Asian Star - January 21, 2017

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

Vol 15 - Issue 51

Saturday, January 21, 2017

180 NRIs from Canada in Punjab to help AAP

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Dozens more on the way About 180 Canadian NRIs, some of whom are quite critical of the SAD-BJP government and had boycotted the visits of Akali and Congress leaders abroad, have arrived in Punjab to boost the campaign of AAP.

of foreign countries invited the NRIs to support the party if they desired change in governance. AAP spokespersons said the first batch of Punjabi NRIs from Canada arrived today in a special KLM flight that landed at Indira Gandhi Airport, New Delhi, at 1 pm. The second batch of NRIs from UK would land on January 24. Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia and AAP’s overseas convener Kumar Vishwas gave a warm welcome to them at the airport.

Surinder Mavi, Canadian NRIs being welcomed to Punjab by AAP supporters convener of ‘Chalo An estimated 35,000 NRIs will be Punjab’ campaign in Toronto, led the first reaching the state within next few days batch of 180 NRIs. He said they had come to help AAP. Party’s national convener to Punjab to ensure defeat of the SAD-BJP Arvind Kejriwal had in tours of a number alliance and the Congress.

South Asian lottery winner defrauded women August 2012 was a good month for Darshan Dhaliwal. He had been out of work for almost a year but, in an instant, thanks to the lottery he played every time the jackpot grew too big to resist, his fortunes changed.

Dhaliwal had a winning ticket. He was a millionaire and suddenly went from being unemployed to being interviewed at an Ontario Lottery and Gaming prize centre, holding an oversized cheque for “One Million Dollars,” and telling a reporter that he had had to “splash water” on his face when his lucky numbers came up because he couldn’t

quite believe that they did.

“This is life changing,” Dhaliwal told his local newspaper, South Asian Focus.

“I had a feeling I was going to win one day.”

Dhaliwal had plans for his new-found wealth. He spoke of buying a new car and a new house. It is not known whether he ever made those purchases.

But police in Peel Region allege that the 40-year-old Brampton, Ont., man never tired of telling his alleged targets about his lottery win and his great riches.

Continued on Page 7...

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Jujhar Khaira’s goal is a win for diversity in hockey Jujhar Khaira can still remember imagining the moment he’d score his first NHL goal: he was playing street hockey as a child in his hometown of Surrey, B.C. On Monday, his vision became reality when he helped the Edmonton Oilers to a 3-1 victory over the Arizona Coyotes by scoring the game-winning goal.

“You always picture it in your head,” Khaira told reporters after the game. “It feels good.”

Continued on Page 6...

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Saturday, January 21, 2017

Alex Fraser Bridge to get additional lane The often snarled Alex Fraser Bridge is getting a new counterflow lane according to an announcement by the provincial government.

The lane will be created by narrowing the

six existing lanes and removing shoulders, and will run northbound with the flow of rush hour in the mornings, and southbound in the afternoons.

A moveable barrier, similar to one used on the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, will be used to position the lane.

The government claims commuters can expect to save six minutes during the morning rush hour and 12 to 16 minutes during the afternoon rush.

The total cost of the project, which is expected to be completed in the spring of 2018, is $70 million.

The speed limit on the bridge will be reduced from 90 kilometres per hour to 70.

Congestion and accidents are a daily frustration for commuters who use the Alex Fraser.

It is believed that even more drivers will redirect to the Alex Fraser if the government goes ahead with its plans to replace the George Massey Tunnel with a toll bridge.

Ken Cameron, a planning and transportation consultant, adjunct professor at SFU and UBC and a former manager of policy and planning at Metro Vancouver, says he’s doubtful the extra lane will help the region’s traffic woes.

“You don’t ease congestion by building more capacity,” he told On The Coast guest host Laura Lynch. “If you provide more capacity, it will fill up with traffic, unless you do things to alter the pattern of growth in the region and provide alternative forms of transportation.”

Overdose crisis warrants public welfare emergency, say opposition MPs A Surrey Liberal MP says more data is required before the federal government will declare a public welfare emergency in B.C., something the opposition Conservatives and NDP are calling for.

Under federal law a public welfare emergency can be called when a natural disaster, disease, or accident endangers life, property, social disruption or a breakdown in the flow of essential goods, services or resources, so seriously as to be a national emergency. It allows the government to

take special measures including setting up emergency shelters and hospitals.

Fleetwood-Port Kells MP Ken Hardie says invoking such a state is almost akin to the War Measures Act, but it remains on the table as the crisis develops. “We need to find out if it’s the appropriate tool, the one that’s actually going to create a difference and work,” he told On The Coast guest host Laura Lynch. “Or, are we in a situation where the tools we have at our disposal now, applied the right way, can get the results we want?”

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Inflation heats up to 1.5% in December as higher gas prices offset cheaper food The cost of living in Canada increased by 1.5 per cent last month, as slightly more expensive gasoline prices helped offset slightly cheaper food prices.

Statistics Canada reported Friday that seven of the eight components it tracks were more expensive in December compared to November. The transportation index, which includes gas, and the shelter index, which includes rental costs, were the biggest contributors to the upswing.

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The food index was the lone laggard, declining for the third consecutive month. Consumers paid 1.3 per cent less for food in December than they did in the same month a year ago.

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OPINION

Saturday, January 21, 2017

Trudeau’s challenges: Trump, taxes and energy When Justin Trudeau shuffled his federal cabinet last week, it signalled he’s taking the next United States president seriously. Finding the right mix of people to work with White House officials is important. But government policies also matter. Our prime minister will need to do more to keep Canada competitive and protect Canadian jobs.

Donald Trump is ready to upend U.S. policy on everything from trade to defence treaties to immigration. But the president-elect’s domestic proposals on taxes and energy are Canada’s greater challenges.

The Trump administration intends to move quickly to cut the business tax rate from 35 to 15 per cent. Add the four per cent average corporate tax applied by state and local governments and the new U.S. tax rate could soon effectively be a cool 19 per cent, about eight points lower than Canada’s 27 per cent average when federal and provincial rates are combined.

Our country’s tax advantage is coming to a sudden end. As a result, we should expect businesses will invest more in the United States and less in Canada, where higher costs exist.

This brings us to energy. Trudeau wants all provinces to put a price on carbon, directly with a carbon tax or indirectly with cap-and-trade regulations. If the provinces don’t, Trudeau will

impose a carbon tax. The impact of either strategy is the same: more expensive for Canadians to get around, heat their homes and keep the lights on.

Pricing carbon will increase the cost of almost everything, including food.

A typical Canadian family will likely pay more than $1,200 a year in new energy taxes by 2022 - and twice that if Ottawa decides to apply its new tax aggressively.

Carbon pricing isn’t the only way Trudeau’s policies will raise electricity rates. His order to provincial governments to shutter coal-fired stations by 2030 will eliminate a source of cheap and reliable power from Canada’s energy mix. Here’s what that means for one small province: New Brunswick has a single coal-burning power plant and NB Power officials have said closing it would increase provincial electricity rates by a staggering 38 per cent.Meanwhile, U.S. ratepayers face no carbon tax.

And American energy costs will likely fall as Trump repeals President Barack Obama’s executive orders restricting the extraction and use of fossil fuels.

What’s Ottawa’s response to all this?

Trudeau says Canada could win if the incoming president rejects plans to make U.S. energy more expensive. He told a Calgary business audience last month, “We know that this is the way the world is going and if the United States wants to take a step

back from it, quite frankly, I think we should look at that as an extraordinary opportunity for Canada and for Canadians.”

It’s a brave face - but does it make sense?

Trump’s energy policies twinned with deep tax cuts will reduce Canada’s competitiveness.

Canadian policy-makers, and the prime minister, don’t have to like this change and may privately curse it. But our federal and provincial governments can’t pretend Trump’s policy agenda won’t have any impact on the economy when Canadian jobs are at risk. Canada’s energy sector is already concerned that government policy will soon put our country at a competitive disadvantage, and that investment and jobs will move to the U.S. In Ontario, some businesses are already eyeing nearby U.S. states with more affordable energy prices. Ontario electricity prices have skyrocketed thanks to costly provincial regulations. Carbon pricing means bills for natural gas, gasoline and diesel are going up next. The Coalition of Concerned Manufacturers of Ontario, a group of small- and medium-sized businesses, has raised the alarm and is urging the government to reverse course or risk job losses.

Canada’s long-term growth depends on its businesses remaining competitive. Affordable energy is part of the mix, along with reasonable tax rates. Likewise, the prosperity of Canadian families is impacted by the price of home heating fuels, power and gas. Dramatic price increases leave households poorer, while inexpensive energy would mean households have more income for other things. With Canadian energy prices set to increase relative to U.S. prices, there will soon be an additional cost to Canada’s carbon policy. That price is less investment and lost jobs. Lower U.S. taxes will only compound the problem.

Canadian workers and businesses can’t afford such a shift.

The Trudeau government’s next move should be to overhaul its carbon pricing plan to account for the policy shift south of the border. Canada needs a strategy that doesn’t penalize businesses and ordinary Canadians.

By John Williamson President Canadians for Affordable Energy Troy Media

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LOCAL

Saturday, January 21, 2017

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Vancouver Mayor in last place in national poll Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson’s approval rating is the lowest out of nearly a dozen Canadian mayors, according to a new poll. Earlier this month, Mainstreet Research asked Canadians living in 10 major cities to rate how they think their mayor handles his job, ranging from “strongly approve” to “strongly disapprove.”

Robertson ended up with an approval rating of 50 per cent — the worst of the bunch.

A total of 45 per cent disapproved of the mayor, although they split in just how much.

Another five per cent said they weren’t sure how they felt. In comparison, Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson led the poll with a 79 per cent approval rating. However, those who did approve of Robertson were enthusiastic: he garnered more “strong” approval scores than any other mayor.

David Valentin, vice president of Mainstreet

Research, called the polarization “interesting.”

“We’re seeing quite a different photo for Mayor Robertson than we are for the others,” he told. “People either really like the mayor, or they disapprove in some way shape or form.”

Mainstreet contacted 614 Vancouverites on Jan. 3 and 4, by either landline or cellphone. The margin of error ranged between plus or minus four per cent, 19 times out of 20. Similar sized surveys were conducted in the other cities in the national poll.

The poll follows heavy criticism against the City of Vancouver for its handling of a recordbreaking cold spell this winter. As snow and ice piled up, many side streets and sidewalks weren’t salted or sanded and garbage pick up was delayed. Robertson was noticeably absent as residents demanded action from city hall and opposing councillors called for an inquiry.

Jujhar Khaira’s goal is a win for diversity in hockey

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Continued from Page 1...

The centreman is the third player of Punjabi descent to play in the league.

Khaira’s goal is being celebrated by more than Oilers fans, however: it’s being viewed as a victory for those who want to see more diversity in the sport.

“Now, kids of Indian descent and kids who are quote-unquote ‘brown’ ... they’re going to see somebody that looks like them in a professional league,” said Moezine Hasham, co-founder and executive director of the charitable organization Hockey 4 Youth.

Hasham grew up in the East Vancouver neighbourhood of Champlain Heights, less than an hour’s drive from Khaira, The son of immigrant parents, Hasham was the first in his family to embrace hockey.

“I got my first set of equipment donated to me by a neighbour,” he recalled. “I’ve got two

older brothers — they didn’t get a chance to play because we couldn’t afford it with my parents being new to the country, but I was given the opportunity.”

Playing as a child in Vancouver and later as a university student in Prince George, B.C., Hasham remembers being one of only a few non-white skaters on the ice.

Now in Toronto, he’s breaking down barriers that prevent new Canadians from taking part in the country’s national sport.

“71 per cent of new Canadians express interest in playing hockey, yet only one per cent will have an opportunity,” Hasham said, citing a report from the Institute for Canadian Citizenship. “That’s the Grand Canyon of gaps... we’re trying to be the bridge.”

The athlete said one of the main obstacles is the same one encountered by his brothers: cost.

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South Asian lottery winner defrauded women

Continued from Page 1...

Dhaliwal, police say, would carry around a clip of the newspaper story written about him as proof, both of his wealth and, as he would tell his alleged targets in Brampton’s Punjabispeaking community, as a sign that he was close to God. He was blessed with good luck, he would allegedly say, and could ward off whatever evil spirits were troubling them — if they allegedly handed over great sums of cash and ultimately their-evil-spirit-infectedprecious-and-sentimental-jewels so that Dhaliwal could bury and pray over them.

“Every time you think you have heard it all, something new comes in,” says Constable Jason Walker of the Peel Regional Police, the lead investigator on the Dhaliwal case.

The former lottery winner was arrested and charged this week with defrauding a middleaged realtor out of approximately $61,000 in cash and personal jewelry.

Dhaliwal first appeared on Const. Walker’s radar in 2014, after a middle-aged South Asian woman who had been introduced to Dhaliwal by an acquaintance approached police. She told them a story that, with minor variations, the fraud investigator has now heard in connection with the accused on three different occasions.

It involves a lottery, a closeness to God, money, evil spirits inhabiting precious jewels and Dhaliwal’s ability to ward them off.

Dhaliwal was accused of fraud in 2014, but the charge was later withdrawn after he repaid the woman. Then another woman came forward, telling police she had met Dhaliwal on a South Asian online dating service for people who want to “meet people for keeps.” The woman outlined a scenario identical to the first.

Dhaliwal was charged with fraud. He repaid the money — approximately $14,000 total between the two victims — and was placed under a 12-month peace bond last December, barring him from accepting payment of any kind “for any spiritual, religious or cultural healing.” But he was allegedly already accepting payment for spiritual services rendered.

Dhaliwal had appeared at a Brampton open house in July, presenting himself to the realtor as a lottery winner with mystical powers, police say. He was interested in investing in some properties. The realtor contacted police on Jan. 1, when she did not get her money or jewelry back as promised.

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LOCAL

Saturday, January 21, 2017

Trump poised to ‘reverse’ seven decades of U.S. foreign policy, Stephen Harper says

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Donald Trump’s presidency will mark a landmark shift in U.S. foreign policy not seen since the end of the Second World War, says former prime minister Stephen Harper.

“The Trump presidency is a major source of global uncertainty,” Harper said Thursday in a speech in New Delhi, the speaking notes for which were obtained by The Canadian Press.

“We do not have a clear idea of where the new president will head, but we do have some broad outlines.”

Harper said Trump is “going to reverse the cornerstone of seven decades of American foreign policy.” Trump’s foreign policy will scale back U.S. involvement in global affairs and be guided by narrow economic interests,

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while coming to view China as a “geopolitical adversary,” Harper added.

The speech comes on the eve of Trump’s

inauguration and represents Harper’s most sweeping foreign policy pronouncement since he lost power in October 2015.

The Liberal government says it is seeking common ground with the Trump administration on promoting middle-class growth, but Harper said friends and allies of the U.S. — he did not mention Canada by name — will have to bring “real assets” to the table.

Trump has said he wants other NATO members to spend more in the alliance while his incoming commerce secretary is promising a sweeping overhaul of the North American Free Trade Agreement.

Trump spokesman Sean Spicer said Thursday that Trump planned decisive trade moves in the coming days. He said Trump would issue an executive order on NAFTA and the Trans-Pacific Partnership, but didn’t say specifically whether he would serve notice of the U.S. intent to withdraw. “I don’t think he’s going to wait,” said Spicer. “He’s made it clear that some of those things are huge priorities for him.”

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A high-ranking member of the United Nations gang has been deported to his native Iraq after finishing his sentence for plotting to kill the Bacon brothers.

Postmedia has learned that Barzan Tilli-Choli, who came to Canada as a teenager in 1999, was transported to Iraq on Tuesday by officers with the Canada Border Services Agency.

On Monday, he left Kent prison in the Fraser Valley, where he was serving his term after pleading guilty in July 2013 to conspiracy to commit murder. His deportation was not a surprise.

Two years ago, Immigration and Refugee Board member Marc Tessler told Tilli-Choli he had no choice but to order the gangster’s removal from Canada because of his serious conviction and the fact he was not a Canadian citizen.

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LOCAL

Saturday, January 21, 2017

9

New York Times publishes controversial article on BC Premier receiving political stipened As the dust settles following Friday’s publication of the New York Times‘ expose of Christy Clark’s annual, political donationsupplied $50,000 stipend, most can agree: this is not a good look for B.C. “It’s embarrassing,� UBC political science professor Max Cameron said. “The New York Times is saying the emperor has no clothes, and it’s one thing for people here to say it, but it’s another thing when it’s publicized globally.�

B.C. Liberals, say it is “committed to transparency� in fundraising, and that the practice of the premier receiving a stipend, which under B.C. law is perfectly legal, dates back to the 1990s.

That’s what made the story so fascinating to Dan Levin, the author of the Times story. “If this were in Russia or China or the Balkans or some developing-world country, it would just be written off as nepotism or

Richmond to review ‘megahomes’ on farmland The City of Richmond’s planning committee will meet on Tuesday to consider solutions to the ongoing problem of increasingly large luxury homes being built on farmland.

City councillors will be reviewing a city staff report, originally published Jan. 10, that suggests adopting one of four proposed bylaw changes that will finally put regulations on these so-called “megahomes.� “At one time, the biggest house you would see would be maybe 4,000 square feet, and that was considered big,� Richmond city councillor Harold Steves said. “Now it’s 20,000 [square feet], and the city staff just turned down an application for a 40,000-square-foot house with 21 bedrooms. Very few people have a family of 21 kids. “We have to put an end to it, and I guess we’re going to start doing it here in Richmond

if we can,� Steves, who is also a farmer, added.

At stake is the potential loss of some of the best farmland in B.C., which falls under the Agricultural Land Reserve. The problem is many of these homes are able to pass themselves off as farms despite not using any of their acreage for farming, avoiding taxes as a result. “If [the property owners] can show that they’ve made $2,500 a year in farm produce – maybe renting [the work] to another farmer for a dollar – then they get farm taxes,� Steves said. “So they get a reduction in taxes, and they get to build these big houses and it simply destroys the farmland.�

Councillors argue a decision needs to be made sooner than later, as developers have been quick to realize that buying up farmland for development is significantly cheaper than city lots, creating another loophole in the midst of the real estate crisis. “Last I heard, it was about $3-400,000 for an acre‌it’s over a million dollars for a singlefamily lot in Richmond,â€? Richmond city councillor Linda McPhail said.

corruption,� Levin said in a phone interview. “But here [in B.C.], because it’s not illegal, it seems to just get a pass.�

Opposition parties were eager to comment, mostly with resignation, and used the opportunity to promote their own ideas surrounding corporate donations. “It’s not a badge of honour, that’s for sure,� Adam Olsen, Green Party candidate for Saanich North, said when asked about B.C. being referred to as “the Wild West� for political donations in the Times piece.

As of September 2016, the Greens are only one of two provincial parties that does not take donations from businesses or unions.

Olsen says the decision has only brought good to the party.

As for the NDP, Coquitlam-Burke Mountain MLA Jodie Wickens said her party leader John Horgan does not receive a stipend from political donations like Clark does, but that he is reimbursed for “a suit or two� from those funds.

Mainly, Wickens says, the party is focused on changing the rules surrounding corporate donations if and when they assume power after the May 9 election. Until then, she admits the party has no choice but to play by the rules currently in place, meaning they’ll take those donations if they’re offered.

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LOCAL

Saturday, January 21, 2017

Mika Singh attends Trump’s pre-inaugural dinner

Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie honored The Asian Star photographer Chandra Bodalia with ‘The Photographer of Century’ award on january 17th at the city hall. Pictured above are Mayor Brodie(left) with Chandra Bodalia (middle) and Kal Rangi (right). Brodie donated $1000 to Chandra’s cause along with $500 from Provincial Minister John Yap.

Bollywood singer Mika Singh attended a “prestigious” dinner hosted by US Presidentelect Donald Trump here.

The Bollywood singer, who was seen sporting an all black ensemble, captioned the image: “It is a great honour for me to be attending the most prestigious dinner in Washington DC with the President (-elect) of the US.” Singh on Friday morning shared a two-minute long video, where Trump said: “In the audience there’s a special person, who’s worked very hard, who married very well it’s my daughter Ivanka... I sort of stole her husband.

He is so great...I have a feeling Jared (Kushner) is going to do a great job.”

Singh, who is popular for songs like “440 volt” and “Subha Hone Na De”, also shared a selfie with Trump’s daughter Ivanka and thanked her for the hospitality.

“Enjoying this wonderful party... Thanks Ivanka Trump for such a great hospitality...

It is lovely meeting you, god bless,” Singh

captioned the image.

The 39-year-old singer also praised Donald Trump.

“What a privilege it’s being in the same vicinity as Donald Trump... His presence has brightened up the whole evening,” Mika tweeted.

Trump, who won the November 8 election despite losing the popular vote by 2.8 million more than any winning candidate in history was sworn in as the US President on Friday.

Hindu, Sikh priests lead Trump's prayer service A Hindu priest was among various religious leaders who will offer prayers at the National Prayer Service of Donald Trump on Saturday, a day after he is sworn in as the 45th President of the United States. Narayanachar L Digalakota from the popular Sri Siva Vishnu Temple in Lanham, Maryland offered prayers at the National Prayer Service to the held on Saturday at the Washington National Cathedral, the Presidential Inauguration Committee said yesterday. This is probably the first time a Hindu priest has been called for services at the national prayer service of the

presidential inauguration.

Another Indian-American Jesse Singh, a Sikh, with two others, Ian McIlraith and Anthony Vance, offered prayers for the people.

The priest was joined by Elder D Todd Christofferson, Priest Bishop Harry Jackson, and Carlyle Begay to offer prayers for those who govern.

The interfaith ceremony is being held to complement Trump's commitment to be the President for all Americans, Committee said.

The tradition of an inaugural National Prayer Service dates back to the first

inauguration of George Washington.

Since 1933, more than seven such inaugural services have taken place at the Washington National Cathedral.

The President and Vice-President will attend the service which will include hymns, readings, and prayers.

"It is fitting that the president-elect will begin his inauguration week with a salute to those who paid the ultimate sacrifice, and end the week in prayerful reflection at the National Prayer Service," said Presidential Inaugural Committee CEO Sara Armstrong.

"At this moment of renewal for our country, President-elect Trump is humbled to pause and join with leaders from many different faith traditions represented in our country to ask His blessings for peace and prosperity for our country," she said.

At the National Prayer Service, Rt Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde, Bishop of Washington, will give the welcome and benediction, The Rt Rev James B Magness, Bishop Suffragan for Federal Ministries of the Episcopal Church, will lead a call and response and give the blessing at the end of the service.

Saturday, January 21, 2017

BC starts hiring new teachers, with most designated for Surrey schools Metro Vancouver school districts have started hiring about 500 new teachers who should be in classrooms early next month.

About half of a $50-million interim deal reached earlier this month between the government and the B.C. Teachers’ Federation will go to Metro districts to hire new teachers. The other half will be spread out throughout the rest of the province. The interim deal was a first step in the implementation of the BCTF’s win in the Supreme Court of Canada.

Next year, and going forward, the number of teachers required is expected to be even higher after the nation’s highest court restored clauses in teachers’ contracts about classsize limits, specialist teacher ratios and the numbers of special needs students that can be in a class.

The provincial Ministry of Education provided a breakdown for every district in the province. Surrey, the district with the most students in B.C., will get $6.2 million, or enough for about 136 teachers. Vancouver, the second largest district, will get $4.4 million, or enough to hire more than 90 teachers.

Coquitlam will get about $2.7 million, enough to hire about 60 teachers.

Children work on projects in a Montessori class at Miller Park Community School in Coquitlam, BC Thursday, December 15, 2016.

Surrey’s first job posting as a result of the ruling is for 30 full-time learning support teachers, 20 integration support teachers and five elementary counsellors. Applications were due Monday and all of the teaching positions will be focused on supporting students with special needs. Surrey expects to post 50 more

teaching jobs before the end of the month.

As of Monday morning, 70 internal applicants had already applied for the jobs, but the numbers of external applicants was

unknown.

In both Vancouver and Surrey, management and the teachers’ associations were involved in the decisions, as is required in the interim agreement.

In Vancouver, the district will be looking to hire about 95 full-time teachers. Where those teachers will work will be decided by consultation between the schools, the district and the Vancouver Teachers Federation, said acting superintendent John Lewis. There are 110 public schools in the city, so each one may see about three-quarters of a full-time teacher added, although Lewis said the allotment would be based on need, not on a uniform amount per school.

The Vancouver School Board will try to fill the positions by moving part-time teachers up to full-time positions, where possible, Lewis said. The new teachers may be classroom teachers or non-enrolling teachers who could “team-teach” in three or four classrooms.

Parole denied for Reen Virk’s killer Kelly Ellard says since the recent birth of her child she sees the world through different eyes but that wasn’t enough to convince one Parole Board of Canada member that the convicted killer should be granted escorted temporary absences from prison.

After about 20 minutes of deliberation, board member Catherine Dawson said she and co-member Kim Polowek had failed to reach consensus on Ellard’s application for outings to fulfil her parenting responsibilities.

“She was asking for up to five escorted absences per month and up to four hours for each absence,” said Patrick Storey, regional manager for the Parole Board of Canada Pacific Region.

“She would be in the company of a trained escort at all times.”

The two-hour hearing was held at the Fraser Valley Institution in Abbotsford, B.C., where Ellard is serving a life sentence for the second degree murder of Victoria teenager Reena Virk almost two decades ago. ​

Ellard told the parole board the birth of her baby is the “best therapy I could have asked for” and the best thing that has happened to her.

“I need to bond with this child,” said Ellard.

“I need to grow just like this child does. I need to learn parenting skills.”

Ellard said she has big plans for the future to do things together with her child but was careful not to reveal the baby’s gender.

Ellard and the newborn are part of the prison’s moms-and-babies program.

Polowek questioned Ellard about her baby’s father who is a two-time federal offender whose full parole was recently revoked.

What happened “was very disappointing” replied Ellard as she wiped away tears.

“Him and I don’t have the average relationship.”

Dawson asked Ellard about her recent behaviour while in prison.

Ellard said she has been incident free for 18 months and hasn’t used drugs since she failed a urine test in June 2015.

In November 1997, Virk was lured to a secluded area under a Victoria-area bridge and beaten by a group of teens who included Ellard.

Virk managed to walk away, but Ellard and co-accused Warren Glowatski followed Virk and found her lying on the ground.

Ellard held Virk under water until she stopped moving.

Virk was 14.

Ellard was 15 at the time and is now 34.

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LOCAL

Saturday, January 21, 2017

US launches trade action against Canada over BC wine An aggressive trade challenge launched Wednesday by the United States could force cheap and plentiful American wine onto B.C. grocery store shelves, potentially elbowing out local vineyards.

The U.S. Trade Representative’s office announced it was taking Canada and the B.C. government to the World Trade Organization, for what it alleges is a discriminatory system in which only B.C. wine is allowed for sale alongside food in grocery stories.

B.C. Jobs Minister Shirley Bond said the province will defend itself and is confident it has complied with all international trade agreements. The stage is now set for a showdown over which wineries get an advantage in the coveted emerging market of B.C. grocery store shelves.

Consumers seem to the like convenience but appear mixed on the B.C.-only model.

“It seems kind of strange to me why there’s only B.C. wine,” said Surrey resident Melanie Hernandez, holding a $19.75 (after tax) bottle of Wayne Gretzky Okanagan Great Red outside the Fleetwood SaveOn-Foods at 90th Avenue and 152nd Street.

“If they’re going to sell wine in a grocery store, there should be a choice.”

Hernandez said she likes both B.C. and California wines, and would like to promote the B.C. product.

“But a selection would be nice.”

Jean Magurn, also from Surrey, wondered with all the protectionist trade talk coming from incoming U.S. President Donald Trump, perhaps B.C. should protect its wineries, too.

The California wine industry has been complaining for months that B.C. is discriminating against international wine companies, in violation of its trade deals.

Abbotsford police investigate targeted shooting A man was lucky to escape with only a minor injury after being fired upon by a pair of gunmen outside an Abbotsford home Tuesday night.

Abbotsford police say the 22-year-old victim was exiting a home in the 2500 block of Janzen Street at 10:30 p.m. when two shooters advanced up the driveway and began shooting.

Police say the victim managed to scramble back into his home and to safety, while the shooters fled in a waiting dark-coloured SUV, possibly a Nissan Pathfinder.

Const. Ian MacDonald, spokesperson for the Abbotsford Police Department, says the victim suffered a gash on his leg.

“We can’t determine if it was caused when a bullet grazed him or if he collided with something running back into the house,” said MacDonald. The shooting is considered to be a targeted incident and is being investigated by the APD’s Major Crime Unit.

“He has no criminal history … but we have had some interaction with him,” MacDonald said of the victim.

Rain, milder temperatures set to stay for Vancouver The Arctic front that brought sub-zero temperatures to Metro Vancouver has beat a retreat and shows no sign of showing its freezing face anytime soon.

Environment Canada is forecasting a return near normal winter temperatures and conditions for the next several weeks according to meteorologist Matt MacDonald.

“We’re kind of stuck in this westerly to southwesterly flow for quite a while — I don’t see any huge change in temperatures,” he said. “The long-term trend is relatively mild right through the end of the month.”

MacDonald said the forecast is for showers until the end of Thursday, but they won’t be anything as as intense as the heavy rain that fell Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. For next week, Environment Canada is forecasting rain every day and

temperatures ranging from a high of 7-8 C to lows of 1-5 C. Between Monday afternoon and Wednesday morning, Environment Canada recorded 43 millimetres of rain at Vancouver International Airport, 86 mm at West Vancouver and 145 mm at Port Mellon.

The change in weather has worsened avalanche conditions in the alpine regions of south-west B.C. Avalanche Canada rated the avalanche hazard as “considerable” on Wednesday and Thursday in the South Coast, and “high” in the Sea to Sky region.

Avalanche Canada says on its website that the “considerable” rating means “Dangerous avalanche conditions. … Natural avalanches possible; human-triggered avalanches likely.”

Medical marijuana dispensaries not welcome in Richmond, says mayor Just months before the federal government is poised to enact legislation to legalize marijuana, the City of Richmond is considering a bylaw that will prevent pot dispensaries from operating in the city.

City council was presented with a recommendation from committee earlier this week that proposed to amend a zoning bylaw that would effectively ban all storefront operations selling marijuana.

Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie said the city wants to send a clear message: that marijuana is still illegal and with that, so are dispensaries.

“If you’re conducting an illegal activity in the City of Richmond, you won’t get a business license and we don’t want you operating,” said Brodie.

Brodie said there is currently one dispensary operating in the city.

“They’re distributing so-called medical marijuana in a way that’s not allowed by law. It doesn’t matter whether we’re talking about medical marijuana or any activity that’s prohibited by law. you won’t get a business license in Richmond to operate,” said Brodie.

“We will take any steps necessary under the circumstances.”

LOCAL

Saturday, January 21, 2017

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Florence Leung’s husband urges other new moms to B.C.’s revenue sharing deal with Kinder Morgan talk about their feelings, seek help tears Canada’s national fabric, expert says The husband of a New Westminster woman found dead two months ago has written an emotional plea on Facebook encouraging women who can’t breastfeed to seek help.

“For all the new moms experiencing low mood or anxiety, please seek help and talk about your feelings,” said Kim Chen, husband of Florence Leung, who disappeared Oct. 25, about two months after giving birth to a son and whose body was found Nov. 16 in the water near Bowen Island. Police did not suspect foul play.

“You are Not alone,” added Chen in the Facebook page dedicated to his wife’s memory. “You are Not a bad mother. Do not EVER feel bad or guilty about not being able to ‘exclusively breastfeed’, even though you may feel the pressure to do so based on posters in maternity wards,

brochures in prenatal classes, and teachings at breastfeeding classes.

“Apparently the hospitals are designated ‘baby-friendly’ only if they promote exclusivebreastfeeding. I still remember reading a handout upon Flo’s discharge from hospital with the line ‘Breast Milk Should Be the Exclusive Food For the Baby for the First Six Months.’ I also remember posters on the maternity unit ‘Breast is Best.’ While agreeing to the benefits of breast milk, there NEED to be an understanding that it is OK to supplement with formula, and that formula is a completely viable option. I will talk more about this in the future.”

Chen noted that their baby boy is growing well. “He is at 90th percentile for height and weight, and smiles and laughs a lot!”

Jury begins deliberations for men accused of smuggling nearly 500 Tamil migrants A jury in Vancouver is expected to begin deliberations on Thursday in the case of four men accused of smuggling hundreds of Tamil migrants into Canada.

Justice William Ehrcke of the Supreme Court of British Columbia has finished summarizing the evidence presented during the three-month trial.

Two Canadians and two Sri Lankans have pleaded not guilty to organizing the voyage of the MV Sun Sea, which involved crossing the Pacific Ocean on a dilapidated cargo vessel without a formal crew.

On Wednesday, Ehrcke instructed the jury to be “very cautious” about relying on eyewitness evidence to find guilt in the case.

He noted that the jury had heard evidence from witnesses that on more than one occasion, they were shown photographs

by the RCMP and Canada Border Services Agency and asked if they could identify anyone pictured.

The judge said problems with the photo lineup raised by defence lawyers are a “serious concern.”

“You should consider these matters very carefully in deciding how much weight you choose to put on the identification evidence,” he told the jury Tuesday.

The MV Sun Sea left Thailand on July 5, 2010.

The dilapidated cargo ship was intercepted off the coast of B.C. on Aug. 12, 2010, carrying 492 Sri Lankan Tamils who intended to claim refugee status in Canada.

The four suspects have pleaded not guilty to organizing the voyage contrary to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. The two Canadian men, Nadarajah Mahendran and Thampeernayagam Rajaratnam, were not aboard the ship. They are accused of being agents who travelled to Bangkok to arrange migrants’ journeys.

Their lawyers have argued that eyewitness identification of the men can not be trusted because Canadian authorities conducted a flawed investigation.

A revenue-sharing agreement that helped convince British Columbia to support the $6.8 billion Trans Mountain oil pipeline expansion threatens to tear the fabric of country, says a resource policy expert.

The agreement with Kinder Morgan gives the province as much as $1 billion over 20 years. The financial benefit for the province was the last of five conditions needed for Premier Christy Clark established to approve the expansion of the pipeline through B.C. During last week’s announcement, Clark called the agreement unprecedented because it recognized the environmental risks of locating the pipeline in B.C. A spokeswoman for the pipeline’s builder Kinder Morgan said Monday the mutual agreement gives the company the assurance it needs.

Clark acknowledged the pipeline approval was a federal government decision, but said it was her job to protect B.C. and ensure the province received benefits from the project.

But Trevor McLeod at Calgary’s Canada West Foundation said the agreement could make Canada less competitive and set off feuds between provinces.

“My concern is with the long-term viability

of the country,” said McLeod, in a telephone interview from Calgary about the B.C. deal.

He said the Western provinces joined Confederation on the promise of a railway ensuring the free movement of goods across

Canada, but the Kinder Morgan agreement stretches that long-held pledge.

“I think it goes against the principles upon which the country was built,” McLeod said. “I think it would probably be an exaggeration to say $25 million or $50 million a year for 20 years is going to kill the country. But if this becomes the way of the future ... and we get into tit for tat situations, then that would definitely do that.”

Others don’t view the B.C. deal as a country breaker, but suggest it represents a future trend in government and corporate relations.

“I think we are getting into an era of a lot more political horse-trading on different policy issues,” said Prof. Jennifer Winter, at the University of Calgary’s school of public policy.

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LOCAL

Saturday, January 21, 2017

Analyst says B.C. should look to India for international students as other markets slow Despite the recent jump in the number of Chinese international students coming to Canada and B.C., officials would be wise to “cultivate new markets” to avoid overdependency, according to one analyst.

Rahul Choudaha, a U.S.-based international education strategies consultant, said the growth in international students in both Canada and the U.S. from major source countries is slowing.

There is one notable exception, he said — India.

“U.S. higher education is facing a tougher environment for attracting international students for fall 2017,” he said. “Three of the

Drug overdoses claim unprecedented 914 lives in BC

four top source countries — China, South Korea, and Saudi Arabia — are witnessing a slower rate of growth. India was the only market among the top four countries which witnessed a double-digit growth rate.

“Canada has a very similar dependency on top source countries of internationals students — China and India — as the United States.”

Despite opponents criticizing the trend in seeking international students mainly to help universities’ bottom lines, both Ottawa and B.C. have focused on attracting such students, who bring about $8 billion annually into the Canadian economy. According to the Canadian Bureau of International Education, about a third of Canada’s 353,000 foreign students in 2015 were in B.C. China was the origin of the largest group, country, with 34 per cent of international students. A Statistics Canada report last fall said almost 20 per cent of B.C.’s university students come from abroad, with provincial data showing China (51,130), South Korea (12,695) and India (12,105) as the top three origins.

Victoria Councillors call for vacancy and foreign buyer tax Two Victoria city councillors are calling on the province to extend the foreign home buyers tax to the capital region and grant municipalities the power to tax vacant homes.

Council is slated to debate the proposal by Coun. Ben Isitt and Coun. Jeremy Loveday at its next meeting on Jan. 19.

“We’re hearing substantial concern from the public about the housing affordability crisis in our region,” Isitt told On the Island host Gregor Craigie. In November, the City of Vancouver passed Canada’s first tax on empty homes. It will assess a one per cent tax on homes that are not primary residences or aren’t rented out at least six months of the year.

Isitt said the B.C. government would have to grant the power to Victoria and other Capital Region municipalities to impose their own vacancy tax.

In August, the province introduced a 15 per cent tax on foreign nationals in

Metro Vancouver. That sent the number of transactions involving foreign buyers from 2,034 deals in the seven-week period before the tax, to 60 in the four weeks starting when then the tax was implemented.

llicit drug overdoses claimed the lives of 914 people in B.C. in 2016, the BC Coroners Service revealed Wednesday, making it the deadliest overdose year on record and representing an increase of nearly 80 per cent from the year before.

December saw another spike in deaths with 142 recorded, up from the previous monthly high of 128 recorded in November of 2016.

Fentanyl, an opioid 100 times more potent than heroin, has been a “game changer” for drug overdose deaths in B.C., said Chief Coroner Lisa Lapointe.

“This is an illicit drug dependency crisis and it is not likely to be resolved anytime soon,” she said.

B.C. Health Minister Terry Lake announced more money for treatment beds and said the federal government needs to step up.

“The federal government should declare a federal public health emergency,” said Lake.

“We haven’t seen the response that I think this type of epidemic requires on a national scale.”

Every part of the province is affected, but Vancouver continues to be the epicentre of the crisis, said Lapointe. Fifty-one people died of illicit drug overdoses in Vancouver alone in December. Four out of five of the overdose deaths were men and more than half were between the ages of 30 and 49.

Fentanyl’s potency makes it attractive to drug traffickers who can smuggle in many doses in a small package, and deadly to users because a dose the size of a grain of sand can kill.

Unlike previous months, the BC Coroners Service was unable to say how many of the deaths in December involved fentanyl, because with such a high number of cases the analyses are not yet complete and won’t be until March.

B.C. Health Minister Terry Lake said the province was allocating more than $16 million in new money to tackle the crisis,

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including an additional 40 adult intensive residential treatment beds and 20 for youth.

The province is also funding 50 new intensive outpatient treatment spaces, as well as covering the cost of treatment therapies, such as methadone and Suboxone, for people with low incomes.

The B.C. government has been criticized for not doing enough in the face of the fentanyl crisis, leaving people with addictions

and their families without treatment options.

Lake said the province is doing what it can and is discussing the crisis with health officials daily and weekly.

“We’re taking unprecedented action, said Lake.

“We want to be able to provide treatment as quickly as possible, but … we don’t have the resources to provide treatment on demand for all conditions.”

Lake also discussed the need to explore new treatment options for people with addiction, including the possibility of prescription heroin.

He and Lapointe agree the death toll would be higher without the response of front line workers, including paramedics and others.

“The work going on at the front lines has been incredibly important in saving hundreds and hundreds of lives in our province,” said Lake.

Last fall, after the number of illicit deaths dipped in August and September, Lake said he was hopeful the public health emergency was ending.

“We thought we turned a corner, we really did. And then with the November numbers, it’s a whole different chapter in this crisis.”

One hypothesis for the sudden and staggering increase in November and December is the emergence of an even more potent opioid than fentanyl — carfentanil.

However, the coroners service’s new equipment to test for carfentanil is not yet operational and won’t be until March, said Lapointe.

This month, none of the health officials voiced any hope that the end of the crisis is in sight.

“This is a long-term strategy,” said Lapointe.

Man injured in late night Abbotsford shooting A man is recovering from injuries after a shooting late Tuesday night in Abbotsford.

Police were called to a house in the 2500-block of Janzen Street after a report of shots fired before 11 p.m. PT. Const. Ian Macdonald, with Abbotsford Police, said the suspect fled the scene and the victim suffered minor injuries.

Macdonald said it’s too early to tell if the shooting is targeted or not.

Abbotsford Police continued the investigation overnight and are asking for any witnesses to contact them.

LOCAL

Saturday, January 21, 2017

Cocaine bust highlights busy year at Pacific Highway border crossing

East Vancouver family grieves after accidental death of 15-month-old boy Family members of a Vancouver toddler who died in an accident have written a public tribute to the child they called ‘Baby Mac.’ Macallan Wayne Saini was one day away from turning 16 months when he died at an East Vancouver home, Wednesday evening.

Macallan’s uncle, John Sheppard posted a tribute on social media, “written by his loving family,” on Thursday, describing the joy he brought people in his brief life.

“Although he was born into a family of introverts, he loved people, kids in particular.

He used to get so excited for daycare because he got to see so many of his friends,” part of the statement reads.

“Mac was incredibly empathetic for a boy

who wasn’t even two years old yet. If you stubbed your toe or bumped your head, he would want to make sure you were OK. “He loved his dolly too. He would often feed her, copying his mom. He changed each and every one of our lives the moment he came into this world.

“We all miss him so much. Mac was like a brilliant star that appeared in our lives for only a short time but will forever change us all.” The statement says Macallan died from an accident while at daycare, but the exact circumstances are unknown. Vancouver police say the death does not appear to be suspicious and that its Major Crimes Section is working with the BC Coroners Service on the case.

High school teacher reprimanded for showing ‘sluts’ documentary in class A high school teacher in Mission, B.C., has been reprimanded for showing Grade 8 students a film called “Sluts: The Documentary.” John Gilbert screened the movie to his English class as well as two social studies classes on Dec. 1, 2014.

In the documentary, several women between the ages of 17 and 82 discuss what it’s like to be labelled as a “slut,” according to IMDB. Students said they felt “awkward” and embarrassed watching the 45-minute film, according to a consent resolution agreement released by the B.C. Commissioner for Teacher Regulation.

The branch said the content wasn’t appropriate for the students, given their age.

Gilbert was placed on administrative leave pending an investigation a week after the screenings, the agreement said.

The teacher had been warned about his behaviour at least three times prior to the December 2014 incident.

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Between 2009 and 2011, he was reprimanded more than once for treating students, colleagues and members of the

A large cocaine bust is part of a dramatic increase in narcotics seizures last year among travellers at the Pacific Highway border crossing in Surrey, B.C. In a statement, the Canada Border Services agency said on Oct. 23, 2016 a traveller entered Canada and was sent to secondary inspection.

Border officers examined her car and found two bricks of suspected cocaine. Upon further inspection, border officers found 15 more bricks. In total, the bricks weighed nearly 17 kilograms.

Surrey RCMP are investigating the incident.

The Pacific Highway border crossing was exceptionally busy this year. The CBSA reported 574 narcotic seizures in the traffic division of the border crossing this year, compared to 301 narcotic seizures in 2015.

The commercial division also had a highprofile seizure at the crossing. In October, 107.5 kilograms of suspected cocaine hidden in rice were seized.

Last year, 3,335,161 travellers were processed at the Pacific Highway crossing.

Search over for Burnaby teen missing The search is over for a Burnaby teen who had been missing for more than a week.

Alexandra Olivia, 19, was last seen in Burnaby on Jan.8.

Police were concerned for her wellbeing as it is out-of-character for her to be missing for so long.

Olivia has now been located safe and sound.

BC to consider raising smoking age to 21

public in an “inappropriate” manner.

In 2013, Gilbert was suspended for two days after making improper comments, including an instance in which he referred to a student as a “sociopath” while chatting with a colleague.

A consent resolution agreement related to that incident was signed in May 2014.

B.C.’s health minister says it’s time to consider raising the legal age for consumption of tobacco products from 19 to 21.

Minister Terry Lake asked his Twitter followers yesterday whether the province should raise the smoking age, as a number of American jurisdictions — including California and Hawaii — have done in recent years.

“I thought it would be worth starting the conversation about the age of smoking and what impact we could see of potentially

increasing the age,” Lake said.

The health minister said no new legislation is planned before this spring’s election, but it’s something he’s been thinking about for a while.

“This is not about policy we are considering right now, but it’s a conversation [provincial health officer] Dr. Perry Kendall and I had months ago,” Lake said.

Lake cited a study that saw smoking rates in high school students decrease 47 per cent after the legal age was raised.

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Saturday, January 21, 2017

TransLink makes public plans for Broadway SkyTrain and Surrey LRT TransLink will begin public consultation in late January on two new train lines planned for Metro Vancouver, the transit authority announced today.

Consultations on the Broadway extension of the Millennium Line will begin Jan. 28.

Consultations on the Surrey-NewtonGuildford LRT project will begin Jan. 24.

The regional transit authority also says it will be doubling SeaBus service on Sundays and holidays and adding more frequent service at peak times on the Expo, Millennium and Canada lines as part of the first phase of its 10-year plan.

TransLink CEO Kevin Desmond said the service improvements announced today are the first of many the transit authority plans to roll out every three months for the next few years.

Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson said the plan is the biggest investment in regional

transit since 2009, when the Canada Line was built.

“This is really comprehensive improvement around the region,” Robertson said. “That’s why the mayors supported it so strongly, because it will make a difference in

every community across Metro Vancouver.”

The Broadway Extension will extend the Millennium Line from its current VCC endpoint southwest to Broadway and Main,

Surrey Mayor Linda Hepner promises LRT under construction by 2018 Surrey Mayor Linda Hepner is confident there will be shovels in the ground next year for the Surrey-Newton-Guildford LRT project.

“I was optimistic and the referendum delayed me but I fully expect to be in the ground next year on this light rail project,” she told.

“Yes, you can hold me to that.”

Yesterday, TransLink and Metro Vancouver mayors announced consultations would begin later this month on the Surrey LRT project and the Broadway SkyTrain line in Vancouver.

The consultations are part of the region’s $2-billion 10-year transit plan which Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson has called the biggest investment in regional transit since 2009.

Hepner said the new consultations around the project — which she’s calling the L-line — will not be an opportunity for light-rail critics to air their grievances.

“Please don’t come to the meetings and

and then west to Arbutus Street.

Previously officials had proposed extending the line all the way west to UBC, but Desmond said it was important to

talk about that because this decision has been made. The L-line is going ahead. It’s going to be light rail,” she said.

Hepner said this will be a “different conversation” going forward, and more

specific than just whether people need more transportation.

“It’s about where the stations are.... The movement of traffic and how our traffic management centre will deal with that. What are the speeds? What’s going to happen in certain neighbourhoods?” she said.

relieve pressure on the 99 B-Line route as soon as possible.

“Will rail eventually get to UBC? I’d say that’s probably a good chance,” Desmond told reporters at a press conference Tuesday. “When? I don’t know. But for now, we need to get to Arbutus [and] relieve a lot of crowding on the bus service.”

Robertson said the Metro Vancouver Mayors’ Council’s 10-year vision does include the possibility of extending that line to UBC, but planning would not begin until near the end of that 10year vision. Representatives from the provincial and federal governments praised the 10-year regional transit plan, but did not give any hard numbers on how much their governments would be contributing, as they have yet to review the projects in detail.

B.C. program handed out 220% more naloxone kits in 2016 than last 3 years combined Between 2013 and 2015, B.C.’s take-home naloxone program dispensed just under 5,200 kits provincewide.

Last year, it handed out more than 16,500 — an increase of nearly 220 per cent.

But the head of the program handing out the life-saving kits says she hopes the demand for the antidote drops soon.

“We desperately hope that the numbers of overdoses, the deaths will start going down,” said Dr. Jane Buxton, the program’s lead at the B.C. Centre for Disease Control. “[Naloxone] does reverse overdoses, but it’s a Band-Aid,” said Buxton. “We’re hoping somewhere along the line that we can see less overdoses happening the community and less need for the kits.”

The drug, also known as Narcan, is an antidote that reverses the effects of an overdose. It works by blocking drugs like fentanyl and carfentanil from the susceptible

area of the brain, reversing respiratory depression so a person can breathe again.

The spike comes as B.C. grapples with its

deadliest illicit drug crisis in over a decade.

On Wednesday, the province is expected to announce the final total for the number of people who died from illicit drug overdose in 2016. It is already known that from January to November, 755 people died of confirmed or suspected overdoses in B.C., making fatal overdoses the leading cause of unnatural death.

Landlord B.C. launches online registry A new optional landlord registry aimed at improving tenant-landlord relationships launches today in B.C. The registry, which is the brainchild of non-profit group Landlord B.C., aims to help educate landlords on their rights and responsibilities under B.C.’s Residential Tenancy Act. CEO David Hutniak told landlords will have to complete a course on the Residential Tenancy Act and achieve at least 80 per cent on a comprehensive quiz on the course to get on the registry.

“This is where prospective renters come in,” he explained. “If they’re considering renting from an individual who’s renting from a basement suite, for example, they can put that landlords name in and if they come up, [they know] this landlord has satisfied the requirements to get the competency certificate.” Part of the impetus for the project, he said, is B.C.’s rental housing industry is disproportionately represented by smaller landlords who rent out basement suites and condos.

“We know as an association ... this landlord constituency don’t necessarily appreciate that they’re in a business,” he said.

Saturday, January 21, 2017

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Saturday, January 21, 2017

Should authorities ‘name and shame’ drunk drivers?

British Columbia already has some of the toughest drunk driving laws in the country, but would naming and shaming alleged impaired drivers act as an even stronger deterrent?

In Ontario, the Durham Regional Police Service has taken to publishing the names of those accused of driving under the influence.

Bob Rorison, president of Mothers Against Drunk Driving Metro Vancouver, thinks it’s time authorities in B.C. consider a similar strategy. “If public shaming will work and it’s legal, let’s use it,” he said.

Defence lawyer Paul Doroshenko has concerns about naming people suspected of driving under the influence, since under the law they are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

“More innocent peopled are charged with that offence than any other offence in the country,” he said. “There are a lot of innocent people who go through that process of being charged with that offence.

“Should they be stigmatized as well by the police going out and publishing their names and publicizing it? I don’t think that’s appropriate.”

Social media analyst Jesse Miller said even if a suspect is found not guilty in court, posting charges online means an innocent person could face a different verdict in the court of public opinion.

“The scary part here is that once you do publish something online, it is part of their dossier online for the rest of their lives,” he said. “How do you directly impact their career?”

In a statement, the Ministry of Public Safety said: “British Columbia’s tough drinking and driving penalties take alcohol-affected drivers off the road immediately and are a serious financial deterrent.

“Public humiliation is not considered an effective way to change behaviours around drinking and driving.”

Kevin O’Leary enters Conservative leadership race It’s finally official: Kevin O’Leary is running to become leader of the Conservative Party of Canada. After months of flirting with the idea, he picked the morning after the party’s French-language debate and used a video on his Facebook page to declare his candidacy.

“You know why? I listened to you,” he said in the video posted Wednesday, thanking the “40,000” Canadians he said went to his website and encouraged him

to run.

“I’m reaching 1.2 million Canadians a week now through social media,” he said.

“I want to motivate them to think about joining our party, and of course going through the leadership race, and then ultimately swapping out Justin Trudeau because most people have begun to realize he is failing and it’s a horrible feeling for Canada,” he told guest host Hannah

2 richest Canadians have more money than 11 million combined The two richest Canadians have the same amount of wealth as the poorest 30 per cent of the country combined, according to a new report from a group of international aid organizations.

The Oxfam report says the wealth of billionaire businessmen David Thomson and Galen Weston Sr. equals that of about 11 million Canadians.

The group of organizations, under the banner group Oxfam International, published its report “An Economy for the 99%” ahead of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, which begins Tuesday.

The report also said that the world’s eight richest people have as much wealth as the poorest 50 per cent of the world’s population.

“This is not a report about the rich and the poor. It’s about the super-rich and the rest of us,” said Lauren Ravon, the director of policy and campaigns at Oxfam Canada.

Oxfam made its calculations about global wealth distribution based on the Credit Suisse Global Wealth Data book, and calculated the wealth of the world’s richest people using the annual billionaires list from Forbes Magazine, which was last published in March 2016.

Jim Davies, a professor at the University of Western Ontario who works on the Credit Suisse report, said there can be broader implications of wealth inequality. He noted that those implications are often different from those of income inequality.

Wealth is calculated by subtracting a person’s debts from their assets, he said, whereas income refers to the money or assets a person makes or receives over a period of time.

Wealth offers security, Davies said, which income doesn’t always do.

“If you lose your job, you’re in a much worse position if you don’t have money in the bank,” he noted.

Ravon said the effects of wealth inequality can ricochet into other parts of society.

“In countries that are more unequal, there’s higher rates of crime. Those societies are less healthy. People distrust each other more,” she said. “People feel like they’re disconnected from society when they see that the superrich are writing the rules in their favour.”

Thibedeau.

O’Leary also criticized the competency of the Liberal cabinet, questioning whether the choices made sense.

“What’s the executional competence of

these people,” he said. “Have they ever had a job? Have they ever been able to build and deliver on targets? Can they do their jobs? I don’t think [Trudeau] ever asked that question.”

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Former tire recycling exec investigated by FINTRAC over suspicious money transactions The Canadian intelligence unit that probes money laundering and terrorism funding has uncovered millions of dollars of suspicious bank transfers that separately involve an individual and two firms with connections to Ontario’s tire recycling program.

Multiple transactions — including the purchase of gold bars and international wire transfers — have been discovered by the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC). These “suspicious transaction reports” are now with the Toronto police fraud squad.

In one case it involves the former chief financial officer of the Ontario Tire Stewardship. In another case, transactions involving two firms that do business with the recycling program were red flagged.

The common denominator is the stewardship, an agency created by the province to manage an annual $70-million recycling program. When consumers purchase a tire they pay a fee to the program, which is charged with recycling discarded tires. A wide-ranging audit is looking into the stewardship and its former chief financial officer, Perminder Kandola, who was recently charged by the environment ministry with the alleged diversion of $346,565 of consumer recycling fees to his personal bank account.

FINTRAC’s job is to detect and prevent money laundering and the financing of terrorist activities. Banks must report suspicious or large cash transactions over $10,000 to Fintrac.

Kandola first raised suspicions at a CIBC

branch in early 2016 when he bought $69,805.88 in gold bars and he was named in a story described as a “negative news article.”

Opinion

Looking forward to a year of change

By: Harjit Singh Sajjan 2016 was a year of change for the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces.

It was a year in which the government started the hard work of setting our nation’s military affairs back on track.

There were unprecedented levels of consultation about Canada’s new defence policy, announcements about our renewed commitments to NATO and the United Nations, the beginning of efforts to replace our CF-18 fighter fleet, the resettlement of 25,000 Syrian refugees in Canada, and the expansion of our mission in Iraq to defeat Daesh.

I’d like to extend my gratitude to the women and men of the Canadian Armed Forces and the Department of National Defence for all they have accomplished. It’s truly remarkable.

In the first months of 2016, the CAF assisted with the resettlement of 25,000 Syrian refugees here in Canada. CAF members supported whole-ofgovernment efforts to welcome refugees to Canada where we forward deployed personnel to assist with security and health screening, as well as logistical support.

We also announced Canada will lead a multinational battle group in Latvia, becoming a NATO framework nation and a leader among our allies. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg praised this decision as a sign of a “strong transatlantic commitment.” It fits with the way our government views Canada’s role in the world.

When President Obama visited our Parliament, he said “the world needs more Canada.” I couldn’t agree more.

Through a whole-of-government effort, we refocused our contribution to the global coalition’s fight to defeat Daesh. Expanding our train, advise and assist mission with the Kurds, and increasing our intelligence and air refuelling capacity was applauded by our coalition partners. Efforts made by our Ministerial Liaison Teams, Role 2 medical facility, and All-Source Intelligence Centre are having significant impacts on the ground as our Iraqi partners take the fight to Daesh. These efforts are paying tremendous dividends as now the Iraqi Security Forces are in the process of liberating Mosul, the last major stronghold of Daesh.

Our commitment to multilateralism also extends to United Nations and I look forward to talking with Canadians more about peace support operations in 2017.

Our government is committed to providing the women and men of the Canadian Armed Forces with the training, equipment, and resources they need. Last year, we announced the way forward on the replacement of our legacy CF-18 fighter aircraft. This consists of a three-step approach that will see the government move forward on the purchase of an interim fleet of Boeing Super Hornets, hold an open and transparent competition for a full fleet replacement, and invest in the recruitment and

training of new pilots and technicians. This is a significant investment in the Royal Canadian Air Force, and provides expanded economic benefits for Canada’s aerospace and defence sectors and high-value, middle-class jobs for Canadians. 2016 also saw great strides made in other procurement projects, including a decision on new search and rescue planes – 12 years after the need for new planes was identified – and investing in our Navy through the National Shipbuilding Strategy. Over the past year, we held an unprecedented number of consultations about the future of Canada’s defence policy, hearing from over 100 stakeholders and policy experts, receiving more than 20,000 online

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The new Defence Policy will have a significant focus on how we take care of our women and men in uniform, and their families. I’ve heard too many stories of soldiers, sailors, and air personnel who have fallen through the cracks, read too many letters from veterans struggling after leaving the Forces, and spoken to too many parents and spouses whose loved one might still be here today if they had received the right support. We need to do right by our military personnel and their families. It will take time to get this right, but we won’t rest until we do.

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Those two events caused CIBC to review their client’s banking activity — and pass information on to the federal agency.

Kandola had quit his job at the stewardship a few months before, in late summer of 2015.

The bank discovered a flurry of activity beginning in early 2016, with a series of transactions involving seven different financial institutions. All told, the bank discovered Kandola had received $868,931 from various accounts and withdrawn $764,697. The bank’s review ran from Jan. 4, 2016 to April 27, 2016.

That report detailed a tire stewardship lawsuit alleging Kandola diverted money from a tire collector into a personal account called “Ontario Tire.”

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NATIONAL

Saturday, January 21, 2017

Celebrate Canada’s 150th Anniversary with Innovation Festival: Vancouver (Vancouver, BC)—What do you get when you combine eight local science organizations, 21 interactive exhibits, six 3D printers, a 60-second lesson on quantum computing and more than 22 events all across the city of Vancouver? You get one festival, 16 days, 150 years in the making—and it all starts at Science World this Thursday.

From January 19 to February 3, Innovation Festival: Vancouver will inspire curiosity and innovation through a wide range of exciting exhibits, lectures, tours and social gatherings.

Brought to you by Innovation150 and Science World, it’s a city-wide celebration of science, technology and innovation to mark Canada’s 150th anniversary of Confederation.

Both Innovation Festival: Vancouver and the Innovation150 National Tour kick off this Thursday, January 19 at Science World. The launch will debut two science exhibitions, a mobile makerspace and a crowdsourced digital storybook, delivered by five national science organizations, to the Lower Mainland. The event will include exhibit tours with dignitaries and an official launch ceremony.

“Innovation Festival: Vancouver is about to celebrate Canadian innovation past and present, and even offer a glimpse into our technology-rich future,” said Scott Sampson President and CEO of Science World. “Science World is thrilled to be the launch venue of this exciting festival. We strongly encourage all aspiring scientists and innovators to check out

the range of amazing events!”

Here’s what’s happening under the dome: Power of Ideas Exhibition—Designed and developed by the Perimeter Institute, in close collaboration with the Ontario Science Centre, the overarching theme of this travelling exhibition is the process of science, mirroring the behaviours critical to the work accomplished by researchers at the Perimeter Institute.

January 19 to 24 Power of Ideas Presentation—A 45-minute, multi-media presentation followed by a Q&A session. This dynamic, interactive show will share the wonders of science and its importance to innovation.

January 20 to 24 Maker Mobile—Developed by Actua, participants will experiment with hands-on learning in 60-minute workshops exploring engineering prototyping, digital design and programming.

January 19 to 24 QUANTUM: The Exhibition—Created by the Institute for Quantum Computing at the University of Waterloo and presented by the Stewart Blusson Quantum Matter Institute, this bilingual, accessible, interactive exhibition showcases Canada’s scientific excellence in quantum information science and technology.

January 19 to February 26 For the most up-to-date information about what’s happening at Science World, visit scienceworld.ca/innovation150.

TELUS investing $250 million to connect Surrey homes and businesses directly to advanced fibre optic network Direct fibre connection will dramatically boost data capacity, providing local homes access to the gigabit-enabled TELUS PureFibre network

Continued from Page 1...

“Direct fibre connection unleashes infinite possibilities now and into the future,” said Tony Geheran, TELUS Executive VicePresident and President of Broadband Networks.

“Surrey is the second largest municipality in the province, and this generational investment will dramatically improve Internet speed and capacity for residents and businesses large and small, as well as health care facilities and schools. Once the build is complete, Surrey will truly have a competitive advantage.”

The gigabit-enabled TELUS PureFibre network is among the most advanced communications infrastructure available in the world today, enabling connected residents to immediately take advantage of dramatically faster Internet speeds of up to 150 megabits per second, while interested businesses, schools, healthcare providers, and institutions can access even more speed and capacity. As demand and Internet technologies evolve in the coming years TELUS will offer faster speeds and more capacity, sufficient for decades to come. This new fibre optic infrastructure will also be the backbone of TELUS’ wireless network, enabling even more wireless capacity and speed. Local healthcare providers, educators and technology companies will be able to

draw upon the technology to reimagine how they deliver existing services and develop entirely new solutions.

“A direct fibre connection will allow Surrey residents to access the fastest Internet speeds possible, providing improved opportunities to learn, do business, access services and stay connected,” said Amrik Virk, Minister of Technology, Innovation and Citizens’ Services and MLA for Surrey-Tynehead.

“There is a direct relationship between access to high speed Internet and a strong economy; as the need for speed increases to support new applications and services, this $250 million investment will help Surrey businesses compete globally.”

“In today’s connected world, residents, businesses and institutions rely heavily on quality high-speed Internet access in daily life. Keeping pace with this increasing need is integral to ensuring Surrey’s prosperous economic future,” said Mayor Linda Hepner.

“Today’s announcement supports Surrey’s forthcoming Smart Surrey Broadband Strategy and contributes to our vision of building a city that is at the leading-edge of connectivity and innovation.”

This investment is part of TELUS’ commitment to invest $4.5 billion throughout B.C. between 2016 and 2019, at no cost to taxpayers. For more information, please visit telus.com/surrey.

Saturday, January 21, 2017

Surrey tax-agency workers given relocation notices The Canada Revenue Agency has sent relocation notices to 391 employees at the Surrey tax centre, inviting them to consider

moving to communities as remote as Jonquiere — a small and largely unilingual French city in the heartland of nationalist Quebec — in order to save their jobs.

The letters are part of a reorganization announced last November by Revenue Minister Diane Lebouthillier to make the national tax-collecting agency more efficient.

The employees will also have the option of taking jobs in Winnipeg, tiny Summerside in P.E.I., Sudbury in Northern Ontario and — the likely choice for most who agree to move — the new office at 468 Terminal Ave. in Vancouver, 33 kilometres from their current headquarters.

Those who decline the option — and

letters to B.C. Conservative MP Dianne Watts suggest many are agonizing about the choice — will be offered assistance under the Work Force Adjustment component of the workers’ collective agreement, CRA spokesman David Walters said Wednesday.

Watts issued a news release Wednesday criticizing the Trudeau government’s handling of the move.

“This will have a negative impact not only on affected employees, but on their spouses’ jobs, Surrey businesses, our school systems and our community at large,” said the MP for South Surrey-White Rock.

She also said she understood 75 of the 393 will lose their jobs, though the Union of Taxation Employees believes the number might be closer to 65. The CRA didn’t specify how many are expected to leave the federal government.

The CRA said in November that offices in Surrey, St. John’s, N.L., and Shawinigan, Que., “will grow” as they shift from being taxation-processing centres to “collection, compliance and verification” operations handling “non-complex, non-face-to-face files.”

Four other centres — the aforementioned centres in Winnipeg, Summerside, Sudbury and Jonquiere — will focus on the morecomplex duty of processing claims.

Calgary Police Association president, another officer charged with serious crimes Alberta’s police watchdog says two officers from the Calgary Police Service have been charged with serious crimes, including the new head of the city’s police union.

Sgt. Les Kaminski has been charged with perjury and assault with a weapon and Const.

Brant Derrick has been charged with assault causing bodily harm, the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team said Tuesday.

The charges stem from the arrest of Jason Arkinstall following a routine traffic stop in downtown Calgary in 2008 and from the evidence given during his trial on one count of uttering threats against Derrick.

Arkinstall was acquitted in 2011, with Provincial Court Judge Terry Semenuk concluding in his ruling that neither Kaminski nor Derrick were credible or reliable witnesses.

ASIRT executive director Susan Hughson said the case was brought to her agency in January 2014, with an investigation launched the following month.

Kaminski would have known he was under

investigation in the lead-up to his election as president of the Calgary Police Association president, she said.

“The fact that one of the officers has been elected to the Calgary Police Association is not relevant to my investigation or how we will deal with that officer.”

Hughson said it’s unfortunate it has taken this long for charges to be laid.

“The fact is, however, the majority of the

delay occurred before ASIRT was directed to investigate,” she said, adding the delay did not hamper the investigation, since evidence from the Arkinstall trial had been preserved.

Trudeau grilled in Quebec after answering English town hall questions in French

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he should maybe have tried to answer in English when asked questions in that language at a town hall meeting in Quebec.

The language brouhaha erupted when Trudeau answered English questions in French on Tuesday night.

At first, the prime minister defended his stance when asked about it at a news conference this morning as he continued his grassroots tour.

The prime minister speaks to media during a press conference at Bishop’s University, prior to addressing the language brouhaha from the town hall meeting in Quebec.

But Trudeau changed his tune a few minutes later when a reporter asked another question on the topic.

He then said he maybe could have answered partly in English and partly in French and that on reflection it would have been a good thing to do.

Earlier on Wednesday, the prime minister held a private meeting with Lac-Megantic Mayor Jean-Guy Cloutier. The Quebec town was rocked by a huge train explosion in July 2013 that killed 47 people.

He also met students at Bishop’s University and is expected to head to a restaurant in Granby to chat with members of the public.

NATIONAL

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Saturday, January 21, 2017

UN does more harm than good, says Haley Washington: Indian-American Nikki Haley, tapped by US President-elect Donald Trump to be UN ambassador, believes that the world body is doing “more harm than good” as she is expected to push for reconsideration of America’s whopping funding.

The South Carolina Governor is expected to rap the UN for its treatment of Israel and question whether the US’ 22% contribution to the world body’s annual budget is worth it in her opening testimony at her Senate confirmation hearing.

NRI jailed for $1 mn insider trading scheme An Indian-American man has been sentenced to 20 months in prison for a $1 million insider trading scheme involving the failed Apollo Tyres bid to takeover Cooper Tire, prosecutors said on Wednesday.

Amit Kanodia, 49, was sentenced in Boston by Federal Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton, who also imposed a $200,000 fine and 100 hours of community service and ordered the forfeiture of the $242,500 illegal profit he made.

A jury had found the real estate entrepreneur guilty of securities fraud and conspiracy after a six-day trial last October, but he was sentenced only now.

Kanodia’s ex-wife was a lawyer for Apollo Tyres and he heard from her about her company’s plans to acquire the US-based Cooper Tire in 2013, according to the office of the federal prosecutor for Massachusetts.

He tipped off two of his friends, Iftikar Ahmed and Steven Watson, about the proposed acquisition and they bought shares and options of Cooper Tires, which trades on the New York Stock Exchange, prosecutors

said. When the takeover plan was unveiled in June 2013, the share prices shot up by 41 per cent giving the two friends a profit of more than $1 million and they gave Kanodia a share of it, according to officials.

Ahmed fled to India when he was charged with insider trading and is believed to be still in India. US authorities consider him a fugitive from justice.

Ahmed, a Indian Institute of Technology-Delhi and Harvard Business School graduate, has also been charged with embezzling $54 million from the investment company Oak Investment Partners, where he was a general partner. Watson, who admitted his guilt and turned approver, testified against Kanodia. He was fined $25,000 and given two years of probation in November last year for insider trading. He also had to give up almost $170,000 in illegal trading profits.

The Apollo Tyres plan to takeover Cooper Tire ultimately failed by December 2013 mainly because unions in the US and the management and workers at its Chinese subsidiary opposed the deal.

Indian woman’s body found in suitcase

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A 46-year-old Indian-origin woman’s body was found in a suitcase dumped in an alleyway in the UK following which a man, believed to be her ex-husband, has been charged with murder.

Kiran Daudia’s body was discovered in a suitcase by a member of public in a walkway off Cromer Street, Leicester, on Tuesday and a post-mortem is due to establish the cause of death.

Kiran, a mother of two, was a call centre worker with popular UK retailer Next in the city in the East Midlands region of England.

Leicestershire Police said they had charged Ashwin Daudia, 50, with murder and remanded him in custody.

“A 50-year-old man has been charged with murder,” Leicestershire Police said in a statement.

The man arrested is Kiran Daudia’s ex-husband, who appeared before Leicester Magistrates’ Court today.

He spoke through a Gujarati interpreter and was remanded in custody.

Local media reports said the couple had split up recently after a 20-year marriage.

Outgoing US Prez thanks Modi for his partnership Hours before he demits the White House, President Barack Obama made a farewell telephone call to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to thank him for his partnership that enhanced Indo-US strategic ties and reviewed the significant progress achieved on the economic and security fronts, including on defence and civil nuclear energy.

During the conversation between the two leaders yesterday, Prime Minister Modi thanked Obama for his strong support and contribution to strengthening the strategic partnership between India and the US. “Recalling his visit as the chief guest at India’s Republic Day celebrations in 2015,

President Obama wished the Prime Minister warm congratulations ahead of India’s upcoming 68th Republic Day anniversary,” the White House said.

“Both leaders discussed the progress they have made on shared economic and security priorities, including recognition of India as a major defence partner of the United States and addressing the global challenge of climate change,” it said.

In New Delhi, the PMO in a statement, said the two leaders “reviewed with satisfaction” the significant all round progress and cooperation in ties between India and the US in the past few years.

SOUTH ASIA

Saturday, January 21, 2017

Bangladesh police arrests ‘mastermind’ behind Dhaka cafe siege

Myanmar Muslims hope UN envoy’s visit will bring change Muslim villagers in western Myanmar’s troubled Rakhine state say they hope positive change will result from a UN envoy’s visit to the region, where soldiers are accused of widespread abuses of minority Muslims, including murder, rape and the burning of thousands of homes.

UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Yanghee Lee concluded a three-day visit Sunday to probe the situation in northern Rakhine, where an army crackdown has driven an estimated 65,000 Muslim ethnic Rohingya to flee across the border to Bangladesh in the past three months.

Lee is on a 12-day visit to Myanmar to assess the rights situation. She is focusing her attention on the Rohingya, who mostly live in Rakhine state. She said she would present a report to the UN Human Rights Council in March.

China to seal border with Pakistan to curb terror The head of the Xinjiang government was quoted by the official Xinuha news agency on Tuesday as saying that security along the China-Pakistan border would be further tightened “to prevent terrorists from entering or leaving the region illegally in 2017”.

This is being seen as China’s signalling its displeasure with Pakistan over its inability to stop terrorists from sneaking into its restive border region of Xinjiang.

Xinjiang Communist Party leaders expressed fears of militants getting training in Pakistan and Afghanistan, and returning to the province to carry out terror attacks.

The statements followed a raid in which three terrorists in Xinjiang’s Hotan prefecture were killed on Sunday; the action followed a terrorist attack on December 28 in Hotan that killed five people.

Foreign ministries of China and Pakistan talk of all-weather friendship. But there has been growing concern among politicians in Xinjiang, the target of Islamist terrorism, about close links between local terrorists and Taliban camps in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

At least 600,000 people in Sri Lanka have been hit by the worst drought since 2006 in nearly 13 of the 25 districts, disaster management officials said today.

“They are hit by shortages of drinking water and damage to crop,” Pradeep Kodippily, spokesman for the disaster management centre, said.

Most irrigation tanks in the island have run dry, the Irrigation Department said.

According to the Water authorities, restrictions have to be placed on the drinking water supplies. The hydro powered electricity capability has also been affected.

The government has requested that all air conditioners be set at 26 degrees in view of

the electricity supply being affected by the drought.

The Meteorological Department said a temporary reprieve to the dry weather may happen from January 20 with some showers expected to fall.

Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena’s office said that UN agencies - Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and World Food Programme (WFP) called on him yesterday to assure international assistance to extend drought relief. Sirisena on Friday appointed a special task force with the participation of all related institutions to make preparations to face the severe drought prevailing in the country.

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country’s worst terror attack at a popular Dhaka cafe and plotting murders of religious minorities including two Hindu priests.

ISIS-linked outlawed Neo-Jamaat-ulMujahideen recruiter Jahangir Alam alias Rajib alias Gandhi was arrested Friday night from Elenga, some 120 kms north of Dhaka, Counter-Terrorism and Transnational police unit chief Monirul Islam told media.

600,000 people in Sri Lanka hit by worst drought in a decade

He said that Alam was one of the “key players” of the July attack on Holey Artisan restaurant who were captured alive so far as “13 of the 17 militants who were presumed to have plotted the attack were killed in encounters so far”.

“During the initial interrogation he has admitted to his direct link to plot of staging the attack on Gulshan’s Holey Artisan and the subsequent Eid congregation in Sholakia,” Islam said.

The official said the police investigations found that Alam was involved in plotting murders of 22 people including a slain Japanese national, a Hindu tailor, two Hindu priests, a village doctor, a Sufi Muslim, a professor of state-run Rajshahi University and several others in the past four years.

Note: Programme can be change.

Bangladesh police on Saturday said they have arrested a top Islamist militant accused of being one of the “masterminds” of the

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india

Saturday, January 21, 2017

Mumbai attack mastermind’s nephew killed A top Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militant commander and the nephew of Mumbai attacks mastermind Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi was killed in a gunfight in north Kashmir’s Bandipora on Thursday.

The militant commander identified as Abu Musaib, was killed in a wee-hour gunfight in Khosa Mohalla of Hajin, some 30 kms from Srinagar, after an input about militant presence.

J&K Director General of Police, SP Vaid said the killing of the militant commander was a huge success. “As per our information, he is nephew of Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi,” Vaid said.

Lakhvi is the operations commander of Lashkar and is blamed by New Delhi for masterminding the 2008 Mumbai attacks.

Police said that a brief gunfight erupted in wee hours when forces cordoned Hajin village and the militant commander tried to break the cordon “As the area was being cordoned, the hiding militant opened fire triggering a brief gunfight.

In the firefight a militant was killed and a policeman was critically injured,” a police officer in north Kashmir said. An AK-47 rifle, three Chinese grenades and war-like stores was recovered from the gunfight site. Abu Musaib was active from 2015.

Congress veteran Tiwari, son Rohit join BJP Congress veteran ND Tiwari today joined BJP along with his son Rohit and wife Ujjwala, dealing a major blow to a party he served for over five decades ahead of the February 15 Assembly elections in Uttarakhand.

Tiwari (91) was thrice Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh and was the third Chief Minister of Uttarakhand from 2002 to 2007. He also served as a minister at the Centre several times having held charge of key portfolios like Finance and External Affairs.

Tiwari was also the Andhra Pradesh Governor from 2007 to 2009, a post he quit after being embroiled in a sex tape controversy. His induction into BJP is a major shot in the arm for the party ahead of the Assembly elections as he is arguably the tallest leader from the state and most seasoned politician alive.

This desertion by him is yet another blow to Congress, which is already smarting from the setback dealt by 11 sitting MLAs, including Vijay Bahuguna, Harak Singh Rawat and Yashpal Arya, who joined BJP some time back.

Tiwari’s entry into BJP will strengthen the party in a big way as he is one of the most influential leaders from the state who wields considerable clout in both Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand BJP spokesman Munna Singh Chauhan said.

After 18 yrs, Salman acquitted in Jodhpur Arms Act case After an 18-year legal battle, a local court today acquitted actor Salman Khan in the Arms Act case lodged in October 1998. Chief Judicial Magistrate Dalpat Singh Rajpurohit announced the judgment within minutes of the actor’s arrival in the court.

He read out a few paragraphs from the 102-page verdict and summoned Salman to the witness box, said the actor’s counsel Hastimal Sarswat. Salman’s sister Alvira Khan too was in the courtroom. “The prosecution failed to prove the offence under Sections 3/25 and 3/27 of the Arms Act. It could not establish that on the midnight of October 1 and 2, 1998, Salman had used a .22 revolver and a .32 rifle

for poaching the black buck,” Sarswat said.

Salman was booked for allegedly possessing arms without a valid licence and using these for poaching at Kankai village near Jodhpur.

“We always held that the evidence, documents and the entire case was fabricated to frame Salman,” he said. The case was filed by the Forest Department.

Prosecution Officer Bhawani Singh Bhati said the government would take a call whether or not to appeal.

The Rajasthan High Court had on July 25, 2016, acquitted Salman in two cases of chinkara poaching citing lack of evidence. The government has moved the Supreme Court, challenging the HC decision.

IAS officer dismissed for ‘not performing’ Acting in “public interest”, the government in a rare action has sacked a senior IAS officer on grounds of nonperformance.

K Narasimha, a 1991-batch IAS officer of Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Mizoram and Union Territories (AGMUT) cadre, was served with a ‘premature retirement’ order without any notice.

The Appointments Committee of Cabinet approved the decision under Rule 16 (3) of All-India Services (DeathCum-Retirement Benefits) Rules-1958 and allowed him to get three months pay and allowances in lieu of notice, official sources said.

He has been sacked for alleged nonperformance and corruption, they said.

The action came after a departmental review of the officer’s service allegedly found him unfit for the job.

The Home Ministry had yesterday sacked two senior IPS officers for

alleged non-performance. Mayank Sheel Chohan, a 1998 batch AGMUT-cadre officer, and Raj Kumar Dewangan, a 1992 batch Chhattisgarh-cadre officer, were given premature retirement under the same service rules. Chohan was facing

allegations of having disproportionate assets, while Dewangan was facing a departmental inquiry in connection with a 1998 case of loot.

SUPERSTORE

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INDIA

Saturday, January 21, 2017

Brexit trade deal with India ‘at risk’ without visa reform One of Britain’s most important post-Brexit trade partnerships+ could be at risk due to Theresa May’s refusal to reform visa restrictions for Indian citizens.

The British Prime Minister has insisted leaving the EU would allow Britain to find other partners abroad and India, the world’s fastest growing major economy, was the first country she visited, accompanied by a large business delegation, outside Europe after the referendum.

But as the offensive to secure a trade deal continued yesterday, senior diplomats and Indian government officials warned May’s refusal to reform visa restrictions could scupper her hopes.

Boris Johnson has flown in to Delhi to meet members of the government, business leaders and, he hopes, Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Johnson is due to explain the UK’s position on Brexit and stress how leaving the

Must work on pending military pacts: US Top US military commander Admiral Harry B Harris, who heads the US Pacific Command (PACOM), today said India and the US need to work on two remaining military agreements and asked both countries to “sharpen our tools” to protect a rule-based international system.

The latter part was a reference to China, which has been dictating terms in the sensitive South China Sea (SCS) - India has interest in trade and freedom of navigation at sea. In reference to China’s creation of artificial islands and claims of additional sea territory, which can impede free flow of navigation in the SCS, Admiral Harris said: “Will not allow shared domains to be closed down unilaterally.”

Admiral Harris was delivering a keynote address at the “Raisina Dialogue — The new normal” here. He termed the two pending agreements — CISMOA and BECA— as foundational and said: “I want us to work on the other two.”

J-K Assembly passes resolution for return of Kashmiri Pandits

The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on Thursday unanimously passed a resolution for creating a conducive atmosphere for the return of Kashmiri Pandits and other migrants to the Valley.

Soon after the House met in the morning, former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said the Assembly should pass a resolution for the return of Kashmiri Pandits and other migrants, rising above party politics.

The working President of National Conference (NC) said 27 years ago “unfortunate” circumstances in Kashmir had forced the migration of Kashmiri Pandit community, members of Sikh community and some Muslims.

“Today it has been 27 years since they (Kashmiri Pandits, some Sikhs and Muslims) left the Valley and we should rise above politics and pass a resolution in the house for their comeback,” Omar said.

As the Question Hour came to an end, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Abdul Rehman Veeri approved that the resolution should be brought in the House.

EU offers further commercial and industrial opportunities for the two countries.

“I think the time is fast upon us when we need to turbo charge this relationship with a new free trade deal, such as we will shortly be able to do,” Johnson said. “We can’t negotiate it now, but we can sketch it out in pencil on the back of an envelope.

This is not the time to put up barriers between our countries. This is time to break down barriers that will in the long term to create the jobs, the good jobs with good incomes that offer real hope and comfort...

Let us work together, Britain and India are united by our values and in many ways by our approaches to the problems of the world and it is working together to improve our security that we will allow the freedom and the openness that will drive our long term prosperity.”

27

Irani told Delhi University to ‘hide’ record Amid a row over her educational qualification, Union Minister Smriti Irani had asked the Delhi University not to disclose it to an RTI applicant, the School of Open Learning has told the Central Information Commission.

The commission has now directed the School of Open Learning (SOL) to produce before it all records related to educational details of Irani, Union Textile Minister.

A fresh show-cause notice has been issued to the Central Public Information Officer (CPIO) of DU for having failed to produce the record before the commission as directed. Irani’s degrees have been caught in a row after a petitioner alleged she gave contradictory information in her affidavits

filed before contesting elections in 2004, 2011 and 2014.

In her affidavit for April 2004 Lok Sabha poll, Irani said she completed her BA in 1996 from DU (School of Correspondence, as SOL was then called), whereas in another affidavit of July 11, 2011, to contest the Rajya Sabha election from Gujarat, she said her highest educational qualification was BCom I, a petitioner alleged in a city court.

The matter was dismissed by the court on the ground that considerable time had lapsed in filing the complaint. The matter was dismissed by the court on the ground that considerable time had lapsed in filing the complaint.

28

FIJI

Saturday, January 21, 2017

NFP accuses Minister of peddling untruths over QVS The misinformation disseminated by the Ministry of Education over the state of readiness of Queen Victoria School confirms beyond any doubt that the Ministry under the Minister for Education have become thoroughly incompetent and an unmitigated disaster. The Minister for Education and his permanent secretary have been peddling untruths for more than a week and deliberately misleading QVS staff, students and their parents. They knew full well that the School would not be ready for the opening of the 2017 school year. The NFP had raised concerns following confirmation from reputable sources that the construction works were shoddy and that the concrete walls and pillars cracked under the force of a hammer. Simply, the rebuilt QVS under the Adopt A School Programme would not be able to stand a Category 2 Cyclone and was an Occupational Health and Safety Hazard.

Despite this, the Education Minister tried to gloss over the problems through propaganda in a daily newspaper that QVS was ready and would open next week. The new principal was described as dynamic and the names

of staff and their EDP Numbers were also published (Fiji Sun, January 11, 2017: page 1 and 3). Obviously this was in response to another daily the Fiji Times, which published a report on its front page on 10th January (a day earlier) highlighting the Prime Minister telling the Education Minister to fix the School’s kitchen that was shown to be in a state of neglect.

Then on Sunday 15th January, the Sunday Times newspaper published a front page report quoting the Ministry’s permanent secretary as saying students would be temporarily using tents as classrooms while “minor structural adjustments continue”.

On Sunday evening the Minister announced that QVS would open on 30th January saying there was “shortage of beds and polishing work needed to be done”.

We regard this as unacceptable. It is disgraceful for a Minister to keep repeating untruths and try and hoodwink the people.

He must reveal the truth and put a stop to his chaotic behaviour. Otherwise he should step down. Authorised by: - Professor Biman Prasad / NFP Leader

Nadi shops resume operations Some shops along the main street in Nadi Town closed early today after a major fire broke out at the Jack’s of Fiji garment production facility this morning.

Fortunately, the adjacent buildings were spared, thanks to the efforts of fire fighters who worked

tirelessly to contain the inferno. Streets were cordoned off to members of the public with Police tightening movement in the area. By midday, some shops resumed operations after Police and the National Fire Authority declared the area safe for movement.

Wrestling legend Jimmy ‘Superfly’ Snuka passes away at 73 Wrestling legend Jimmy ‘Superfly’ Snuka who has links to Fiji has passed away at the age of 73 following a battle with cancer.

Snuka had been battling with stomach cancer that saw him undergo surgery to remove part of his stomach and his lymph nodes in an effort to try and get rid of it, but in December he was given six months to live. The WWE Hall of Famer’s death comes just days following his acquittal for the 1983 murder of his ex‑girlfriend Nancy Argentino.

The WWE issued a statement about his

death saying Snuka is regarded by many as the pioneer of high‑flying offense because of his Superfly Splash from the top turnbuckle.

The statement says Snuka’s dive off the top of the steel cage onto Don Muraco at Madison Square Garden as hundreds of flash bulbs went off will forever live as one of the most memorable moments in WWE history.

Actor and wrestler Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson was one of the first to share the tragic news about the legend’s death on Twitter.

Work ends at 250-room Fiji Marriott Resort The Fiji National Provident Fund (FNPF) has announced the successful completion of construction works at the new 250-room Fiji Marriott Resort at Momi Bay. FNPF chairman Ajith Kodagoda said this was a major milestone for the Momi redevelopment project.

The resort is expected to be officially opened at the end of March generating some 400 new employment and attract major opportunities for Fiji.

Bad weather approaches Expect showers later today as a trough of low pressure approaches Fiji from the west.

According to the Fiji Meteorology Service, good weather will last only during the day.

“Expect fine morning over most places,” the

Meteorology Service said.

“Clouds building up during the day and leading to thundery showers in the afternoon.”

Mariners can expect south to southeast winds 10 to 15 knots with moderate seas.

Brothers appear for alleged assault, granted bail Three brothers charged for allegedly assaulting a man were granted bail by the Suva Magistrates Court yesterday.

Melvin, Salvin and Edwin Kishore appeared before Magistrate Jeremaia Savou.

Melvin is charged with one count of grievous bodily harm while Edwin and Salvin are charged with one count each of assault causing actual bodily harm.

The three are again jointly charged with one count of wrongful confinement.

The alleged offences took place last Thursday at Bayview Heights in Suva.

The three are alleged to have assaulted the victim in the process. Melvin is alleged to have bitten the victim’s ear.

They are also alleged to have taken the victim to their home after allegedly assaulting him. All accused persons were released on a $300 bail bond each by Mr Savou.

They have been ordered not to interfere with prosecution witnesses and surrender their travel documents. A stop departure order has been issued against all three accused persons.

They will reappear in court on February 17 to take their plea.

PAKISTAN

Saturday, January 21, 2017

29

How Afghanistan is trying to outflank Pakistan over Taliban Pakistan will not free doctor who helped US find Laden Afghan officials are pushing to create a “safe zone” for Taliban insurgents in a bid to

wean them away from traditional sanctuaries inside Pakistan, in a radical and contentious strategy to de-escalate the conflict.

The plan underscores desperation in Afghanistan for out-of-the-box solutions to tackle the 15-year insurgency, as peace bids repeatedly fail and US-backed forces suffer record casualties in stalemated fighting.

If implemented, the strategy — aimed at undercutting Pakistan’s influence over the

Taliban — could, for better or for worse, be a game changer in a strife-torn nation where ceding territory to insurgents is seen as tantamount to partition.

“I urge the Taliban to return to Afghanistan. We should make a safe zone for them and their families,” Kandahar police chief Abdul Raziq told a gathering of religious scholars and tribal elders last month.

“We can no longer rely on foreign governments and embassies to end the war.

The Taliban belong to this country, they are sons of this soil.” That Raziq, arguably the most powerful commander in southern Afghanistan and long one of the staunchest anti-Taliban figures, would suggest such an idea amplified the shockwaves it created.

“The government shouldn’t be giving safe zones to terrorists,” warned former Helmand governor Sher Mohammed Akhundzada, while some observers dismissed the strategy as “illogical” as the Taliban already control vast swathes of Afghan territory.

Afghanistan attackers living in Pakistan, says Ghani Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani said on Monday he told Pakistan’s army chief, General Qamar Javed Bajwa, that perpetrators of recent attacks in Afghanistan were “living and being recruited from Pakistan but no action has been taken”.

Ghani told Bajwa that his government had a strong will to avenge the terrorist attacks and ensure security across the

country . Kabul’s allegations came during a conversation with Pakistani army chief on Sunday , where Bajwa condemned the attacks.

Pakistan army’s media wing said that Bajwa also offered intelligence cooperation and border management to stop infiltration.

Nearly 60 people were killed in the bomb attacks in Afghanistan last week.

A jailed Pakistani doctor believed to have helped the CIA hunt down al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden will be neither released nor handed to the United States, Pakistan’s law minister has told legislators, media reported on Wednesday.

Dr Shakil Afridi, hailed as a hero by US officials, was arrested after US forces killed bin Laden in May 2011 in a secret raid in a northern Pakistani town that plunged relations between the uneasy strategic partners to a new low.

Pakistan has accused the doctor of running a fake vaccination campaign in which he collected DNA samples to help the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) confirm bin Laden’s identity.

Afridi was arrested soon after the bin Laden raid and charged with having ties to militant Islamists, which he denied.

“The law is taking its course and Afridi is having full opportunity of a fair trial,” the Daily Times newspaper quoted Law Minister Zahid Hamid as telling the upper house, in response to a lawmaker’s query about reports of a possible release.

“Afridi worked against the law and our national interest, and the Pakistan government has repeatedly been telling the United States that under our law he committed a crime and was facing the law.” In 2012, Afridi was sentenced to 33 years in prison after being convicted of being a member of militant group Lashkar-e-Islam.

Lashkar-e-Jhangvi chief killed in Pak Outlawed Lashkar-e-Jhangvi’s chief Asif Chotu, who was on Pakistan’s most wanted terrorist list and carried a bounty of Rs 3,000,000 on his head, was killed along with his three associates near here, police said today. “Four terrorists including the chief of banned LeJ were killed by the Counter-Terrorism Department in an encounter last night near Sheikhupura, about 40-km northwest of Lahore,” a CTD spokesperson said. The killing of Asif Chotu alias Rizwan alias Nasir came 18 months after police executed his predecessor and the then LeJ Ameer Malik Ishaq in an

encounter in July 2015.

The CTD said the LeJ had been preparing to launch an attack on staff and offices of a sensitive agency in Lahore and they were coming on four motorcycles from Farooqabad towards Sheikhupura for onward journey to the city when they were shot. Asif had joined banned Sipah-eSahaba in the 1990s. He was later appointed commander of Lashkar-e-Jhangvi in Karachi.

After Ishaq’s death, he was made LeJ Ameer.

He was directly involved in killing of 100 civilians.

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PUNJAB

Saturday, January 21, 2017

Akalis lose security cover during election On the directions of the Election Commission, the Punjab Police have withdrawn the alleged unauthorised security cover given to Punjab ministers, Chief

Parliamentary Secretaries, former SAD MLAs, several “VIP” halqa in-charges, district presidents besides youth Akali leaders. A reality check of over 300 VVIPs, mainly political leaders and their supporters by the Election Commission, found that improper

security had been given to many of them.

The commission found that the security cover, which had over the years become a status symbol, was beyond the entitlement but the VVIPs had been getting it for several years. The police had not withdrawn it despite the demands by the Opposition.

Around 1,200 police guards given to the VVIPs have been withdrawn. Along with it, 28 escort vehicles have been taken back.

Among those affected are 24 Chief Parliamentary Secretaries, who had security cover of 18 security guards equivalent to the status of a minister. The EC has authorised them to have four guards only, as per the limit fixed for a member of the Legislative Assembly. Also, a number of youth Akali leaders, some of whom even had up to 20 gunmen, have lost the special cover.

Barnala - A moderate Akali who almost became PM Surjit Singh Barnala, who almost became Prime Minister in the mid-1990s but for his party ditching him, was a moderate Akali politician and played a role in the Rajiv-Longowal Accord that catapulted him to the Chief Minister’s seat in Punjab during its worst period of militancy.

Painter, politician and author, 91-year-old Barnala was among the few who held various posts, including that of Chief Minister, Governor and Union Minister.

Barnala was a candidate of the BJP and its allies in the election of the Vice-President of India in 1997. But in the previous year, he almost emerged as a consensus candidate for prime ministership when a motley combine of parties formed the United Front after the

defeat of the Congress.

His party Akali Dal, however, chose to go with the BJP, which had just lost power after 13 days in government.

When Punjab was rocked by militancy in the 1980s, Barnala stood by another moderate Akali leader Sant Harchand Singh Longowal, who signed the Punjab Peace Accord in 1985 with Rajiv Gandhi, months after he had become Prime Minister.

Barnala was elected from the Barnala constituency during the 1985 Assembly polls held after the signing of the Accord. He was unanimously elected leader of the Shiromani Akali Dal legislature party on September 27, 1985. He remained Chief Minister till May 11, 1987 during the peak period of militancy.

He was elected acting president of SAD on August 25, 1985 following the assassination of Longowal by terrorists.

25 Cong rebels jump into poll fray There are reports of nearly 25 unsuccessful ticket seekers filing their nomination papers.

PPCC chief Capt Amarinder Singh is scheduled to hold another set of meetings with the rebels to mollify them over the next two days, it is learnt.

In Pathankot district, three rebels — Ashok Sharma, Naresh Puri and Rumal Chand — have filed papers as Independent candidates from the Pathankot, Sujanpur and Bhoa segments. In the 2012 poll, Naresh Puri managed to garner nearly 27,000 votes by contesting as an Independent. In Pathankot, Ashok Sharma, who had contested as an Independent in 2012, too polled more than 20,000 votes.

Former MLA Gurbinder Atwal, who was earlier the candidate from Bholath, after showing his unwillingness to contest from there, has filed his nomination from Nakodar.

Namisha Mehta, a ticket-seeker from Garhshankar — whose candidature had been strongly supported by CLP leader Charanjit Singh Channi — has filed her papers as an Independent from the seat.

CAG detects Rs 460-cr scam in Excise Dept

Call AND BOOK AN APPOINTMENT

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has found underassessment of taxes collected by the Punjab Excise and Taxation Department and other irregularities worth Rs 460.26 crore.

In its report, the CAG has found irregularities worth Rs 281.4 crore in the system of assessment under Value Added Tax, excess or inadmissible allowance of funds worth Rs 92.89 crore, short levy of output tax worth Rs 50 crore, inadmissible allowance of input tax credit worth Rs 24.75 crore, nonrecovery of exemption availed worth Rs 3.41 crore, non-levy of penalty worth Rs 30 lakh and other irregularities worth Rs 7.51 crore.

The allegations of these irregularities in the assessment of traders were first brought to light by Badish Jindal, president of the Federation of Punjab Small Industries Associations. This has subsequently been investigated by CAG, which has said bogus billing is going on a massive scale.

Saturday, January 21, 2017

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FRUITICANA

Saturday, January 21, 2017

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Saturday, January 21, 2017 Saturday - January 21, 2017

Only SEX Please, No KISS, Says TV Shama Sikander!

Hot scenes in films give you a feeling that the actors involved in it have had lots of fun, but it is rarely so.

Perhaps that’s what the much-in-love Shama (she is engaged to James Milliron) felt when it came to locking lips on bed with Veer.

The story goes that a few minutes before the kissing scene, Veer ties up Shama (who loves BDSM- bondage, discipline, dominance and submission) and Shama asks: Don’t two people who indulge in BDSM kiss? Veer replies that only lovers indulge in kissing. Shama shoots back to say ‘Aren’t we in love?’ but

Veer shocks her by saying that they are only in lust. A source says, “But later they fall in love, which is when the kissing scenes comes into play.”

So what did Shama tell Maaya’s director about her aversion, we asked? Reveals the source, “Aversion would be a wrong word to use. Shama simply said that the kiss required was too intense and so she had reservations. She said that she would be very uncomfortable doing it.”

“Well, she did kiss eventually--- but not before Vikram had to do a lot of cajoling.” And how did Vikram cajole her? By rewinding on the BDSM scene where she asks Veer ‘Aren’t we in love?’.

“Now that you’ll have fallen in love in the story, the kiss only justifies what you said in that BDSM scene,” Vikram told Shama. We understand Shama, it’s not easy to kiss a co-star especially if you are in a relationship with someone else, err, in a steady and happy relationship.

After Ishaqzaade, Parineeti Chopra To Romance Arjun Kapoor Again!

If you loved watching Parineeti Chopra and Arjun Kapoor together in their debut film Ishaqzaade, then this is good news for you!

The film in question will be directed by Dibakar Banerjee, who has already spoken to Arjun Kapoor about the role. He is now in talks with Parineeti Chopra and if all goes well, Parineeti will come on board.

Interestingly, Arjun is playing a Haryanvi cop in the film which is said to be a dark thriller set in North India. It is being said that Dibakar’s movie will be shot in 60 days.

Reportedly, Arjun has agreed in principle but is yet to sign the dotted line. The film is scheduled to go on floors some time mid 2017, after Arjun wraps up the Anees Bazmee’s wedding comedy which he is filming currently.

Priyanka/Bipasha/Shamita- Who Has Harman Rekindled His Affair With?

Harman Baweja may not have a memorable film in his resume but the actor’s personal life has always been tabloid fodder.

Even before he made his Bollywood debut in 2008 with Love Story 2050, it was his link-up with co-star Priyanka Chopra which got the public’s attention.

The rumoured couple also paired up for another completely forgettable onscreen outing, What’s Your Raashee?

Just like the fate of their films, the relationship too failed.

Then came a brief romance with Shilpa Shetty’s sister Shamita Shetty in 2012 which too fizzled out soon.

Harman then moved on to Bipasha Basu and their relationship ended in 2015 just as rumours of a wedding were gaining momentum.

It is not Bipasha who is now married to Karan Singh Grover or Priyanka who is busy conquering Hollywood.

Without wasting more time, let us reveal that Harman Baweja is back with Shamita Shetty.

And the couple are keeping a low profile for obvious reasons.

They have been spotted at plenty of Bollywood parties but Harman

and Shamita make it a point to arrive and leave separately. Harman was by Shamita’s side when her father passed away last year and they have also been seen getting cosy at concerts.

This one may be for keeps because Harman’s parents are fond of Shamita and her family too is close to the Bawejas.

Shilpa had even cast Harman in her production Dishkiyaoon which released in 2015 and sank without a trace.

Farhan’s Mother Honey Irani Upset With His Divorce, Hates Shraddha!

Javed Akhtar’s house was abuzz with stars on Tuesday night as the veteran lyricist celebrated his 72nd birthday on January 17.

Farhan & Zoya Akhtar invited all their close friends & surprised Javed saab at his residence. From evergreen actress Rekha to Hrithik Roshan, Aditi Rao Hydari, Kalki and many other Bollywood biggies, all graced the occasion.

While we are sure, Bollywood stars’ attendance must have surprised Javed Akhtar but what surprised us was

Shraddha Kapoor’s absence from the party. Shraddha, who returned home on Tuesday morning after completing one of her professional commitments, was missing from Javed Akhtar’s party which was interestingly happening at a stone’s throw away distance from her Juhu residence.

Now isn’t she Farhan’s ‘special friend’?

Even Aditi Rao Hydari who was earlier linked up with Farhan, was present at the bash! So, we got digging to find out the reason!

21 HITLIST

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mid-day

have you heard?

Bollywood

Thursday, January 19, 2017 | www.mid-day.com | twitter.com/mid_day | epaper.mid-day.com

Photographer-turned-filmmaker Jayesh Seth has shelved his plans to STEERING make a biopicJanuary on yesteryear Saturday, 21,actress, 2017 Mamta Kulkarni. No production CLEAR house was willing to back a project on the controversial starlet

Dippy’s ‘amazing babies’ with Vin Deepika Padukone chose a custom made Michael Kors suit for her appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres show, where the actress promoted her Hollywood debut, XXX: Return Of Xander Cage. While on set, Dippy revealed that she has a crush on costar Vin Diesel, and added that in her head, she has “amazing babies” with him. When DeGeneres said, “There is a romance going on, that’s what you would get from that as well... Look at that face! Does that mean there is?”

Deepika responded: “Well, there is no smoke without fire. But, it’s all in my head!” Deepika also confessed that she was left dumbfounded when Diesel made the news of her casting public by sharing the poster of the film. She said: “He just put it up and I said, ‘I hope you know that if you put up that, it means I’m doing this movie.’ He still Deepika Padukone with her team didn’t say anything. He just put it up.” outside Ellen’s studio

Biker chic Actress Zareen Khan, who was in Mauritius shooting for Aksar 2, has returned home with a new found passion for bikes. She managed to

SHOT IN THE DARK

Not happy playing second fiddle

get her hands on one, and is cherishing the long rides in the winters of Mumbai. Zareen is also keeping herself updated on the latest models available. Can we expect some stunts soon?

It’s Barot, not Mallya!

After featuring alongside AR Rahman in the rehashed version of Urvasi, Urvasi on a TV show recently, music arranger-singer Ranjit Barot has created a stir on social media owing to his looks.

Ranjit, whose features mirror those of Vijay Mallya, is being trolled for his uncanny resemblance to the liquor baron.

One comment read, “Vijay Mallya beatboxing for Rahman”. Another

A film’s shoot being held outside a dilapidated building in an iconic lane in South Mumbai, recently caught our attention. Besides the regular hustle that’s synonymous to a movie set, it was interesting to spot only three vanity vans parked outside the venue. While the male actors were seen sharing their space, the female lead was enjoying some special adulation.

Of course, she got along with the boys seamlessly, but an unhappy co-star has been going around the town running her down. His friends have heard all about the preferential treatment she gets because of her tendency to throw tantrums. But a birdie from the unit rubbishes the rumours saying that some guys just don’t have the makings of a gentleman.

troll posted, “Vijay is trying to make a living to pay back the loan, I guess”.

By George!

TELLY TATTLE

The stage is set Model Waluscha De Sousa, who featured in the Shah Rukh Khanstarrer Fan (2016), has been bitten by the theatre bug. She has been catching up on a series of plays.

Waluscha even undertook a theatre workshop to hone her acting skills. Buzz is, she has been approached for the Salman Khanstarrer Dabbang 3, which rolls later this year. We wonder if she decided to partake in the workshops at Arbaaz Khan’s behest?

Be on top of celebrity gossip with www.mid-day.com

Jan

13

OK Jaanu

*ing: Aditya Roy Kapur, Shraddha Kapoor

Jan

20

Coffee With D *ing: Sunil Grover, Zakir Hussain

Too soon?

Malaika gets goofy for son Karan Johar is in Davos, Switzerland, to participate in the cultural diversity panel at the World Economic Forum.

KJo bumped into George Clooney at the event and shared a picture on Instagram. The Hollywood star’s wife, Amal, is being honoured for her work in the field of human rights.

Telly actress Soumya Seth, who was last seen in Chakravartin Ashoka Samrat, tied the knot with Arun Kapoor in a traditional ceremony in the US on January 14. The couple decided to get hitched within weeks of meeting each other.

New Released Bollywood Films Jan Kaabil

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*ing: Hrithik Roshan, Yami Gautam

Jan

13

Haraamkhor

*ing: Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Shweta Tripathi

Jan Raees

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*ing: Shah Rukh Khan Mahira Khan

Though in the throes of a divorce, Malaika Arora and Arbaaz Khan are making certain that their separation doesn’t affect their 14year-old son, Arhaan. The yummy mummy, who has been spending quality time with her boy, posted a selfie with him on SnapChat, using the goofy dog-ear filter. She wrote, “The things we have to do to be cool and in the loop for our kids. Monkeying around with technology and a teenager.”

Saturday, January 21, 2017

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Bollywood

Salman Met Katrina, While Ranbir Was Round The Corner It happened a few days ago when Katrina Kaif was shooting at Film City for Jagga Jasoos with her ex-boyfriend Ranbir Kapoor.

Anurag Basu had called ‘Pack Up’ andwhispers have it since this morning- that in strode Katrina’s another ex Salman Khan!

Whispers also have it that Salman had no interest in talking to Ranbir who quickly went across to his vanity van and shut the door.

We are also told, that before anybody had blinked, Salman marched out of his car and took Katrina aside. The two spent a few minutes, some say nearly 30, together.

Ranbir remained inside the van throughout their meeting.

Katrina and Ranbir have started talking to each other, but sources close to them insist that they are still not very comfy with each other, not totally at ease.

On the other hand, Salman has become good friends with Katrina.

While Katrina was in a serious relationship

Why Akshaye Khanna Did Not Play Sunil Dutt In The Sanjay Dutt Biopic?

Akshaye Khanna made his come back to the silver screen with Dishoom(2016) starring Varun Dhawan and John Abraham.

A lot of people were eagerly waiting for this star performer to come out with his next film, which could have been Sanjay Dutt’s biopic starring Ranbir Kapoor. In fact, he was almost finalised and even trumped Jackie Shroff, who was also being considered for the role. BUT, as disappointed as we are, Akshaye Khanna is not in the race anymore and the role will be now played by Paresh Rawal.

Akshaye and Hirani were not convinced and felt that Akshaye did not look like Sunil Dutt at all. Therefore, Akshaye who is very particular about the characters he plays and also about their sketch felt that it will be an injustice to the role if he plays it. Even Hirani was not convinced fully. That’s the reason Hirani and Akshaye mutually decided to not go ahead with their alliance.

Source also added, “Both Hirani and Akshaye respect each other a lot. They will definitely work together in future.”

Sunil Dutt’s role in the biopic is a very integral part of the script. The role is meaty and anyone in the industry would just grab it without thinking twice and why not? Sunil Dutt played a very crucial role in Sanju’s life.

From being by his side when he got addicted to drugs after his mother Nargis’s death, to being his pillar of support in all the legal ordeals till his death in 2005, Sunil Dutt has been Sanjay Dutt’s backbone! Of course, his role in the biopic will be an important one.

with Salman almost ever since she set her foot in India, she was rock steady with Ranbir for 6 years.

Both the breakups had ended on a bitter note, but time has seemingly healed the wounds of the first.

Ranbir and Katrina split only a year ago.

Nothing wrong if Salman and Kat met, but if this

incident happened, just a quick question: Did Salman come to the Jagga Jasoos set to score brownie points over Ranbir? Or was it something really very important that he wanted to discuss with Katrina personally?

Despite repeated calls and text messages to Katrina and her spokesperson, we got no response from the actress’ end denying the story until the time of going online.

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Saturday, January 21, 2017

Bollywood Horoscope Aries

Libra

March 21 - April 20

Sept. 24 - Oct 22

You need to hang on to your principles, but much still revolves around money. You feel that you should not be in the business of making other people happy, but of securing your own interests. It is about time that you put yourself first, so don’t feel guilty.

You may celebrate Jupiter’s presence in intriguing parts of your chart by buying yourself a treat or two. Your pleasure may be slightly marred by a hint of provocation in the financial department. All the signs suggest that a cash crisis will pass with a partner’s support. That’s the week’s good news!

Taurus

Scorpio

April 21 - May 20

Oct 23 - Nov 22

You must be prepared for frank and open debate! You may wish that everything were sweetness and light, but it’s far better to face up to causes of disagreement. There’s little to be gained from papering over the cracks. In the long-term, life is running your way, so you can afford to relax.

Planet is piling upon planet, star upon star, and you may be experiencing a welcome rise in energy. However, there are too many choices. If you really can’t decide what you should be doing, it is perfectly acceptable to surrender to circumstances and let fate take its course.

Gemini

Sagitarius

May 20 - June 21

Nov 23 - Dec 22

You are famous for your good ideas but, also, in many people’s opinion, for the ease with which you change your mind. However, it’s now important to be consistent and realise that your plans must be capable of practical implementation.

Your fantasy life appears to be extremely powerful at present. There’s nothing wrong with this, just as long as you don’t imagine that what you believe to be true really is true. As the days pass, fact and fiction begin to follow completely separate paths.

Cancer

Capricorn

June 22 - July 23

Dec 23 - Jan 20

Passions are mounting. This obviously means that romantic dalliances could develop a momentum of their own. It also indicates that all your creative powers should be at a peak. Cancerian artists will be exploring new avenues or expertise.

The results could benefit your business life.

Leo

Your stars mean business, and friends and acquaintances are set to take life extremely seriously and an otherwise lighthearted situation can become extremely intense. What happens in the end is very much up to you, and your emotional wisdom and experience will be thoroughly tested.

Aquarius

June 24 - August 23

Jan 21 - Feb 19

Power struggles are inevitable, most likely at home or within your family.

Never imagine that you are completely faultless, for, even inadvertently, you have contributed to current, awkward emotional situations. An older, or more experienced, partner, will come to your aid.

Virgo

Discussions and decisions which take place over the current period will be dominated by the Moon, and that means you’ll be making rational choices on the basis of your instincts and feelings. And that’s no easy feat! Your judgment may be good, but think before you speak!

Pisces

August 24 - Sept 24

Feb 20 - March 20

It’s difficult to focus on details at the moment and you should be setting off on a fact-finding expedition at work. You’ll do well in serious discussions and meetings, but don’t be thrown by people who are out to shock you. Family matters could benefit from some of your sensitive and intuitive skills.

It’s time to catch up with a few basic lifelessons. It looks very much as if you may have been taking other people for granted, or otherwise under-valuing their gifts and qualities. You would do well to reconsider your habits and preconceptions.

Rate Card of Actresses for Events, Weddings & Performances Revised, Blame It On Demonetisation Big entourage, glamorous clothes, gorgeous makeup, fancy cars and foreign trips--- it’s not easy to maintain these trappings of stardom in expensive Mumbai if you are a male actor who hasn’t made it big.

However, most such female actors live it up by making public appearances--- be it events, weddings or performances.

And what if and when these earnings dip?

In fact, they have already dipped.

As for those females who have made it big, you can definitely say that they are earning only their bread and butter now and no jam.

Sana Khan, who set the screens on fire with her bold-n-brazen histrionics in the sex-laden Wajah Tum Ho, says her earnings have dropped by at least 30 per cent. “Log kehte hain: Paisa nahin hai dene ke liye, we’ll have the event later. Log kehte hain: Paisa nahin hai dene ke liye, we can’t afford to have actors dance in weddings. Mind you, these same people before demonetisation happened, were full enthu about having us in their midst.”

Salman Khan’s rakhi sister Shweta Rohira says, “Honestly speaking, demonetisation has affected us. It hasn’t affected me per se much, because I am involved with art work. But since I know many actresses I must tell you that what you are tracking is not wrong.”

Anita Says Nia Sharma, who was voted as India’s sexiest TV star, “Demonetisation has affected everyone. Chances of appearances at events today do not arise.”

The leggy lass who was recently dragged in a party to a sofa by a failed actor because he wanted to make out with her, “Listen, my earnings have dropped by nearly 50 per cent.

And by the way, no event manager will go on record to tell you that he shelled out money like water earlier, but is holding it close to his chest now.”

And have they been told why the performances & appearances are being cancelled? “Yes, we are clearly told that it is happening due to demonetisation. The organisers are upfront with us on this,” Sana replied.

Bipasha Basu and Chitrangada Singh top the list of the most sought-after heroines when it comes to public appearances. Did you know that many former A-listers,

including Rati Agnihotri, Sonali Bendre and Raveena Tandon, are also flooded with such offers? Television actresses like Divyanka Tripathi, Anita Hassanandani, Kishwer Merchant and Karishma Tanna too are in the fray. But now?

A senior event manager reveals, “Now, many actresses are ready to slash their fee to remain in the race. It’s like this- earlier if the money involved was less than Rs 10 lakh, it was often given in cash. Lekin aaj nobody has cash. The black money has decreased. So

it’s all in cheque, where the service tax also comes into play. No organiser wants to pay an obnoxious amount if his/her money is not accounted for.”

“Add this to the main reason of why events are hardly finding a place in the diaries of many beauties from the film and TV worldthe number of sponsors has decreased,” adds the event manager.

So, how much moolah is involved if and when the girls are called?

We bet the numbers in the New Rate Card are far lesser.

“In Bollywood, the journey to stardom is not an easy one. But what is tougher is, living like a star especially when you don’t have continuous work. Our lives around events and weddings. We wish the situation returns to normal ASAP. Life is not the same as before,” concludes an actress on request of anonymity.

Nia comes back to say, “As far as the upper strata goes, I can only assume that they have been able to normalise their lives and the impact of everything is subsiding with time.”

Bollywood personalities’ birthdays

Kim Sharma january 21

sushant singh rajput january 21

riya sen january 24

bobby deol january 27

Saturday, January 21, 2017

Eshwar Shakti

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Movie Review

Saturday, January 21, 2017

Review: xXx: Return Of Xander Cage, See It Only If You Are A Deepika Padukone Fan The third part of the xXx franchise marks the Hollywood debut of Bollywood hottie Deepika and the good news is, it is not a blink-and-miss appearance for her, The flim is entertaining but...

The movie begins with the news that Pandora’s Box, a weapon that can send satellites crashing down to Earth, has been stolen. Now that it has already fallen into the wrong hands, only one person can save the world from witnessing World War 3 - Xander Cage. Xander brings together a motley crew of maverick misfits for the task. How they go about saving the world forms the rest of the film.

What’s Hot: The kick-ass action sequences are king in this film.

To add to this, you have Deepika looking drop dead gorgeous even while performing some of the most unbelievable stunts. She certainly is not mere arm candy for Vin Diesel. She holds her own in every way and

proves that she is the leading lady. Even though the movie has two other actresses from Hollywood (Nina Dobrev and Ruby Rose), it is Deepika who walks away with a liplock at the end with Vin - quite a feat in itself.

Also the good part is that Deepika’s ‘Indianness’ is not thrust upon us, even though she speaks in her normal accent.

The return of Ice Cube as Darius Stone is another highlight.

Director DJ Caruso has made sure that Ice Cube gets his due even if it’s a small cameo.

What’s Not: To be fair, the movie never needed a director of the caliber of DJ

Caruso. Just a group of well skilled action directors could have made the whole film.

Yes, there is a thin plot in the two hour long film but all you see is action, action and some more action.

But Hollywood has aced this genre. They make sure that the movies where you are supposed to leave your brains at home, have you sitting on the edge of your seats and are total entertainers.

As for the other stars like Tony Jaa, Donnie Yen, Kris Woo and Samuel L Jackson, they haven’t been given much screen space.

Verdict: Two kinds of people will go to watch this film Deepika Padukone fans and Vin Diesel fans. And both will be pleased to the core.

The movie caters to these specific groups, if you are one of them, watch it.

Otherwise this one is not worth your money and time.

It’s less substance, more style.

Nia Sharma is Ekta Kapoor’s Chandrakanta?

Nia Sharma might just be the new Chandrakanta, on Ekta Kapoor’s show. And here’s how she is looking like in the princess avatar. We present to you first look at Nia Sharma from her look test for Ekta Kapoor’s forthcoming show Chandramukhi on Colors . It seems there is a war happening for content on TV as there are two channels vying for remake of a show that

came originally aired 25 years back. The point of contention is a show called ‘Chandrakanta’ and the clash is happening between Life Ok and Colors. Both the channels are working on same topic. While Life OK’s Chandrakanta promo is on-air and casting is locked, the other Chandrakanta is still on planning stage.

Saturday, January 21, 2017

Foodie

7

Fruit Custard Fruit Custard is a classic Indian dessert that has been served since years. Even today it is made in most homes and even restaurants. It is one of the simplest to make yet very satisfying and refreshing. After a heavy meal, who doesn’t enjoy some cool fruits? When assorted chopped fruits are combined with some cool creamy custard it is surely a heavenly one.

The custard in this case is made with store bought custard powder . This powder is sold in different flavors like strawberry, vanilla and mango. It is made with corn starch is is completely vegetarian (no eggs added).

I have been making this since I was 13. My mom used to tell me to make this whenever we have guests at home. She had one thing less to worry about and I absolutely loved the process of making it. It is a great dessert that can be made ahead and refrigerated. Another interesting thing about this dessert is that you can include all the fruits that are seasonal or

that you have on hand. If you do not prefer a particular fruit, you may very well skip it.

I have one aunt who like to add bananas and chopped nuts to her custard. I personally do not add nuts but I enjoy adding fruits of different colors to make it eye appealing.

Here is the recipes to make this healthy dessert. Its a great way to have kids eat their portion of milk and fruits.

Ingredients Vanilla flavored Custard powder - 2 tbsp Cold Milk – ¼ cup Milk - 500 ml (about 2.5 cups) Sugar - 1/4 cup or as required Mixed fruits – 3 cups (chopped) Method Take 2 tbsp of custard powder in a bowl.

Add about ¼ cup of cool milk to this and mix until it forms a smooth paste.

Take the remaining milk (500 ml) in a sauce pan and heat it.

When it begins to boil, add the sugar.

Reduce the heat and slowly add the custard mixed milk. Keep stirring continuously so that lumps are not formed.

Cook on low heat with constant stirring for about 3-5 minutes. The custard milk will thicken and the raw flavor disappears.

Switch off and let it cool in the refrigerator.

While it is cooling, chop some assorted fruits. The choice of fruits is up to you. I have used apple, pear, banana, pomegranate, musk melon and grapes. Other seasonal fruits like

mango, sapodilla, jackfruit, papaya, pineapple, peach, kiwi, dragon fruit, orange segments, lychee, strawberry, other berries, mixed chopped nuts etc. can be added.

When serving, take chopped fruits in individual serving bowls and pour enough custard on top. Enjoy cool and healthy fruit salad.

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SHREYA’S TRIBUTE TO Saturday, January 21, 2017 LATA MANGESHKAR »P22

mid-day

8Thursday 19.01.2017

Bollywood

‘What didn’t work for Befikre was probably me’ After a relatively pale response to the Aditya Chopra romance, Vaani admits that casting her was a risk

After penning autobiography, veteran actor to enact passages as a 90-minute play SHAHEEN PARKAR shaheen@mid-day.com VETERAN actor Rishi Kapoor’s biography might have only been released a few days ago, but has already grabbed headlines owing to the intricacies with which the actor has highlighted certain aspects of his life. Aptly titled Khullam Khulla – Rishi Kapoor Uncensored, the book not only includes details of the colourful life of his father Raj Kapoor, who, writes Rishi, had a string of affairs with his co-actors, and loved his booze, but also includes a foreword by son Ranbir, who confesses that his relationship with his father wasn’t as friendly as he’d desired.

But penning his life into a book isn’t enough for the 64year-old actor. Hitlist has learnt that Rishi, who believes that a first person narration of his stories is more likely to elicit a response, is now set enact his autobiography on stage. “Yes, I will be doing live shows,” he says, further adding that he is keen to recite his stories in his own voice and gauge the audience’s reaction immediately.

Titled Khullam Khulla with Rishi Kapoor, the 90-minutes show, which will have the actor narrate select passages from the book, is being produced by VG Jairam of Fountainhead Entertainment.

Jairam informs, “We came up with the idea and approached him [Rishi] for a stage show.

Rehearsals are underway and an announcement with the details will be made shortly.

Rishi Kapoor will be in conversation with Kiran Kotrial (film writer) for the enactment. We VG Jairam, Fountainhead plan to stage it across the Entertainment, producer of the show globe.”

SONIL DEDHIA sonil.dedhia@mid-day.com VAANI While most celebrity makeovers are often celebrated, even upheld by the masses, Vaani Kapoor’s transformation from the shy desi girl in Shuddh Desi Romance to the size-zero bold Shyra in Aditya Chopra’s Befikre wasn’t appreciated by her fans. While a few criticised that she’d grown way too thin to be considered healthy, others insisted that the gorgeous-looking actress had lost her charm. What further didn’t work in the actress’s favour was the lukewarm reception Befikre, received.

The actress however doesn’t shy away from taking the responsibility for the performance of the film, and believes that the story, which revolved around modern day relationships and casual hook-ups, is still ahead of its time. “I know that the film has got polarised reviews. It will get its due in the coming years,” she says, further adding, “I have always felt that I was the biggest risk factor and the biggest bet for Befikre because everyone else in the team had achieved something and have already proven their worth in their respective fields. I was the new face who stood a chance to be accepted or not. Aditya didn’t go with the obvious choice and cast me, so somewhere I felt that if there was anything that didn’t work, it was probably me.” Ask her if she is like her on-screen avatar personally, and she says, “I’m not into casual dating. I’d like to meet a person before taking things forward, but I feel relieved after playing the role since a part of you subconsciously becomes the person.”

Vaani was on the judges’ panel at the recently-concluded Elle Graduates 2017 fashion event.

Talking about judging a fashion competition, she says, "I am not a fashionista. My judgment came from the perspective of a normal girl.”

Rishi’s Khullam Khulla show

‘Everyone else in the team had achieved something and have already proven their worth in their respective fields. I was the new face who stood a chance to be accepted or not’

‘Rehearsals [for the show] are underway…

Rishi Kapoor will be in conversation with Kiran Kotrial (film writer) for the enactment. We plan to stage it across the globe’

Other B-Town lives on stage Vaani Kapoor; (left) a still from Befikre; (top right) Aditya Chopra

£ Anupam Kher’s one-man autobiographical play Kuchh Bhi Ho Sakta Hai is a frank and funny narration of his journey to becoming an actor, and includes elements that highlight his love interests, marriage, humiliations and growth into becoming a humble human being. £ Suchitra Krishnamoorthi’s play, Drama Queen, is based on her biography by the same name. The latter is a candid narration that highlights her life post marriage and divorce, and gives a glimpse of the new avatar of the modern woman.

For more Updates, Visit our Website

www.theasianstar.com Local News . World . Entertainment . Auto . Sports

Saturday, January 21, 2017

9

Punjab Insurance

Filling Lohri with share and care: Punjab Insurance memoir for them.

The final event i.e the Lohri Day celebration was arranged in Toronto where people were invited to join in and the final draw

F

rom ages the traditions have been passed to the generations, and because of those traditions our culture becomes rich and alive. Talking about Punjabi traditions, though Punjabis have traveled and settled throughout the world, they have been successful in keeping their heritage alive. Lohri is one of the foremost festivals of the year majorly celebrated by Punjabi community. The fragrance of revri, peanuts and sounds of laughter of friend and family

January will always remain auspicious. In Surrey, there were so many celebrations for Lohri but the initiative of 13 weeks, 13 prizes, 13 chances taken by Punjab Insurance has been a memorable experience.

Punjab Insurance always gives back to the

was taken out. For the thirteen weeks people won laptop, IPad and other exciting prizes but the final prize i.e the trip to disneyland was declared on the final day in front of the gathered audience, where Sukhman Anand from Delta receieved it.

Another interesting angle to the campaign was the involvement of youth.

"We didn't want anyone to feel lagged behind and college students and youngsters are our future so we couldn't leave them behind", smiled Sandeep.

The way it all implemented definitely inpired everyone to share and care.

By - Chhavi Disawar

Exempt your child from the FSA Dear parents, We work hard to give your children the best education possible. We celebrate with them when they master a new concept and help them think creatively when tackling a tricky problem.

But standardized tests like the Foundation Skills Assessment (FSA) in Grades 4 and 7 take away from those wonderful moments of learning.

sitting around the bonfire 'dhuni' puts soul to this event.

Lohri is celebrated because of many popular reasons, as a harvest festival, or celebration of a newly married couple in order to bless them prosperity.

Also initially there would be a huge celebration on the birth of baby boys on this day, but with the times passed the celebrations opened up to the celebration of the birth of baby girl too.

In Punjab, children can still be seen going around places and asking for Lohri by singing the traditional Folklore 'Sundar Mundariye', but with the modernization coming in the festival has now been taken to halls and parties.

Though there has been a lot of change in the ways of celebration, the day of 13th

community on this festival but because it was their 10 year anniversary, the celebrations were at par.

"We wanted to spread happiness and love around and what could be a better way than to celebrate this festival with the ones who always backed us up", said Sandeep Ahuja, President, Punjab Insurance Agency.

The business has branches throughout the country and in every office the Lohri started 13 weeks before the actual Lohri date and for that time every week the lucky winner received gift hampers from Punjab Insurance.

The interesting part was that the pregnant ladies and children celebrating their first lohri definitely received something that will mark a lifetime

The FSAs do not count for marks, create needless stress for students, are expensive, and the muchdelayed results do not actively support your child’s progress.

The data is also misused to rank schools, which puts pressure on teachers to teach to the test, instead of to students’ interests and needs.

That’s why teachers in Surrey recommend you send a letter to your school principal requesting that your child be exempted from the FSA.

A message from the Surrey Teachers’ Association

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Saturday, January 21, 2017

Classifieds JOBS

JOBS Mechanic

Nanny Required We need a nanny or a student to take care of our old mother immediately at our Richmond home.

Salary will be based on experience. Resident will be provided If required.

Please call :604-2703875 ------------- Dec 31-2016 Vacancy for Diesel Mechanic A trucking company, Planet Pride Logistics, located at 11411 Shell Road, Richmond BC V7A3W7 has immediate vacancies for Diesel

Job Title: Diesel Mechanic Number of positions:1 Term of employment: Full time, Permanent Position with 40 hours per week Job location: 11411 Shell Road, Richmond BC V7A 3W7 Hours of work: 40 hours per week Shifts: Weekdays, Weekends, Evenings Salary: $30 per hour for 40 hours per week, overtime after 40 hours at the rate of 1.5 times Benefits: Two weeks of paid vacation Requirement: Completion of High

Bus Driver required urgently Gobind Sarvar School, located at 8820 – 168 Street, Surrey, B.C. is looking for a school bus driver living in Abbotsford area.

If you are licensed to drive a school bus, please email your resume and driver’s abstract to: info@gobindsarvar.ca or call Jaspreet at 604-930-2122 for further details.

South Indian food cook wanted

Required South Indian food cook immediately Please contact:

604-312-9297

JOBS school with minimum of 2 years of experience as Diesel mechanic Duties: • Determine truck condition by conducting inspections and diagnose tests to detect faults and malfunctioning.

• Keep truck available for use by completing preventive maintenance schedules such as changing oil, checking batteries, lubricating machinery, installing components and part upgrades.

• Diagnose faults by using computerized and other testing equipment to determine the extent of repair • Correct equipment deficiencies by removing, repairing, adjusting, overhauling, assembling, disassembling, and replacing major assemblies, subassemblies, component parts or system, such as power and drive train, electrical, air conditioning, fuel, emission, brake, steering, hydraulics; making adjustments and alignments including bearing loads, gear tooth contact, valve mechanism, governors, oil systems, control linkages, clutches and traction units.

• Verifies vehicle performance by conducting test drives; adjusting controls and systems.

JOBS How to Apply: Please send your resume at planetpride.logistics@ gmail.com or fax at 778297-4402 Only those who meet our basic expectations will be contacted for an interview.

We thank you for your interest in our company!

------------- Dec 24-2016 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: 31792Harris 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 croprelated operations - Develop work schedules and establish procedures - Ensure farm safety and bio-security procedures are followed - Maintain quality control and production records.

MATRIMONIAL 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 Baker / Sweet Maker wanted Nirala Sweets and Restaurant in Surrey BC needs fully qualified Pakistani style Baker/Sweet maker (Mithai).

Responsibilities will include Sweet making for retail and banquets, training of employees, labour & food cost control and supervision.

Must have at least three years experience as a Pakistani Baker.

Knowledge of Urdu an asset. ourly salary $15.50/hr.

Contact Pasha 604 593 7323 or send resume at anwarpasha786@ hotmail.com --------------- Oct- 22-2016

Saturday, January 21, 2017 South Asian Seniors - Bingo On The House January 15th 2017 ( Sunday ) from 2.00 pm to 3.30 pm.

Vedic Seniors Parivar Centre of Vedic Hindu Cultural Society Surrey invites South Asian Adults/ Senior members and non members also to come and play Bingo for the sake of fun during and make some new friends, on January 15th 2017( Sunday ) from 2.00 pm to 3.30 pm at Shanti Niketan hall 8321 - 140th street Surrey B.C. Please bring only two dollars with you to play 2 games, do not worry if you do not know how to play, members will explain you the game just for the sake of fun. Tea & light snacks will be served after the game is over. Please contact Surendra Handa Coordinator at 604 - 507 - 9945 for further details. Project funded by Government of Canada’s New Horizons for Seniors Program for Hindi speaking Seniors.

-----------------------------------------Free Self Employment Program offered by PICS Are you unemployed or working less than 20 hours per week? Are you thinking of launching your own business?

Join PICS for an information session on PICS’ Self Employment Program at one of PICS Offices: Suite 205, 12725 80th Ave, Surrey – Every 2nd Wednesday of the month OR 8153 Main St (near Marine Dr), Vancouver – Every 3rd Wednesday of

the month All info sessions are from 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM This program offers • Business Start-Up Training • Business Plan Writing • Business Advisor Support • Networking Events • Support During Business Launch Period Seating is limited. To attend a session, please pre-register at Katarina.Low@ pics.bc.ca or 604-596-7722 Ext 150 -----------------------------------------Dear Devotees and Well Wishers of Sri Ganesh Temple, Please be advised that due to prevailing weather conditions, the temple administration has decided to alter the start time of Thiruvempavai to 7 am instead of 5 am, every day.

The Abishekam for tomorrow has also been moved to 6 am instead of 4:30 am.

On behalf of Sri Ganesh Temple Society of BC, Shankar Velupillai, Secretary -----------------------------------------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 (Tasmania- Australia), Wellington (New Zealand), Napier (New Zealand),

FOR LEASE Two retail units 3000sqft #130/140 - 304785 Cardinal Ave Abbotsford

(604) 725-6734 / (604) 595-1445

Community News Tauranga (New Zealand), Auckland (New Zealand), Bay of Islands (New Zealand) and back to Sydney (Australia).

Every port the ship Norwegian 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

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entire amount $ 4,500.00 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.

12

Investment

Saturday, January 21, 2017

Segregated Funds-a wise approach to investing money for future needs In the current volatile market environment, I advise my clients to save wisely for the future.

We all work for the prosperity of our family and also very well know that financial security can provide a large umbrella of physical, and emotional protection for us at the times of need.

Different people have different future financial needs and goals for their investment; that can be for retirement, child’s wedding, buying a home, or financial safety of the family upon sudden death.

Now, the question is how can we assure that the different financial goal can be achieved more efficiently and in secure manner? By making wise investments decisions for the future, consistent & thoughtfully over several years can be an effective strategy to accumulate wealth and achieve financial goals. Investing hard-earned money in investment products that gives maximum favourable returns and assurance for the principal amount that is invested.

Due to psychological, historical viewpoint & systematically advertising, majority of people believe Banks are the only financial institution that provide investment options, and it is safe to invest in a bank.

This is a myth simply because they do not know that there are other options available which not only give the investor all the investment options that Banks provide but also provide other benefits under the protection of Insurance Laws. Protection of insurance laws give peace of mind to investor that their principal invested amount not only has the chance of higher growth to achieve financial goals but in the event of down trend of the market or sudden death it is protected 75% to

100%, under the provisions of the contract.

Due to lack of knowledge about the benefits of protection to investor’s investment in Insurance Companies, still Banks are the holder of huge amounts in RRSP or TFSA account under Mutual Funds that have no protection on the principal invested amount.

Insurance Companies provide similar opportunity of growth under Segregated Funds for an investment as the Banks provide under Mutual Funds but with so many additional benefits under the Insurance Law. Let us discuss this in details a bit : Segregated funds, is an investment option provided by life insurance companies only, because they have protection and additional benefits under Insurance Laws. This means your money, not only has chances of higher growth as per your risk tolerance, but also has the protection around your invested money, under the provision of insurance laws for Maturity & Death benefit guarantee provided by the insurance company. This protection in not provided to your investment in banks under Mutual Funds.

- First, Under Maturity Guarantee provisions, Segregated funds, provide between 75% to 100% guarantee to your invested money. That means, in downtrend market, say by chance around your retirement or at the time of withdrawal after the maturity date if your portfolio is below than your initially invested money, your money is protected at least up to your principal amount as per the provisions of maturity guarantee. For instance you invested $100000, upon maturity due to

down trend of market, money in your portfolio left is $80000, insurance company will put $20000 and give you $100000 if the guarantee is 100%. If due to growth money is more than $100000 you will get the higher amount. So this protection is for the bad times which is not offered under Mutual Fund investment.

Similarly, Under Death Benefit Guarantee provisions, upon death 75% to 100% of your principal investment has the protection too,

in downtrend market. These Guarantees takes away worries of losing your initially invested money, which makes our investment option more attractive & safe. Please remember this does not apply to a Mutual Fund investment.

- Bypassing Probate Laws - The second biggest advantage of segregated funds under insurance laws, is that they ensure a speedy, hassle free and confidential transfer of funds to spouse or beneficiary in case of untimely death of the investor, usually within 30 days or so by-passing taxation or probate laws under Insurance law protection. Please remember this does not apply to a Mutual Fund

investment. .

- Creditor Protection to investmentAnother major advantage of segregated funds is that it offers creditor protection for the beneficiary (family member); no creditor can take away from the benefit of your family member, the amount goes directly to the beneficiary. However, please make sure one does not do a Segregated Fund investment for the sole purpose of creditor protection. Please remember this does not apply to a Mutual Fund investment.

- Reset feature of Investment Many insurance companies provide this extra feature of resetting principal upon growth and apply guaranties to the new amount after reset. This feature may further move the maturity Guarantee date. Again, please remember this does not apply to a Mutual Fund investment. The above mentioned features of investment makes it very attractive for the investors however, still majority of people do not know about all this and make their RRSP or TFSA investments in Banks.

Being an Insurance & Investment Advisor I can not only advise you how to grow your hard earned & saved dollars in an investment, but also can show you the way to grow it safely protecting the hard earned money you are investing.

Please come to my office or call me to make an obligation free appointment so that I can tell you more about the hidden facts of the Financial Industry. For further information, contact me at 604-996-6862 or email me at sandeepahuja@punjabinsurance.ca

Saturday, April 2, 2016

i 5

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 - - January Saturday Vol. 7 No.Vol. 51 -6 Saturday 21, 2017- April 2, 2016

Vancouver’s skyline torise riseamid amid office-tower building boom Vancouver’s skyline to anan office-tower building boom Condo rents see biggest jump on record as Royal LePage reports sharp rise in Vancouver’s skyline to rise amid an office-tower building boom next two years due to competition. it Suisse tower is optimistic his building next two years due to competition. it Suisse tower is optimistic his building will will he $240-million $240-million Credit CreditSuisse/ Suisse/ Mr.Mr. Shokri others expect he Shokri andand others say say theythey expect 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.

Toronto’s housing squeeze spreads to high-rise American interest in Canadian real estate start to fill as the completion date gets closer. it Suisse tower is optimistic his building will SwissRealtower tower theheart heart many of the new towers to start signing SwissReal ininthe of of many of the new towers to start signing tenant he $240-million Credit Suisse/ Mr. Shokri and others say tenant they expect

T T

a result oflandlords the current are ownas aasresult of the current boom are ownThe who boom will likely suffer Franz Gehriger, the of CEO ofgets SwissReal Franzstart Gehriger, CEO SwissReal to fill as the the completion date closer. downtown Vancouver will leases as they getget to completion. downtown SwissReal Vancouver will be heart leases as many they closer to completion.

Thattenant tower inbethe of ofcloser the new towers to startThat signing Aolder new report from Royal LePage suggests climbing underbought athe Trump presidency. ers of buildings, Mr. Shokri said.

Asare owners of older buildings, Mr. Shokri said.

As as a result of the current boom Group who bought original historic Group who the original historic Franz Gehriger, the CEO of SwissReal completed a ayear, sosofar,far, will is is partly in Vancouver, completedininless lessthan than year,butbut partly because companies intoVancouver, downtown Vancouver be because leases ascompanies they get closer completion.well, That many Americans who incoming “The United States already aparttop source newers developments in oppose the well, new developments in the suburbs, building in was 2002 of older buildings, Mr.suburbs, Shokri said.stock-exchange As stock-exchange building 2002 before partGroup who bought theinbefore original historic only has upupthan totomove in.in.butwhich want to be in energy-efficient onlyone onetenant tenant hassigned signed move to because benew, in new, energy-efficient completed in less a year, sowhich far,do do iswant partly companies in Vancouver, president Donald Trump continue showing a for immigration into Canada, and now in the which have already experienced higher nering with Credit Suisse to develop it, said which have already experienced higher well, new developments in the suburbs, The has committed forfor a a10th buildings, to operate short timelines. nering with Credit Suisseinto2002 develop said stock-exchange building beforeit,partThetenant tenantonly hasone committed 10th of move buildings, tend to operate oninshort timelines. tenant has signed upof to in. tend which do wanton to be new, energy-efficient desire to purchase in Canada. period following theinrecent U.S. election, we vacancy rates inhave recent years,years, may have have the main group interested leasing Vancouvacancy rates in property recent may which already experienced higher the a state AsAs he hesaid, prices in in the newnew the main group interested in leasing Vancounering with Credit Suisse to develop it, said the370,000 370,000square square feet– –leaving leaving a stateofforofa 10th well, said, The feet tenant has committed ofwell, buildings, tend toprices operate onthe short timelines. a report released early Friday, the are witnessing material in American troubleIn asvacancy compete each other. ver office thesea days is thebump technology ratescompete in with recent years, may have troublethey as they with each other. emptiness that is unusual for an office sky- buildings will likely come i Saturday, 25, 2015down in the main group interested in Vancouverthespace office space these daysestate, isleasing the” technology the is370,000 square feetoffice – leaving of Saturday, As July well, said, prices in in the new emptiness that unusual for an sky- a 4state buildings will likely come says American web traffic interest incompanies Canadian real said Royal 4 i Julyhe 25, 2015down Incompany Vancouver, the co-developer of the Cred-on its sector.

Those make 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 emptiness thatso, is unusual for aninoffice sky- buildings will likely come scraper in this city. Even a huge shift website surged 329 per cent the day after LePage president and CEO Phil Soper. deci4 i Saturday, July 25, 2015down in the business tenancy is expected as the region In Vancouver, the co-developer of the Cred- sector. Those companies make their deciscraperisinexpected this city. as Even a huge shift in the U.S. election on Nov. 8 and has climbed “With our country’s ever-growing global business tenancy theso,region experiences something it has not seen be210.1 per cent year-over-year the week after reputation as a financially sound, happy and business tenancy is expected as the region experiences something it has not seen before: an office-tower building boom much Trump’s victory. culturally tolerant place to raise a family, it is experiences something it has not seen before: an office-tower building boom much of which is speculative construction rathFor all of November, says Royal LePage, not surprising that interest has moved from a fore: an office-tower building boom much of which is speculative construction rather than for specific committed tenants.

U.S. traffic to its site grew 73.7 per cent year- place to play, to a potential place to live and which is committed speculative construction rather“This thanis kind forofofspecific tenants. uncharted territory for Vanover-year compared to the same period in work.” er ofthan for specific committed couver, ” said Mehdi Shokri, aterritory principal with “This is kind uncharted for Van- tenants.

2015 and rose 40.9 per cent annually in the Many Americans began looking north “Thisteam isShokri, kindatofAvison uncharted territory the capital markets Young. couver, ” said Mehdi a principal with for Vanfourth quarter. last year as Trump inched closer to the saiddisaster Mehdi Shokri, a principal with “But I don’t couver, see a ”big occurring. ” the capital markets team at Avison Young.

The ICredit Suisse is onlyteam the at most Avison “But don’tthe seecapital a tower bigmarkets disaster occurring. ” Young. visible and furthest along of aasecond wave occurring.”

“But I don’t see big disaster The Credit Suisse tower is only the most of new office towers planned fortower VancouThe Credit only the most visible and furthest alongSuisse of a secondiswave ver and somevisible key suburbs.

A first cluster and furthest along of a secondhave wavebecome enticed to sell their units as Research firm Urbanation says new office towers planned forInc. Vancouofoftowers – some twooffice million square feet –for Vancouof new towers planned shrinking condominium inventory in the opposed to holding onto them as rentals,” the ver built and downtown some key in suburbs.

Athree firstyears. cluster was the past ver and some key suburbs.

A first cluster Greater Toronto Area’s high-rise sector, company said in a release. “At the same time, ofAnother towers – 11 some two million square feet office developments are – of towers – some two million square feet – tenants have become less willing to driven partially by landlords selling to existing was built downtown in theofpast three years. proposed within blocks Credit Suwas built downtown the pastthe three years. would-be homeowners, helpedin drive Another 11 tower officeat developments isse’s Exchange Howe and Westare move due to the high cost of renting in the Another 11theoffice developments are highest annual rental rate firm has ever Pender streets, evenblocks while the office-va-Su- open market.” proposed within of Credit proposed within blocks of Credit Suseen.

The surge in demand for rental units cancy in the tower region atcontinues to inch isse’s rate Exchange Howe and West Urbanation, which has been tracking the comes amid an acceleration in housing isse’s Exchange tower at Howe and West up as a result of the firstwhile wave the of building.

Pender streets, even office-vacondo sector since 1981, said Monday in its prices.

The Toronto Real Estate Board said Pender streets, even while the office-vaBut commercial brokerscontinues say the city is cancy ratereport in thethat region torental inch year-end condo month that existing home prices across cancy rateToronto in the region continues tothis inch not about to be populated by ghost towers. up asjumped a result11.7 of the first wave of building. rates centof inthe 2016 all housing stock rose 17.3 per cent in 2016 up as aper result firstwith wavethe of building.

But commercial brokers saybrokers thequarter city is average rental But rentcommercial in the fourth say the from city is2015 with December prices up 21 per not about$2.77 tonot beper populated by ghost towers. reaching square foot per month. cent about to be populated by ghost towers.from a year earlier.

With the average lease size in the GTA 719 square feet, that puts the average monthly rent for condos at $1,990 per unit. In the former city of Toronto, which includes all of the downtown core, the average rent reached $2,134 per month.

“The under-supply of rentals in the GTA continued to worsen throughout the year, causing rents to surge alongside home prices and further deteriorating housing affordability across the region,” said Shaun Hildebrand, senior vice-president with Urbanation. “While less pressure on rent growth may arrive in 2017 due to a temporary rise in new apartment completions, it’s become clear that more attention needs to be paid to building rentals over the longerterm.”

The real estate company said the number of condo apartments leased through the multiple listing service system (MLS) in the GTA dropped by two per cent from a year earlier to 26,602 units in 2016 — the first decline since the company started tracking those sales in 2011.

Urbanation chalked up the drop in rental activity to delays in condos under construction being finished and less rental turnover of existing stock, but also an increase in resale activity.

“With resale prices for condos up 15 per cent over the same period, more owners

The Building Industry and Land Development Association says supply continues to dry up in the region which drove the average new detached home to $1,230,961 in November, a 27 per cent increase from a year earlier. But the new condo sector has seen a drop in supply too, leading to 10 per cent increase in prices from a year earlier to an average of $493,137 in November, the group said.

Urbanation noted a shift in the landscape that saw the share of the total inventory of condos that was leased last year drop to 8.5 per cent from 9.3 per cent a year earlier, while the share of total units resold jumped from 7.1 per cent to 8.1 per cent during the same period.

There is a bump in purpose-built rental coming with applications for new units reaching 27,812 units in 2016, increasing by 7,586 units in the past three months.

Vacancy rates in the purpose-built segment of the market dropped to 0.6 per cent in 2016 from one per cent a year earlier.

The availability rate — units that are vacant plus those where the tenant has given notice — was 1.6 per cent, the lowest level over the past two years. The company says rates continue to climb in that segment of the market too, reaching $2.49 per square foot per month in 2016 for a five per cent annual increase.

During that three-month period, the report says American interest in real estate was primarily focused on Canada’s largest markets, with Ontario, B.C. and Quebec receiving 72.7 per cent of all U.S. regional page views on royallepage.ca.

Three-quarters of the American inquiries concerned residential properties.

Royal Lepage also says that in a survey of 1,226 of its real estate advisers between Jan. 12-17, 39.5 per cent say they expect U.S. interest in Canadian real estate to keep

White House, as illustrated by a huge spike in web traffic on Canada’s citizenship and immigration website. The site crashed on Nov. 8 as results from the presidential election rolled in.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada said there were more than 200,000 users accessing its website around 11 p.m. on election night and American IP addresses accounted for about half of that figure. At the same time the previous week, the website saw just over 17,000 users.

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14

Saturday, January 21, 2017

Real Estate

These Vancouver homeowners made over $1M last year by doing nothing You could work as long or as hard as you can to make a living in Vancouver.

Or you could own a single-family home in the city and earn twice as much by basically doing nothing.

That’s the conclusion of Dr. Jens von Bergmann, a data visualizer with Vancouverbased firm MountainMath.

He analyzed BC Assessment data for 2016 and found that people who owned singlefamily homes in the city last year earned double what local residents did by working.

In other words, a select group of lucky Vancouverites made $1 million or more last year by “twiddling their thumbs.”

This map shows Vancouver single-family homeowners who made $1 million on their properties last year.

Von Bergmann’s latest research comes a year after he completed a similar project which found that single-family homeowners could earn more by holding on to their properties than the whole population of Vancouver did by working.

He was inspired to do the research after seeing how much assessed values were

increasing, and he was looking for something to compare them to.

This time, however, “the comparable doesn’t even work anymore,” von Bergmann told.

“Just single-family houses alone went up twice as much, the rise was twice as much as the income of the City of Vancouver.”

Figuring out Vancouver’s cumulative income required some estimating, as Statistics Canada only has data up to 2014.

Von Bergmann extrapolated the data for the two years up to 2016 and came up with an estimate of $26.8 billion of pre-tax income, or $22.3 billion after-tax. That number is dwarfed by the land value increase for singlefamily homes — $46,717,326,799, according to von Bergmann’s research.

Of course, these increases don’t necessarily mean that homeowners immediately brought in $1 million just by owning their homes — it’s not like they can access the money until they sell. The data is also based on the BC Assessment, which only accounted for home values as of July 1, 2016, before B.C. slapped a 15 per cent Property Transfer Tax on foreign buyers on Aug. 2.

Von Bergmann thinks it’s possible that the new tax could dampen home values.

But he remains concerned that rising property values could mean that the next generation can’t buy a home in the city.

“If I look at my son who is now seven years old, I would like to tell him that if you work hard and study hard, you can be whatever you want to be,” von Bergmann said.

Now, he said, members of his generation often need a financial boost from their parents to make it happen.

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Soaring land values in Vancouver spark a ‘property taxTrevolt’ Vol. 6 No. 31

-

Saturday - April 2, 2016

- Tel: 604-591-5423 -

E-mail: ads@the

Vancouver’s skyline to rise amid an office-tower building

Niels Bendtsen is one of Vancouver’s longest-standing design and manufacturing success stories. He has been designing and making furniture in Vancouver since 1963 and his Ribbon Chair sits in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York. But a recent eye-popping property tax assessment has Mr. Bendtsen considering if he should relocate his business to another city.

Mr. Bendtsen owns warehouse, manufacturing and office space in Railtown, which is part of the Downtown Eastside. The rundown area near the city’s industrial waterfront had long been ignored. But nearby residential real estate prices have skyrocketed, gentrification is pushing eastward, and even an area strictly zoned for industry is feeling the pressure of greater demand.

A couple of high-priced recent sales and increased interest in the area have meant major jumps in property values. Mr. Bendtsen’s property at 365 Railway St. tripled in value: It was assessed this month at $12.245-million, compared with $3.93-million the year before. In 2016, he paid $60,307 in taxes on the property; based on the 2017 value, his taxes will climb to $147,000.

Mr. Bendtsen’s property at 405 Railway was just assessed at $14.512-million, up from $5.751-million last year. In 2016, he paid $68,852 in taxes. Based on the 2017 value, his taxes will be an estimated $175,000.

Mr. Bendtsen says it’s unfair to penalize small and mid-size businesses that bring manufacturing jobs to the city. He has 75 employees in Railtown; however, he is considering a move to Toronto, where commercial properties are much cheaper. “[The city] says they want this type of business down there, and yet they are taxing us out of there,” says Mr. Bendtsen.

“I was going to develop one of the properties, build on it and make a new building. But with these tax rates, there’s no way of doing it,” he says. “Of course I can sell them, but that’s not really what I felt like doing. I want to be in business.”

Paul Sullivan, of property tax consultants Burgess Cawley Sullivan & Associates, says he’s preparing for what could turn into the “biggest tax revolt in Canadian history.”

Although Railtown was one of the hardest hit areas, Mr. Sullivan says Vancouver’s insane property market is wreaking havoc for businesses throughout the city. In the West End, on major shopping streets like Denman, Robson and Davie streets, it’s the small retailers getting hit hard.

Mr. Bendtsen and several other businesses around the city have hired Mr. Sullivan to appeal the assessments. He expects more to sign on to appeal before the deadline at the end of the month. He says his inbox is full of unread e-mails from angry businesses.

He cites a restaurant at 703 Denman St., that has risen in value by 268 per cent from last year, with new taxes estimated to increase to $614,000 from about $229,000. He says a public market building at 1610 Robson is also facing a 268-per-cent increase in value, with taxes estimated to rise to $727,000 from $272,000.

Tenants running small businesses, which make up most of Railtown, will be hardest hit, Mr. Sullivan says. The majority of leases in Vancouver are “triple net,” which means the

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-

tenant pays the landlord the rent, but is also responsible for maintenance and property taxes. With an unexpectedly huge tax hike, many businesses won’t survive, he says.

Mr. Sullivan says a couple of factors are at play in the industrial area: assessments in previous years were likely lower than actual market value and buyers are moving into the area and paying unexpectedly high prices.

He says part of the problem is that like many municipalities, Vancouver assessments

are based on the potential for development of the property, as opposed to actual use. Also, city policies are having an impact. In the West End, the city has rezoned for significantly more high-density residential, which has driven up prices. The change could signal a similar move in the east side of the city.

“Density is good, but density drives value,” says Mr. Sullivan. “In the case of the West End, what has happened is we’ve allowed residential density… and that has driven these values out of sight. You are going to destroy every local independent business during the process.”

Mr. Sullivan has joined city councillors Geoff Meggs and Raymond Louie, as well as the Urban Development Institute – which represents the development industry – to ask the province to rewrite legislation on how small businesses are taxed. The goal, he says, is to bring property values in line with actual use.

“If we’ve got a cruddy little building that a guy is using for an incubator business, and that’s all they can afford, the assessment should reflect that cruddy little building and not a beautiful redevelopment at three times the price,” he says. “But half the values are based on redevelopment.”

Mr. Louie, acting mayor and former finance chair, says the city’s hands are tied because of the valuations made by BC Assessment, a Crown corporation that assesses all B.C. properties. Only a change in legislation can help small businesses, he says.

“I am worried about these small businesses continuing on, when the tax bill continues to rise because of the way BC Assessment assigns values to these properties … Ultimately, the resolution to this lies at the province’s feet.”

Jason Grant, BC Assessment’s assessor for Greater Vancouver, says B.C.’s system is one of the purest examples of a market value system that is measured annually.

“At the end of the day, the taxes you pay relative to others are based on the market value of your property. If you have a property worth twice as much as someone else, you are going to pay twice as much in taxes.”

He adds that he’s open to hearing concerns, and “walking people through” their assessments.

As for Railtown, Mr. Sullivan believes that there’s an inconsistency in the assessments, which will probably form the basis of their appeal.

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, January 21, 2017 -

Real Estate

15

Average house in Canada worth $470,661 in December, up 3.5% in 2016

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 average price of a Canadian home continues to move higher, but there are signs of a slowdown, according to figures from the Canadian Real Estate Association.

as the group’s chief economist Gregory Klump said “new regulations mean that in order to qualify for a mortgage, home buyers will either have to save longer for a bigger down payment or purchase a lower priced home.”

The average price rose last year, but the picture changes drastically depening on the area of the country.

In B.C.’s Fraser Valley and the Greater Vancouver area, prices continued to rise by more than 20 per cent in calendar 2016, as they did in Victoria and the Greater Toronto Area.

But in Calgary, the average price declined by 3.7 per cent in 2016. In Saskatoon, it was 1.6 per cent lower, on average.

Four other major markets saw modest gains, including: Regina (5.2 per cent).

Ottawa (4 per cent).

Greater Montreal (3.3 per cent). and Greater Moncton (1.9 per cent).

But because of their sheer size, Toronto and Vancouver continue to skew the national average higher. Stripping those two cities out of the calculation, the average price of a home in Canada is more than $120,000 lower — an average of just $352,513 everywhere else.

“It was massive year for Canadian residential real estate,” Bank of Montreal economist Robert Kavcic said, “but, as always, location was paramount.”

0 By: Asian Star ADVT.

SOLD at $4,95,00

17,160 Sq. ft (Prime Industrial Lot) $ 985,000

change 5 years fixed rate to 3.29% (30 days quick close, Hi ratio only

CREA said Monday that the average sales price in December was $470,661 — 3.5 per cent higher than the same month a year earlier.

That’s the slowest pace of increase in two years, the realtor organization said. Prices were up, on average, and sales also rose to a new annual record. There was $263 billion worth of home sales in 2016, the highest on record. But that pace is unlikely to continue, Dominion Lending Centre’s chief economist Sherry Cooper said. “Housing activity will not provide the boost to overall economic growth in 2017 that it did last year as firsttime homebuyers will find it more difficult to qualify for a mortgage.”

CREA seems to agree with that assessment

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#106 - 7565 132 St. Surrey, BC 604.572.3005 3 Year Fixed

2.69%

less than 20% down)

5 years fixed @ 2.64% 2 years fixed @ 2.24% 3 years fixed @ 2.49%

ought

Fixed Rate

5 years @ 2.59% 2 years @ 2.04%

Variable Rate 5 Year @ 2.00% (Prime-0.70)

• First, 2nd & 3rd Mortgages • Borrow against Partial share • Refinance up to 95% value, Consolidate Debts & keep existing low rate 1st mortgage.

• Construction Mortgage in 1st or 2nd position • Renewals • Private Mortgages

Saturda

16

Saturday, January 21, 2017

Garry Grewal

Vol. 6 No. 31

T

DIAMOND AWARD

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FOR LEASE PREMIUM OFFICE ACE SP HOTEL WITH 32 ROOMS FOR SALE FOR ALE S Picturesque location in the heart of beautiful British

14.827 CRES A HOME OR ALE FS 1 BED AND 2 BED CONDO

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

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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

PHARMASAVE FRANCHISE

COLLECTION / CREDIT COMPANY FOR SALE- ONE IN A MILLION OPPORTUNITY!

PIZZA

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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

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

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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.

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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

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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

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BEAUTIFUL TURN KEY A SPALON / OR FSALES

Investment Opportunity in Hope.

7200 Sq. ft large Lot Fully near major anchor Safeway. This rapidly growing franchise currently has 22 locations within BC and Located in the heart in Payal Business Centre, this office is professionally designed. 5 offices, renovated home closeof Surrey to the Alberta. With unique product Imported from the US and UK this franchise is completely turn –key Downtown core.area, 2 separate bed, 2lunch bath reception room and full washroom. 1200 Sq ft Gross lease +gst. This easy to run and $20.00/sq full trainingftprovided. business is perfect for a couple and for those 850 sq.ft home to use as a rental Established auto body shop for sale be your own boss today! wanting to try their hand at being an entrepreneur.

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Attention centers,ready Early Childhood related businesses, Teachers and others with Educational backgrounds that Turn keylearning operation for youEducation to implement plaza. enjoy dreams working with Your dream to own your business has arrived. Reputable and your as children! a restaurant owner!

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GREEN MOUSTACHE FRANCHISE FOR UNIT AT 83tAVE & 130 ST Fully �inished y sideata sideSALE b orunits str otalFORaLEASE f Are you passionate healthy lifestyle? you ready to takesqft of ox.about appr 5540 . Arevailable A or f sale. o unit in anClose t Ample Corner excellent location. your passion and belief in healthy organic foods and juices to the Port K and joinIndustrial y Eas o access t and in the warehouse. next level??ells Look no further The Greenea.

Moustache ar Family space bothboth office with their latest franchise locationaci�ic on 1 W. 4th in Vancouver.

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CAFÉ FOR SALE

ACE SP OR ALE

FRANCHISE TUNITY

PIZZA BUSINESS FORDSALE SOL

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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 OFFICE

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Great ranchise F opportunity ed! yjust Bus list Coquitlam Cent er Mall or location oss Chop N Be your own boss!

Established Pizza business for sale. Excellent location fin South Surrey withont tons to expand andlong! grow.

Only $69,000.00!

Franchise!

W of opportunity last Asking $158,800

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

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

PAYAL BUSINESS CENTRE - 82 Ave & 128 St

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TOWING COMPANY FORINDIAN SALE LIGHTHOUSE Established and reputable towing company that serves clients throughout

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PITA PIT FRANCHISE

Attention Truckers! Permitted use for Transportation Industry and more. IL zoned The perfect turn key operation for those with a flair for fashion and wanting to run their own business!

Located in the uptownOR DistrictFofALE New West busyGINA commercialRE area.Take advantage ACREAGE S in theIN ASKATCHEWAN - of 3 businesses S in land available. Two side by side lots that are one: 1. One year established Ladies Apparel & accessories Boutique 2. Complete professional alteration to be sold together. House is since ATGRE INVES TMENT ORTUNITY! OPP in the same premises but segregated from the boutique. 3. Full website with two demolished. Commercial Land only. Please f business listing an with full workshop r es, and acr el Hot velopment and online stores, social media presence and first page SEO4for alterations five star reviews.

Owner selling duede contact for more details. Asking $649,000 site vailable a to the in next level withthe egina, of R to health issues this is the perfect opportunity to take this turn key business your ideas! City each. not Saskatchewan.

Prime location,

delivery service.Reasonable parking for space. Onlinesale ordering, Hair lease alonand S ample Business 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.

Located raser on media , Hwy verdale F Cloea,all ell arin place w for established business, y your o full website, social presence you!

Make Establishment there is not a liquor license at this location. Asking $549,000 maintain, higher monthl y evenue. Asking r $69,900 CONVENIENCE TORE S & MINI MAR T entrepreneurial dreams come true.

Contact for more details.

Asking $109,000 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

2013-2014 FOR SALE

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.

BUSINESS OR F SALE

menu. Catering services provided regular clientele. Seating for 50. Complete turn key restaurant great business opportunity! Asking $129,000

2010

OFFICE FOR LEASE IN PAYAL BUSINESS CENTRE

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. transfers withDream Western union, slushies, Pizza or alehot dogs, FS fruits, vegetables, halal meats, atm, general 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 andour be own t excellent y lease bossterms surrounded by tons of groceries, cleaning supplies more.

Low rent, provide training.

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Price is excluding inventory. Please contact for more details on this unique business. Asking $109,900 own run y to be missed! or e Contact mor f NEW LEASING OPPORTUNITY details.

GROCERY STORE FOR SALE IN DOWNTOWN AREA 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 & Ideal business opportunity well established Grocery and convenience store in busy downtown over three floors.

A brand new facility with plan FOR flexibility ALEandSallowsASE & designed to provide maximum for area. Excellent sales and profit. Full service store including UPS, cigarettes, world wide money Mann Corporate centre has beenAVAILABLE

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

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

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

2011, 2012 2006-2007 2011, 2012

E-mail: ads@the

FOR 4020SALE 272 T, S/ LEASE LANGLEY

8318 oadof R eringconsists is ofmedical off and Columbia;cott this Streasure a business 32 rooms other ofessionals pr opportunity o t with the potential to expand up toan50 rooms. Its also includes purchase emium pr of�ice space ey, in Sur a 110 seat pub, fully licensed resaturant and a Liquor store 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. with lot size close to 45,000ifsqft.

PNP or run yourart Storage locker on main floor for added convenience. Close to shopping, schools, restaurants state eelIdeal for BC the and ete concr st own business and and easy access to Hwy 99, 91 and Hwy 10. Asking $250,000 building willachieve er your offentrepreneurial ae etaildreams! mixtur of and r A very rare opportunity to own a beautiful Parisian feel Salon/Café in Contact for morespace details.

Askingt $2,599,000 of�ice o ofessionals pr lookingor 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 beautiful ers offy all brunch,da ea.

Lunch long erm 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. limit oday Callor et f &mor details.

LADIES APPAREL BOUTIQUE FOR SALE

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

ITALIAN RESTAURANT FOR SALE

A treasure gem of Italian cuisine tucked away in Hope! Open for lunch and dinner this quaint restaurant serves traditional Italian classics in a fantastic atmosphere and ambiance. Perfect casual dining for locals as well as tourist traffic. Turn key operation ready for you to implement your dreams as a restaurant owner! Asking $219,000

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

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

20/01