Asian Star - December 03, 2016

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www.theasianstar.com AsianStar logo Saturday, April 25, 2015 6:42:48 PM

Vol 15 - Issue 44

Sunday night snow forecast for Metro Vancouver

A major change in the upper atmospheric weather pattern across western North America means it’s going to get colder and there’s a chance of snow on the way for B.C.’s South Coast.

Meteorologist Mark Madryga says while it will be raining across the B.C. South Coast for most of the weekend, the colder air will begin to surge southwards starting Saturday night.

For the South Coast, the lower temperatures on Sunday will combine with some low pressure just off the coast, leading to a chance of flurries in the mix, especially at higher elevations. That cold air will continue into next week, meaning there is a continued chance of snow. However, Madryga says pinpointing exactly where that snow will fall and how much is extremely difficult at this time. Most of Monday and Tuesday look drier and colder, with low temperatures falling several degrees below freezing in the Lower Mainland.

Health Coach

Gary S. Mangat Read on Page 8....

Saturday, December 3, 2016

Trudeau’s pipeline approval prompts anger in BC The federal cabinet’s decision to approve Kinder Morgan Canada’s Trans Mountain pipeline expansion has prompted a flood of outrage and promises of protests and court challenges in British Columbia.

Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson said he was “profoundly disappointed,” calling the decision a “big step backwards” for Canada’s environment and economy. “I — along with the tens of thousands of residents, local First Nations, and other Metro

Vancouver cities who told the federal government a resounding ‘no’ to this project — will keep speaking out

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Continued on Page 6...

Minister Fassbender working hard to improve public transit By: Umendra Singh TransLink Minister Peter Fassbender is working hard to ensure that the Metro Vancouver transit users have an efficient and inexpensive transit system to use.

And he said the Metro Vancouver Mayors Council’s proposal to raise $2 billion for transit infrastructure by adding $3 to property tax of each house in the region is reasonable.

Continued on Page 9...

South Asian taxi driver’s sexual assault sentence overturned because of judge’s comments on his race A former Ottawa taxi driver who was convicted of sexual assault after grabbing a female passenger and kissing her in his cab had his sentence overturned by the Superior Court of Justice after the original judge cited the man’s religion and skin colour, and the case’s impact on the Sikh community in his ruling. Justice Peter Coulson found Jatinder Singh guilty in November 2013 and sentenced

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Continued on Page 7...

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local

Saturday, December 03, 2016

BC government still on the Kinder Morgan fence

The British Columbia government is still waiting for the federal government to support its five conditions before approving Kinder Morgan’s Trans Mountain pipeline construction project.

B.C. Environment Minister Mary Polak released a statement Tuesday afternoon that said the province is in the midst of its own environmental assessment on a project that will see the twinning of the pipeline from north of Edmonton to a terminal in Burnaby, B.C., that would nearly triple its capacity to 890,000 barrels a day.

“I understand the BC Environmental Assessment Office anticipates that it will soon complete B.C.’s environmental assessment, which has been underway for seven months. I have every confidence in B.C.’s process,” said Polak.

The B.C. government has been steadfast in its position that pipeline approval would only come if the federal government meets its five conditions.

Those conditions include world-leading marine oil spill response, world leading land oil spill prevention, legal requirements regarding Aboriginal and treaty rights being addressed and British Columbia receiving a fair share of the fiscal and economic benefits.

The federal government recently took a step forward in meeting two of the the conditions by investing $1.5 billion in an ocean projection plan.

Unlike Alberta Premier Rachel Notley, B.C. ​ Premier Christy Clark was not in Ottawa for the announcement.

Clark did however speak to Prime Minister Trudeau over the phone Tuesday afternoon.

A statement from the prime minister’s office said the pair “agreed on the importance to take a balanced approach to the development of natural resources to help ensure the environment is protected, while creating jobs, including jobs in British Columbia.”

If British Columbia’s conditions are not met, the provincial government could hold up important permits needed to twin the pipeline through British Columbia. Vancouver mayor Gregor Robertson says he is “profoundly disappointed” by the federal government’s approval of the Kinder Morgan pipeline.

“Approving Kinder Morgan’s heavy oil pipeline expansion is a big step backwards for Canada’s environment and economy. This project was approved under a flawed and biased Harper-era regulatory process that shut out local voices and ignored climate change and First Nations’ concerns,” said Robertson in a statement.

“The federal government’s decision on Kinder Morgan is a missed opportunity for Canada, as there’s never been a better time to aggressively shift to a clean-energy future.

“Vancouver’s economy created 94,000 new jobs last year and significant tax revenue for Canada. It doesn’t make sense to jeopardize that success with the risk that comes with an expanded Kinder Morgan heavy oil pipeline and more tankers. As I’ve said repeatedly, it is not worth the risk.”

Robertson said the City of Vancouver will continue to raise concerns about Kinder Morgan’s massive expansion that could bring seven times the number of oil tankers to the B.C. coast. The Vancouver mayor said last week that a Kinder Morgan approval would mean “protests like you’ve never seen before.”

Burnaby Mayor Derek Corrigan has been strongly opposed to increasing the capacity of crude oil shipped to the Kinder Morgan facility that is based in his community.

3

First Nations, environmentalists vow ‘long battle’ on approved pipeline The Trudeau government's approval of the Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain pipeline expansion is meeting fierce opposition in B.C., including a vow from the Tsleil-Waututh First Nation that this is "the beginning of a long battle" to stop the project.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the decision in Ottawa today, saying the project would give "much needed new hope" to thousands in Alberta and provide $4.5 billion in federal and provincial government revenue.

"If I thought this project was unsafe for the B.C. coast, I would reject it. Period," said Trudeau. "This decision was based on debate, science and evidence."

It's a move that opponents of the project saw coming — with Trudeau announcing improved oil spill response capacity earlier

this month.

Protests greeted that announcement and have escalated since with thousands

joining one demonstration. "I'm not surprised ... I'm sincerely disappointed," said Charlene Aleck, a councillor with the Tsleil-Waututh First Nation, whose traditional territory includes Burrard Inlet which would see a massive increase in tanker traffic if the project goes ahead.

"This is not just our backyard, this is literally in our kitchen ... It's definitely the beginning of a long battle ahead for us." Kinder Morgan does have some Indigenous support for the project, but as of last week, had gathered letters of support from only about one-third of the 120 Indigenous groups it consulted.

The project would expand an existing 1,150-kilometre pipeline between the Edmonton area and Burnaby, B.C. It would create a twinned pipeline increasing the capacity of the system from 300,000 barrels per day, to 890,000 barrels per day.

Kinder Morgan, the B.C. Chamber of Commerce and Greater Vancouver Board of Trade are cheering the decision, with the company calling it a "defining moment for our project and Canada's energy industry."

4

opinion

Saturday, December 03, 2016

Shopping for European health care is not the cure

By Colleen M. Flood and Bryan Thomas A legal challenge to Canada’s medicare system has given new focus to the muchneeded debate about how health service is provided in this country.

The Supreme Court of British Columbia is hearing the long-anticipated challenge to the publicly-funded Canadian health system. The plaintiffs - led by Dr. Brian Day of Cambie Surgery Centre - allege that medicare violates Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms by forcing patients onto long wait lists for care.

By way of remedy, Day and his colleagues aren’t asking the government to reduce wait times for all patients. Too bad.

Instead, they ask the court to overturn the law that stops the sale of private insurance covering medically-necessary care. They also ask the court to overturn the law against dual practice that requires doctors to choose to work for the public system or work for the private sector.

They also want to overturn prohibitions on extra-billing so physicians can charge whatever they wish for the care they provide, in public hospitals or in private clinics.

Examining what this legal challenge could mean for Canadians, the question, ‘Who benefits?’ is a good place to start.

The physicians spearheading these challenges certainly stand to benefit handsomely.

Most physicians are locked into fee-forservice rates negotiated with the provinces. If the Cambie case succeeds, scores of private buyers will join the bargaining table, driving up prices for physician services and diverting resources to the highest bidder irrespective of medical need.

The physicians involved in the trial protest they have only medicare’s best interests at heart. They point to the many western “European” nations that have two-tier health systems, purportedly the envy of the world.

If only Canada would allow greater private payment, we are told, the invisible hand of the market would lead us to join their ranks.

It’s not that simple.

Proponents of the “European” model of health care never tell us if it’s the French, Irish, English, Dutch, German or Italian model we should follow - and they are all distinct.

In England, for example, specialists in the public system are salaried and contractually bound to a full-time 40-hour work schedule, leaving them little time to moonlight in the private sector.

A contract binding specialists to 40 hours a

week in the public system is viable in England, where physicians are salaried. It’s not viable in Canada, where physicians have grown accustomed over a half-century to a much higher level of independence.

Indeed, any Canadian government that attempted to force large numbers of physicians from fee-for-service payment to salary would find itself in the middle physician strikes and further constitutional challenges.

What about the Netherlands?

Private insurance plays a very large role there so perhaps it’s the kind of two-tier system we’re looking for. But in fact, there’s no separate public system with a private tier: in the Netherlands, the private health insurance system, heavily regulated, is the public system.

The law requires that all Dutch adults buy private health insurance (and their employers contribute). The market is heavily regulated to achieve access and equity goals. And private insurers must offer coverage to everybody and cover almost everything. This means private insurers can’t cherry pick the healthy and wealthy.

When the Cambie challengers and proponents of privatization speak of a two-tier system, they insist there would be a free public health-care system left with just a small private tier on the top. That’s clearly not the Dutch model.

In a complex system like health care, it’s purposefully naive to suppose Canada can easily shop among the models of western Europe.

Selecting features from European systems and pasting them into Canadian medicare will not magically give us a “European” model.

It’s certainly true that Canadian medicare is in need of improvement. All sides agree. And Canadians need to be assured that medicare can deliver timely care when they are in greatest need.

A patient ombudsman in each province - with real teeth - would be an important start to help patients get timely, quality care.

Canadians pay a great deal of tax towards our health-care system. We deserve timely care and we shouldn’t have to throw ourselves at the mercy of the markets to get it.

www.theasianstar.com # 202 - 7028, 120th Street, Surrey, BC V3W 3M8 Ph: 604-591-5423 Fax: 604-591-8615 E-mail: editor@theasianstar.com Editor: Umendra Singh Associate Editor: Shruti Prakash Joshi Marketing and Sales: Ravinder S. Cheema........604-715-3847 Shamir Doshi....................604-649-7827 Harminder Kaur...............778-708-0481 Parminder Dhillon..........778-859-9234 Layout: Avee J Waseer Pre-Press: Iftikhar Ahmed Contributing writers: Jag Dhatt, Akash Sablok, Kamila Singh, Jay Bains Photographer: Chandra Bodalia Publication Mail Agreement No 428336012 Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to Circulation Dept.

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Trudeau’s pipeline approval prompts anger in BC Continued from Page 1...

The $6.8-billion project would triple the capacity of the Trans Mountain pipeline, from 300,000 to 890,000 barrels a day, and would add 980 kilometres of new pipe along the route from near Edmonton to Burnaby, B.C. It would also increase the number of tankers leaving Vancouver-area waters sevenfold, from five to 34 per month, prompting fierce opposition from local mayors and First Nations who say any risk of a diluted-bitumen spill is unacceptable.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the project would be approved with 157 conditions at a news conference Tuesday. He said he expects the decision to be “bitterly disputed” by a number of people across the country, but said the project is in Canada’s best interests.

“If I thought this project was unsafe for the B.C. coast, I would reject it,” he said.

Premier Christy Clark has insisted her government would not allow new pipeline construction unless five conditions were met, including a “world-leading” marine spill response regime. Earlier this month, Trudeau announced a $1.5-billion ocean-protection plan.

Clark was unavailable for comment Tuesday, but her Environment Minister Mary Polak said the province will continue to work to ensure each of its conditions are met.

“Because we have taken that clear and principled approach to stand up for our province, we have seen the proponent and the federal government take actions, including Ottawa’s recent Ocean Protection Plan,” she said in a statement.

North Vancouver’s Tsleil-Waututh Nation and the City of Vancouver already have legal challenges before the courts. The actions were filed in May after the National Energy

Board recommended the federal government approve the project.

Delegates from the Tsleil-Waututh Nation travelled to Ottawa on Monday to urge Natural Resources Minister Jim Carr to reject the project.

On Tuesday, Tsleil-Waututh spokeswoman Charlene Aleck accused Trudeau of breaking his promise of a “renewed, nation-to-nation relationship with indigenous peoples.”

“They are making a big mistake. We will not allow this pipeline to be built,” she said.

Carleen Thomas, a member of the TsleilWaututh, spoke Tuesday night at a rally against the government’s decision in Vancouver.

“They sold us out. They threw us under the bus. They threw us under the tank and this is not acceptable,” she said.

Hundreds of people gathered for the rally, carrying signs with messages like “Stop Kinder Morgan” and “Leave Fossil Fuels in the Ground.”

Bob Chamberlain, vice-president of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs said the lastminute event was just the first action against the government’s decision.

He expects to see more court challenges, protests and civil disobedience, and told the crowd he looks forward to getting arrested alongside them.The move will hurt the Liberals at the ballot box come next election, too, Chamberlain said.

“Everybody’s going to remember all of the hollow rhetoric and the promises that they made. And they forgot to say that they’re just kidding,” he said.

The business community in B.C. was pleased. Ian Black, president and CEO of the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade, said the project will generate more than $1-billion in construction spending and create thousands of high-paying jobs.

Saturday, December 03, 2016

South Asian taxi driver’s sexual assault sentence overturned because of judge’s comments on his race Continued from Page 1...

Although the defence raised several inconsistencies in her evidence, including where the cabbie grabbed her and details about her method of payment, the judge was satisfied with each of her rebuttals and believed she had “absolutely no motive to lie.”

At the sentencing hearing, the judge made multiple references to the man’s religion and physical appearance, saying, “Sikh drivers specifically take a hit here, and that’s not fair to them.”

Coulson also said the following: “The damage that I spoke of that troubled me with regard to Sikh taxi drivers, you have done to your fellow Sikhs, that damage. They do not deserve it, and I hope that people will not approach a Sikh and feel distrustful; they ought not to. I got to know a number of them riding in their taxis around in Delhi and got to chat with them at quite some length about their very fine country, and got to like several of them.

But here in Ottawa, there may be those that do not treat them as well as they should.”

The cabbie collapsed in the courtroom during the sentencing hearing, which had to be adjourned for the day. When it continued the following week, the judge again raised the accused’s religion and appearance.

“You are a Sikh of swarthy complexion. We do not want people saying, ‘I won’t get in a taxi driven by a dark-skinned person.’ That is not fair to the driver who is trying to make a living this way. We do not want people reacting that way, either. Therefore, something firm must happen to you.”

Singh appealed his conviction and sentence.

His lawyer, Solomon Friedman, who did not represent him at trial, alleged the judge “applied irrelevant and discriminatory considerations, namely the race, religion and skin colour of the appellant, in passing sentence.”

Using the judge’s own reasoning, had Singh been a white-skinned Christian, he would have received a lesser sentence, Friedman argued.

The Crown had asked for a jail sentence between 30 and 60 days, followed by nine months probation, while the defence argued Singh ought to serve a sentence within the community with one year of probation.

In a recent decision, the Superior Court of Justice dismissed the appeal of the conviction, but ordered a new sentencing hearing.

The decision said Coulson may have used Singh’s “ethnicity” when he delivered what he thought to be an appropriate sentence.

LOCAL

7

8

person of the week

Saturday, December 03, 2016

Health Coach: Gary S. Mangat Whenever our body behaves differently, along”, told he.

Doctors are the people who come to our They say every mind. Actually, our society cannot be person has his part to imagined without them as they hold a very be played in his life, special place for all, regardless of age, race so while his struggling or any discrimination. Not to forget, there phase Gary moved to are many kinds of treatments out there and Calgary, where he got every one of them has some pros and cons. books and studied them However, in today’s time it is seen that if one thoroughly. doctor specializes and believes in a particular “No matter how huge therapy, there are very few chances that he/ your knowledge is in any she will support the other therapies. field, a certification is Lately The Asian Star got a chance to interact with Gary Gary’s learning process S. Mangat, a passionate learner in the field of Medical studies. is never stopping. He What interested me the most specializes in Naturopathy, about him was his years of Ayurveda, Homeopathy, Urban experience in Medical field and Medication and Nutrition. Also his longing for research and after diagnosing his patients, learning new things in his field. he uses all these therapies “My main objective is to help simultaneously for giving my patients out. I feel connected to them once they visit me and them the best results. share their health issues, I leave no stone upturned in helping them”, told Gary.

His love for Medical field is inherited required, so I studied a lot on medical from his Grandfather, who was a qualified issues and I did my certification in homeopathic doctor in India. Gary came nutrition”, said Gary. to Canada in 1977 and started practicing Gary’s learning process is never

homeopathy.

“People hardly knew about homeopathy back then, so I got into some odd jobs and became an applied technician but my love and sentiments for homeopathy followed

stopping. He specializes in Naturopathy, Ayurveda, Homeopathy, Urban Medication and Nutrition. Also after diagnosing his patients, he uses all these therapies simultaneously for giving them the best

results. “ Most of the health issues that people face today are the outcome of their wrong diet habits. If the problem is intense, I even recommend Allopathy to my patients. Every treatment has it’s limitations and we should accept that, also we must regard the qualities of other treatments”, said he.

His approach to medication itself is a revolution. From simple issues like headaches to complex problems like Diabetes including type 1 and 2, Gary has treated them

profoundly and the list of his success goes on.

“I always try capturing the root cause of the problem and work on it rather than suppressing the current condition”, smiled him.

At present, Gary continues his practice at his clinic named Holistic Health Restoration Center where he has all the facilities required and his patients love him for his amazing approach in helping them get well.

For details, contact Gary @ 604.808.8769

Vancouver police hunt possibly armed suspect following dollar store robbery, stabbing Vancouver Police are hunting a robber in and around the area near Waterfront Station after a store staffer was stabbed on Thursday afternoon.

Just before 4 p.m., several police cars descended on at least three parking garages near Seymour and Cordova streets in downtown Vancouver, including the one at 200 Granville St. and the parkade at Harbour Centre. More than a dozen officers, including a canine unit, were in pursuit of a robber who was believed to be armed with a weapon.

According to Sgt. Brian Montague, officers

were searching after a robbery of a downtown dollar shop, during which a store security guard was injured. “My understanding is no arrests have been made and one of the mall loss prevention staff was stabbed – I believe in the hand,” said Montague in an emailed statement.

He added no further information would be available until the morning.

On Thursday afternoon, officers armed with shotguns loaded with “less-lethal” rounds were stationed outside the entrance to the Harbour Centre parkade at Seymour and Cordova, as other officers searched the underground area.

Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services and Street home Foundation have united to rebuild Fire Hall No. 5 at its current location. The project will provide 31 two-and threebedroom homes for low-income, single mothers and their children, providing safe and secure housing for about 96 people in Vancouver

LOCAL

Saturday, December 03, 2016

9

Minister Fassbender working hard to improve public transit Continued from Page 1... “We need money to have an efficient and effective transit – and this maybe one of the better proposals,� Fassbender, Minister responsible for Translink and Minister of Community, Sport, Cultural Development, told The Asian Star in an interview.

Fassbender spoke to The Asian Star as Metro Vancouver prepared for the opening of the Evergreen Line – latest in the Skytrain network.

And he said contrary to some allegations, money in this proposal is not only going to be used for projects in Vancouver.

He said Surrey-Delta and surrounding areas will also see major projects come up in the second and third phases. “We will ensure Surrey is not forgotten,� said Fassbender, who was long time Mayor of Langley before being elected an MLA four years ago.

He said one of the projects that Surrey residents should look forward to is an L bus line running from Guildford and King George Skytrain station to other Surrey neighborhoods, such as Newton,.

This bus line will ferry passengers arriving y Skytrain to other parts of Surrey.

Fassbender is proud of his Liberal government’s achievement in adding a jewel to the transit network in Metro Vancouver in the form of the Evergreen Line.

The new SkyTrain line extends the existing Millennium line from Burnaby into Coquitlam and Port Moody.

Fassbender said that the Evergreen Line is an 11-kilometre extension to the existing Skytrain system in Metro Vancouver. It will be a fast, frequent and convenient SkyTrain service, connecting Coquitlam City Centre

through Port Moody to Lougheed Town Centre in approximately 15 minutes, he said. This area of the Lower Mainland has experienced a surge in house prices and development.

Minister Fassbender said he is proud of the achievements of the Liberal government over the past four years. “We have done more for Surrey and people working and living in Surrey, Delta and surrounding areas than anyone else could have done,� he said.

The Minister said he has heard criticism form the Opposition NDP. “But they only criticize. They never come up with any solid ideas about developments,� he said.

He pointed out the Jim Pattison Outpatient hospital, multiple schools built, the Port Mann Bridge, etc, as projects that have benefited people living in Surrey and surrounding areas. “And we will continue working hard in the months and years to come,� he said.

Giving some numbers of the money to be spent by the BC Liberal government, Fassbender said the Province is providing $246 million over three years for transit improvements in the Metro Vancouver region. This builds upon the federal government’s commitment to provide $370

million to transit improvements, with a 50% cost-share. The regional share of funding has been reduced from 33% to 17%. In total, these investments will support $740 million in transit improvement.

The BC Liberal government is also working to help the truck and cab drivers.

He mentioned the new truck parking in Delta initiated by the government. “This new truck parking helps truck drivers find a safe and free for their rigs to park and we are looking for more trucking parking spots,� he said.

Commercial truckers can use the free truck parking to stop and rest at the $2.8-million Nordel Way truck parking facility The new truck-parking facility is located on Nordel Way at Highway 91 in Delta, across from the Nordel commercial vehicle inspection

facility. The facility has room for up to 40 heavy trucks to park overnight and includes lighting, washrooms, garbage cans and a sani-dump.

And the Liberal government is going to ensure that the cab drivers are not left unprotected or unrepresented in their fight with the Uber. “We have the interest of cab drivers at heart,� he said.

Minister Fassbender said that he is confident in the BC Liberal Party candidates in Surrey, Delta and surrounding areas. “These are very good and well qualified candidates,� he said.

Fassbender also is confident in winning the Surrey-Fleetwood seat he wrested away from NDP’s Jagrup Brar in the last election. “I was one of the first ones to get nominated and I am prepared,� he said.

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10

LOCAL

Obituary

The family of Ravinder Singh Grewal is announcing with great sadness that he passed away on November 28. He was 78 years old.

Ravinder Singh Grewal belonged to Village Naringwal, District Ludhiana. He was the father of local realtor Garry Grewal, of Surrey.

He is survived by his wife, Ranjit Kaur Grewal, son, Garry Grewal, daughter in law, Pushpinder Kaur Grewal, two daughters Davinder Kaur Kaleka and Sukhwinder Kaur Bhuller, seven grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

Ravinder Singh Grewal’s funeral will be held on Sunday, December 4 at the Five Rivers Funeral Home, 7410 Hopcott Road in Delta at 2pm. This will be followed by the Antim Ardas at Gurdwara Khalsa Diwan Society ,York Centre (128st & 80th Ave) at 4pm in Surrey. For more information or to offer condolences, please call

Garry Grewal 604-614-3400 Pushpinder Grewal 778-241-4141

Saturday, December 03, 2016

BC can expect boost in Mexican tourists, refugee claimants after visa requirement lifted B.C. can look forward to a boost in both tourists and refugee claimants as a result of the federal government’s decision to lift a seven-year-old requirement that all Mexican visitors first obtain visas.

“Everybody is kind of on pins and needles trying to plan, without knowing what the full impact is going to be,” said Chris Friesen, director of settlement programs for the Immigrant Services Society of B.C. He said the numbers could be substantial as a result of two recent factors — the advent of direct flights between Vancouver and Mexico City starting in 2010, and the recent election of a U.S. president who has vowed to remove large numbers of Mexican migrants and build a wall along the border to keep them from returning.

“If Donald Trump is serious about wanting to deport (large numbers) that could have a significant impact on

spontaneous arrivals on the Canada border,” said Friesen, who noted that groups like his might need additional funds to cope.

The grim human rights situation in Mexico will also compel many to fly to Canada and then claim they are fleeing persecution, he added.

Shirley Bond, the B.C. minister of jobs, tourism and skills training, pointed to the economic benefits of the decision.

“We are currently reviewing the level of impact for British Columbia, but we know that these policy changes will also have significant benefit for our province in the tourism sector,” she told Postmedia in a prepared statement.

“The visa issue has been identified as a

barrier to expanding the tourism visitors from Mexico, and we are confident that we will see increased visits continuing the momentum we are currently experiencing with record international tourism numbers.”

Earlier Thursday, Conservative MP Michelle Rempel cited during Question Period a federal government analysis indicating that the Trudeau government’s visa decision will cost taxpayers $433.5 million over 10 years.

That money will be needed to fund “program integrity” measures and “enforcement activities” needed to screen out bogus claimants, as well as cover other costs associated with an expected hike in asylum claims.

Police roll out holiday road checks to curb impaired driving Police across B.C. are launching their annual roadchecks in an effort to curb drunk driving during the holidays this year. It’s just one way that provincial authorities are supporting road safety as holiday partiers enjoy their eggnog and hotbuttered rum.

“Getting home safely should be part of everyone’s holiday planning but the reality is that impaired driving

remains a leading cause of car crash fatalities in B.C.,” Transportation Minister Todd Stone said Thursday in a news release.

ICBC estimates impaired driving kills about 66 people in B.C. every year. As many as 16 people are killed in car crashes due to impaired driving in the Lower Mainland alone.

B.C. health minister worried about prevalence

of “drugged driving” The insurer recommends people secure a safe ride home by calling a taxi, taking public transit or by naming a designated driver.

ICBC is also supporting Operation Red Nose — a service in which volunteers provide people with a safe ride home when they’re too drunk or tired to hop behind the wheel.

“There are many alternatives to driving drunk — designated driver, friend, transit, taxi ... don’t include us in your plans.”

Saturday, December 03, 2016

Christy Clark says province close to endorsing Trans Mountain pipeline expansion Premier Christy Clark is indicating the province is well on its way to endorsing the Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project.

Speaking publicly for the first time since Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced conditional approval for the project, Clark said the federal government is “very close” to meeting the five conditions necessary for B.C. government approval.

“I have said from the very beginning that the five conditions are a path to yes,” said Clark, stating that the conditions could be met “much sooner” than the May 9 provincial election.

On Tuesday, Trudeau signed off on the Trans Mountain project which will see a twinning of the existing 1,150 kilometre pipeline from the Alberta oilsands to the Kinder Morgan terminal on Burrard Inlet in Burnaby. The project will nearly triple the delivery capacity of oil products and diluted bitumen to 890,000 barrels a day and will increase oil tanker traffic in the Vancouver area from approximately five tankers per month to 34 per month.

Clark said her government still needed more answers and information from the feds on two specific issues.

“We still need to work out some details to make sure that British Columbia is getting its fair share of the jobs and economic

benefits of this project,” she said.

“We still need some details on the oceans protection plan ... so we can be absolutely certain that our coast is protected.”

The $1.5 billion oceans protection plan was announced earlier this month by the federal government after a tug boat ran aground near Bella Bella, spilling 100,000 litres of fuel into the ocean.

Cleanup efforts around that relatively small spill were roundly criticized as a failure, highlighting major flaws in oil spill response planning on B.C.’s coast.

An oiltanker travels under the Burrard Inlet rail bridge between Vancouver and North Vancouver.

Pipeline opponents are concerned about the huge increase in tanker traffic in and out of Kinder Morgan’s Westridge Marine Terminal, once the pipeline expansion is complete.

A letter released by B.C. Environment Minister Mary Polack outlines some of the specific concerns and asks the federal government how it plans to “address the following gaps we identified,” including: Ensure the Canadian Coast Guard adequately services the entirety of B.C.’s coast.

Work with the U.S. to establish response regulation for spills crossing international borders.

ICBC might limit amount it would pay to fix a luxury car Luxury car owners in B.C. might one day have to pay for some of their own auto repairs in a crash, even when they weren’t at fault in the accident, says the province’s transportation minister.

Todd Stone said one idea he’s considering is limiting the amount the Insurance Corp. of B.C. would pay out from the ICBC auto insurance of any driver who was at fault in a crash with a luxury vehicle (worth more than $150,000) like a Ferrari, Lamborghini or Aston Martin.

“Other jurisdictions have looked at is it viable to perhaps put a limit on the total dollar value of damages for … costs on some of this stuff, so, we’re going to look at that,” Stone told

radio station CHNL in Kamloops.

“Should it just be wide open? $34,000 dollars for a door? Or do we say, you know what, we’re going to cover the cost of that door up to a maximum that’s to some degree less than that $34,000?”

The possibility of an ICBC limit would bring into sharper focus how the Crown auto insurer might save money under a plan announced last week to ban luxury vehicle owners from purchasing basic or optional insurance from the corporation.

Stone said no decisions have been made, but the goal remains to prevent basic ordinary ratepayers from subsidizing expensive luxury repairs.

Targeted shooting in Surrey sends man to hospital A man is in hospital after a targeted shooting in Surrey late Tuesday night.

Surrey RCMP received a report of shots

fired at a house in the 12100-block of 68 Avenue around 8:00 p.m. PT. When officers responded, they found found an adult man suffering from a gunshot wound at the house.

He was taken to hospital with nonlife threatening injuries. It’s unknown if any suspects were arrested.

Police are still investigating the incident and believe it was a targeted event. Anyone with information is asked to contact Surrey RCMP.

Police responding to shots fired at east Vancouver home Two people have been taken to hospital as the Vancouver Police Department’s emergency response team and negotiators continue to deal with an ongoing incident at an east Vancouver home. The VPD were called to a

home near East Georgia and Boundary Round at 9 a.m. after receiving reports of reports of a fight, shots fired, and men with knives.

Police say the home has been contained and the area shut down by officers.

LOCAL

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LOCAL

Saturday, December 03, 2016

Girl who recently aged out of government care dies in Surrey homeless tent

A teenager who recently aged out of government care died on Wednesday in a tent in a rain-soaked bush area of Surrey often frequented by homeless people.

Bernard Richard, B.C.’s new acting representative for children and youth, confirmed the girl was 19 and had been in government care, but he said he couldn’t release her name. He didn’t know how recently she had turned 19 and would not say if she was aboriginal or not. Richard said he supports extending services to children in care past the age of 19.

“I think some of these kids come out of very, very difficult situations,” Richard said.

“As a parent, I know that my kids never aged out of my care.

Kids who are in the care of the minister shouldn’t age out at 19. They should be supported through this difficult transition period. If they’re not supported, we know what happens all too often. To be cut off completely is not acceptable.”

As The Vancouver Sun found in its 2014 series, From Care to Where, when children in care are cut off at 19, they face high rates of homelessness, unemployment, poverty, substance abuse and incarceration. The B.C. Coroners’ office confirmed it is investigating the death of a young adult female found in a

tent in an area of bush known to be frequented by homeless people near the intersection of King George Highway and 132nd Street.

Coroner Barbara McLintock said the cause of death is under investigation, but that a drug overdose is a possibility. She said her office wouldn’t know the cause of death until toxicology results are received.

There have been 622 apparent illicit drug overdose deaths up to Oct. 31 of this year, the B.C. Coroner’s Service reported earlier this month.

“This young person’s death is a tragedy and I feel for the family and friends,” Stephanie Cadieux, B.C.’s minister of children and family development, said in a written statement.

“Without speaking to any specific case, I can tell you that we would automatically conduct a case review into the death of a 19-year-old who, in the previous 12 months, had been in the ministry’s care. This allows us to refine our policies and practices where needed.”

Richard said his office is always informed by the coroners’ office if they are aware that someone who has been in government care dies, particularly if they have aged out in the recent past.

Richard said his office knew about the girl who died on Wednesday because she was part of a cohort of youth with similar histories to Gervais, either because she lived in a similar group home that was shut down or she followed a similar path while in care.

Richard’s office is investigating Gervais’ death.

In the area near 132nd Street, 112th Avenue and King George Highway, there are numerous empty, overgrown lots that show signs of habitation — trash, clothing, discarded personal items — but no one was seen camping on Thursday.

First responders feeling the fentanyl crush Ambulance drivers and fire crews are acutely feeling the crush of calls during the fentanyl crisis, a problem that’s thinning available resources and pushing up wait times for emergency medical help.

Surrey’s fire chief says fentanyl overdoserelated calls are “through the roof,” and the Ambulance Paramedics of B.C. (APBC) warns the crisis is worsening a problem that was already dire.

“The workload placed on us is huge,” said APBC spokesperson Dave Leary, who is a paramedic in the Surrey/North Delta area.

“This isn’t just impacting the drug users and whatnot,” Leary said. “This impacts everybody, because these high volumes of overdoses… all these other calls that would come in every day, wait now.”

Surrey Fire Chief Len Garis told The Leader while fire crews’ response times for medical calls is still well below the provincially mandated limits, they are

getting longer.

And firefighters are stressed from the continual calls, which don’t seem to be abating at all.

However, wait times for ambulances are only getting worse because of the fentanyl crisis.

“It’s not unusual that I go to a call and they’ve been waiting an hour, two hours,” Leary said.

“That’s unacceptable. We don’t know when someone calls 911 what’s happening on the other end of the line.

All-party committee recommends proportional voting system A special all-party committee is recommending that the Trudeau government design a new proportional voting system and hold a national referendum to gauge how much Canadians would support it. The long-awaited report of the electoral reform committee also recommends that the government not proceed at this time with mandatory voting or online voting. In a dissenting report, however, the committee’s Liberal members” the party does not support a referendum” is essentially recommending that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau abandon his promise to change the system before the next election.

The 392-page majority report is the

product of a hard-won consensus among members of the committee, on which the four opposition parties held a majority. Whether the government will accept the recommendations, however, remains far from certain. Trudeau, who promised that the 2015 federal election would be the last conducted under the so-called first-past-the post system, has already suggested that public enthusiasm for electoral reform has waned since his Liberals won power last fall.

Democratic Institutions Minister Maryam Monsef has repeatedly said she’s detected no consensus around any particular alternative and has warned that the government won’t proceed without the broad support of Canadians.

LOCAL

Saturday, December 03, 2016

“Project Swoop” takes to Surrey streets As of this week, the Surrey RCMP and its partners are driving home the message that high-risk driving and speeding increase the likelihood of causing an accident.

Project Swoop was launched Wednesday morning at several locations in Surrey. The campaign has traffic officers, auxiliaries and volunteers stationed a high-crash locations in the city. Speed reader boards have been installed at all Project Swoop locations.

“In Surrey, 14 persons have been killed in traffic collisions so far this year,” said Surrey RCMP Cpl. Scotty Schumann. “With the decreasing daylight hours and wet conditions, we want to remind drivers that we are out on the roads keeping drivers in check and to follow some simple rules to reduce your chances of being involved in a crash.”

The launch of the campaign comes a day after a Surrey man died after a single-vehcle crash on Nordel Way during the afternoon rush hour. Police say speed was a factor in the

collision.

On Tuesday at about 2 p.m., a green 2002 Toyota Echo was heading westbound in the curb lane in the 10500-block of Nordel Way before jumping the curb and striking an overhead sign post, bringing it down onto the road. The 28-year-old driver died at the scene.

Although the investigation into this collision is in its early stages, police say speed was a significant contributing factor.

Investigators are looking for witnesses who saw the collision or have information about the driving pattern of the vehicle prior to the crash. Call Delta Police at 604-946-4411, quote file number 16-25080, and ask speak to Const. Lehbauer.

ICBC Road Safety Coordinator Karen Klein said almost half of all crashes that result in injury or death involve high-risk driving like speeding or failing to yield.

“Every year, on average, 94 people are killed in speed-related crashes in B.C.,” Klein said.

Vancouver launches probe into $1.5M break to real estate developer The City of Vancouver has launched a probe into why a developer received a $1.5-million discount on construction fees even though it didn’t qualify for the break.

City manager Sadhu Johnston said the city made a mistake and has launched an audit to find out how Onni, the developer, received the deep discount under the city’s Rental 100 plan.

That plan allows developers to obtain waivers on their construction fees when they build muchneeded rental apartments.

The 43-storey tower, called the Charleson, is located at the corner of Richards Street and Pacific Avenue. It contains a mix of condos and market rental units.

But under city rules, to qualify for a waiver, the development must be 100 per cent rental units.

Last May, a 1,000 square foot condo in the building sold for $1.3 million.

Young professionals struggle to rent in ‘crazy’ real estate market “It looks like we made a mistake,” Johnston said, adding he contacted Onni to inform the company of the error.

Evergreen Line brings ‘new era’ for Tri-Cities Friday’s opening of the Evergreen SkyTrain extension heralds the start of an urban era for the Tri-Cities region, say the mayors of

Coquitlam and Port Moody.

“We’re losing the suburban feel. The suburbs

are becoming more urban. We’re all sort of in this together,” said Mike Clay, mayor of Port Moody.

Richard Stewart, the mayor of Coquitlam, said the rapid transit line has already changed his city.

“We built a brand new city centre at the end of the SkyTrain line. We started that building, though, 20 years ago, anticipating that the line would be built earlier,” he said.

“Now, we’re ready for it — incredibly ready for it.” The new SkyTrain line extends the existing Millennium line from Burnaby into Coquitlam and Port Moody.

This area of the Lower Mainland has experienced a surge in house prices and development.

13

Sentencing begins for hit-and-run killer of Emily Sheane Nearly four dozen family and friends of hit-and-run victim Emily Sheane arrived at Vancouver Provincial Court for the sentencing hearing of United Nations gang associate Ibrahim Ali, forcing the judge to adjourn proceedings until a larger courtroom could be found to accommodate the crowd.

The 25-year-old woman was killed instantly when her older model Corolla was T-boned by a Range Rover speeding through a red light at a Burnaby intersection, near BCIT, on March 9, 2016 around 11:30 p.m. PT. The driver of the SUV and his passenger fled the scene.

Ibrahim Ali was arrested days later at a motel near Creston, B.C. and charged with dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death and leaving the scene of an accident where a death occurred.

Ali pleaded guilty to both charges on Oct. 14, 2016.

Highlights from a binder of victim impact statements were read in court by Crown counsel Jonas Dow, who has recommended a four to four-and-a-half year sentence and 10year driving prohibition for Ali. “Now, you walk into our house, there is sadness. You can feel it in every room. When they took her, they took part of our house.

They left us incomplete,” read Dow on behalf of Sheane’s sister, Ally Sheane, who lives overseas.

“It brought a lot of anxiety coming here today and our family wants this over. We need to heal and we need to get through this,” said another sister, Jenny Berger, outside the courthouse.

“It’s hard when it has been over eight months, and we’re still dealing with ripping off the band-aid each time this stuff keeps arising.

We just want it over.”

The night of the crash, Sheane was driving home from her job at Joe Fortes restaurant in Vancouver.

She had called her parents to say she was on her way.

When she didn’t arrive on time, her father and her boyfriend went out to retrace her route and stumbled upon the accident scene only five minutes from the family’s home.

Ali sat in the prisoner’s box in red prisonissue sweats and at one point asked his lawyer for a box of tissues.

Court was told the 26-year-old is the son of Kurdish parents who fled northern Iraq and evenutally arrived in Canada from Turkey in 1992.

His criminal record lists 20 convictions since 2007 on a range of charges including drugs, firearms, assault, break-and-enter and robbery.

At the time of the crash, Ali was on parole, in breach of a driving ban and in breach of a curfew.

14

LOCAL

Saturday, December 03, 2016

Kamloops woman who killed baby before writing university exam given probation

A mother who drowned her newborn son in a sink before leaving her home to write a university exam will not spend time behind bars, though a judge described her actions as “abhorrent.”

Courtney Saul was sentenced to two years’ probation in provincial court in Kamloops, B.C. Saul was a student at Thompson Rivers University when her baby, George Carlos, was born on Dec. 15, 2011.

Court heard Saul gave birth alone in the bathroom of a basement suite where she was living.

“She held the baby for some time, but she had an exam that day,” Crown lawyer Will Burrows said.

“Because she had the exam, she didn’t know what to do. She finally decided she should drown the baby. She did that in the sink and then she went to her exam.”

Afterwards, Saul wrapped the baby’s body in a T-shirt and a shower curtain and placed it in an empty computer box. She put the box inside a backpack, which she placed in the trunk of her car.

Saul would later tell investigators she hoped

Fentanyl shipment from China to Victoria intercepted by police, customs

to bury the baby in her hometown of Lillooet.

The body was discovered three weeks later, when she loaned her car to an acquaintance, who was involved in a collision.

Firefighters opened the trunk to cut power as a safety precaution. A police officer noticed a backpack in the trunk and opened it, revealing a computer box with an odd bulge.

He opened the box and found the baby’s body.

Saul was later arrested.

While in custody, police recorded a conversation she had with her mother.

“During her meeting with her mom, Ms. Saul admits she’d had the baby,” Burrows said. “She said she didn’t know she was pregnant until very late in the pregnancy.”

Saul confessed to police and was charged with infanticide. Court heard the charge was stayed a short time later and, in 2015, Saul was charged with second-degree murder.

In August, following a decision from the Supreme Court of Canada earlier this year, Saul’s charges were downgraded back to infanticide.

BC panel releases domestic violence report The B.C. Coroners Service says 100 people were killed in domestic violence between 2010 and 2015 – and that is just a fraction of the tens of thousands of women and children affected in this province each year. The Coroners Service released a report on Wednesday into deaths caused by intimate-partner violence. It shared the stories of three women who were killed – one who had denied she was being assaulted, another who had sought help from an advocacy group and a third whose ministry file had been closed.

The report, which stemmed from a panel held with domestic-violence experts in June, said few victims disclose violence by their intimate partners, and those who do may

encounter people who do not understand the risk or how to help. The report made three recommendations. First, it called for increased awareness of intimate-partner violence and how to respond to it – including enhanced provincial messaging campaigns, more education for service providers on how to identify risk factors, and the development of strategies to improve reporting rates to police.

“It’s not simply a matter of raising awareness in general, but really getting more targeted and helping people understand the seriousness of the risk and how to actually respond to somebody if they are disclosing [violence] to you,” Michael Egilson, chair of the death-review panel that prepared the report, said in an interview.

Victoria police and border officials have intercepted a shipment of 1.45 kilograms of fentanyl bound for Victoria from China, but there are concerns the drug bust only accounts for a small amount of the deadly opioid on B.C. streets.

The Canada Border Services Agency intercepted the large shipment of fentanyl in mid-October, Victoria Police said.

The package was destined for a Victoria address, but the investigation then led to a home in nearby Saanich, B.C., where more drugs were found — including cocaine, crack cocaine, methamphetamine and 6,052 individual doses of a heroin/ fentanyl mixture.

“I can say almost to a certainty that no two amounts of fentanyl will be the same in all 6,000 doses and that is of course what makes it incredibly dangerous,” said Staff Sgt. Conor King with the Victoria Police.

Officers estimate the fentanyl shipment that was intercepted was worth about $400,000 on the street. But all of the drugs involved in the bust had a combined total value of $1.2

million.

Investigators believe the entire cache of drugs was destined for distribution in Greater Victoria communities.

“There was enough fentanyl in this shipment to cause 725,000 possible overdoses,” said acting Victoria Police Chief Del Manak. But it’s not clear how much the large drug bust will disrupt the supply of fentanyl in the capital.

“I can say in the City of Victoria, unfortunately, this kind of operation is far too common. This group of individuals was not on our radar necessarily,” said King.

Duc Khoung Pham, 27, from Montreal faces drug trafficking charges in connection with the seizure. More charges are expected as the investigation continues, police said.

Surrey council could expand crime prevention program Surrey city council is debating whether a crime reduction program that has been successful in Newton can help address some of the problems plaguing other parts of the city.

For the last 11 months, a team of uniformed community patrol officers has been walking the beat through high crime areas near King George Blvd. and 72 Avenue.

“They are a beat patrol and they go around and ensure that there is a safe perception in the area,” said Newton Business Improvement Association executive director Philip Aguirre.

“They’ll deal with the homeless and shoplifting but they’ll also do outreach and

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look for services for people who are vulnerable in our community.”

Funding dries up in January for the Newton Community Patrol Program but it’s widely expected council will extend it for at least another year.

“It seems to have had a positive impact on the Newton Town Centre in terms of people’s feeling of personal safety, particularly around places like the Newton Bus Loop.”

Hayne said council is also considering expanding it to other neighbourhoods.

“Simon Fraser University, for instance, has been in discussions with us as they look at expansion in the city centre area,” Hayne said.

“We have to look at the public safety budget and where the greatest needs are and right now we have an incredible need around the 135A Street strip with homeless folks there.”

Hayne said council does not plan to pull resources away from Newton if the program expands.

The latest crime statistics from the Surrey RCMP show a dramatic fall in break-ins at Newton businesses — but there has been a spike in residential break and enter cases.

“They’re saying things are better in Newton and we have certainly seen some improvements in the Newton Town Centre but statistics are telling us we may have pushed the problem into our external neighbourhoods,” said Newton Community Association spokesperson Douglas Elford.

The Surrey RCMP has launched a number of initiatives over the last year focused on making Newton safer.

They are targeting prolific offenders, doing outreach work and community response units have made several arrests.

LOCAL

Saturday, December 03, 2016

BC man who said he lost winning lottery ticket has no claim to $50M jackpot, judge rules The B.C. Supreme Court has dismissed the claims of a Maple Ridge man to a $50-million lottery jackpot.

George Wilson-Tagoe, 64, argued that through theft and fraud the B.C. Lottery Corp. had deprived him of the prize money from the winning Lotto Max ticket on March 14, 2014.

The retired accountant and father of two alleged that he had selected the numbers for himself for the winning ticket, but that he had lost his ticket.

He said he remembered the numbers because he played the same numbers every week. After a 21-month delay, BCLC in December awarded the $50 million to a publicity-shy Langley family.

In rejecting Wilson-Tagoe’s claim to the lottery bonanza, B.C. Supreme Court Justice Kenneth Affleck noted that the winning ticket was selected from what is known as a quick pick, with potential winning numbers being picked by a computer, rather than through the self-selected numbers of the plaintiff.

“I have no evidence on this application which would allow me to reject as insufficient the careful scrutiny the defendant corporation used to determine the winning ticket,” the judge said in his reasons for judgment. “The undisputed fact that Mr. Wilson-Tagoe

BC Liberal MPs unhappy after Trudeau green-lights Trans Mountain pipeline

purchased a ticket after self-selecting the numbers he wanted, whereas the winning ticket was a quick pick, in my view is dispositive of this application.”

“Those words are appropriate for the matter before me,” said Affleck.

The ruling was posted at the court’s website Monday, but was given out orally Sept. 27.

Reached for comment Tuesday, Wilson-Tagoe said that he would be appealing Affleck’s ruling, claiming that the court hadn’t looked at his evidence. Wilson-Tagoe, a self-represented litigant, said the judge wouldn’t let him address the court at one point. “The lawyer for BCLC kept hogging the lectern. When I tried to point out an error that they were talking about, the judge shut me down. It was the weirdest thing.” \Wilson-Tagoe said that his main grounds of appeal will focus on his claim that when he phoned BCLC initially, an investigator told him that the winning ticket was not a quick pick. “Now they are saying it’s a quick pick, so basically they are changing their story to fit a narrative.”

Wilson-Tagoe has filed an appeal of Affleck’s ruling at the B.C. Court of Appeal. No date has been set for the appeal.

Woman suffers minor injuries in parcel bomb explosion A woman in Penticton, B.C., has suffered minor injuries after trying to open what appeared to be a Christmas package left on her property.

Dorothy Czerniak says she found a small parcel in holiday wrapping paper at the foot of her driveway Wednesday morning.

She says she brought the package inside

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and was trying to open it with a knife when it exploded.

The blast singed Czerniak’s face and caused a small fire.

Czerniak’s son called 911 and a section of their mobile home park was put on lockdown.

Penticton RCMP have not released any information about the investigation.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said building Kinder Morgan’s Trans Mountain pipeline is in the national interest, but B.C. Liberal MPs were feeling less sure Wednesday that the leader’s decision was in theirs, conceding it could hurt them at the ballot box in the next election.

“Cabinet made a decision, they weighed out the pros and the cons, and they came up with a decision. I’m not happy with the decision,” veteran Vancouver Centre MP Hedy Fry told reporters. “Absolutely it is something that people in my riding feel strongly about, and it will cause me problems. There’s no such thing as a safe politician.”

Fry said most people living in her urban riding are opposed to the 1,150-kilometre pipeline, which will move a mix of 890,000

barrels of oil products a day from Edmonton to a terminal in Burnaby, B.C., for export to markets in Asia.

She said she will now turn her attention to ensuring the U.S.-based proponent, Kinder Morgan, meets the 157 conditions the NEB imposed on the project in April.

“You don’t win every thing in politics, you’ve got to accept decisions that are made. But I think our PM is sensitive to B.C. issues, he’s a B.C. boy, he grew up there.” The Liberals won 15 seats in the greater Vancouver area in the last election, up from the two they held after the disastrous 2011 campaign. Polls suggest Canadians are split on whether they approve of further pipeline construction, but support is generally lower in B.C., according to an analysis.

Hundreds may lose Canadian citizenship, resident status because of one corrupt immigration consultant When B.C. immigration consultant Xun “Sunny” Wang was convicted last fall of a massive fraud scheme, a gargantuan task still lay ahead for border and immigration officials — sort through his client list of 1,600 people to determine if they should be penalized. This week, the Canada Border Services Agency provided an update on what it described as the “single largest investigation of immigration fraud” in the province’s history: Officers have detected misrepresentation in about 320 cases and have referred them to immigration authorities who have the power to revoke citizenship or permanent resident status, and more than 500 cases are still being investigated. An additional 136 individuals

have voluntarily given up their permanent resident status.

Some of Wang’s clients, however, are girding for a fight. The Immigration and Refugee Board has so far issued exclusion orders against 43 permanent residents, effectively banning them from Canada for five years, but many are appealing on humanitarian and compassionate grounds, insisting they had no knowledge of Wang’s deception and were victims themselves.

Officials with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada were not able to say if they had revoked the citizenship of any of Wang’s clients because they do not track the outcomes of cases related to a large-scale investigation.

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LOCAL

Saturday, December 03, 2016

BC forecasts larger-than-expected budget surplus B.C. is forecasting a larger-than-expected budget surplus on strong growth in revenues.

When it was tabled in February, Budget 2016 originally called for a surplus of $264 million, but stronger than expected revenues has pushed that number to $2.24 billion, according to the province.

“The bottom line on the bottom line is that we continue to see the benefits of Canada’s strongest and fastest growing economy,” said B.C. Finance Minister Mike de Jong on Tuesday.

The biggest revenue increase was from personal income tax which brought in $232 million more this quarter than expected.

Property Transfer Tax revenue forecasts are down this quarter by $204 million based on a slight cooling of Metro Vancouver’s housing market.

The province also released updated foreign housing data on Tuesday. In October, foreign purchases were involved in three per cent of Metro Vancouver’s residential real estate transactions, up from 1.8 per cent in September.

Transactions involving foreign nationals in the rest of the province totaled $129 million.

Since the 15 per cent foreign homebuyers tax came into effect on August 2, B.C. has collected $36 million in revenues.

In the Capital Regional District, where the additional property transfer tax does not apply, 10.3 per cent of the value of all

transactions were from foreign buyers.

The province says it is keeping a close eye on the situation.

“The trend line in Victoria seems to be upward, not dramatically yet, but we are watching it very closely. You will recall that we structured the tax in a way that would allow, if we make the decision, for a geographic area to be captured by the 15 per cent tax and that could be done by regulation,” said de Jong.

The province’s bottom line could also be impacted by the recent Supreme Court of Canada decision on class size and composition in B.C. schools. The B.C. Teacher’s Federation has estimated that restoring classrooms to 2002 levels would cost the province between $250 and $300 million a year.

“I expect there is going to be an infusion of additional dollars,” said de Jong. “What I am not going to do is to unilaterally and presumptively declare how much we think that is going to be.”

De Jong is also raising concerns about the future of federal health care funding. B.C. is expected to receive an estimated $142 million less from the federal government in health care transfers in 2017/18.

The provincial premiers are scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in December to discuss changes to the health care transfer. B.C. will raise its concerns about the reduction in funding at the meeting.

Burned body found in North Vancouver a homicide A body found in a shelter located along Lynn Creek in North Vancouver Monday was the victim of a homicide, investigators say.

In a written statement, the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team also said the body had been burned.

“The victim has yet to be identified, and there remains many unanswered questions,” said Cpl. Meghan Foster.

“Once the identity is known, our priority will be to notify and support the family and

attempt to piece together the events leading up to this tragic death.”

The shelter is in a heavily wooded area along the Bridgeman North Trail near Keith Road.

IHIT is asking anyone who was in the area of the shelter where the body was found over the weekend to give them a call.

Police could not say whether the homicide took place at the shelter or whether the body was moved there.

Senators seek guidance for top court ruling on trial deadlines The Senate legal and constitutional affairs committee wants Canada’s top court to clarify its controversial ruling that set deadlines for trials for accused criminals.

At least two murder cases have already been thrown out as a result of the Supreme Court of Canada’s R. v Jordan decision, and the number of requests for stays of proceedings has spiked across the country.

Mass confusion could lead to miscarriages of justice and erosion of public trust in the criminal justice system, committee members warn.

The R. v. Jordan ruling imposes a deadline of 18 months for provincial court cases, or 30 months in a Superior court, to uphold an accused person’s Charter right to a trial without unreasonable delays.

But the Senate committee, which has been carrying out a sweeping study on delays in Canada’s clogged criminal justice system, says there must be a transition period so that cases already before the courts aren’t thrown out en masse.

“This could lead to a very dire situation like we saw in Ottawa when an accused murder [case] had to be released; the charge was stayed on the basis of [R. v.] Jordan,” said Independent Liberal Senator Serge Joyal.

“There is a need to determine the

implications of the transition period, and that’s what I think the attorney general could seek from the court — some guidance that would help protect the integrity of the criminal justice system for the average Canadian.”

In the case Joyal referred to a murder trial was halted after the judge said legal proceedings had lasted nearly four years. The province is appealing that ruling.

That case came on the heels of an Alberta case where the judge tossed a first-degree murder charge for excessive delay. Legal proceedings had taken five years from the time the accused was charged and were still not complete.

The Senate committee wants Justice Minister and Attorney General of Canada Jody Wilson-Raybould to get guidance on how the new constitutional time limits should be applied. Joyal said the ruling will require “major adjustments” to the legal system that can’t take place overnight.

Anthony Moustacalis, president of the Criminal Lawyers’ Association, said it’s not the fault of the court but, rather, a chronic problem of a backlogged, underfunded system that is now being belatedly addressed.

“People have to remember it’s a very important right to have your trial heard within a reasonable time,” he said.

Vancouver opens new temporary winter shelter ahead of forecasted cold snap A new temporary winter shelter opens its doors today in downtown Vancouver, just days away from the forecasted bout of chilly winter weather.

The 40-bed facility, located at 1401 Hornby St., will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, until the end of April 2017.

In addition to providing bathrooms and

showers, the “low-barrier” facility will accept couples and pets — and provides locked storage space for personal belongings.

The facility is operated by RainCity Housing, in partnership with BC Housing and the City of Vancouver.

Sean Spear, associate director of RainCity, said the goal is to connect clients with longterm housing solutions.

“We want to have as much turnover as possible, to get people into more permanent and stable housing,” Spear said.

Spear said some people avoid traditional shelters for fear of being separated from a pet or loved one, or because they can’t bring their personal belongings. He said barrierfree shelters like the new Hornby Street facility allay those concerns for people.

“They’re able to get rest, and they’re able to receive services throughout the day with some of our clinical partners,” Spear said in his experience, the presence of pets at similar shelters has not posed a problem.

Spear said while open drug use is not permitted, clients are not searched for drugs, and being under the influence is not cause for people to be turned away from the shelter. He said staff are trained to intervene in overdose situations, including with the use of naloxone.

The City of Vancouver has operated its temporary winter shelter program since 2009, opening additional shelter spaces during the winter months. With the new facility, the program now provides 195 beds between the months of December and April.

Saturday, December 03, 2016

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LOCAL

Saturday, December 03, 2016

Vancouver tent city dismantled again

7 arrested after homeless move from Hastings About 15 people were evicted Friday morning from Thornton Park after setting up tents and a makeshift kitchen the night before.

The campers headed to the park, which adjoins Vancouver’s Pacific Station train and bus terminal, after a court order came into effect ordering them off city-owned property at 58 W. Hastings St., where a tent camp had stood for more than four months.

Just before 10 a.m. Friday, police and parks staff served the Thornton campers with printed notices that they were in violation of a bylaw prohibiting the setting up of tents and other structures without permission.

Within half an hour, the clean-up began.

Parks staff cleaned away tents, wooden pallets, several shopping carts and other articles while police handcuffed and arrested those who refused to leave. Among those arrested was housing activist Maria Wallstam, who had earlier sent out a press release announcing the tent city move.

Police said four women and two men were arrested for breach of the peace, and one man was arrested for obstruction and

resisting arrest.

It was unclear where the remaining campers would go next.

“I’m going to go with the herd,” said camper A.C. Morris, adding he had spent the previous four months at the camp on Hastings.

“It’s not a bug-infested SRO,” Morris said of the camping life. “We all watch out for each other.

We had a kitchen, we had water, coffee.”

Morris said a friend in the tent next to his was among those arrested when he refused to let park staff take down his tent.

“As long as we stick together, it’ll be harder and harder each day for them to get rid of us.

Even if people close their eyes and turn their heads, that doesn’t mean we don’t exist.”

More than a dozen Vancouver police officers and a similar number of parks staff were involved in the clean-up.

Caitlin Shane, a law student with the Pivot Legal Society, said she accompanied the campers from Hastings to Thornton. She said the group decided among themselves to head to Thornton.

“There are not a lot places for people to go,” Shane said. “It was important that it be centrally located, so people would have access to outreach workers, to resources.”

She said the choice of Thornton Park, the first thing city visitors see when they exit the nearby bus and train station, wasn’t meant to be provocative.

Alberta senior wins $50M jackpot and says ‘I’m thinking of buying a new SUV’ Lois Olsen of Irma, Alta. has her sights on a new ride after winning a $50-million Lotto Max jackpot earlier this month.

Olsen, who won the Nov. 11 Lotto Max draw, picked up her cheque on Wednesday afternoon in St. Albert. The long-time Irma resident said her first order of business is to help out her family.

“I have my kids, my grandkids, my greatgrandkids,” she said. “It will help my entire family.”

After that, she’s got a few other ideas in mind.

“I’m thinking of buying a new SUV, and I’m hoping to do some travelling,” Olsen said. “I used to travel a lot, and I’d like to do a little more now.”

Olsen bought her gamewinning ticket at the Irma Co-op. She realized she won the jackpot one day after the draw.

“I took my ticket to the store and scanned it,” she said. “I was speechless!”

Lady luck has been on Albertans’ side recently. Olsen was one of three Alberta residents to pick up big lottery wins over a two-day period.

A Coaldale man won $1.2 million on the same Lotto Max draw as Olsen. Robert Miller said he had to scan his ticket a few times to make sure he actually won.

“I left the store, but I couldn’t believe it,” he said. “I took the ticket back inside and checked it again – it was still a winner!”

Miller said he’s use the money to travel, set up education funds for his grandchildren and replace his wife’s vehicle.

“My retirement is certainly looking good,” he added. “I’m very happy!”

Edmonton resident Suryanarayana Bora also recently became a millionaire, winning $7 million in the Daily Grand lottery.

Bora won the Daily Grand’s $1,000-a-day for life jackpot on Nov. 10. He chose to take the prize in a one-time payment of $7

million.

The first thing he’ll do with the money is pay off the mortgage on his home and pay a few other bills.

“My wife and I have worked hard all our lives and made sacrifices for our family. But we’ve haven’t had much extra,” Bora said.

“I’m just so happy to know that I will be able to take care of my family – now and in the years to come.”

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Foreign property purchases in BC back to average About three per cent of residential real estate transactions last month in Metro Vancouver involved foreign buyers, a decline of more than 10 percentage points since the B.C. government intervened with a new tax.

The provincial government brought in the 15-per-cent tax in August as a tool to cool the overheated residential housing market in Metro Vancouver.

B.C. Finance Minister Mike de Jong said Tuesday that the government is downgrading its financial expectations from the tax.

The government had forecast the tax would bring in $165 million for the fiscal year, but the that’s been revised to $50 million, he said.

“I’m not particularly surprised by the trajectory of what’s happened,” de Jong said.

“In the immediate aftermath we see investment

drop off pretty dramatically. It’s starting to come back … so there are still transactions taking place involving foreign purchasers and they’re paying the additional tax.”

Provincial government figures show the rate of those purchases was up in October from September, when foreign investment stood at 1.8 per cent in the Vancouver area.

“There is a period of distortion in the market any time a tax is introduced and changed. Many transactions that would have occurred in the months following the introduction of the tax were moved to July to avoid the tax,” the government said in a news release.

“As time goes on and the market readjusts, trends say the rate and volume of foreign demand will normalize to levels we can expect to continue.”

The statistics show 140 properties worth $115 million involving foreign buyers were transferred in Metro Vancouver in October.

There are still pockets in Metro Vancouver where foreign purchases are higher, including Richmond where 6.7 per cent of all residential transactions were sold to foreigners.

The tax doesn’t apply in the Victoria area and it saw more foreign buyers in October at 6.3 per cent of all purchases.

Senators divided on question of whether they should be part of political parties As a modernization committee debates the future of the Senate with no conclusion in sight, the leader of the Senate Liberals argued Wednesday that senators shouldn’t be discouraged from banding together along partisan lines.

“We are being encouraged to transform the Senate by eliminating the usual features of the Westminster parliamentary model,” said Sen. Joseph Day, who leads a group of senators that aligns itself with the Liberal Party but does not represent the government or sit with Liberal MPs in a caucus.

Freedom of assembly is a Charter right, Day said, and should prevent any attempts to reform the Senate in a way that forbids partisan organization. And if the government has a representative in the chamber to present its legislation — Sen. Peter Harder, swornin in March — then Day argued the official opposition should be represented officially as well. Not everyone agrees with that idea.

Some, including Harder, are aiming for a

Senate with no political party caucuses, made up of independents.

But as the committee met Wednesday, Day argued Harder’s motives seem unclear.

“He is speaking on behalf of the government and encouraging us to model ourselves in the image the government is creating for us,” Day said. “If we agree to go down that road, whose interests will we be serving?”

He argued the vision articulated by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau when he was in opposition could in fact make it harder for the Senate to act as a check on power because senators may not be organized enough to present arguments against a bill.

But Day doesn’t want to see the Senate infected by the hyper-partisanship of the House of Commons either, and argued that Conservative senators should sever their caucus ties with their Commons counterparts.

The committee is meeting during a time of upheaval in the Senate.

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‘More specifics’ on electoral reform needed before planning for referendum: chief electoral officer Canada’s outgoing chief electoral officer says Elections Canada doesn’t have enough specifics about the government’s proposed electoral reform to say whether it can organize a referendum on it and make the necessary changes to the voting system in time for the 2019 federal election.

“We can hardly start to prepare seriously without knowing if and how the referendum act would need to be amended,” Marc Mayrand told in an interview airing Saturday on The House.

On Thursday, the special committee of MPs studying electoral reform recommended the government hold a referendum asking Canadians whether they want to stick with the current first-past-thepost system or move to a new proportional voting system.

Mayrand, who steps down Dec. 28, has already said new legislation enacting reform would need to be in place at least 24 months ahead of the next election and that his office would need an additional six months to put together an official referendum.

“There has to be more specifics as to what people will be voting on,” he said. “My sense is that we still don’t know what alternative system exactly will be proposed, except that

it would be a mixed member representation.”

Minister of Democratic Institutions Maryam Monsef reiterated on Thursday that her government is striving to introduce new legislation in the House of Commons this spring.

Complicating matters is the discord between the political parties and committee members.

The Liberal members of the electoral reform committee did not support the recommendation for a referendum, casting doubt on whether Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government would be able to fulfil its campaign promise of electoral reform in time for the 2019 election.

“I have to admit I’m a little disappointed, because what we had hoped the committee would provide us with would be a specific alternative system to first past the post.

Instead, they’ve provided us with the Gallagher Index,” Monsef said, referring to a complicated formula for allocating seats in a legislature.

Another issue is the worry that Canadians won’t turn up to vote in a referendum. A recent plebiscite on Prince Edward Island on electoral reform only saw 36 per cent of voters cast a vote.

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Saturday, December 03, 2016

Trudeau’s BC Senate appointee a Beijing apologist B.C.’s newest member of the Senate has been accused by the Conservatives of being an “apologist” for Beijing’s “unacceptable” behaviour in asserting territorial claims in the South China Sea. The Tories were responding to the maiden speech Friday by Yuen Pau Woo, the former head of the Vancouver-based Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, who was appointed to the Senate last month by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Woo argued against a Senate motion that was critical of China’s “escalating and hostile behaviour” in constructing artificial islands and military airfields on outcroppings in order to assert its claimed sovereignty over resource-rich and strategically-vital areas.

Woo called the motion’s wording “strident,” and suggested that Trudeau’s representative in the Senate, Peter Harder, was only supporting it for political reasons.

Woo didn’t defend China’s territorial claims, which were shot down in July in a unanimous ruling by an international tribunal in The Hague that Beijing refuses to respect.

Instead, Woo argued against the wisdom of wagging a judgmental finger at China. He said the provocative motion could worsen a tense situation involving what some analysts believe is one of the most dangerous geopolitical

disputes in the world.

“A dogmatic and trenchant insistence on international law could … be the very precipitant of conflict,” Woo cautioned fellow senators.

That was too much for the federal Conservatives, who have for most of the week had been blasting Trudeau for getting too close to China’s Communist regime.

“Canadians should be rightfully concerned that Justin Trudeau has appointed an apologist for the Chinese dictatorship in the Senate,” said Tory MP Peter Kent in a statement that accused China of engaging in “unacceptable” behaviour in the region.

“Woo … used his very first speech in the Senate to deliver a message not on behalf of Canadians, but on behalf of Beijing.

“It seems every week we hear new evidence of the cosy relationship the Liberal government has with the Chinese Communist dictatorship.

Now Liberals are using the Senate as a platform to undermine our allies and the foundation of international law.” Woo, who was sworn in on Tuesday, said it would have been a “betrayal of my summons” given that he was named by Trudeau because “I am alleged to have some knowledge about international affairs and in particular about contemporary Asia and the Canada-Asia relationship.”

Terrorist’s death justified, police report concludes, but the taxi driver who picked him up doesn’t agree Police are expected to release new details Wednesday in the investigation of the shooting death of Aaron Driver.

Strathroy-Caradoc police confirmed Tuesday they would likely issue a news release about the investigation Wednesday on behalf of the service, OPP and RCMP but wouldn’t comment on what it would say.

But Terry Duffield, who was in the front seat of a taxi when officers shot Driver, 24, after he set off one of two explosive devices he planned to use in a terror attack, said he was told Tuesday the investigation has concluded police were justified in shooting Driver.

Duffield — who has been off work since the incident — said he received a call from Strathroy-Caradoc police Chief Laurie Hayman on Tuesday.

“She said they wanted me to know first. They said it was justified that Aaron Driver was shot. I don’t see how. They could’ve (used a Taser) and he would still be alive to answer questions,” he said.

“The guy set off a damn bomb in my back seat. He could’ve killed me — or a lot of people if it was the second bomb.”

Police shot Driver — a known ISIS

sympathizer — on Aug. 10, after being tipped off by the RCMP that he had made a martyrdom video vowing revenge against Canadians.

Before the takedown, officers surrounded Driver’s sister’s house in Strathroy, and watched as Duffield’s taxi pulled up and Driver got in the back seat. Driver told Duffield he wanted to go to Citi Plaza in London.

As police officers approached the taxi, there was a blast inside. Duffield scrambled out the front, suffering minor injuries.

At the time, police said Driver detonated an explosive device and then officers opened fire, killing him.

In the days after the incident that was front-page news in Canada, Duffield said he heard someone say “he’s still twitching” before gun shots.

“I don’t know how (the shooting) is justified. If I’m lying on one side of the car and hear somebody yell ‘he’s still twitching’ it means he’s not really mobile. Did you really have to shoot him?” he said.

Strathroy-Caradoc police were responsible for investigating Driver’s death, but asked the OPP to help.

CRA is cracking down on real estate tax dodgers in Canada’s red hot market Evidence of the ongoing crackdown by the tax authorities on Canada’s red hot residential real estate sector is everywhere, from recently updated statistics that show increased real estate audit activities, to new rules governing the sale and reporting of your principal residence and even some recent tax cases.

Earlier this year, the Canada Revenue Agency indicated that transactions in the Greater Toronto Area have been the subject of greater scrutiny, including audits, for some years and that, more recently, the CRA has been actively monitoring and auditing real estate transactions in British Columbia.

The CRA is focused on a number of areas of compliance risk in the real estate sector, which include: questionable sources of funds, property flipping, unreported GST/ HST on the sale of new or substantially

renovated properties, the new housing rebate and unreported capital gains.

Since April 2015 to the end of September 2016, the CRA indicated that in Ontario it has completed the audit of 13,403 files resulting in a recovery of $210.4 million.

In B.C., during the same period, the CRA audited 2,366 files, resulting in $30.3 million in recovered tax. The CRA also charges a penalty equal to 50 per cent of the additional tax payable if a taxpayer knowingly makes a false statement when filing a return. During this period of increased audit activity, the CRA applied 663 penalties, totaling $12.5 million, with the highest single penalty being nearly $2.5 million.

“It is hard to imagine how the presence of someone living in the house could not be apparent to prospective buyers looking at a brand new never-lived-in home

Saturday, December 03, 2016

Auditor General rips federal gov’t over treatment of First Nations, aging technology Canada’s federal spending watchdog has delivered a blunt and blistering critique of government bureaucracies, urging Parliament to learn from past mistakes and act quickly to catch up with the rapid pace of technology.

Auditor General Michael Ferguson tabled a series of seven reports today that found alarming gaps in government programs, from motor vehicle safety oversight that could put lives at risk to a chronically failed First Nations claims process he condemned as “beyond unacceptable.”

In an unusual prepared “message” delivered with his fall report, he implored the relatively new Parliament to adopt a radically new approach to governing to improve and speed up services for Canadians.

“It is critical for government departments to understand that their services need to be built around citizens, not process — or they can expect that those services will be disrupted,” he said.

Over the past five years, Ferguson has presided over more than 100 audits and special examinations, but he lamented they have led to little action or real change.

He also sounded the alarm about the government’s failure to keep abreast with fast-changing technology.

“In an age of instant communications, Canadians expect quick results, while

governments are often stuck using old, slow approaches that fail to meet expectations,” he said.

Ferguson’s review of Transport Canada’s passenger vehicle safety oversight regime found the department did not maintain an up-to-date regulatory framework that responded to emerging safety risks and technological issues.

That meant failing to ensure Canadian-driven cars, SUVs, minivans and pickup trucks had the highest possible safety features and technologies, the audit found. “While the department’s oversight of vehicle safety defects and recalls was adequate, Transport Canada knew little about the critical safety issues that manufacturers were investigating in their vehicles,” the report warns.

“This limited the department’s ability to identify safety defects early and to influence manufacturers’ recalls.”

A running theme of a lack of performance measures and adequate oversight continued through Ferguson’s review of the Beyond the Border Action Plan, a multi-pronged agreement first signed by Canada and the U.S. in 2011.

The audit found that various departments leaped on board to carry out 34 initiatives of the “ambitious undertaking,” but there were few measurements in place to actually determine if they are working as planned to strengthen border security and speed up travel and trade.

Former NDP MP calls out Sajjan on decision not to call Afghan detainee inquiry A former New Democrat MP is calling on the conflict of interest commissioner to investigate Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan.

Craig Scott, who represented the TorontoDanforth riding until October 2015, is challenging Mary Dawson to look into the minister’s refusal to call an inquiry into the handling of suspected Taliban prisoners during the Afghan war.

While in opposition, the Liberals promised to conduct a full investigation into the former Conservative government’s policy of allowing the army to hand over detainees to Afghan authorities, particularly the intelligence service in that country, which was accused of practising torture.

Scott called on the government to live up to its word last spring using an e-petition, an appeal Sajjan rejected.

Prior to running for office in 2015, the defence minister was a reserve force lieutenant-colonel who had done three tours of Afghanistan, acting as a liaison with local Kandahar authorities, an intelligence officer and finally as an adviser to the U.S. commander overseeing NATO’s southern command in the war-torn country.

Sajjan should not have been the one deciding whether to hold an inquiry into the detainee controversy, Scott said in a letter to

the conflict commissioner.

“It is my sincere and considered belief that minister Sajjan is very likely in possession of information dating back to his time when he was in the Canadian Armed Forces that would almost certainly be of great relevance to any commission of inquiry,” he wrote. “This places him in a conflict of interest because of his personal interest.”

A spokeswoman for the commissioner acknowledged the complaint has been received, but no decision has been made on a fullfledged investigation.

During his time in Kandahar, Sajjan had contact with many of the local officials — the governor and the head of the intelligence service — who have been accused of directing, and even participating in, the torture of suspected Taliban fighters.

Scott, who is also an international law professor, argued the minister has a vested interest in protecting the institution of the military, but also underlined that he is not accusing Sajjan of any involvement in the transfer of prisoners to possible torture.

Under international law, it is considered a war crime if one country hands over prisoners knowing that they will be abused.

The complaint about Sajjan is strictly limited to his refusal to call an inquiry, Scott said.

NATIONAL

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national

Saturday, December 03, 2016

Former Burnaby MLA John Nuraney remembered as a ‘gentleman’ and community leader Former B.C. MLA John Nuraney is being remembered as a “gentleman” with a legacy of compassion.

Nuraney, who held the riding of BurnabyWillingdon for the B.C. Liberals from 2001 to 2009, died early Monday at age 79.

“When I think of John Nuraney, one word comes to mind: gentleman,” said B.C. Premier Christy Clark in a statement.

The premier’s statement remembers Nuraney as a respected leader in the Ismaili community, an entrepreneur and a philanthropist.

Nuraney was born in Kenya, and immigrated to Canada from Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo) in 1974, after his business and assets were seized by the Zairian government.

“British Columbia was lucky he chose us,” said Clark, who called Nuraney a “mentor and friend.”

“John arrived here with nothing, but you can’t keep a man of his talent down.”

His “legacy of compassion” will continue through his wife, Gulshan, three children and grandchildren, the premier wrote.

‘Words that I deeply regret’: Maryam Monsef apologizes for accusations against MPs Minister of Democratic Institutions Maryam Monsef has apologized to MPs she suggested Thursday were shirking their duties on electoral reform.

Standing in the House of Commons on Friday, Monsef said sorry for the behaviour her opposition critics denounced as “appalling” and “a disgrace.”

“Yesterday in this House, I used words that I deeply regret,” she said.

“And if you’ll allow me, I’d like to sincerely apologize to the members of this House, to Canadians and to the members of the special

all-party committee on electoral reform. In no way did I intend to imply that they didn’t work hard, that they didn’t put in the long hours, that they didn’t focus on the task at hand.

Mr. Speaker, I thank them for their work.”

On Thursday, the special committee of MPs studying electoral reform recommended holding a referendum to survey Canadians on whether they want to keep the current system or adopt a system of proportional representation. The committee did not specify the exact alternative model.

Need Workers, Pay ACCORDING TO Experience

Senators charge taxpayers for art, gifts, dining out and booze One senator billed taxpayers $5,700 to rent artwork.

Another charged $54 for a purchase made at the liquor store.

More than a dozen members of the Senate expensed meals adding up to thousands of dollars.

And the charges all appear to fall well within the Senate’s rules.

The spending details were published today in the Red Chamber’s latest quarterly financial report, which covers expenditures from July 1 to Sept. 30.

The document offers a closer look at how senators spend taxpayer dollars, as part of the Senate’s effort to become more transparent.

But one financial watchdog warns this isn’t going to help the institution’s reputation, which was badly damaged during the 2013 expense scandal.

“Taxpayers should be livid,” said Aaron Wudrick of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation.

“Many Canadians are struggling just to pay their bills — to see their tax dollars go towards expensive artwork rentals, or so that senators can wine and dine, is a slap in the face.”

The new disclosure process breaks down hospitality expense claims. Each charge is listed individually, including details such as the purpose, location, and even the number of guests who were present for the cost in question.

Conservative Senator Yonah Martin, who represents British Columbia, had the largest

hospitality tab at $1,564.14.

The claim includes a $395 bill from Parliament Hill Food Services, which was for a “community event” with 60 guests.

Martin also charged taxpayers more than $120 for two separate gift purchases at the Parliament Hill Boutique.

Conservative Senator Dennis Patterson has the second largest hospitality total at more than $1,300.

He spent nearly $450 on House of Commons Food Services, for a business meeting with about 50 people. Patterson’s charges also include smaller claims for purchases at Waters Edge Seafood and Steakhouse, Costco, and Sobeys. Liberal Senator Colin Kenny expensed $370 for six meals at Wilfrid’s restaurant, at the Fairmont Château Laurier Hotel in Ottawa.

Independent Senator Doug Black claimed more than $200 for meals at the Calgary Golf & Country Club, the Rideau Club and Earls Restaurant. Conservative whip Don Plett charged taxpayers for a purchase at the LCBO. According to the document, the $54 purchase was for a reception.

punjab

Saturday, December 03, 2016

Indian in US pleads guilty to planning terror attacks

A 42-year-old Indian who received asylum in the US has pleaded guilty to planning terror attacks in India by providing material support and resources to terrorists involved in the Khalistan movement.

Balwinder Singh, a resident of Nevada, pleaded guilty before US District Judge Larry Hicks to one count of conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists, knowing and intending that such support would be used to carry out terrorist attacks overseas, Acting Assistant Attorney General for National Security Mary McCord said on Tuesday. “Singh attempted to provide material

Congress promise: One job per family or Rs 2,500 allowance

support and resources to terrorists to create violence and disruption abroad,” McCord said.

“Identifying, thwarting and holding accountable individuals who pursue international terrorism is a top priority of the Department of Justice,” she said.

A citizen of India and permanent US resident, Singh went by the aliases of “Jhaji”, “Happy” and “Baljit Singh” and has been detained and charged since his arrest in December 2013. He faces the statutory maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and deportation following his release. His sentencing was set for February 27.

The Punjab Congress today promised one job per household to matric pass youths aged between 18 and 35 years.

Till such employment is provided, an unemployment allowance of Rs 2,500 per month would be given for up to 36 months.

The unemployment allowance would put a burden of Rs 2,500 crore annually, raising questions about the poll promise as the state is already reeling under a debt of Rs 1.38 lakh crore.

A similar promise made by the Akali Dal-BJP government to pay an allowance of Rs 1,000

Mintoo’s mother hoping for his early release “Whether I will be able to see him alive again?”

Harminder Singh Mintoo’s mother had asked when the news of his escape from Nabha jail flashed. The first thing she did was to call Jaspal Singh

23

His mother and elder brother Devinder Singh are in touch with him since his arrest in 2014. His wife and son are in Canada.

per month to the unemployed remained unfulfilled.

Denying that funds crunch could impact the fulfillment of his promises, Punjab Congress president Capt Amarinder Singh said the party was working on initiatives for revenue generation to ensure the fulfillment of promises.

The party claims that the funds of the unemployment allowance worked out to nearly 2 per cent of the Budget. The party has already promised 50 lakh free smartphones to youths at a cost of about Rs300400 crore.

PAKISTAN YATRA NOVEMBER 2016 Nankana Saheb

Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal appealed to the people to prepare for every sacrifice to protect the riverwaters of the state.

Addressing a function on the inauguration of a temple-cum-panorama complex at Ram Tirath Temple, Badal reiterated that Punjab didn’t have a drop to spare for the neighbouring states. He said any move to share the riverwaters would turn Punjab into a desert.

The Supreme Court ordered status quo on the disputed Satluj Yamuna Link (SYL) canal yesterday.

The state-of-the-art historical Sri Valmiki Tirath Sthal, has come up at a cost of Rs 200 crore. The CM said: “Those nations who tend to forget their cultural past and heritage were bound to be vanished with the passage of time.”

Earlier, Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal disclosed that those families in the state who had still not got gas connections could get one by filling forms in the offices of the DC and SDM offices of their respective districts.

Those present were state BJP chief Vijay Sampla Cabinet Ministers Bikram Singh Majithia, Gulzar Singh Ranike, Sohan Singh Thandal, Surjit Singh Rakhra, Daljeet Singh Cheema and Anil Joshi, Speaker Charanjeet Singh Atwal, MLA Bibi Jagir Kaur and Damdami Taksal chief Harnam Singh Khalsa.

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Manjhpur, Mintoo’s lawyer in Ludhiana.

The next day, when she learnt that he was arrested, she told Manjhpur that she felt relieved. “Now he will be safe,” she told him.

Mintoo along with five alleged gangsters had escaped from Nabha jail on Sunday morning.

When the police booked him in 2008 in different cases related to terrorist activities in Punjab, Mintoo, who was quite active among the Sikh community around Ponda in Goa, left his home.

“After that his mother was able to see him only in November 2014 when he was arrested from IGI Airport in Delhi,” said Manjhpur.

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Army rebuts Mamata’s charges, says exercise done with police coordination The Indian Army on Friday refuted Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s allegations that troops were deployed at toll plazas without the state government’s knowledge.

“This is being done in coordination with local police authorities. The exercise was earlier planned for November 27 and 28. The dates were changed to November 30 to December 2 on a specific request by Kolkata Police due to Bharat Bandh called on November 28,” said GOC Bengal area (officiating) Maj Gen Sunil Yadav. “We deny all charges with all contempt.”

Allegations of collection of money by Army personnel are also totally baseless.”

Maj Gen Yadav said the Indian Army’s

Eastern Command had conducted a similar exercise in November 2015 and that two inspectors of the Kolkata Police had surveyed the toll plaza on November 27. Banerjee had called the army deployment “unprecedented and a very serious matter”.

“The issues raised by the police were addressed and were telephonically informed to the police,” he said. “It is happening in nine states now across 80 locations… We have our specific targets for data collection. After doing the work for 36 hours our work was done and we had left the toll plaza near Nabanna. The exercise will continue as planned earlier and will end tonight.”

Army deployment in Bengal echoes in Parliament The row over Army taking over road toll plazas in West Bengal on Friday echoed in Parliament with TMC seeing “sinister” designs behind the move and the government vehemently denying the charge, saying it was a routine exercise conducted in full knowledge of the local authorities.

In Lok Sabha, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar termed it a “routine exercise not unique to West Bengal” saying that similar operations to collect information on heavy vehicle movement that could be used during national emergencies had last month being conducted in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand.

“It is shocking that a chief minister is saying this. The Army’s deployment was part of routine exercise which has been going on for several years. Even last year it was held on November 19 to 21,” Parrikar said.

The Minister said Army’s Eastern Command had been carrying out the exercise in West Bengal, Assam and other NorthEastern states and a similar exercise had

already been carried out in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand.

“Officials concerned were informed in West Bengal. The original date was fixed for November 28 to 30 but due to Bharat Bandh the local police had advised the army to shift it to December 1 and 2,” he said.

“Due to traffic congestion, the exercise is being done with the help of local police.”

Senior BJP Minister said important Bills were listed for passage next week and asked opposition parties to allow Parliament to function smoothly.

‘Released letters’ The Indian Army responded to the charges saying they written to the state government informing it about the exercise.

“It is happening in nine states now across 80 locations,” he said.

“We have our specific targets for data collection. After doing the work for 36 hours our work was done and we had left the toll plaza near Nabanna,” he said.

Notes ban to have long-term benefits; disruption temporary: Jaitley Conceding that demonetisation may create a disruption in short-term, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Friday said the impact on the economy may be seen “for a quarter or so” but relative advantages are going to be much more in the long run.

“When you switch over, it creates disruption. I don’t see disruption lasting too long. You may see the impact for a quarter or so. Then when you look at next 12-15 quarters, it’s certainly going to benefit,” he said at the HT Leadership Summit here.

Citing a few economic trends post demonetisation, the Minister said rabi sowing this season has been higher than last year, while auto sales were a mixed bag.

“Of course, you will have some disruption created because of the switchover, in the long run, advantages are going to be huge as far as the relative cost of disruption is concerned,” Jaitley said. He further said the Indian economy has been witnessing a high growth in the past two years and retained the tag of the fastest growing large economy in the world. This year too, India would probably

remain the fastest growing economy, the Finance Minister added.

On GST, Jaitley said, its implementation

cannot be delayed beyond September 17 next year due to constitutional compulsion.

“First of all, the Constitution does not permit a delay in GST implementation.

The notified GST on September 16 and the constitutional amendment itself says that the current indirect tax system can continue for one year, after which the GST has to come,” he said. “So, if on September 16, 2017, there is no GST, then there is no taxation in the country.

Police claim proof of Teesta Setalvad pocketing NGO funds Gujarat police has claimed before the Supreme Court that it has collected documentary evidence on social activist Teesta Setalvad and her husband “siphoning off ” Rs 3.85 crore for “personal use” from the Rs 9.75 crore donations+ received by their NGOs for the welfare of the 2002 riot victims.

In an 83-page affidavit, assistant commissioner of police Rahul B Patel detailed the non-cooperation by Setalvad, her husband Javed Anand and their trusts, Centre for Justice and Peace (CJP) and Sabrang, in providing documents needed to investigate complaints by riots victims at Gulbarg Society that the couple did not deliver as per promise

once the donations swelled.

After the Gujarat high court rejected the couple’s anticipatory bail plea, the SC had restrained police from arresting the two but asked them to furnish documents required by the police for investigation.

Apart from the SC, Setalvad and Anand had also moved the NHRC complaining that the Gujarat police had initiated the probe as a sinister campaign to harass and malign them.

Setalvad had taken the lead in highlighting the plight of 2002 riot victims and had convinced the SC to set up a special investigation team to probe nine gruesome incidents of rioting.

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Saturday, December 03, 2016

No limit on legitimate gold, jewellery Seeking to quell apprehensions based on rumours, the government today said there is no limit on legitimate holding of gold and jewellery, including from inheritance, and there would be no seizure of bullion up to a certain limit

even if that does not seem to match income. “There is no limit on holding of gold jewellery or ornaments, provided it is acquired from explained sources of income, including inheritance,” the Finance Ministry said.

As rumours of a government crackdown on gold holdings raged, the ministry first came out with a statement that the steeper up to 85 per cent tax in the new Taxation Laws Amendment Bill would not apply to legitimate gold holding, including those acquired through inheritance or agricultural income. However, with apprehensions continuing to persist, hours later it said there was no limit on gold holding from explained sources of income. The first statement said the amendment Bill would not apply to inherited gold and jewellery, besides items purchased through disclosed and agriculture income.

“Ornaments to the extent of 500 gm for married women, 250 gm for unmarried women and 100 gm for men will not be seized.

Bengal targeted as Mamata slammed note ban Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Friday that West Bengal was targeted by the Centre as Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee dared to slam the demonetisation.

“West Bengal is being targeted because Mamtadi dared to speak against demonetisation,” Kejriwal tweeted.

“Mamtadi, keep up the fight. Whole nation is with you,” the Aam Aadmi Party national convenor said expressing his support.

The Trinamool Congress chief had accused the central government of “deploying the army” along two highway toll plazas while keeping the state government “in the dark” on Thursday night.

Later, she said she would not leave the secretariat till the soldiers were withdrawn. In a dramatic turn of events, Banerjee stay put despite the withdrawal of soldiers from the toll gate till early Friday.

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati

on Friday dubbed the military deployment in West Bengal as a deliberate move by the Centre to humiliate Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

“This is not correct, our party strongly condemn the move. The Central government is trying to humiliate Mamata Banerjee as she has been raising her voice against demonetisation,” said Mayawati.

“This is unfair to the West Bengal Chief Minister. This step is a grave attack on the Constitution,” she added.

Raising the issue, Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad sought a clarification from the Centre and asked as to why the state’s rights are being impinged on.

“It seems out of the way. Army doesn’t collect toll? There is no law and order issue in West Bengal for the Army to be deployed? The centre must clarify it, in fact PM must clarify as to why state’s rights are being impinged on,” Azad said.

Congress never had a PM who was prisoner of his own image: Rahul

Chairing the Congress Parliamentary Party meeting here on Friday, vice-president Rahul Gandhi said the country had suffered tremendous damage as a result of the vanity and incompetence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Gandhi said the Congress had never given India a Prime Minister who was a prisoner of his own image.

“Prime Minister Modi is more interested in TRP politics. Congress has never given India a PM who was a prisoner of his or her own image. We never gave India a Prime Minister who bypassed the experience of those sitting in institutions. The country has suffered tremendous damage as a result of the vanity and incompetence of our Prime Minister. We have never given India a Prime Minister who has based his entire policy-making strategy on TRPs. We have never given a PM who was ready to inflict such tremendous suffering on people of India to protect his own persona,” he said. Gandhi said Modi would be judged by history as a man who gifted massive political space to anti-India forces by creating an opportunistic BJP-PDP political alliance.

“It is high time the government develops a coherent strategy. We were told that the idea behind strikes was to stop Pakistan from crossborder attacks. There have been 21 major attacks and hundreds of ceasefire violations since the strikes. Today, the same person who used to ridicule us sits silently while Kashmir burns,” he added. Gandhi, earlier in the day, chaired a parliamentary party meeting of his party’s members of Parliament in both Houses.

At the meeting, the Congress MPs are likely to chalk out strategies for the main opposition, which is going full throttle against the demonetisation policy of the Centre and also seeking to corner the ruling party in both Houses.

NRI

Saturday, December 03, 2016

Several Indian Americans are being considered for positions in the Trump administration as they all qualify on merit and ethnicity is not an issue, the highest ranking Indian-origin politician in the Republican party has said.

“I know of several Indian Americans in consideration for positions. I am not at liberty to mention their names, but there are many people under consideration for positions in a Trump administration,” Harmeet Dhillon, a member of the Republican National Committee, told PTI. President-elect Donald Trump has already created history by nominating Nikki Haley, Republican governor of South Carolina, for the Cabinet-level position of US Ambassador to the UN. If confirmed by the Senate, Haley would be the first Indian American to serve in the cabinet of a presidential administration.

Chandigarh-born Dhillon, who opened the second night of the Republican Convention in Cleveland in July by delivering a Sikh prayer, said unlike the Democrats, the Republican party recognises people based on merit and not ethnicity.

“The new administration is going to place people according to merit. I do not think they have any particular goal of placing Indian Americans versus other ethnic groups. I think they would be looking to put the best people in the position. I am sure in that process many qualified Indian Americans would become part of the administration,” she said.

San Francisco-based Dhillon, 47, an experienced lawyer of repute, said she would also be willing to consider a senior position in the administration.

Preet Bharara meets Trump, agrees to stay on as US attorney India-born Preet Bharara, the powerful US attorney who has facilitated many high-profile insider trading convictions, has agreed to remain in the position after meeting President-elect Donald Trump.

Appointed as the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York by outgoing US President Barack Obama in 2009, Bharara has earned the reputation of a “crusader” prosecutor.

“The President-elect asked, presumably because he’s a New Yorker and is aware of the great work that our office has done over the past seven years, asked to meet with me to discuss whether or not I’d be prepared to stay on as the United States attorney to do the work as we have done it, independently, without fear or favour

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“I said I would absolutely consider staying on. I agreed to stay on,” said Bharara, who is in his late 40s.

“I have already spoken to Senator (Jeff) Sessions, who is as you know is the nominee to be the attorney general.

He also asked that I stay on, and so I

expect that I will be continuing to work at the southern district,” said the top Indian-American attorney.

Born in a Sikh family in Ferozepur, Punjab, in 1968, Bharara grew up in New Jersey after his parents moved to the US. After being appointed as the US attorney for the powerful South District of New York, Bharara has made a national and international mark for himself with many highprofile cases and investigations including foreign countries, insider trading and those involving US politicians.

It was under Bharara’s prosecution, that India-born former Goldman Sachs director Rajat Gupta was convicted for insider trading in 2012.

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NRI woman reunites with family in France with help from Maneka Gandhi A 35-year-old woman of Indian origin will be reunited with her adoptive parents in France for Christmas, thanks to Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi who intervened to facilitate her travel after some hiccups.

The marketing manager, working in Chennai since 2014, had written to Gandhi seeking her help to get an NOC from Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA), required as an essential document to prove her Indian origin before being granted an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) status.

In her letter she had also expressed that she wanted to celebrate Christmas with her family in France but wasn’t sure whether she would be able to go out of India as she only had a Person of Indian Origin (PIO) card but not an OCI card, according to a source.

However, procuring the NOC was difficult as she was adopted over three decades ago in 1982 when she was an year old, and 7 years before the regulatory body for adoption itself came into existence.

for the last seven years,” Bharara said.

“We had a good meeting,” he said in a brief interaction with reporters after his meeting with Trump yesterday.

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‘Many Indian Americans in running for place in Trump govt’

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FIJI

Saturday, December 03, 2016

Western division has most black money transactions The Western Division has been identified as having a lot more cash transactions and black money.

While addressing members of the private sector in Nadi at the weekend, Minister for Economy and Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said tax avoidance was a major issue that Government was addressing in the region.

“There has been a lot of wheeling and dealing in terms of tax avoidance, in terms of people escaping the whole system, in terms of how they pay their tax,” he said.

“I have to say the Western Division with probably Vanua Levu is where there is a lot of black money around. There is a lot of wheeling and dealing done under the table.

There are a lot more cash transactions.”

He said the Fiji Revenue and Customs Authority was looking into the issue.

“FRCA has done their analysis of these areas and we’ve asked them to bring in more experts from overseas to provide that kind of shock in the arm analysis to capture that segment of those tax regimes that is currently being captured,” Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said.

He explained the darker side of economic growth. “At the same time as the economy is growing you’ll find a lot of sharks coming around to take advantage of the situation,” Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said.

“Our job is to make sure that we continuously set our focus despite the fact that there is some immediate attractive investments coming we have to draw the line.

Miss Fiji Priyanka placed 20th, qualifies for semi-finals Miss Fiji to the Miss World Pageant, Pooja Priyanka, has qualified for the semi-finals of the beauty pageant’s talent competition.

Priyanka’s talent — a modern Bollywood classical dance — placed her in the top 20 among 130 other countries.

The Lautoka lass will now compete in the finale of the talent competition which will be live on the final night of the pageant on December 18.

Speaking from Washington yesterday, she said she was so excited to be showcasing Fiji’s incredible fusion of cultures through her talent. “When performing my talent, I carry the nation with

me,” Priyanka said.

Next on her agenda is the pageant’s multimedia contest, which is judged on the level of interaction and likes she gets on her official Facebook page. Miss World Fiji will play an integral part in increasing her chances of being placed in the top 10 spots of the category.

“Multimedia category is one of the fast-track categories at Miss World,” she said.

The contestant receiving the most number of votes will be declared the people’s champion during the live finals of the pageant on the 18th of this month.

UN staff charged over false bomb claims A United Nations Field Security Specialist has been charged for providing false information in May of this year to an Air Marshall at Nadi International Airport.

A statement from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions confirmed the charge against Isireli Dakunimata was sanction by DPP Christopher Pryde.

Dakunimata is alleged to have breached section 11 (1) (c) of the Civil Aviation (Security) Act 1994.

It is alleged that, whilst in the secure area of Nadi International Airport, Isireli Dakunimata uttered the words “dua na gasau kuro tiko e na noqu bag qo translated

as meaning, I have a bomb inside this bag of mine”.

Pryde said this was the second charge of the same nature made this year and two other cases were being investigated.

“It is very important that the public understand that whilst people may think they are just making jokes, anything that implies there is a bomb or some security threat to an airline will be taken very seriously.”

Any person convicted under section 11 (1) (c) of the Civil Aviation (Security) Act 1994 is liable to a fine not exceeding $20,000 or to imprisonment for seven years, or both.

Call to be prepared for cyclone season Three tropical cyclones are anticipated for the country this cyclone season with the strongest being a Category 3.

This was revealed by Disaster Risk Management officer North Jutasa Waqavonovono during his presentation at the Media Watch panel discussion where he told participants that Fijians needed to refrain from being complacent about cyclone warnings.

Reflecting on Severe Tropical Cyclone Winston, Mr Waqavonovono said the cyclone had swept through the Fiji group initially while people sat in their homes hoping it would not return.

“It was after its return from Tonga when people decided to act when it was too late,” he said.

“The Nadi meteorological centre had been warning people to prepare as the cyclone would return and yet people were still sitting in their homes wishing that by some miracle the cyclone would just move away.

“It’s this laxity that took people by surprise, the failure on our part as responsible citizens to stand up and take action.”

Mr Waqavonovono told people at the discussion they did not need to wait for the worst to happen before they acted.

“If the threat is there prepare yourself to mitigate the brunt of the cyclone because these natural disasters come with flooding and landslides,” he said.

“We need to act and stop waiting for the damage to happen before we act.

“All Fijians need to ask whether they are ready for the next big disaster.”

Man gets 13 years for raping child A 54-year-old man was sentenced to 13 years in prison by the High Court in Suva yesterday for raping a seven-year-old child last year.

The man was convicted of one count of sexual assault, one count of rape and one count of attempted rape earlier this month.

The incident happened on October 25, 2015 after the accused called the child into his room by giving her a $2 coin.

In handing down his sentence, Justice

Achala Wengappuli said the accused breached the trust the victim had towards him. He said the accused also took advantage of the victim’s vulnerability and displayed a total disregard to the victim’s well-being.

Justice Wengappuli took into consideration the fact that the accused was a first offender and cooperated with the police during investigations. The accused will serve 10 years and four months in prison before he is eligible for parole.

Four in 10 rape victims aged 14-17 FOUR out of 10 rape victims reported to police from January to October this year are girls between the ages of 14 and 17 years.

Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation, Mereseini Vuniwaqa highlighted this while speaking to young people on the topic ‘Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (PCAN)’ during the SUIS Camp at Adi Cakobau School on Wednesday night. She said during the same period, police received 1041 reports of child abuse cases, a 0.1 per cent decline compared with the same period last year.

Mrs Vuniwaqa advised youths to seek professional assistance for counselling on the toll free line 1325 if they faced any form of abuse. “If you keep silent about what’s happening to you it is very likely the

perpetrator will continue doing what he or she is doing — if not to you, then to other children,” Mrs Vuniwaqa said.

She said reported cases on child abuse and neglect were increasing. “To date a total of 725 cases were reported to my ministry by professionals under the Child Welfare Decree of 2010,” Mrs Vuniwaqa said.

“The reported cases continue to increase and we believe these are some effects of the awareness created to inform the public through community and stakeholder advocacy programs provided by the ministry and its loyal partners.”

Mrs Vuniwaqa challenged parents to play their roles well by teaching good values and ensuring that they set an example for children by living a dignified life.

PAKISTAN

Saturday, December 03, 2016

Pakistan can’t afford to have bullet trains: Minister Pakistan cannot afford to have bullet trains on par with foreign nations, the country’s railway minister has said, citing lack of market for the high-speed rail project.

Khawaja Saad Rafique on Tuesday

told the National Assembly that even the Chinese advice was against such train, also known as bullet train in common parlance, Dawn reported. Under the ambitious $46 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor

Pakistanis in US are a divided, disconcerted lot

(CPEC)+ programme, Pakistan is building high-speed trains with a top speed of 160kmph in the country.

“When we asked the Chinese about it, they laughed at us. We should consider the 160kmph train under CPEC as a bullet train.

We cannot afford an actual bullet train, there is no market for it,” the railway minister said.

Admitting that their party had faced a lot of criticism over not launching the project despite earlier having made it part of election manifesto, Rafique said that the country did not have enough money to build one.

“Even if we do, we do not have such a big range of upper and middle class passengers who will buy tickets,” he said.

Rafique gave members a comprehensive overview of the performance of his department and insisted that he was doing as much as possible to clean up the department and turn it into a profit-making entity.

While Islamabad has welcomed US presidentelect Donald Trump’s willingness to find solutions to Pakistan’s outstanding problems, his election victory has left Pakistani immigrants in the United States a disconcerted lot.

When PM Nawaz Sharif called up Trump and congratulated him, and Trump was quoted as saying, “You’re a terrific guy” and “Pakistanis are one of the most intelligent people,” a Pakistani in North Carolina told TOI, “I’ve never felt racism before, but now I feel it. Because the new president has made it acceptable to voice these destructive characteristics.” A doctor and mother of two

from North Carolina, she added, “It’s like we’re going back in time.”

While many Pakistanis want to leave the US after Trump’s election, many others say they have no choice but to stay back.

“We’ve been established here for several decades and we can’t think of going back. Our biggest concern is that our children have grown in a free society and it’s impossible for them to adjust in Pakistan,” said Siddiqui, in Manhattan, requesting not to disclose his first name. “I could not sleep for 48 hours when my nightmare (of a Trump victory) turned into reality,” said Siddiqui.

SC questions money trail of PM Sharif’s London flats Pakistan’s Supreme Court on Wednesday questioned the money trail of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif ’s flats in London with one of the judges observing that there was no bank record of money being transferred from Pakistan to a foreign country.

Hearing a case pertaining to the alleged offshore wealth of Sharif ’s family in London, the apex court said the family had not presented documents for companies it had mentioned. In fact, documents had been hidden from the court, it said.

“Why were the documents hidden?” the court asked Akram Sheikh, the lawyer for Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif ’s children.

“If you say that you are a shareholder, you will have to give evidence,” Geo TV quoted Justice Azmat Saeed as saying.

Earlier, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan’s counsel Naeem Bukhari submitted a two-page summary of a transaction questioning the Sharif family’s investment of 12 million dirhams in Qatar in 1980 despite owing the Bank of Commerce and Credit International (BCCI) 14 million dirhams.

Justice Sheikh remarked that the Sharifs had failed to explain how they had cleared the aforementioned dues in 1980. He also observed that the Sharifs had also failed to explain how they had financed the construction of Jeddah Steel Mills.

The bench also observed that there was no similarity between the signatures of premier Sharif ’s cousin Tariq Shafi on an affidavit and a contract presented before the court.

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South asia

Saturday, December 03, 2016

Bangladesh won’t allow soil to be used for terror Vowing “zero tolerance” against terrorism, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday assured India that Bangladesh will not allow its soil to be used for terror acts against any country as defence minister Manohar Parrikar called on her to discuss bolstering security ties.

“We won’t tolerate any sorts of terrorism and militancy and won’t allow our land to be used for carrying out terrorist acts against any country,” Hasina told Parrikar, who called on her at her official Ganobhaban residence in Dhaka.

According to Hasina’s press secretary Ihsanul Karim, she recalled with gratitude the contribution of Indian armed forces to Bangladesh’s Liberation War and told Parrikar that during her upcoming visit to

India she would honour those Indian soldiers who died during the 1971 freedom war.

On his part, Parrikar said “it was our moral responsibility to extend help to Bangladesh in the War of Liberation as a friendly country and we provided that assistance.”

After the meeting, he handed over Hasina a replica of a helicopter that India used during Bangladesh’s liberation war and photographs of paratroopers who took part in that war. Parrikar, who was accompanied by a high-level defence delegation, offered Indian expertise to train Bangladesh Coast Guards for enhanced capacity to guard the country’s southern coastlines along the Bay of Bengal.

Debate rages over lost Afghan Buddhas For centuries they stood, two monumental ancient statues of Buddha carved into the cliffs of Bamiyan, loved and revered by generations of Afghans -- only to be pulverised by the Taliban in an act of cultural genocide.

It felt like the loss of family for many who live and tend their crops nearby -- but some 15 years on they are hopeful these aweinspiring relics can be reconstructed. But experts are divided on the value of rebuilding the artefacts, with some insisting it is more important to preserve the remains of the entire crumbling site. Archaeologists and restorers, mostly Afghan, German, Japanese and French, working in the Bamiyan Valley in central Afghanistan will meet from December 1-3 in Munich, Germany.

There they will try to move forward on the issue, as much a matter of the conservation of the UNESCO World Heritage Site as of the memories and culture of a brutalised

community. All Afghans, especially the peasants tending potatoes at the front of the cliffs, mourn the loss of the tutelary silhouettes -- the largest, the Salsal, was 56 metres high; its feminine version, the Shamama, 38 metres.

They were blasted in April 2001 by the Taliban, who had taken control of the province and killed thousands of Hazara civilians, a Shiite Muslim minority in Bamiyan.

“For us, they were like parents,” said Hakim Safa, the 27-year-old representative from the Afghan culture ministry selling tickets at the site. “I feel as though I had lost family.”

“In the villages local people very much want the Buddhas to be rebuilt... They are always asking us, when will you be ready to begin?” says Rassoul Chojai, professor of archeology at the University of Bamiyan.

But the statues were so thoroughly destroyed that it is not even clear if they ever could be reconstructed.

5.5-magnitude earthquake hits Nepal

A moderate intensity earthquake measuring 5.5 on the Richter Scale shook Nepal in the early hours on Monday.

According to the National Centre for Seismology, a unit of Ministry of Earth Sciences, the quake occurred at 5.05am at a depth of 10km.

The epicentre was located at Solukhumbu district near the Everest region, around 150 km east of Kathmandu, Nepal’s National Seismological Center said. It recorded the intensity of the quake at 5.6.

This was the 475th aftershock, of magnitude 4 and above, of the devastating April 2015 temblor in the quake-prone Himalayan country.

There was no immediate report of any damage or casualty.

The earthquake was also felt in Kathmandu and other parts of central and Eastern Nepal.

At least five killed, 27 wounded in Afghan triple bombing At least five people were killed and 27 others wounded in a triple bombing in eastern Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province Friday, provincial officials said.

There was no claim of responsibility for the three bombings in Jalalabad, the capital of Nangarhar province, which is a hotbed of IS militancy.

“Five people were martyred in three explosions in different parts of Jalalabad of Nangarhar province this morning,” provincial spokesperson Ataullah Khogyani told AFP. Khogyani said the first blast was a roadside bomb which detonated outside the house of a senior prison official, Abdul Hakim, killing him and a child and wounding six others.

The second blast came outside the fire brigade office -- from where the first rescuers are usually dispatched after an attack -- killing three and wounding 21.

Khogyani said the third blast came as people gathered at Hakim’s house after the first blast, but there were no casualties.

Dr Najib Kamawal, director of the Nangarhar civil hospital confirmed the toll.

Saturday, December 03, 2016

Superstore

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FRUITICANA

Saturday, December 03, 2016

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Saturday, December 03, 2016

Saturday - December 3, 2016

Abusive relationships: The dark side of Bollywood

Yuvraj Singh and Hazel Keech’s mehendi, sangeet ceremony

Rati Agnihotri and Anil Virwani On April 29, 2015, yesteryear Bollywood actress Rati Agnihotri filed a second complaint with Worli police alleging that her husband Anil Virwani threatened her

India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh and his fiancee Bollywood actress Hazel Keech are set to get married today.

The 34-year-old cricketer and 29-year-old model-actress had a mehendi and sangeet ceremony on November 29. The duo shared a picture from the mehendi with their fans on social media.

Yuvi shared a selfie with the brideto-be from the mehendi ceremony on Tuesday on Instagram with the caption.

“Starting a new innings today. Thank you for your love please bless the couple.”

Dressed in a yellow suit with mehendi on her hands, Hazel looked divine while Yuvi shone in a blue bandhgala.

‘Yuvraj Hazel Premiere League’, as the duo has been describing the grand event, will see the who’s who of Bollywood and

with a knife. A month ago, she had made headlines when she accused her architect husband Anil Virwani of frequent physical and mental abuse over the course of their 30-year-old marriage.

The actress filed a domestic violence case against her husband after she was injured during a particularly heated argument with him, which forced her to take the decision. Agnihotri and Virwani got married in 1985.

Police sources suspect that financial difficulties could be the reason behind the issue since Virwani wasn’t doing well financially since 2005.

Salman Khan and Somy Ali Infamous on the list of actors involved in alleged physical abuse controversies is Salman Khan. The superstar at some point or the other in life has invariably been accused of getting physical with his girlfriends. First it was Pakistani actress Somy Ali who he dated for almost five years, but the two split up in the late ‘90s after the infamous cola episode, where Salman apparently in a fit of rage poured a drink on her at a party.

Salman Khan and Aishwarya Rai However, rumours about Salman’s tempestuous nature continued even when he started dating Aishwarya Rai during

Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam. Numerous stories about their physical fights made it to the press much too frequently.

There was one incident in particular that made headlines. One night, Salman reached Ash’s residence, apparently broke the window panes and later followed her to a film set and beat her. And speculations only rose when Aishwarya openly admitted (during a Cannes press conference for Provoked) to have been a victim of physical violence.

Sanjay Khan and Zeenat Aman This could easily be called as one of the most contentious affairs in Bollywood. The two apparently started seeing each other on the sets of a film called

the cricket world come together.

Pictures from the mehendi and sangeet ceremonies were all over the internet.

Team India also joined in the festivities after beating England with a day to spare at Mohali on Tuesday.

Kapil Sharma beats Shah Rukh, Aamir Khan in most searched celebs list

‘Abdullah’ in 1980. However, things started falling apart when they reportedly started having violent altercations, sometimes even in public. Their relationship came to an end after Sanjay allegedly brutally assaulted her in a 5-star hotel.

Mazhar Khan and Zeenat Aman Zeenat Aman obviously has had a graver history of physical abuse than any other actress in Bollywood. Though she had two sons with husband Mazhar Khan (who she tied the knot with in 1985), during the ‘90s, their scuffles made the headlines more than once. The actress once even spoke to the press about being tortured in both her relationships. Today, she refuses to even acknowledge the names of both her past lovers.

Kapil Sharma seems to be in a happy space for being on the top almost everywhere. The actor has once again proven his ability by standing second in the most searched male celebs on the recent list released by Yahoo! India.

While Salman Khan acquires the first position in the male category, Kapil climbs to the second position leaving the rest of the Bollywood Khans behind.

Kapil is followed by Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan.

Kapil came into the industry as a competitor on the comedy show ‘The Great Indian Laughter Challenge 3’. His victory earned him recognition and our favourite stand up comedian won a huge amount of money.

There has been no stopping him since them. Year after year, he started

leaving his mark in many comedy shows including Ustaadon Ka Ustaad, Comedy Circus, Star Ya Rockstar and many more.

15 mid-day

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Thursday 01.12.2016

hitlist

HAzEl iS now GuRBASAnT » P17

Saturday, December 03, 2016

Bollywood

Forget papz, is papa razi?

Dippy repeats designer, despite bad press Taken to the cleaners for her bralet, actress goes for a different look at Esquire Awards in Dubai

Padukone Sr responds to Ranveer’s marriage material comment on Deepika

THE latest B-Town couple to have been at the centre of controversy, Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh have been seeking opportunities to establish that they are still in loving harmony, contrary to rumours that have kept the media busy for the last few months. Has Ranveer moved on to another woman? Did Deepika, not nursing his bruised ego at having to share screen space with Shahid Kapoor in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Padmavati, do the relationship harm, etc.

Last week, the couple planned a hand-in-hand entry at a wedding function hosted by the Ambanis.

On Sunday’s episode of Koffee with Karan, Deepika’s ex-lover, Ranbir Prakash Padukone on Kapoor, and Ranveer discussed all Deepika and Ranveer things amorous and carnal. Even her. In his quotable quotespewing style, Ranveer said Deepika was marriage material and that he would like to wed her.

Her father, former badmintor star Prakash Padukone, says, “They are adults and know what they are doing. As father, I have given Deepika the freedom to take her own decisions. Even in this case, she is free to decide whatever she wants to do.”

Ranveer Singh

‘I have given Deepika the freedom to take her own decisions?’

Kangana Amused – But only for now!

Alia Bhatt and Ranveer Singh can breathe easy over their Kang jibes for a while…

Dec

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Kahaani 2

*ing: Vidya Balan Arjun Rampal

Dec Befikre

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*ing: Ranveer Singh Vaani Kapoor

(Clockwise from top): Deepika in Dubai; Monisha Jaising; the actress during the EMAs

KANGANA Ranaut is back in Mumbai from the US after almost two months of a hectic shoot for Hansal Mehta’s Simran. The actress shot for the drama in Atlanta and Las Vegas.

She's however well aware of what Alia Bhatt and Ranveer Singh remarked about her in the chat-show Koffee With Karan. You may recall, while Alia had wondered, “Kangana has a lot of lovely airport looks, but where does she go?”

Ranveer had quipped,

“Ranbir Kapoor should date Kangana. There's a lot of firework. He loves it.”

Kangs is amused by the jibes made at her and in chuckle mode.

And it's not exactly because of jet lag due to the long-haul flight. Far from it, the actress is waiting for the right time to give them a reply. Known to not mince her words, she wants to save her wit for a later date.

Given the context in which these remarks were made, Kangana is taking it in the right spirit, but when asked on a public platform, she will speak her mind, her spokesperson reveals. People go to the airport to catch a flight.

She also has her They fly and Kangana product endorsewants to fly high — litments and magazine erally. She’s more of a shoots lined up in firebrand, than a the coming weeks, firework that fizzles besides events to out. So Alia and attend.

Ranveer can breathe Her spokesperson easy for now. says, “Kangana is gearPresently, Kangana is ing up for Rangoon and diving into the dubbing Alia Bhatt; her other shoot commitand trailer launch of her next, Vishal Bhardwaj’s (left) Kangana ments. She's more exRanaut cited about her look than Rangoon. She is slated to anything else at the begin dubbing from today. The trailer launch later this moment.”

When asked about Alia and month will be a red carpet affair and Kangana is keen to be in the Ranveer’s jibes, the spokesperson period drama's get-up at the says, “She is only laughing about it, for now.” event.

New Released Bollywood Films Dec

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30 Minutes

*ing: Hiten Paintal, Hrishitaa Bhatt

DESPITE having been tagged as a ‘Bollywood blunder’ by a popular news website in the West for her turn at the Europe Music Awards in Rotterdam last month, Deepika Padukone didn’t shy away from sporting a creation by the same designer, Monisha Jaising, while attending the Esquire awards function in Dubai on Tuesday.

Rumours of the actress being miffed with the designer after the debacle were put to rest with her latest outing. Dippy picked up the gong for International Woman of the Year in the three piece suit while beau Ranveer Singh took home the International Man of the Year award too. Dippy had heads turning in her corset-inspired white top, with smooth white lapels, which was teamed with a tailored jacket and flared pants. Her selection could well put the damage caused by her previous outing, which saw her draped in a green skirt and bralet, to rest.

With her maiden Hollywood project nearing release, the actress seems to have been careful with her attire this time around.

Monisha remained unavailable for comment but an associate told hitlist that Monisha and Deepika’s stylist, Shaleena Nahtani, were careful about avoiding a blunder second time on.

Dec

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Wajah Tum Ho *ing: Sharman Joshi Sana Khan

Dec Dangal

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*ing: Aamir Khan Sakshi Tanwar

Saturday, December 03, 2016

Bollywood

Brothers Daler Mehndi and Mika Singh team up for the first time When Mika Singh debuted as a singer with Saawan Mein Lag Gayi Aag in 1998, his elder brother, Daler Mehndi, was already a pop icon. Over the years, music aficionados have waited with bated breath for the two musicians to come together. The wait ended recently when they launched their first collaboration, Sohniye. The single is a foot-tapping number with Punjabi beats.

Daler says when Mika shared the idea of the single with him, he loved it. “The collaboration was Mika’s idea. When I heard the recording, I told him it was wonderful and he must go ahead with it. But, he said he wanted me to sing with him. Mika is 10 years younger to me and I can do anything for him,” says the Dardi Rab Rab singer.

Mika is elated over finally getting the opportunity to collaborate with his brother.

“Daler paaji is my guru and mentor. Though we have performed together in the past, this is our first official collaboration,” says Mika, adding that working on the number

Akshay Kumar’s Jolly LLB 2 to release on Feb 10

As promised by Akshay Kumar, he has officially revealed his look from the upcoming film Jolly LLB 2. Earlier in the day he posted a teaser poster of the film.

Jolly was riding a scooter in the poster but we didn’t quite get a good look at his face. In this new poster released, we see Jolly smile for the camera looking all jolly. Akshay is sporting a moustache in this avatar, and we must say it is suiting him just perfect. Also the release date of the film has been revealed to be February 10, 2017.

Akshay Kumar made the best use of Twitter as a platform to reveal his look. He shared the pic on his social media platform and wrote “And here is the first look of #JollyLLB2 as promised. Ready to meet this Jolly good fellow on 10th Feb. 2017” .

Akshay has quite a few films lined up for next year. Apart from Jolly LLB 2, he also has Toilet Ek Prem Katha with Bhumi Pednekar, which is already making headlines thanks to its quirky title. Also there is Neeraj Pandey’s Crack releasing in August 2016. And then of course there is 2.0 with Rajinikanth, in which Akshay plays the monstrous villain. Also he has a special appearance in the spin off of his hit film Baby, titled Naam Shabana, which will focus on the story of Meera played by Taapsee Pannu.

was an amazing experience. “The song is a combination of our individual styles. It took us over a year to compose the song because we had to keep Daler paaji’s style and range in mind.”

The video of Sohniye was shot in Delhi.

“But it has been done so wonderfully that it looks like it has been filmed in an international destination,” says Daler, who lost over 20 kilos for the video. “Mika wanted both of us to look similar in the video. And for that, I had to lose a lot of weight,” he says.

Was shedding the extra pounds difficult?

“Main mann ka bahut pakka hoon. Isliye wazan ghataana mere liye mushkil nahi tha [Since I am a determined person, losing weight was not so difficult for me],” responds Daler.

Both brothers insist that Sohniye is just the tip of the iceberg and they plan to team up for more projects. Currently, they are touring the UK for shows and promoting the song. “It’s after 20 years that we are performing together on stage,” says Daler.

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Saturday, December 03, 2016

Bollywood Aries

Horoscope

March 21 - April 20

Libra Sept. 24 - Oct 22

Many Ariens are weary of being expected to be leaders and give all the orders, but it just so happens that everything in your chart at the moment shouts at you to take command. Do not hold back! And another piece of good advice – please check out your financial prospects early in the week.

The Moon now indicates that this is a pleasant period for small-talk. There are also more profound movements in your chart and, given that major questions concerning career or other worldly ambitions are still unresolved, you should consider spending a little extra time pondering the future.

Taurus

Scorpio

April 21 - May 20

Oct 23 - Nov 22

Stand back from the concerns of material success: it is time to think not only of investment plans, but also your values.

Use the moment to consider whether there are any ethical improvements to be made in your lifestyle. Substitute selfimprovement for self-interest and you will impress everyone you meet.

There’s a ninety percent chance of a personal misunderstanding. Make sure that one hundred percent of the time you take the maximum effort to make yourself clear. Plus, in matters of the heart, a little generosity will become you. Also, be sceptical about a cash offer that is too good to be true.

Gemini

Sagitarius

May 20 - June 21

Nov 23 - Dec 22

You may be about to make a rash promise, such things always require an extra second or two’s thought, especially when other people seem to understand what’s going on better than you. Now is a fine momentto pay more attention to your health and fitness regime.

You are about to have that strange sense of déja vu. Everything that happens now may be is a repeat of events which took place over the last month. The difference is that this time you can make up for any unfortunate mistakes you committed last time around.

Cancer

Capricorn

June 22 - July 23

Dec 23 - Jan 20

It seems that you are only prepared to do your best when your goal is self-fulfilment, and financial considerations will play little part in achieving your ambitions. You’re on a very important long-term cycle, and it will pay to follow your own course both now and over the next four months.

Leo

You may get the distinct impression that someone is trying to prise information out of you. Appearances, though, can be misleading and the real issue is your ongoing desire for secrecy. Mind you, you might have perfectly good reasons for keeping certain thoughts to yourself!

Aquarius

June 24 - August 23

Jan 21 - Feb 19

This is a fine moment for all competitive Leos and there’s much to be said for playing to win. The satisfaction lies in knowing that you’ve beaten your personal best. Even family members will be relieved if you set out to implement long-term improvements.

Virgo

You seem set to dive into a preliminary round of satisfying socialising and one particular arrangement should be successful. Do so while the time is right for your inclination will be to keep yourself to yourself! Financial decisions must be taken in conjunction with those they directly affect.

Pisces

August 24 - Sept 24

Feb 20 - March 20

Your stars are moving on and this is one of the best times of the year totackle domestic arrangements. This doesn’t mean that everything should work out exactly as planned, but that in all personal matters your success rate may be higher than expected.

That, in itself, could cheer you up.

The Moon is extra helpful and its supportive alignments should coincide with a burst of confidence. Professional Pisceans will begin to see the splendid possibilities which are already in view for next year. Keep a close eye on trivial developments, as they may be much more important than you expect.

Sukshinder Shinda’s track ‘Red Rose’ launched, music by Harj Nagra Recently launched urban-punjab track Red Rose by popular singer Sukshinder Shinda was released across the globe by music company Movie Box. The romantic Punjabi track’s music is by well-known music director Harj Nagra, who has made his name with many successful projects with leading artists. Lyrics of the track are by Gurminder Madoke and the video was shot at exotic beach locations of Goa by Kamalpreet Johny.

The song was launched with a bang all over the social media platforms of Moviebox on 24th November, and is already getting popular amongst Punjabi music lovers across India, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zeeland.

On the successful launch of the track, stated, Sukshinder Shinda, “Track is beautifully designed to cater to today’s young generation.

Lyrics are romantic and flirty, music is enjoyable, and the video is shot at beautiful locations. We are very excited to see how audience is already loving the song and making it a success launch.”

Also stated, Harj Nagra, “The lyrics demanded thumping music with essence of romantic angle to it. I and the team has worked hard to bring out the best of music and video. With audience already giving love to all my projects, I’m happy to see how

people are liking this track as well. There’s a lot more beautiful projects in the pipeline soon coming out for my fans and followers.”

‘Red Rose’ is Sukshinder Shinda and Harj

Nagra’s second project together after ‘Dil Vaarda’ which became a big party hit in 2015.

Harj’s upcoming projects include single track coming soon Harj will be seen as a lead singer after his debut single – ‘All Night’.

Artists: Sukshinder Shinda Ft. Harj Nagra Lyrics by: Gurminder Madoke Label: Movie Box Video by: Kamalpreet Johny

Vidya Balan’s EXPLOSIVE revelations about sexism in Bollywood will put folks to shame It is quite sad to learn that despite being talented talent, Bollywood actresses face a lot of sexism. In a recent interview, Vidya Balan went all out to proclaim how she tasted the bitter delicacy of sexism but conquered it with her talent. For sometime now, Vidya has been owning films without a male counterpart to her aid. Be it No One Killed Jessica, Kahaani or even Dirty Picture, the National Award winning actress has come a long way whilst facing the harshness of gender bias. However, with her next film Kahaani 2, that releases on December 2, the actress decided to let her struggles in the male dominating world find a voice. Balan opened up about some of her experiences in the industry where she was treated differently for being a woman. Scroll below and check them out.

There was a film, and I won’t name the actor, out of respect for him, but there was a film in which I was playing the bigger role, and he was getting paid more. And that bothered me. Because I am playing the bigger role! I am putting in more effort! I am not asking you to pay me for nothing, but you can’t pay him double of what you are paying

me. I am not putting in any less effort, if at all, I am putting in more effort. These things

– like waiting for an actor endlessly, while I am ready on the set – bothered me. Doesn’t matter if I am a woman or a man, but I take my job very seriously.

Bollywood personalities’ birthdays

jimmy shergill december 3

javed jaffrey december 4

dharmendra december 8

dia mirza december 9

Saturday, December 03, 2016

Eshwar Shakti

5

6

Saturday, December 03, 2016

Movie Review

Kahaani 2 Vidya Balan’s Kahaani, when released in 2012 was a success at the box office. As the time passed, the film gathered a cult following.

And with that, a sequel was inevitable.

Kahaani 2 – Durga Rani Singh has nothing in connection to the first part except for Vidya.

In addition to the actress, the film also stars Arjun Rampal and is written and directed by Sujoy Ghosh.

The film tells the story of a mother Vidya Sinha who’s living a middle class life with her paralysed daughter Mini Sinha. Her only goal in life is to take her daughter to US for treatment and give her a content life. Hell breaks loose, when her daughter is kidnapped and before Vidya could do anything, she herself meets with an accident. Sub-inspector Inderjeet Singh is called to investigate the case and in a twist of turns, recognises her as Durga Rani Singh. Durga Rani Singh is a wanted criminal for kidnapping and murder. During the investigation Inder finds Vidya’s personal diary and from there on many revelations are

Vidya Balan’s spine chilling performance and Arjun Rampal’s cop act stand out in this thriller made about Vidya Sinha, Durga Rani Singh, Mini Sinha and even sub-inspector Inderjeet Singh.

What’s hot The film’s first half in specific, is one of the best in recent times, as far as thrill factor is concerned. It keeps you on the edge of your seat. Kahaani 2 doesn’t waste much time and sets the tone of the movie from the first scene itself. The setting of the film too, helps in making it a dark, eerie thriller. Unlike the first one, which was completely based in the city of joy, Kolkata, this one is based out of a small town of Chandannagar and travels to and fro to the beautiful locales of a hill station called Kalimpong, with just a small part of it based in Kolkata. Full marks to cinematographer for giving it the dark mood, it required and that could’ve only be possible with virgin locales it tactfully uses. As they say, people fear what they don’t understand, and in this case it’s the unexplored locations. Director Sujoy Ghosh creates a world similar to the one we

saw in underwhelming Te3n, a few months ago. Vidya Balan is as usual top notch in her portrayal of a vulnerable as well as destructive mother. Watch out for the pre-climax scene in an abandoned house. That particular scene has a spine chilling performance by Balan. She will freak you out. Arjun Rampal’s nuanced and natural portrayal of a cop will stay with you even after the movie ends. A sub-inspector who, infamously, blew up a chance of promotion because he went with his “gut feeling” and that backfired. Sujoy Ghosh very smartly uses it as a running joke throughout the movie. So much so that even his wife teases him about the same. This is Arjun Rampal’s best performance. Period.

Special mention to Kharaj Mukherjee who plays senior inspector Pranab Haldar. He is sure to chuckle you up at various junctures, where you least expect. An edgy thriller like this has no room for music and there is only one song in the first half but it goes with the narrative, so no one’s complaining. The dialogues are easy on ears and are mostly the everyday lingo, that helps you connect with the characters instantly. One particular dialogue, “Jab tak main zinda hoon na, tujhe kuch nahi hone doongi”, gets eerier every time Vidya Balan delivers it in her caring yet peculiar voice. Lastly and most importantly, a round of applause for Sujoy Ghosh for the way he tackled with the issue of child abuse.

Child abuse is dealt with so much maturity in the film that it educates you and makes you uncomfortable, at the same time.

What’s not Just when you are left on a high note with its first half, the second half stumbles along the way. The film’s promotion was solely on the mystery behind the identity of Vidya Balan’s character. But that is revealed in the first half itself. In fact second half is more of cat and mouse game between Vidya Balan and Arjun Rampal. If Kahaani‘s climax left you shell-shocked and you expect something similar from this one, you are in for a huge disappointment. By the time you are done with the first half, chances are you’ll know, how the film’s gonna end. The only reason you sit through the second half is due to the brilliant performances by its cast and the taut direction by Sujoy Ghosh. Also, the motive of kidnapping is plain bland. It doesn’t add up at all. The film somehow reminded me of Ben Affleck’s Gone Baby Gone.

Saturday, December 03, 2016

Foodie

7

Mango rabri recipe Prep time: 5 min Cook time: 90 min Serves: 5 Ingredients Full cream milk - 1 litre Sugar - 2 tbsps (adjust) Mango puree - 1 cup, fresh and thick Cardamom powder - 1/2 tsp Saffron - 5-6 strands (soaked in 2 tbsps of warm milk) Pistachios - 6-7, finely chopped Almonds - 4-5, chopped or flakes

Method Boil milk in a large heavy bottomed wide vessel. Once it comes to a boil, reduce to low heat and allow to simmer. Keep stirring at regular intervals, pushing the layer of malai (top of milk) that forms on the top towards the sides of the vessel. Continue to do this till the milk is reduced to less than half of the original quantity.

Keep scraping the sides of the vessel and mix it with the thickening milk.

After almost 60-70 mins or so, the milk would have reduced considerably to a thick mass. Add sugar and half of the chopped nuts and mix. Allow the sugar to dissolve and continue to simmer the mixture till it reaches a third of the original quantity.

Add cardamom powder, and saffron and mix well. Turn off heat and allow to come to room temperature.

Add the mango puree and mix well till well combined. Remove to a bowl and chill for a couple of hours. You can also serve at room temperature.

Garnish with the remaining chopped pistachios, almond flakes and chopped mango pieces.

Ladle the mango rabri into serving bowls and serve chilled.

Tips Ensure that you stir the milk at regular intervals so that the milk does not burn.

Use heavy bottomed vessel so that the contents do not burn.

Any left-over rabri can be stored in the fridge for 3 to 4 days or frozen for a few weeks.

8

Around Town

Saturday, December 03, 2016

6th Annual Vancouver International South Asian Film Festival VISAFF 2016

Bikar Singh Parhar won prestigious awards of 'Mr Olympia' 2016 in Men's Bodybuilding Grand Master 50-59, Hi also won Men's Bodybuilding Ultra Masters 60-69 & got 1st position, and got third position in Men's Bodybuilding Super Ultra Masters 70-79.

The competion was held in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA on November 10 - 13, 2016. 50 countries' natural bodybuilders participated in this International Multi Sports Competition.

6th Annual Vancouver International South Asian Film Festival VISAFF 2016 opening night gala was held in Vancouver on Friday, November 25, 2016.

The featured guest was Bollywood film actor Gulshan Grover from India.

Saturday, December 03, 2016

9

Special Feature

Shah Rukh Khan’s New Family Portrait Is All The Internet Is Talking About Right Now Lo and behold! The first Shah Rukh Khan family portrait in a long, long time is here, and it defines perfection, love and togetherness.

The picture that features Shah Rukh, wife Gauri along with their three children- Aryan, Suhana and AbRam- has given netizens #FamilyGoals.

This cute picture (along with two others) that has been doing the rounds online, is said to be from Gauri’s book on contemporary design which will be launched in London today. In true family style,

5 Things Obstacle Running Teaches You About Life Here are a few reasons why I recommend everyone out there to try an obstacle race this winter!

1) Trains Your Mind To Overcome Mental Obstacles If you believe in the phrase ‘never give up’, well, then the best way to test it is through an obstacle race. An obstacle race not only tests your physical strength and endurance but also challenges your body to listen to your mind.

2) Teaches You To Function As A Team We live in a highly competitive world that constantly requires us to be a team player while having individualistic goals. The spirit of the mud race builds on the same.

3) Remoulds Your Lifestyle An obstacle run is much more than a just a race. It has the potential to motivate your innermost chord and challenges you to push and defy your boundaries.

4) Learn The Art Of Perseverance While on the race, you will learn never to give up, participating in an obstacle run will also teach you the art perseverance. Usually in a 5+ km race, the finish line is not in sight until the last obstacle and this is a challenge in itself.

5) Look At Life’s Hurdles As A Positive Challenge The obstacle race is all about connecting and working your mind, body and soul in alliance.

It is quite like life itself—in the face of adversity, our strength is truly tested. Post the race, you will learn to view any hurdle in your personal and professional life as a challenge rather than a problem.

While it may be overwhelming for a few and peaceful for the rest, it is the sense of accomplishment and pride that you will take back with you at the end of the day.

dreams, not give up until they make them happen and achieve every goal they set out to conquer.”

Gauri’s book reportedly has a few more such precious pictures that fans may get a peek of in the days to come.

Apart from pursuing their professional goals, Shah Rukh and Gauri have been going the extra mile to spend quality time with all three kids.

Be it impromptu family vacations, or joining SRK on the film sets, the Khan family has been keeping close all year round.

the Khans posed for the photo shoot with each of them sporting the same colour tone - blue and white. While SRK and his boys matched outfits to the ‘T’ - by wearing white button up shirts, blue denims and white sneakers, Gauri and Suhana brought their personal style to the picture.

An image of the book sees the family photo spread going alongside Gauri’s quote which reads, “I hope the kids are focused and hardworking no matter what they choose to do in life. I want them to be passionate about their

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Saturday, December 03, 2016

Classifieds JOBS

JOBS

JOBS

JOBS

MATRIMONIAL

Crown Farms Ltd. located at Abbotsford BC is looking for 1 f/t permanent Farm Supervisor to join us as soon as possible .

Number of Positions: 1 Job type: full time, permanent Education :Requirement: Completion of high school or equivalent Experience :Requirement: 2 years related experience Language : English Work location: 31792- Harris Road Abbotsford BC , Canada.

Wage Rate: $ 15.00/ hour . 40 hrs. week . 4 % Vacation pay .

Job Duties: - Co-ordinate and supervise the work of general farm workers and harvesting labourers - Supervise and oversee growing and other crop-related operations - Develop work schedules and establish procedures - Ensure farm safety and biosecurity procedures are followed - Maintain quality control and production records.

Work Conditions: Outside, Physically demanding . Job involves walking , standing and bending frequently.

Security : Criminal record check required .

Contact Person : Sukhwinder Sidhu Ph: 778-908-7091 Interested applicants please email resume at crownfarms@outlook. com . Only shortlisted applicants will be called for interview . No walk in please .

--------------- Nov 19-2016

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.

--------------- Oct- 22-2016

Call 604-594-9800 Fax:604-594-9852 Email: guruluckysnacks@yahoo. com -------------- Oct 8 2016

efficiently How to apply: To apply please submit your resume to resume@a1doors.ca We thank all those who apply however only those applicants shortlisted for interview will be contacted” -------------- Sept 17 2016

to other professionals regarding data management -Operate database management systems to analyze data and perform data mining - Lead, coordinate or supervise other employees Requirements - Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science - 2 to 3 years of experience in a similar role Language: English Wages: $29/hr Please send your resume @ info@ oneflatfee.ca or Fax: 604-248-5253 -------------- July 09 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

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 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 --------------- Oct- 22-2016 Required Driver 1) able to drive a truck 2)able to navigate his way around 3)have a clean driving record 4)and be able to merchandise product 5)be able to speak multiple languages 6)minimum of 3 years Driving Experience Salesperson 1) minimum of 3 years of sales experience 2) knowledge of food industry 3)speaks multiple languages 4)being able to merchandise

South Indian food cook wanted

Required South Indian food cook immediately Please contact:

604-312-9297

“A-1 Doors & Mouldings Ltd., located at 12625 80th Avenue, Surrey, B.C., V3W 3A6, has immediate vacancies for Two Stock Helpers.

Job Title: Stock Helpers No. of Positions: 2 Job Location: 12625 80th Avenue, Surrey, B.C., V3W 3A6 Term of employment: Full-time, permanent position, 30-40 hours per week.

Compensation: $16.50/hour.

Overtime at the rate of 24.75 after 40 hours per week Benefits: WCB Coverage with 4% vacation pay Job duties: • Receiving and unloading stock • Matching PO’s with packing slips and report discrepancies to supervisor • Organize stock in the showroom • Perform other warehouse task like packing, unpacking, counting, sorting, labelling order-picking and scanning.

• Check inventory levels and report to the supervisor • Rotate stock and ensure enough space for new shipment • Keep area safe, clean and organized Requirements: • Some Secondary School • Ability to carry-out physical work • Comfortable working in a fast paced, physically demanding environment.

Core Capabilities: • Organized • Ability to pay attention to detail • Ability to work co-operatively in a team environment • Ability to learn quickly and work

BLACK CAT SECURITY LTD., 7085141A Street, Surrey, Bc Requires One Full Time Permanent Office Manager. Duties: Oversee And Co-Ordinate Office Administrative Procedures; Establish Work Priorities, Delegate Work To Office Support Staff And Ensure Deadlines Are Met And Procedures Are Followed; Co-Ordinate And Plan For Office Services; Assist In Preparation Of Operating Budget And Maintain Inventory And Budgetary Controls; Assemble Data And Prepare Periodic And Special Reports, Manuals And Correspondence., Education: Completion Of High School.

Experience: 2-3 Years.

Wages 22.00/Hr. Knowledge Of English Required.

Hindi And Punjabi An Asset.

Emailblackcatsecurityltd@hotmail.com Or Fax @ 778 565 7165.

-------------- July 16 2016 One FlatFee Real Estate Inc. 10912888 80 Ave, Surrey, BC V3W 3A8 requires an indeterminate full-time Database Analyst.

Responsibilities: -Collect and document user requirements -Design, construct, modify, Integrate, implement and test data models and database management -Operate database management systems to analyze data and perform data mining analysis -Conduct research and provide advice

NANNY NEEDED Needed Nanny for 2.5 year and 7.5 year old children. Good Pay

Please Call: 778 895 7900 / 604 834 2500

All Star Railing & Awning Ltd., #20 12318 84 Avenue, Surrey, BC requires a full-time permanent Welder Helper.

Will be required to read and interpret work orders, operate metal cleaning equipment, assist welders, transport raw material and finished products manually or by using devices, clean work areas and equipment and perform other related duties to assist the welders. Should have high school education with some experience.

Knowledge of English is required.

Punjabi/Hindi will be an asset.

Wage: $20/hr. Apply by mail, email: 4242kamal@gmail.com -------------- July 09 2016 Western Door Manufacturing Ltd located at #109-8250, 124th St, Surrey, BC V3W 3X9, has an immediate vacancy for Carpenter. We design and manufacture high end solid wood exteriors doors, solid wood interior doors and custom doors. Job specification: Full time position with wages of $25/hour. 35 to 40 hours per week.

Job requirement: High School with 2-3 years of experience. Trade certificate will be considered as an asset.

Job duties includes read & interpret drawings & sketches to determine specifications; estimate height, width, length and other proportions; measure, cut, shape & assemble wood materials using woodworking machines, power tools and hand tools; Build exterior doors, interior doors, customs doors with jams; moulding, make transom arch shape; specially skilled in fancy wood design, traditional murals crafting on doors; Install hardware such as hinges, handles, catches; Repair doors and replace panels of doors.

If interested send resumes at westerndoors@outlook.com -------------- May 21 2016

Saturday, December 03, 2016

South Asian Seniors - Neck & Upper Back Pain Management.

November 20th 2016 ( Sunday ) 2.00 pm to 3.30 pm at Shanti Niketan.

Vedic Seniors Parivar Centre of Vedic Hindu Cultural Society Surrey invites South Asian Adults/ Senior members as well as non members to attend a powerful presentation - Neck & Upper Back Pain Management ( Body/ Joints Pain ) by Amit Kumar, BOT,MA,C/NDT, Director, Consultant Occupational Life Skills Therapy, on November 20th 2016 ( Sunday ) from 2.00 pm to 3.30 pm at Shanti Niketan hall of Lakshmi Narayan Hindu Temple 8321 - 140th Street Surrey BC. There will be questions and Answers Session also, Amit Kumar will answer all your Back Pain related questions, tea and light snacks will be served after the presentation. Project funded by Government of Canada’s New Horizons for Seniors Program for Hindi Speaking Seniors. Please call Surendra Handa Coordinator Tel. 604 - 507 - 9945 for further information.

-----------------------------------------Sai Baba/s Birthday All devotees are cordially invited at Hindu Cultural Society and Community Centre (3885 Albert St., Burnaby) to participate on Baba/s Birthday and in Sai Japa. Bhajan/ Kirtan on Saturday, November 26, 2016 at 5.p.m.

Program: 5.15 to 6.15 Bhajan/Kirtan, 6.30 to 7.15 Sai Japa , 7.30 p.m. Priti Bhojan Rajubhai Parekh 604-327- 8259 Vijaybhai Dayal 604-986-5958 Kantibhai Patel 604-522-7989 Temple 604-299-5922 ------------------------------------------

Surrey Tree Lighting Festival The City of Surrey is set to kick off the Christmas season with the return of the Surrey Tree Lighting Festival starting at noon on Saturday, November 19 at City Hall Plaza (13450 104 Avenue). The public is invited to join Mayor and Council for a day of free family fun, including children’s activities, concert performances and the 6:30 p.m. lighting of Surrey’s 55foot Christmas tree. Presented by Coast Capital Savings, the event features a variety of activities including road hockey, a mini Christmas Train, face painters, kids’ crafts, ice-carving demonstrations, Ferris wheel rides and live music. Canadian youth performer Tyler Shaw will headline a free concert featuring Jocelyn Alice.

The performance lineup also includes Juno award-winning Norman Foote, Sweet Scarlet, Mooncoin Show Band, Ginalina, Colin Bullock, plus dance, glee club and choral group performances.

The Surrey Food Bank, Surrey Christmas Bureau, Sophie’s Place and the Surrey Fire Fighters’ Charitable Society will be on site collecting donations. For more information and performance schedules, including Santa’s arrival time, visit www.surrey.ca/ treelighting.

-----------------------------------------South Asian Seniors are planning to visit Australia & New Zealand through 13 days cruise and 2 days extra tour of Sydney (Australia) total 16 days including travel time. The cruise itinerary starts from Sydney (Australia) on November 17th 2017, one day visit at each of these ports, Melbourne (Australia), Burnie (TasmaniaAustralia), Wellington (New Zealand), Napier (New Zealand), Tauranga (New Zealand), Auckland (New Zealand), Bay of Islands (New Zealand) and back to Sydney (Australia). Every port the ship Norwegian

Round Wrap Industries, #150 1680 Savage Road, Richmond, BC V6V 3A9 A reputed company manufacturing foiled PVC doors, requires one Production Supervisor on full-time indeterminate basis. Duties: supervision, coordination and scheduling of workers; resolving work problems; training of workers; preparing reports and ensuring safe and smooth running of the production.

Education: Minimum secondary school.

Experience: Minimum 5 years as Supervisor in same or similar trade or industry.

Language: English & Knowledge of Punjabi / Hindi will be an asset.

Salary: $32/hr.

Contact by email: info@roundwrap.com or fax 604 278 1463

Community News Jewel will stop, all seniors will go for city tour by bus. All arrangements will be made for your air travel from Vancouver to Sydney (Australia) and return from Sydney to Vancouver, Cruise bookings, all port city excursions, city visits of Sydney (Australia), hotel stay in Sydney, food ( Pure Vegetarian or Non Vegetarian as per your choice) during Sydney City visits, also local bus pick up from Lakshmi Narayan Hindu Temple Surrey to Vancouver airport & back to Temple on return from Vancouver airport. The total tour will be of 16/ 17 days including travel time from 14th November 2017 to 2nd December 2017. The travel insurance with Medical Coverage, Cancellation, Interruption and Baggage loss is a must, which you can arrange yourself or get the one we arrange for the whole group Insurance at a reasonable price to cover Basic Medical Coverage, Cancellation, Interruption, & Baggage Loss etc. The maximum cost for the whole trip to cover everything including return air tickets will be approximately $ 4,500.00 US Dollars per person. All staterooms are Double occupancy, so you should select your partner to share the stateroom with you on the ship. If you are interested to join South Asian group of Seniors, you should be in good health to walk independently, can afford the Luxury in life for 16/ 17 days, then only call. The entire amount $ 4,500.00

11

US Dollars or Equal ant Canadian Dollars as per present Bank rates will be spent on you only and will be taken from you in 4 installments with intervals. You will have to pay me $ 750.00 US Dollars per person for Cruise deposit to confirm your stateroom, and if you don’t have your travel insurance as mentioned above then you have to pay me $ 205.00 US Dollars per person for group travel Insurance in addition to cruise deposit. Please remember the Travel insurance once purchased can not be cancelled or transferred to somebody else.

The final payment for the cruise is due by 20th June 2017 and you will be able to pay through your credit card directly to Cruise Web. For the other payments for Air Travel, Port City Excursions and hotel stay & food expenses etc. you will be informed time to time. The prices I have negotiated for the cruise are the rock bottom prices which can not be held for long and we are getting two amenities free, Gratuity for 13 days Cruise is Free and Cocktail Drinks are free for 13 days of Cruise for Ocean view cabins and above. Inside cabins will have only one Amenity Free of your choice. I have only room for two more couples or 4 friends to share two cabins on the ship, So don’t miss the chance of enjoying the Luxury in life for 16/ 17 days to visit Australia & New Zealand and call Surendra Handa Organizer/ Tel. 604 - 507 - 9945.

FOR LEASE Two retail units 3000sqft #130/140 - 304785 Cardinal Ave Abbotsford

(604) 725-6734 / (604) 595-1445

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A MATTER OF HONOUR

Veteran filmmaker Govind Nihalani will be felicitated by the Asian Film Saturday, December 2016 Foundation at the Third Eye03, Asian Film Festival at the Ravindra Natya Mandir on December 15. UP Governor Ram Naik will present the citation

Fan frenzy Ranbir Kapoor recently threw a party at his grandmother’s (Krishna Raj Kapoor) Chembur home, where he has been staying for the past few months, when two female fans jumped over the wall to click a picture with the star. The duo, among other fans residing in a hostel next door, lined up to get a view of the party when the chaos compelled the actor to come and monitor the situation. He requested them to get off the wall but the ladies, who were stuck atop, refused. He relented and the ladies later, left with smiles.

Special wishes Mind games B-Town’s new kid on the block, Suniel Shetty’s son, Ahan, had a special message from Salman Khan. The star took to social media to post a pic of Ahan and said, “Ahan, Looking good! I'm so happy.

Just heard you signed a film with Grandson Sajid Nadiadwala. Welcome to the Indian film Industry.”

Sallu had launched Suniel’s daughter Athiya in Hero (2015). Ahan is currently in London preparing for the role.

During her recent trip to Maldives for a photo shoot, Katrina Kaif had been bombarding social media with her sexy snapshots. The star is proving to be a scorcher in the beach-front shoots.

Word is, Kat wants to reinvent herself. She’s had enough of her sweet girl roles.

Taking off

House proud

Dodging Papz

Emraan Hashmi and Esha Gupta have jetted off to Jodhpur for the shoot of Milan Luthria’s Badshaho, which stars Ajay Devgn. Shooting for the film had been deferred after the demonetisation move, but it has now resumed.

Alia Bhatt and her sister, Shaheen, finally moved out of their family home into their new pad. The three-bedroom apartment in Juhu, a stone’s throw away from her parents’ (Mahesh Bhatt and Soni Razdan) residence, has the vibe of a New York loft. Yesterday, the actress said on social media, “Shaheen, we finally did it.” Exposed bricks, which hold boxy windows, make up the walls of her new home. She plans to decorate them with neon signs. At 23, Alia is already the owner of her own home.

Rush hour Vidya Balan is on a publicity blitzkrieg for Kahaani 2. Yesterday, the students of a New Delhi college, where she was promoting her film, were adamant to keep her from leaving. Vids flashed her pearlies and a victory sign. It took a lot of coaxing before she could make her way out. The actress told them she would be back soon.

Kahaani 3 in the making?

When Varun Dhawan went to watch Alia Bhatt’s Dear Zindagi with his rumoured girlfriend Natasha Dalal at a suburban multiplex, the paparazzi got on the chase. To avoid commotion, the couple left separately from the venue. Natasha's friends helped her get out without being clicked and Varun’s driver whisked him out before the paps could get a shot.

IT’S SLIPPERY WHEN WET Neha Dhupia treads cautiously to avoid a tumble in the midst of auditions for a reality show, which she will be judging, in Ahmedabad yesterday.

I-Day war: Shah Rukh vs Akki Shah Rukh Khan and Akshay Kumar are headed for an Independence Day box office clash next year.

Neeraj Pandey’s Crack, starring the Khiladi, was already slotted for an I-Day weekend release.

Now, Imtiaz Ali’s The Ring, which features Khan and Anushka Sharma, will also hit theatres on the same day. This year on I-Day, Akshay’s Rustom locked horns with Hrithik Roshan’s Mohenjo Daro. The battle begins again.

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Saturday, April 2, 2016

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Saturday, 2, 2016 Saturday, April April 2, 2016 i 5i 5

Vol. 6 No. 31 Saturday - April 2, 2016 - Tel: - Tel: 604-591-5423 E-mail: ads@theasianstar.com 604-591-5423 - -E-mail: ads@theasianstar.com Tel: 604-591-5423 E-mail: ads@theasianstar.com Vol. 6 No. 31 - Saturday - April 2, 2016 - Tel: 604-591-5423 - E-mail: ads@theasianstar.com

No. 31 - -December Saturday Vol. 7 No. Vol. 44 -6 Saturday 3, 2016- April 2, 2016

Vancouver’s skyline riseamid amid office-tower building boom totorise anan office-tower building boom BC’s highVancouver’s rentalVancouver’s market skyline leavesskyline some seniors Real estate outlook could be bright his spot to expect rise amid anyears office-tower building boom next two due to competition. it Suisse is optimistic building tower tower is optimistic his building will will he $240-million $240-million Credit CreditSuisse/ Suisse/ Mr.Mr. Shokri others expectnext two years due to competition. it Suisse he Shokri andand others say say theythey The landlords who will likely suffer The landlords who will likely suffer next two years due to competition. start to fill as the completion date gets closer. start to fill as the completion date gets closer. it Suisse tower is optimistic his building will on the tower street or inCredit fear ofthe homelessness SwissReal tower the heart many of the new towers to start signing SwissReal ininthe heart of of many of new towers to start signing tenant he $240-million Suisse/ Mr. Shokri and others say tenant they expectas Canadian banks roll out year-end earnings a result oflandlords the current are ownas aasresult of the current boom are ownThe who boom will likely suffer

T T

Franz Gehriger, the of CEO ofgets SwissReal Franzstart Gehriger, CEO SwissReal to fill as the the completion date closer. downtown will leases as they getget to completion. downtown Vancouver Vancouver will be heart leases as many they closer to completion.

Thattenant inbethe of ofcloser the new startThat signing The high cost ofSwissReal housingtower in Metro renting since moving totowers B.C. to from Alberta As investors adjust to current the impact ofsaid. low oil charged to homebuyers on certain loans. ers of older buildings, Mr. Shokri said.

As ers of older buildings, Mr. Shokri As as a result of the boom are ownGroup who bought the original historic Group who bought the original historic Franz Gehriger, the CEO of SwissReal completed than a ayear, but sosofar,far, will is is partly because companies in Vancouver, completedinand inless less than but partly because companies intoVancouver, downtown Vancouver beyears leases they closer completion.well, That Vancouver Victoria is year, rendering some three ago as with hisgetnew partner. prices on theolder loanbuildings, books Canada’s banks, If the U.S. Federal or the Bank of newers developments in of the suburbs, well, new developments in the suburbs, building in Reserve 2002 partof Mr. Shokri said.stock-exchange As stock-exchange building 2002 before partGroup who bought theinbefore original historic only one tenant has signed upupthan totomove in.in.butwhich do do want to be in new, energy-efficient only one tenant has signed move which want to be in new, energy-efficient completed in less a year, so far, is partly because companies in Vancouver, seniors homeless for the first time in their But nothing prepared him for the reality ofwhich sector-watchers are beginning to look at Canada start to raise interest rates, that could have already experienced higher nering with Credit Suisse to develop it, said which have already experienced higher well, new developments in the suburbs, The tenant has committed forfor a a10th of to buildings, to operate on short timelines. nering with Credit Suisseinto2002 develop said stock-exchange building beforeit,partThewhile tenant hasone committed 10th of move buildings, tend to operate on timelines. only tenant signed up in. tend which do want to be inshort new, energy-efficient lives, others are beinghas forced to leave Vancouver’s rental market when the couplevacancy the housing market and leveraged also group help bank margins, particularly for those rates inhave recent years,heavily may may have the main interested in leasing Vancouvacancy rates in already recent years, have which experienced higher the 370,000 square feet – –leaving a state offorof a 10th AsAs well, he hesaid, prices in in the newnew the main group interested in leasing Vancounering with Credit Suisse to develop it, said the 370,000 square feet leaving a state well, said, prices the The tenant has committed of buildings, tend to operate on short timelines. their communities to find affordable rents. moved there earlier this year. consumers the next potential areas of with space operations in the States. But trouble asvacancy theyascompete each other. ver office is theUnited technology ratescompete in with recent years, may have trouble as they with each other. emptiness that is unusual for an office sky- buildings will likely come 4 i Saturday, July 25, 2015down in the mainthese groupdays interested in Vancouvertheoffice space these daysthe isleasing the technology the is370,000 square feetoffice – leaving of Saturday, As he said, prices in the new emptiness unusual for incomes an skybuildings will likely come in Seniors that on low, fixed are a state for well, an apartment in Vancouver for the country’s biggest rising rates could alsomake hurt ability of some 4 “Looking i July 25, 2015down Inconcern Vancouver, the co-developer of thelenders.

Cred- sector.

Those companies their deciscraper in this city. Even so, a huge shift in trouble as they compete with each other. sector.

In Vancouver, the co-developer of the Credver office space these days is the technology Those companies make their deciemptiness that istheunusual for aninoffice skybuildings willbeen likely come scraper in this city. Even a combination huge shift particularly vulnerable to so, was unreal.

I’veSaturday, never homeless before.in theBut as the Big Six begin rolling out year- borrowers to repay their loans, and Dechaine 4 i July 25, 2015down business tenancy is expected as the region In Vancouver, the co-developer of the Cred- sector. Those companies make their deciscraper this city. as Even a huge shift in of Metro’stenancy high rents and It was quite a shock end earnings on Tuesday, kicked off by Bank said he expects bank executives to indicate business isinexpected theso,region experiences something it has not seen below vacancy rates. moving from place to of Nova Scotia, at least one analyst sees the point at which rate increases would business tenancy is expected as the region experiences something it has not seen before: an office-tower building boom much Si x t y n i ne ye arol d place to stay warm, safe residential real estate as a potential bright become a concern, “specifically as it relates to experiences something it has not seen before: an office-tower building boom much of which is speculative construction rathJohn Young, a former and dry,” he said. spot. consumer debt affordability.” fore: an office-tower building boom much of which is speculative construction rather than for specific committed tenants. business instructor with Provick said the stress “(The) housing discussion could be positive This tipping point is crucial as analysts try which is committed speculative construction rather“This thanis kind forofofspecific tenants. uncharted territory for Vanthe YMCA, said he didn’t of trying to find long-term for a change, ” Gabriel Dechaine, an analyst at to gauge the impact on the banks’ uninsured er ofthan for specific committed couver, ” said Mehdi Shokri, aterritory principal with “This is kind uncharted for Van- tenants. know where to turn housing took a particular Canaccord Genuity, told clients in a note. and unsecured consumer lending portfolios “Thisteam isShokri, kindatofAvison uncharted territory the capital markets Young. couver, ” said Mehdi a principal with for Vanafter an argument with toll on the health of “We believe recent regulatory changes including credit cards and auto loans. couver, said Mehdi Shokri, a principal with “But I don’t markets see a ”big disaster occurring. ” the capital team at Avison Young. a The roommate left him her husband, who has and the surprise rise in (long-term) rates Other analysts who track Canada’s banks Suisse is onlyteam the at most the capital markets Avison “But ICredit don’t seehad a tower big disaster occurring. ” Young. homeless.

He been Parkinson’s Disease. have improved the earnings outlook for the aren’t as optimistic as Dechaine about the visible and furthest of aasecond “But I along don’t see big disaster The Credit Suisse tower is only thewave mostoccurring.” sleeping on the couch of She said most oneCanadian mortgage business, ” the analyst potential growth prospects. of new office towers planned fortower VancouThe Credit only the most and furthest alongSuisse of a secondiswave avisible friend’s bedroom places they wrote.

Peter Routledge, an analyst at National ver and someone-bedroom key suburbs.

A first cluster visible and furthest along of a second wave of new office towers planned for Vancouapartment for the past found were going for Dechaine expects the big banks to benefit Bank Financial, says growth is likely to be of towers – some twooffice million square feet –for Vancouof new towers planned ver built and some suburbs. first cluster three years as key a way to pastAthree $2,000 a month, which from “lessened competition” as new mortgage tempered by early indications that some real was downtown in the years. ver andtwo somea key suburbs.

A first cluster ofAnother towers some square feet make ends– 11 meet was more than they could insurance rules push smaller firms whose estate markets are already slowing. He also John officeonmillion developments are – Young of towers – some two million square feet – $1,600 a month afford. Along with a city primary business is mortgage was built downtown in theofpast three years. proposed withinpension. blocks Credit Subuiltsleeping downtown the past in three years.

“IAnother spent awas week on in concrete 11 officeat developments isse’s Exchange tower Howe and Westare vacancy rate of 0.3 per cent the outlook finance to the sidelines. Additional Another 11 office are an underground parking I developments had was Pender streets, even whilelot.the office-vaproposed within blocks ofAllCredit Su- was grim. “We had no idea how desperate benefits could come in the form of proposed within blocks of Credit Sumy backpack.

I had a senior’s bus pass and the situation is (finding rental housing in potentially rising rates that would cancy in the tower region atcontinues to inch isse’s rate Exchange Howe and West isse’s Exchange tower at Howe and West would drive back and forth during the day, Vancouver).

We’ve got good credit, and we’re improve margins. up as a result of the firstwhile wave the of building.

Pender streets, even office-vaPender streets, even while the office-vaand I’ d go to the library.

It was a total shock, ” upstanding citizens.

We expected to walk Ottawa unveiled a series of But commercial brokerscontinues say the city is cancy rate in the region to inch cancy rate in in his the regiontowers. continues toininch he said, asto tears welled eyes. and find something easily. But there was measures this fall aimed at cooling not about be populated by ghost up as a result of the first wave of building. up as ahere resultI was of thesitting first wave of building.

“I kept thinking on the nothing,” said Provick. “We felt very alone, Canada’s soaring residential real But commercialcommercial brokers say the city is city is say the isolated street trying to But keep warm and I brokers used to work and frightened. We were worried the estate market, which has been not about tonot bestart populated by ghost towers. helping people their own businesses. ” next place we would be sleeping was in our fuelling a debt binge by consumers about to be populated by ghost towers.

One in five B.C. seniors, approximately car,” she said. in the prolonged low interest rate 20 per cent of the 850,000 seniors in the B.C. Housing referred the couple to the environment. province, are renters on fixed incomes. Seniors Services Society which found them The changes, which include And more than half — 58 per cent — have temporary accommodation in one of its 20 requiring many borrowers to household incomes of less than $30,000. emergency units. Seniors can stay in the qualify for mortgage insurance at It is these elderly renters living in Metro temporary units for three to six months a rate higher than their contract mortgage noted that the federal government is on a Vancouver and Victoria who are being while searching for permanent housing. rate, immediately caused several mono-line path to include the financial institutions in squeezed out of the cities’ expensive rental The couple has since moved to a subsidized, mortgage providers to reduce expectations risk-sharing on insured mortgages. market.

500 sq. ft one bedroom apartment with B.C. for loan volume growth. These channels are “The recent changes enacted by the federal The Seniors Services Society, a non-profit Housing in New Westminster and pay $403 expected to take a hit due to the anticipated Department of Finance with respect to organization in Metro Vancouver, hears from a month in rent. Even though the space is impact of the new rules on first-time mortgage finance (including risk sharing), as many as 200 seniors each month who are tight, Provick said they make it work and are homebuyers and the mortgage broker coupled with material signs of deterioration either homeless or at risk of homelessness, thankful to be safely housed. channel. emerging within the Vancouver housing said manager of operations Brian Dodd.

“I never realized these places existed The big banks, meanwhile, are expected market, signal an environment with “We’re actually quite dismayed by the (subsidized housing for seniors). You just to feel less impact, and to respond, as some questionable growth prospects,” Routledge number of people coming to us in housing hear about (residential care) homes where have already begun to do, by raising the rates said in a note to clients. distress. It’s a growing problem. The numbers seniors go into but the people who don’t have have doubled in the last year,” he said. “We the money to afford them fall between the live in an affluent society but seniors are now cracks. It really is tough,” said Shaw. falling through the cracks.”

The agency also found Young a temporary Seniors Mike Shaw and his wife Jaynee spot this week in one of the 20 temporary Provick never dreamed they would end up apartments. He’s been told he can stay there nearly homeless after giving up their $850 for three months and is still looking for a a month apartment in Langley to move to permanent solution. But the most Young Vancouver. The couple spent four months can afford for rent is $700 a month, which he depleting their savings, living in hotels, while worries will be next to impossible to find in searching to no avail for an affordable rental. the Lower Mainland where he wants to stay.

Shaw, 72, had worked all his life in the Dodd said more subsidized, B.C. Housing hospitality industry and at one time was apartments are desperately needed for a homeowner himself. He said a financial seniors, to ensure they don’t have to spend setback after a divorce meant he could no more than 30 per cent of their income on longer buy a home of his own. He’s been rent.

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Saturday, December 03, 2016

Real Estate

Foreign ownership of Canadian condos down from 2015: CMHC Foreign ownership of existing Canadian condominium units in Canada’s three biggest cities has declined in 2016 compared with the previous two years, according to a CMHC report that aims to shed light about foreign buyers on Canadian real estate.

Canadian condo ownership by foreign residents is highest in Toronto, where 2.3 per cent of units are owned by foreign residents, according to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. Vancouver and

Montreal have foreign condo ownership rates of 2.2 per cent and 1.1 per cent, respectively.

Levels of foreign condo ownership in all three cities declined from 2015, when foreign residents owned 3.3 per cent of Toronto condos, 3.5 per cent of Vancouver condos, and 1.3 per cent of Montreal condos.

Foreign ownership levels in 2014 were very similar to levels in 2015.

CHMC attributed the decline from 2015 levels to “an unusually high proportion of foreign ownership in newly constructed condominiums that year.”

Foreign condo ownership skews towards newer, larger buildings in downtown cores, said CMHC. In Toronto, 3.9 per cent of condos built in 2010 or later were owned by foreign residents, who also owned five per cent of new condos in Vancouver.

The study measured foreign condo ownership by surveying property managers in major Canadian cities about condo residents. It defined foreign residents as those “whose primary residence is outside of Canada,” rather than by nationality.

“Thus, the results of CMHC’s survey of foreign ownership should not be mistaken as a precise measure of strictly non-Canadian ownership in housing because the results include Canadian condominium owners who live abroad,” said the report.

CMHC’s findings support the theory that foreign buyers may not be driving up prices in hot urban Canadian real estate markets, said CIBC economist Benjamin Tal. “We have to realize that it is a factor, but it’s not the main factor,” said Tal, who added that Canadian policymakers might want to take a closer look at domestic homebuyers, particularly house flippers seeking quick profit.

Still, Tal said, Canadians would benefit from knowing more about why foreign buyers choose Canada — for example, whether they’re buying Canadian homes as an investment, or just as a safe place to park their cash.

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Housing prices are hurting T OECD warns Canada’s middle class, Vol. 6 No. 31

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Saturday - April 2, 2016

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Vancouver’s skyline to rise amid an office-tower building

Canada’s economy is on the upswing, but Canadian households remain vulnerable because of debt and high housing prices, according to the latest report on the economy by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development.

The Paris - based intergovernmental agency said Canada’s economy has adjusted to the fall in commodity prices, with activity shifting from the energy to non-energy sectors. It predicted Canadian GDP would grow 1.2 per cent in 2016 and 2.1 per cent in 2017, a rate slightly more optimistic than the latest predictions from the Bank of Canada.

But it warns middle-class families in Vancouver and Toronto are being squeezed by high housing prices, leaving them vulnerable to higher rates or a correction in prices.

It acknowledges recent changes in mortgage rules which could discourage buyers from entering these expensive markets, but urges “regionally focused measures” to further help with housing affordability.

A sustained period of low interest rates has encouraged Canadians to take on more credit, “with household debt continuing to edge up from already high levels,” the OECD said.

The OECD supports the federal fiscal stimulus plan, and said the government should “increase federal investment in physical infrastructure, social housing, education and innovation, as planned.”

In fact, OECD Secretary General Angel Gurría urged other countries to use the fiscal tools available to boost growth.

“The global economy has the prospect of modestly higher growth, after five years of disappointingly weak outcomes,” he said.

“In light of the current context of low interest rates, policymakers have a unique window of opportunity to make more active use of fiscal levers to boost growth and reduce inequality without

he $240-million Credit Suisse/ SwissReal tower in the heart of downtown Vancouver will be completed in less than a year, but so far, only one tenant has signed up to move in.

The tenant has committed for a 10th of the 370,000 square feet – leaving a state of emptiness that is unusual for an office skyscraper in this city. Even so, a huge shift in business tenancy is expected as the region experiences something it has not seen before: an office-tower building boom much of which is speculative construction rather than for specific committed tenants.

“This is kind of uncharted territory for Vancouver,” said Mehdi Shokri, a principal with the capital markets team at Avison Young.

“But I don’t see a big disaster occurring.”

The Credit Suisse tower is only the most visible and furthest along of a second wave of new office towers planned for Vancouver and some key suburbs. A first cluster of towers – some two million square feet – was built downtown in the past three years.

Another 11 office developments are proposed within blocks of Credit Suisse’s Exchange tower at Howe and West Pender streets, even while the office-vacancy rate in the region continues to inch up as a result of the first wave of building.

But commercial brokers say the city is not about to be populated by ghost towers.

Mr. Shokri and others say they expect many of the new towers to start signing tenant leases as they get closer to completion. That is partly because companies in Vancouver, which do want to be in new, energy-efficient buildings, tend to operate on short timelines.

As well, he said, prices in the new buildings will likely come 4 i Saturday, July 25, 2015down in the

next two years due to competition.

The landlords who will likely suffer as a result of the current boom are owners of older buildings, Mr. Shokri said. As well, new developments in the suburbs, which have already experienced higher vacancy rates in recent years, may have trouble as they compete with each other.

In Vancouver, the co-developer of the Cred-

compromising debt levels.”

In 2015, Canada was hurting because of low oil prices, the OECD said, but it believes the economy has now turned a corner.

While business investment has fallen sharply in the energy sector, and unemployment is up in oil-producing provinces, the OECD said other areas of the economy are making up for it.

A lower Canadian dollar, flexible labour

markets and monetary and fiscal policy are supporting the shift towards non-resource production, especially in the export sector, it said.

While China’s economy is expected to drift lower over the coming year, the OECD predicts an upturn in U.S. growth, which could present opportunities for Canadian exporters.

It gave a mixed report on what it expected from U.S. president-elect Donald Trump, saying the kind of infrastructure spending he promised could boost global growth.

However, it is wary of his anti-trade rhetoric.

“Protectionism and the inevitable trade retaliation would offset much of the positive effects of proposed fiscal initiatives on domestic and global growth,” said OECD chief economist Catherine L. Mann. “It would also likely raise prices, harm living standards and leave countries in a worsened fiscal position. Trade protectionism may shelter some jobs, but it will worsen prospects and lower wellbeing for many others.”

Victoria foreign buyer tax would be premature Government should not rush to impose a 15 per cent tax on foreign buyers in Victoria, despite a sudden spike in the number of home sales to non-Canadians, says the head of the Asian Real Estate Association of America’s Vancouver chapter.

In the latest figures from the B.C. government, foreign purchases in Victoria rose to 6.3 per cent of real estate sales in the Capital Regional District between Oct. 1 and Oct. 31.

That’s up from 3.3 per cent the previous month.

Meanwhile, foreign purchases have dropped sharply in Metro Vancouver since the tax took effect in August.

Tony Joe told On the Island host Gregor Craigie the statistics reflect a small increase in the actual number of sales.

About 6.3 per cent of transactions in the Capital Regional District between June 10 and Oct. 31 involved foreign purchasers, up from about 3.5 per cent in the previous report.

“We’re looking at a differential here of somewhere between 26 sales to foreign investors in one month and 42 or 43 the

second month,” Joe said.

The NDP’s housing critic, David Eby, feels the tax should be extended to Vancouver Island to prevent quickly rising housing costs that occurred in Metro Vancouver.

“It’s going to be the same on south Vancouver Island and the government shouldn’t wait until it’s a serious problem,” the VancouverPoint Grey MLA said.

But Joe and others, including Oak Bay Mayor Nils Jensen, say more time and more data is needed to determine if foreign investment threatens to skew the real estate market in the Capital Region.

it Suisse tow start to fill a Franz G Group wh stock-excha nering with the main gr ver office sp sector. Tho

31

Saturday, April 2, 2016

i 5

Saturday, December 03, 2016

-

Real Estate

15

Spike in foreign buyers sparks debate about extending 15% tax to Victoria

Saturday - April 2, 2016

- Tel: 604-591-5423 -

E-mail: ads@theasianstar.com

couver’s skyline to rise amid an office-tower building boom

edit Suisse/ he heart of er will be , but so far, to move in. or a 10th of ng a state of n office skyhuge shift in s the region not seen beboom much uction rathted tenants. tory for Vanrincipal with vison Young. r occurring.” nly the most second wave for Vancoufirst cluster square feet – three years. pments are Credit Sue and West he office-vanues to inch of building. y the city is host towers.

Mr. Shokri and others say they expect many of the new towers to start signing tenant leases as they get closer to completion. That is partly because companies in Vancouver, which do want to be in new, energy-efficient buildings, tend to operate on short timelines.

As well, he said, prices in the new buildings will likely come 4 i Saturday, July 25, 2015down in the

next two years due to competition.

The landlords who will likely suffer as a result of the current boom are owners of older buildings, Mr. Shokri said. As well, new developments in the suburbs, which have already experienced higher vacancy rates in recent years, may have trouble as they compete with each other.

In Vancouver, the co-developer of the Cred-

it Suisse tower is optimistic his building will start to fill as the completion date gets closer.

Franz Gehriger, the CEO of SwissReal Group who bought the original historic stock-exchange building in 2002 before partnering with Credit Suisse to develop it, said the main group interested in leasing Vancouver office space these days is the technology sector. Those companies make their deci-

The rising number of foreign buyers snapping up properties in the Victoria area is sparking debate about bringing Metro Vancouver’s 15 per cent tax on foreign buyers to the capital region as well.

About 6.3 per cent of transactions in the Capital Regional District in October involved foreign purchasers, according to the latest figures released by the province yesterday.

That’s up from about 3.5 per cent since the last report in September.

The Victoria area is now only second to Richmond, where 6.7 per cent of transactions involved foreign buyers. It’s also seeing higher foreign investment than Vancouver, which came in at 2.5 per cent. That has some critics calling for the 15 per cent foreign buyers tax to be expanded to the Capital Regional District.

“The government shouldn’t wait until it’s a serious problem,” said NDP housing critic David Eby. “They should simply impose the tax on south Vancouver Island so that there is a level playing field for buyers and there’s not this weird distortion effect created by this tax that

#106 - 7565 132 St. Surrey, BC 604.572.3005

is not very well thought out.”

When the foreign buyers tax was brought in for Metro Vancouver in early August there was concern it would push investors into other hot housing markets in the province.

B.C. Finance Minister Mike de Jong said he is watching the upward trend in the Victoria market closely. “We structured the tax in a way that would allow, if we make the decision, for a geographic area to be added and to be captured by the 15 per cent tax,” he said.

Oak Bay Mayor Nils Jensen, who personally visits new homeowners in his community, said he’s not surprised the latest numbers show a rise in foreign buyers.

But Jensen said he still wants to see a longer period of data collection before a tax is considered for the Victoria area.

“Is it a cause for concern? No. It is offshore investment and I think in the long run, that is good. We have new people coming into our community and we welcome them.”

The president of the Victoria Real Estate Board also says more data is needed before implementing a foreign buyers tax in the Capital Regional District.

“The provincial government has only been measuring it for a short period of time,” said Mike Nugent.

“We don’t have a year’s worth or two year’s worth of data where we can point to it a lot closer just to know even if it’s not a seasonal difference.

0 By: Asian Star ADVT.

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Vol. 6 No. 31

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Spectacular! Estate home on 14.827 Acres of high yield blueberry farm. Luxury NEW regal unfolds with the stunning front foyer, dual staircases, and elevated catwalk.

LIS The TIN& walk great room is situated next to a gourmet chef kitchen w/ separate wok kitchen G Beautiful 800 sq.ft 1 bedroom apartment in media a highly desirable and room, beautifully in pantry. A room, yoga/ area exercise 8 bedrooms & multiple entertaining round outand thisdoor spectacular out upon south views of Mt. Baker or the maintained complex! Great floor rooms plan with patio off livinghome. roomGaze overlooking north views of the North Shore Mountains from outdoor patios situated both upstairs stunning courtyard, ponds and waterfall.

LargeThis openiskitchen with great Radiant in and down. true luxury at itsstorage. best! The farm features healthy mature blueberry Duke, and Reca fee. ensuring crops throughout the season. Fully floor h/w heating and gas fireplacevarieties are included in Elliott, the maintenance In-suitesteady laundry, automated irrigation. Too much to list! Book a showing today! Asking $4,999,900

PLATINUM AWARD

A

MILLION

PRIME OFFICE SPACE FOR LEASE

CUSTOM TEELS &ABRICATION F BUSINESSOR ALEFS

For sale Prime 1489 Sq ft office space for sale in busy retail/office complex in Surrey.

Ideal for a variety of office types. Visible from 152 and centrally located. Asking Established steel abrication and business. aluminum eat Gr f $350,000 custom

opportunity our to business with services that include: aluminum welding and repair, custom and stock trailers, mobile welding service, crane fabrication, fabrication of residential gates, security bars and much more! Mon– Fri operation closed on weekends. Please contact me for more details on this hard to Asset Sale- DBA "Pharmasave" well established franchise operating since June 2012. Increasing annual script come by opportunity! Asking $149,000

own camps, run Birthday Parties, y pre School Classes and Kidz Night out programs. Please Summer to contact listing Realtor for more info on this unique opportunity. Asking $79,000

PHARMASAVE FRANCHISE

OFFICE FOR LEASE IN PAYAL BUSINESS CENTRE

ATTENTION TRUCKERS!

CUISINE

week, very busy location take out with availability for seating if desired. Tons of tourists year round, central to major sites in Hope and integral area near grocery stores, city hall, local police station, motels andand cinema.

Well established, sales and a complete Well known established Lighthouse Franchisegreat on King George & 80th in Surrey. Take out turn key operation will long!TheAsking $199,000 establishment and Partythat Orders arenot alsolast handled. website for all franchise locations is www.lighthouse.menu and they are on Facebook

BUSINESS FOR SALE

CONVENIENCE TORE S &

Don't miss this chance to run your own buy Convenience store/Mini mart! This well established business is well or-ganized, excellent set up, with all your essential sundries for sale as well as lottery AND Great opportunitytoto run own signage and location! printing business!

Thisarea established key operation offers all the licensing sellyour Pizza at this Busy nearturnparks, varieties ofresidences banners and signs, wraps, window graphics lettering LED Channel & 3Dofletters and awning schools, it vehicle is the perfect small &business!

Ample canopies and window graphics.

Established for five low lease, builtkey up clientele make this a great business opportunity to add your ideas to anyears, already turn operation! opportunity!

Contact me forsmall more details.

Askingprospect! $99,000 Asking $149,000 Don't miss this great business

SIGNAGE & PRINTING BUSINESS FOR SALE

N LIS EW TIN G

ITALIAN

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$349,000

(15299 VE)

CENTRE

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Well established .Babyvestment UltrasoundinFranchise, 3D/4D ultrasound (not diagnostic), Private clinic for pregnant moms.ey Excellent opportunity o etail twefront r stor units in al Plaza Full turn key operation this easy to run niche market business e,is perfectStor for oindividuals or couples with is sale. Gr$899,000 Currently ocery leased to this or a Asking units f tw Medical/Health industry backgrounds. Beautifully set up office, low lease rate, excellent hours and easy to run with low overhead expenses. Professionals and New Immigrants with a healthcare background this is a perfect opportunity! Burnaby and Abbotsford locations available. Asking $125,000 each location

t

REDUCED

ACREAGE FOR SALE IN REGINA - SASKATCHEWAN GREAT INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY! D D

L 4 acres, Hotel and development site available in the SO City of Regina, Saskatchewan. Prime location, not to be missed! Contact for more details.

SOL

Don't miss this rare opportunity to own your own busy Lighthouse Indian Cuisine Franchise! Prime location in Brickyard Station Plaza this fantastic business has Take out and dine in, beautiful décor, quality kitchen, Full Liquor license and full Indian Cuisine 95Menu.

AveComplete & 152 940 sqft. is available for franchise. Contact me today for further turnSt., key operation enablesof�ice you to bespace your own boss with this established lease 2nd �loor including 3 small of�ices, meeting room info. on Asking $389,000 and reception. Also available 9400 sqft. space for lease.

LOTS OF EXPOSURE.

UNIT FOR SALE

In Mughal Garden plaza 2 units available, approx 4875 sqft.Already leased to long term tenants, to be sold together. Asking $1.25 million

OFFICE SPACE FOR SALE

BUSINESS FOR SALE

NEWNG I LIST

Downtown core. atmosphere 2 bed, and 2 bath a fantastic ambiance. Perfect casual dining for 850 sq.ft locals home to as use as traffic. a rental as well tourist Turn key operation ready for you to property.implement Askingyour $349,000 dreams as a restaurant owner! Asking $219,000

Approx. 3100 SF of office space available for sale in the busiest plaza in Surrey. Close to Banquet Halls, retailshops & offices. Asking $749,000

QUIZNOS FRANCHISE FOR SALE

Excellent opportunity to own your own franchise! Well established and recognized

Established Indian Sweets and Restaurant business located in high Quiznos Subs in Port Coquitlam will enable you to achieve your entrepreneurial traffic area of Scott Rd, Surrey. Wide variety vegetarian menu with dreams! Busy plaza with Earls, Safeway, Scotiabank, McDonalds, Bosley Pet Valu and much more! Residences and commercial businesses all around sweets. Can be expanded to add non vegetarian dishes to the menu. makes this an ideal location. Owners have run it for several years Catering services provided regular clientele. Seating for 50. Complete and are now ready to retire. Contact me for more details regarding turn key restaurant great business opportunity! Asking $129,000 this business opportunity. Asking $119,000

LE ASE

$465,000,

#706

$335,000

SURREY VERAS BURGER FRANCHISE FOR SALE

building

to be your own boss! Contact listing realtor for more details. Price : $339,000

J.J AINI S

PLAZA

VERAS BURGER FRANCHISE

8077 eas t KING GEORGE BLVD. The perfect retail

corner unit in busy plaza move in ready. Approx 1200 sq ft perfect for fast food, of�ice or retail Looking close for the perfect franchise well look no more! Established and award space. Easy access to highway, to all winning Vera's in busy Meadow Town Center with major anchors like amenities on Busy King George Hwy.Burgers Great Opportunity contact me today. Superstore, Cineplex Odeon, and many major Financial Institutions and major

retailers. Fully turn key operation with extra large patio, good lease, low franchise fees and beer licence. Current absentee owner this business is a great opportunity to be your own boss and take it to the next level! Asking $229,900

AUTO

BOD Y SHOPOR FSALE

Established auto y or bod shop our sale f own y! be boss y toda L NE IST W Well established ell anduto equipped e w Car A Center which IN G offers complete car &epair. truck inspection, service The ect perf opportunity our to own run businessy with a well ecognized r and established ve . automoti center Contact realtor or ef mor Askingdetails. $139,000 Magnificent luxury estate situate don 8.5 acres with over 8100 sq. ft of living space. Home includes 6 bdrms, 8 washrooms, a separate guest house and fruit stand. 5 acres has blueberry plants as well.

OFFICE ACE SPpossesses OR everyASE F possible LEwith high ceilings, crown molding, stainless This stunning home luxury steel appliances,Granite counter tops, open floor plan, large gym room, grand patio, sundecks, 8927 152 .,Approx.

St . 1100 of�ice or sqft vailable space lease inf a built in vacuum, top of the line security system, separate wok kitchen and much more! This home is situated in thestr middleSurr of serene farmland yet only two minutes away from Guildford ea ar on eet gorgeous152nsd ey.in Aldergrove Town centre and with quick access to Hwy #1. The second house is rented as well as fruit VE to advantage T& S stall.Rare opportunity of this stunning home! Call120 today for a personal viewing.

4020 272 ST, LANGLEY

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J.J SAINI PLAZA

Station, restaurant and Public Transit. This space has 2 offices inside and lunch room as well as washroom. Perfect for Accountants, Notary, Great opportunity to get into a Franchised and or other consulting or Lawyer. The space can also be Immigration Located in a busy commercial plaza in the ED easy to operate Candy business! This established DUCuses as well. 1260 Sq. ft. converted heart of Surrey. Lots of traf�ic and close to franchise is located in Ocean Park Shopping Centerfor various REretail

INVESTOR OPP ORTUNITY NEW FRANCHISE 2590 sqft . etail R ande Of�ic Investment Opportunity in Hope.

ITALIAN RESTAURANT FOR SALE CUISINE Sq.A treasure ft gem large Lot Fully of Italian cuisine tucked away in Hope! Open for lunch space for LIGHTHOUSE sale INDIAN Asking $649,000 7200 renovated home closerestaurant to the and dinner this quaint serves traditional Italian classics in NEWNG I LIST

SP

sqft

r

UNIT OR FASE LE ON T 72 & 132 Available for lease. Opp JR Furniture. Good mix of warehouse and of�ice space. Centrally DONAIR BUSINESS located in light industrial zoning.

Of�ice for eat vestment sale! In Gr FOR ALE S #1 1016 Sq cellent xposure, Ft e 12,000 op S.F. ExRETAIL t �loor of�ice y space Khalsa within the MORE 1000 TO & OFFICE SPACE Amazing opportunity to be your own boss!

St Business Cent er x. comple ull ea F ar eddesignat or oom f classr space and addition Established Donair food outlet in prime busy AVAILABLE FOR SALE & LEASE of�ice space. ake vantage T ad ons of ofxposure t om visual fr . 128th e af�ic High st tr area in Langley. Already steady clientele from 128 and 84.

CD zoning allows v ft 2 gr in opportunity . $325,000.00 the ous numer businesses ounding, surr tons complexof eat vestment 2traf�ic and lots of opportunity to expand the #2. 1920 sq ft of second vate �loor of�ices, droom,of�iceboar space. in business further. Low lease, and great area reception ea,ar chenette. kit cellent Ex xposure, e op t �loor of�ice y space wit make this the perfect turn key operation to own Khalsa Business er Cent x. comple ake vantage T ad ons of of xposure t visual fr e om 8077 KING GEORGE BLVD. Great unit available for lease facing King your own business today! Asking $99,000 128th af�ic xcomple eat tr tovestment gr inGas opportunity . $550,000 George Blvd.. Greatstvisual and High retail exposure.

Close shopping,

Westward Inn also close to the Greyhound station, taxi stop bus stand plaza Banquet in Halls, Surr APARTMENT and many apartments near by. Excellent location & turn key operation.

FOR S $79,000 This is an opportunity not to beALE missed! Asking

space theClose

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A

NEW LISTING

DREAM PIZZA FOR SALE

S

#705

RES TAURANT OR F ALE S

restaurant serves traditional Italian classics in a fantastic atmosphere and ambiance. Perfect casual dining for locals as well as tourist traf�ic.

Perfectkey opportunity to beready your own this well established Pizza Turn operation forboss youwith to implement plaza. your dreams a restaurant & Indian Cuisineas in Langley.

Runningowner! successfully for the Last five years Asking with excellent daily$219,000 sales. Close to Days Inn, The Best Western &

$209,000 busy

PIZZA RESTAURANT FOR SALE IN MAPLE RIDGE

ATTENTION FOREIGN MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS!!!

2 BABY ULTRASOUNDUNITS FRANCHISES FOR SALE! OR ALE F S

list N

Pizza, Pasta, and Chicken etc. Additionally, the kitchen has a full commercial/industrial kitchen infrastructure in place which is perfect for catering and food manufacturing. This unique concept allows for the combination of both. maintained, quality equipment this turntucked key operation AWell treasure gem of Italian cuisine awayis ready to go! Contact term in tenants, bequaint sold Hope!

Open for lunch and dinner this Listing realtor for more details. to Asking $139,900

units long

N LIS EW TIN G

RET ACEOFFICE LE

Two adjoining of�ices in a new across om fr SMH. ht Can or be boug Wellleased established Vera's busy Fraser ogether t Burger orfFranchise otal located a onspace t Highway of in is Cloverdale. Well an maintained. establishment full turn key operation ready for you 1600 sqft ate. or separ

OPPOR

COMMERCIAL KITCHEN AND RESTAURANT FOR SALE

CAFÉ FOR SALE

uses.

Asking

GREAT TUNITY PREMIUM OFFICEFRANCHISE SPACE FOR SALE

term home for their business. limited.

Call today for more details.af Fully �inished ySpace isside ataside b or units strotal t of ox. appr 5540 . vailable sqft A or f sale. o Close Port ells K Industrial ea. ary Eas o access both t Highway aci�ic 1becomes available! hway Hig and ossing.

Ptruck cr Amazing opportunity that rarely This unique business offers

UNIT ORF SALE

businesses

sale

by fall 2016, this state if the art steel and concrete building will CUISINEcompleted 104A VE offer a mixture of retail and17358 office space to professionals looking for a long

Approx. vailableSFin orthe heart f of of sale Ridge on of�ice in ey.

Busy, established Pizza and3100 Pasta restaurant Maple retailshops & Asking of�ices. $749,000 Lougheed Hwy. Offers extensive menu plus School bookings, Catering for parties/meetings etc. Full website.

This business qualifies Sfor LMI. TakeKHALS advantageBUSINESS UNIT OR ALE F T AA of many hotels, businesses in the area as well as residences. Complete turn key Take vantage ad eat of vestment in this opportunity! gr ound Ideal etail/�loor Gr high eys in busy Surr Khalsa Business operation.

Askingceilings $159,900

UNITS OR F SALE &

Located in the heartraser of Surrey in Payalverdale Business Centre, thisaroffice iswprofessionally designed. 5yoffices, Located on , Hwy F Cloea, ell established business, o reception area, separate lunch room and full washroom.

1200Asking Sqr ft Gross lease$69,900 $20.00/sq ft +gst. maintain, higher monthl y evenue.

S

Unique and established opportunity to make your entrepreneurial dream come true! This beautiful Café in the heart of White Rock is a small business owners dream! Tastefully decoratedInexcellent breakfast and lunch menu and rarely 2 den Mughal plaza Gar available, licenseox appr .Already 4875 leased tons of to found…Liquor as well! Outdoor seating back and front ofsqft premises, together. Asking $1.25 million parking and many, many more high rises coming in the area currently make this a business owners dream come true. Turn key business ready and waiting for you!

RETAIL ACE before VAILABLE SPviewingAthe business.

Confidentiality agreement will have to be signed ., Surrey. cellent 128 Ex locationSt Asking in Asking $149,900 8321 F

OFFICE SPACE FOR LEASE Hair alon S Business for OLD

Don't miss this rare opportunity to own your own busy Lighthouse Indian Cuisine Franchise! locationtoinrun Brickyard Plaza the Lower Mainland.

IdealPrime opportunity your ownStation turn key business this fantastic business has Take out and dine in, beautiful décor, quality in a niche Asking Menu. $279,900 kitchen, Fullmarket.

LiquorContact license for andmore full details.

Indian Cuisine Complete turn key operation enables you to be your own boss with this established franchise. Contact me today for further info. Asking $389,000

ACE SP OR ALE

BUSINESS

Great ranchise F opportunity ed! yjust Bus 8318 Scott Road iser offering medicalMall and other an f Coquitlam Cent or professionals location oss Chop opportunity to purchase office space in Surey, BC. Set to be Franchise! ont W premiumlast Asking long! $158,800

TOWING COMPANY FORINDIAN SALE LIGHTHOUSE Established and reputable towing company that serves clients throughout

OFFICE

with ell this established w LEA Pizza & Indian lease.

Cuisine in y. unning Langle R successfull y or f the veLast ears y�ixcellent with yedail sales.

Close o second ys t DaofficeInn, The & Best W The perfect floor spaceestern for lease Within busy Triton Westward Inn o also eyhound the closeGr t Centre.

Busy and growing area makes this an ideal location for your station, taxi op st bus y stand and man office. Contactnear listing realtor details.

1985 Sq.ft.&ey apartments y. cellent bfor more Ex location ation. turn oper Thisk opportunity o not be Asking t missed! $139,900

MINI MAR T

as well. This business has been established in 2009 and has been run by the same owner since this time. As it is a take out and delivery.

Establishment there is not a liquor license at this location. Asking $549,000

franchise surrounded by highrises, residences, new developments, commercial businesses and more. This location does school hot lunches and a large amount of catering ordering as well! Do not approach staff please contact listing realtor for more details. Asking $209,000

many types of professional users who are seeking a high quality facility with great exposure.

Highlights include: State of the art facility with modern finishes, Underground secured parking provided. Free on site surface parking, more than 3 parking stalls per 1000 Sq ft. 24/7 13737 96 ve, Central location entre A with City security with HD recording privilege. easy access to allCmajor routes.

FOB access and intercom. Please contact listing realtor for details on remaining space, square footage and pricing details.

SED

COLLECTION / CREDIT COMPANY FOR SALE- ONE IN A MILLION OPPORTUNITY!

INDIAN

PITA PIT FRANCHISE

be missed! or e Contact mor f NEW LEASING OPPORTUNITY details.

The Mann Corporate Centre is comprised of 23,000 square feet of 'A' Class office/retail space MORE 1000 Oa custom open floor 12,000 . forTyour preference.

AIL S.F The & over three floors.

A brand new facility with plan FOR flexibility ALEandSallowsASE & Mann Corporate centre has beenAVAILABLE designed to provide maximum for

OFFICE SPACE FOR LEASE BUSINESS OR F SALE

BUSINESS OR F SALE &

N LIS EW TIN G

Magni�icent luxury estate situate don 8.5 acres with over 8100 sq. ft of living space. Home includes 6 bdrms, 8 washrooms, a separate guest house and fruit 5 acres Pita has blueberry plants as well. This Wellstand. established Pit stunning home possesses every luxury possible with high ceilings, crown molding, stainless steel Franchise in rapid growing appliances,Granite counter tops, open �loor plan, large gym room, grand patio, sundecks, built in vacuum, top of the line security system, separate wok kitchen and much more! gorgeous home is situated in the Brentwood area ofThis Burnaby! middle of serene farmland yet only two minutes away from Aldergrove Town centre and with quick access R are oppor tunit y to to Hwy #1. The second house is rented as well as fruit stall.Rare opportunity to advantage of this stunning purchase a well established home! Call today for a personal viewing.

count of approx 12,000/annum. Approx 2400 sq ft of ground floor space leased space w/5 year, 5yr, 5 yr lease + 1 st right refusal to tenant option to purchase the building. Open six days/week (6) doctor offices, High end Kroll software, and Oscar CRM software in use. Lease area of 2,400 sq.ft. Customized tenancy improvements.

Perfect officeDream space available forPizza leaseale with great or FS street exposure. Great Business is run professionally by a Health Group Companyenormouslocated expansion potential! willarea of Scott Rd, Surrey.

Established Indian Sweets andCare Restaurant business in highOwner traf�ic Perfect opportunity o our beFt $19.00 own t /sq y Ft + boss industries.

969 Sq GST Gross provide training.

Asking $1,250,000 Wide arietyContact egetarian v me forv more details. menu eets. with xpanded Can sw tobe egetarian add e dishes non office to space v for various the

PIZZA

2010

2010

PAYAL BUSINESS CENTRE - 82 Ave & 128 St

established with love and a business owners delight don't miss this opportunity!

Please oach do staff, not ealtor contact or Nappry LIS EW TIN info required. Asking $75,000 G

23 years Established Credit Company for sale. Retail and Commercial collections, Judgments, Tenancy Order Collection, loans and outstanding invoices.Take Fantastic opportunity to run your own Pizza & Indian Cuisine advantage of this unique niche4.5/5 business opportunity.

Asking $229,000 business!

Excellent food, rated by customers open 7 days a

it Suisse tow start to fill a Franz G Group wh stock-excha nering with the main gr ver office sp sector. Tho

2013-2014 FOR SALE

Attention Truckers! Permitted use for Transportation Industry and more. IL zoned LEARNING CENTRE FOR SALE Attention learning centers, Early Childhood Education related businesses, Teachers and land available. Two side by side lots that are ACREAGE ORthatFenjoy ALE S with children!

IN GINA S others with Educational backgrounds working Your dream to RE own ASKATCHEWAN to be sold together. House is since your business has arrived. Reputable and established Bricks 4Kidz Franchise has over 320 franchises worldwide!AT This GRE unique business can be run from home or elsewhere. The ORTUNITY! INVES TMENT OPP demolished. Commercial Land only. Please f listing an r exclusive Franchise territory for Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows and Mission Fantasticacr 4 is for sale.es, el Hot velopment and de contact for more details. Asking $649,000 recession proof business that enable children from 3-13+ learn and build with Lego bricks. site vailable in the egina, City of R Teach the fundamentals of S.T.E.M. (science, technology, engineering & mathematics).

This a each. not Saskatchewan.

Prime location, unique business offers in School Workshops, After School Enrichment Classes, Week long

Special occasions and even Private plan includes a large living room with gasShowers, f/p which Birthdays, open up ton Anniversaries, the spacious eating area. Extra large kitchen with lots of Wedding ceremonies. Wait...there's more! This beautiful treasure of a cabinets and counter space. Large laundrybusiness room, inoffers floor radiant heat,select extra shelving closets, 2 parking stallslinens, and storage gorgeous apparel,infurnishings, jewelry, gifts, locker. Great location with easy access tovintage shopping,treasures transit & Highway 91 & 99.

PleaseA call listing realtor for more info. and home décor. beautiful, breathtaking turnkey operation this is a chance to own a niche business created and Asking $329,900

next two years due to competition.

The landlords who will likely suffer as a result of the current boom are owners of older buildings, Mr. Shokri said. As well, new developments in the suburbs, which have already experienced higher vacancy rates in recent years, may have trouble as they compete with each other.

In Vancouver, the co-developer of the Cred-

MASTER AWARD

Office for lease: Located in the heart of Surrey in Payal Business Centre , this office is professionally designed. 5 offices, reception area, separate lunch room and full washroom. 1200 Sq ft. $2000 per month + GST

BUSINESS OR ALE S F

menu. Catering services provided regular clientele. Seating for 50. Complete turn key restaurant great business opportunity! Asking $129,000

2011, 2012 2006-2007 2011, 2012

E-mail: ads@the

FOR 4020SALE 272 T, S/ LEASE LANGLEY

8318 oad ofRa business ering is Columbia;cott this Streasure consistsmedical of 32 off and other pr to expand an up to 50 rooms. opportunity t rooms with theofessionals potential Itso purchase emium pr of�ice space ey, in Sur also includes a 110 seat pub, fully licensed resaturant BC. o Set beed t y allcomplet b f 2016, this his and hers closet. PLUS 2 underground secured parking stalls with loads of visitor parking. and astate Liquor store with lot size close to 45,000 sqft.ete Ideal art Storage locker on main floor for added convenience. Close to shopping, schools, restaurants if eel the and concr st for BC PNP or run yourer own business and easy access to Hwy 99, 91 and Hwy 10. Asking $250,000 building will off and ae achieve etailyourmixtur of and r A very rare opportunity to own a beautiful Parisian feel Salon/Café in entrepreneurialspace dreams!

Contact details. of�ice o ofessionals t prfor more looking or f a Historic Abbotsford.

Wellspace established, with overlooking a loyal client this Spacious 2 bedroom and 2 bath condo with over 1300 sq. ft.establishment of living with a beautiful viewfollowing of the inside home or ftheir business. Space Askingerm $2,599,000 beautiful ers offy all brunch,da ea.

Lunch long and t Afternoon T courtyard and pond! Well maintained property with laminate floors, crown moulding and neutral paint.

This open floor In addition, this beautiful café offers so much more! Reservations for is ed. limitoday Callor et f mor details.

ONE IN

- Tel: 604-591-5423 -

PREC PREC

2006-2007 2004-2005 2008-2009 2004-2005 2013-2014 2008-2009

#106 Group 7565 132 St.,Coast Surrey.

BC. Sutton - West Realty PH:604-572-3005 FAX: 778-574-4174 #106 7565 132 St., Surrey. BC. PH:604-572-3005 FAX: 778-574-4174

Saturday - April 2, 2016

he $240-million Credit Suisse/ Mr. Shokri and others say they expect SwissReal tower in the heart of many of the new towers to start signing tenant downtown Vancouver will be leases as they get closer to completion. That completed in less than a year, but so far, is partly because companies in Vancouver, only one tenant has signed up to move in. which do want to be in new, energy-efficient The tenant has committed for a 10th of buildings, tend to operate on short timelines. the 370,000 square feet – leaving a state of As well, he said, prices in the new emptiness that is unusual for an office sky- buildings will likely come 4 i Saturday, July 25, 2015down in the scraper in this city. Even so, a huge shift in business tenancy is expected as the region experiences something it has not seen before: an office-tower building boom much of which is speculative construction rather than for specific committed tenants.

“This is kind of uncharted territory for Vancouver,” said Mehdi Shokri, a principal with the capital markets team at Avison Young.

“But I don’t see a big disaster occurring.”

The Credit Suisse tower is only the most visible and furthest along of a MASTER second wave PLATINUM of new office towers planned for VancouAWARD AWARD ver and some key suburbs. A first cluster of towers – some two million square feet – was built downtown in the past three years.

Another 11 office developments are proposed within blocks of Credit Suisse’s Exchange tower at Howe and West Pender streets, even while the office-vacancy rate in the region continues to inch up as a result of the first wave of building.

But commercial brokers say the city is not about to be populated by ghost towers.

DIAMOND AWARD

WINNER OF FVREB’s TOP ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS

-

Vancouver’s skyline to rise amid an office-tower building

BEAUTIFUL TURN KEY A SPALON / OR FSALES

near major anchor Safeway. This rapidly growing franchise currently has 22 locations within BC and Alberta. With unique product Imported from the US and UK this franchise is completely turn –key and full training provided. This easy to run business is perfect for a couple and for those Established auto body shop for sale be your own boss today! wanting to try their hand at being an entrepreneur.

Asking $79,900 Well established and well equipped Auto Care Center which offers complete car &

INVESTOR OPPORTUNITY

Investment Opportunity in Hope. 7200 Sq. ft large Lot Fully renovated home close to the Downtown core. 2 bed, 2 bath 850 sq.ft home to use as a rental property. Asking $349,000

CONVENIENCE STORE & MINI MART

Don't miss this chance to run your own buy Convenience store/Mini mart! This well established business is well or-ganized, excellent set up, with all your essential sundries for sale as well as lottery AND the licensing to sell Pizza at this location! Busy area near parks, schools, residences it is the perfect small business! Ample of opportunity to add your ideas to an already turn key operation! Don't miss this great small business prospect! Asking $149,000

public transportation, restaurants, of�ice and retail shops. Established recently the spa and salon offers modern décor up to date equipment/furnishings. Excellent turn key operation. Asking R $60,000

AUTO BODY SHOP FOR SALE

truck inspection, service and repair. The perfect opportunity to run your own business with a well recognized and established automotive center. Contact realtor for more details. Asking $109,000

EDUCED29/07

Office for sale! Great Investment #1 1016 Sq Ft Excellent exposure, top floor office space within the busy Khalsa Business Center complex. Full area designated for classroom space and additional office space. Take advantage of tons of visual exposure from 128th st. High traffic complex great investment opportunity. $325,000 #2. 1920 sq ft of second floor office space. Includes 10 private offices, boardroom, reception area, kitchenette.

Excellent exposure, top floor office space within the busy Khalsa Business Center complex. Take advantage of tons of visual exposure from 128th st. High traffic complex great investment opportunity. $550,000

02/12