Asian Star - May 13, 2017

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Vol 16 - Issue 15 Saturday, April 25, 2015Saturday, 6:42:48 PM May 13, 2017

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

Vol 16 - Issue 15

Saturday, May 13, 2017

Surrey showed its might on election night

By Umendra Singh: Christy Clark’s BC Liberals got hit hard by Surrey voters last Tuesday and the echoes from that slap down will reverberate around the country.

No matter what anyone else did, if it wasn’t for NDP’s Jagrup Brar, Jinny Sims and Garry Begg knocking off Liberal cabinet ministers Amrik Virk and PETER Fassbender and wresting Liberal seats away by sheer voter power, Christy Clark would be in a much more celebratory mood today and we would

Voters punished BC Liberals for too much politics The B.C. Liberals were walloped by voters in Metro Vancouver because they spent too much time playing politics and not enough showing leadership on issues like transit, says the former Liberal cabinet minister who finished a close second in the last party leadership race. Kevin Falcon, the finance minister for Premier Clark in 2011 and 2012, said his former party lost considerable urban ground to the NDP because ethical issues chipped away at their credibility, and because of the lengthy political dispute over funding transit projects.

Continued on Page 10...

back to where we were after the 2013 election.

Call it bridge toll fraud, no hospital anger, ignore-usat-your peril anger, lack of school space madness or whatever, the fact remains that it was much more than that. Not everyone drives over the bridge to work and pays toll so voter anger at Christy can’t only be explained away by tolls.

The real story is that Christy Clark pissed off much more than Surrey voters.

Continued on Page 4...

Clark and Horgan’s future may hinge on support from Greens

Christy remains upbeat with minority govt despite slap down A day after a historic election that ended with B.C.’s first minority government since 1953, Christy Clark confirmed she would remain premier until at least the final count of ballots by Elections BC. In a news conference, Clark confirmed that British Columbia Lt.-Gov. Judith Guichon asked her to stay on as premier.

Clark also appeared to be doing her best to woo the Green Party supporters and its three members of the legislature, including leader Andrew Weaver.

“We have a lot in common,” she said. “I’ve worked with Dr. Weaver in the past and he’s a smart and thoughtful guy.” Clark also deflected questions about her role in the Liberal Party’s loss of seats.

“Whether it’s a majority or minority government that I lead, we are going to work hard with other parties … and accept the message from the voters who clearly want us to do things differently.” With all non-absentee ballots counted, Liberals were elected in 43 of B.C.’s 87 electoral districts, one short of the 44 seats needed to form a majority. There were approximately 51,000 absentee ballots in the 2013 election, and Elections BC will make its final count of this year’s ballots between May 22 and 24.

Should the Liberals win that seat, the party would have a majority — but if the seat stays with the NDP, the New Democrats and Green Party could hypothetically form a coalition or governing arrangement that would make NDP Leader John Horgan the premier.

Hindu nationalists try to engineer ‘genius’ babies in India British Columbia faces a two-week period of uncertainty until the final results are in from its tight election race, when it will become clearer whether the province has a minority or majority government.

Continued on Page 6...

India’s largest Hindu farright organization said it’s working with expectant couples in the country to produce “customized” babies, who, they hope, will be taller, fairer and smarter than other babies, according to a report in the Indian Express newspaper.

Continued on Page 8...

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Surrey showed its might on election night Continued from Previous Page...

She angered some of her closest supporters in the South Asian/Punjabi community who had helped her grab power in the BC Liberal Party and then helped her win the 2013 election – by winning these same three seats for the Liberals in 2013.

So where were these South Asian supporters who were hugging Christy or standing next to her after the 2013 election?

Short answer – they were not happy with her and did not support her.

This drama goes back to the last Surrey City election when Christy Clark’s brother was managing or helping one of the candidates and ruffled some feathers of Christy supporters in Surrey.

Christy Clark than refused to appoint one of her top South Asian supporters as the Liberal candidate in Surrey-Cloverdale, opting to instead put the hapless Marvin Hunt there. Hunt should be counting his lucky stars because Jinny Sims would have decimated him in his previous seat of Surrey Panorama.

Her refusal to appoint her South Asian 100 supporter in Cloverdale angered him and led 100 to95his group of activists basically staying away from the Liberal campaign and voting.

95 75In the meantime, NDP’s prominent 75 activists in Surrey, including Kulwant Dhesi and Maninder Gill, manèged to persuade Christy’s upset supporters in Surrey-Delta area 25 to stay from campaigning for the Liberal 25 candidates (and voting) if not actually openly 5 rebelling against Christy and her Liberals. The VICTOR BAINS 5 NDP would benefit greatly from this but so 0 would the upset Christy supporters because 0 Christy Clark wild realize how valuable they are to her.

www.theasianstar.com # 202 - 7028, 120th Street, Surrey, BC V3W 3M8 Ph: 604-591-5423 Fax: 604-591-8615 E-mail: editor@theasianstar.com Editor: Umendra Singh Associate Editor: Shruti Prakash Joshi Marketing and Sales: Ravinder S. Cheema........604-715-3847 Shamir Doshi....................604-649-7827 Harminder Kaur...............778-708-0481 Parminder Dhillon..........778-859-9234

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Saturday, May 13, 2017

Clark and Horgan’s future may hinge on support from Greens

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Premier Christy Clark spoke to the lieutenant-governor on Wednesday after the Liberals squeaked out a razor-thin victory over the NDP, leaving the province with its first minority government in 65 years, if the results don’t change.

The premier’s office said Lt.-Gov. Judith Guichon has asked Clark to continue governing after the election.

Clark’s party won 43 seats while the NDP led by John Horgan collected 41 and the Greens under Andrew Weaver won three ridings in the 87-seat legislature. The Liberals only need one more seat for a majority.

But the results will remain unclear for at least two weeks while 176,000 absentee ballots are counted, which could flip close ridings including Courtenay-Comox, where the NDP won by nine votes. Even after the final results are announced May 24, tight finishes could trigger judicial recounts.

But Clark had a different interpretation, saying she reads the results as a plea to the major parties to work together more effectively. Asked several times Wednesday if she accepts personal responsibility for the Liberals’ showing, Clark avoided a direct answer.

“British Columbians sent a very strong message to all sides of the legislature. They want us to work together collaboratively and across partisan lines,” said Clark, who was trying to win the party’s fifth straight majority government.

The Liberals lost seats in Metro Vancouver and several cabinet ministers were defeated.

The difference between the Liberals and NDP in the popular vote on Tuesday was about 17,800 votes in favour of Clark’s party.

With three seats, the Green party holds

the balance of power in the legislature — a remarkable position for Weaver after becoming the first Green elected four years ago.

Weaver said he called both leaders Tuesday night to congratulate them. Both Horgan and Clark said on Wednesday that they intend to sit down with Weaver to talk about working together.

Horgan said he and Weaver agree that the Liberals have failed British Columbians on many issues. But Horgan would not make a commitment to forming a coalition with the Green leader.

Asked what stopped the NDP from winning, Horgan said the game was still on.

“There’s still 176,000 seconds on the clock and I’m going to wait to see what the final outcome is,” he said, referring to the number of absentee ballots still to be counted.

“No one in this room, in our lifetime, has seen this happen in British Columbia. I think it’s appropriate that we wait with the rest of British Columbia to make sure every single person who cast a ballot has had their say.”

Don’t expect negotiations on the possible framework of a minority government to start until after the dust settles, said Richard Johnston, a political scientist at the University of British Columbia.

“It’s entirely possible, first of all, that it won’t be a minority government,” he said.

“Substantively, it’s easier to imagine a deal between the Greens and the NDP — not personality wise, but on substance. John Horgan has already signalled the basis of the deal.”

Horgan said in his speech Tuesday that a majority of British Columbians voted for a new government and that needs to be considered.

LOCAL

Saturday, May 13, 2017

Surrey showed its might on election night Continued from Page 4...

Now, one may question how can a group of activists sway such large groups of voters? Just ask Christy Clark how she won the Liberal leadership against the favoured Kevin Falcon or how she won the 2013 election when all pollsters were predicting she would lose.

These activists have great contacts and network and do this kind of work almost on a full time basis – making contacts, maintaining contacts and getting out the votes.

So, yes tolls, hospitals and building schools may be the buzz words but the real reason for the NDP victory was the art work of the three newly elected MLAs, Jinny Sims, Jagrup Brar and Garry Begg, and the NDP activists managing to persuade upset Liberal activists and supporters to stay away from Liberal campaigning. The NDP did win others seats South of the Fraser but they were all traditionally safe NDP seats even the North Delta seat that Ravi Kahlon brought back to the NDP fold after one term being in Liberal hands. If the NDP party headquarters and certain party leaders were not so enamoured with brining in outsiders masquerading as star candidates, NDP would have even won the Queensborough- Richmond seat.

A shout out to George Chow for knocking off another cabinet Minister, SUZANNE Anton, and winning the Vancouver Fraserview seat. But this victory is bitter sweet for Chow and his party. When NDP wins this seat, it usually forms government.

Not this time though.

Newly re-elected Jagrup Brar said in a statement: “Surrey has sent a strong message to Victoria. I would also like to thank everyone who supported me. I will work hard for you.”

And there is a broad message for all politicians thinking of ignoring Surrey think again.

Christy Clark should also be looking behind her back as the knives will be out for her after this debacle - even if she wins one more seat in the recount and governs with a bare majority or a minority government even or even with the support of the Green Party.

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Kids in schools across the country craft amazing art, write touching poems or notes, or find other creative ways to show their moms how much they mean to them. Adults, meanwhile, often shop for something their moms will love, like new kit for her favourite hobby or sport, the latest bestselling book or DVD, or the perennial favourites – flowers and chocolate.

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Absentee ballots in 5 ridings could decide BC election

There are at least five ridings close enough for absentee ballots to change the out come of Tuesday’s B.C. election. Three of those ridings were won by the Liberals and two were won by the NDP. If the Liberals take just one of those ridings following the absentee ballot count, it would give them a majority.

But if the NDP takes one more seat, it would even the party’s seat tally with the Liberals at 42-42.

Following Tuesday’s election, the Liberals have 43 seats, the NDP won 41 and the Greens took three.

There are about 176,000 absentee ballots that will not be counted until at least May 22, according to Elections BC, but there’s no way to know how many ballots there are per riding or which party they will favour.

To get a sense of how absentee ballots could affect the election’s outcome, CBC News looked at the five closest ridings on election night, how many absentee ballots were cast in those ridings in 2013 and which way they fell.

Analysis focused on ridings where the difference between the first- and second-place candidates in 2017 was narrow enough that it could be affected by absentee ballots, which typically comprise eight to 12 per cent of the ballots cast in a riding.

Continued on next page...

LOCAL

Saturday, May 13, 2017

Hindu nationalists try to engineer ‘genius’ babies Continued from Page 3...

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh health officials claimed that their program – a combination of diet, Ayurvedic medicine and other practices – has led to 450 of these babies, and they hope to have “thousands� more by 2020, the report said. “The parents may have lower IQ, with a poor educational background, but their baby can be extremely bright. If the proper procedure is followed, babies of dark-skinned parents with lesser height can have fair complexion and grow taller,� Hitesh Jani, the health wing’s national convener, told the newspaper.

Jani explained that the program consists of a “purification of energy channels� and body before a pregnancy, and mantra-chanting and “proper food,� such as meals rich in calcium and Vitamin A, after the baby is born.

On Saturday, the chairwoman for a state child rights commission tried to attend one of the workshops where couples are counselled on how to produce these “genius� babies – as the Economic Times termed it – but was barred by organizers, that newspaper said. “This is an unscientific thing that’s happening here. It cannot continue,� Ananya Chatterjee, the chair of the West Bengal Commission for Protection of Child Rights, said. The RSS countered that her charges were “politically motivated.�

Responding to a petition from the commission, the West Bengal state high court later mandated that organizers present an

affidavit and video of the proceedings, which 100 went off as scheduled.

The program launched over a decade ago 95 and has spread to several Indian states. It was inspired by a RSS leader who met a woman 75 100 in Germany more than 40 years ago. RSS officials said the woman led a post Second 95 World War re-population effort in Germany 75 for “signature children� based on the 25 same principles, according to the Indian Express 5 report. This comment – and its evocation of the legacy of Third Reich era eugenics 0 25 – prompted immediate backlash on social media, with one critic writing on the 5Daily O opinion website that this “dystopia in the womb� was “straight out of the Nazi playbook. �

0 The powerful RSS was founded in 1925 as a volunteer organization to advance the rights of Hindus. Over the years, it has given rise to many of the country’s more successful conservative politicians, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi. A few of its founders praised in essays and books the totalitarian movements of Nazism and fascism sweeping Europe at the time, scholars have said. “The original RSS stalwarts found a political validity in racial resurrection championed

by Adolf Hitler and the Third Reich,�

Angshukanta Chakraborty, an opinion writer on the Daily O website, wrote, adding, “And even now, a racially pure search for homeland or creation of one along racially/communally pure lines appeals to the RSS and is the heart of its ideology.�

Absentee ballots in 5 ridings could decide BC election Continued on previous page...

Courtenay-Comox ​This riding was decided in favour of the NDP by just nine votes and will be subject to a recount. In 2013, when the riding was called Comox Valley and had slightly different boundaries, the absentee ballots were almost as close, with just 25 votes separating the NDP and Liberal candidates. The NDP had the edge in absentee ballots, but the Liberals still won the riding. In 2013, there were 3,505 absentee ballots in this riding.

Maple Ridge-Mission This riding, also won by the NDP, was B.C.’s second-closest on election night. This is another race that could well be determined by absentee votes, of which there were almost 2,000 in 2013. Absentee votes that year favoured the Liberals by 121 votes. The split between the NDP and the Liberals on election night this year was 120 votes.

Richmond-Queensborough This riding did not exist in 2013, so it’s

impossible to look to the last election for any clues to how likely the Liberals are to hang onto it. The Liberals won by 263 votes, and with absentee ballots typically accounting for anywhere from 1,500 to 3,000 votes, this riding could still be in play.

Coquitlam-Burke Mountain The Liberals held this riding by 268 votes, but how absentee ballots will affect that result is anyone’s guess. In 2013, absentee votes were almost exactly equal: 898 for the Liberals and 895 for the NDP. Vancouver-False Creek Sam Sullivan hung onto this riding for the Liberals by a little more than 500 votes.

In 2013, Sullivan won by 3,200 votes and absentee ballots that year similarly favoured the Liberals.

Absentee ballots are cast by people who are outside their home riding or voting area on election day. There are about 17,000 more absentee ballots this year than in 2013, according to Elections BC.

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10

LOCAL

Saturday, May 13, 2017

Victoria now ranks among world’s top 2 luxury home markets With Vancouver feeling the effects of a tax on foreign buyers, international investors are turning to pricey real estate in B.C.’s quaint provincial capital.

So much so, in fact, that the city now ranks among the world’s top two luxury property markets.

Victoria ranked second on a list of the world’s hottest luxury markets for 2016 in a report released by Christie’s International Real Estate and Chestnut Park Real Estate of Toronto on Wednesday.

The city’s ranking represented a climb from third place in the 2015 report; it didn’t rank among the hottest markets in 2014.

And it’s a ranking that came in a year that was its “best ever” for luxury home sales.

One of the biggest reasons that Victoria showed up in second place was that international buyers are being “deterred by nearby Vancouver’s new 15 per cent tax on overseas capital.”

But Victoria was just one of a number of Pacific Rim markets that showed up high on the rankings. “Relatively strong local economies alongside national and overseas migration and capital inflows were key

contributors to growth in these ‘hot’ luxury property markets,” the report said.

Luxury home sales in Victoria are just one sign that the B.C. foreign buyers tax is having impacts beyond Vancouver, it added.

Any shift in city-level policies “can have a ripple effect on the fortune and purchasing patterns of international buyers.”

And this is far from the first report to suggest an uptick in home sale activity (and prices) in Victoria following the tax’s introduction.

Earlier this year, BMO published a chart showing that prices dropped in Greater Vancouver but kept trending up in Victoria.

As it happens, Toronto reclaimed its spot atop the list of the world’s hottest luxury home markets after falling to second place in 2015 and topping the list in 2014.

The rankings were determined by looking at factors such as the growth in sales for homes worth $1 million or more, as well as how many days such properties were spending on the market.

Home price trends like this often give rise to concerns about whether a city is in a housing bubble.

Indeed, the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) recently said that Victoria is showing moderate signs of overheating; so is Toronto.

There are also plenty of questions about whether such price increases can be considered a good thing.

But Toronto and Victoria weren’t the only cities that ranked among the world’s hottest luxury housing markets.

Voters punished BC Liberals for too much politics Continued from Page 3...

“For the B.C. Liberals, they really got hammered particularly in the Lower Mainland, and I think that reflects frustration over a number of issues, campaign finance, lack of progress over transportation projects, and just a little too much politics and not quite enough policy initiative,” he said.

The Liberals won 43 seats in Tuesday’s election, a loss of six from 2013, and have been reduced to a minority government pending the outcome of recounts, counting of absentee ballots and potential support from other parties. The NDP won 41 seats, a gain of six, and went on a run in Metro where they ousted four Liberal cabinet ministers and made considerable gains in Burnaby, Surrey, Maple Ridge, the Tri-Cities, the North Shore and Vancouver.

Transportation was a key issue in the election, with the parties battling over bridge tolls, expanded provincial transit funding and expansion projects in Vancouver and Surrey.

As premier, Clark has picked a lengthy fight with Metro mayors over transit, demanding they put their proposed funding sources and plan before voters in a 2015 plebiscite, which failed. Her government nixed or delayed potential local funding sources for transit, such as a vehicle levy, road pricing or carbon tax expansion, and the result has been a multiyear fight with local politicians over money.

In the dying days of the election, the Liberals confirmed they’d still force mayors to hold another referendum if they wanted to look for new revenue sources, outside of property tax hikes, to fund the local share of new projects like the Broadway subway line or Surrey light rapid transit. TransLink Minister Peter Fassbender subsequently lost his seat.

“Nobody in government is perfect,” said

Falcon. “But I think it’s a mistake to say we’re going to force a referendum before we make any major transportation decisions. At the end of the day, the public hates that kind of politics. What they want to see is leadership in action.”

As transportation minister in 2007, Falcon was responsible for pushing through the Canada Line over the resistance and objection of some local mayors and politicians. It is now a crucial piece of Metro transit infrastructure.

Other issues that appear to have cost the Liberals votes in Surrey include tolls on Metro bridges, reforms to the taxi industry to allow for Uber and other ride-booking companies and persistent trucking industry complaints about licensing and Port of Vancouver access.

Clark focused the bulk of her campaign on the issue of jobs and the economy, in an attempt to rekindle her success of 2013. She ran on her record of five consecutive balanced or surplus budgets, the lowest unemployment rate in Canada and the best economic growth.

“I think the public recognized that B.C.’s economy is the envy of the nation, I just don’t think it was enough,” said Falcon.

“I think the perceived ethical issues, the campaign finance issues that were never really addressed, I think that really gnawed away at people, and it bothered them and that was reflected in a negative vote.”

Once billed as the future of the Liberal party, Falcon’s name still crops up in political circles as a potential successor to Clark. But he said he’s now happy and enjoying his time out of public life, working at an investment company. Clark was attacked by critics during the election for her refusal to ban corporate and union donations, as well as cash-foraccess fundraisers with herself and her ministers.

LOCAL

Saturday, May 13, 2017

NDP’s Harry Lali loses again

Metro Vancouver elects 7 South Asians

Jagrup Brar

Jas Johal Harry Bains

Ravi Kahlon

Raj Chauhan

Rachna Singh

11

Jinny Sims

The seven Punjabis who won seats to the BC Legislature last Tuesday are Jas Johal (Liberals) and NDPers Jagrup Brar, Harry Bains, Rachna Singh, Jinny Sims, Ravi Kahlon and Raj Chauhan.

In Fraser-Nicola, the results were about the same as last time, but the 2017 provincial election as a whole was almost too close to call.

Incumbent Liberal candidate Jackie Tegart won her second consecutive election to reclaim her seat as MLA for the Fraser-Nicola riding, defeating NDP candidate Harry Lali with 42.4 per cent of the vote compared to his 36.6 per cent. Tegart won the riding by 706 votes — 6,181 compared to Lali’s 5,475 — which was a slightly larger margin of victory than the 2013 race when she unseated Lali as MLA.

Jagrup Brar, Jinny Sims and Garry Begg upset Liberals in Surrey ridings The NDP took three seats from the Liberals in Surrey, winning six seats in total in the area, something the party has never done before.

Jagrup Brar upset former minister Peter Fassbender in Surrey-Fleetwood, Jinny Sims defeated the Liberals’ Puneet Sandhar in Surrey-Panorama and in Surrey-Guildford, Garry Begg defeated Amrik Virk, another former minister.

Surrey-Fleetwood Brar was able to win one of the closest swing ridings in the 2017 B.C. election.

He attributed his victory to the NDP’s promise to eliminate tolls on local bridges, focus on daycare and build new hospitals and schools. “That very powerful [NDP] agenda was key,” he said.

Surrey-Fleetwood was one of the only two ridings in B.C. to have the same three candidates for the B.C. Liberals, NDP and Green Party as in the last election.

That’s when former Langley mayor Peter Fassbender was able to squeak this riding out for the Liberals by 200 votes, their smallest margin of victory in the entire province.

Surrey-Panorama Meanwhile, the NDP’s Jinny Sims was in of the closest battles of the night with the Liberals’ Puneet Sandhar.

Less than 2,000 votes separated the two.

Sims represented part of the riding as MP for Newton-North Delta from 2011 to 2015.

Sandhar is a young lawyer who sits on multiple boards in Surrey.

Key issues in the riding were the aftermath of the 2014 truck drivers strike and a promise by the B.C. Liberals to allow Uber into the Metro Vancouver market.

Surrey-Guildford The B.C. Liberals’ Amrik Virk could not hold onto the riding of Surrey-Guilford, which used to be part of the old Surrey-Tynehead riding. It was broken up when Surrey gained a ninth electoral district for this election. The NDP’s Begg won with slightly more than 49 per cent of the vote.

He’s a former RCMP inspector, who ran for the federal NDP in Fleetwood-Port Kells last election.

“There was a deep desire for change,” said Begg who added that the amount of time leader John Horgan spent in the riding helped him win. Virk served as minister of advanced education before being shuffled to the Ministry of Technology, Innovation and Citizens’ Services in 2014.

Surrey-South Stephanie Cadieux held onto the Liberal seat in Surrey South, the newest Surrey riding.

The former B.C. Paraplegic Association director of marketing and development won in Surrey-Panorama in 2009 and SurreyCloverdale in 2013, both by wide margins.

For the past four years, she served as the minister for children and family development.

Surrey-Cloverdale Liberal Marvin Hunt was re-elected in Surrey-Cloverdale.

Surrey-Green Timbers The NDP’s Rachna Singh was elected in Surrey Green-Timbers to hold onto the seat which Sue Hammell had for the party for 22 years.

Surrey-Newton Harry Bains won his fourth term in SurreyNewton for the NDP. The NDP’s Bruce Ralston was been reelected in Surrey-Whalley for his fourth term.

Surrey-White Rock The Liberals’s Tracy Redies was elected in Surrey-White Rock. The Liberals have won the riding in every election since it was created prior to the 1991 vote.

Delta North The NDP picked up a seat in Delta North.

Ravi Kahlon, a former national field hockey player who played for Canada in the 2000 and 2008 Summer Olympics, defeated Liberal incumbent Scott Hamilton.

The riding has been decided by 2,000 votes or less in six elections.

Delta South The Liberals Ian Patton won the riding of Delta South, which had been held by independent Vicki Huntington, who did not run for re-election.

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LOCAL

Saturday, May 13, 2017

Courtenay–Comox heading to recount after 9-vote win In a very tight election, one Vancouver Island riding has all but assured the B.C. election results won’t be known for certain for some time.

The NDP candidate in Courtenay–Comox, Ronna-Rae Leonard, has been declared the winner, taking the riding from the B.C. Liberals — but by a margin of just nine votes.

“This is a really close race here,” said Liberal candidate Jim Benninger, a former

base commander of CFB Comox.

“I think we really just have to put a hold on this, and say we’ll find out the real answer in two weeks, but I think with this really narrow margin it could go either way.”

That slim of a margin would trigger an automatic judicial recount, but absentee ballots also need to be counted, which doesn’t happen for nearly two weeks.

Meanwhile, the Green Party had a “historic” night, tripling its seat count, to three, with Adam Olsen winning in Saanich North and the Islands and Sonia Furstenau winning Cowichan Valley; both previously NDP seats.

Furstenau, a director for the Cowichan Regional District, gained prominence fighting the controversial soil dumping at Shawnigan Lake.

In the 2013 election, Olsen finished third

in his riding, but it was the tightest race in the province, with the Greens finishing less than 400 votes behind the NDP’s Gary Holman.

This year’s election saw the same three candidates rematch.

“I am so deeply honoured to have the support and the trust of the people of Saanich North and the Islands,” said Olsen, adding he grew up in the riding and is now raising his children there.

“This is a hell of a day for the province of B.C. It’s historic,” said Matt Toner, deputy Green leader.

When asked about the possibility of the Greens holding the balance of power in a possible minority scenario, Olsen said at the time his “phone was charging” but that he hadn’t discussed it with Green Party Leader Andrew Weaver.

Weaver also won his riding of Oak Bay–Gordon Head, after a phone problem delayed reporting of results in that riding. For the rest of Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast, the NDP and Liberals appeared to hold on to their previous seats.

NDP Leader John Horgan has held his seat of Langford–Juan de Fuca, as have most other NDP incumbents: Carole James (Victoria–Beacon Hill).

Nicholas Simons (Powell River–Sunshine Coast).

Scott Fraser (Mid Island–Pacific Rim).

Rob Fleming (Victoria–Swan Lake).

Doug Routley (Nanaimo–North Cowichan).

Leonard Krog (Nanaimo).

Claire Trevena (North Island).

Lana Popham (Saanich South).

The NDP’s Mitzi Dean has also been elected in Esquimalt–Metchosin, a riding previously held by three-term NDP MLA Maurine Karagianis.

Absentee voting means BC election results won’t be final until at least May 22 It’s a historic outcome: the initial results of the 2017 B.C. election are in, but it’s still not clear who will form government.

One of the main reasons? Absentee ballots won’t be tallied until at least May 22.

The B.C. Election Act lays out specific timelines for the counting of ballots. While preliminary results are now available, the final count won’t happen until between May 22 and 24 — including absentee ballots.

Andrew Watson, communications manager for Elections BC, says the reason for the two-week delay is primarily logistical.

Eligible voters can vote at any voting place in the province, Watson said.

But if you vote anywhere other than your designated home voting place, your ballot is treated the same as any other absentee ballot.

“So if you voted in Prince George, for example, but you resided in Victoria, you would have voted for your candidates in your Victoria riding,” Watson said.

“Your absentee ballot will actually be sent to your electoral district of residence for counting.”

Historically, the delayed counting of absentee ballots has meant only minor changes in final results.

But a tight race on Vancouver Island means that, this time, they could make

all the difference. Preliminary results in Courtenay-Comox put the NDP’s RonnaRae Leonard ahead of the Liberals’ Jim Benninger by just nine votes.

With the Liberals currently set to take 43 of the 44 seats required for a majority government, a turnaround in CourtenayComox would have major consequences.

And given that Courtenay-Comox is home to CFB Comox, where many will be voting by absentee ballot and where Benninger was the former base commander, the results could change significantly between now and May 22.

What is an absentee ballot?

Any ballot not cast at a voter’s assigned voting place is considered an absentee ballot.

This includes voting at district electoral offices, advance voting places and voting by mail.

All votes cast in this manner will be tallied between May 22 and 24.

“Between now and then, our district officers will be reviewing all those envelopes, determining where they need to be sent, sending them back to the voter’s district of residence and doing all of their reconciliation processes on everything reported already,” Watson said.

There were about 159,000 absentee ballots cast in the 2013 election.

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LOCAL

Saturday, May 13, 2017

13

No new flooding in Kelowna overnight but threat remains B.C.’s Central Okanagan district got a reprieve overnight as water levels didn’t rise as expected despite rainfall in parts of the district, including in the hotspot of Kelowna.

Previous evacuation alerts and orders affecting over 400 properties remain in

effect, but no additional warnings have been issued. However, the risk of flooding remains as showers combined with melting snow from higher elevations could boost lake levels, according to a release by Central Okanagan Emergency Operations. “Despite less severe than expected weather overnight, rain and snowpack melt remain in the forecast, and the Central Okanagan is not out of the woods yet,” it read in part.

Emergency and public works crews worked overnight on Thursday, monitoring areas affected by flooding, and will continue watching streams and creeks.

Environment Canada ended a special weather statement for the region that warned of heavy rain and thunderstorms.

Still, residents are advised not to remove any sandbags or other protective measures until they’re told that the flood threat is over, and to anticipate being cut off from resources for at least 72 hours.

Ron Mattiussi, director of Kelowna Emergency Operations Centre, said while the current flood watch zone isn’t likely to change, his primary concern for the next 24 hours is now the water levels in the area’s

local creeks.

“If Mission creek, Mill creek, various ones around the region, if those breach unpredictably, water will start moving around the region,” he said.

Real-time monitoring data from the B.C. Forecast Centre shows flows in Mission creek rose from 50 cubic metres per second to 70 cubic metres per second over a six-hour period Friday morning.

Local engineers are now determining where to deploy about eight kilometres of portable dam resources being brought in from Louisiana.

Northwest of Kelowna in Merritt, longtime resident Eleanor Ware said the Nicola River bust its banks, sending water streaming towards her home.

“I have water just outside my door. My house is completely surrounded,” said Ware.

“I’ve lived here since 1960 and I’ve seen 100 lots of floods, but I have to say this is the 95 worst one I’ve seen.”

Emergency officials also warn of a longer75 term threat for residents near the shores of Okanagan Lake.

25 The regional district says the maps show the5 possibility of flooding over the coming weeks because most of the heavy snow has not0 yet melted.

Okanagan Lake and other smaller lakes in the region are already full or overflowing.

The River Forecast Centre has posted flood watches for many rivers, creeks and streams, from the Boundary region all the way north to the Central Interior, Thompson and Shuswap.

Flood watches are also in effect for the Bulkley River in the northwest, and the Peace region in the northeast, as rainfall warnings raise the potential for flooding in those areas through the weekend.

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Delta police investigate fatal crash on River Road One person is dead after a crash in Delta Thursday night.

It happened around 11 p.m. on River Road between Webster Road and Alexander Road Police spokesperson Nikki Hewitt said it was a single-vehicle crash involving a semitruck and one person was killed.

The vehicle also struck a hydro pole, which knocked out power in the area.

Investigators were on scene for several hours overnight investigating the accident.

Anyone who witnessed the crash is asked to contact Delta police.

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LOCAL

Saturday, May 13, 2017

NDP holds 3 ridings and swings another in Burnaby

NDP takes Delta North, Liberals hold Richmond Former Olympic athlete Ravi Kahlon scored a victory in the battleground riding of Delta North.

Kahlon, who represented Canada in field hockey in the Beijing and Sydney Olympics, now vows to be a voice for his constituents and champion their concerns in the legislature.

“The question around affordability and critical services people wanted were the main drivers of it,” said Kahlon of his win by more than 1,800 votes over Liberal rival Scott Hamilton with all polling stations reporting.

“We heard these issues consistently and the premier’s unpopularity was loud and clear in Delta.”

Kahlon wrestled the riding from Hamilton, a former Delta councillor, who won the seat in 2013 by a razor-thin 203-vote margin over NDP candidate Sylvia Bishop.

At a Surrey banquet hall where Kahlon gathered with fellow NDP candidates, his mood moved from “cautiously optimistic” when early poll results started trickling in to “optimistic optimistic” later Tuesday evening.

The 37-year-old, who has worked in the NDP caucus for six years, credited his team, many of them under-40 and new to senior roles in the campaign, with helping him become an MLA. “Our goal was to engage young people in the political process as well,” Kahlon said.

The NDP made an aggressive play for Delta North, which historically swung back and forth between the two major parties.

On Tuesday night, their efforts — including

a couple stops by leader John Horgan in the area during the campaign — paid off.

The Liberals, however, had other reasons to celebrate.

Liberal candidate Ian Paton lured voters back to Delta South’s traditional Liberal roots, beating closest challenger Nicholas Wong, an Independent, by a comfortable margin.

“Many years of community involvement, volunteering, and being on Delta city council the last seven years gaining experience has done me a lot of good and given me the opportunity to move to the next step provincially,” said Paton, celebrating his victory at a Tsawwassen hotel with supporters. Delta South has been represented by popular Independent MLA Vicki Huntington for two terms.

The Liberals have a slight lead in the newly created riding of Richmond Queensborough where high-profile candidate Jas Johal was ahead of NDP candidate Aman Singh by 262 votes with all 87 polls reporting.

Richmond’s other ridings opted for the status quo.

Teresa Wat cruised to her second term in office in Richmond Centre North, with a 20-point lead over NDP candidate Lyren Chu. Linda Reid, B.C.’s longest-serving MLA, won about 50 per cent of ballots cast in Richmond East. NDP candidate Chak Au, a two-term Richmond councillor, placed second with about 40 per cent support.

And in Richmond Steveston, voters chose to stick with John Yap, who will serve his fourth term in government.

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The B.C. NDP painted Burnaby orange Tuesday night, holding on to three of the city’s ridings and swinging the fourth its way.

Burnaby was home to three potential swing ridings — all won by less than a thousand votes last election — where education, housing and the contentious Trans Mountain pipeline expansion were key concerns for voters as they went to the polls.

At the Firefighters’ Public House near Metrotown in Burnaby, NDP supporters cheered and hollered each time their candidates’ names and faces appeared on a CBC broadcast of the election results and as it became apparent they would take all four seats in the city.

The NDP took two of those seats by a narrow margin in 2013, when the party’s Jane Shin won Burnaby-Lougheed by 743 votes and Kathy Corrigan won Burnaby-Deer Lake by 903 votes.

Neither NDP candidate sought re-election Tuesday for those precarious seats.

This time, Burnaby-Lougheed went to the NDP’s newcomer Katrina Chen, a Burnaby school trustee.

Steve Darling, a newcomer to provincial politics and former longtime Global B.C. news anchor, failed to swing the seat to the Liberals despite his high profile in the riding, where Global’s studio is located. He replaced Randy Rinaldo as candidate after controversial comments Rinaldo made on social media surfaced last year.

The riding is home to the $7.4-billion Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain expansion project, which the B.C. Liberals approved after it met five provincially-imposed conditions, including enhanced marine safety and a revenue-sharing deal. The B.C. NDP oppose the project, which the party contends will increase oil tanker traffic seven-fold and put B.C.’s environment and economy at risk.

Meanwhile, Burnaby North — a longtime Liberal riding and also a close call in the 2013 election — swung to the NDP, which

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ran Janet Routledge, who before retiring was political action director for the B.C. Federation of Labour.

“We knew that we needed to be able to look our neighbours in the eye and say, You don’t need to be afraid to vote NDP’,” she said.

“And if we stick together, life will be better.”

In 2013, Richard T. Lee won the riding for the Liberals by just 668 votes. Lee failed to get his fifth term Tuesday in after a rematch against Routledge. The Green party’s Peter Hallschmid, CEO of a high-tech Vancouver startup, also ran.

Burnaby-Deer Lake went to the NDP’s Anne Kang, a Burnaby city councillor, who the party put forth when Corrigan retired after two terms. Kang beat the Liberals’ Karen Xiao Bao Wang, who operates daycare centres in Burnaby and works with non-

profit organizations.

Also running in the riding were the Greens’ Rick McGowan, the Conservatives’ Graham Bowers and independent Elias Ishak.

Raj Chouhan, who won Burnaby-Edmonds by 2,303 votes in 2013, will again be NDP MLA for the riding, his fourth time in that seat. He beat the Liberals’ Garrison Duke, a career coach who worked in the employment sector. Valentine Wu, an IT consultant, ran for the Greens.

“I’m feeling very excited, very optimistic.

Our volunteers, our team — all candidates — worked so well,” said Chouhan, as it became apparent the NDP had leads in all four Burnaby ridings.

“Last time, we had three NDP (MLAs) and one Liberal. This time it will be all orange.”

Greens celebrate ‘historic’ BC wins B.C’s. Greens are celebrating a historic win that has tripled their seats in the B.C. Legislature, and given them “much greater power” amid unclear election results.

The party’s expected surge came through on Vancouver Island, though they missed the goal of four seats which would have secured them official party status.

“What a historic day for British Columbia,” said party leader Andrew Weaver to a room of supporters in Victoria, cheering and waving signs.

Weaver held his seat in Oak Bay-Gordon Head, while Adam Olsen won Saanich North and the Islands, and Sonia Furstenau took Cowichan Valley — wresting both seats from the New Democrats.

“People across British Columbia have shown that they are ready for politics to be done differently in this province,” Weaver said.

Deputy leader Matt Toner put it even more bluntly.

“This is a hell of a day for the province of B.C.,” he said.

“It’s going to be a very interesting situation for everyone in B.C., starting tomorrow.”

LOCAL

Saturday, May 13, 2017

Vancouver cuts French immersion kindergarten spaces Despite high demand and growing waitlists for French immersion programs, the Vancouver School Board is cutting French immersion spaces for kindergarten students by nearly one quarter in the coming school year.

The decision comes as a result of the surprise Supreme Court of Canada ruling last fall that requires smaller class sizes in B.C. schools and ended the longstanding dispute between B.C. teachers and the provincial government.

The school district said it’s committed to French immersion, but the ruling means it doesn’t have the classroom space or qualified teachers to start as many

kindergarteners in French Immersion as it did this year. “It wasn’t an easy decision,” said Adrian Keough, a director of instruction at the school board. Across the district, there will be about 135 fewer

spaces for kindergarteners, compared to last year’s total of 510 spaces. Five schools will lose one class each: • Trafalgar Elementary.

• Lord Selkirk Elementary.

• Hastings Elementary.

• Lord Tennyson Elementary.

• L’École Bilingue Elementary.

The school district initially said six classes would be cut, including one at Jules Quesnel.

But that information was later corrected.

While the change just affects kindergarten — children at higher grades will be able to stay in the French immersion stream — it means even tougher competition for Vancouver parents vying to get their kids into the high-demand program.

Before these changes, there were already lotteries and wait lists to get a coveted kindergarten spot in French immersion.

Endre Koszec’s daughter missed out on their closest school this year, L’Ecole Bilingue, but was lucky enough to get into French immersion at the family’s third choice, Trafalgar.

With kindergarten French immersion at that school now cut from 44 spots to 20 as a result of the court ruling, he’s worried his younger child won’t be able to get in a year from now.

Tent city residents in limbo in midst of looming injunction judgement The City of Vancouver is set to meet residents of a Main Street tent city in B.C. Supreme Court Thursday, as officials argue for an injunction to have the camp removed.

On Monday, residents who call themselves

the “ten year tent city” camp at 950 Main Street were served with a notice of civil claim, which detailed the City’s cause for their removal.

Maria Wallstam is an organizer with the a group calling themselves the Alliance against Displacement, advocating for the tent city residents.

She says when they head to court Thursday morning, they will request an adjournment in order to better prepare their defence to the injunction.

“It’s a pretty basic ask, to have enough time to have due process and a fair hearing.

What we’re talking about here is actually like, people’s lives are at stake,” said Wallstam.

The City says the camp residents are trespassing on their lot, which, according to court documents, was purchased in 1998 for the purpose of social housing.

Since then, nothing substantive has

come of the property until April 26 when a development permit application on behalf of the Lu’ma Native Housing Society was received by the City.

In a statement, the City says the proposed development will include 26 units of social housing, serving Aboriginal adults who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

Officials say the camp and its structures need to be removed so that environmental remediation work can begin on the site.

Wallstam says the injunction to remove residents will do more harm than good, with no alternative housing offered by the City of Vancouver.

“It’s a lot that’s been empty for over twenty years, they’ve owned this since the nineties.

Suddenly it’s an emergency that 50 homeless people have made this into a home where they support each other and they provide shelter the government is not providing,” said Wallstam.

Joyce Jackson is a camp community member and the group’s treasurer. Before making a home at the tent city she says she was living on the street or in shelters.

“We clean, we cook, we have Narcan training, It’s like being at home with your friends,” said Jackson. “It’s safe here and we all respect each other.”

Jackson says that while some residents may respect the injunction if it is granted, she, along with the majority of camp dwellers, will fight any attempt at their removal.

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2 members of missing Burnaby family found dead Two members of a family of three that was reported missing earlier this week have been found dead. On Monday, family members said Ming Dong Xu, 38, Yu Ling Zhang, 36, and their 4-year-old son, Garrick hadn’t come home as expected. RCMP said the family was believed to be driving in a silver Honda.

A search was launched and, on Tuesday, Mounties found a car underwater near Mitchell Island in Richmond, B.C. The RCMP Underwater Recovery Team was called in to pull the car out and one occupant was pronounced dead at the scene.

Another person was located nearby, while the third is still missing. RCMP have not specified where specific family members

were found.

Anyone who has information about the incident is asked to call RCMP at 604-2947922 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

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Trade Prospects with India are Great and Unique- Chief Economist, EDC

Vancouver- India is fast emerging as the most dynamic economy and the opportunity to do trade with India is now, said Vice President and Chief Economist, Export Development Corporation Canada (EDC), Mr. Peter Hall at an event organized by BC India Business Network (BCIBN) recently.

The event called “High Tea with Peter Hall” opened with remarks by Catherine Sas, President of BCIBN who welcomed the packed room to the talk.

Vivek Savkur, Chairman Emeritus BCIBN introduced Mr. Hall and Mr. Clark M. Roberts, Deputy Minister, Ministry of International Trade and Minister responsible for Asia Pacific Strategy and Multiculturalism.

“It is BCIBN’s mandate to bring to its members events which are beneficial to them in furthering trade with India. Mr. Hall is a greatly respected economist who has deep insight into the Indian economy

and who is here to share his views with us,” said Mr. Savkur.

Addressing the audience Mr. Hall categorically stated that India was going to be the next China in the coming economic cycle. “Prospects with India are very great and unique and Canada has many of the solutions that India needs to grow it’s infrastructure and fulfil some of the aspirations of Indians, he said.

Mr. Hall further said that one of the key areas, BC could carve a niche in the Indian market is in the field of agro foods.

“I am pleased to note that BC has the most diversified trade with India, but it is not enough. Considering the potential that exists out there, this is the tip of the iceberg,” he said. Apart from BCIBN members, the event was also attended by Ms. Abha Gosain Consul , Consulate General of India and other prominent members of the Indian community.

Ottawa tables bill banning oil tankers from BC’s North Coast The federal Liberal government has introduced legislation that will turn into law the informal ban on crude oil tanker traffic off B.C.’s North Coast. Transportation Minister Marc Garneau tabled the legislation in Parliament on Friday, delivering on a promise made by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in November. The act introduced in parliament would prohibit oil tankers from carrying crude and persistent oils as cargo from stopping, loading or unloading at ports or marine installations in northern B.C. The moratorium area would extend from

B.C.’s northern border with the U.S down to the mainland adjacent to the northern tip of Vancouver Island, including Haida Gwaii.

Vessels carrying less than 12,500 metric tonnes of crude or persistent oil will be permitted in the moratorium area to deliver shipments to northern communities.

The legislation proposes that penalties for defying the moratorium reach up to $5 million. “The Government of Canada is committed to demonstrating a clean environment and a strong economy can go hand-in-hand,” Garneau wrote in a release.

Outgoing BC MLAs to collect $13.3 million in penisons The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) has calculated the pensions of all MLAs who did not win or seek re-election last night. The total payout (to age 80) is estimated at $13.3 million.

Sixteen MLAs retired or opted not to seek re-election and 11 sitting MLAs were defeated in yesterday’s election.

MLAs are eligible for pensions after six years of service. Pensions increase by the rate of inflation every year, and can be collected at age 65. Taxpayers put in roughly $4 for every $1 a politician pays into their pension account.

“It’s time to end these rich pension schemes,” said Scott Hennig, CTF Vice President, Communications. “Most Canadians are lucky if their employer matches a dollar-for-dollar RRSP. There’s no justification for taxpayers to put in $4 for every $1 an MLA chips in.”

These numbers assume eligible MLAs bought back missing time from 1996 to 2007, when there was a far more modest pension system in place. The list of MLAs who bought back has been kept secret, but the CTF has yet to hear from any of the retirees that they didn’t buy back that missing time.

On top of those pensions, outgoing MLAs can apply for up to $9,000 in retraining funds and are eligible for up to 15 months of severance pay (as much as $127,323 each).

PENSION TOTALS FOR MLAS WHO WERE DEFEATED LAST NIGHT: • Richard T. Lee (Liberal MLA, Burnaby North, 16 years) – Initial annual pension payout: $67,520. Lifetime total to age 80: $1,167,657.

• Naomi Yamamoto (Liberal MLA, North Vancouver-Lonsdale, 8 years) – Initial annual pension payout: $38,883. Lifetime total to age 80: $672,435.

• Marc Dalton (Liberal MLA, Maple RidgeMission, 8 years) – Initial annual pension payout: $32,600. Lifetime total to age 80: $563,772.

• Gary Holman (NDP MLA, Saanich North and the Islands, 4 years) – Ineligible for pension due to not serving six years.

• Scott Hamilton (Liberal MLA, Delta North, 4 years) – Ineligible for pension due to not serving six years.

• Linda Reimer (Liberal MLA, Port MoodyCoquitlam, 4 years) – Ineligible for pension due to not serving six years.

• Peter Fassbender (Liberal MLA, SurreyFleetwood, 4 years) – Ineligible for pension due to not serving six years.

• Amrik Virk (Liberal MLA, SurreyGuildford, 4 years) – Ineligible for pension due to not serving six years.

• Suzanne Anton (Liberal MLA, VancouverFraserview, 4 years) – Ineligible for pension due to not serving six years.

• Jodie Wickens (NDP MLA, CoquitlamBurke Mountain, 2 years) – Ineligible for pension due to not serving six years.

• Doug Bing (Liberal MLA, Maple RidgePitt Meadows, 4 years) – Ineligible for pension due to not serving six years.

PENSION TOTALS FOR MLAS WHO RETIRED BEFORE THE ELECTION: • Sue Hammell (NDP MLA, Surrey-Green Timbers, 22 years) – Initial annual pension payout: $87,420. Lifetime total to age 80: $750,323. Lifetime payout is slightly lower as she will be 72 at retirement.

• Bill Bennett (BC Liberal MLA, Kootenay East, 16 years) – Initial annual pension payout: $83,504. Lifetime total to age 80: $1.23m.

Lifetime payout is slightly lower as he will be 67 at retirement.

• Gordon Hogg (BC Liberal MLA, SurreyWhite Rock, 20 years) – Initial annual pension payout: $82,607. Lifetime total to age 80: $805,800. Lifetime payout is slightly lower as he will be 71 at retirement.

• Jenny Kwan (NDP MLA, VancouverMount Pleasant, 19 years) – Initial annual pension payout: $75,820. Lifetime total to age 80: $1.3m. Left in 2015 to run for federal office.

• Maurine Karagianis (NDP MLA, Esquimalt-Royal Roads, 12 years) – Initial annual pension payout: $51,502. Lifetime total to age 80: $756,079. Lifetime payout is slightly lower as she will be 67 at retirement.

• Norm Macdonald (NDP MLA, Columbia River-Revelstoke, 12 years – Initial annual pension payout: $47,550. Lifetime total to age 80: $822,301.

• Robin Austin (NDP MLA, Skeena, 12 years) – Initial annual pension payout: $44,112.

Lifetime total to age 80: $762,852.

• Terry Lake (BC Liberal MLA, KamloopsNorth Thompson, 8 years) – Initial annual pension payout: $42,364. Lifetime total to age 80: $732,623.

• Don McRae (BC Liberal MLA, Comox Valley, 8 years) – Initial annual pension payout: $41,285. Lifetime total to age 80: $713,958.

• Moira Stilwell (BC Liberal MLA, Vancouver-Langara, 8 years) – Initial annual pension payout: $35,165. Lifetime total to age 80: $608,123.

• Pat Pimm (Independent MLA, Peace River North, 8 years) – Initial annual pension payout: $33,455. Lifetime total to age 80: $578,551.

• Kathy Corrigan (NDP MLA, BurnabyDeer Lake, 8 years) – Initial annual pension payout: $30,385. Lifetime total to age 80: $525,461.

• Bill Routley (NDP MLA, Cowichan Valley, 8 years) – Initial annual pension payout: $28,612. Lifetime total to age 80: $383,758.

Lifetime payout is slightly lower as he will be 68 at retirement.

• Vicki Huntington (Independent MLA, Delta South, 8 years) – Initial annual pension payout: $28,587. Lifetime total to age 80: $494,367.

• Doug Horne (BC Liberal MLA, Coquitlam-Burke Mountain, 6 years) – Initial annual pension payout: $27,251. Lifetime total to age 80: $471,262. Left in 2015 to run for federal office.

• Jane Shin (NDP MLA, Burnaby-Lougheed, 4 years) – Ineligible for pension due to not serving six years.

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Saturday, May 13, 2017

Over half of Canadians are $200 or less away from not being able to pay bills More than half of Canadians are living within $200 per month of not being able to pay all their bills or meet their debt obligations, according to a recent Ipsos survey conducted on behalf of accounting firm MNP. “With such a small amount of wiggle room, any kind of unanticipated hardship, such as a job loss or even a car repair, could send an already struggling family into financial despair,” said Grant Bazian, president of MNP’s personal insolvency practice, which is one of the largest in Canada.

For 10 per cent of Canadians, the margin of error when it comes to household finances is even thinner, at $100 or less.

But those with anything at all left at the end of the month were in better shape than many: A whopping 31 per cent of respondents said

they already don’t make enough to meet all their financial obligations.

Debt is causing Canadians a fair bit of stress, the polling suggests, but few appear to be on track to buff up their monthly financial cushion.

Two-thirds of survey takers said they are “less than very confident” about their ability to create an emergency fund.

Another hair-raising finding from the survey: Roughly 60 per cent said they don’t have a firm grasp of how interest rates affect debt repayments.

The statistic helps explain why many indebted Canadians end up taking on more debt and high-cost loans, said Bazian. “That’s how so many end up in an endless cycle of debt,” he noted.

But the data also raises the question of whether Canadians understand the

implications of an interest rate hike by the Bank of Canada (BoC). A decision by the BoC to start lifting its key policy rate from historic lows would raise the cost of carrying debt

across the country. The Bank uses interest rates, among other tools, to influence inflation and economic activity. Many economists believe it could start to raise rates in the first half of 2018, as economic growth picks up pace. Although the BoC will probably lift rates gradually and over time, the impact on Canadian wallets will be substantial.

For example, as Global News has reported before, a one percentage point rise in the BoC’s key interest rate would likely push up variable mortgage rates by a similar amount.

A variable mortgage rate that’s currently set at 3 per cent, for example, would go up to 4 per cent, which represents a 33 per cent increase in interest payments for the mortgage holder.

That’s an extra $83 a month for every $100,000 in outstanding mortgage debt.

Jagmeet Singh to announce bid for NDP leadership

Jagmeet Singh, the deputy leader of the Ontario NDP, will seek the leadership of the federal New Democrats.

Multiple sources close to Singh said he will officially announce his candidacy at an event next Monday evening in Brampton, Ont., with the promise of a campaign launch unlike any in the NDP leadership race so far.

Singh, a 38-year-old lawyer who speaks French and Punjabi, has represented the riding of Bramalea-Gore-Malton in the provincial legislature since 2011. He has served as the Ontario NDP’s critic for justice and consumer services, and party leader Andrea Horwath named him her deputy in 2015.

He will become the fifth official candidate in the race to replace Tom Mulcair as federal NDP leader. MPs Peter Julian of B.C., Charlie Angus from northern Ontario, Guy Caron of Quebec, and Niki Ashton of Manitoba were the first four entrants.

Some observers predict Singh will inject some excitement to the race, but warn that he faces significant challenges in winning a national campaign. “He really has that kind of charisma that people enjoy,” said Kathleen Monk, former director of strategic communications for Jack Layton.

“He brings a lot of new blood into the race, he will represent a lot of urban, youth-focused issues,” Monk said in an interview with CBC News. “I think if I was a Liberal, I wouldn’t want to be running against Jagmeet.”

For Singh to succeed, he must prove he has support across the country, Monk said.

As speculation swirled in recent months about whether Singh would seek the leadership, he has been increasing his national profile.

Karl Bélanger, the NDP’s former national director, agrees that Singh has charisma and finds it interesting that he’s choosing to launch his campaign in his riding.

“Having a big launch is important. But if you do it in your own backyard, it doesn’t really signal much in terms of growth potential,” said Bélanger. “Montreal, Vancouver or even downtown Toronto would send a stronger message.”

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Feds spend nearly $1,900 on cardboard cut-outs of Trudeau to ‘promote Canada’

Documents released to the House of Commons this week show the federal government paid nearly $1,900 for more than a dozen cardboard cut-outs of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that were put on display at some Canadian missions abroad before their use was quickly banned and they were placed in storage.

The figures are found in answers to inquiries from Conservative MP Ben Lobb, who asked which departments and agencies bought the cut-outs, how much each cost and who authorized the purchase.

Global Affairs Canada says the department bought 14 of the cut-outs, ranging in price from $63.24 for an individual cut-out to as high as $239.27 for two.

Other costs included shipping and, in one case, $464.20 for a wooden backing frame to hold the life-size image of Trudeau in a black suit, black shirt and silver tie.

Soon after they were seen at events

at Canadian missions and governmentsponsored events in the United States, Global Affairs instructed missions to no longer use the replicas to promote Canada.

The prime ministerial replicas had been put on display at an event last June organized by the Canadian consulate in Atlanta and in March at a Canadian music festival in Austin, Texas. In its response to Lobb’s questions, dated Mar. 21, Global Affairs said Canada was “re-engaging with the world to champion the values that Canadians hold dear and advance our interests.”

But the Conservatives question what value the Liberals place on vanity.

“I don’t think a two-dimensional cut-out of our prime minister champions our values,” said Tory MP John Brassard.

“There’s hard-working Canadians who don’t have $2,000 in their bank accounts and yet foreign affairs is buying cardboard cutouts of our prime minister.”

No trade war to come between U.S., Canada The White House is downplaying talk of a U.S. trade war with Canada, with President Donald Trump’s spokesman brushing off the notion when asked about it Monday.

“No,” Sean Spicer said when asked whether he sees a north-south trade war escalating.

He said regular trade remedy procedures are simply doing their job. The U.S. has slapped tariffs as high as 24 per cent on Canadian lumber, as part of its long-standing view that Canadian logging companies get unfair subsidies.

The Canadian government is now considering retaliation in two areas: one is a possible ban on exports of U.S. coal from B.C., and government sources say the other is a study of potential duties against products from Oregon.

The targeting of Oregon is related to the fact that Canadian officials see that state’s Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden as a particularly obstinate opponent of a softwood lumber settlement.

Sources tell The Canadian Press that federal officials are poring through examples from Oregon state of subsidies for businesses, and exploring grounds for an investigation that could result in duties on Oregon plywood, flooring, wood chips, packing and wine.

U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said over the weekend that he won’t be pressured into making a lumber deal.

The president’s spokesman said Monday that the U.S. is merely following its legal, legitimate trade-dispute practices. Domestic

Telus Corp. is increasing its quarterly dividend and raising some of its 2017 financial targets. The Vancouver-based telecom company says its quarterly dividend will increase to 49.25 cents per common share with the second-quarter payout in July. That's up 2.6 per cent from 48 cents in this year's first quarter payout and up 7.1 per cent from last year's second quarter payout of 46 cents per share. The increased dividend is line with the Telus policy of raising dividend by seven to 10 per cent annually, subject to conditions.

Telus is also raising the top end of its

estimated earnings range for the year by two cents to $2.66 per share, while the low end of the range remains $2.49 per share.

It's also adjusting its 2017 estimates for adjusted earnings, revenue and capital spending to reflect the completion of its purchase of some of the Manitoba Telecom Services business in a previously announced deal. The updates were included with the company's financial report, which showed second-quarter revenue was up 2.9 per cent at $3.2 billion and its net income for common shares was up 14.6 per cent at $433 million.

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“That’s why we have dispute-settlement mechanisms to do this in a responsible way,” Spicer said. “Let’s let it play out. But I think secretary Ross took appropriate action to protect the U.S. industry and we’re going to let the process play out.”

He was also asked when NAFTA renegotiations might start.

The earliest it could happen is August, if the Trump administration immediately sent a 90day notice to the U.S. Congress. But that letter has not been sent. Lawmakers have been slow to approve the contents of the letter and have not yet confirmed Trump’s trade czar.

The confirmation of that trade representative, Robert Lighthizer, could happen soon. Yet negotiators could be pressed for time, if they want to get a deal before the Mexican election enters full swing next spring.

Telus boosts dividend, raises 2017 outlook

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Former Sri lankan refugee being asked to return home because it is now ‘safe’ When do refugees already granted asylum in Canada cease to require our protection? Can they then be booted out of the country even after they have become permanent residents?

These questions are at the core of a Supreme Court of Canada appeal of legislative changes made by the former Conservative government in 2012 that allow officials to reopen asylum files under what’s known as a “cessation application” and remove those refugees whose circumstances have changed.

Nisreen Ahamed Mohamed Nilam, 36, came to Canada from Sri Lanka for asylum in 2008 and was granted refugee status a year later. He applied and became a permanent resident in January 2011.

The Vancouver cab driver returned to his homeland in 2011 and 2012 — after the civil war between the Sinhalese and Tamils ended in 2009 — with a Sri Lankan passport because he was not a Canadian citizen and that’s the only travel document he could get.

After his last trip, when he returned to Canada on May 1, 2013, a cessation investigation was commenced against him for “re-availing” himself of the country he fled.

The probe is not over and can result in him losing his permanent status in Canada and being removed from the country.

“At the heart of the case is whether refugees who become immigrants should be treated like any other immigrant,” said Nilam’s lawyer,

Douglas Cannon, who filed a leave application to the Supreme Court on Monday to consider whether it will review an earlier Federal Court of Appeal ruling in the government’s favour.

“The answer is undoubtedly yes. If Canada wants to protect refugees, it wants to make them feel safe and secure with their status, and they are equal to all other immigrants to this country.”

Although cessation applications within the asylum system aren’t new, they were rare before 2012. Under the new rules, loss of permanent resident status is now automatic when refugees “re-avail” themselves of their country of origin as in the case of Nilam.

The law already had provisions allowing authorities to “vacate” a refugee’s protected status and revoke permanent residency if the person was criminally convicted or found to have lied in their asylum claim.

“Cessation applications continue to be brought against permanent residents who came to Canada as refugees if for whatever reason they travelled back to their country of origin,” said NDP immigration critic Jenny Kwan, who has urged the Liberal government to repeal the cessation provisions.

“Stripping law-abiding former refugees of permanent residence simply because they travelled back to their country of origin is so wrong,” In Nilam’s case, the then immigration minister Chris Alexander’s cessation allegations were initially dismissed by an Immigration and Refugee Board tribunal in March 2015. The government appealed the tribunal decision to the Federal Court, which sent the case back for a new cessation hearing, which has yet to be scheduled.

In the meantime, while waiting for a new hearing, Nilam met the minimum 1,095 days of physical residence requirement in Canada and applied for his Canadian citizenship in April 2015. Although he passed the citizenship knowledge test, his citizenship application was

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Last year, Nilam asked the Federal Court to compel the federal government to resume processing his citizenship application. Not only did Justice James Russell agree, but he also ordered the government to cover the applicant’s

legal costs.

However, the decision was reversed by the Federal Court of Appeal at the urging of the government.

Under the law, the appeal court said, the suspension of Nilam’s citizenship application was reasonable as officials were waiting for “the results of any investigation or inquiry for the purpose of ascertaining. . . whether the applicant should be the subject of an admissibility hearing or a removal order.”

The three-judge panel concluded: “The minister does not have a public legal duty to continue processing the respondent’s application notwithstanding that the (refugee tribunal) cessation proceedings have yet to be determined.”

In Nilam’s application to the Supreme Court, Cannon argued cessation should only apply to refugees but not be extended to those who have already been granted asylum and are permanent residents.

How the Supreme Court interprets the law about cessation and clarifies the limit of its application would not only help decide if Nilam’s citizenship application should be resumed, it could guide how immigration officials and the lower courts treat other refugees who return to their homeland at different stages while they seek status in Canada.

Senator Don Meredith resigns over sex with teen In the end, disgraced Sen. Don Meredith jumped ship so he couldn’t be forced to walk the plank.

Meredith, who has been under fire since 2015 for his sexual affair with a teenage girl, finally declared his intention to resign from the Senate on Tuesday — just one day before his colleagues were poised to kick him out in an unprecedented vote.

He deliberated up to the 11th hour, according to his lawyer, and ultimately decided to step down in the midst of the Senate’s Tuesday session, which was his last chance to show up and speak for himself before his expulsion could go to a vote Wednesday.

“I am acutely aware that the upper chamber is more important than my moral failings,” Meredith said in his written statement.

Meredith’s lawyer, Bill Trudell, confirmed to the Star that the statement — which did not include an explicit intention to step down — was indeed a resignation announcement. That ambiguity angered at least one senator.

Embattled Sen. Don Meredith resigned in a statement Tuesday afternoon, a week after a senate ethics committee ruled that Meredith should be kicked out of the senate for his

sexual affair with a teenage girl.

“He didn’t behave honourably; he didn’t resign honourably,” said Sen. Denise Batters, who added that his departure was long overdue.

Later Tuesday, a spokesperson from the Governor General’s office said they had received an email from Meredith about his intention to step down, though they were still waiting for an official letter from him that would indicate when the resignation will take effect.

Meredith was appointed by former prime minister Stephen Harper in 2010, and arrived at the Senate as a landscaper and Pentecostal pastor who espoused an interest in helping youth.

In 2015, the Star reported on a sexual affair that the married senator had over the previous two years with a teenage girl, who was between 16 and 18 during her relationship with Meredith. The report prompted an investigation by the Senate ethics officer Lyse Ricard, as well as a police probe that concluded without laying any charges (the age of consent in Canada is 16, but goes up to 18 where there is a relationship of authority, trust or dependency).

Saturday, May 13, 2017

Moody’s downgrades credit ratings for six Canadian banks Moody’s says high debt levels and soaring house prices could be bad news for Canada’s big banks, and has downgraded their credit rating as a result.

Toronto-Dominion Bank, Bank of Montreal, Bank of Nova Scotia, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, National Bank of Canada and Royal Bank of Canada all saw their credit ratings cut by one notch late Wednesday.

Moody’s cited a “more challenging operating environment for banks in Canada for the remainder of 2017 and beyond.”

“Today’s downgrade of the Canadian banks reflects our ongoing concerns that expanding levels of private-sector debt could weaken asset quality in the future,” Moody’s vicepresident David Beattie said.

“Continued growth in Canadian consumer debt and elevated housing prices leaves consumers, and Canadian banks, more vulnerable to downside risks facing the Canadian economy than in the past.”

Moody’s noted Canada’s record-high debt-

to-income ratio of 167 per cent as cause for concern, and said debt levels are now beyond the usual risk models in place to determine whether businesses could withstand a crisis.

The ratings agency cited the same concerns in 2013, the last time it warned about the creditworthiness of the big banks.

Economist Derek Holt, who works at Scotiabank, said that downgrade didn’t end up having much of an impact on the banks’ business then, and he doubts it will this time.

“More than four years later the sky has not fallen on housing, the consumer or banks,” Holt said. “I’m not sure how much new information is contained within this latest salvo but it certainly plays to market sentiment.”

That’s a reference to fears about Canada’s housing market, which have come to the fore in recent weeks.

Alternative lender Home Capital, which has seen its shares plummet amid an OSC investigation, is at the centre of the storm of concern over house prices, and the level of debt associated with them. “The market instinct is to treat it as contagion risk, but that risk is highly overblown in my opinion,” Holt said.

Nonetheless, Moody’s move is the ratings agency’s way of saying they are becoming a bit more concerned about the banks’ exposure to the housing market, but they’re still confident in their businesses overall.

Mandatory breath tests for booze won’t violate rights, justice minister says The Liberal government has mounted a pre-emptive defence of its contentious new impaired driving bill, arguing that mandatory breath samples will serve as a strong deterrent and will not violate constitutional rights.

A charter statement from Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould, tabled in the House of Commons today, outlines why the Liberals believe Bill C-46 upholds the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Defence lawyers have said the proposed reforms expose the government to a number of constitutional challenges, including a new section that gives police the power to demand a breath sample even if there’s no sign the driver has been drinking. Currently, an officer must have reasonable suspicion the person behind the wheel is impaired before administering the breathalyzer.

Today’s statement insists any interference in privacy is justified to meet the government’s “compelling objective” of enhanced road safety. “The Supreme Court of Canada has recognized as reasonable the authority, under provincial law and common law, of police officers to stop vehicles at random to ensure that drivers are licensed and insured, that the vehicle is mechanically fit, and to check for sobriety,” Wilson-Raybould’s statement reads.

“The information revealed from a breath sample is, like the production of a driver’s licence, simply information about whether a driver is complying with one of the conditions imposed in the highly regulated context of driving. It does not reveal any personal or sensitive information and taking the sample is quick, and not physically invasive.”

A “fail” in the test does not constitute an offence, but could lead to further testing at a

police station.

Mandatory breath tests are already the practice in a number of countries, including Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, France, Belgium and the Netherlands. The statement says they have led to a measurable reduction

in accidents and deaths on roads and highways.

In Ireland, the tests have been credited with a 23 per cent reduction in road deaths in the 11 months after introduction. In New Zealand, visible mandatory-screening checkpoints were credited with a 32 per cent reduction in crashes, according to the statement.

Toronto defence lawyer Norm Stanford questioned that data, and called giving police unfettered power to demand a breath test “dangerous.”

“It allows for police abuse. Now, police for whatever reason they want, can make you do a breathalyzer. If you talk back to them or they feel you’re disrespecting them, they have the power to do that,” he said.

Bill C-46 was tabled last month at the same time as legislation to legalize marijuana, and includes tougher penalties and new powers for police.

NATIONAL

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SOUTH ASIA

‘Head of Islamic State in Afghanistan killed’ The head of Islamic State in Afghanistan, Abdul Hasib, has been killed in an operation led by Afghan special forces in the eastern province of Nangarhar, President Ashraf Ghani announced on Sunday.

Hasib, appointed last year after his predecessor Hafiz Saeed Khan died in a US drone strike, is believed to have ordered a series of high profile attacks including one in March on the main military hospital in Kabul by

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a group of militants disguised as doctors, a statement said.

Indian PM Modi on 2-day Sri Lanka visit Prime Minister Narendra Modi will leave tomorrow on a two-day visit to Sri Lanka.

Officially, the PM’s visit is to attend the Buddhist festival ‘Vesak Day’ as its chief guest. Though no formal talks are scheduled between the PM and the Sri Lankan leaders, the two sides are expected to hold discussions on a wide range of issues.

India’s growing discomfort can be understood in the backdrop of huge investments by China in the island nation.

Sri Lankan PM Ranil Wickremesinghe visited India recently and the two sides had then signed a pact to boost economic ties. The pact provided a framework to identify the infrastructure projects where India could invest.

India is hoping to get the nod from Sri Lanka to develop the Trincomalee Port and

establish a petroleum refinery and other industries there. The only problem is that the Lankan government has been accused by the Opposition of selling state assets to India.

Wickremesinghe while addressing a gathering in the central town of Welimada over the weekend said Japan was also likely to join in to develop the Trincomalee Port, in an effort at allay fears that the government was pro-India. No agreements are expected to be signed during this visit.

The PM will address a Buddhist conference in Colombo before travelling by helicopter to the central tea country to open an Indiafunded hospital and address Indian-origin plantation workers there who are Tamils of Indian-origin. He will also visit Sri Lanka’s holiest Buddhist shrine, the Temple of the Tooth, before leaving for India Friday evening.

8 killed in clashes on Pakistan-Afghan border

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Clashes erupted between Pakistani and Afghan troops on Friday along their disputed border killing several people, officials said, in another blow to already tense relations between the neighbours.

At least eight civilians were killed, according to officials — seven on the Pakistani side, and one on the Afghan side — and dozens wounded before the fighting near the Chaman border crossing subsided late Friday afternoon, officials said.

Pakistan’s foreign ministry summoned Afghanistan’s charge d’affaires in Islamabad to protest, calling the firing “unprovoked” and saying several people died, without specifying numbers.

Pakistan’s military said the clashes broke out in a remote village near the border town of

Chaman as a Pakistani census team, guarded by troops from its Frontier Corps (FC), was collecting population figures. It said at least one person was killed.

“Afghan border police opens fire on FC detailed for security of population census team,” said Pakistan military’s media wing, adding that 18 people were wounded.

“Exchange of fire continues. Chaman crossing closed.”

The Chaman crossing into Afghanistan’s Kandahar province is one of two main crossing points on the border.

Zia Durani, police spokesman for Afghanistan’s Kandahar province, said Pakistani officials were using the census as a cover for “malicious activities and to provoke villagers against the government”.

China worried as Afghanistan-Pakistan border clashes may hit CPEC China is extremely worried about the resurgence of a border dispute between Pakistan and Afghanistan, and the recent clashes that have left several people dead in the past three days.

At stake is the $50 billion China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a part of which passes close to the Afghan border.

As a close neighbor of Afghanistan and Pakistan, China hopes that both sides settle the dispute and jointly safeguard

the regional peace and stability,” Lu Kang, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on Monday in reply to a question about the border clashes.

Border disputes between the two countries may also affect China’s plans to extend CPEC to Afghanistan.

The clashes began after Afghan security forces objected to Pakistani census officials carrying out census along the border, which has areas claimed by both countries.

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If guilty, Kejriwal should quit, if not, then file defamation case: Anna Social activist Anna Hazare on Wednesday said that Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal should be ready for investigation, if he has not done anything wrong.

“Arvind Kejriwal must come forward and say that he is ready for investigation. If Kejriwal is not found guilty, then he must file a defamation case against the person concerned and if found guilty, then he must resign within a second,” said Hazare.

Hazare also questioned suspended Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Kapil Mishra for keeping mum when he saw Kejriwal accepting Rs 2 crore.

“I am saddened after the allegations were leveled against Arvind Kejriwal. He was always with me when we fought against corruption. While fighting corruption, he became the Chief Minister. His

Justice Karnan gets 6-month jail for contempt

own party’s minister has now accused him of taking Rs 2 crore. Why had the minister concerned not revealed to the public earlier when Kejriwal accepted the money? He is levelling allegations now after being ousted from the party, which is not right,” he said.

Mishra on Tuesday handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) the documents in connection with the corruption charges he levelled against Kejriwal and other party leaders.

He asked the AAP leaders, Satyendra Jain, Ashish Khetan, Raghav Chaddha, Sanjay Singh and Durgesh Pathak to put out the details of their foreign tours in public domain, while saying that he would sit on a hunger strike if they refuse to do so.

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Young Kashmiri army officer kidnapped and shot dead Militants kidnapped a lieutenant in the army, who was on leave and was unarmed, from his uncle’s house in Shopian district on Tuesday night and later killed him, the Army said on Wednesday.

Lt Umar Fayaz Parray, 23, of Sursuna-Yaripora village in Kulgam was kidnapped around 10 pm by militants, believed to be five in number, from the house of his maternal uncle at Shopian, 60 km from here.

Srinagar-based defence spokesperson Col Rajesh Kalia said, “In a dastardly act, militants on Tuesday night kidnapped and killed a young unarmed army officer who had come on leave to his native place in Kulgam to attend a marriage in the family.”

Parray’s body that bore two bullet marks was recovered from Hermain Chowk in Shopian on Wednesday morning, a Shopian police officer said.

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The International Court of Justice today stayed the hanging of Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav, who was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court on charges of “spying”.

The order by the Hague-based International Court of Justice came a day after India approached it against the death sentence handed down to Jadhav by Pakistan’s Field General Court Martial last month.

India, in its appeal to the ICJ, accused Pakistan of “egregious” violations of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations and asserted that Jadhav was kidnapped from Iran where he was involved in business activities after retiring from the Indian Navy but Pakistan claimed to have arrested him from Balochistan on March 3, 2016. Following the appeal, the ICJ stayed his hanging.

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The Supreme Court today convicted controversial Calcutta High Court Judge CS Karnan of contempt and sentenced him to six months’ imprisonment “forthwith”.

Taking note of his series of orders against apex court Judges, a seven-Judge Bench headed by Chief Justice JS Khehar held that his conduct amounted to the “gravest” nature of contempt. “We are of the unanimous opinion that Justice CS Karnan has committed contempt of this court, of the judiciary as also the judicial process... of the gravest nature,” the Bench said, directing the West Bengal Director General of Police to execute the order “forthwith”.

Justice Karnan is the first sitting High Court Judge to be convicted of contempt of court and given a prison sentence. In view of his utterances against the Judges, the top court restrained the media from reporting his statements.

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INDIA

Saturday, May 13, 2017

Modi hails Vajpayee on Pokhran N-test anniversary On the National Technology Day, commemorated to mark the anniversary of Pokhran nuclear tests of 1998, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday hailed the “courage” shown by then prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

“Greetings to everyone, especially our industrious scientists and those passionate about technology, on National Technology Day,” Modi tweeted.

“We remain grateful to our scientists & the then political leadership for the courage shown in Pokhran in 1998,” he added.

Since 1999, May 11 is commemorated as the National Technology Day to mark India’s scientific prowess and technological advancements.

It was the same date in 1998, when India successfully conducted first among the five nuclear tests in Pokhran under the leadership of Vajpayee. The tests showcased India’s might to the entire world.

A write-up on Narendramodi.in website refers to an earlier speech of Modi in which he had said, “The world is well aware of the Pokhran tests. Under Atal ji’s leadership, successful tests were carried out and the entire world was witness to India’s might. The scientists made the nation proud.”

Recalling the nearly twodecade-old development, Modi said, “After the first series of tests the world community placed sanctions on India.

Central government opposes triple talaq Reiterating it stand on the much-debated triple talaq issue, the Centre on Thursday told the Supreme Court that it opposes the system and wants to fight for women equality and gender justice.

Attorney General (AG) Mukul Rohatgi would argue the matter next on May 15.

However, All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) counsel Kapil Sibal told the apex court that triple talaq is a matter which comes under the Muslim board and therefore, in his opinion the top court should not interfere into it.

“The Central government makes rules but in my opinion the apex court should not interfere into it,” Sibal said.

Earlier in the day, the apex court observed that it would examine whether the issue is fundamental to religion or not.

A five-judge Constitution Bench, headed

by Chief Justice JS Khehar, however, made it clear that the issue of polygamy among the Muslims may not be deliberated upon as it is not connected with the triple talaq issue.

“We will deal with the issue as to whether triple talaq is sacramental and whether it can be enforced as a Fundamental Right,” the Bench, also comprising Justices Kurian Joseph, RF Nariman, UU Lalit and Abdul Nazeer, said while framing the issue to be deliberated upon.

The apex court also said if it came to the conclusion that triple talaq is fundamental to religion, then it will not go into the question of its constitutional validity.

The Bench said it will also deal with the aspect of whether triple talaq formed part

of the enforceable Fundamental Right to practice religion under the Constitution.

Senior advocate Amit Singh Chadha, appearing for Saira Bano, one of the petitioners in the case, initiated the arguments against

the practice of triple talaq among Muslims and said this practice was not fundamental to Islam and hence can be done away with.

He also referred to the practices in the neighbouring Islamic countries like Pakistan and Bangladesh to buttress his plea that triple talaq is un-Islamic.

The Bench intervened and said it would like to peruse the prevalent laws in various Islamic countries on the issue.

Another senior advocate Indira Jaising, appearing for one of the petitioners, said in case of divorces being granted through extra-judicial mechanism, there should be a “judicial oversight” to deal with the consequences.

Former Union Minister and senior advocate Salman Khurshid, who is assisting the court in his personal capacity, termed triple talaq as a “non-issue” saying it is not considered complete without conciliation efforts between the husband and the wife.

24 die as wall of marriage hall collapses in Rajasthan At least 24 persons, including eight women and five children, were killed and 30 others were injured when a wall of a marriage hall collapsed during a heavy storm in Bharatpur district of Rajasthan late last night.

SHO Sewar Khalil Ahmed said the seriously injured were admitted to Raj Bahadur Medical Hospital. A marriage function was going on in the hall when the storm hit the area.

People took shelter under a tin shed attached to a wall, which collapsed suddenly, leaving 24 dead and 30 injured.

Police said the entire structure of the wall and the shed collapsed and those who had taken shelter got trapped. Several food stalls were set up adjoining the wall that was around

12-foot high and 50-foot long.

Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje condoled the deaths and gave necessary instructions to officers concerned for proper treatment of the injured.

Meanwhile, a case was on Thursday registered against the owner of the marriage hall, while his younger brother has been arrested.

Superintendent of Police Anil Tank said the marriage home owner has been booked for culpable homicide not amounting to murder.

Rs 2 lakh to kin: PM Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh each for the families of those killed in a wall collapse in a marriage hall in Bharatpur.

Youth hacked to death and severed head thrown inside TN police station A 17-year-old youth was on Wednesday hacked to death here by members of an unidentified gang who severed his head and threw it inside a police station in neighbouring Tamil Nadu.

The body of the deceased, identified as Swethan, was dumped in a lake bed in Bahoor village of Puducherry.

Police of both the neighbouring Cuddalore district of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry are probing the incident.

The body was shifted to the Puducherry government hospital for post-mortem.

Police have registered a case and are investigating the gory crime.

PUNJAB

Saturday, May 13, 2017

AAP has lost track, says sacked leader After taking over the reins of AAP as state convener, Sangrur MP Bhagwant Mann expelled Upkar Singh Sandhu from the party for his alleged anti-party activities.

Sandhu (63), who had contested the Amritsar Lok Sabha bypoll on AAP ticket, had opposed Mann’s elevation, saying that the party should now be rechristened as ‘PPP’ (peg pyala party).

On the sidelines of his visit to the family of slain Naib Subedar Paramjit Singh at Vein Poin village in Tarn Taran, Mann said: “The volunteers are the backbone of the party, but the anti-party activities will not be tolerated.”

Sandhu was earlier with the Akali Dal and had a brief three-month stint with the Congress as well.

Asked about his expulsion, Sandhu said he was prepared for it. “I have no grudge. I was impressed with the AAP’s ideology, but in present times, it has already deviated from it.

It is better that I am now not part of it,” he said.

He alleged that he was witness to Mann’s habitual drinking during a rally in Attari when he could not even stand properly on the dais.

“The party had to face embarrassing situation many times due to Mann’s drinking habit, but it was ignored. It is a suicidal attempt to appoint him as state convener. Party’s chief

Congress wrests control of Malerkotla civic body

whip Sukhpal Khaira and former convener Gurpreet Singh Waraich too have opposed the move,” he said.

On his next course, Sandhu said, “I am a born Akali. The ideology of the Akali Dal was pro-Punjab, but the Badals ruined it. If the existing leadership changes at any stage, I will surely rejoin the Akali Dal.” Ex-hockey player quits AAP Jalandhar: Backing former state AAP convener Gurpreet Ghuggi, former international hockey player Jagdip Gill too quit the party on Wednesday. A two-time Asian games winner and a hockey coach, Gill had shown his dissent against the party earlier too when his candidature was ignored from Jalandhar Cantt. He said he was disappointed at the appointment of Bhagwant Mann as the state convener despite opposition. “I too had gone to Delhi for voting and had supported Ghuggi,” he said.

F lex n u S

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With the support of Cabinet minister Razia Sultana, Congress-supported candidate Mohd Iqbal Fauji today became the president of the Malerkotla Nagar Council (NC). Out of 35 votes, Fauji got 27. Posts of senior vice president and vice president also went to Congress candidates.

“Malerkotla has not seen development in the last ten years.

We will bring development in the city with required funds,” said Fauji after winning the elections.

Today in the NC meeting hall, the election was organised under the supervision of Malerkotla SDM Showkat Ahmed Parray. During the meeting, all 33 councillors with Cabinet minister Razia Sultana and Amargarh Congress MLA Surjit Dhiman as associate members were present.

Fauji got 27 votes, seven votes went to SADbacked candidate Comrad Ismail while one

councillor, Ilyas Zubairi, did not exercise his franchise. Manoj Kumar Uppal was elected senior vice president and Ajay Kumar vice president of the NC.

Earlier, the SAD-supported president, Comrade Ismail, resigned from his post on April 24. “The Congress government has always given required funds to Malerkotla.

The new team of NC elected today would work as per the expectation of locals,” said Sultana.

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AAP legislators put up unity show

Two days after the state BJP claimed that it had been approached by 11 AAP MLAs, Leader of the Opposition HS Phoolka here today took along 16 fellow legislators while submitting a memorandum to Governor VP Singh Badnore.

The three AAP MLAs missing from the “show of strength” were Sukhpal Khaira, who held a press conference in Jalandhar today, Kanwar Sandhu and Jagtar Singh Rajla. Sandhu has gone abroad, while Rajla reportedly had to attend a cremation. Khaira told The Tribune that he was not able to accompany the MLAs as he had “family commitments” in his constituency, Bholath.

He claimed that no AAP legislator was in touch with the BJP. Phoolka said the party delegation had sought the Governor’s intervention regarding the deteriorating law and order, the chit fund scam, the government’s failure to give debt relief to the farmers, and the charging of hefty fee by private schools.

On whether the party was presenting a show of unity, he claimed that there was nothing unusual about the MLAs being seen together at a time when detractors were trying to cause harm to AAP. Phoolka said the law and order situation in the state was worsening as the leaders of the ruling party were trying to wrest control of illegal trades. Such businesses were earlier controlled by Akali leaders, he alleged.

He said, “The gangsters seem to be having a free run in the state. The police are banking on the public for catching them by putting up thousands of posters.”

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Saturday, May 13, 2017

Fake cotton seeds flood Malwa A racket of fake BT cotton seed sellers has surfaced in Muktsar, Fazilka and Mansa districts. A seed dealer has been arrested, while action has been initiated to cancel the

licence of others in the three districts. The kingpin is yet to be identified.

Fake seeds seized from the three districts bore the mark of RCH 773 of Tamil-Nadubased Rasi Seeds Private Limited. Officials said the seeds were in demand because of high yield last year.

Muktsar agricultural officials yesterday received a complaint from a farmer of Fazilka’s Arniwala that Aniket Traders sold him fake seeds.

A team raided the shop and seized bills of its supplier, Kheti Sewa Kendra, Abohar.

27

Defiant farmers still burning straw

“We made a call to the supplier. He agreed to supply five cartons of seeds. Later, we reported the matter to the police, Deputy Commissioner and higher-ups,” said Beant Singh, Chief Agricultural Officer, Muktsar.

“A packet of 450 gm was being sold to farmers for Rs 800. The company had kept some packets of original seeds to hoodwink farmers. The original packet bears the logo of the Tamil Nadu company, whereas the packets of fake seeds have an ink stamp,” Singh said.

The police arrested Sushil Doomra, the owner of Aniket Traders.

Officials from Fazilka yesterday raided the new grain market in Abohar and found that Kheti Sewa Kendra did not exist. “The invoice issued in the name of Aniket Traders does not have any address. The cellphone number printed on it has been found to be fake,” said Parminder Dhanju, Agricultural Development Officer (ADO), Fazilka.

He added, “We also raided the premises of Kukkar Trading Company at Arniwala, which had supplied seeds to six to seven firms. A police complaint has been lodged against all these firms.”

After repeated warnings issued by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) over the burning of crop residue (stubble) in the fields, the district administration of Moga has started compiling a report of the errant farmers by summoning the reports of field fires from the grassroots level through the revenue authorities.

As per reports, around 750 farmers had been identified by the revenue authorities in Moga, Baghapurana, Dharamkot and Nihalsinghwala sub-divisions who had burnt wheat stubble.

Moga SDM Charandeep Singh said 274 farmers had burnt the crop residue in 18 villages of the subdivision so far. The total area that came under fire was 2,434 acres.

Similarly, Baghapurana SDM Harpreet Singh Atwal said 150 cases of stubble burning had come to the notice of the revenue authorities so far, the details of which were being compiled by village patwaris at the grassroots level.

In Nihalsinghwala and Dharamkot subdivisions, more than 300 cases of field fires had been reported so far.

“After compiling reports of the offenders at the sub-divisional level, the district

administration will forward the same to the State Pollution Control Board for penal action. The copies of the reports will also be forwarded to the SSP through a proper

channel for initiating legal action against the errant farmers,” Atwal said.

It may be mentioned that SMSes were also being forwarded to the district magistrates after detecting the fire through satellite images so that quick action could be taken against violators by the district authorities at the local level.

The Punjab Remote Sensing Centre (PRSC), Ludhiana, is using remote sensing, geographical information system (GIS) and global positioning (GPS) to collect geo spatial data and issuing the alerts to the district magistrates.

Border area deprived of hi-tech ambulance to please ex-DGP KPS Gill A fully equipped ambulance, which was launched for border area residents of Fazilka, has been sent to Delhi — to be in the service of former DGP KPS Gill Sources said the ambulance would be stationed outside Gill’s house, who is not keeping well these days. He is suffering from multiple problems. It was on the Chief Minister’s Office direction that the Health Department sent the ambulance to Delhi, sources said. The

department had claimed that the ambulance was being sent to Punjab Bhawan, Delhi, where the government runs a civil dispensary.

Sources said the Fazilka Deputy Commissioner had sent a message to the Civil Surgeon, asking him to send the ambulance to Delhi for two months. The DC had instructed health officials in Fazilka to take the ambulance to Chandigarh, where it was handed over to Khubi Ram, adviser

to the Chief Minister. From Chandigarh, the Punjab Police sent the ambulance to Delhi.

Dr Surinder Kumar, Civil Surgeon, Fazilka, confirmed that they were asked to drive the ambulance to Delhi and, in Chandigarh, the vehicle was received on record as well.

Earlier, the Health Department had deployed an ordinary ambulance outside Gill’s house. His family had, however, refused to accept it.

28

FIJI

Saturday, May 13, 2017

Former Sugar chief Khan faces probe

Cyclone Ella heads towards Fiji The Nadi Weather Office has confirmed this hour that the Tropical Depression which is currently located to the South of Samoa and far East of Fiji, has now developed into a cyclone and continues to head towards Fiji.

Based on current analysis after the assessment of the models by the Weather Office, Tropical Cyclone Ella will affect Fiji from late tomorrow to Thursday and Friday.

Weather Office Forecaster Stephen Meke says Cyclone Ella is currently located 710 kilometres East North East of Vanuabalavu and about 1,000 kilometres East North East of Suva.

Meke says based on their assessment, the people of the country need to prepare for the possibility of a category 2 or 3 cyclone to come towards Fiji by late Thursday or Friday.

He says Cyclone Ella is expected to come with a lot of heavy rain and destructive winds. If it does happen then it is expected to affect many parts of the country. Meke says people should prepare for the worst and it would be good news if Cyclone Ella changes its track.

However he says the models are suggesting that it will intensify and head towards the Fiji group.

Seven sentenced to prison for fraud against PWD Emotions were high outside the High Court in Suva yesterday as children hugged their mothers and wives wiped away tears following the sentencing of seven people convicted of corruption-related offences.

Former employees of the then Public Works Department Ana Laqere, Amelia Vunisea, Laisa Halafi, Vaciseva Laqai, Vilisi Tuitavuki and Kiniviliame Taviraki and businessman Shelveen Narayan were handed prison sentences ranging from four to 10 years. The seven appeared before High Court judge Thushara Ragasinghe in a fully-packed room, where they were found guilty of causing a loss of $362,944.37 to the then PWD in 2010.

Laqere copped the highest sentence of ten years with a non-parole period of eight years.

Justice Rajasinghe, while sentencing the convicts, said Laqere and Halafi were the main perpetrators of the crimes. Halafi

was sentenced to nine years and 11 months imprisonment with a non-parole period of seven years and 11 months.

Vunisea, Laqai and Tuitavuki were all handed eight years imprisonment sentences each with nonparole period of six years.

Taviraki was sentenced to six years imprisonment with a non-parole period of four years. Narayan, the director of Phoenix Hardware Engineering and General Supplies, Ontime Stationery Supplies and Shavel Stationery Supplies was sentenced to four years with a non-parole period of three years. The court heard the first six accused persons, while performing and carrying out their responsibilities at different stages in the procurement process of materials, facilitated 101 false transactions of purchasing stationery and hardware materials from three companies all belonging to Narayan.

School teacher charged with rape, indecent assault and sexual assault released on bail A school teacher charged with 4 counts of rape, 2 counts of indecent assault and 7 counts of sexual assault has been released on bail by High Court Judge, Justice Salesi Temo.

Defence lawyer Aman Ravindra Singh told the court that the accused is remanded in custody for 11 months and 22 days and there is no chance of interference with the state witnesses. The state objected to bail saying that there is a chance of interference.

Justice Temo granted the accused bail on strict conditions and if there is any complaints of interference, the accused will be immediately remanded in custody.

It is alleged that Umesh Prasad had committed these offences between 1st January 2010 to 31st October 2013 while serving as a teacher in a school in Nasinu.

The trial will start on the 27th of November this year. He has pleaded not guilty.

Sugar Ministry permanent secretary Yogesh Karan has assured cane growers that investigations into former Fiji Sugar Corporation CEO Abdul Khan are continuing.

During consultations on the Reform of the Sugar Cane Industry Bill in the Western Division, farmers raised concerns about Mr Khan’s handling of sugar industry affairs, with some alleging that Mr Khan had contributed to the present industry mess.

Mr Karan acknowledged the concerns and said as far as he was concerned, relevant authorities had been notified and were investigating the claims.

“I understand there is a lot of frustration and there have been a lot of allegations from various sources including farmers,” he said.

“I want to reassure the farmers that I have

Penang Sugar Mill will not be fixed, says PM PRIME Minister Voreqe Bainimarama told canefarmers in Rakiraki yesterday not to listen to politicians who were spreading misinformation and causing confusion.

While speaking to concerned sugarcane farmers in Rakiraki yesterday, he said the Penang mill would not be repaired despite what a few politicians were saying.

He said canegrowers would be looked after by Government and the Fiji Sugar Corporation. Mr Bainimarama said sugarcane farmers should not be involved in politics.

He maintained the Penang Mill would not be repaired or salvaged by Government.

Opposition Leader Ro Teimumu Kepa has implored Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama to listen to farmers and do away with major aspects of Bills 19 and 20 on the Sugar Industry and the Sugar Cane Growers Fund.

Her comments come after sugarcane farmers in the West voiced their concerns on the Bills during public consultations last week.

She said major aspects of the Bills were unnecessary.

Ro Teimumu called for the positions of Registrar of Tribunal and Industrial Commissioner to be retained because farmers knew they were independent and effective arms of the Tribunal.

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Mr Bainimarama said the derelict mill would cost millions to fix. Fiji Sugar Corporation chief executive officer Graham Clark said the decision regarding the Penang mill was not taken lightly. “The mill is very old and it would take a lot of money to repair and restart that factory and we would much rather take that money and invest it where it will give us a good return,” he said.

“That is the challenge that we have been given which the prime minister has taken up and we are working on that challenge right now. “Our commitment at FSC is to support the community here in Rakiraki.”

Listen to farmers, PM told

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done my part and given the matter over to the relevant authorities to deal with and this is the Reserve Bank of Fiji and the Fiji Customs and Revenue Authority.

“It is in the best interest of everyone to allow due process to be followed and to await the outcome of their investigations into the various allegations that have been made.”

Allegations against Mr Khan were brought to light during a submission made by the National Farmers Union to the Standing Committee on Economic Affairs during consultations on the Sugar Reform Bill last year in Lautoka.

NFU general secretary and former prime minister Mahendra Chaudhry claimed that during Mr Khan’s fiveyear term as executive chairman of the FSC, he had abused his position by endorsing the payment of $2.4 million in directors fees.

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She said the director should chair the mill areas committee when it’s the role of the Tribunal.

Ro Teimumu also called for the registration of growers not to be given to FSC when the farmers trusted the Tribunal for that role.

Ro Teimumu said she supported a sugar mill for Rakiraki, saying it was “socially and economically vital for the people of Ra”.

On the guaranteed cane price, she said, “it’s a must to give confidence to farmers, and in any event FijiFirst promised $85 when campaigning for elections and must deliver on that”. She said it was very sad that the farmers’ petition on this issue could not be tabled in Parliament.

PAKISTAN

Saturday, May 13, 2017

Pak-based terror groups plan to attack India and Afghan: US intel chief Pakistan-based terrorist groups are planning to attack both India and Afghanistan, a top US spymaster has said.

“Islamabad has failed to curb militants and terrorists in Pakistan,” Daniel Coats, Director of National Intelligence told members of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence during a Congressional hearing on Worldwide threats. “These groups will present a sustained threat to the United States’s interest in the region and continue to plan and conduct attacks in India and Afghanistan,” Coats said.

Pakistan, he rued, is expanding its nuclear arsenal in pursuing tactical nuclear weapons, potentially lowering the threshold for their use.In South Asia, the intelligence community assesses that the political and security situation in Afghanistan will almost certainly deteriorate through 2018 even with a modest increase in military assistance by the United States and its partners, he told the lawmakers.

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Pakistan army walks back on charge against Nawaz Sharif

“This deterioration is undermined by its dire economic situation. Afghanistan will struggle to curb its dependence on external support until it contains the insurgency or reaches a peace agreement with the Taliban,” he said.

“Meanwhile, we assess that Taliban is likely to continue to make gains especially in rural areas.

Afghan Security Forces performance will probably worsen due to a combination of Taliban operations, combat casualties, desertion, poor logistic support and weak leadership,” Coats said.

“Pakistan is concerned about international isolation and sees its position of India’s rising international status including India’s expanded foreign outreach and deepening ties with the United States,” he said.

“Pakistan will likely turn to China to offset its isolation, empowering a relationship that will help Beijing to project influence into the Indian Ocean,” Coats testified before the committee.

The Pakistan Army retracted from its aggressive ingression into civilian domain by withdrawing from its earlier controversial tweet on Wednesday in which it had rejected Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif ’s directives on an inquiry report into Dawn Leaks, a news story about last year’s high-level meeting revealing military’s inaction against militant outfits.

The move was unprecedented considering the military’s influence over civilian set-up in a country with a history of military coups. It came after a high-level civil-military meeting in Islamabad between Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa, and ISI chief Naveed Mukhtar among others.

“The tweet on April 29, 2017, was not against any government office or person.

Recommendations of the inquiry committee report, duly approved by the Prime Minister, have been implemented, which has settled the Dawn Leaks issue,” the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), army’s media wing, said in a statement.

“Pakistan Army reiterates its firm commitment and continued resolve to uphold the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of

Pakistan and support the democratic process,” Major General Asif Ghafoor, the army’s spokesperson, later said in a press briefing.

On April 29, PM Sharif ’s office had issued directives to remove Syed Tariq Fatemi,

special assistant to the PM on foreign affairs, from his post for his alleged role in Dawn leaks. Prior to Fatemi’s sacking, information minister Pervez Rasheed had also been fired in connection to Dawn’s story.

Following PM office’s directives, army’s spokesperson, had tweeted, “Notification on Dawn Leak is incomplete and not in line with recommendations by the Inquiry Board.

Notification is rejected.”

Pakistan army, ISI pushing Sindh towards civil war: Altaf Hussain Pakistan’s army and spy agency ISI are pushing Sindh province towards a civil war, the head of the country’s fourth largest party has alleged and sought the intervention of the UN and the international community.

In a audio message, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain alleged that Pakistan army and ISI have “virtually taken control” of all Pakistan including Khyber-

Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh and all Balochistan.

“They have killed hundreds and thousands of innocent Mohajir Balochs and Pashtoons who raised their voice against Punjabi army,” London-based Hussain said in the message.

“Now the the world community is realising that Pakistani intelligence agency, ISI has been harbouring the most wanted terrorists including Osama bin Laden, Mullah Omer

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He asked “the UN Secretary General and the international community to intervene and use their offices to stop the bloodshed of Mohajirs, Balochs and Pashtoons” in Pakistan.

Hussain said Pakistan Army and ISI are pushing Karachi, Hyderabad and urban centers of Sindh towards a civil war.

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NRI

Saturday, May 13, 2017

Three of Britain’s four wealthiest are Indians The wealthiest persons in Britain are Indiaborn, according to the Sunday Times Rich List 2017 which places the Hinduja brothers Srichand and Gopichand at the top of 134 billionaires. The brothers’ estimated riches: 16.2 billion pounds, 3.2 billion pounds more than last year. Overall, the United Kingdom has witnessed, contrary to all expectations, what can only be described as a Brexit boom.

Its billionaires are richer than before, so much so that the combined wealth of the top 500 individuals and families is more than the total put up by last year’s wealthiest 1,000, the Sunday Times reported. And there are more of them; together, they have earned a staggering 658 billion pounds, a record. The list compiler credited their growing fortunes to a revival in the stock market.

David and Simon Reuben, of Iraqi Jewish origin but Mumbai-born, have slipped from first to third place this year with an estimated

wealth of 14 billion pounds. Steel magnate Lakshmi N Mittal is fourth with 13.2 billion pounds; the increase in his wealth from last year is quite phenomenal at 6.1 billion pounds.

There isn’t a single Briton in the wealthiest top 4 in a land the economist Adam Smith wrote of as a “nation of shopkeepers”; second place this year belongs to the Ukrainian businessman Len Blavatnik. However, the current Duke of Westminster, Hugh Grosevenor, does make it to the list (ranked 9) with assets worth £9.52 billion. The compiler has placed a total of 40 Indianorigin people in the rankings, including the Gujarati brothers Mohsin and Zuber Issa of Euro Garages whose one billion pounds puts them at 133rd position. Also among the new billionaires are the brothers Raj, Tony and Harpal Matharu of the Grange hotel chain with one billion pounds.

Indian American store clerk stabbed to death in California A 32-year-old Indian American, who was stabbed by an unidentified man on Thursday night while closing a grocery shop in Modesto, California, succumbed to his injuries in the hospital on Friday.

The victim, Jagjeet Singh, who was a clerk at the store, reportedly had an altercation with one of the customers who came to buy cigarettes on Thursday. Singh reportedly asked the customer to show a valid ID proof and the one produced before him was found to be fake. The customer left the shop after exchanging a few heated words.

Later, on the same day, when Singh was about to close the store, an unidentified man stabbed him, leaving him critically wounded.

He was soon rushed to the hospital where he

struggled for his life for nine hours before finally succumbing to his injuries.

He was the fourth Indian American to be killed since Wednesday night in three separate incidents.

On Wednesday night, Juniper executive Naren Prabhu and his wife, Raynah, were gunned down at their home in San Jose by an ex-boyfriend of their daughter.

On Thursday, Ramesh Kumar, a 32-yearold Indian American physician, was found dead in the passenger seat of his car on a highway near Detroit.

According to Hindustan Times, Singh came to the US a year and a half ago and stayed with his sister and brother-in-law in Modesto.

THANK YOU for your SUPPORT

Raja Krishnamoorthi, Pramila Jayapal denounce Comey firing Denouncing President Trump’s firing of FBI Director James Comey on Tuesday, Indian American lawmakers Raja Krishnamoorthi and Pramila Jayapal joined dozens of their congressional colleagues to demand an independent prosecutor to investigate the president’s Russia ties.

The White House removed the controversial FBI chief on Tuesday afternoon in a surprise move, saying that “President Trump acted based on the clear recommendations of both Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein and Attorney General Jeff Sessions.” Comey, who was appointed as FBI director by President Obama in 2013, had been heading an agency probe into potential collusion between Russia and the Trump campaign during the November elections.

“The need for an independent commission or fully independent prosecutor to investigate and bring to light the truth of these matters for the American people is now more clear than ever,” Krishnamoorthi said in a press statement.

His congressional colleague Jayapal, who is currently in India, as part of a congressional delegation, made a similar call. “As I have said before, we urgently need a fully bipartisan and independent investigation into Russia’s influence on the White House and the 2016 election,” she said.

The two Indian Americans join dozens of their colleagues—mostly Democrats — from the House of Representatives and the Senate, who have called for a special prosecutor to investigate Trump’s Russia ties.

NRI couple shot dead by daughter’s ex-boyfriend An Indian American tech executive and his wife were shot dead in San Jose on Wednesday night by an ex-boyfriend of the couple’s daughter. The suspect was also killed at the site following a standoff with the police.

Naren Prabhu, a vice president of engineering at Juniper Network, was shot and killed at the doorway of his home, and minutes later his wife, Raynah, was killed inside the home. Their 13-year-old son was taken as a hostage by the victim.

The suspect has been identified as 24-yearold Mizra Tatlic, who dated the couple’s daughter Rachel until last year.

“The suspect had been in a dating relationship with the victims’ adult daughter who was not home,” the local CBS affiliate

quoted San Jose Police Chief Eddie Garcia as saying. “The relationship ended last year. The suspect had a history of domestic violence and there was an active criminal restraining order.” Raynah Sequeira Prabhu studied at the city’s Sydenham College, Mumbai, her social media profile indicated. According to media reports, there were two restraining orders against Tatlic — one sought by Rachel Prabhu, and the other taken out by his own mother.

Police said the adult son of the couple called 911 at 9:01 pm on Wednesday saying that there was a shooting. “When officers arrived at the home on Laura Valle Lane they saw an adult man deceased in the front doorway suffering from at least one gunshot wound,” Garcia said.

Saturday, May 13, 2017

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FRUITICANA

Saturday, May 13, 2017

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Saturday, May 13, 2017

Justin Bieber arrives in India for

‘Purpose World Tour’

Justin Bieber landed in India late on Tuesday, ahead of his maiden performance in India. And after weeks of rigorous preparation from the organisers in Mumbai, the DY Patil Stadium played host to over 45,000 people who had come from all across the country to be a part of this memorable show. Bieber’s concert was a part of his Purpose World Tour. His show was kicked off my artistes like Alan Walker, Sartek and Zaeden.

Bollywood came in large numbers too

and occupied the VVIP box. From Alia Bhatt to Jacqueline Fernandez, Sridevi, Bipasha Basu and Karan Singh Grover, Malaika Arora and Arbaaz Khan, and Arjun Rampal, were some of the stars from the big list of B-town celebs who attended the show. After performing for two hours, Bieber closed the show with “Baby” and thanked his fans in India.

He said, “Thank you India. You have been great. I would like to come again!”

Prior to his act, Justin Bieber had also visited an orphanage in Mumbai.

Bieber Ditches Jacqueline’s After-Party, Leaves India In The ‘Heat’ Of The Moment Justin Bieber’s maiden Indian concert was marred by complaints of blatant lip syncing and mismanagement. But while the fans were still fighting amongst themselves on Twitter, the Canadian popstar fled the country. Apparently, the heat in India was too much for him to bear. Justin Bieber reportedly left the country within hours of walking away from the stage at the DY Patil Stadium in Mumbai.

On Wednesday night, Bieber was

reportedly spotted at the airport and he was so flustered by the rising mercury that he took off his t-shirt while walking through the airport.

What about the elaborate itinerary which included Bollywood parties and a trip to see the Taj Mahal? Well, Justin ditched it all in the ‘heat’ of the moment. The one who suffered the most, other than the fans who coughed up huge amounts just to see the popstar lip sync on stage, was Jacqueline.

Defensive Madhuri labels her reference in Sanjay Dutt biopic REDUNDANT! From past an year the reports of Madhuri Dixit calling up Sanjay Dutt to talk about his biopic were rife. It was reported that she requested him to delete her references in the biopic, considering they shared a past. Finally after almost an year when the reports first broke out, she has reacted as she told mid-day, “For where I am today, this [the topic of Dutt] has become redundant. Life has come a long way since then. I don’t know where these reports are coming from. In any case, it doesn’t make a difference to me” It was reported that Rajkumar Hirani paid heed to her request and didn’t include her character in the film, it was reported that Sonam’s character was an amalgamation of Sanjay Dutt’s love interest of the past. It was also reported that Karishma Tanna’s character is based on Madhuri Dixit. Later when she was asked about her upcoming films as she has been missing from the scene for long, she reverted in, “Soon”.

Sushant Singh Rajput to lead the dacoits of Chambal in Abhishek Chaubey’s next After Udta Punjab, Abhishek Chaubey is all set to roll out his next project. This time, the film is set in the 1970s and will revolve aorund Chambal dacoits. As per reports on Mumbai Mirror, the film will star Sushant Singh Rajput in the lead. The movie will be produced by Ronnie Screwvala. “Sushant is playing a dacoit. This film will be shot in the Chambal ravines and will roll by yearend. Prep has begun and the team is excited”, stated a source as per reports on the leading tabloid. The report further states, the team aims to wrap up shooting

by February 2018, because the weather gets extreme in summer.

The tabloid further reports that

Sudip Sharma,( co-writer) had visited Chambal for recce and even interview some reformed dacoits “Some of them have more than 80 murder charges.

Everyone has heard horror stories about the dacoits of Chambal but I have realise the reality is quiet different form what

Hindi films portray. We aim to capture that reality. The film will be produced

by Ronnie Screwvala.

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KAT REUNITES WITH AAMIR »P19

Saturday, May 13, 2017

Bollywood

Friday 12.05.2017

‘Life’s come a long way since’ Dissing reports that she asked makers of ex-beau’s biopic to delete her references, Madhuri says the topic is now redundant MOHAR BASU mohar.basu@mid-day.com SPORADIC reports of Madhuri Dixit calling up the makers of Sanjay Dutt biopic have surfaced over the past year, and even as recently as last month. It seems she wants no reference to her alleged relationship with the actor in the Raju Hirani-directed film.

But ask the Dhak Dhak girl about it and she nonchalantly says, “For where I am today, this [the topic of Dutt] has become redundant. Life has come a long way since then. I don’t know where these reports are coming from. In any case, it doesn’t make a difference to me.”

While Hirani has reportedly heeded her request and removed all mention of her from his film, there was buzz that television actress Karishma Tanna would play Madhuri. However, later, it was clarified that Sonam Kapoor’s character will be an amalgamation of Dutt’s love interests in the early ’90s.

Quiz her about films and she promises ‘soon’. Though Madhuri made a remarkable comeback with Aaja Nachle (2007) after a sabbatical, she wasn’t

PIC/DATTA KUMBHAR

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Sarkar 3

*ing: Amitabh, Manoj Jackie, Yami Gautam

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able to spin the same magic in her second innings. Not too long ago, she turned entrepreneur by taking her dance academy to Indian households. “I want to reach out to as many people as possible so that we can discover more talent. But the entrepreneur never takes over the artiste in me. I can compartmentalise well, switching between roles,” she says. On Wednesday, she launched her show, Videocon D2h Dance with Madhuri.

Does she think Bollywood has been able to find an heir to her? The actress says her classical dance background is what set her apart, but the movie business has changed over the years. “I worked hard and gave my best. I was fortunate to have worked with someone like Saroj ji (Saroj Khan, choreographer).

Our pact was to make every dance look unique and not repetitive. Now, moviemaking is a different ball game. Commercial and art films belong in the same universe. It’s all about the right story, budget and target audience. I wish things were planned before. It would have made our jobs easier,” she believes.

Half Girlfriend

*ing: Arjun Kapoor Shraddha Kapoor

will have access whenever he wants. A source close to the couple said the Munni HOURS after attending the Badnaam Hui actress-dancer Justin Bieber concert with has not asked for any alimony their teenage son, Arbaaz or property.

Dressed in white, they apKhan and Malaika Arora Khan were granted divorce by the peared in court for the final Bandra Family Court yester- hearing scheduled at 11.30 am. day. The celebrity couple had They met principal marriage decided to end their 18-year counsellor VS Athavale for marriage by mutual consent five minutes and were then granted divorce by the Family last November.

Malaika has got physical Court judge. Their lawyers, custody of their 14-year-old Kranti Sathe and Amurta son, Arhaan, while Arbaaz Sathe Pathak told mid-day,

“The court has granted divorce to Arbaaz and Malaika, which was filed on mutual consent terms.”

Since filing for divorce on November 8, the couple attended their first counseling session three days later. They were then given a mandatory six-month waiting period to return to court with a decision on ending their marriage.

Despite personal differences, the couple has remained cordial and taken part in each other’s family events.

New Released Bollywood Films May

Rohit Shetty says he’s unfazed by Golmaal 4’s clash with Aamir-starrer this Diwali ACTION-obsessed filmmaker Rohit Shetty is ready to set off fireworks at the box office this Diwali. Contrary to reports that he has shifted the release of Golmaal 4 to avoid a clash with Rajinikanth’s 2.0, Rohit says, “We were always planning a Diwali release. Initially, I was not sure if we would be able to finish work on Golmaal Again in time.

Luckily, 2.0 is not opening with us, so we might just do better business [than we’d expected].”

While 2.0 has moved out of the festive slot, his film still has Aamir Khan-starrer Secret Superstar for competition. He, however, claims he doesn’t make much of box office contests. “You pick any weekend, there will mostly always be two films releasing together. There Rohit Shetty; (below) Aamir are only 52 Fridays a year Khan in Secret Superstar and for 300-plus films. The idea the cast of Golmaal 4 of a box office clash is a recent creation. Lagaan and Gadar released on the same impending BO battle, Rohit day in 20011. So did Dil adds, “We are not going and Ghayal (in 1990). They to have sword fights outside Churchgate station didn’t have problems over a date. It’s then, why would not as big an I have now?” issue as you he asks. are making it Making to be.” light of the

Arbaaz, Malaika finally divorced

Malaika Arora Khan and Arbaaz Khan at the court yesterday.

Box office battles are overrated!

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Hanuman Da’ Damdaar *ing: Animated Film

May

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Sachin

*ing: Sachin Tendulkar, Arjun, Mayuresh

June Raabta

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*ing: Sushant Singh Rajput

Saturday, May 13, 2017

Bollywood

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Shah Rukh Khan’s TED Talk Proves Yet Again That There Can’t Be Another One Like Him regardless.”

10. “By the time I was 40, I was really flying.

I had done 50 films by then and 200 songs and I had been knighted by the Malaysians and given the highest civilian honour by the French government. Humanity was soaring with me. We were both flying off the handle actually.”

11. “Everything I said took a new meaning, everything I did- good, bad, ugly was there

Shah Rukh Khan was in Vancouver a few days back, as he became the first Indian actor to speak at TED Talk, hosted in the city.

He spoke about humanity, fame, love and what the future holds for the world. Here are 15 such quotes from his impactful speech which will prove that SRK is undoubtedly one of the most precious gems of the Indian film industry: 1. “I sell dreams and I peddle love to millions of people back home in India, who assume that I am the best lover in the world.”

2. “It was claimed on the internet that he (AbRam) was the love child of the first child who was 15 years old.”

3. “I tried to get into a skin-tight superhero suit, trying to ‘reinvent’ myself. I must admit, I failed miserably.”

4. “My face is beginning to look like my Madam Tussaud’s wax statue. I often ask myself whether I should change my face,” 5. “I want humanity to be an ageing movie star - a self-obsessed lover. Completely and apologetically in love with itself.”

6. “I really thought that gay was a sophisticated English word for happy. And Lesbian, of course, was the capital of Portugal, as you all know,” 7. “Adidas,” somebody wrote back to one of my more thought-provoking tweets and I was wondering why would you name a sneaker, I mean, why would you write back the name of a sneaker to me? And I asked my 16-year-old daughter, and she enlightened me. “Adidas” now means “All day I dream about sex.”

8. “I have been made to understand that there a lot of you who haven’t seen my work and I feel really sad for you. That doesn’t take away from fact that I am completely selfobsessed, as a movie star should be.”

9. “I truly believe that humanity is a lot like me. It is an ageing movie star, grappling with all the newness around itself, wondering whether it got it right in the first place and still trying to find a way to keep on shining

For more Updates, Visit our Website

www.theasianstar.com

for the world to comment upon and judge.

Everything that I didn’t say or do was met with the same fate.”

12. “Reality became virtual and virtual became real. I started to feel that I couldn’t be who I wanted to be or say what I actually thought. And humanity at this time completely identified with me. Both of us were going through mid-life crisis. Humanity, like me, was becoming an over-exposed prima donna.”

13. “I tried to reconstruct my identity on social media.”

14. “Neither power nor poverty can make your life more magical or less torturous...

Whatever helps you survive is perhaps the oldest and simplest emotion known to mankind. And that is love.”

15. “Mankind will never be the wiser about its future unless it is coupled with a sense of love and compassion for their fellow beings.”

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Saturday, May 13, 2017

Bollywood Horoscope Aries

Libra

March 21 - April 20

Sept. 24 - Oct 22

You may have more to do with children this week; keep an open mind. You need to spend some time pampering yourself.

Older relatives may be a burden. Physical work or exercise should be part of your schedule.

Your lucky day this week will be Thursday.

You may need to make a few alterations to your living arrangements. You will gain new friends if you get involved in environmental issues. Try to enlist the support of your coworkers first. Problems with peers is apparent.

Your lucky day this week will be Saturday.

Taurus

Scorpio

April 21 - May 20

Oct 23 - Nov 22

You may have the energy to clear up that mound of paperwork facing you.

Partnerships with creative people could lead to financial gains. Throw yourself into your profession. Don’t let relatives stand in the way of your personal plans.

Your lucky day this week will be Sunday.

You may have been too nice to a friend who just wanted to take advantage of you.

Don’t offer to pay for others. Get promises in writing or you will be disappointed. Try to keep any mood swings under control; they may result in alienation.

Your lucky day this week will be Wednesday.

Gemini

Sagitarius

May 20 - June 21

Nov 23 - Dec 22

You will meet potential new mates through business. You will have no trouble getting things to fall into place. You will be your usual charming self and the partners you attract may be the adventurous type.

This may not be the day to get involved in risky joint financial ventures.

Your lucky day this week will be Friday.

Cancer

Put your energy into behind the scenes activities. Opportunities for partnerships are present; but get every detail in writing.

Set a limit, or you’ll wind up on a tight budget. You will be subject to pushy individuals if you get involved in uncertain organizations.

Your lucky day this week will be Saturday.

Lucky Durgapuria launches new track ‘Shining Star’ under in-house label India based Punjabi singer Lucky Durgapuria is back with a bang with his brand new track ‘Shining Star’ on May 7. The urbanpunjabi track is a blend of Punjabi-pop and desi-mix. Getting his stars to shine, Lucky’s latest launch is released by in-house music label ‘Born King Records’.

Song’s lyrics are done by Sunny Randhawa and by the man himself, Lucky Durgapuria. The clothing and accesories are by Jazzy B’s in-house brand ‘b Jazzy’.

The video is directed by Graffy and Ankit Kaushal, Music is by popular music artist Jassi Mahalon, giving it a highly urban feel with jazzy tunes and a complete party-style club mix, perfectly created for audiences of Punjab, Harayana, along with major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, parts of North India, and all over the globe – Canada, USA, UK, Australia, New Zeeland.

Lucky Durgapuria speaks about the song: “I’m highly excited to talk about my new launch under in-house label ‘Born King Records’. We created this track

keeping in mind what is trending today and to set some new trends. The audience’s response is overwhelming and the love has made it possible to launch our own label!”

Capricorn

June 22 - July 23

Dec 23 - Jan 20

This may not be your day if you are overly melodramatic and unnerving everyone around you. If you haven’t planned a vacation, then at least try to get away for the weekend. Don’t let any small misunderstandings get in the way. Don’t let your partner get away with spending too much of your money.

Your lucky day this week will be

Leo

You need to spend some time with individuals who have more experience than you. Joint ventures might prove to be unfavorable. You can meet someone who will become very dear to you if you get out and socialize. Don’t make mountains out of molehills if you want to avoid conflict.

Your lucky day this week will be Tuesday.

Aquarius

June 24 - August 23

Jan 21 - Feb 19

Your determination may make you a little overbearing when dealing with others. You may be fortunate while traveling. Try not to take everything so seriously. You can come up with ways of earning extra cash.

Your lucky day this week will be Monday.

Virgo

Put your efforts into physical fitness programs or competitive sports. Not the best day for business trips.

Opportunities for partnerships are present; but get every detail in writing.

Accept the inevitable.

Your lucky day this week will be Tuesday.

Pisces

August 24 - Sept 24

Feb 20 - March 20

Do something that will be stimulating and creative. If you haven’t already, consider starting your own business. Your emotional partner will push all the right buttons this week. Move forward if you want to turn your life around.

Your lucky day this week will be Wednesday.

Your lover will be extremely sensitive and now will not be a good time to make changes that they won’t like. Trips should be your choice. Don’t second guess yourself, just go to it. You can utilize your versa tile mind and dazzle others with your speed and accuracy.

Your lucky day this week will be Friday.

Bollywood personalities’ birthdays

Sunny Leone May 13

Zarine Khan MAY 14

Adah Sharma MAY 14

Madhuri Dixit MAY 15

Saturday, May 13, 2017

Park Boulevard

5

6

Saturday, May 13, 2017

Movie Review

‘Sarkar 3’ Movie Review ‘Sarkar 3’ U/A; Crime/Drama Director: Ram Gopal Varma Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Jackie Shroff, Manoj Bajpayee, Amit Sadh, Yami Gautam, Ronit Roy

Nagre embodies, despite having been there, done that, several times over.

Maybe the profession—politics, like entertainment—has much do with this. People who are active in both, you’ll notice, age much better. And while there’s politics at some

I very much liked the two Sarkars before this—the first (2005) was a better film, the second (2008) had a better script. What I find fascinating about this one is that it’s been over a decade and some, and Amitabh Bachchan genuinely appears frozen in time through it all (God bless)—looking just as quietly determined on screen, sombre, thoughtful, loud, reactive, but at no moment, bored or disinterested.

If there’s one lesson to learn from Sarkar, and yes, there is little difference between Sarkar, and Big B (the character is inconceivable without the actor), it is the immeasurable zest for life, ambition, and politics that the character Subhash

level in every home or work-place, this film deals more directly with politics inside a fortress/palace, or the Nagre family, as it were. Which is loosely modeled on Shiv Sena’s Thackeray family in Mumbai. Where the patriarch is still alive, having lost pretty much everyone else, through death or deceit. Ronit Roy plays Sarkar’s consigliore. He is on infinite brood-mode. Like everyone else in this semi sepia tone picture. The one surviving member of the family, the grandson (Amit Sadh)—son of the estranged Vishnu (Kay Kay Menon) if you remember—returns home to test the waters. Basically everyone plays the other in this pic. Trust is

an issue. The premise is interesting enough. But this is also a Ram Gopal Varma film. So, well.

Frankly I haven’t come across a filmmaker who’s spoken as much about film critics and actually cared so little for their opinion. That’s really what makes Varma the coolest in my eyes: wholly his own man. But this comes with its natural flip side: obvious self-indulgence.

And so some of the corniness we’ve come to expect from ‘V-grade cinema’ exists here in full display: loud Navratri beats for a background score; Jackie Shroff hanging around with a dumb bikini in the pool, while dolphins dance; series of people insulting Sarkar, with his minions frothing at the mouth every other minute‌ These aspects are hard to tolerate if that’s all there is to a movie. God knows Varma has made a quite a few such quickies in his career. This isn’t exactly one of those.

At the heart of this film is a Rs. 20,000 crore project that must come up in a piece of land in Dharavi East, occupied by 15,000 people, who will, as a result, get displaced. Sarkar, the neo-autocrat with extra constitutional authority gained from democracy itself—or love of the people, as it were— can help Big Business in exchange for money. He chooses not to.

You might wish to dig deeper. But between Sarkar’s long glances; dark, excessively moody, pretentious lighting in this flick that’s totally ‘indoorsy’ to the point of being claustrophobic, what you get is a wholly de-humanised view of the world, and a five-people economy, where people simply drop dead like pins, making you wonder if killing itself was so easy then what was the point of politicking in the first place.

Still, I don’t particularly hate this Sarkar, the film (or the one that lords over us at the Centre, and various states, for that matter!). One just begins to feel indifferent towards it beyond a point. Which isn’t a good thing, I know. But then, if “it is what it is� kinda casual indifference follows plain dejection, and natural helplessness, then so be it.

I liked this film’s end though. You might too. If you can remain fresh and alert enough until then, that is.

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Hitlist

A nose for style In her last outing, Begum Jaan, Vidya Balan wore a nose pin. Even during the film’s promotions, Vids chose to flaunt her huge nose pin collection. Now, the actress has been approached to endorse a new line of nose rings and pins. Since Vidya’s look in the film caught attention, the brand wants to cash in on her popularity.

Breaking away After a long shooting schedule of Rajkumar Hirani’s biopic on Sanjay Dutt, Vicky Kaushal took off for Hoshiarpur, Punjab. He was keen to spend time with his extended family at his ancestral home where his dad, action director Sham Kaushal, was born and brought up. Vicky will soon dive into another schedule of the biopic.

Getting into character

South calling again Buzz is Aditi Rao Hydari has been roped in for Mani Ratnam’s next film. She featured in his last Tamil release, Kaatru Veliyidai, which had Karthi as co-star. Aditi had been reportedly saying that she is dying to work with the veteran filmmaker again. Looks like her dream has come true. Knowing how guarded Ratnam is about his projects till they start rolling, we will have to wait for an announcement.

Neetu Chandra has been missing from the big screen, but has been active on the floorboards. Her period drama, Umrao Jaan, crosses the 50-show mark this weekend.

Neetu’s thrilled and has invited several B-Town folk to watch her play at a suburban theatre. Neetu polished her Kathak skills and Urdu diction in order to get into the skin of her character. In the play, Neetu goes through transition from a 17-year-old to an 85-year-old. She’s done more in this act than in all the years spent in Bollywood.

Ready to jump, climb and roll

REVEALED! Real reason behind Deepika Padukone rejecting a Shah Rukh Khan film

PeeCee’s look of the day Priyanka Chopra shared this snapshot on Instagram describing it as the look of the day.

PeeCee, who is busy promoting Baywatch that releases later this month, chose a deep neck bright orange outfit with a pout to match. The actress is determined to up her style game at every outing. Keep them coming.

Mind your language

Family time

Saqib Saleem has always been a fitness freak. Huma Qureshi’s brother follows a strict exercise regime and a controlled diet. Now, we hear he is keen to test his fitness levels by learning parkour.

The sport requires intense body movement like jumping, climbing, running and rolling. One needs to be in top shape. Saqib has already enrolled for a basic course to understand the techniques. We will wait for the results.

7

Maniesh Paul whisked off his family to Hong Kong recently to celebrate his father’s 70th birthday and also for a much-needed break. The anchor-host had been living out of a suitcase, given his hectic schedule. After hosting the dance reality show, Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa, he started rehearsing for Salman Khan’s Da-Bangg tour, apart from the shoot of his television show, Science of Stupid and the Marathi film, Hrudayantar.

A well-deserved break with his near and dear ones.

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

Deepika Padukone was supposed to be a part of Shah Rukh Khan‘s film with Aanand L Rai and we were psyched. They look immensely good together on screen and there is something about this pairing which puts a smile on your face. But later we heard that Deepika has let the project go and that ensued a string of speculations on what could possibly be the reason behind her rejecting the offer. Now, we can tell you that the actress had no other option but to let it go.

We told you before how Mumbai Mirror had reported that Deepika had walked out of the film due to the date clash with Padmavati. A source was quoted by the daily as saying, “While Deepika was quite keen on doing the film,

unfortunately, her dates were clashing with those allotted to Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Padmavati.

Since she has already committed her dates to SLB’s historical, she has had to say no to Aanand L Rai.” However, now DNA has reported that Padmavati is not the only reason behind the actress saying no to the project. A source revealed to the daily, “Aanand wanted Deepika to do the role, which is very challenging and would have requited a lot of prep and would take more time and commitment than she was willing to give at the moment. Also, time was a problem as she is shooting for Padmavati and travelling to Cannes for her brand commitment. So she declined the part.” Fair enough!

Telly actress Kishwer Merchant has taken on VJ Anusha Dandekar and VJ Gaelyn Mendonca for poking fun at her friend in an Instagram video. Kishwer recently posted a video, in which she is seen strolling with her friends — actors Gurneet Chadha and Rahul Sharma – and Rahul says, “I love pancakes”. Anusha and Gaelyn made a video, imitating the friend’s accent, and posted it online. Kishwar and her hubby, actor Suyyash Rai later made their displeasure clear in a post.

Kishwer wrote, “Anusha not everyone is from Australia and not everyone has that accent, but they are my friends and they have a good heart (sic).” It’s a war of words on social media.

8

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Saturday, May 13, 2017

Classifieds / Jobs

Production Clerk required for production and distribution of window screens and must complete general office duties.

Duties: Cut, shape and fit materials to make window and door screens; assemble parts and components to form final products; repair defective products for repair or recycle Check manufactured items for defects and conformance to specifications; answer calls; prepare invoice and collect payment. needs to use saws; drills and other small tools.

Education: High School or GED; Spoken and written English The position is full time 8:30-4:30pm with some overtime during summer months.

If you believe you have the necessary experience and skills, please submit your resume and references to info@ vancouverscreens.ca Vancouver Screens Ltd. #112 - 13085 115 Avenue Surrey, BC V3R 0C3 Phone: 604 - 520 - 6768 ------------ Apr 08-2017 Vacancies for Framer-Helper MN Framing Ltd. located at 6281 Knight Street, Vancouver BC V5P2V9 has an

immediate vacancy for Framer Helper.

Job Title: Framer Helper Number of Vacancies: 1 Location of work: Job requires on-site at various job sites within the lower mainland.

Job Type: Full time, permanent position with 30-40 hours per week. Overtime at the rate of 1.5 times after 40 hours per week.

Compensation: $20 per hour Benefits: WCB Coverage with 4% vacation pay Key duties: • Load and unload construction material and taking them to job site, • Move tools, equipment from storage to job site; • Assist framer with forming and framing related work; • Help put up, level, and install building framework • Remove rubble and clean work areas, machines and equipment to maintain a clean and safe jobsites • Perform other related job duties as required Job requirements: Some experience as a labourer will be an asset but not mandatory. Training provided on site.

Work conditions: • Physically demanding, handling heavy

NOW HIRING Bus Driver 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.

loads, combination of sitting, standing and walking • Able to work long hours, weekends and outdoor in various weather conditions Contact: If you meet the requirements, please send your resume at mnframing@ hotmail.com.

Only those who our basic expectations will be contacted for an interview.

We thank you for your interest in our company!

------------ Mar 09-2017 Vacancies for Framer-Carpenter MN Framing Ltd. located at 6281 Knight Street, Vancouver BC V5P2V9 has immediate vacancies for Framer-Carpenter.

Job Title: Framer-Carpenter Number of Vacancies: 2 Location of work: Job requires on-site at various job sites within the lower mainland.

Job Type: Full time, permanent position with 30-40 hours per week. Overtime at the rate of 1.5 times after 40 hours per week.

Compensation: $26 per hour Benefits: WCB Coverage with 4% vacation pay Key duties: • Read & Interpret blueprints, drawings & sketches to determine specification; • Estimate height, width, length & other

proportions; • Measure, cut, shape & assemble the major structural elements of a woodframed buildings using woodworking machines, power tools and hand tools; • Build house foundations, Construct building framework including wall, beams, partitions, floor, doorframes, ceilings; • Inspect and replace damaged framework or other structures and fixtures; • Be able to understand building materials and building codes; Job requirements: • Completion of High School • 2-3 years of experience in trade or completion of 3-4 year apprenticeship program Work conditions: • Physically demanding, handling heavy loads, combination of sitting, standing and walking • Able to work long hours, weekends and outdoor in various weather conditions Contact: If you meet the requirements, please send your resume at mnframing@ hotmail.com Only those who our basic expectations will be contacted for an interview.

We thank you for your interest in our company!

------------ Mar 09-2017

LOOKING FOR CLASS 1 TRUCK DRIVER A trucking company, Planet Pride Logistics, located at 11411 Shell Road, Richmond BC V7A3W7 has immediate vacancies for 5 Long Haul Truck Drivers.

Term of employment: Full time, Permanent Position Shifts: Weekdays, Weekends, Evenings Salary: $23.50 per hour for 50 hours per week, overtime after 60 hours of the rate of 1.5 times with Vacation pay of 4%.

Requirement: Class 1 driving license with Air brake endorsement

Duties: Drive and operate company’s long haul trucks within all over Canada, receive and relay information to central dispatcher, maintain log book, bill of landing. Do pre-trip, en-route, posttrip inspection for any mechanical or body defect, reports incidents to the manager immediately and accurately.

Please send your resume at planetpride.logistics@ gmail.com or fax at 778-297-4402 Gill to Furmaan Kaur Gill

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

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

Saturday, May 13, 2017 South Asian Seniors - Learn Acupressure Techniques & Be Your Own Doctor May 7th 2017( Sunday ) at Shanti Niketan hall 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 to attend a presentation to Learn Acupressure Techniques & Be your Own Doctor by Qualified and Expert Acupressurist Avtar Singh Woodwall on May 7th 2017 ( Sunday ) from 2.00 pm to 3.30 pm at Shanti Niketan hall of Lakshmi Narayan Hindu Temple 8321 - 140th street Surrey BC. A copy of the Acupressure points in Hands and feet will be provided to new participants for treatment at home, light snacks & tea will be served after the presentation. Please contact Surendra Handa Coordinator Tel. 604 - 507 - 9945 for further information.

Project funded by Government of Canada’s New Horizons for Seniors Program for Hindi Speaking Seniors.

-----------------------------------------All devotees are cordially invited at Hindu Cultural Society and Community Centre of B.C. (3885 Albert St., Burnaby) to participate in Sai Japa/ Bhajans on Saturday May 6th 2017

Jobs / Matrimonial

at 5 p. m..

Program: 5.15 to 6.15 Bhajans/Kirtan 6.30 to 7.15 Sai Japa 7.30 Priti Bhojan Contact: Rajubhai Parekh 604-327-8259 Kantibhai Patel 604 522-7989 Mandir 604299-5922 -----------------------------------------South Asian Seniors - Anxiety Disorder & Mental Health, Dr. Jogi Harrad - April 9th 2017 from 2.00 pm to 3.30 pm.

Vedic Seniors Parivar Center of Vedic Hindu Cultural Society Surrey invites South Asian Adults, Senior members and nonmembers also for a very important PresentationAnxiety Disorder & Mental Health by Dr. Jogi Harrad a known Psychiatrist in the community on April 9th 2017 (Sunday) from 2.00 pm to 3.30 pm at Shanti Niketan hall of Lakshmi Narayan Hindu Temple 8321 140th street Surrey BC. Dr. Jogi Harrad will answer all your questions about Mental Health. Tea and light snacks will be served to all participants after the presentation.

Project funded by Government of Canada’s New Horizons for Seniors Program for Hindi speaking seniors. Please contact Surendra Handa Coordinator Tel. 604 - 507 - 9945 for further details.

BRIDE NEEDED

MATRIM

ONIAL

22 year old, 5-11’ jatt sikh boy studying in Australia is looking for a Canadian Citizen or immigrant girl.

Boy’s family is permanently settled in Canada.

Contact 604.461.1614 for further information.

100 100 95 95 75 75

25 25 5 5 0 0

Canada Tent House We We rentrent tents for all & parties tents for functions any function

Portable Sinks, Luxury Washrooms, Flooring, Stage, LED Lighting.

For marriage party, birthday party or any program contact:

Now Open

Arjun Gill New work, new rate Tel: 604-598-2400 E-mail: info@canadatenthouse.com

Canada Tent House Friday, March 24, 2017 11:02:32 AM

11

VACANCIES FOR LONG HAUL TRUCK DRIVERS A trucking company, New Moon Express Ltd., has immediate vacancies for 10 long haul truck drivers.

Job Position: Long Haul Truck Driver Number of Vacancies: 10 Term of employment: Full time, Permanent with 50 hours per week.

Location of work: Travel across Canada and USA with base at 12403 Old Yale Road, Surrey BC V3V 3X9 Shifts: Weekdays, Weekends, Night, Evenings Salary: $23.50 per hour for 50 hours per week, overtime after 60 hours per week at the rate of 1.5 times.

Benefits: 4% vacation pay Credentials: Class 1 or A driver’s license with air brake endorsement.

Experience: On the job training will be provided Additional Skills: • Basic English is required to understand road signs and fill log book.

• Be able to work in individually or in a team • Clean driving abstract Types of trucking and equipment: Flatbed, Van, Refrigerated Type of Travel: Long Haul, Regional, Provincial/

Territorial, National and International.

Duties: • Drive and operate company’s long haul trucks to transport goods and material • Receive and Relay information to central dispatcher • Perform pre- trip, en-route and post- trip inspection for any mechanical or body defect • Ensure cargo is secured properly in accordance with safety requirements and follow safety procedures for transporting goods • Record cargo information, hours of service, distance travelled and fuel consumption • Administer bills of lading and manually or electronically maintain log books • Communicate with dispatcher, other drivers and customers using communication devices and on-board computers • Report incidents to the manager immediately and accurately.

How to apply: Please send resume at newmoonexpressltd@gmail.com Only those who meet our basic expectations will be contacted for interview. We thank you for your interest in our company!

VACANCIES FOR LONG HAUL TRUCK DRIVERS A trucking company, SB Trucking Ltd. has immediate vacancies for 10 long haul truck drivers.

Job Position: Long Haul Truck Driver Number of Vacancies: 10 Location of Work: Travel across Canada and USA with base at 12403 Old Yale Road, Surrey BC V3V3X9 Term of employment: Full time, Permanent with 50 hours per week.

Shifts: Weekdays, Weekends, Evenings Salary: $23.50 per hour for 50 hours per week, overtime after 60 hours per week at the rate of 100 1.5 times.

100 Benefits: 4% vacation pay 95 95 Credentials: Class 1 or A driver’s license with 75 air brake endorsement.

75 Experience: On the job training will be provided Additional Skills: • Basic English is required to understand road 25 25 signs and fill log book 5• Be able to work in individuals or in a team 5 • Clean driving abstract 0 Types of trucking and equipment: Flatbed, Van, 0 Refrigerated Type of Travel: Long Haul, Regional, provincial/

Territorial, National and International.

Duties: • Drive and operate company’s long haul trucks to transport goods and material • Receive and Relay information to central dispatcher • Perform pre- trip, en route and post- trip inspection for any mechanical or body defect • Ensure cargo is secured properly in accordance with safety requirements and follow safety procedures for transporting goods • Record cargo information, hours of service, distance travelled and fuel consumption • Administer bills of lading and manually or electronically maintain log books • Communicate with dispatcher, other drivers and customers using communication devices and on-board computers • Report incidents to the manager immediately and accurately.

How to apply: Please send resume at sbtrucking@hotmail.com Only those who meet our basic expectations will be contacted for interview. We thank you for your interest in our company!

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mid-day

Thursday, May 11, 2017 | www.mid-day.com | twitter.com/mid_day | epaper.mid-day.com

have you heard?

Have you heard?

IN THE WEB

Writer-actor Manav Kaul’s collection Saturday, May 13, 2017of short stories, Prem Kabootar, will be turned into a web series. It will be shot in Agumbe village in Karnataka.

Manav will be the narrator of the eight-part series in Hindi

Happy holidays Swirling in style Neha Dhupia was in Singapore recently for a charity event in support for marginalised children and youth. The actress, who features on two reality shows, Roadies and Chhote Miyan Dhaakad, had to juggle the shoots to make it for the event.

She chose a Shantanu and Nikhil creation for the gala. Neha, the fashionista, was an absolute headturner at the fundraiser.

Alia Bhatt, who is on a sabbatical for the next couple of months, is planning a holiday with rumoured beau Sidharth Malhotra. It is said that they are likely to visit Europe. The alleged lovebirds had brought in the New Year in Amsterdam.

Earlier, the two were spotted holidaying in New York. Sid is currently shooting for Neeraj Pandey’s Aiyaary. Once that wraps up, the lovebirds will fly out.

Bark to the nostalgic ’90s Punjabi singer Jasbir Jassi’s 1998 chartbuster Dil Le Gayee Kudi Gujarat Di has been recreated in the upcoming film, Sweetiee Weds NRI. With the ’90s music being all the rage now, the makers decided to include the

Hitting the road Sharad Kelkar, who plays a cop in Baadshaho, had to juggle his commitments while shooting for Milan Luthria’s film in Rajasthan. Since there are not many flights from Mumbai to Jodhpur every day, he’d catch a flight to Ahmedabad and then travel by road to the shoot location. Often he would spend more time on travelling than on set. He would complete his scenes and then take the next available flight back to Mumbai. This was his routine for over a month.

By the sea Adah Sharma turns a year older today. The Commando 2 actress is celebrating her birthday in Maldives with family and friends. She considers herself to be a beach bum, so there is nothing better than being by the seaside on her big day.

Fatima turns down Sushant-starrer?

Dangal (2016) actress Fatima Sana Shaikh is believed to have turned down Sushant Singh Rajput-starrer Chanda Mama Door Ke. She apparently had a meeting with the makers and even interacted with Sushant. Earlier this week, it was announced that she will feature in Vijay Krishna Acharya’s Thugs of Hindostan starring Aamir Khan and Amitabh Bachchan. So the decision to refuse Sushant’s film does not come as a surprise, no?

track in the romantic drama.

The film’s lead cast Himansh Kohli and Zoya Afroz shot for the song’s video along with over 100 background dancers. The cost of shooting, the makers claim, was around a crore. It better be worth it.

ON THE SET

Talk time again Priyanka Chopra is back in the US from her African sojourn and doing the rounds of American chat shows. She featured on Jimmy Kimmel’s show for the promotions of Baywatch. This is her third outing on the show. At this rate, PC will soon become a chat show specialist.

Baby joy for Adnan Adnan Sami and his wife, Roya Faryabi became parents to a baby girl yesterday. The newborn has been named Medina. In a statement, Adnan said, “Roya and I always wanted a daughter. I have found new inspiration for my music through her and she is going to be the centre of my world. Both mother and child are healthy and doing fine.” Adnan has a teenaged son Azaan from his previous marriage to Zeba Bakhtiar.

14 years on Yesterday, Shahid Kapoor completed 14 years in the industry.

He took to social media to commemorate the occasion. “Thanks peeps for the many wishes. 14 years of doing what I love. Beauty of

cinema, you always feel like a student.

Too much to learn,” he posted, adding, “Too much to achieve. Too little time. Time to putmy blinders on and run like there’s no tomorrow.

Gratitude and love. For believing in me (sic).”

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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 -- MaySaturday Vol. 8 No. Vol. 15 -6 Saturday 13, 2017 - April 2, 2016

Vancouver’sskyline skylinetotorise riseamid amid office-tower building boom Vancouver’s anan office-tower building boom Victoria, Toronto luxury homes among fastest-selling

T T

Vancouver’s skyline to rise amid an office-tower building boom

next two years due to competition. it Suisse is optimistic his building tower tower is optimistic his building will will he $240-million $240-million Credit CreditSuisse/ Suisse/ Mr.Mr. Shokri others expectnext two years due to competition. it Suisse he Shokri andand others say say theythey 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 getstocloser. start to fill as the completion date gets closer. it Suisse tower is optimistic his building will SwissReal tower the44 heart many of the new towers toAnother start signing tenant tower ininthe heart of of many of the new towers to start signing tenant heincreased $240-million Credit Suisse/ Shokri and others saypercent they expectEven as the global economy strengthened much of 2016, including Britain's vote leave 26 percent ofMr. the markets.

21 LuxurySwissReal home sales percent a result of the current boom are ownas aasresult of the current boom are ownThe landlords who will likely suffer Franz Gehriger, the CEO of SwissReal Franz Gehriger, the CEO of SwissReal start to fill as the completion date gets closer. downtown Vancouver will leases asmarkets they getposted to completion. downtown Vancouver will be as many they get closer to completion.

Thattenant and stock markets climbed to new highs, sales the European Union, new restrictions on ofleases the declines in in Canada in 2016 and the pacetower of sales in heart SwissReal inbethe of ofcloser the new towers toprices. startThat signing ers of Shokri said. said.

Asare ownersolder ofasolder buildings, Mr. Shokri As abuildings, result of Mr. theascurrent Group who bought the the original historic Group who bought the original historic Franz Gehriger, CEO ofpresidential SwissReal completed ininVictoria less a ayear, but soso far,far, is is partly companies in Vancouver, were likely held back wealthyboom buyers and Chinese capital outflows, the U.S. Toronto and were in the top five in will Toronto led aas separate the hottest That completed lessthan than year, but partly because companies inof downtown Vancouver be because leases they getgauge closer toVancouver, completion. well,well, newers developments in the suburbs, new developments in the suburbs, stock-exchange building in 2002 before partof older buildings, Mr. Shokri said.

As stock-exchange building in 2002 before partGroup who boughtandtheRussian original historic only one has upupthan totomove in.in.butwhich want to be in new, energy-efficient election sanctions. luxury where the world. only onetenant tenant hassigned signed move which do toorbecause bethose in new, energy-efficient completed in less a year, so far,do markets, iswant partly companies in Vancouver, 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 tenant has committed forfor a a10th buildings, to operate on short timelines. nering with Credit Suisseinto2002 develop it,partsaid stock-exchange building before AThe report released Wednesday by Christie's the pacetend oftend sales Beware unintended tenant hasone committed 10th of move buildings, towas operate oninshort timelines. only tenant has signed upof to in. which do wantstrongest, to be new, energy-efficient vacancy rates inhave recent years,years, may may have have the main group interested in leasing Vancouvacancy rates in already recent which experienced higher the feet leaving a state AsAs he hesaid, prices in in the newnew thenering mainwith group interested in VancouCredit Suisse toasleasing develop it, said reflecting heightened demand.

International Real that consequences governments the370,000 370,000square square feet– –shows leaving a sales stateofforof ofa 10th well, said, The Estate tenant has committed ofwell, buildings, tend toprices operate onthe short timelines. trouble asvacancy compete each other. ver office space these days in is real the technology ratescompete in with recent years, may have troublethey as they with each other. emptiness thatatis$1 unusual for an office sky-up buildings will come down in the i luxury Saturday, July 25, 2015 Its home sales were nearly homes priced million or edged meddle Don Pittis theoffice mainspace group interested inestate: Vancouthese days isleasing the technology the is370,000 square feetoffice – leaving of Saturday, Aslikely well, said, prices in in the new emptiness that unusual formore an sky- a 4state buildings will likely come 4 i Julyhe 25, 2015down In Vancouver, the co-developer of the Cred- sector.ver Those companies make their deciscraper in this city.

Even so, a huge shift in trouble as they compete with each other.

In Vancouver, the co-developer of the Credabout one percent worldwide last year. double what they were in 2015.

"If you look at some of ver office space these days is the technology sector.

Those companies make their deciemptiness thatso, is unusual for aninoffice sky- buildings will likely come scraper in this city. Even a huge shift 4 i Saturday, July 25, 2015down in the business tenancy is aexpected as the region In Vancouver, the co-developer of the Cred- sector. Those Low inventory and price That represents sharp slowdown from the markets where there was companies make their deciscraperisinexpected this city.not Even a huge shift in business tenancy as theso,region experiences it has seen be2015, when something luxury home salesis climbed eight increases spurred urgency uncertainty, it had an impact," business tenancy expected as experiences something it has not seen be-the region fore: an and office-tower building boom much percent, from 2014, when sales vaulted 16 among buyers. Luxury homes Conn said. "People could afford experiencesbuilding something it has not seen before: an office-tower boom much of which is speculative construction rathpercent. in Toronto took an average of 17 to wait in the U.K. because there an office-tower building boom much whichfor is fore: speculative construction erofLuxury than specific committed tenants. home sales sank 67 per cent inraththe days to sell last year, down from was uncertainty and prices have ofofspecific which is speculative construction rather“This than for tenants. is kind uncharted territory for Van28 days the year before. That U.K. from a year earlier,committed while sales slipped softened over the last couple of er than for and specific committed couver, ” said Mehdi Shokri, aterritory principal with is kind uncharted for Van- tenants. was the fastest sales pace of any four“This percent inofthe U.S. slid 29 percent years."

“This isAsia-Pacific kindatofAvison uncharted territory Vanthe capital markets Young. couver, ” said Shokri, a principal with in markets inMehdi the team region.

In formarket.

The luxury brokerage based couver, said Mehdi Shokri, a principal with “But I don’t see a ”big disaster occurring. ” the capital markets team at Avison Young. contrast, sales climbed 20 percent in Europe Rounding out the top five its report on an analysis of sales The Suisse is onlyteam the at most Avison hottest luxury markets are and 44ICredit percent incapital Canada. data and other factors for homes “But don’tthe see a tower bigmarkets disaster occurring. ” Young. visible and furthest along of a second wave “But I don’t see a big disaster occurring. ” British Columbia; San Sales prices rose more isthan the Victoria, that sold for $1 million or more The Credit Suisseintower onlyhalf theofmost of new office towers planned fortower VancouThe Credit Suisse iswave only theFrancisco; most Austin, Texas; and, Charleston, sellers opted to take a wait-and-see approach in 101 markets worldwide. Private luxury markets in Christie's report. posted visible and furthest along ofToronto a second ver and some key suburbs.

A first cluster visible and planned furthest along offlat a second wave Carolina. the biggest gain, 20 percent.

Prices in South to the geopolitical uncertainty that shaped home sales were not included in the analysis. new office towers forwere Vancouofoftowers – some twooffice million square feet –for Vancouof new towers planned ver and some key suburbs.

A first cluster was built downtown insome the past years. ver andtwo key three suburbs.

A first cluster ofAnother towers – 11 some square feet office million developments are – of towers – some two million square feet – was built downtown in theofpast three years. proposed within blocks Credit Suwas built downtown in the past three years.

Another 11 tower officeat developments isse’s Exchange Howe and Westare Another 11 office developments are Pender streets, evenblocks while the office-va-Suproposed within of Credit blocks of Credit Sucancy inproposed the tower regionwithin to inch isse’s rate Exchange atcontinues Howe and West isse’s Exchange tower at Howe and West up as a result of the firstwhile wave the of building.

Pender streets, even office-vaPender streets, even while the But commercial brokerscontinues say the city is office-vacancy rate in the region to inch cancy rate in the regiontowers. continues to inch not about to be populated by ghost up as a result of the first wave of building. up as a result of the first wave of building.

But commercial brokers say the city is But commercial brokers say the city is not about tonot be about populated ghost towers. to be by populated by ghost towers.

Saturda

14

Saturday, May 13, 2017

Real Estate

PrivateBancorp shareholders approve T by CIBC $4.9 billion takeover Vol. 6 No. 31

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Vancouver’s skyline to rise amid an office-tower building

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PrivateBancorp Inc. investors approved a US$4.9 billion takeover by Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce after the Toronto-based lender sweetened its deal twice to win over shareholders.

The majority of PrivateBancorp shareholders endorsed CIBC’s bid, the Chicago-based lender said Friday in a statement following a vote at a special meeting. CIBC first proposed the acquisition on June 29, and in its latest offer agreed to pay US$27.20 in cash and 0.4176 of a CIBC common share for each PrivateBancorp share.

“This strategic combination creates meaningful value for stockholders, and we look forward to completing the transaction in June,” said James Guyette, PrivateBancorp chairman.

CIBC shares fell 0.1 per cent to $107.17 at 10:24 a.m. in Toronto, while PrivateBancorp rose 0.2 per cent to US$59.60 in New York.

“I’m sure CIBC management is happy to have won shareholder approval given the difficulty in getting it,” said Ian Nakamoto, an equity specialist with Raymond James Ltd. “It certainly makes sense to diversify outside of Canada as they are a relatively large player in Canada.”

CIBC, Canada’s fifth-largest lender by assets, pursued the deal to expand its commercial and private-banking business in the U.S. and leverage its wealth management platform in the country.

Chicago-based PrivateBancorp, with about US$20.4 billion in assets, serves mostly middle-market companies, business owners

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-

and wealthy families.

CIBC initially offered to buy PrivateBancorp in June for about US$3.8 billion in cash and stock, but the U.S. firm delayed a Dec. 8 shareholder vote after its share price climbed along with other U.S. financial companies following Donald Trump’s election. The Canadian lender boosted its offer by about 20 per cent in

March after some investors and proxy advisory firms called the bid inadequate, then increased the cash portion by US$3 a share, or 12 per cent, on May 4 to try and win approval.

Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. last week urged PrivateBancorp investors to vote against CIBC’s offer, saying the deal’s terms offered no protection should CIBC shares fall on heightened concerns over Canada’s housing market. Advisory firms Glass, Lewis & Co. and Egan-Jones Ratings Co. both supported the deal.

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, May 13, 2017 -

Real Estate

Home Capital warns its failure would have significant ‘knock-on effects’ in the mortgage market

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-

Home Capital Group Inc. said it’s seeking new sources of funding to counter a run on deposits and warned that the failure of the Canadian lender would have significant “knock-on effects” in the broader mortgage market.

The struggling mortgage lender has some “breathing room” to pursue strategic options and new funding sources following an $1.8 billion plunge in deposits and a 60 per

possible contagion to other lenders and to the red-hot real estate markets in Toronto and Vancouver. The Canadian dollar has slumped, and is the worst performing currency among Group of 10 nations this year. Moody’s Investors Service late Wednesday cut the credit ratings on six Canadian banks, citing rising household debt and soaring real estate prices that make the banks more vulnerable to losses.

Home Capital executives sought to reassure investors that’s it’s working to find new sources of funding to stem the deposit outflows and to replace a costly $2 billion credit line arranged last month by the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Fund.

A company failure would have knock-on effects for the market and for the so-called alternative mortgage customers who can’t get loans from the major commercial banks, the company said.

“There is much at stake,” Chairwoman Brenda Eprile said on the call in her first public comments since taking the position this month. “We are working diligently” to rebuild strength of the company, said Eprile, former chief accountant for the Ontario Securities Commission.

Home Capital, accused by regulators last month of misleading investors over fraudulent mortgage loan applications, has lost almost $1.8 billion in high-interest deposits in five weeks, draining the Torontobased company of funds used to finance mortgages.

Vancouver real estate magnate donates $12 million in art to the National Gallery of Canada Sculptures, paintings and mixed media pieces — 197 works in all — have been donated to Canada’s National Gallery by real estate marketer and art collector Bob Rennie.

Rennie, in Italy for the international art exhibition Venice Biennale, says the works are a “gift to the nation to mark Canada’s 150th birthday,” adding he hopes to share them with the world.

“The national gallery has a generous lending policy. Venues and museums in large and small cities will have access to the works.” Rennie said.

One of the works Rennie is donating is Pale Fire Freedom Machine by Vancouver artist Geoffrey Farmer, who is currently representing Canada at the Venice Biennale.

Rennie’s donation also includes the work of some of Canada’s prominent living artists like Brian Jungen, Damian Moppett, Rodney Graham and Ian Wallace.

“Its important the work stays together, so the story can be told forever.” said Rennie The National Gallery will be recognizing the historic offering by naming one of its exhibition galleries the Rennie Gallery.

“This remarkably generous gift transforms the National Gallery of Canada into the collection of record for some of our country’s

cent share decline, director Alan Hibben, a former RBC Capital Markets managing director, said on a conference call.

“I don’t expect there to be any new significant transactions within the next days and weeks, however that shouldn’t be misconstrued, we will be extremely active in bringing a range of options forward,” Hibben said without elaborating. The former investment banker said he’s taking a more active role alongside management.

Home Capital’s troubles are being closely watched by investors concerned about

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most outstanding artists,” said Marc Mayer, director and CEO of the National Gallery of Canada.

“It deepens the exhibition and the lending possibilities for a museum whose mission is to preserve and disseminate our country’s

change 5 years fixed rate to 3.29% (30 days quick close, Hi ratio only most exceptional artistic achievements.”

e

xed

15

#106 - 7565 132 St. Surrey, BC 604.572.3005 3 Year Fixed

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5 years fixed @ 2.64% 2 years fixed @ 2.24% 3 years fixed @ 2.49%

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Rennie says he approached the decision to part with some of his collected treasures with mixed emotions. “It’s a feeling of letting go. Like when your kids go to university or move out of the house. Its a natural evolution.” Rennie recently stepped down from a controversial role he held as chief fundraiser for the B.C. Liberals.

He’s also known as Vancouver’s “condo king” after building a real estate empire by developing high end condos and homes across the province and in Alberta.

“It’s great to sell condos, but it’s not what we want to be known for (referring to his family). We’d like to be known for changing the arts and culture landscape in Canada.”

Saturda

16

Saturday, May 13, 2017

Garry Grewal

Vol. 6 No. 31

T

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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-

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Close tov .shopping, Gas $325,000.00 eatvisualvestment opportunity the ous numer ounding, surr tons complex bedroom with denfor your office.

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1920 sq Transit. This space ft has 2 offices inside of and second vate �loor of�ices, droom,of�iceboar space. bath corned in business further. Low lease, and great area for more details.

1985 Sq.ft. unit reception ea,aras washroom. chenette. kit Ex xposure, eNotary,op t �loor of�ice y space wit lunch room as well Perfectcellent for Accountants, Harleen dens.

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95 Ave & 152 St., 940 sqft. space is available In Mughal Garden plazaof�ice 2 units available, approxfor4875 sqft.Already leased to lease on 2nd �loor including 3 small of�ices, meeting room long term tenants, to be sold together.

Asking $1.25 million and reception. Also available 9400 sqft. space for lease.

LOTS OF EXPOSURE.

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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8077 The perfect retail for the perfect franchise well look no more! Established and award eas t KING GEORGE BLVD. Looking corner unit in busy plaza move in ready.

Approx winning Vera's Burgers in busy Meadow Town Center with major anchors like 1200 sq ft perfect for fast food, of�iceCineplex or retail Superstore, Odeon, and many major Financial Institutions and major space. Easy access to highway, retailers.close Fully turntokeyalloperation with extra large patio, good lease, low amenities on Busy King George Hwy. Great franchise fees and beer licence. Current absentee owner this business is a great Opportunity contact me today. opportunity to be your own boss and take it to the next level! Asking $229,900

After School Enrichment Classes, Week long Summer camps, Birthday Parties, pre School plaza Banquet in Halls, Surr Classes and Kidz APARTMENT Night out programs. Please contact listing Realtor for moreDONAIR info on this ALE S unique opportunity. FOR Asking $79,000 FOR

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Sq. ft large Lot Fully space for UNIT saleFORAsking ITALIAN RESTAURANT FOR SALE SALE $649,000 7200 renovated home close to the A treasure gem of Italian cuisine tucked away in Hope! Open for lunch BUSINESS FOR SALE

over three floors. A brand new facility with a custom open floor plan for your preference. The Mann Corporate centre has been designed andS.F allows for & RET MORE 1000 O to provide maximum 12,000 . flexibility T AIL ACEOFFICE many types of professional users who are seeking a high quality with great AVAILABLE FORfacilityALE Sexposure.

ASE & LE Highlights include: State of the art facility with modern finishes, Underground secured parking provided. Free on site surface parking, more than 3 parking stalls per 1000 Sq ft. 24/7 security with HD recording privilege. Central location with easy access to all major routes.

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Don't miss this rare opportunity to own your own busy Lighthouse Indian Cuisine Franchise! Prime location in Brickyard Station Plaza this fantastic business has Take out and dine in, beautiful décor, quality kitchen, Full Liquor license and full Indian Cuisine Menu. Complete turn key operation enables you to be your own boss with this established franchise. Contact me today for further info. Asking $389,000

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enjoy working serves with children!

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Theas exclusive Franchise territory for Maple Ridge, Pitt Turn keyand operation you recession to implement Meadows Mission is ready for sale. for Fantastic proof business that enable children plaza. your dreams a restaurant from 3-13+ learnasand build with Legoowner! bricks. Teach the fundamentals of S.T.E.M. (science, Asking $219,000 technology, engineering & mathematics). This unique business offers in School Workshops,

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Take vantage ad eat of vestment in this(notopportunity! gr ound etail/ �loor Gr oom/of�ice showr r Well established .Baby Ultrasound Franchise, 3D/4D ultrasound diagnostic), Private clinicIdeal for pregnant moms. high in market busy Business Center Full turn key operationceilings thiseys easy to run niche business is Surr perfect Khalsa for individuals or couples with businesses uses.

Asking $349,000 Medical/Health industry backgrounds. Beautifully set up office, low lease rate, excellent hours and easy to run with

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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 RETAILbreakfast ACE and VAILABLE SP menu A and rarely dream! Tastefully decorated excellent lunch 8321 ., Surrey.

-seating back cellent 128 Ex location in found…Liquor license as well! Outdoor and front of premises, tonsSt of Asking 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 you! F S OFFICE ACEwaiting SP OR for ALE Confidentiality have to bevailable signedSFbefore Approx. agreement will3100 or viewing f the ofbusiness. sale of�ice in ey.

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Don't miss this rare opportunity to own your own busy Lighthouse canopies and window graphics. Established for five years, low lease, built up clientele make this a great business Indian Cuisine Franchise! Prime location in Brickyard Station Plaza opportunity! me forhas moreTake details.

Asking this fantasticContact business out and $99,000 dine in, beautiful décor, quality kitchen, Full Liquor license and full Indian Cuisine Menu. Complete turn key operation enables you to be your own boss with this established franchise. Contact me today for further info. Asking Established and reputable towing company that serves clients throughout $389,000

available,

full website, social media presence all in place for you! Make your Hair alon S Business for sale entrepreneurial dreams comeverdale true.

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PAYAL BUSINESS CENTRE - 82 Ave & 128 St

Cuisine in y. unning Langle R successfull y or f #705 $465,000, #706 $335,000 the veLast ears PIZZA y�ixcellent with yedail sales. & CURRY RESTAURANT FOR SALEW Well Burger Franchise located on in busy Fraser Highway Close o ys t Da Inn, estern The & Best Twoestablished Vera's adjoining of�ices a in new Established & turn key & Curry restaurant for sale.t Prime location and Cloverdale.

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Columbia;cott this Streasure a business 32 rooms 8318 oadof R eringconsists is ofmedical off and with the potential to expand up toan50 rooms. Its also includes other ofessionals pr opportunity o t purchase emium pr of�ice and a Liquor space ey, Sur a 110 seat pub, fully licensed resaturant store in BC. Set ed t Ideal y forallBCcomplet b or run f 2016, this with lot sizeoclose to 45,000be sqft.

PNP your the and etedreams! art concr st ATTENTION PITA PIT FRANCHISE own state business and achieveif eel your entrepreneurial building erAskingoff ae etail mixtur of and r Magni�icent luxury estate situate don 8.5 acres withWell overestablished 8100 sq. ftPita of living Contact for morewill details. $2,599,000 Pit space. Home includes 6 TRUCKERS! A very rare opportunity to own a beautiful Parisian feel Salon/Café in bdrms, 8 washrooms, a separate guest house and fruit stand. 5 acres has blueberry plants as well. This of�ice space o ofessionals t pr lookingor f a Spacious 2 bedroom and 2 bath condo with over 1300 sq. ft. of living space with a beautiful overlooking view of the inside Franchise in rapid growing Historic Abbotsford. Well established, with a loyal client following this Attention Truckers! for stunning home possessesPermitted every luxuryuse possible with high ceilings, crown molding, stainless steel courtyard and pond! Well maintained property with laminateestablishment floors, crown This open home or ftheir business. beautiful ersmoulding offy and neutral all paint. brunch, da floor ea.

Lunch long erm and t AfternoonAPPAREL T areagrand of Burnaby! appliances,Granite counter tops, open �loor plan, largeBrentwood gym room, patio, sundecks, built in vacuum, LADIES & BOUTIQUE FORSpace SALE Transportation Industry and more.wok IL zoned plan includes a large living room with gasInf/paddition, which open upbeautiful ton the spacious eating area.

Extra large kitchen with lots offor this café offers so much more!

Reservations top of the line security system, separate kitchen and is perfect ed. limit oday Call orthose with et fa flair mor details.

R a much re o pmore! p o r t uThis n i t gorgeous y to home is situated in the The turn key operation for for fashion and wanting to run their own business!

Showers, Birthdays, Anniversaries, Special occasions and even Private middle of serene farmland yet only two minutes away from Aldergrove Town centre and with quick access cabinets and counter space. Large laundry room, in floor radiant heat, extra shelving in closets, 2 parking stalls and storage available. Two side by side lots that are stall.Rarea well established Wedding ceremonies. Wait...there's more! This beautiful treasure of a Located in the uptown District of New West in the busy commercial area.Take advantage of 3 businesses in land to Hwy #1. The second house is rented as well as fruitpurchase opportunity to advantage of this stunning locker. Great location with easy access tobusiness shopping, offers transit gorgeous & Highwayselect 91 & 99.

Please call listing realtor for more info. apparel, furnishings, jewelry, linens, gifts, franchise surrounded by highrises, residences, new home!

Call today for a personal viewing. one: 1. One year established Ladies Apparel & accessories Boutique 2. Complete professional alteration to be sold together. House is since Asking $329,900 vintage treasures and home décor. A beautiful, breathtaking turnkey operation this is a chance to own a niche business created and business with full workshop in the same premises but segregated from the boutique. 3. Full website with two demolished. Commercial Land only. Please developments, commercial businesses and more. This established with love and a business owners delight don't miss this location does school hot lunches and a large amount of ATGRE INVES TMENT OPP PRIME OFFICE SPACE FOR LEASE PleaseINDIANoach RESTAURANT SALE presence and first page SEO for alterations andORTUNITY! five star reviews. Owner selling due contact for more details. Asking $649,000 opportunity! do staff, not FOR ealtor contact orappry f online listing anstores, social media r catering ordering as well! Do not approach staff please info required. Asking $75,000 4 es, acr el Hot velopment and de Prime office space on street level available for lease. Excellent location prime area Indian cuisine to health issues this is the perfect opportunity to take this turn key business to the next level with your ideas! each. contact listing realtor for more details. Asking $209,000 in Asking $109,900 the egina, City of R details onvailable this uniqueabusiness.

Perfect for a variety of uses including daycare, dine in and take out. Low lease high traffic area Price is excluding inventory. Please contact for moresite Saskatchewan.

Prime location, not martial arts or Church use. Central location with Contract for more details. Asking $109,000 NEW LEASING OPPORTUNITY Established custom steel abrication and business. aluminum eat Gr f opportunity our to own run y GROCERY STORE FOR SALE AREAmissed! to IN DOWNTOWN be or e Contact mor f The Mann Corporate Centre is comprised of 23,000 square feet of 'A' Class office/retail space great exposure to Scott Rd.that Contact for more details. welding and repair, custom and stock trailers, business with services include: aluminum

ONE IN

E-mail: ads@the

MASTER AWARD

2006-2007 2004-2005 2008-2009 2004-2005 2013-2014

2011, 2012 2006-2007 2011, 2012

Sutton Group - West Coast 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

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

BEAUTIFUL TURNSHOP KEY FOR A SPALON / OR FSALES AUTO BODY SALE

EDbe your own boss today! easy to operate Candy business! This established Established auto body shopDfor UCsale franchise is located in Ocean Park Shopping Center RE equipped Auto Care Center which offers complete car & Wellgrowing established and well near major anchor Safeway. This rapidly franchise currently has 22 locations within and truckBC inspection, service and repair. The perfect opportunity to run your own Alberta. With unique product Imported from with the a well recognized and established automotive center. Contact realtor business US and UK this franchise is completely turn –key for more details. Asking $109,000 and full training provided. This easy to run business is perfect for a couple and for those wanting to try their hand at being an entrepreneur.

Asking $79,900

Located in a busy commercial plaza in the heart of Surrey. Lots of traf�ic to REDand UCEclose public transportation, restaurants, D of�ice and retail shops. Established recently the spa and salon offers modern décor up to date equipment/furnishings. Excellent turn key operation. Asking $60,000

29/07

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

Just Listed.... 14841 Delwood Place Surrey Dear Valued Clients, Just Listed! 14841 Delwood Place Surrey. LUC 9095 SQ.FT. lot in quiet cul-de-sac Green Timber Neighborhood. Close to schools, shopping, transportation and rec centre. This updated spacious home offers a new roof, new windows, and new laminate floor with west facing backyard and is a great investment opportunity. List price $849,000.00 This updated spacious home offers a new roof, new windows and new laminate floor with a large west facing backyard, storage in the back and room for RV parking. Ideal investment to live in or build your dream home. If you have friends or family you think may be interested kindly share this email with them. Please contact me for the detailed informational brochure with more pictures on this property.

27/01