The Asian Star - May 04, 2024

B.C. premier slams hateful speech praising Hamas

British Columbia Premier David Eby and other politicians have denounced remarks at a demonstration in Vancouver where protesters chanted “long live Oct. 7,” praising that day’s attacks by Hamas on Israel.

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Metro Vancouver’s “deteriorating affordability” a major concern: BCREA

The BC Real Estate Association (BCREA) says housing affordability is getting worse in the region, and it’s going to be a major economic hurdle as Metro Vancouverites try to battle inflation and high interest rates.

The BCREA predicts the Bank of Canada will begin cutting interest rates in June, which could spark real estate listings in the province to rebound from a 20-year low in 2023. “Though deteriorating affordability is and will remain a significant concern, particularly in the pricier markets of Greater Vancouver, we do expect sales activity to pick up significantly later this year,” its latest Housing Forecast said.

A drop in interest rates will likely mean an increase in prices, but the BCREA predicts it will remain muted in 2024 as a greater number of listings cap overall growth in the 1 to 2% range for Vancouver.

‘India Dreaming Of Becoming Superpower, We Are Begging’: Pakistan’s Leader Amid Ailing Economy

Pakistan’s opposition leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman sounded the alarm bells over his country’s economy, drawing stark comparisons with India’s aspirations for global superpower status. Rehman, the chief of his faction of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F), delivered a scathing critique of Pakistan’s economic challenges and the alleged role of the establishment in ruining the country.

Highlighting the economic disparities between India and Pakistan, Rehman lamented Pakistan’s descent into financial instability and potential bankruptcy looming over the nation.

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BCREA predicts that the full effects of mortgage rates coming down will be felt in 2025 when average home prices increase in earnest.

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India summons Canadian deputy envoy over pro-Khalistan slogans at event attended by PM Trudeau

India on Monday summoned the Canadian Deputy High Commissioner with regard to the raising of separatist slogans on ‘Khalistan’ at an event which was being personally addressed by the Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. “The Government of India’s deep concern and strong protest was conveyed at such disturbing actions being allowed to continue unchecked at the event,’’ said the MEA, adding that this incident once again illustrates the political space given in Canada to separatism, extremism and violence. “Their continued expressions not only impact India-Canada relations but also encourage a climate of violence and criminality in Canada to the detriment of its own citizens,’’ said an MEA statement.

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Cost doubles for BC to host 2026 World Cup Soccer Deputy PM and Investments Fiji chair lead trade delegation to Surrey

The cost to host the seven World Cup 2026 soccer games at B.C. Place Stadium will be between $483 million and $581 million, the provincial government announced Tuesday — double the initial estimate.

The original cost estimate in 2022 — after the province reversed its 2018 decision not to pursue hosting the World Cup — was $240 million to $260 million.

“When we got the initial numbers, it was before we had a full understanding of the requirements,” said Lana Popham, minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport, in a media briefing Tuesday.

“We didn’t know how many games we were going to get. A lot of things have changed since that original estimate.”

Popham said the province is now confident its current estimate is accurate. “We believe taxpayers will be getting the most for that money,” she said, noting that the World Cup is expected to attract 3.5 billion viewers

“There’s going to be a lot of eyes on B.C. This is an experience that is once in a lifetime for British Columbia.”

Costs are expected to be offset by $383 million to $436 million in estimated revenues and recoveries, the province said. It has not revealed how exactly costs will be split

between the province and City of Vancouver.

The federal government is contributing $116 million toward hosting the seven games at B.C. Place. There will be five group-stage games in Vancouver, including two featuring Canada, and knockout games starting with the round of 32 and round of 16.

“FIFA 2026 will unite our country like nothing else can,” said Carla Qualtrough, federal minister of Sport and Physical Activity. “Canadians from coast to coast to coast will be cheering on Team Canada as well as teams from all over the world. It will inspire our kids to dream big.”

Popham, who represents Saanich South, said she envisions impacts well beyond just downtown Vancouver, with big-screen watch parties across the province.

“I can see B.C. communities competing for who has the best fan fests. We are starting on conversations now with communities about what that could look like for them.”

Greater Victoria was among 52 trainingbase options across the continent presented to FIFA in the official bid book put forward by the U.S./Canada/Mexico United Bid, which in 2018 won the right to host the 2026 World Cup.

Popham said the province doesn’t yet have information on where the training camps will be, “but there’s a lot of work that’s being done on them. We should be able to have locations over the next few months.”

Keith Wells, executive director of the Greater Victoria Sport Tourism Commission, said he’s waiting to learn more from the province.

Toronto is the other Canadian host city for World Cup 2026, hosting the other six games of Canada’s 13 of the 104 games that will be played.

By Umendra Singh:

The deputy Prime Minister of Fiji, hon. Manoa Kamikamica, is leading a business and trade delegation to North America and will be in Metro Vancouver this weekend.

The mission will also hold meetings in Toronto and San Francisco.

Jenny Seeto, the hardworking chair of Investment Fiji, has been in Metro Vancouver in advance to arrange meetings and coordinate events.

“The Deputy PM will be leading a 25-member delegation,” she told The Asian Star in an interview.

The delegation will include business and government leaders from Fiji.

“Our aim is to attract investment from Canada and Noth America into Fiji,” she said. “We want to remove all barriers to investment in Fiji. Investing in Fiji is very easy now,” she said.

“My job is also to remove all bottle necks and obstacles for people wanting to invest in Fiji, she said. Secondly, the government of Fiji also wants to encourage the diaspora

Investments Fiji is an agency that promote trade and investments in Fiji – and I am leading that agency and over here, I am meeting investors and businesses as well as the local Fijian diaspora.,” she said.

She said laws were changed recently to remove requirement to register as a foreign entity investing in Fiji or doing business in Fiji. That is no longer required.

of Fijians in Canada to invest in Fiji.

“We see how well the Fijian diaspora in Canada is doing and we would like them to come to Fiji and investment in Fiji,” she said. She said there is substantial remittances from former Fiji residents living overseas to Fiji in form of money transfers to relatives – but more needs to be done in terms of actual investment.

“No matter how small or how big an investment you want to make, we are ready to welcome you,” Ms. Seeto said. Some of the products that can be imported here include Fijian vegetables and delicacies that local Fijian Canadians are fond of.

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A record-breaking Dijit Dosanjh concert at BC Place

Indian superstar Diljit Dosanjh has set a record in Vancouver.

The popstar and actor played to a sold out crowd at BC Place last night, April 27, and in doing so broke the record for largest Punjabi concert outside of India. With the show selling more than 50,000 tickets, the record was expected to be broken.

It was the first date of his Dil-luminati tour, which will be playing more than a dozen dates across North America. However, Vancouver’s record is likely to remain for now as only Toronto’s Rogers Centre (aka the SkyDome) has a capacity close to BC Place.

On social media it appeared Dosanjh enjoyed his visit to Vancouver, arriving days before and meeting staff at BC Place. He also shared a note posted at the Marriott Parq Hotel that alerted

him to his own concert happening nearby, in case he wanted to listing from the hotel’s lounge. The note also came with ear plugs in case he wanted a “tranquil” rest.

It’s not Dosanjh’s first trip to Vancouver. Notably he starred in the film Honsla Rakh which was shot in Vancouver and the region. It went on to be one of the biggest Punjabilanguage films of all time.

New poll shows BC Conservatives ahead of the NDP

A new poll asking British Columbians who they support suggests shows the BC Conservatives ahead of the governing New Democratic Party (NDP).

According to Mainstreet Research, John Rustad’s BC Conservatives now have 38.9 per cent support from B.C. residents, followed by Premier David Eby’s NDP at 36.2 per cent. This is the first time the NDP has come behind the Conservatives. Kevin Falcon’s BC United are a distant third with 15.3 per cent support, while the Green Party sits at 6.7 per cent.

“The latest snapshot of the BC political landscape paints a grim scene for Kevin Falcon and the BC United Party,” said Quito Maggi, president and CEO of Mainstreet Research.

“It’s unlikely they would have enough time to recover before the next election.”

Maggi says anything could happen with people’s votes. “I’ve seen a couple of projections with numbers that say the NDP would still win the most seats and get a majority. I’ve seen a couple of other models showing the opposite and the conservatives would win the most seats,” he said. “A poll is a snapshot in time.” The survey also asked who British Columbians would vote for if a federal election were held today. Pierre Poillievre and the Conservatives received 55.8 per cent support.

Justin Trudeau and the Liberals received 17.8 per cent, and Jagmeet Singh with the NDP received 15.8 per cent. The provincial election is set for October 19th.

Can the Bank of Canada cut rates before the U.S.?

The head of the Bank of Canada says there’s a “limit” to how much Canadian monetary policy can diverge from the United States as market watchers see earlier cuts coming north of the border.

Governor Tiff Macklem was asked about the impact of U.S. monetary policy on the Bank of Canada’s interest rate path during an appearance at the House of Commons standing committee on finance Thursday morning.

rate range of 5.25-5.5 per cent.

Jerome Powell, Macklem’s counterpart south of the border, said then that inflation was proving more stubborn than first thought, and that it “will take longer than previously expected” for the Fed to have the confidence it needs to cut interest rates.

Why does the U.S. Fed rate matter to Canada?

He said the Bank of Canada’s benchmark interest rate, which remains at five per cent following six consecutive decisions, doesn’t need to mirror monetary policy from other central banks around the world.

But he added that there’s a “limit to how far they can diverge.”

“We’re not close to that limit. We have the ability to run our own monetary policy geared to what Canadians need,” he said.

The Bank of Canada’s policy rate is already lower than that of the U.S. Federal Reserve, which on Wednesday maintained its interest

James Orlando, director of economics at TD Bank, says a gap between Canadian and U.S. interest rates can weaken the exchange rate between the loonie and the U.S. dollar because investors gravitate to the American greenback to benefit from the higher rate.

The loonie sits at 73 cents to the U.S. dollar as of Thursday afternoon, though Orlando notes it has floated between 72 and 76 cents through much of the past year.

With market expectations for the Bank of Canada to cut interest rates in June or July followed by the Fed in November or December, Orlando says the widening differential between the rates is expected to put “even more pressure on the Canadian dollar” in the months to come.

Macklem noted to MPs on Thursday that with those market expectations already factoring into the CAD-USD exchange rate, some of the impact of those earlier moves has likely already been priced in.

More deficit years ahead for BC economy, says credit rating agency

Credit agency Morningstar DBRS says B.C’s. economy is strong and stable, but warns of years of deficits ahead. The U.S.-based agency said on Tuesday that its short- and long-term debt credit rating for B.C.’s economy remained high.

“The credit rating confirmations reflect the underlying strength and diversity of the province’s economy, its disciplined management practices and its strong balance sheet,” the agency reported.

It noted that with a provincial election coming this October it’s a time of spending for the NDP government.

“The (NDP) government is prioritizing public investments over austerity in response to economic challenges that households are facing,” the report stated.

The 2024 B.C. budget plans for increased spending, funded by debt.

“Morningstar DBRS expects (this) to result in reduced flexibility in the years to come. However, the province’s historically prudent fiscal approach and track record of outperformance continue to lend stability to its credit profile,” the company said.

to balance, however, it continues to advocate for modest year-over-year declining deficits.

Morningstar DBRS notes that the province has historically incorporated prudent budget assumptions, which leaves room for some outperformance,” the statement read.

The 2024-25 budget calls for a deficit of $7.9 billion, following a $5.9 billion deficit for 2023-24. More deficit years are forecast for the medium term.

“In line with the past two budgets, B.C.’s 2024 budget does not present any plan for a return

The growing debt will drive up the province’s interest payments. In B.C’s last budget under Premier John Horgan, debt servicing accounted for $1.3 billion annually. In the year starting April 1, 2024, that climbed to $2 billion — more than the government currently spends on the housing, public safety, forests, attorney general or transportation ministries. In two years, annual interest payments are forecast to reach $3 billion.

Security guard who killed man on BC university campus convicted of manslaughter

A security guard at Langley, B.C.’s Trinity Western University who killed a man on campus four years ago has been convicted of manslaughter.

Howard Hill was killed on Sept. 30, 2020, following an altercation with Jack Cruthers Hutchison.

The incident occurred early in the COVID-19 pandemic, while the campus was closed to all but staff and students living in residence. Hill, who was not a student, had been wandering on campus and rifling through students’ rooms, prompting several to call security, according to a judgment handed down by Justice Catherine Murray on Friday.

According to the ruling, Hutchison eventually spotted Hill and called out, identifying himself as security and ordering him to stop. Hill ran instead, prompting Hutchison to tackle him.

Hutchison put Hill in a neck restraint and held him there until police arrived. Hill was transported to hospital unconscious and later died. Crown argued that Hutchison had killed Hill in the course of an unlawful assault, pointing to the neck hold.

Hutchison’s defence argued that his use of force was reasonable, as it was committed in self-defence and in the defence of others. It also argued the death was accidental, as he didn’t know he was pressing on a critical artery.

In her ruling, Murray referred to witness testimony that Hill had told Hutchison three to four times that he could not breathe and rejected Hutchison’s claim he didn’t hear the statements. She also found that Hill was clearly no longer a threat once he stopped moving and that Hutchison could not claim self-defence in that situation.

Tories grill Liberals in question period about minister’s ties to lobbyist, PPE company

Employment Minister Randy Boissonnault faced heated remarks from Conservative MPs in the House of Commons Thursday about Global News’ reporting into his business activities.

Tory MP Michael Barrett, who is a member of the ethics committee, asked Boissonnault why he is receiving “outstanding” payments from a lobbying firm owned by a longtime business associate and former employee, according to the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner’s registry.

“The minister was caught cashing checks from a lobbying firm that was lobbying his own government,” Barrett said. “His own ministry!”

Earlier this week, Global News published two investigations that found the Edmonton Centre MP had ties to a lobbyist who went on to help her client win $110 million in federal

grants and a personal protective equipment company that was awarded $8.2 million in provincial and municipal contracts.

The lobbyist, Kirsten Poon, who owns the consulting firm Navis Group, met with high-level political staff across the federal government, including Finance Canada, where Boissonnault was also associate minister.

“Minister Boissonnault has not been involved with any of Ms. Poon’s lobbying activities,” said Alice Hansen, Boissonnault’s director of communications, “and all necessary steps have been taken to avoid any conflict of interest.”

Hansen pointed out that the federal funds “were not awarded by any departments reporting to Minister Boissonnault and he had no part in any of the approval processes for those grants.”

Compliance costs for Canadians filing personal income taxes in 2023 estimated at $4.2 billion

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Total compliance costs for filing personal income taxes in 2023 are estimated at $130 per Canadian tax filer, or $4.2 billion altogether, finds a new study published today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, nonpartisan Canadian public policy think-tank.

“Overall, compliance costs for personal income taxes and payroll taxes represent a significant expense for Canadians in order to facilitate a process already widely regarded by many Canadians as a financial strain,” said Jake Fuss, director of fiscal studies at the Fraser Institute. A new survey finds that roughly half of tax filers (50 per cent) prepared their 2022 income tax return themselves while more than one third (37 per cent) used a paid tax preparer.

Those preparing their own return tax report do so mainly (85 per cent of self preparers) using some form of software.

The total compliance costs associated with filing 2022 personal income taxes, estimated at $4.2 billion, is equivalent to 0.15 per cent of national GDP. Furthermore, the total administrative and compliance costs of collecting taxes in Canada is calculated to be 0.6 per cent of GDP.

The study suggests that one way to reduce these compliance costs is to produce prefilled income tax reports for Canadians, streamlining the process for taxpayers. Producing prefilled reports is estimated to result in a drop of one third in total personal income tax compliance costs for Canadians.

“If this process was more effectively streamlined for the Canadian taxpayer, the federal government would be saving them not only money, but time, another valuable resource expended during tax season,” said Fuss.

International students in Canada will be allowed to work only 24 hours a week from September

International students, including those from India, in Canada, will be able to work off-campus for only up to 24 hours per week starting in September, according to a new rule that will come into effect from Tuesday.

“The temporary policy allowing students to work more than 20 hours per week off campus will come to an end on April 30, 2024, and it will not be extended,” Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, said in a press release issued on Monday.

“This fall, we intend to change the number of hours students may work off campus per week to 24 hours,” he said as the Canadian government clamps down on a surge in international student enrolments across the country.

The Liberal Party-led government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau temporarily waived the 20-hour cap on work hours for international students during the Covid-19 pandemic in a bid to ease labour shortages facing the country. That waiver expires on

Tuesday, CTV News reported.

Canada is one of the most sought-after destinations for Indian students.

According to a 2022 report of the Canadian Bureau for International Education (CBIE), there were 3,19,130 Indian students in Canada. In both colleges and universities based in Canada, Indians hold the majority of seats among international students.

Miller said students who come to Canada must be here to study. As such, allowing students to work up to 24 hours per week will ensure they focus primarily on their studies, while having the option to work, if necessary.

“Working off campus helps international students gain work experience and offset some of their expenses. As international students arrive in Canada, we want them to be prepared for life here and have the support they need to succeed. However, first and foremost, people coming to Canada as students must be here to study, not work. We will continue working to protect the integrity of our student programme,” he said.

London Drugs remains closed, says it is reviewing billions of lines of data

Retailer London Drugs says it’s rebuilding its data infrastructure with the help of leading third-party experts to bring its operations safely back online after a cybersecurity incident that has shut down stores for five days.

The store says in a statement that there are billions of lines of data and code to review, but its teams have been working around the clock and there is progress.

The Richmond, B.C.,-based company

has more than 80 stores across B.C. Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, and all have been shut since the cybersecurity incident on Sunday. The company’s statement says its investigation so far shows no evidence that customer databases have been compromised, including for pharmacy patients and its LDExtra members. It says the impact of the breach on operations has been significant, and the restoration process is rigorous.

BC judge refuses to seal documents alleging RCMP bullying against Surrey police

B.C. Supreme Court Justice Kevin Loo says court documents alleging bullying and harassment of Surrey Police Service officers by the RCMP shouldn’t be kept from the public.

Loo refused to seal the material, saying allegations that are “sometimes justified and sometimes spurious” are tendered every day in court.

His ruling came on the second day of a legal challenge by the City of Surrey against the B.C. public safety minister’s order to continue the transition from the RCMP to the municipal Surrey Police Service.

if made public could cause “undue public concern about the state of affairs at the Surrey RCMP detachment.”

Lawyers for the ministry told Loo Monday that an affidavit filed by Surrey Police Union President Rick Stewart contains a “long list of bullying and harassment incidents” that

Stewart’s affidavit says union members claim “the Surrey RCMP detachment is toxic and hostile, and that they have been subject to bullying, discrimination, harassment and intimidation.”

In a separate dispute, Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke has filed a complaint to B.C.’s Police Complaints Commissioner alleging numerous Surrey Police Service officers withdrew their services in order to meet with their chief and Solicitor General Mike Farnworth, something the Surrey police board has denied.

Medical wait times cost Canadian patients almost $3.5 billion in lost wages last year

Long waits for surgery and medical treatment cost Canadians almost $3.5 billion in lost wages and productivity last year, finds a new study published today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank.

An estimated 1.2 million patients waited for medically necessary treatment last year, and each lost an estimated $2,871 (on average) due to lost wages and reduced productivity during working hours.

Canadian physicians who, in 2023, reported the national median waiting time from specialist appointment to treatment was 13.1 weeks.

Crucially, the $3.5 billion in lost wages is likely a conservative estimate because it doesn’t account for the additional 14.6-week wait to see a specialist after receiving a referral from a general practitioner.

Taken together (14.6 and 13.1 weeks), the total median wait time in Canada for medical treatment was 27.7 weeks in 2023.

“As long as lengthy wait times define Canada’s health-care system, patients will continue to pay a price in lost wages and reduced quality of life,” said Mackenzie Moir, a senior policy analyst at the Fraser Institute and study co-author.

“Waiting for medically necessary treatment remains a hallmark of the Canadian healthcare system, and in addition to increased pain and suffering—and potentially worse medical outcomes—these long waits also cost Canadians time at work and with family and friends,” said Nadeem Esmail, a senior fellow with the Fraser Institute. The study, The Private Cost of Public Queues for Medically Necessary Care, 2024, draws upon data from the Fraser Institute’s annual Waiting Your Turn survey of

Because wait times and incomes vary by province, so does the cost of waiting for health care. Residents of Prince Edward Island in 2023 faced the highest per-patient cost of waiting ($4,805), followed by New Brunswick ($4,800) and Nova Scotia ($4,683).

Man charged with arson, assault, uttering threats in Surrey townhouse fire

A 22-year-old man is facing numerous charges related to a townhouse fire in Surrey, B.C.’s Newton neighbourhood.

Emergency crews responded to a fire at a townhouse complex on 66 Avenue, near 127 Street, around 12:30 p.m. last Friday.

Mounties said three homes were affected by the fire and no one was hurt.

Police quickly deemed the fire suspicious.

On Thursday, Surrey RCMP announced Amritpal Dhindsa has been charged with arson,

assault with a weapon, uttering threats and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose. Dhindsa has been remanded until his next court appearance on Friday.

Conestoga is a foreign student mecca with majority Indian students

The smell of South Asian spices wafts from the “Blends and Curries” food counter. Conversations in Hindi and Gujurati flood the bustling hallways, which quickly get packed as students pour in and out of classes.

Cliques of Indian youth, who appear to make up a majority of the student population, take full advantage of common areas to study, lounge around or wait for class to begin.

Everywhere you look at the main campus of Conestoga College, there’s ample proof of an explosion of international students.

The school has become a poster child for aggressive international student recruitment. Its efforts have brought in a flood of new money — a stark contrast to the financial pressures students themselves face — but also raised questions within the institution about the sustainability of that growth, and the motivations behind it. And as the federal government seeks to stem international student flows with a two-year cap on study permits, even the immigration minister has singled the college out.

The southwestern Ontario college had 37,000 study permits approved and extended in 2023 — the most in Canada — which marks a 31-per-cent increase from the previous year.

Its student population has more than doubled in four years to about 45,000, and international students now vastly outnumber domestic ones. The main campus in

Kitchener, Ont., alone is now home to more than 20,000 students. Faculty and students seem to agree things have gone too far.

“No organization can grow at that pace, and do it right, that quickly,” said Leopold Koff, a union leader representing faculty, counsellors and librarians at Conestoga.

Faculty members have turned into nomads with no fixed desks, a change the union says was prompted by the college’s desire to build more classrooms to accommodate a larger student population. The college says the change reflects a post-pandemic hybrid working model.

At the student union office, more than a hundred students come in and out within an hour to grab a free snack — one of many programs Conestoga Students Inc. offers to help a growing number of food-insecure students. Instructors are complaining that many students lack fundamental skills, which in turn makes their jobs more difficult, said Koff. “They don’t have the basic three Rs: reading, writing, arithmetic,” he said.

Making matters worse, Koff said students have been too busy working to focus on their studies. He singled out Ottawa’s decision during the pandemic to temporarily allow international students to work more than 20 hours a week.

“That is opening up a huge catastrophe for the students,” he said. “They will take advantage of that. … They need the money.”

Surrey’s Charter claim in police transition challenge ‘radical,’ says government lawyer

A lawyer for B.C.’s Public Safety Ministry says the City of Surrey is seeking a “radical expansion” of freedom-of-expression protections under Canada’s Charter in its legal dispute with the province over policing in the city.

The city says a provincial law change compelling it to switch to a municipal police force had the “express purpose” of nullifying the election mandate the city council received, and thus infringed on voters’ freedom of expression. But Trevor Bant, a lawyer for the ministry, told a B.C. Supreme Court judge that the city’s claim is contrary to established law.

Bant was speaking on day four of the city’s legal challenge against the public safety minister’s order to continue the switch from the RCMP to the municipal force.

Earlier this week, Surrey’s lawyer Craig Dennis had told Justice Kevin Loo he wanted the court to apply the Charter’s freedom of

expression section for the first time to an election mandate, calling it a “new set of circumstances.”

Bant told Loo that allowing the city’s argument would convert Canada’s system of representative democracy into “a direct democracy, in which voters have a very literal right to get what they vote for.”

“The legislation has not restricted anyone from expressing themselves,” Bant said of the provincial law requiring the transition to the municipal Surrey Police Service. Surrey is claiming that the province overstepped its authority by ordering the transition to continue, after a prolonged public dispute over the future of policing in the city, and is seeking a judicial review. In its petition, the city wants the court to declare that the province lacks “legal authority” to place responsibility for the transition on the city without providing adequate resources to facilitate it.

South Asian Grandparents and Grandchild dies in fatal wrong way collision in Ontario

Boy’s parents also injured in collision

Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU) has released more information about Monday’s crash that killed four people, including a threemonth-old boy, after police chased a suspect through oncoming traffic on Highway 401 east of Toronto.

Two grandparents, a 60-year-old man and 55-year-old woman, were killed in the collision, said the SIU, the organization that examines deaths involving police in Ontario. Both grandparents were visiting Canada from India, the agency said in a news release.

The infant’s parents, a 33-year-old father and 27-year-old mother, were also injured in the crash, the SIU said, adding that they are residents of Ajax, Ont. The parents were in the same car as the grandparents and the baby, according to the news release.

be interviewed and have their notes reviewed, according to Howard Morton, a former SIU director. The SIU has assigned seven investigators, one forensic investigator and one collision reconstructionist to the case.

Anyone with information, videos or photos is being asked to contact the investigators.

Morton said the SIU will be looking at a number of driving offences that could be laid as a result of the investigation.

The collision was the result of a police chase that began with an alleged liquor store robbery in Bowmanville, Ont. in the regional municipality of Clarington. Police pursued the suspect as he drove the wrong way on Highway 401 in Whitby, about 50 kilometres east of Toronto.

That chase ended in a fatal collision that involved at least six vehicles, according to the SIU. The robbery suspect was also killed.

On Thursday, the SIU said the suspect was a 21-year-old man. A 38-year-old man who was also in the van remains in hospital with serious injuries, according to the SIU.

There are two officers being investigated and four who have been designated as witness officers, the SIU said. The witness officers will

“But I think they’ll also be looking at offences of criminal negligence causing death, which is one of the more relatively serious offences set out in our Criminal Code,” he said in an interview with CBC News Wednesday.

Morton said investigators will also look to speak to people who worked on radio dispatch and were in charge during the pursuit.

“I think you’re looking at a real long timeframe here,” he said.\ Milica Maljkovic Birkett didn’t have time to think, on Monday evening. She just reacted. She was driving her regular commute on the 401, when she was suddenly face-to-face with the suspect van barrelling toward her car.

“I was like, ‘Oh my God, like what just happened? What’s going on?’” Maljkovic Birkett told CBC Toronto Thursday.

In a dashcam video she recorded, the van can be seen weaving through oncoming traffic and nearly missing vehicles, as police cruisers follow behind. She said the brake lights of cars in front of her were the only visual warning she had that a van was barrelling toward her at a high rate of speed.

Metro Vancouver’s “deteriorating affordability” a major concern: BCREA

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This year, the Fraser Valley could see larger price gains than Vancouver itself, with the BCREA predicting a close to the year with homes 4% more expensive than they were at the end of 2023.

Strong population growth in Metro Vancouver, coupled with cheaper mortgage borrowing costs, is predicted to stoke the real estate market starting this summer. Currently, the BCREA says buyers are largely waiting for a drop in interest rates.

Though the country isn’t technically in a

recession, a “wide range of measures paint a portrait of a rather sickly Canadian economy,” the BCREA said. Households just aren’t willing to spend their money right now, and unemployment is at a three-year high.

“Clearly, the main driver of inflation is shelter costs, which are currently being propelled by high population growth and a lack of supply, neither of which are problems high interest rates can solve.” So, while there may be more listings coming on the market later this year, they won’t necessarily be any more affordable as price gains make up for interest rate cuts.

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Overseas-backed separatism had once again reared its head when loud and persistent proKhalistan slogans were raised in Toronto at the Khalsa Day Celebrations in the presence of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as well as opposition leader Pierre Poilievre with both of them seemingly taking the disruptions in their stride.

While the speech of Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow was heard in silence, pro-Khalistan chants began when Trudeau was invited to take the stage. The slogans began getting louder when he began his speech but Trudeau apparently opted not to notice the disturbance at a smallish gathering. Videos also showed the presence of Jagmeet Singh, the chief of National Democratic Party, which competes for Sikh

votes with Trudeau’s Liberal Party.

‘Most hateful’: B.C. premier slams speech praising Hamas India summons

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Charlotte Kates of the Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network told the rally outside the Vancouver Art Gallery on Friday that the attack was “heroic and brave.”

Eby said the comments about the attack, which killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were “the most hateful” he could imagine.

“Celebrating the murder, the rape of innocent people attending a music festival, it’s awful,”

Eby said at an unrelated news conference on Monday.

“It’s reprehensible, and it shouldn’t take place in British Columbia. There is clearly an element of some individuals using an international tragedy to promote hate that’s completely unacceptable.” Eby also remarked on an encampment by pro-Palestinian protesters that began at the University of B.C. on Monday.

Similar camps have appeared on campuses

The slogan shouting during Trudeau’s speech was to reoccur when leader of the opposition Pierre Poilievre took the podium. Observers said Khalsa Day was attended by several thousands of people on Sunday, turning it into one of the biggest gatherings in Toronto. Much louder cheers went up when to the delight of the gathering, Chow declared that henceforth the City Council will observe March 28 as Khalsa Day or Vaisakhi. Trudeau stressed on the importance of diversity and claimed that Sikh and Canadian values are similar. “To the nearly 8,00,000 Canadians of Sikh heritage across this country, we will always be there to protect your rights and your freedoms, and we will always defend your community against hatred and discrimination,’’ he assured.

across the United States, as well as at McGill University in Montreal and the University of Ottawa. At McGill, activists have set up dozens of tents. The university said Monday morning it had seen video evidence of some protesters using “unequivocally antisemitic language and intimidating behaviour” during the protest.

The UBC camp included about 20 tents on MacInnes Field by noon Monday.

Eby said a university campus, while a protected space for free speech, should foster a safe space for students of all backgrounds, especially for Jewish students during a time they feel “particularly alone on campuses and need additional support to feel safe.”

“I have no reason to doubt that the leadership, both student and administration, at UBC will find that balance between ensuring students are safe and making sure that atmosphere of free exchange of ideas can continue to take place on campus.”

Well Done Sheem Nand

Years ago, She embarked on a life-changing journey in the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) & today She serves with immense pride. She is thrilled to announce that she will soon be releasing a book that chronicles her experiences as a soldier & what it means to wear the uniform.

We salute Sergeant Nand, the first Indian female to achieve this esteemed position in the Fiji Military Force. Your dedication and hard work are truly inspiring.

Congratulations on your welldeserved success!

This milestone is not just a personal achievement but a beacon of hope for a brighter future in Fiji. It paves the way for individuals of all races to come together in service of our nation.

May your accomplishment open doors for more women to step into leadership roles and contribute to a loving and prosperous country.

Stay blessed and may your journey inspire many more to follow in your footsteps.

Police officer charged with allegedly raping his colleague

A 27 year old police officer is one of the people charged with four counts of rape, one count of sexual assault and one count of indecent assault of his 26 year old colleague.

According to the serious sex offence statistics released for April by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, out of the 24 accused persons, three were juveniles, one was a police officer and one was a female accused person.

A 48 year old man was charged with 13 counts of rape and six counts of sexual assault of his 20 year old daughter. The alleged incident started from 2019 when the victim was 15 years old.

A 38 year old man was charged with the rape of his 4 year old stepdaughter, however, this matter was discontinued after the complainant could not be conferenced by the ODPP to

prepare her for trial because of the mother’s obtrusive conduct.

In another incident, a 48 year old man was charged with the rape and indecent assault of his 18 year old and 14 year old daughters.

There was one incident where a 33 year old man was charged with three counts of rape, five counts of sexual assault and three counts of indecent assault of his 15 year old stepdaughter.

A 41 year old man was charged with the rape of his 24 year old stepdaughter while in another incident, a 38 year old man was charged with the rape of his 17 year old cousin, however both these matters were discontinued after the complainants could not be located. A 46 year old man was charged with the rape, sexual assault and indecent assault of his 18 year old niece while in another incident, a 50 year old man was charged with the rape of his 10 year old niece. A 52 year old man was charged with the rape of his 21 year old niece while in another incident, a 27 year old man was charged with the rape of his 23 year old niece.

A 46 year old man was charged with the rape and indecent assault of his 13 year old and 10 year old nieces.

Journalists must combat misinformation, report freely and fearlessly - Sharma

As we celebrate World Media Freedom Day today, Fiji Human Rights and AntiDiscrimination Chairperson, Pravesh Sharma says journalists must combat misinformation and report freely, responsibly and fearlessly.

He says journalists are ‘agents of change’ and ‘human rights defenders’.

Sharma says this year’s theme, “A Press for the Planet: Journalism in the Face of the environmental crisis” is significant in the context of the existing economic inequalities and the ripple effects of climate change, climate migration, food security and access to clean and safe drinking water, disproportionately affecting the vulnerable groups including

women, children, elderly, persons with disability and LGBTI community. He says the Commission applauds the media for their commitment and contribution in promoting human rights, democracy, and reporting stories on climate change, natural disasters, resilience and about the journey of the many displaced families who find courage to rebuild their lives. He says the information should be accurate and timely so the relevant stakeholders can craft effective and efficient policies to protect the rights of the vulnerable groups, be it in the area of climate change, public healthcare, education, social protection or welfare of our children.

Deputy PM and Investments Fiji lead trade delegation to Surrey

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“Our products are loved all over the world,” Ms. Seeto. She said that distance and shipping costs are a problem with but with direct twice weekly Fiji Airways flights between Vancouver and Fiji, it is easier and cheaper to ship products now.

In Metro Vancouver, most of the activities will be focussed in the Surrey area where most of the Indo-Fijian and South Asian diaspora live and work.

There is a welcome ceremony organized by the iTaukei Cultural Society of BC in conjunction with the local indigenous

communities on Sunday, May 5, from 11am to 4pm at the Peace Arch Heritage Hall in White Rock. This event is open to everyone. Secondly, there will be a “Talanoa Session” with hon. Kamikamica and the 25-member trade delegation at the Sheraton Guildford Hotel in Surrey on Sunday, May 5 from 6.30pm to 8.30 pm. All are welcome.

On Monday, May 6, a business forum with hon. Kamikamica and the business delegation will be held at the Surrey Guildford Sheraton Hotel form 9am to 2pm in conjunction with Surrey Board of Trade. Registration is required.

Australian ministers won’t comment on media reports that Indian spies were secretly expelled

A senior Australian government minister said on Wednesday the bilateral relationship with India was good and had improved in recent years, but declined to comment on reports that two Indian spies were secretly expelled from Australia four years ago.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers was asked during a television interview whether India could be considered Australia’s friend after Australian news media and The Washington Post reported the two intelligence operatives’ quiet expulsion.

Chalmers told Australian Broadcasting Corp., “I don’t want to get into those kinds of operational issues in any way.”

“We’ve got a good relationship

with India and with other countries in the region, it’s an important economic relationship, it’s become closer in recent years as a consequence of efforts on both sides, and that’s a good thing,” Chalmers said.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong deflected questions Wednesday at press conferences about India’s reported spying, using the government’s standard line that they did not comment on intelligence matters.

India is an increasingly important trading partner of Australia, which is trying to reduce its economic reliance on China.

Delhi High Court seeks Centre’s stand on ‘disappearance’ of 70,000-kg heroin from seizure records

The Delhi High Court has sought the Centre’s stand on a plea alleging disappearance of 70,772.48 kg of heroin from seizure records between 2018 and 2020.

Justice Subramonium Prasad issued a notice on a petition filed by B R Aravindakshan and asked the Centre to file its response within four weeks.

The petitioner, a journalist, has claimed that there is a huge discrepancy between the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report and the data released by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)

regarding seizure of drugs in the country from 2018 to 2020.

“He (petitioner) states that cumulatively, 70,772.48 kg of heroin has disappeared from seizure records between 2018 and 2020. Issue notice. Let replies be filed within four weeks,” the court said in its order passed on Wednesday. The petitioner has said “the alarming disappearance” of more than 70,000 kg of heroin, valued at approximately Rs 5 lakh crore in the international market, raises concerns of national security, social stability and economic repercussions.

‘Part of Indian territory’: India lodges protest with China over construction activities in Shaksgam Valley

India on Thursday said it has lodged a strong protest with China for carrying out construction activities in the Shaksgam Valley in an “illegal” attempt to alter the situation on the ground.

Spokesperson in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Randhir Jaiswal said the Shaksgam Valley is a part of India and New Delhi never accepted the so-called China-Pakistan boundary pact of 1963 through which Islamabad “unlawfully” attempted to cede the area to Beijing. He said India reserves the right to take necessary measures to safeguard the country’s interests.

We have never accepted the so-called China-Pakistan boundary agreement of 1963 through which Pakistan unlawfully attempted to cede the area to China,” Jaiswal said.

Jaiswal’s comments at his weekly media briefing came in response to a question on reports of China building infrastructure in Shaksgam Valley, a strategically located region that is now part of the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

The Chinese construction activities in the region are taking place amid the over three-and-half-year old border row between India and China in eastern Ladakh.

“The Shaksgam Valley is a part of the territory of India.

Intense

“We have consistently conveyed our rejection of the same. We have registered our protest with the Chinese side against illegal attempts to alter facts on the ground,” he said.

“We further reserve the right to take necessary measures to safeguard our interests,” he added.

Jaiswal said India has always taken a “very strong” stand on the Shaksgam Valley.

“Shaksgam Valley is our territory. We have been protesting as and when required and we have always taken a very strong stand on it,” he said.

Asked about the lingering eastern Ladakh border row, Jaiswal said the next round of talks will be held “very soon to take things forward”.

“We have ongoing talks between India and China at diplomatic and military levels. These issues are serious and therefore they take time,” he said.

heat sweeps east, south India; Nandyal in Andhra Pradesh sizzles at 46.2 degrees

Intense heat swept through east India and parts of the southern peninsular region on Thursday, testing power grids and prompting the Kerala government to order closure of educational institutions till May 6.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said heat wave to severe heat wave conditions scorched parts of West Bengal,

Bihar, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and coastal Andhra Pradesh. At least 17 places in these states recorded temperatures above the 44-degree Celsius mark.

The mercury settled at 46.2 degrees Celsius at Nandyal in Andhra Pradesh, 45.3 degrees at Palwancha in Telangana, 44.3 degrees at Karur Paramathi in Tamil Nadu, 45 degrees at Bolangir

in Odisha, and 44.3 degrees at Kalaikunda in West Bengal.

As Kerala continued to reel under punishing heat, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan directed the closure of educational institutions in the state until May 6.

The IMD said the ongoing heat wave spell in east and south peninsular India will continue till May 3 and abate thereafter.

PIANO’s two new high-rise towers with 1-, 2-, 3- bedrooms and townhomes keep you on beat. Defined by striking accentuated curves and smooth lines, reminiscent of a grand piano, this development is Surrey City Centre’s most modern addition. Utilizing its meticulously-landscaped, free-flowing terraces, PIANO creates inviting green spaces and outdoor amenities with scenic views in every direction. While a multitude of indoor amenity options are carefully curated for all of life’s tempos.

After women wrestlers’ protests, BJP drops 6-time MP Brij Bhushan Singh from UP’s Kaiserganj; fields his son

After much dilly dallying, the ruling BJP on Thursday dropped its powerful Kaiserganj MP and former Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh fielding his son Karan from the Lok Sabha constituency in Uttar Pradesh.

Gonda-born Brij Bhushan, 67, is a six-term MP and commands tremendous political clout in the area. He faced allegations of sexual harassment at the hands of star Indian women wrestlers, including Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik. Singh, who wanted to contest himself, was finally convinced by the BJP to step down in favour of his son.

On the ground, though, nothing changes for Brij Bhushan as his family retains the ticket notwithstanding the pressure from women wrestlers who had earlier forced him to step down as WFI chief, only to see his close aide take over.

In the political landscape, too, Brij Bhushan will continue to call the shots with the son in the

fray. Singh has been a member of the 10th, 13th, 14th, 15th, 16 and 17th Lok Sabhas and both an SP and independent MP. He was a wrestler before entering politics through the 1990s Ram Janmabhoomi movement. Over the years, he had developed a support base in Gonda, Bahraich, Balrampur, Shravasti, and Ayodhya. Singh has represented Balrampur and Gonda also in the Lok Sabha in the past. While Karan Bhushan will contest Kaiserganj parliamentary seat, Brij Bhushan’s other son Prateek Bhushan Singh is already a sitting MLA from Gonda in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly.

From Rae Bareli, the BJP has fielded Uttar Pradesh minister and Legislative Council Member Dinesh Pratap Singh. Singh had lost the 2019 Lok Sabha poll from the seat to then Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, who has since moved to the Rajya Sabha. The Congress is yet to name a candidate in Rae Bareli.

Stop registering voters for beneficiary schemes under guise of surveys: Election Commission to political parties

The Election Commission Thursday said it has taken a “serious view” of political parties and candidates seeking details of voters under the guise of various surveys for their proposed beneficiary schemes as it amounts to a corrupt practice under election law.

The poll authority noted that some political parties and candidates have been engaging in activities that blur the lines between legitimate surveys and partisan efforts to register individuals for post-election beneficiaryoriented schemes.

The Election Commission issued an advisory to all national and state political

parties to immediately cease and desist from any activities that involve registering people for post-election beneficiary-oriented schemes through any advertisement, survey or mobile application.

It said the act of inviting or calling upon individual electors to register for postelection benefits may create an impression of the requirement of one-to-one transactional relationship between the elector and the proposed benefit, and has the potential to generate a quid pro quo arrangement for voting in a particular way, thereby leading to inducement.

Lookout notice issued against JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna in sex scandal case

Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Thursday said a lookout circular had been issued to arrest Hassan JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna who is facing allegations of sexually abusing women. On Prajwal seeking seven more days to appear before the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the case as he is abroad, he said there is no provision to grant more than 24 hours. “A lookout notice has been issued soon after it was learnt that Prajwal has gone abroad. We have informed all the ports and airports about the lookout notice,” the minister told reporters here.

Prajwal is the grandson of former prime minister and JD(S) patriarch HD Deve

and son of MLA and former minister HD Revanna. Some explicit video clips allegedly involving the 33-year-old MP had started making the rounds in Hassan in recent days.

He was the NDA candidate in the Hassan Lok Sabha constituency, where polling was held on April 26.

“Our SIT members are taking legal opinion whether to give time to the accused. The SIT will move forward to arrest him since there is no provision to give more than 24 hours,” Parameshwara added.

‘India Dreaming Of Becoming Superpower, We Are Begging’: Pakistan’s Leader Amid Ailing Economy

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In contrast, he pointed to India’s efforts to establish itself as a global superpower, underscoring the divergent paths taken by the two neighboring countries. “In August 1947, India and Pakistan got Independence together. Today, India is dreaming of becoming a global superpower, while we are begging to avoid bankruptcy. Who is responsible for this?” he said.

While India strides toward economic growth and global influence, Pakistan grapples with mounting debt and reliance on

international financial institutions such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to stave off economic collapse.

The IMF has so far granted $3 billion bailout package to Pakistan due to its dwindling economy. The Pakistani opposition leader also raised questions about the role of the government and bureaucracy in shaping Pakistan’s political and economic destiny. Rehman criticised what he perceived as the undue influence of powerful entities in rigging the political system and undermining democratic principles.

Gowda

US police deny reports on killing of Canada-based gangster Goldy Brar

Social media on Wednesday was abuzz with reports claiming that the prime accused in Sidhu Moosewala murder case, gangster Goldy Brar, has been shot dead in the US.

Reports said Goldy Brar was reportedly killed in Fresno, California. A website in the US further claimed that two persons were shot dead in Central Farojona a few days ago, including Goldy Brar. During this attack, the youths injured were admitted to a hospital by the police. It is being claimed that one of them was Goldy Brar who later died.

officers came after several social media reports claimed that the victim of the shootout was Indian gangster Goldy Brar, a suspect in the killing of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala.

Soon after, the US Police gave a clarification saying a shooting did take place in Fresno, but that incident, in any way, was ‘not connected’ to the case involving a gang killing in India, identifying the victim as 37-year old Xavier Gladney, a local community paper Fresno Bee reported. The clarification from Fresno

In an update on Wednesday, the Fresno Police Department identified Gladney as the victim during the shooting incident that occurred in Fresno on Tuesday.

Citing the police, Fresno Bee reported that the department was receiving several calls from foreign media and that officers were working to debunk any connections between the slayings. Following a ShotSpotter alert, Fresno police responded to the gunshot at the alleyway of Fairmont and Holt on Tuesday at 5.30 pm. When the police arrived, Gladney was suffering from a gunshot wound. After being brought to the Community Regional Medical Centre, he was declared dead.

Charges framed against 27 in singer Sidhu Moosewala murder case

In the singer Shubhdeep Singh Sidhu Moosewala murder case, the court of District and Sessions Judge Hari Singh Grewal of Mansa has framed charges against 27 accused today. Now, the next date is fixed on May 20. Sidhu Moosewala’s lawyer Satinderpal Mittal said the trials of this murder case will start from May 20. He said the police had presented a challan against 31 persons, including gangster Lawrence Bishnoi and Jaggu Bhagwanpuria in the Mansa court, while Jagrup Singh Roopa and Manpreet Mannu, who were included in this challan, were killed in a police encounter in Amritsar district. Manmohan Singh Mohana and Mandeep Singh died during a fight

Punjab’s Chief Electoral Officer issues warnings to AAP, SAD for poll code violations

Punjab’s Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), in accordance with directives from the Election Commission, has issued warnings to the ruling Aam Aadmi Party and Shiromani Akali Dal for violations of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) during the Lok Sabha election 2024.

Cabinet Minister and AAP candidate from Khadoor Sahib, Laljit Bhullar, has been warned against use of casteist remarks against his political opponents, saying that it was a violation of the model code of conduct.

Earlier the Deputy Commissioner of

statements made by the minister against his political opponents, along with videos of the incident. The SAD had used the phrase ‘Delhi ke Dalal’ in a video against AAP’s state convener and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and its candidates in the Lok Sabha election, which is in violation of the guidelines of the MCC.

The Shiromani Akali Dal later deleted the video. Furthermore, using of children in election rally of the SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal, has been deemed to be a violation of the MCC. The deputy

of Ludhiana also submitted a report that children were used during an election campaign.

Regarding the use of children in elections, there are clear guidelines from the ECI that children should not be used in election rallies/ campaigns. SAD has been warned for violating the directions issued by the ECI regarding the MCC and directed it not to repeat such mistakes and strictly follow the guidelines.

On the other hand, the AAP has also been refrained from uploading posts/videos like

between gangsters in the Goindwal Sahib Jail. Meanwhile, Bishnoi, Bhagwanpuria, Charanjit and Jagtar Singh had filed applications for discharge and declared themselves innocent in this case but these had been dismissed after a debate on it. The 27 accused have been arrested. There are various sections in the challan against them, under which the court has framed charges.

Moosewala’s father Balkaur Singh Sidhu said for the first time, my mind was at peace, because the case had moved towards justice. The applications filed by some accused claiming to be innocent had been dismissed and the charges framed.

22 held in raids on drug smugglers in Punjab

The police here today conducted a massive state-level cordon and search operation at identified drug hotspots and vulnerable areas in all 28 police districts of the state. The operation was conducted from 8 am to 11am simultaneously across the state.

Special DGP, Law and Order, Arpit Shukla said CPs/SSPs were told to plan this operation meticulously by identifying the points of sale of drugs and psychotropic substances in their respective districts or certain areas which had become safe haven for drug peddlers.