodie discarded near the scene, and DNA from Jones was found on a second hoodie and a bandana, said the prosecutor. “DNA is a large part of the Crown’s case. It’s not the only part, but it’s a large part.” A video from a nearby SkyTrain station that follows the movements of the getaway car, and cellphone evidence, are also part of the Crown’s case against the accused. Barrenger told the jury that after Soomel had left the Dick Bell Irving halfway house

Poll shows strong support for LRT in Surrey

ighty per cent of Surrey residents supporting bringing light rail transit to the city, according to a new poll. Ipsos Public Affairs was commissioned to conduct a telephone poll of 600 Surrey residents late last month and the polling company found strong support for the city’s big-ticket public transportation plan. On top of overall support for LRT, 90 per cent of respondents said they agree the network would improve transportation options in the city, 88 per cent believe it would help connect communities within Surrey and 86 per cent believed it would help cre-

ate construction and maintenance jobs. The city has long-sought an expansion of public transit options in Surrey, but plans have been stalled by TransLink’s ongoing funding issues. Mayor Linda Hepner has promised that the lines will be built regardless of last year’s failed plebiscite on transit funding but the city has not announced how. The city hopes to build 27 kilometres worth of LRT lines. The two proposed routes would run along Fraser Highway (connecting Surrey and Langley) and King George Boulevard. The Ipsos Public Affairs poll’s margin of error is 4 per cent, 19 times out of 20.

Budget promises PST review, tracking of foreign home ownership

From previous page

7. Disability assistance: Everyone on disability will receive an increase of up to $77 per month in place of the existing transportation subsidies some receive, such as a $52 bus pass. Bus passes will now be optional. 8. RESP grant: Eligibility for the one-time $1,200 grant to a child’s Registered Education Savings Plan introduced in 2013 has

been extended by a year. Children born on or after Jan. 1, 2006, are now eligible. 9. Home renovation tax credit: A program currently offered to seniors will also provide up to $1,000 per year for persons with disabilities to renovate their homes to improve accessibility. 10. Balanced budget: The budget will be balanced for the fourth year in a row.

Taxpayers to pay for $20.6 B in capital projects

Seven years’ jail for B.C. man involved in home invasion

B.C. man was sentenced Tuesday to seven years in prison for his role in a home invasion in which an elderly woman was bound and gagged with duct tape. Dillon Benjamin Ertmoed, 24, received credit for just over 16 months time served prior to sentencing, which means he has a little more than five years, seven months left to serve. Ertmoed’s partner in the August 2012 incident, Dohn William Schmidt, was sentenced in May 2013 to four years in prison. In reaching his decision to hand Ertmoed a longer term, B.C. Supreme Court Justice Ron Tindale found there were significant differences between the two cases. In contrast to Ertmoed, Schmidt pleaded guilty and key evidence against Schmidt was seized during a warrantless search, which raised issues under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Ertmoed was found guilty in September largely on the basis of DNA from two pop bottles and a cigarette butt found at the scene. Tindale found Ertmoed and Schmidt had gone into the South Ogilvie home with the express purpose of stealing three restricted handguns and, in the process, put a 62-year-old woman through a 30-minute ordeal that began when her face was briefly covered with a pillow. Her wrists, ankles and mouth were then ducttaped as the culprits rifled through her home.

LOCAL

Vancouver man sues Apple, Verizon, AT&T for $7 billion over alleged patent infringement

Vancouver restaurateur who once tried to sue Avatar director James Cameron for $100 million now has set his sights on bigger targets by filing a lawsuit against Apple, Verizon and AT&T. Emil Malak and his company Voip-Pal have filed a lawsuit against the three telco giants for $7 billion US for patent infringement, and Malak says he’s putting 50 more companies, including Telus, Rogers and Blackberry, on notice they’re next. “We’ve sent letters of intent to Google, Microsoft (which owns Skype) and CenturyLink,” said Malak, 64. “We made them aware we intend to sue them.” He said billions more are at stake — the $7-billion figure is based on an average of similar judgments — in what he expects to be a “long, tough fight.” The lawsuit was filed last week in a Nevada court, alleging companies are using the Voice over Internet Protocol technology that Voip-Pal (and its predecessor Digifonica of Vancouver) spent $17 million designing and building over 13 years without paying for it. Malak claims 80 per cent of

PST to be ‘modernized’ says BC gov’t

t’s the issue that ended Gordon Campbell’s political career, but in a surprise move, the B.C. government will reopen the sales tax debate — in an election year. The government says it plans to ‘modernize’ its provincial sales tax (PST) system, which was first implemented in 1948 but has no plans to reintroduce the harmonized sales tax (HST), defeated in a referendum in 2011. B.C. Finance Minister Mike de Jong has unveiled plans to establish a commission on sales tax competitiveness — which will consult the public and report back to government in the fall. “The terms of reference will include asking the commission to consider ways to modernize the existing sales tax,” de Jong said in his budget speech in Victoria Tuesday. But the finance minister made it clear there will be no debating the merits of the HST. “The commission’s terms of reference will explicitly exclude consideration of a return to the harmonized sales tax,” de Jong said. The government forecasts it will collect nearly $6 billion in sales tax this fiscal year and $6.3 billion next year. That’s more than any other form of tax other than personal income tax. Details of what the commission will study have not been released. The government has not named a chair for the commission and outside of saying there will be no consideration of a return to the HST, it has not announced the commission’s terms of reference.

the telecommunications industry uses his company’s patented technology for billions of texts, phone calls and video calls. He said VoIP, which allows people to speak over the Internet, existed in the early 2000s, but Digifonica improved upon on it, taking out costly patents. Malak said that in 2003 Voip-Pal bought out a bankrupt Digifonica and its patents by taking on its debt and now owns 11 VoIP patents. “We came and made it more advanced and that’s what everyone’s using now,” said Malak at his Bellaggio restaurant. The company’s billion TSX shares are worth 13 cents each, or $130 million in total, said Malak, who owns 40 per cent. Malak said he would rather avoid court but it was the only way to get the attention of the telcos and get paid for his researchers’ work.

Saturday, February 20, 2016

BC middle income earners and seniors to pay more for health care

he B.C. government announced dramatic changes to its much-criticized Medical Services Plan on Tuesday, with an emphasis on helping low-income families and single parents, but placed an increased burden on some who make only a modest income. The government will eliminate MSP premiums for children, and greatly reduce premiums for many single parents, and people earning less than $42,000. B.C. Finance Minister Mike de Jong called the changes, which will take effect Jan. 2017, “a significant shift.” “For 70,000 single parent families, that will at a minimum translate into an $800-plus savings per year,” de Jong said. Many will save more, de Jong noted, for example, single parents with two children who earn between $36,000 and $44,000 will pay roughly $1,100 less than they do this year. But others — such as many seniors and couples with no children — will be paying much more in MSP premiums to ensure the gov-

ernment doesn’t collect less money overall. Those who will pay more for MSP (annually) Couples earning over $45,000 pay additional $240 annually. Senior couples earning over $51,000 pay additional $240. Single adults earning over $42,000 pay additional $36. Couples earning over $51,000, with two children, pay additional $72. Essentially, the government refused calls to put an increased burden on high-income earners, or roll MSP into income tax increases, opting instead to spread the increase evenly from middle — and arguably lower-middle — income earners to high earners. But de Jong says the new structure will be “fairer” than the existing system, in which those earning more than $30,000 all pay the same MSP premiums. The government forecasts it will collect an additional $124 million in MSP premiums next year, though it cautions part of that is due to population growth.

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16 i Saturday, February 20, 2016

LOCAL

BC Gov’t to begin tracking citizenship of homebuyers

he government of British Columbia will collect new information on citizenship of homebuyers as one of several measures proposed in the 2016 budget to address housing affordability. The government will also modestly raise property transfer taxes to three per cent on luxury homes and in turn exempt taxes on new homes that cost under $750,000. The proposed property transfer tax exemption on new homes priced up to $750,000 — estimated to save eligible buyers $75 million per year — will be funded by increasing the property transfer tax rate on luxury homes that cost more than $2 million, according to Ministry of Finance budget documents released Tuesday. A property transfer tax rate of two per cent will remain on the value of a property under $2 million. The tax shift is meant to encourage the construction of more “moderately priced” homes in order “to facilitate the entry of more new families,” into B.C.’s housing mar-

ket, Finance Minister Mike de Jong said. An amended Property Transfer Tax Act will authorize Victoria to collect new information on the citizenship of individual homebuyers, and compel directors of corporations involved in transactions to disclose their citizenship. Transferees will also be required to disclose whether they are holding land as “bare trustees” and provide information on the beneficiaries of trust funds. The use of bare trusts has been identified as a “loophole” in B.C.’s real estate market that obscures buyer identities and encourages speculation from foreign investors, according to critics. “Citizenship disclosure was required with land transfers until 1998,” say budget documents released by Victoria. “These changes will generate data that will allow government to monitor the volume of foreign investment and use of bare trusts and assess what effect, if any, they have on pricing.” While taking questions from reporters on the proposed changes, de Jong was asked why the 2016 budget doesn’t include actions

Syrian boy seeking refugee status ordered deported to United States

16-year-old Syrian boy who arrived was not only denied entry but was detained at the Canadian border at Fort Erie, in isolation for three weeks at an immigration Ont., claiming refugee status last holding centre in the Toronto neighbourhood month was taken into custody and placed of Rexdale. Aviva Basman-refugee lawyer in isolation for three weeks in a Toronto de- Aviva Basman of the Refugee Law Office, tention centre. Last week, officials with the a part of Legal Aid Ontario, is appealing to Canada Border Minister of ImmiServices Agency gration and Refugees (CBSA) ordered John McCallum to the boy deportallow the teenager ed. By law, Canto apply for refugee ada no longer status in Canada. accepts refu“Everyone who’s ingees who come volved in Mohamthrough the med’s case has found United States. the way CBSA treated But his lawyers him quite shocking,” say the boy is she told CBC News. an unaccom- Hannah Deloughery (left) of Romero House, a shelter “We’re talking about panied minor for refugees, meets with a Syrian refugee Mohammed, a 16-year-old Syrian who faces deportation. and should be boy who’s just trying allowed into Canada to claim refugee status. to find protection.” Mohammed has since Aviva Basman of the Refugee Law Office in To- been released from the centre and is being ronto called it “outrageous” that Mohammed housed at Romero House, a Toronto shelter (we are using a pseudonym for safety reasons) for refugees. Family felt Canada a safe place He met with a CBC reporter and, in broken English, described his time in isolation. “I don’t sleep good. I dream,” he said. “Three weeks in detention, I’m feeling sad, and I cry all the time. The room, the iron on the windows, I’m afraid.” He said he was allowed outside a half hour each day. The rest of his time he watched television or tried to sleep, he said. “I want to stay here. I want to go to school. I no have anyone in the United States,” he said. “Canada government bring many people from Syria, Jordan and Lebanon, Turkey, but I am coming here, and they don’t accept me.” Hannah Deloughery, an intern at Romero House, has been working with Mohammed since he arrived there. “He’s very scared and confused and doesn’t really understand why this happened,” said Deloughery. “He’s alone in Canada and needs our protection.” Mohammed’s family fled Syria for Egypt after the war began. But when Mohammed turned 16, his residency permit in Egypt expired. He faced being sent back to Syria and being conscripted into the military. Fearing that, his parents flew with him to the United States and then arranged to get him to the Canadian border.

Match found for latest human foot in British Columbia

he latest severed foot to be dis-

covered off the coast of Vancouver Island has a match. The latest foot was found found Feb. 12 near Port Renfrew. The foot was in a size 12 New Balance shoe, which was the same size, color and model of another shoe found with a foot in it Feb. 7. The B.C. Coroners Service confirmed the latest foot found near Port Renfrew matches the other, The Vancouver Sun reports. The foot found on Feb. 12 was the 14th to wash up on B.C.’s coast since 2007. The Sun reports investigators have been told to look into missing-persons cases. Though there are no clues as to how the person died, examinations revealed the feet most likely detached from the body naturally in the water, the Sun reports. Investigators believe the feet likely floated from Victoria.

LOCAL

Families with children swelling ranks of homeless, says Raising the Roof - Health

growing number of families with children are using homeless shelters in Canada, and are among the “invisible homeless” who bunk down with friends or use services for victims of violence, according to advocacy group Raising the Roof. The report “Putting an End to Child and Family Homelessness,” by Raising the Roof, examined numbers provided by shelters and family support services across the country over a three-year period. As well, 103 staff at shelter agencies and 36 families experiencing homelessness were interviewed. 30,000 Canadians are homeless every night Thousands of veterans in Canada amongst the hidden homeless There has been a 50 per cent increase in the number of families with children using shelters in the past decade, to around 9,459 in 2009, according to an independent study. Raising the Roof estimates that figure is now higher. “Yet, when most people think about homelessness in Canada, they picture an older, single man sitting on a street corner,” said the report, released Monday. On any given night, about 35,000 people across Canada are without permanent shelter, the study found. But families, particularly those with a lone female parent, stayed longer in shelters, an average of 50 days. Many Canadians precariously housed That figure does not include people in shelters for victims of violence, which have an additional 7,000 beds across Canada. Raising the Roof estimates about 3.1 million Canadians are precariously housed, either because they live with family and friends, or are a few dollars away from being evicted. “There are millions of Canadians, including individuals, children and their families, who are paying more than 50 per cent of their income on housing costs,” the report said. Raising the Roof calls on the federal and provincial governments to develop and fund

Surrey taxi peppered with bullets

CMP is investigating a report of gunshots being fired at a Surrey Metro Taxi cab in North Surrey, which resulted in minor injuries to a 40-yearold male. On Feb. 18 at approximately 5 a.m., Surrey RCMP responded to reports of gunshots being fired in the area of 143 Street and 109 Avenue. Numerous 911 calls had been received as well as a call from a male advising he had been shot. The victim, who had been riding in the taxi, attended hospital on his own and Surrey RCMP met him there and confirmed he had suffered a minor wound to the leg. Further investigation revealed that several gunshots had been fired at the cab, shattering the window and grazing the victim. The man was treated for his injuries and released from hospital. The taxi driver was not injured. The investigation is still in its early stages, but RCMP say this incident is likely targeted. Surrey RCMP’s Major Crime Unit has conduct of the investigation. Anyone with further information who has not already spoken to police is asked to contact Surrey RCMP at 604-599-0502 or, if they wish to remain anonymous, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477

a national homelessness and housing strategy. It dates the disappearance of housing opportunities to the federal decision in the 1990s to stop funding construction of affordable housing. It also calls on governments at every level to address the root causes of homelessness, including poverty, family violence and discrimination. Risks for young children Only a handful of affordable units are built in Canada annually at a time when many of the available jobs are part time or at minimum wage, says the group, which works to raise awareness about housing issues. Secure jobs in short supply in Canada’s new tough labour market Rise of the ‘precariat,’ the global scourge of precarious jobs Children who grow up without stable housing are at higher risk

Saturday, February 20, 2016

Kelowna gas station break-in doesn’t go to plan

pair of hapless thieves are likely feeling a little embarrassed after their attempt to steal a bank machine in Kelowna, B.C. didn’t go according to plan. Kelowna RCMP say two masked men forced the glass doors of a gas station from their hinges around 4 a.m. PT Sunday in the 3600 block of Highway 97 North and made off with the ATM. The ATM was found just 15 metres away, lying at the side of Highway 97, just west of the gas station. Police say it appears the ATM fell out of the suspects’ vehicle as

they were trying to make their getaway. Witnesses described the getaway car as an older, two-toned, dark and silver van. Although damage to the gas station was significant, police say it appears nothing else was stolen. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Kelowna RCMP at 250762-3300, or to remain anonymous contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-2228477, or online at crimestoppers.net.

18 i Saturday, February 20, 2016

Saturday - February 20, 2016

On the beach with Priyanka

riyanka Chopra is out to put India on the global map yet again. She is on board to play the villain in the upcoming Baywatch movie, based on the hugely popular 1990s TV series. The big announcement was made by Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson on his social media. The Rock shared a video in which he is joined by Priynaka Chopra. In the video, he says, “She’s one of the biggest stars in the world... the beautiful Priyanka Chopra, welcome to Baywatch.”

Parichay shines as music composer & singer in Bollywood film ‘Loveshhuda’

ou heard it! Our very own Parichay is making waves in Bollywood with his music for the film Loveshhuda, starring Bollywood’s newest sensation Girish Kumar and Navneet Kaur Dhillon. The film releases on February 19 and the trailer has already created a huge buzz with over 5 million hits on YouTube. This is Girish Kumar’s second movie after Ramaiyya Vastavaiya, which was very successful and catapulted him into stardom. Navneet Kaur Dhillon, a former Miss India and Girish have been paired together in

TYLE

this youthful and urban love story, directed by Vaibhav Misra who has assisted on films such as Ra One & Om Shanti Om. Loveshhuda is produced by Vijay Galani. Parichay has composed four of the five songs in this mainstream Bollywood film and therefore become the first NonResident Indian ever to acieve this. Kumar Taurani, head honcho at Tips (the music label for Loveshhuda) has some promising things to say about Parichay “There are many actors who have shown keen interest in Parichay’s work and soon we will be releasing a single” The songs will appeal to people of all ages and are garnering a massive fan following already.

Randhir Kapoor turns 69

Kapoors celebrating his birthday

Jacqueline with her Prince Charming?

acqueline Fernandez is out of scene for quite some time and now we hear that the actress is trying to patch things up with her ex-lover. But before one jumps to conclusion that the actress to trying to be back with Sajid Khan, we would say that it is not the director Jacqueline wants to reconcile with. Apparently, Jacqueline once dated Prince of Bahrain Sheikh Hassan bin Rashid al Khalifa in the past and the ex-couple once again met recently. Reportedly, while Jaccky was in Abu Dhabi shooting for her next film Dhishoom with John Abraham and Varun Dhawan, she met the Prince during the time.It is said that while

Jacqueline Fernandez is currently shooting for ‘Dishoom’

Jacqueline Fernandez

John and Varun returned back after the shoot, the actress chose to stay back for some time and spend some quality time with the Prince.

Beat this! After 28 years, Shah Rukh Khan finally gets college degree

ollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan has shown us once again why he is just like us. The actor-producer finally took time out of his busy life to collect his graduation degree on Tuesday, 28 years after passing out from Hansraj College in New Delhi. Shah Rukh Khan at Hansraj College, Delhi University. Throes of students and fans came for glimpse of their favourite star at the college campus.

Star & Style

2 i Saturday, February 20, 2016

Horoscope Libra

Aries

Sept. 24 - Oct 22

March 21 - April 20 Other people can make such a difference to our lives. When we feel things are good between us and them, our hearts well up with happiness, our minds over-brim with confidence and we naturally gravitate towards beneficial opportunities. Yet, when there is tension, the reverse is true. The moral of that then is to work even harder at healing wounds, moving on from past conflicts, letting go,

Taurus

It is the time of year when the whole world seems to be thinking about partnership. So let us look at the very delicate relationship between risk and reward. These two factors have to work very closely with each other, performing a dance not unlike the one between the Moon and the Sun. They are deeply interdependent yet rarely do we see them immediately aligned. The magic is in the way they keep their distance and co-operate to produce spectacular results.

Scorpio

April 21 - May 20 We all have dreams, hopes and wishes. We all have secrets, too. There are some things we simply don’t tell to other people, not because we are ashamed, afraid or because we fear they won’t understand. It is just that privacy is important. It affords a kind of gentle, dignified independence. It seems, this Valentine’s week, as if you are being asked to reveal more about yourself than you feel happy about doing. But there is a quid pro quo in this.

Gemini

May 20 - June 21 Just in time for Valentine’s Day, your ruling planet moves from the house of intense desire to the heavenly home of idealism and altruism. Let your decisions, this week, reflect that transition. Go beyond an old, tiresome sense of need. Explore, instead, a belief that if you do the right thing, you will get the right result. In a situation that could easily descend into chaos and complication if too many excuses are made and truths are ignored, there is a chance to form a sweet, simple connection that brings lasting joy.

Cancer

June 22 - July 23

This week, for you, would be all about building bridges, even if there were no river to cross! Even, indeed, if it did not bring Valentine’s Day and all the pressure we feel at such times, to overcome our differences and create some kind of fantasy-come-true in our personal lives. Such pressures can, of course, work against their own fulfilment. When we worry too much about what seems to be wrong, it is as if more and more keeps going wrong! But you can right many a wrong now, just by striving to be kind.

Leo

June 24 - August 23 There is more than one way to crack a nut. Or solve a problem. Or, perhaps most pertinently this Valentine’s week, to fulfil a desire. There is something very particular that you want. Now, consider this. Do you want the result? Or do you want that result to be attained in a highly specific way? If there is an option that involves less stress but affords the same satisfaction, why would you not take that? Presumably, only because you can’t see it. So start looking for it! Slowly, soon, it will make itself visible.

Virgo

Oct 23 - Nov 22 Is it less fortunate to be born under Scorpio than any other sign? Some astrologers seem to think so. Their writings are full of odd assertions casting cruel aspersions. But weren’t we all issued a package of mixed blessings when we arrived in this world? If your curse simply involves being misunderstood by stargazers, things may not be so bad, as long as there are other blessings. It would seem, this week, there are. You will soon be sweetly understood by someone with a down-to-earth appreciation of your true needs!

Sagitarius Nov 23 - Dec 22

Florists, jewellers, restaurant owners and card shop proprietors may feel there is only one point of focus now. True romantics, though, won’t see it quite that way. ‘Why should this weekend be different from any other? If you love someone, you don’t just love them on one Day!’ The most exciting, exceptional potential development in your life this week involves, not so much your love of an individual as your admiration for a particular process. Here comes a chance to get more deeply and pleasingly involved with that.

Capricorn Dec 23 - Jan 20

Venus leaves your sign but, thankfully, not until after Valentine’s Day. So while the world is getting romantic, hearts are melting and people are preparing to gaze into one another’s eyes whilst whispering sweet nothings, you are at the peak of your own astrological potential to captivate! No, really, you are! Don’t doubt this. Throw yourself into the role that someone else would most like you to play now. In love and in many another area of life, too, such an approach will pay off handsomely.

Aquarius

Jan 21 - Feb 19 As this week, let us ponder a philosophical question. Why are some people attracted to others? Don’t worry, the publishers of this page have not extended my space and I know you don’t have hours to read a long explanation. But if I sum it all up in just one word and suggest that this, in turn, encapsulates the only point you now need to keep in mind to ensure success in every area of your world, you must forgive me for possible oversimplification.

Pisces

August 24 - Sept 24 Should we wait patiently to see how the world intends to reward us? Or should we stride out boldly and start shaking the tree of potential reward until the fruit falls at our feet? Some recommend a more passive approach. ‘Agitate that tree too vigorously,’ they warn, ‘and you risk an unripe fruit, falling hard on your head!’ They prefer to sit beneath the branches until nature takes its course. There is often much to be said for such a philosophy but not so much to be said for it in your life this Valentine’s week!

Another separation?

and Sohail’s alleged closeness to Huma Qureshi has been a bone of contention between the two since a while. Seema and Sohail’s love story is like a movie itself, the couple eloped on the day his directorial debut released and she was already engaged to someone else.

ight after news of Arbaaz Khan and Malaika’s separating rumours are rife that Sohail Khan’s wife, Seema has left their home too., Seema has moved out of their Bandra house and shifted to her parents’ at Cuffe Parade. Neither she or Malaika were present at Arpita Khan‘s baby shower

Is online dating the same as arranged marriage?

ence between modern dating and the older ating in the modern age: You caremethod of arranging marriages. He enlisted fully type up a profile, taking care his parents — who’d had an arranged marriage to sound fun, awesome but also — to help him find the love of his life. He went so busy enjoying yourself that you can barely to India, brushed up his resume, narrowed his find time to date. You list your wants and pool to women of his own cultural community needs, post a flattering photo or five (one with and went at it. Then he had his sister film it all. a tiger from that time you went on safari), and you hope someone clicks. Dating 150 years ago: Your parents penned your biography, taking care to make you sound highly fertile. They asserted their wants and needs, and in lieu of having your portrait taken for an exorbitant price, they paraded you around social functions, hoping someone would take you off their hands. But so we’re clear: They’d decide exactly which someone. Your request for a cute face wasn’t high on Actor and filmmaker Ravi Patel, left, with his sister Geeta, their list of priorities. A few years ago, actor Ravi right, made “Meet the Patels,” a documentary chronicling his search for a bride — with his parents’ help. Patel tried to split the differ-

Ranbir and Katrina’s ‘Jagga Jasoos’ postponed

ot too long ago, reports about Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif parting ways had surfaced. While Jagga Jasoos has been in the news for quite long for various reasons, this time the film is once again postponed after the actors resumed shooting. Like we all know, films featuring ex-couples have always been appreciated by the mass

Feb 20 - March 20 If we don’t talk to each other, how can we hope to understand each other? Before we go any further into this forecast, did you notice it began with a trick question? We talk to each other all the time. Rarely is that the barrier to communication. It isn’t that we don’t talk, more that we don’t listen! Or, even if we do, we don’t hear what is actually being said! I’m not just drawing your attention to this because it is Valentine’s week. Keep it in mind whilst pursuing more mundane objectives if you seek success this week!

Sohail Khan’s wife leaves home

and Jagga Jasoos that started with a couple, now belong to the same ‘ex’ category. Apparently, the film, which has been delayed for a while now, has once again been postponed for a month. Jagga Jasoos is now said to be releasing by the end of July or August. The leading lady, Katrina Kaif, recently said that the team is yet to finish 60-70 days shoot.

Neerja Bhanot’s mom says her ‘laado’ was prettier than Sonam

onam Kapoor will be seen playing the role of the brave airhostess Neerja Bhanot, who saved several lives on board the hijacked PanAm flight 73 and died covering three kids from the line of fire, in her upcoming movie, ‘Neerja,’ directed by Ram Madhvani. To get into the skin of her character, the ‘Prem Ratan Dhan Payo’ actress met

Neerja’s family. On meeting Sonam, Rama Bhanot, Neerja’s mom, said that Sonam reminded her of her daughter. However, like any mom would say, Rama said that her ‘laado’ was prettier than Sonam! In a behindthe-scenes video released by the makers, Sonam is seen recalling the incident in saying that she was indeed under a lot of pressure to live up to the real Neerja’s character.

Bollywood personalities’ birthdays this week SAJID NADIADWALA 18 FEBRUARY

SONU WALIA 18 FEBRUARY

SHAHID KAPOOR 25 FEBRUARY

VEENA MALIK 26 FEBRUARY

Star & Style Preity Zinta and Gene Goodenough tying the knot end of this month (Kim Kardashian‘s

New released Bollywood films February 19 Direct Ishq

Drama - Rajiv S. Ruia Rajniesh Duggall, Nidhi Subbaiah, Arjun Bijlani

Ishq Forever

Krishna Chaturvedi, Ruhi Singh, Javed Jaffrey, Lisa Ray

Neerja

Sonam Kapoor, Shabana Azmi, Shekhar Ravjiani

Music director Khayyam donates his entire wealth to help artists To mark the occasion of his 89th birthday, legendary music director Khayyam announced the formation of a charity trust called ‘Khayyam Jagjeet Kaur’ KPG Charitable Trust. Through the trust, he plans to donate his entire wealth valued at around Rs 10 crore to support artists and technicians in need in the film industry. Mohammed Zahur “Khayyam” Hashmi, popularly known as Khayyam, is a wellknown music director from the golden era of Hindi film music. In a career spanning

over four decades (1953–1990), Khayyam has composed the music for classics like Kabhie Kabhie, Umrao Jaan and Bazaar. The renowned music director has also worked with some of the greatest poets and singers of India. Khayyam has won three Filmfare Awards— Best Music in 1977 for Kabhi Kabhie and in 1982 for Umrao Jaan, and a lifetime achievement award in 2010. He was honoured with the thirdhighest civilian honour, Padma Bhushan by the Government of India for 2011.

LoveShhuda

Girish Kumar, Navneet Kaur Dhillon

Dhara 302

Rufy Khan, Dipti Dhotre, Gulshan Pandey

I am open to working with anyone, as long as I’m also the hero in the film

he reminds me of Alice in Wonderland. A girl who scampered dreamily, fell into a rabbit-hole and found herself in the peculiar, fantasy world of Bollywood. With Cheshire cats, Mad Hatters, mad-tea parties, Queen of Hearts, et al. Kangana Ranaut lives in the make-believe world of cinema, yet, she is not consumed by it. “I don’t live to work; it is only a small part of my life. I am not born to act. I act to express myself, but I’m not obsessed with it. I want to try different things before I know what I love doing the most. In that sense I’m a wanderer,” she says. Her elegant home resonates with her thoughts — bold, abstract, with an old-world charm. I’m distracted by a stunning piece of decor perched on the wall — a huge cut-out of Marilyn Monroe in her iconic pose, embedded with flashy lights. I know why, of course. We cosily settled down on the floor of her large living room with a cuppa chai, sunlight streaming in through the broad-brimmed windows while we chat about everything deep, dark and daring. Her enviable long locks are chopped off for a movie, but we’re not surprised, Kangana is after all a crackerjack at becoming the character she portrays. “I don’t carry the baggage of my achievements or my failures. So, I can slip into my characters fearlessly. I live light, it gives me freedom to fly and be myself. People ex-

pect you to be part of a typical blockbuster, as their idea of success is so narrow. I enjoy larger-than-life characters and ensemble films, too, and I’m open to working with anyone, as long as I am also the hero in the film,” she says with casual candour. Though, for her, success didn’t come easy as earlier she didn’t have a tray-full of roles to pick and devour. “I think success is overrated. And the struggle to get there is underrated. There are no rules that we have to make it.” Kangana explains, “Our society has a mean spirit; we crush the confidence of those who fail. Why do we make failure look so bad? I don’t see my failures as tragic or embarrassing.” There were stories on how she was called a ‘loser’, at the start of her career. At dizzying heights of stardom, does she feel vindicated now? Pat comes her reply, “I am still that loser.

Kangna Ranaut

n spite of Prebrother Rob is an ity Zinta’s repeated alumni from that claims of having school too). Gene no marriage on the cards works as a Senior in the near future, new Vice President in reports suggest that the the Product & Fiactress is going to tie the nance department knot with her long time at NLine Energy, rumoured boyfriend Inc., a renewable enGene Goodenough by ergy development the end of this month. company in LA, Gene was the key witUSA. Before that ness is Preity Zinta’s moPreity Zinta’s wedding may take place he was Assistant lestation case and against in Los Angeles Vice President in Ness Wadia. From the Bank of America, and the Vice President/Diaccounts given to the police, he was sitting rector of Product Management at Interthinx. next to Preity and even intervened when Preity met Gene on one of her many visits Ness allegedly had a fight with Preity. He to the United States where her nephew and has a management graduate from Marniece are based. We wish them all the best. shall School of Business in Los Angeles

Saturday, February 20, 2016 i 3

4 i Saturday, February 20, 2016

Ayushmann reaches Chandigarh

yushmann Khurrana, who will be paired opposite his Dum Laga Ke Haisha co-star Bhumi Pednekar in upcoming film Manmarziyaan, has reached Chandigarh to start its shooting. “Have landed in Chandigarh. Manmarziyaan is about to begin,” Ayush-

mann posted on Twitter on Wednesday. The film will be directed by Sameer Sharma, who earlier helmed Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana. It will be produced by Tanu Weds Manu Returns director Anand L. Rai. Ayushmann earlier shared that he will be seen playing a Punjabi in Manmarziyaan.

Nawab, Begum & Pasta

e all know how much Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor Khan are in love with each other. The couple tries to make things special for each other in the best possible manner. Kareena Kapoor Khan recently revealed a very interesting moment about her married life when she claimed that Saif is an awful cook. Apparently, the Nawab wanted to impress his Begum and in re-

turn ended up in the kitchen for 12 hours. Kareena said, “Saif is a very bad cook. He once decided to make pasta for me and ended up cooking for 12 hours.” Interestingly, Saif will don the chef ’s hat in the remake of Hollywood film Chef that will be directed by Raja Krishna Menon. While we have come to know that cooking is not Saif ’s cup of tea, it will be interesting to see how Saif portrays his character.

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Saturday, February 20, 2016 i 5

Vol. 6 No. 25- Saturday - February 20, 2016

- Tel: 604-591-5423 -

E-mail: ads@theasianstar.com

Average house price in Canada up 17% in January to $470,297

he average price of a Canadian home sold in January increased by 17 per cent to $470,297 compared to the same month a year ago. Home sales were higher during the month, but prices truly soared, the Canadian Real Estate Association reported Tuesday. New mortgages rules Tuesday might temper hot markets, but not for long Shadow flipping not limited to Vancouver market As has been the case for several years, however, two large and hot markets, in Toronto and Vancouver, skewed the national average higher. Strip the two cities out of the numbers and the average Canadian home was worth $338,392 last month while the yearover-year gain drops to eight per cent. If B.C. and Ontario were stripped out, the picture would look even bleaker — the average price of a Canadian home would have dropped by 0.3 per cent in January to $286,911.

New mortgage rules not only solution for Canada’s red-hot real estate market: academics From taxation to density, experts say government could be doing more to tackle soaring home prices

f there’s one thing that unites the majority of Canadians, it’s that we agree there’s a lack of affordability when it comes to the housing markets of Vancouver and Toronto. The federal government recently announced new measures to try and cool these hot real estate markets by increasing the minimum insurable down payment required on homes over $500,000. The change took effect Monday. Mortgage rules requiring 10% down on homes over $500K kick in New mortgage rule may not cool hot markets Shadow flipping’ not limited to Vancouver real estate market Only time will tell how effective this measure will be. We reached out to economists and real estate experts to ask for their best ideas on slowing down Canada’s big-city markets. John Andrew, director of the Queen’s Real Estate Roundtable, says foreign investment in high-end properties is driving up prices, especially in Vancouver. He suggests that B.C. should allow the city to raise property tax rates on foreign owners. “This could have a very Continued on page 6

“While we continue to believe that things just can’t any hotter, markets in B.C. and Ontario continue to prove us wrong,” TD economist Diana Petramala said, adding that for Toronto and Vancouver, “every month of double-digit home price growth raises the risk of a deeper 4 i Saturday, July 25, 2015 home price correction down the road.”

Despite the eye-popping price gains on a national level, there are signs of tightening in the market locally. On an annualized basis, prices declined in January in four provinces, including Alberta, Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador.

The average price gain across Canada’s 26 largest cities was 4.7 per cent in January; the strongest was 31 per cent in Vancouver; the weakest was –10 per cent, in Newfoundland and Labrador, which is considered one single market and thus compared to other cities. Continued on page 6

6 i Saturday, February 20, 2016

New mortgage rules go into effect, part of Liberal plan to limit risks

anadians looking to buy homes between $500,000 and $1-million will have to put down larger down payments as new federal rules took effect Monday. Under the changes, home buyers must now put at least 10 per cent down on the portion of a home that costs more than $500,000. Buyers can still put down five per cent on the first $500,000 of a home purchase. Homes that cost more than $1-million still require a 20 per cent down payment. Phil Soper, president and CEO of Royal LePage, says the new rules aim to slow the breakneck pace of price growth in the red-hot markets of Toronto and Vancouver without affecting markets that are lagging, such as those in oil-dependent provinces. “The problem with monetary policy is that it impacts the struggling Calgary market or the just fine Winnipeg market and the overheated Vancouver market in equal amounts,” Soper said. “If you lower interest rates, you lower interest rates for all. And that’s not what the country needed. This change ... is the first attempt to recognize the fact that some parts of the country are in need of a mild tap on the break, while other parts of the country

really need to continue to receive stimulus.” When the new rules were announced in December, Finance Minister Bill Morneau said he estimated they would affect about one per cent of the overall real estate market. Some industry observers predicted a surge in sales activity as homebuyers would look to preempt bigger down payment requirements. Soper says real estate markets in Ontario, B.C. and Quebec have been “boisterous” in the first five weeks of the year — but he says it’s unlikely that the new mortgage rules are responsible. “I think it has much more to do with clean sidewalks from a mild winter and low mortgage rates than it does with impending changes that tweak mortgage insurance regulations,” Soper said. “It’s just not a big enough change to have materially impacted home sales volumes in the country.” Ottawa tightened rules for new insurable loans four times between 2008 and 2012, including upping the minimum down payment to five per cent and reducing the maximum amortization period to 25 years from 30.

Average house price in Canada up 17% in January to $470,297 From page 5

House prices increased by an astounding 17 per cent in January, CREA said Housing market watchers keep an eye on a number known as inventory, which is a proxy for whether there’s enough homes for sale to keep up with demand. It’s expressed

in terms of months of supply, which means the inventory figure is the amount of time it would take to sell every home on the market at the current pace of sales. I wanna go back to my little $2.5M shack 2:14 For January, the inventory figure dropped to 5.3 months, its lowest level in more than six years. “If listings … were not in such short supply, January sales activity would likely have reached even greater heights,”

CREA president Pauline Aunger said. “Meanwhile, other major urban housing markets have an ample supply of listings, particularly where some homebuyers have become increasingly cautious amid an uncertain job market outlook.” That’’s even the case in hot markets, where homes are snapped up in record time. “Vancouver’s market is drum tight, with an almost unheard of 91 per cent sales-to-new listings ratio,” BMO economist Robert Kavcic said. “In other words, almost every new listing is getting absorbed within the month as record sales meet average growth in new listings.”

Saturday, February 20, 2016 i 7

From page 5

New mortgage rules not only solution for Canada’s red-hot real estate market: academics

very significant effect on cooling hous-

ing markets, if the property tax rate for foreign owners was significantly higher.” However, he says the government would first have to do its due diligence when it comes to identifying foreign buyers who hide behind a Canadian friend or relative. “Already we know that some of those houses are being bought by international buyers but they’re being put in the name of a Canadian citizen … That’s a regulatory issue that they could solve but there isn’t the political will to do it.” $500K downpayment graphic The CMHC now requires a 10-percent down payment on the portion of any mortgage it insures over $500,000. The five-per-cent rule remains for the portion up to $500,000. (CBC News) Foreign owners of Canadian real estate pay virtually no income tax at the moment. Andrey Pavlov, a real estate finance professor at Simon Fraser University, thinks the government should change the definition of residency “so that someone who owns a $4-million home in Vancouver pays taxes on their worldwide income, not just on their Canadian income, which is typically zero.” Capital gains by foreign real estate investors are also generally not taxed, which Andrew wants to see changed. “Foreign owners should probably pay a marginal tax rate on 100 per cent of their capital gains. I think that would really, really slow things down.” Do something about our ultra-low interest rates Pavlov says while Canada’s current low interest rates may be good for the flagging economy, they can also artificially inflate real estate prices. When interest rates are low, people are able to afford more expensive homes, driving housing prices through the roof. “If the Bank of Canada is determined to keep interest rates low,” says Pavlov, “then reserve requirements for mortgages can be increased so that mortgage rates return to normal levels.” Andrew says banks should be more diligent in stress-testing buyers when they take out a mortgage to ensure they can still afford it when rates inevitably rise. This would cut down on the amount of people buying the prici-

est homes they can afford, putting “It slowed the market down for a very slight dip in demand, and then the tax gets downward pressure on the market. short period of time, so there was this normalized and the market charges on. Deal with density What does he think would be effective? new tax and everyone went ‘Oh my god, In highly congested markets like Van“Maybe if they drove unemployment up this is going to kill the market.’ Well, as couver and Toronto, Pavlov says investwe know, Toronto’s not a dead market.” to 15 per cent — that would slow the market ment in transportation infrastructure Campbell says when extra taxes are down,” he jokes. “But we don’t want that!” would go a long way toward expandadded in the real estate world, there’s a ing the boundaries of desirable housing. “In most cities in North America, a reasonable commute of 30 minutes takes you 20-30 kilometres from your work,” he says. “In Vancouver, for example, a 30-minute commute takes you five to eight kilometres, regardless of mode of transportation.” CMHC Housing Starts 20150811 In highly congested markets like Vancouver and Toronto, one expert says investment in transportation infrastructure would go a Real estate professors say higher taxes on foreign owners of Canadian homes could long way toward exease out-of-control housing markets. panding the boundaries of desirable housing. (Graeme Roy/Canadian Press) University of British Columbia economist Joshua Gottlieb says that single-family homes in hot urban housing markets are “just an incredibly inefficient use of land when there’s so much demand to live there.” Gottlieb feels that increasing housing supply is key, whether it’s through reducing construction regulations to allow for more highrises in residential neighbourhoods, or by penalizing real estate investors with extra taxes if they let their properties sit vacant. Or don’t raise taxes? Unlike the other real estate experts we interviewed, Don Campbell, founding partner of the Real Estate Investment Network, doesn’t think raising taxes is an effective solution for anyone. He cites the second landtransfer tax added in Toronto to try to cool down the market.

8 i Saturday, February 20, 2016

AUTO

How to plot the future of driverless cars?

that must be addressed, including the longterm impact on privacy, energy, land use, transportation demand and employment. Driverless cars ‘don’t fall asleep... don’t drink’ Garneau and Canadian Heritage Minister Melanie Joly were invited to appear Wednesday before the committee to discuss the mandate letters given to them by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau when they took charge of their portfolios. Garneau took the opportunity to ask the committee to launch a driverless car study. “I’m one of these people who believes that the Senate is part of Parliament, that has done some very serious and very important and groundbreaking studies and I want to engage with them in the most productive possible way,” Garneau said in an interview. A woman looks at a tablet as she sits inside a self-driving car where a simulator mimics the driving experience at the Stanford Automotive Innovation Facility in Stanford, Calif. (The Associated Press) Self-driving vehicles have the potential to make driving safer, he said, noting that automated vehicles “don’t fall asleep, they don’t drink.” And they’re potentially more energy efficient because “there’s less of a heavy foot on the gas and heavy foot on the brake kind of driving.” But there are also challenges, like ensuring vehicles have backups should their computer systems fail and figuring out how to replicate human judgment in unpredictable winter driving conditions. Driverless vehicles will automatically keep a safe distance from other vehicles but, Garneau noted: “We in Canada have to make judgment calls in the winter time when we’re on icy roads and black ice.

Audi A8L Security worth Rs 9.12 crores: Seven mind-blowing features

Garneau seeks Senate advice on rules for future of driverless cars enate, often accused of being an anachronism, is being asked to wrestle with the futuristic dream of driverless cars. Transport Minister Marc Garneau wants the Senate’s transportation and communications committee to launch a study of the regulatory, policy and technical issues that need to be addressed so that Canada can safely and smoothly make the transition to self-driving vehicles — a coming automotive revolution that’s already being road tested in Ontario and elsewhere. His request for a Senate study is part of the Trudeau government’s attempt to recast the much-maligned upper house as an independent and valued institution that has an important parliamentary role to play. It follows Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s creation of an arm’s-length advisory board to recommend non-partisan nominees for appointment to the Senate. Among other things, Garneau says the committee should examine the potential for Canada to set standards for the development of automated cars that can operate safely on icy winter roads. Transport Minister Marc Garneau appeared before the Senate transportation committee Wednesday. “The technology I’m talking about is not science fiction,” Garneau said during an appearance late Wednesday before the Senate committee. “It is in development today and has the potential to improve safety, efficiency and the environmental performance of transportation in Canada and other countries.” Still, he said there are many questions

Saturday, February 20, 2016

ife is the most precious gift and an Audi A8L Security to protect it may come a very close second. After all, the car costs Rs 9.12 crores in India and boasts of 500PS-plus power, bullet-proof body that can shield occupants from AK47 bullets, grenades and bomb explosions. Exciting enough? Then, read on for an even closer look into the world of the new Security: 1. Secret spectacle During your next visit to an Audi showroom, don’t expect to find this mean machine on display. The car is a bearer of many secrets and is parked under the protection of special eyes. Even when the new Audi A8L Security was “launched” at the 2016 Auto Expo, much to the astonishment of most lens men, the car was nowhere to be seen on the Audi India pavilion. That’s because, the Audi A8L Security was parked in a special preview room and was shown to a handful of prospective clients upon request. 2. Deep under the skin At first, the new Audi A8L Security looks like any other A8 running on the road to the naked eye, but it’s what lies under the skin that makes it so special. Its skin is made of extremely resistant materials like aramide fabric, special aluminium alloys, and a hot-formed steel armour. With predominant use of aluminium, the A8L Security is much lighter than most of its competition. Apart from the beefed up body, the window glass is close to six times the thickness of regular Audi A8 sedans, and can shield occupants from gunfire and smaller explosives. What is interesting to note is that the manufacturing location of the new Audi has also been kept under wraps. It takes around 450 hours

for the highly-skilled professionals at this top-secret facility to build one car. 3. Power of several horses As expected with its target audience, the car has been equipped with a bloody mighty engine for emergency situations. In case of an ambush, the Audi A8L Security depends on the W12 petrol engine, which has the muscle of two V6 engines! On demand is 500PS of brute force, to catapult the armoured sedan and its occupants out of the trickiest of situations. To further enhance passenger safety, the Security is also equipped with the quattro all-time all-wheel drive system to ensure lighting fast escape on even wet and slippery roads. 4. Escape routes at fingertips Maintaining contact in emergency situations is another head that the Security has got covered. A specially armoured communication box that is located in the luggage compartment takes care of quick message-relaying. This includes an intercom for communication with the outside world and even a loud speaker which can be used to attract attention of passers-by and call out for help. To top it, there are these bright and loud inbuilt beacon lights which further help in quick getaways. 5. Blowing it open With extremely thick, multi-layered window glass and bulky panels, each door of the Audi A8L Security weighs more than the person sitting in the car. But in case of an attack and/or when the door is damaged, the car also has an optional feature which has controlled explosives on the door hinges.

NATIONAL

20 i Saturday, February 20, 2016

Harjit Sajjan hints at a Canadian military mission in Libya

efence Minister Harjit Sajjan helps announce Canada’s plan to resettle 25,000 Syrian refugees during a press conference at the National Press Theatre in Ottawa on Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2015. Sajjan is uniquely qualified to know how Ottawa’s abstract policy decisions can be bent, Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan says Canada could soon join a military coalition to take on ISIS in Libya, a country beset by a civil war and mounting Islamic terrorism. “I had a good meeting with my counterpart, the minister of defence from Italy, [on military intervention in Libya],” Sajjan said following a NATO defence ministers’ meeting in Brussels.. “Italy is willing to take the lead on this; once we have a good understanding of the political situation, that will allow us to figure out what we need to do,” said in an interview with Chris Hall on CBC Radio’s The House. More than four years after Moammar Gadhafi was deposed — in large part due to

Liberals createtwo-tier refugee system

Western military intervention — Islamic State militants have taken advantage of the resulting political vacuum to establish themselves in Libya’s coastal cities. An estimated 3,000 ISIS fighters are in the country, which has been attracting more foreign recruits in recent months as the journey to Iraq and Syria has become more difficult with Turkey tightening its border with Syria. Italy has said it wants a leadership role in stabilizing Libya — one of its former colonial possessions — because it is located less than 300 km from the Italian island of Lampedusa. ISIS-backed elements have carried out several attacks on oil installations, and at least 60 were killed by an suicide bombing against a Libyan police training center earlier this month. “Before we can actually say ‘Yes we’re interested,’ ‘Yes we can do this,’ we’re doing what all responsible coalition partners should do [asses the political and security situation] and then decide if we have the right capabilities to assist in this mission. “We will be part of that conversation,” Sajjan said.

Syrians not the only ones fleeing adversity at home, experts and refugees say

olomon didn’t face a welcoming committee with cameras clicking when he landed in Toronto as a refugee. Instead, he got a send-off. The smuggler who had brought him into the country gave him a lift into one of the city’s predominantly Ethiopian neighbourhoods, wished him well and left him to fend for himself. With the help of his fellow countrymen, the 16-year-old found his Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (right) greets refugees at the Masjid way to a youth shelter, Al-Salaam on Jan. 17 in Peterborough, Ont. which then passed him ian refugees arriving in the country. The earoff to other community organizations that liest arrivals were greeted by none other than were largely ill-equipped to help a newly arPrime Minister Justin Trudeau, who offered rived refugee seeking sanctuary in Canada. them handshakes, hugs and winter apparel. His experience stands in stark contrast to People fleeing the raging war in Syria went the welcome offered to the thousands of Syrthrough an accelerated screening process before boarding flights that would take them to a country that has pulled out all the stops for their arrival. The medical care, transportation costs and warm national welcome are all readily available thanks to a Liberal government initiative targeted specifically toward Syrians. Solomon, who requested that his real name Authentic South Indian Cuisine not be used, applauds Canada for offering a helping hand to those fleeing persecution. But he also cautions that Syrians are not alone in facing adversity in their homelands. “Our (Ethiopian) government has trouble distributing everything to the people,” he said in a telephone interview. “Apparently on paper we have what appears to be a democratic country, but when you live there it’s totally different.” Differences lie at the heart of the concerns voiced by organizations supporting the thousands of refugees that seek asylum in Canada each year. While they commend the government’s efforts to support a population in crisis, they lament that others in similar circumstances don’t have access to the same resources. Janet Dench, executive director of the Canadian Council for Refugees, fears recent government initiatives have created a two-tier system. Gaining refugee status in Canada is a complex and bureaucratic process fenced about with rules, quotas and government restrictions. Dench said many of those barriers have been removed as part of the Syrian refugee resettlement program. The country’s sponsorship agreement holders, for instance, are allowed to bring in as many Syrians as they wish while the number from other regions is still subject to government-imposed caps. Smaller private sponsorship groups, too, are typically only allowed to support those who have been formally recognized as a refugee by either the United Nations High Commission for Refugees or the country in which they were residing when they filed their application. That lack of recognition was what prompted the then-Conservative government to reject a refugee claim from Mohammad Kurdi, the uncle of three-year-old Alan Kurdi, who drowned along with his brother and their mother when their boat capsized before reaching the Turkish shore. A photo of Alan’s lifeless body face down on a Turkish beach is widely credited with galvanizing Canada’s efforts to resettle Syrian refugees. Dench said official recognition is no longer necessary for those fleeing Syria, a fact that she said highlights the disparity between the way other populations are treated during the application process. “The whole system is really set up to discour11 - 9 • Fri - Sat. 11 - 10 age people, and to make it difficult, if not impossible, to sponsor other refugees,” she said.

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POLITICS

Temporary Foreign Worker Program review to be launched by Liberals

mployment Minister MaryAnn Mihychuk says she’ll ask a parliamentary committee to review the Temporary Foreign Worker Program following feedback she’s received from Canadians who say reforms brought in by the previous government missed the mark. The Conservatives overhauled the program in 2014 after a series of stories published by CBC’s Go Public team alleged abuse of the program. “I plan to ask a House of Commons committee to study the program, to provide advice and suggestions for reform and improvement,” Mihychuk said. “The previous government’s plan failed workers, businesses and Canadians, and undermined confidence

in the program.” Stiff new fines and penalties for employers who break the new rules came into effect on Dec. 1 — after the new Liberal government was sworn into power. But reforms brought in by the Conservatives will further restrict access to the program in the coming months, unless the Liberals reverse some of those changes. If no changes are made, employers with 10 or more staff will be expected to abide by a 10 per cent cap on hiring low-wage, temporary foreign workers per job site by July 1. “I have heard from businesses, from worker advocates, members of Parliament and others across Canada that the Temporary Foreign Worker system needs to change,” Mihychuk said on Thursday.

Trudeau government fully restores refugee health care program

he federal government announced Thursday that all refugee health care benefits will be fully restored to pre-2012 levels by April 1. Refugees from any country of origin will be covered once again, following several years of confusion and patchwork solutions after the previous Conservative government scaled back the interim federal health program in an effort to save an estimated $20 million annually. In addition, Immigration Minister John McCallum and Health Minister Jane Philpott announced Thursday that starting next April 1, 2017, additional coverage would be offered to refugees before their departure for Canada, to cover: As part of its efforts to assist a large, new wave of Syrian refugees to Canada, the federal government announced

last December it had dropped an appeal of a Federal Court case over changes to the interim federal health program for refugees. The court ordered that benefits cut by Stephen Harper’s Conservative government in 2012 be reinstated. Those cuts applied to failed refugee claimants and those still in Canada waiting for their appeals to be heard. The restrictions were already lifted to provide coverage for privately sponsored and government-assisted Syrian refugees. But Philpott said earlier this winter she was “fully aware there are some inconsistencies” with refugees from other countries, who are still not eligible for the same benefits. Those changes required cabinet approval, she said, promising that would happen soon.

Canadian CF-18s ended bombing mission in Iraq and Syria on Monday, military confirms

anada’s CF-18 fighter jets stopped their bombing in Iraq and Syria on Monday, days before MPs started debating the value of the new military mission against the Islamic State. The debate in the House of Commons on the Liberal government’s new Iraq mission started Wednesday. But the six fighter aircraft had finished their mission two days before. “In accordance with Government of Canada direction, the Chief of the Defence Staff ordered the Canadian Armed Forces to cease

airstrike operations in Iraq and Syria on February 15, 2016,” Canadian Forces spokesman Capt. Kirk Sullivan confirmed late Wednesday. “The Hornets will depart the region in a phased approach in the coming weeks,” he added. The Liberals unveiled Feb. 8 their revamped “non-combat” mission to battle ISIL in Iraq, including their plan to triple the number of Canadian special forces in the north of the country and withdraw the six fighter jets. The Liberals had said the fighter jet mission would end by Feb. 22. The last bombing runs took place on the weekend in Iraq.

Saturday, February 20, 2016 i 21

Canada’s economy to grow slower than anticipated in 2016 and 2017

ne of the world’s leading policy organizations now expects Canada’s economy to grow by less than previously anticipated for the next two years, and the OECD has also downgraded estimates for other G7 countries. The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development said Thursday that after eking out a 1.2 per cent expansion in 2015, Canada’s economy is on track to grow by 1.4 per cent this year and 2.2 per cent next year. The forecasts for this year and next are less than had been expected by the group, which con-

ducts research on the world’s richest nations, in its last quarterly forecast. As recently as November, the group was expecting Canada’s economy to grow by two per cent this year and 2.3 per cent next year. The group singled out Canada and other economies described as “reliant on commodity exports” for bearing the brunt of a global economic slowdown that seems underway. In 2015, the world’s economy grew by five per cent, it’s slowest pace in five years, the OECD said. The group expects a repeat performance in 2016.“Trade and investment are weak,” said Catherine Mann, the organization’s chief economist.

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CLASSIFIEDS

Saturday, February 20, 2016

JOBS

Need Janitorial Helpers

control and supervision of kitchen staff. Must have at least 3 years experience as a Pakistani cook. Knowledge of Urdu and asset. Hourly wage $17.00 per hour. 40 hours per week. Contact Pasha at 604 593 7323 or send resume at anwarpasha786@hotmail.com

customer service. Employment Requirements: Completion of Secondary School with 2-3 years of experience or Completion of 3-4 years apprenticeship training program or Trade certification with several months of on-job training. If interested please send resume at mobilezonecommunicationinc@gmail.com”

Surrey Janitorial Services urgently require helpers for Surrey and Abbotsford and Vancouver. Experience not a requirement but will be preferred. Please call 778-859-9234 ------------------- Feb 06 2016

Baker / Sweet Maker wanted

Nirala Sweets and Restaurant in Surrey BC needs fully qualified Pakistani style Baker/Sweet maker (Mithai). Responsibilities will include Sweet making for retail and banquets, training of employees, labour & food cost control and supervision. Must have at least three years experience as a Pakistani Baker. Knowledge of Urdu an asset. ourly salary $15.50/hr. Contact Pasha 604 593 7323 or send resume at anwarpasha786@hotmail.com ---------------- Jan 23 2016

Cook for Pakistani cuisine wanted Nirala Sweets and Restaurant in Surrey BC needs experienced chef for Halal Northern Pakistani style dishes. Must be expert in making kababs and tandoori dishes. Must be able to handle halal meats. Responsibilities will include menu design and planning, cooking for individual customers and banquets, training of employees, labour & food cost

---------------- Jan 23 2016 “Mobile Zone Communication Inc., located at 123-9855 Austin Road, Burnaby, BC V3J1N4, has immediate 2 vacancies for Cell phone Technician for two different locations. One vacancy for 123-9855 Austin Road, Burnaby BC V3J 1N4 and one vacancy for Brentwood Town Centre 4567 Lougheed Hwy, Burnaby, BC V5C 3Z6. Full time, permanent positions with 35-40 hours per week, $31/hour. Job Duties include: Perform Inspection,Testing, Diagnose and Troubleshoot smart phone and other mobile devices; Disassemble the device to install, remove, repair or replace defective parts; Perform high quality repairs and refurbishment of phones/cell phones/tablets; Ensure all repair meets quality standards; Monitor parts inventory and inform management of status; Accurately document repairs and parts information on repair tracking document; Maintaining and using tools and equipment properly; Interact with customer as needed, providing exceptional

------------------------------Jan 02_16

Vacancy for In-home Caregiver Balwinder Singh Singhmaar, resident of 15095 92Ave, Surrey, BC V3R 5V8 has a vacancy for Inhome Child caregiver for infant child and 9 years old son. Full Time, $11 / hour, 40 hrs/week. Applicant must have high school with minimum of one year of related experience within last three years or six months of full time training in caregiving. Job Duties includes Supervise and care for children, prepare formulas and change diaper of infant, feeding, bathing, dressing, prepare children for rest period, escort child to school, prepare and serve nutritious meal and snacks, accompany to and from activities & appointments, light housekeeping, laundry, maintain safe environment at home, keep record of day-to-day activities, health and progress of children. Send resumes by email at balwinderssinghmaar@gmail.com -------------- Oct 31 2015

Western door manufacturing Ltd. located at #109-8250 124Street, Surrey BC V3W 3X9, has an immediate vacancy of Carpenter. We design and manufacture high end solid wood exterior doors, solid wood interior doors and custom doors. Full time permanent job position with wages of $25per hour. 35 to 40 hours per week. Job Duties includes Read & interpret drawings & sketches to determine specifications; Estimate height, width, length, & other proportions; Measure, cut, shape, & assemble materials using woodworking machines, power

JOBS tools and hand tools; Build exterior doors, interior doors, custom doors with jams; Install hardware such as hinges, handles, catches using hand tools and power tools; Repair doors & replace panels of doors. Job requirement: High school with 2-3 years of experience. Trade certificate will be considered as an asset. If interested send resumes by email at westerndoormanufacturing@gmail. com ------------- September 5, 2015 Jun13_155 Long Haul Truck Drivers Reqd. Sal:$23.00/hr, 40hr/wk, +1yr exp. & Class A 0r 1 license reqd., FT/PT Duties: Operate, drive straight or articulated trucks to transport goods & materials on local routes or over long distances.Plan trip logistics & obtain required documentation to transport goods. Perform pre-trip & post-trip inspection of vehicle systems. Record cargo information, hours of service, distance travelled & fuel consumption.May perform emergency roadside repairs. Lang: English. Work at various location in Canada & USA. Contact: Balwinder from Metro Transport ltd.12772 82nd Ave, Surrey, V3W 3G1 E-mail your resume at metro_transport@yahoo.ca. ------------------------------Jun13_15

1 Optical Frame Fitter Reqd. Sal: $22.00/hr, 40hr/wk, +1yrs exp. or certification reqd., FT/ PT Duties: Obtain specifications for eyeglasses or contact lenses from a prescription. Assist clients in selecting eyeglasses. Grinding & polishing of lenses. Cut & edge lenses & fit lenses into frames. May supervise or manage activities of other opticians. Lang: English. Location: 12841 96 Avenue, Surrey, BC, V3V 6V9 Contact: Imran from Eye See 2020 Optical at opt_eyesee@yahoo.ca. ------------------------------Jun 06_15 Dosa Corner Restaurant Ltd in Vancouver Looking to hire an authentic south indian chef .

S Basement for Rent

One bed room basement suite is available for rent from 1st of January 2016. Rent $ 600 including utility & internet . Walking distance to Bell Centre, Elementary & High School and Gurdwara Dukh Nivaran Sahib. Call 778-628-4473 This is a full time permanent position. $18.50/hr. 40hrs/week. Must have at least 3-5yrs experience in south indian cuisine & specialized knowledge in Dosas. Duties include Prepare & cook meals.kitchen management. Plan menus & quality. Orders food supplies. Mail your resume to selvamm164@ gmail.com or apply by person at DosaCorner Vancouver. 110-8248 Fraser Street. Vancouver. B.C.. V5X 3X6 Ph: 604-324-3672. -----------------------------------Seamstress required Seamstress (Tailor) needed Foam & Décor is looking for Full Time or Part Time Seamstress ( tailor) for drapery in Surrey. Salary will be provided @ 12 per hour. Please call 604-594-1882 Mayuri Indian foods inc is looking to hire an Ethnic Food Cook in Surrey BC. F/T & Perm.$17/hr. Must have at least 2-3 yrs experience in South Indian cuisine & specialized knowledge in Indian spicing. Duties: Prepare & Cook meals; Supervise Kitchen helpers; Plan menus; Ensure quality & determine food proportions; Monitor & order food supplies; Set up & oversee buffets; Manage kitchen operation. Mail resume or apply by person Mayuri indian cuisine , Unit 102A,12677 80th Ave., Surrey BC V3W 3A6

To PLACE YOUR AD IN THE ASIAN STAR CLASSIFIEDS Section Please

Call: 604-591-5423

COMMUNITY

roudly invites you to the launch of a new book. A JOURNEY WITH THE ENDLESS EYE (stories of Komagata Maru incident) The book is written by Ajmer Rode and Jarnail Singh Artist and published by Richard Olafson of Ekstasis Editions. Stories and color paintings on glossy paper. Featuring: Tabla by Amarjit Singh / Songs by Gagandeep Singh / Flute

Naad Foundation by Dr. Bruce Harding / A Play by Gurdip Arts Academy / painting exhibition by Jarnail Singh 21 February 2016, 2:00 pm Free Refreshments Crossroads United Church, 7655, 120 St, Delta, BC Ph:778-565-4005 www.naadfoundation.ca Ajmer Rode: 604-526-2342 Jarnail Singh Artist: 604-825-4659

Saturday, February 20, 2016 i 23

Income Tax Clinic, Vancouver Income Tax Clinic 2016 - March 01, 2016 to April 20, 2016 Progressive Intercultural Community Services Society (Vancouver) is offering Free Income Tax filing services for people living in Vancouver, Richmond, New Westminster and Burnaby. The eligibility criteria is as follows: • Single individual with annual limit upto $30,000 • Couples with annual income limit upto $40,000 • Adult with one child with annual income limit upto $35,000 and increase the income limit by $2500 for each dependant child • Income

from interest(s) should not exceed $1,000 Anyone fulfilling the aforesaid criteria can visit or contact the PICS Vancouver Settlement Office. Appointments are necessary. CONTACT: Vancouver Settlement Office #102 – 8157 Main Street Vancouver, BC V5X 3L2 Tel. 778-371-8552 www.pics.bc.ca

Studio 7 Remained Occupied

urrey: Studio 7 remained occupied last weak. During these days Mahi kaur screened two of her short film “ The Rolling Dream” and “ Coffee at Laundromat’ simultaneously. Progressive Nari Cultural Association held its meeting at studio 7 in which many of agenda to make its mission successful were discussed. Canada Urdu Association also celebrated birth anniversary of a renowned south Asian poet Faiz Aehmed faiz . Sahit Sabha Surry hold its monthly meeting and kendri likhari sabha released a book “ Supne Sunehri Rang De” penned by Davinder Johal . At this moment along with the renowned writers the family members of the Davinder kaur johal were present . All appreciated the work by the poetess and congratulated her at release of her 7th book.In all the events along with many other services tea and snacks were served by Sukh iBath Foundation. If you or any organisation want to conduct a seminar lecture in the favor and benefit of the society you can book our Studio 7 for free . No money will be charged by the foundation for any of the services provide by the foundation. -------------------------------------------

Mosaic Networking Are you new to the country/ looking to meet new friends or seeking networking opportunities? You are invited! Refreshments will be served! Mosaic Church meets on Saturday evening 6:30 pm in Surrey/Abbotsford. Surrey: 12150-92 Avenue; Abbotsford: 2940 Clearbrook Road For more info call Dave at 604 897-4224 or email dmclauren@gmail.com ---------------------------------------------------PICS Entrepreneurship Program – New Session Begins January 27th, 2016 PICS is currently accepting applications for it’s PICS Entrepreneurship Program, a nine week training course which will teach you all the ropes of how to start a successful business. Classes include helping you develop a business plan and ways in which you can secure finance for your plan. The training is followed by sixteen weeks of mentorship and consultation as well. New session begins on January 27, 2016 in Vancouver. Participants will be recruited from the following groups: Youth (15 to 29 years), or Aboriginals, or Persons with Disabilities (self-identified disability that restricts regular employment). Potential participants may contact Deshpal Grewal at PICS at 604-596-7722 ext. 126 and register for the next information session scheduled for: •January 13, 2016 at 2:30 PM – PICS Head Office in Surrey (#205 – 12725 80th Ave, Surrey, BC) January 20, 2016 at 2:30 PM – PICS Vancouver Office (#200 – 8153 Main Street, Vancouver, BC)

Local Church Announces Saturday Service to Accommodate Young Families David McLauren and Mosaic Community Church announced a new Saturday service today to accommodate the demanding schedules of the local community. Did you know that the Lower Mainland is one of the most diverse regions of the North America, with over 100 different spoken languages? Our communities are being joined by thousands of people from nearly every nation, culture, and ethnic group of the world. The Lower Mainland is increasingly becoming a multicultural mosaic; however, over 90% of churches in the area have church services only on Sunday morning. Mosaic Community Church is a new missional church in the Lower Mainland. This new Saturday service will benefit several people in the community who: * are newcomers to the community * are looking for networking opportunities * want to add some color to their church experience * can’t wait till Sunday * are looking for something to do on a Saturday night * prefer to sleep on Sundays Mosaic Community Church meets Saturday evenings at 6:30 PM in Surrey. Mosaic Community Church Surrey: 12150 - 90 Avenue, Surrey ------------------------------------------------------Emotional Health & Stress Management Workshop Christmas and holiday season is a time for family and friends’ gathering. For new immigrants, it is exciting to celebrate the festivals in Canada, but it may be stressful as they are away from their home country. This workshop will provide information about how to manage your

24 i

Business / Finance

Saturday, February 20, 2016

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Nordstrom to open outlet store in Toronto

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pscale retailer Nordstrom Inc. will launch its first discount Rack outlet in Canada at one of the country’s busiest intersections. Blake Nordstrom, co-president of the Seattle-based retailer, said the first Rack will be located at Bloor and Yonge Streets in Toronto – at 1 Bloor St. E. – just steps from the tony Mink Mile, where Holt Renfrew & Co. and other luxury retailers have flagship stores. The Rack store will open in 2018, which is a delay of about two years from when Nordstrom originally said it would launch its first Rack, he said. The delay is because of the large number of “complexities” and expenses in setting up shop in Canada, he said. “It’s more important that we get it right,” he said in an interview. Nordstrom opened its first store in Canada in Calgary in the fall of 2014, with another in Ottawa and then one in Vancouver the following year. This fall it will open two stores in Toronto and, in 2017, another in that city. The Rack outlet will enter an increasingly crowded market as rival Hudson’s Bay Co. launches its first Saks Fifth Avenue store in Canada on Thursday and its first Off 5th discount outlets later this year. Rack is among a fast-growing segment of “off-price” retailers that sell goods with prominent brands at attractive discounts. Retailers often use their off-price stores to clear unsold merchandise at their conventional outlets. Off-price stores often outperform their sister full-line counterparts; for example, in 2014 Rack stores generated $552 (U.S.) sales per square foot compared with $371 at its conventional namesake stores, company data show. HBC had planned to launch its first Saks store in Canada at the corner of Yonge and Bloor, where it currently runs a Hudson’s Bay outlet. But HBC governor Richard Baker changed his mind and is locating the first Saks within the Hudson’s Bay flagship store on Queen Street West. Landlord Cadillac Fairview Corp. offered HBC a $650-million deal he couldn’t resist for the Queen Street building and connecting office tower.

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Business / Finance

BC Gov’t to spend $355M on affordable housing

he B.C. government is contributing $355 million to construct or renovate 2,000 new affordable housing units across the province, says the premier. Premier Christy Clark, who made the announcement in Vancouver on Friday with Housing Minister Rich Coleman, said the units will be aimed at people with low to moderate incomes throughout the province. “Thisisthelargestsinglesocialand affordable housing investment in the province’s history,” she told reporters. “A strong, growing economy gives us the ability to make investments in critical services that build on our track record of increasing affordable housing across B.C. and ensur-

ing more British Columbians have access to a safe and affordable place to call home.” Clark said the province has earmarked $50 million of the investment for each of the first two years, $75 million for the third year and $90 million for the final two years. The funding, which will be generated from the non-profit asset transfer program, will be distributed over a fiveyear period, she said. BC Housing said it will seek requests for proposals to partner with municipalities, non-profit societies and other community groups on projects that create more affordable housing.

New mortgage rules are not the only solution for Canada’s red-hot real estate market: academics If there’s one thing that unites the majority of Canadians, it’s that we agree there’s a lack of affordability when it comes to the housing markets of Vancouver and Toronto. The federal government recently announced new measures to try and cool these hot real estate markets by increasing the minimum insurable down payment required on homes over $500,000. The change took effect Mon-

day. Mortgage rules requiring 10% down on homes over $500K kick in New mortgage rule may not cool hot markets Shadow flipping’ not limited to Vancouver real estate market Only time will tell how effective this measure will be. We reached out to economists and real estate experts to ask for their best ideas on slowing down Canada’s big-city markets.

Retirement? Few Canadians without an employer pension plan have enough money, study says

nly 15 to 20 per cent of middle-income Canadians retiring without an employer pension plan have saved anywhere near enough for retirement, according to a new study from the Broadbent Institute. These people, now aged 55 to 64, face a dramatic drop in their standard of living in retirement, and many will spend their senior years in poverty, the think-tank says, basing its findings on Statistics Canada figures. About 47 per cent of Canadians currently have no employer pension, and even fewer younger workers have employer pensions. That means the number of seniors who slip into poverty will worsen in the decades ahead, according to report author Richard Shillington. CPP reform is needed, say

groups representing Canadians Ontario pushes back provincial pension plan rollout by at least 1 year How much do you need to retire? Experts differ Canadians within 10 years of retirement are supposed to be at their peak savings years, socking away money for retirement. But Shillington found the median value of retirement assets of Canadians age 55 to 64 is just over $3,000. They’ll get the CPP/QPP and OAS/ GIS in most cases, which brings them to an average of $15,970 annually for singles and $25,746 for couples. Half have less than year of savings But they are meant to supplement that income from their own savings or other resources.

Vancouver teardown in Point Grey sells for almost $2.5M Shabby little house that came to symbolize Vancouver’s runaway real estate market sells over asking

he latest poster child for Vancouver real estate excess is off the market, having fetched — of course — more than the asking price, proving that when it comes to securing a plot of dirt on the city’s west side, there seems to be no limit to what buyers will spend. Average house price up 17% in January The property sold for $2.48 million, $80,000 more than what was considered an outrageous list price just two weeks ago when it was put on the market. Backyard of $2.4M Vancouver home Located on West

14th near Sasamat in the location-location location-driven Point Grey neighbourhood, the house had a sale price that reflects a new upper range for land value. It’s certain the wrecking ball will soon land on the shabby little house currently sitting on the property, cheekily dubbed a “dream home” by local newspapers. Only two blocks away, a brand new four-bedroom, six-bathroom home perched on a slightly smaller lot is currently listed for $4.3 million. 4196 W 12th Ave, This house two blocks away is listed for $4.3 million.

Saturday, February 20, 2016 i 25

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Saturday, February 20, 2016

PUNJAB

SAD wins Khadoor Sahib seat

hiromani Akali Dal (SAD) candidate Ravinder Singh Brahmpura won the Khadoor Sahib byelection, defeating his nearest rival Bhupinder Singh Bittu by a margin of 65,664 votes. Bittu, a Congress rebel, contested as an Independent. SAD’s tally in House is 60 now. The NOTA (none of the above) option emerged as the third top choice of the voters. In all, 2,252 voters exercised this option against 548 during the Lok Sabha elections in 2014 — the first time when the EVMs with NOTA button were used in the state. Former AAP convener Sumel Singh Sidhu, an Independent, managed only 2,243 votes. Of the 1,09,553 votes cast on February 13, Brahmpura got 83,080 while his nearest rival polled 17,416 votes. As the Congress and AAP had not fielded their candidates, Ravinder Brahmpura regained control of the constituency that his father Ranjit Singh Brahmpura

Exhibition of paintings on Sikh gurus, Golden Temple in Amsterdam

n exhibition of paintings on the Sikh gurus and the Golden Temple took place in Amsterdsam on Sunday. The paintings, by Delhi- based artist Amita Kaur Saluja, will also be exhibited in nearby Almere. The exhibition took place at the Shi Guru Nanak Gurudwara Sahib in Amsterdam’s Schakelstraat, in a

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) candidate Ravinder SinghBrahmpura.

lost to Ramanjit Singh Sikki of the Congress in 2012 by a margin of 3,054 votes. Later, Brahmpura Senior got a lead of around 38,000 votes from this Assembly segment in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. Ravinder Brahmpura, with tears running down his cheeks, attributed his victory to the “peace” and “development” agenda. He said he would repay the people of the constituency by ensuring its overall development.

collaboration between Netherlands-based Indian art promoter Indischka and the Gurgaon-based Maharaja Art Gallery, organized by Rajiv Kaushik and presented by digital artist LR Gandhi. The exhibition in Amsterdam followed its display in Rotterdam and Den Haag.

Akalis out to dilute Khalsa College’s heritage: Captain Amrinder

n unscheduled visit of PPCC president and local MP Capt Amarinder Singh to Khalsa College this afternoon led to a high drama. On learning about the visit, the college authorities locked all main gates of the campus. Amarinder’s cavalcade managed to gain entry from another gate. The college authorities alleged that the MP’s security men slapped the college guards, snatched keys of the gate and

stormed into the campus unannounced, which was unfortunate. Though no one from the college management entertained Amarinder, students welcomed him and interacted with him. They also clicked photographs with the MP. On the purpose of his visit, Amarinder said he was there to question the “illogical” move of Khalsa College Governing Council (KCGC) to set up a university in the neighbourhood of the prestigious Guru Nanak Dev University.

Gift from abroad not part of income, rules High Court A two-decade old controversy hovering around two monetary gifts of $4 lakh for Oswal daughters has culminated in an order against the income tax authorities. The Punjab and Haryana High Court has made it clear that the gifts received by the managing director of Ludhiana-based Oswal Woollen Mills Limited, Jawahar Lal Oswal, for and on behalf of his daughters in England were valid.

Doctors with degree from China, Russia flunk test Many doctors in Punjab who got their MBBS degrees from Ukraine, China and Nepal performed abysmally in a written test conducted by the state government to recruit 350 medical officers this week. As many as 19 foreign-educated doctors failed to qualify the written test. Out of them, seven doctors have got their degrees from Ukraine and six each from China and Nepal. Only three other foreign-educated doctors could qualify the test. A written test was conducted by Baba Farid University of Health Sciences (BFUHS) on February 14. The candidates’ score was the sole criterion for selection as medical officers. Of 1,083 MBBS doctors who had appeared in this test, 180 failed to qualify and out of 800 marks

25 Punjabis among 150 stuck in Saudia

s many as 150 youths, including 25 from Punjab, are stuck in Eastern province capital city Dammam of Saudi Arabia after their company abandoned them due to closure of construction work on the site they were working at. They are suffering in extreme cold conditions and are on the verge of starvation as the company they were working for had not paid them for months. Besides, the company officials have kept their passports and demanding 1,500 riyals for returning the same. They also asked them to show their return tickets. The family of one of them, Punit Mehan of nearby Baghpur village, informed the Ministry of External Affairs a month ago about the sufferings of the youth stuck there by writing a letter to Union Minister Sushma Swaraj.

Saturday, February 20, 2016 i 27

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Saturday, February 628 ii Saturday - April 4, 2015 20, 2016

INDIA fOOD

2,200 corrupt govt officials identified in 2015, CBI says

Day of

PiNK Celebrate Diversity February 24, 2016 BC Pink Shirt Day April 13, 2016 International Day of Pink

chicken (no butter) Masala Will you be wearing pink to stand against Your favourite butter chicken but and without the bullying, discrimination, homophobia butter and added calories! transphobia? On those days celebrate diversity by wearing pink at school. Procedure:

he Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday claimed to have identified 2,200 corrupt senior government officials in 2015 and initiated enquiries against them. The agency said there was a 94% jump in crackdown against corruption in the country from 2014. CBI director Anil Sinha said the agency had identified 2,200 corrupt senior officials and begun investigations against them. The anti-graft agency has registered 101 FIRs against these persons till now. “People expect the CBI to act against corruption

and we are doing just that. Our focus is on conducting fair investigations and completing pending investigations,” Sinha said. The CBI registered 101 graft related FIRs in 2015 after receiving complaints about officials demanding bribe to grant favours. The corresponding figure was 52 in 2014. .Talking about the agency’s performance, Sinha, who has completed 14 months as chief, said the CBI managed to file 1,044 chargesheets in 2015 which was the highest by the agency during the last five years. Among those charged are Naveen Jindal, A Raja, Virbhadra Singh and other political functionaries.

Widow pawns sons to pay for husband’s funeral

n a heart-wrenching tale of poverty from a mineral-rich region of Odisha, a widow was forced to pawn her two minor sons for money to perform the last rites of her husband in Champua. Her tragic story came to light on Wednesday after block development officer S Nayak and other officials visited Champua on receiving information about the ‘mortgaging’ that occurred on Republic Day. Sabitri Nayak, a tribal from Gadhuli village in Keonjhar district, handed over her sons Mukesh (13) and Sukesh (11) to her neighbour for Rs 5,000 when she could not perform the last rites

of her husband, Raiba, the breadwinner of the family. “I had to pawn my two sons because I don’tIngredients even have money to feed my children,” • 250g boneless said Sabitri, who has chicken three more children, • 2tbsp rapeseed oil Barsha (4).. DaiAkash (9), Chilari (8) and • 1 medium red onion ly wage earner Raiba had died on January 26 3 large tomatoes after a• long illness that had drained the fam• ½ cup cashew ily’s meagre resources nuts and forced Sabitri to • 100g puree withdraw hertomato children from school. The two • 1brothers tbsp dried leaves pawned arefenugreek looking after the cattle • 100ml low fat cream of a neighbour who helped Sabitri with the • 1tspSources garam masala money.. said Sabitri knocked on • doors 1tsp red powder several for chilli help but none came forward. • 1tbsp gingerpaste on Raiba’s “The family had spent garlic all its savings • 2tbsp thick low fat yoghurt treatment. • salt to taste

Pakistan ‘jails Indian man for espionage’

n Indian national who went missAnsari entered Pakistan’s Kohat region iling inwater Pakistan than three thelegally Marinate the chicken with the ginger garlic paste and the yoghurt for 20 min. soak the cashew in warm for 15more minutes.chop onionsvia and tomatoes. in Heat 1 tbsp Afghanistan 2012, and was held years ago has jailed for espionage, oil to a pan. sear the chicken pieces in the hot oil for 1 minute on each side to a golden colour. remove thebeen chicken pieces. in the same pan, add 1tbsp oil and the chopped by the army, media reports said. reports Nehalflame Ansari onions. saute till a translucent pink. Add the tomatoes, red chili powder, garam masala powder andsay. cookHamid on medium tillconthe tomatoes are tender His family, who(approx. struggled4-5 to determine his bctf.ca/DayofPink • DayofPink.org fessed to spying waspan jailed three minutes). remove from flame and run in a blender with the soaked cashews to make a smooth paste. returnand to the andfor add the tomato puree. Bring to a boil addhave told whereabouts until earlier thisand year, by a military a prison the chicken pieces. simmer for 4-5 minutes till the chicken is cooked. Add the low fat creamyears and simmer for 2court, minutes. Broilofficial, the fenugreek leaves on a pan. crush the Indian media they believe he entered Pakiwho asked not to be named, said. There stan to search for a woman he had befriended fenugreek leaves over the curry and remove from fire. serve hot. were no further details, and the military online. A message from the Surrey Teachers’ Association has not officially commented.

Be creative!

INDIA

Saturday, February 20, 2016 i 29

Meet the Indian scientists behind gravitational waves discovery

ixty Indian scientists from across nine Indian institutes are involved in the experiment that led to the discovery of the gravitational wave as predicted by Albert Einstein a century ago. HT caught up with the leading lights in dull-grey jackets that read ‘Listening to Cosmic Whispers’ at Pune’s Inter University of Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA). Sanjeev Dhurandhar, 64 | Emeritus professor, IUCAA, Pune (Special arrangement ) As a PhD student in his early thirties in Bangalore, Sanjeev Dhurandhar made a presentation seeking funds for a science project that was unheard in 1988-1989 – to build the world’s biggest100-metre interferometer to detect gravitational waves. A senior astronomer told him he lacked credibility and he didn’t get funding. Interferometers are investigative tools used in many fields of science and engineering, according to this website. They are called interferometers because they work by merging two or more sources of light to create an interference pattern, which can be measured and

analysed; hence “Interfere-ometer”. Today, Dhurandhar is referred to as the pillar holding

up India’s gravitational wave research. “Gravitational waves fascinated me since it was a good combination of both theoretical and experimental aspect. There was no technology then to detect these waves because they are so feeble though they had a lot of energy,” said Dhurandhar. “The project never got the funding.” Realising that this field of astrophysics would be the next frontier in science, Dhurandhar went on to develop novel algorithms on how to extract gravitational wave signals from the noise created from sources such as

black holes, and how to do it with several detectors – all of this was used for the discovery of the gravitational wave. “I wasn’t sure if the discovery would come through in my lifetime,” said an elated Dhurandhar, who has built a strong data analysis group in IUCAA over 25 years. Parameswaran Ajith, 35 | Leads astrophysical relativity group, International Centre for Theoretical Sciences – Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bangalore (Special arrangement) Parameswaran Ajith was on a vacation in Kerala in September 2015 when he received a call from his colleagues informing him of a “trigger” in the LIGO detectors that

looked like it was from a binary black hole. Ajith cut short his vacation. “The next three weeks were pretty sleepless till we got out the first results. Our preliminary results were out in ten days which then went in for further revision and review,” he recalled. Just three months before the discovery, the group at ICTS-TIFR had written a paper laying down the method to infer the mass and spin of the black holes that determines the shape of the gravitational wave. “We used simulations to infer the mass and spin of the final black hole mass which went into the paper.

Burglar steals to build temple, lands in jail

e raised a temple from the proceeds of more than 100 burglaries carried out over 25 years and prayed to the presiding goddess before every strike. None of this could save V Kamalakannan when a police team caught him on Tuesday during a vehicle check in Anna Nagar. The 47-year-old resident of Kannagi Nagar near Thoraipakkam was travelling in

an autorickshaw he stole in Chengalpet a few weeks ago when he was nabbed. Kamalakannan, whose father Veeraghavan is a retired armed reserve constable, confessed to have been involved in three recent burglaries, including at a spare parts showroom in Ambattur. Police recovered 16 sovereigns of gold jewellery and Rs 50,000 in cash

30 i

Saturday, February 20, 2016

National Fertilisers Ltd aims for Rs 15,000 cr turnover by 2021

he country’s largest fertiliser PSU NFL is aiming to double its turnover to Rs 15,000 crore in the next five years on the back of strong performance of its non-core business. “After gap of almost 20 years, we have tried our hands in decontrolled P&K fertilisers. The response was good, we are expecting that it will continue to yield good sales for us,” National Fertilisers Ltd (NFL) Chairman cum Managing Director Manoj Mishra told PTI. NFL is a strong player in

urea segment with 10 per cent market share. The company is now trying to raise its market share in decontrolled phosphoric and potassic (P&K) fertiliser segment to 5 per cent, Mishra added. “There is a strong performance from industrial chemicals and decontrolled fertilisers this fiscal so far. So I am confident that by the end of fiscal 202021, we would able to almost double our turnover to Rs 15,000 crore,” he said.

INDIA

BJP MP says fashionable for farmers to commit suicide, sparks row

t a time when Maharashtra is battling an agrarian crisis, BJP MP Gopal Shetty has kicked up a controversy by attributing farmers’ suicides to a “fashion” and “trend” to end lives. As his remarks sparked criticism from the Congress which said it reflected the ruling party’s “insensitivity” towards farmers, Shetty said his statement was “completely distorted” and taken out of context by the media. “Not all farmers’ suicides happen due to unemployment and starvation. A fashion is going on. A trend is on,” Shetty, MP from north Mumbai, said on the sidelines of an event held in Borivili here yesterday. The remarks come at a time when Maharashtra is reeling under an agrarian cri-

Media tycoon, Peter Mukerjea, c harged with Sheena Bora murder

n Indian media tycoon has been formally charged with the murder of his stepdaughter, police said. Peter Mukerjea, the former CEO of Rupert Murdoch’s Star India network, was arrested in November. He told Indian media that he stood by his earlier statement that he had nothing to do with her death. The murder of Sheena Bora, first thought to be Mr Mukerjea’s sister-in-law but later found to be his stepdaughter, has gripped India. Police had earlier named Indrani Muker-

sis with 124 farmers committing suicide in the state since January this year. “If Maharashtra government is giving five lakh rupees as compensation, then some other government in neighbouring state is giving seven lakh,” the MP said. “There’s a competition in these people in giving money (compensation) to farmers,” he said. Condemning the comments, Congress said the remarks by Shetty reflected the BJP’s “insensitivity” towards farmers’ plight. “At a time when Maharashtra is going through its worst-ever agrarian crisis, Shetty’s remarks show how insensitive he and his party are towards thousands of farmers who have committed suicide due to debt and crop failure,”

jea, Ms Bora’s mother, as the main suspect in the case. They have also arrested her first husband as a co-conspirator in the murder, as well as her former driver who is listed as an accomplice. The AFP news agency quoted an unnamed police officer as saying that Mr Mukerjea had been charged with the “same offences” as the others. They have accused him of plotting along with his wife to kill Ms Borah in 2009. Mr Mukerjea told the Indian Express newspaper that he would study the charges against him in jail, but stood by his assertion that he had “nothing to do with the case and was not aware of the conspiracy”.

Mega US howitzer deal to break Bofors jinx

ndia may finally exorcise its Bofors ghost of 30 years. After several years of hard-nosed negotiations, which also saw the proposed deal being stalled for a couple of years, the US government on Monday finally submitted an over $700 million offer for India to acquire 145 M-777 ultra-light howitzers. Sources said the Pentagon’s “letter of offer and acceptance (LoA)”, submitted to the Indian defence ministry under the American foreign military sales (FMS) programme, is now likely to

lead to a government-to-government contract within 180 days. “We are also at an advanced stage of mutually deciding the Indian partners in the deal, who will establish the AIT (assembly, integration and testing) facility here. While the first lot will be delivered directly, the bulk of the 145 howitzers (manufactured by BAE Systems) will be assembled in India over three years,” said a ministry source. The contract will entail a 30% offset clause, under which around $210 million will be invested back into India. The LoA for the M-777s comes at a time when India is incensed with the US decision to sell another eight F-16 fighters to Pakistan for $700 million.

BAE selects Mahindra as India partner for Howitzer gun deal

AE Systems said on Wednesday it had chosen Indian conglomerate Mahindra Group to build a plant for the assembly of its M-777 Ultra Lightweight Howitzer artillery guns that it wants to sell to India. India and the United States, where BAE manufactures the weapons, are in advanced-stage talks for the sale of 145 M777s in a deal expected to be worth more than $700 million. New Delhi is trying to replenish its range of artillery weapons after years of delays in ordering new equipment for depleted supplies. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has vowed to upgrade the country’s military hardware, but wants deals with foreign companies to include the setting up of factories and plants in India to boost local industry, and the transfer of technology. Under the proposal, Mahindra will run an assembly, integration and testing facility for the 145 Howitzers, BAE said in a statement.

FIJI

Fiji’s Public Accounts Committee chair fired By Munna Prasad rofessor of Economics and leader of the National federation Party, Dr Biman Prasad, was dismissed as the chair of the parliamentary Public Accounts committee today. Fiji’s self styled Attorney General, who also holds the Finance and Aviation portfolios, justified the firing by stating Australia’s Public Accountants Committee is chaired by a member of the government and Fiji’s government is doing the same. However, he failed to explain that if the Fijian government is following this one example of Australian democracy, then isn’t it following other Australian guidelines - such as a true democracy, an open government system, a free press, and no harassment of those who are critical of government and no suspension of Opposition MPs critical of the government. The Attorney General must be reminded about accountability and a government that is accountable to the Fijians. He further stated that the Chair of Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Professor Biman Prasad has been making public statements in regards to PAC hearings. THE Attorney General/Finance Minister and Aviation does not want or does not understand that every elected Parliamentarian is accountable to the public who has elected them. This comes about after the suspension of National Federation Party Parliamentarians by the Speaker without directing the NFP Parliamentarians to appear before the House and show cause as to why they should not be suspended. The speaker later stated in a press statement that her hands were tied and she had not choice. She did not

explain who had tied her hands. If she was truly independent, she could have tabled the motion to suspend the Opposition MPs and sought independent legal advice. She could also have directed the NFP Parliamentarians be present for hearing as to why they should be not suspended. Dr. Prasad raises a numbers of issues, including overspending by government MPs and Ministers. Now the Attorney General who is also the Minister of Finance will appoint a person from his own party as the Head the PAC, which is fraught with issues of its own. And the general expectation is that the new chair will not ask too many awkward questions about overspending by the government side. It was also very interesting to read in the Fijis controlled and pro government media that Fiji had bought armaments from Russia for $19 million dollars. When the question was put to the Minister of Defense as why was this expenditure not shown in the budget, the response was that the budget was passed before this deal but it appears that according to the Russian Ambassador based in Canberra, Australia, stated that in 2013 Prime Minister Bainimarama and his Russian counterpart PM Medvedev met in Moscow, and, as a result of their meeting an agreement was reached that Russia to supply arms on a” non repayable bases.” Was arms given free of charge to Fiji by Russia? If so, then where is the Fijian$19 million dollars? The Defense Minister seemed tongue tied when he is asked in the Parliament about the arms deal and the nature of arms obtained by Fiji. He has referred the matter to Acting Chief of the Fijis Armed Forces, who, is conveniently out of country.

Cyclone Winston now a category 5 – a severe threat to Suva

ategory 5 Severe Tropical Cyclone Winston has now entered the Fiji waters with average winds of 220 kilometres an hour and momentary gusts up to 315km an hour close to its centre. Located about 120km north of Lakeba or about 320km east-northeast of Suva at 5am today, TC Winston is moving west at 22km an hour. On its current track, the Fiji Meteorological office says the cyclone is ex-

pected to be located about 200km northwest of Lakeba or about 170km northeast of Suva at 5pm today and about 350km west -northwest of Lakeba or about 100km north-northwest of Suva at 5am tomorrow. “Destructive winds may begin several hours before the cyclone centre passes over head or nearby,” the forecaster says.

NFP suspension lifted after party sues Supervisor of Elections

he suspension of the National Federation Party was lifted by the Supervisor of Elections in his capacity as Registrar of Political Parties 5pm on Thursday, following the submission of our audited accounts by party lawyers Munro Leys for the years 2013 and 2014 to his office at 4.05pm on Thursday. The suspension was lifted after NFP lawyers file a case against Registrar of Political Parties (who is also the Supervisor of Elections) Mohammed Saneem on Monday The case will not be withdrawn and will continue against Saneem, NFP said in a press statement. “We have instructed our lawyers to continue with this legal action. They are awaiting the release of the papers from the High Court and they will be served on the

Supervisor of Elections after that,” NFP statement said. “We have challenged the Supervisor’s finding that NFP was in breach of the Political Parties (Registration, Conduct, Funding and Disclosures) Decree. We do not believe he interpreted the law correctly on the question of who may audit those accounts.” “We have also challenged his decision to suspend NFP. We do not believe it was necessary for him to do that and we do not believe the law allowed him to do that. We have also challenged his notice that we were restricted from various political party activities during the period of suspension. The party said it also taking legal advice as what action to take against the Speaker of the Parliament for suspending the party’s three MPs.

Saturday, February 20, 2016

Sex tourism alert

here is always a certain percentage of tourists who will travel to a country looking for sex, says Pacific Dialogue acting CEO Patricia Kailola. She said this gave rise to crimes such as human trafficking and under-age girls being involved in prostitution. “It’s (human trafficking) probably been here for many years and as I have always said before there will always be a percentage of tourists who go into a country looking for sex,” he said. “No matter the amount of tourists, there will always be that same percentage. “So there is a strong indication that there could be 1 per cent of tourists who are entering the country that are looking for sex. “For instance, 1 per cent of 100,000 tourists is a large number of people and so is 1 per cent of 160,000.” She said more awareness and the need for strong implementation of human trafficking laws under the Crimes Decree was vital to ensure the protection of under-age children.

i 31

“The Fiji Crimes Decree’s section on human trafficking is acknowledged internationally and the penalties are acknowledged as quite strong. But as like many other laws in other countries, it’s the part of implementing those laws is always a hurdle,” Ms Kailola said. “In Fiji, as with other countries, there is a problem in resourcing Government people and in this case it’s the police. “There are delays with getting these people to court and again this is an issue of resources.” She added that the co-operation of the international community would be an added advantage for Fiji as it worked towards strengthening its enforcement agencies. “There needs to be international encouragement for Fiji to implement these laws. “I don’t know if that is happening. “There has been a lot of criticism of it and we can criticise, but one thing that is not usually done is the international community coming forward to help Fiji.”

32 i Saturday, February 20, 2016

SOUTH ASIA

Saturday, February 20, 2016

i 33

Sri Lanka to support international probe on war crimes, says PM

kistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan ri Lankan Prime Minisas well as that of the US and human ter Ranil S Wickremesrights organisations can participate in inghe on Friday made it the discussions on the war crimes in clear that his government was Sri Lanka. He said Sri Lanka wantnot averse to international pared to ensure that those responsible to ticipation in investigating the the death of the civilians whether they alleged war crimes in his counwere military personnel or the orgatry, but said “final judgment will nizations like the LTTE, adding, a UN be made by the internal judicial investigation had earlier said it was Prime Minister Ranil system.” . possible up to 40,000 people had been Wickremesinghe Wickremesinghe who was in killed in the final five months alone. . Guruvayur to offer prayers at “It was not clear how many of them were the famous Sree Krishna Temple made these killed by the (Lankan) army or whether the observations while talking to reporters. The LTTE had moved the people to the war zones Sri Lankan prime minister said representatives which led to the death of some of them. of the neighbouring countries like India, Pa-

Nepal resumes fuel distribution after 6 months

n a relief to oil-starved Nepalese people, authorities on Friday resumed distribution of fuel after a gap of six months following the madhesi agitation that led to blockage of key border trade points with India. . Petrol was supplied to both private and public two- wheelers and four-wheeler vehicles from all petrol stations in Kathmandu, following resumption of fuel supplies to Nepal from India on Monday through the Raxaul border after agitating madhesis called off their nearly five-month-long blockade that caused acute

Nepal’s problems will end soon - PM

romising to end Nepal’s internal problems soon, Prime Minister KP Oli on Tuesday said the proposed political committee to address the demands of the Madhesis will be formed before his fence-mending India visit this week. Underlining that the Constitution is not an “unchangeable document”, Oli, while addressing the Parliament, said, “It is necessary to take forward the Constitution amendment motion based on the actual necessity and suggestions put forth by the political committee.”

Nepal PM to visit India for six days this month

epal’s Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli will embark on a six-day official visit to India, beginning from February 19, making his first foreign visit since assuming office last October. A cabinet meeting on Thursday night approved the dates for the prime minister’s

India visit and assigned the task to prepare agenda and other necessary ground work to the ministry of foreign affairs, Minister for Information and Communication Sher Dhan Rai, who is also Spokesperson of the Nepal government, said.

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34 i Saturday, February 20, 2016

Indian-origin scientist devises novel materials for solar fuel cells

n Indian-origin chemist from the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) has developed new high-performing materials for cells that harness sunlight to split carbon dioxide and water into useable fuels like methanol and hydrogen gas. These “green fuels” can be used to power cars, home appliances or even to store energy in batteries. “Technologies that simultaneously permit us to remove greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide while harnessing and storing the

energy of sunlight as fuel are at the forefront of current research,” said Dr Krishnan Rajeshwar, distinguished professor of chemistry and biochemistry and co-founder of the university’s centre of renewable energy, science and technology. “Our new material could improve the safety, efficiency and cost-effectiveness of solar fuel generation which is not yet economically viable,” added Rajeshwar, who earned his PhD in chemistry from the Indian Institute of Science in Bengaluru.

IIT-Delhi alumnus Soumitra Dutta to head Cornell’s new business college

oumitra Dutta, an alumnus of the Indian Institute of Technology-Delhi, will become the dean of a new integrated College of Business being launched by the Cornell University during the 2016-17 academic year. Dutta currently is dean and professor of management and organizations in the Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management at Cornell University. He is considered an

authority on the impact of new technology on the business world, especially social media and social networking, and on strategies for driving growth and innovation by embracing the digital economy. The Ithaca, New York based Ivy League institution announced that the new college was aimed at cementing the university’s position as a world-class centre of teaching and research for business management and entrepreneurship.

In bid to attract more Indian students, UK increases scholarships

he number of Indian students has decreased in the last few years in the UK, following a clamp down on bogus colleges. The British government will woo Indian students by increasing scholarships, a British High Commission official said on Friday. “If you compare the figures with what was there three to four years ago, the numbers have come down. It is because we clamped down heavily on bogus colleges. Now we are maintaining excellence and only bona-fide institutes are left,” Andrew Soper, minister counsellor (political and press) of the British High

Commission told reporters in Kolkata. He said the inflow of students from India had stabilised now and that the UK is expecting a gradual increase. On the scholarship count, Soper said under the ‘Great Britain’ campaign, the UK governmnent was offering 59 undergraduate and 232 postgraduate scholarships across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. In the last couple of years, the number of scholarships under the UK’s flagship Chevening program had increased four-fold, to Rs 25 crore. Soper also said efforts had been made to ease the visa process, with every 9 out of 10 students getting it.

NRI

Gov. Nikki Haley endorses Republican presidential candidate Marco Rubio

ndian-American South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley has endorsed Marco Rubio which will give a major boost to the Florida Senator’s presidential ambition ahead of the state’s pivotal Republican prima-

ley said yesterday at Chapin in South Carolina as she announced to endorse Rubio for president. “I wanted somebody that was going to go and show my parents that the best decision they ever made for their children was coming to America. We say that every day is a great day in South Carolina. Ladies and gentlemen, if we elect Marco Rubio, every day will be a great day in America!” Haley said. The two-term Republican governor of South Carolina is considered to be a highly popular Republican leader in the country and a potential vice presidential pick. However, if Rubio bags the party’s nomination she is unlikely to be on his ticket because the two leaders are from the same region of the country and both of their parents are immiGovernor Nikki Haley (left) with Republican presigrants. “You know that I always say I dential candidate Marco Rubio am the proud daughter of Indian parents. That ry. “I wanted somebody with fight. I wanted reminded us every day how blessed we were somebody with passion. I wanted somebody to live in this country,” she said in her brief rethat had conviction to do the right thing, but marks. Haley said she wants a president who I wanted somebody humble enough that re- is going to have the backs of military veterans, members that you work for all the people,” Ha-

Indian American judge may be next in line for US Supreme Court sweepstakes

n June 2012, President Obama nominated Chandigarh-born legal luminary Srikanth (“Sri”) Srinivasan to the Federal Court of Appeals, the highest-ever judicial appointment of an Indian-American, in what was then seen as putting him on track for an eventual elevation to the US Supreme Court. That unprecedented prospect has bubbled to the surface sooner than expected following the sudden death in Texas on Saturday of Justice Antonin Scalia, 79, reportedly of natural causes. While it may appear indecorous to discuss a replacement even as Scalia’s body returns to the

capital, US political and legal circles are agog with the implications of his death. It evens a nine-member Supreme Court bench that typically bent 5-4 in favor of conservatives, with Scalia leaning heavily to the right. It provides Obama with an opportunity to reverse the rightist orientation of the bench, and the President was quick to seize the moment, saying he will “fulfill my constitutional responsibility” to nominate a successor to Scalia. That may be easier said than done. Appointing a U.S Supreme Court judge can be one of the most important legacies of a President given

Saturday, February 20, 2016

i 35

The Black Tie Affair Fundraiser and Auction in support of PICS Diversity Village

Aria Banquet and Convention Hall, 12350 Pattullo Place, Surrey, BC Saturday, February 27 2016, 5:30 PM â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 10:30 PM Join us for a night of elegance at PICSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; annual fundraiser. Enjoy a cocktail reception, fine dining and dancing, live entertainment, unique silent and live auctions, and an opportunity to learn more about how you can support PICS Diversity Village. Additional speakers to be announced.

VIP Seating

($5000 per table)

: $500

Preferred Seating : $300 ($3000 per table)

Standard Seating : $200 For tickets please call PICS Head Office

604-596-7722

or for more information visit www.pics.bc.ca Corporate sponsorship packages are also available. Support PICS Diversity Village, Support our Seniors.

Keynote Speaker: The Honourable Harjit Singh Sajjan, P.C., M.P. Minister of National Defence

This revolutionary senior care community will provide urgently needed long-term care for seniors from all walks of life. Based on the latest state-of-the-art model of care, PICS Diversity Village will deliver customized services for each patient, respecting their culture and lifestyle and giving them a home away from home. Help us make a difference in the lives of those we love.

www.picsdiversityvillage.com We will be hosting 450+ elite and influential members of the community, including government representatives and a variety of business and industry professionals. Our goal is to raise $1 million to complete the purchase of the land for PICS Diversity Village.

36 i Saturday, February 20, 2016