www.theasianstar.com Vol 14
Issue 33 Saturday, September 12, 2015
Tamanna Bhatia honored Bollywood section
03
Page
Cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar visits Vancouver
All the news you need and more... Auto parts makers make plea to save sector
33 Abbotsford families urged to break ‘code of silence’ to stop gang war Page
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Sunil Gavaskar being interviewed on stage by Kamal Sharma in Surrey
By Umendra Singh
Internationally renowned cricketer and former Indian national team captain, Sunil Gavaskar, paid a short visit to Metro Vancouver this past week. He arrived in Vancouver on Tuesday night while on his way to a meeting in Detroit and met local cricket enthusiasts and fans. He flew out to Detroit from Vancouver on Friday (yesterday). Gavaskar stopped by here as a result of his connection with a local cricket fan and businessman.
Continued on page 6
Sikh brutally assaulted in US An elderly SikhAmerican (pictured) man was brutally injured and called “terrorist” and “Bin Laden” in an apparent hate crime case in Chicago, just days before the US commemorates the anniversary of the September 11 attacks. Inderjit Singh Mukker was assaulted on Tuesday when the assailant pulled up to his car yelling racial slurs, including, “Terrorist, go back to your country, Bin Laden!” Continued on page 6
t a public forum Thursday night, Abbotsford police and mayor asked families to speak out about the violent Townline Hill feud that has plagued the community for 18 months. The forum was organized last week after Ping Shun Ao, a 74-year-old grandfather, was shot and killed outside Abbotsford residents attended a public forum Thursday his home in the 3500 block night about the violent Townline Hill feud that has plagued of Promontory Court. Inthe community for 18 months.
Alan Kurdi’s father worked with human smuggler and captained boat that capsized, survivor says An Iraqi woman who was on the same boat as Alan Kurdi, the boy whose body washed up on a Turkish beach last week, says his father was in charge of the boat that capsized, drowning many of the migrants on board.
The woman, Zainab Abbas, lost two of her own children on the fateful crossing, and is now back in Iraq. She told Channel Ten news in Australia in an interview that Abdullah Kurdi was driving the boat. She Continued on page 7
Krishna Janamasthami (birth of Lord Krishna) was celebrated by Hindus all over the world last week. Pictured above are devotees at the Hare Krishna temple in Burnaby on September 5 participating in ceremonies to mark the birth of Lord Krishna. Photo by Chandra Bodalia.
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2 i Saturday, September 12, 2015
Local
Patrick Brazeau set to plead guilty to simple assault, cocaine charges
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Criminal fraud trial set to begin next year over Senate expenses charges
atrick Brazeau, the former Conservative senator first dropped by his party and then suspended by his Senate colleagues in 2013, appears set to settle some of his legal troubles. Brazeau is expected to plead guilty to one count of simple assault, as well as a separate charge of possession of cocaine, in a Quebec court room next week. His guilty pleas could mean an unconditional discharge and no criminal record. Brazeau was on trial for assault and sexual assault related to an incident at a Gatineau, Que. residence in February 2013. The trial was set to resume next Tuesday. The cocaine charge is separate, arising from an April 2014 incident where Brazeau originally was charged with assault, possession of cocaine, uttering threats and breaching bail conditions following an altercation involving a man and a wom-
an at a home in Gatineau. Neither the Crown prosecutor nor Brazeau’s defence lawyer had any comment about negotiations towards a plea agreement. Senate fraud trial ahead Brazeau still faces more time in court. His criminal trial on fraud charges arising from disputed Senate living expenses is scheduled for early 2016. With the dissolution of Parliament for the federal election, Brazeau’s suspension has ended and he’s now on a leave of absence. He’s now back on the Senate payroll, although wages are being garnisheed to recover funds the Senate’s investigation deems to have been improperly reimbursed for his residence. The Senate may vote again to suspend him when it returns later this fall. Brazeau claimed expenses as if he
Welcome back to school
Every September, students and teachers look forward to the fresh start of a new school year. Teachers want to work with parents to protect our public schools and provide quality education for all our students.
A message from the Surrey Teachers’ Association
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Aman Rozi (right) and Atma Singh (left) singing at a Family Night celebration in Vancouver on Labor Day weekend. Photo by Chandra Bodalia. was living in Maniwaki, Que. but was found by the Senate to be living in the National Capital Region, in Gatineau. The rules around disqualifying senators say that he automatically vacates his seat if he’s “attainted of treason or convict-
ed of felony or of any infamous crime.” Brazeau, 40, was named to the Senate in 2009 by Conservative Leader Stephen Harper. He was the former national chief of the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples, which represents those living off-reserve.
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OPINION
4 i Saturday, September 12, 2015 Mike Robinson
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common complaint of new arrivals to British Columbia is the cost of Vancouver housing. Buying a rudimentary single family home is honing in on $1.5 million. The sky-high pricing is now becoming normalized in a funny way, with young couples approaching both sets of parents for down payment cash, and eagerly signing up basement suite renters before offers have been accepted. Well here’s a wake-up call: Vancouver isn’t an
Vancouver has sold its soul to real estate
alpha city like London, Paris or New York. In fact, many long-term residents find it provincial, down market in business terms, and propped up by Chinese mainland investment that no one wants to quantify or measure for fear of frightening the golden Mandarin goose. Vancouver’s soul now belongs to condo developers, realtors and real estate staging experts. The consequences of investing in Vancouver real estate if you are not a ‘one percenter’ are ob-
vious: You will be economically beholden to family well into advanced adulthood; you will have to forgo many consumer pleasures; and you will take many vacations very close to home. If these kinds of social and economic constrictions don’t drive you away, step right up. If you don’t, you have a marvelous option: coastal small town B.C. life. Big city attractions If Vancouver appeals because of its beaches, sail boats, salmon fishing, proximity to hiking and skiing, Grouse-grinding, mountain and road biking, and neighbourly folks who also enjoy this lifestyle, I have news for you: all of these attributes exist in places like Nanaimo, Qualicum, Comox/ Courtenay, Campbell River, Powell River and Sechelt. Sooke, Gabriola Island and Saltspring have fewer features, but also await. High culture in all of its forms is also a constant in these destinations - the visual arts, music, writing, and acting. In fact, much of what eventually gets showcased in Vancouver actually gets created here first. Artists choose to live where their incomes permit, and where beauty is a constant. While the reasons for the strong cultural presence in coastal small towns may be primarily financial, they also include landscape and ocean beauty that has been inspirational to novice and master artists alike for 10,000 years. From the early First Nations masters, to Emily Carr, Jack Shadbolt, Sybil Andrews, Toni Onley, Morgan Asoyuf, Sandford Williams, April White, and Gwaii Edenshaw, coastal villages and small towns have been topographically and divinely inspirational. Writers like Naomi Klein, Charlotte Gill and Edith Iglauer find their muse just north of Vancouver on the Sunshine Coast. The maestro of the Moscow Symphony Orchestra, Arthur Arnold, spends his summers in Powell River where he has galvanized a local team to create the Pacific Region International Summer Music Academy (PRISMA). Antony Holland, the founder of Vancouver’s famed Studio 58, lived on Gabriola for most of his life. Participating in coastal small town life is easy. You just have to decide to put up with ferry schedules, the occasional float plane trip, and be a little more resourceful. Family vegetable gardens and chickens will soon provide competition for Quality Foods and Safeway.A small truck to haul your firewood and tow your fish boat may be necessary. You’ll get to know the tradespeople by their first names, and become accustomed to their friendly greetings when
Mike Robinson has been CEO of three Canadian NGOs: the Arctic Institute of North America, the Glenbow Museum, and the Bill Reid Gallery.
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Saturday, September 12, 2015 i 5
6 i Saturday, September 12, 2015
LOCAL
Elderly Sikh brutally assaulted in US country,” Mukker said. “I’m thankful
Mukker, a US citizen and father of From page 1 for the authorities’ swift response to two, was on his way to a grocery store apprehend the individual but without this beand was repeatedly cut off by a driver. He ing fully investigated as a hate crime, we risk pulled over to the side of the road to let him ignoring the horrific pattern of intolerance, pass but the driver instead pulled in front of abuse and violence that Sikhs and other mihis car and aggressively approached Mukker’s nority communities in this country continue vehicle, according to information by the Sikh to face.” The Sikh Coalition’s Legal Director Coalition, a community-based organisation Harsimran Kaur said the group believes that said. The assailant then reached into the car Mukker was “targeted and assaulted because and repeatedly punched Mukker in the face, of his Sikh religious appearance, race or nacausing him to lose consciousness, bleed protional origin.” “We request an immediate infusely and suffer a fractured cheekbone and a vestigation and call on local and federal agenlaceration to his cheek. He was rushed to a cies to investigate this attack as a hate crime,” nearby hospital where he received six stitches, Kaur said. Sikh Coalition said the attack, on treatment for lacerations, bruising and swellthe eve of the 9/11 anniversary, is just the ing. The suspect is in custody. “No American latest in a line of violent attacks on Sikhs in should be afraid to practise their faith in our America.
B.C. invests $2.2 million to promote new uses for wood The B.C. government is investing $2.2 million in the Wood First program to promote the use of B.C. wood both locally and internationally, and help advance innovative wood-building systems and value-added wood products. The funding is being awarded to six industry trade associations and institutions with proven records in research, development and marketing of wood products and skills training to carry out Wood First activities. They include: * BC Wood Specialties Group - $558,910 * Canadian Wood Council - $770,109 * University of British Columbia - Centre for Advanced Wood Processing - $359,166 * University of British Columbia - Centre for Interactive Research on Sustainability - $65,000 * FPInnovations - $428,928 * Design Build Research Institute - $51,762 Funding from the Province will be supplemented with additional funds
The owner of Fruiticana, Tony Singh (middle) presenting an award at the Sports Awards ceremony on September 4 in Surrey. Photo by Chandra Bodalia.
Alan Kurdi’s father worked with human smuggler and captained boat that capsized, survivor says From page 1 also accused him of being part of a ring of smugglers who help refugees make their way to Europe. “He was a smuggler, yes. He
was the one that was driving the boat,” the woman told the channel through a translator, according to Australia’s Daily Telegraph.
into Turkish police. At least 12 people drowned when the boat capsized, and many of their bodies washed up on a Turkish beach. The image of little Alan Kurdi lying dead on the sand sparked international outrage and has become an election issue in this country’s
Zeinab Abbas, the mother of Haidar and Zainab, two Iraqi children who died during a trip from Turkey to Greece when a boat carrying illegal immigrants sank off Turkey earlier this month, mourns following the return of their bodies to Baghdad.
Abdullah Kurdi lost both his sons and his wife on the crossing and has repeatedly said he only took over steering the boat when the captain abandoned ship in rough waters. But Abbas said Kurdi was in charge all along. The man who collected thousands for her for the dangerous journey to Europe, where her family had sought to escape the Islamic State, even reassured her the journey would be safe as the captain was bringing his wife and two children along, Abbas claims. She also said Kurdi was speeding when the boat flipped over and begged other passengers not to turn him
federal campaign as leaders debate Canada’s response to the refugee crisis. The boy’s father has told many international outlets the family was hoping to eventually reach Canada, where they have family in B.C. He denies Abbas’s claims he was a “people smuggler” in an interview with the Wall Street Journal. “I lost my family, I lost my life, I lost everything, so let them say whatever they want,” he said. In the same interview, Abbas called on the Australian government to grant her and her family asylum so they can escape the war
in Iraq.
Cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar visits Vancouver
From page 1
The highlight of his trip was reception at a Surrey banquet hall on Thursday night – attended by dozens of cricket and Gavaskar fans. The cricket champion opened up and talked about his career, his victories and his fame, his fears, his views on the status of cricket in India and on the global stage, etc.
Kamal Sharma, local businessman, show promoter and a cricket enthusiast, interviewed Gavaskar on stage at the reception – asking questions on behalf of the people who were present. The interview could be heard by those in attendance and it was also broadcast live.
LOCAL
Saturday, September 12, 2015 i 7
Abbotsford families urged to break ‘code of silence’ to stop gang war
From page 1 vestigators believe the intended target was a neighbour’s house, which police have linked to the feud. Speaking at the forum on Thursday, Abbotsford Mayor Henry Braun told residents the Abbotsford Arts Centre that the city needed their help. “We have an issue here,� said Braun. “If you see something, say something.� Abbotsford residents attended a public forum Thursday night about the violent Townline Hill feud that has plagued the community for 18 months. Abbotsford Police Chief Bob Rich also spoke at the forum, comparing the current Townline Hill feud to the Bacon brothers feud of 2009. “If someone is willing to leave a gang, we can help,� said Rich. “The hardest homicides to solve are gang homicides.� Police displayed previously released photos of those they believe are involved in the feud and a map of the pattern of crimes, including mischief, vandalism, arson, shootings and homicides. They also revealed there was only one 9-1-1 call made when Ao was shot, and wondered if fear or a language barrier could be the reason why. “There is a code of silence,� said Rich. “Families can do more.�
Abbotsford police say the Townline Hill feud may have been sparked when someone started dating another person’s cousin. Const. Ian MacDonald says it started out with acts of vandalism and property crime, but has escalated to stabbings, gun violence and deadly shootings. “Going back to the original roots of this conflict, it was over essentially nothing,� MacDonald said. “Now here we are a year and a half in and we have gang-involved people, we have drug-involved people and obviously we have two victims that have paid the ultimate price with their lives.� Police say the age of the youths involved in the feud is alarming.MacDonald says they range from 15 to 25 years old, which is a prime age to be recruited into gangs. “In some ways it’s terrifying,� he said. “You know the 15 year olds and 16 year olds who are engaged in the mischief, the property damage and the lower level stuff are just going to be moving up that ladder.� Investigators believe the shooting death of 18-year-old Harwindip Baringh last October may be linked to the feud. Police say roughly 60 people are involved in the dispute, and they’re asking their relatives to come forward with information.
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Jason Kenney, Conservative Minister for Social Development, campaigning at the Akali Singh Temple in Vancouver on September 6. Photo by Chandra Bodalia.
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LOCAL
8 i Saturday, September 12, 2015
Mulcair stands by plan to settle 10,000 refugees — despite tight two-month window NDP Leader Tom Mulcair says he will
make good on his promise to bring 10,000 Syrian refugees to Canada before the end of 2015 — despite bureaucratic barriers and a tight, two-month window to pull it off. Asked about the issue Thursday, Mulcair said if elected Oct. 19 an NDP government would resettle the refugees before New Year’s Day. To get it done, he pledged to immediately name a commissioner who would be dispatched to the region to speed up the process. Mulcair insisted his plan would untangle some of the bureaucratic knots that have slowed efforts to bring refugees to Canada — obstacles he has repeatedly criticized during the campaign. “Where there’s a will, there’s a way,” Mulcair said at a campaign stop in Winnipeg after being pressed on how he could deliver on the ambitious goal. “We have been saying we will meet the United Nations request for Canada to do more and, between now and the end of the year, we know that we can get 10,000 refugees here.” The refugee crisis in Syria, where millions of desperate people are fleeing the war zone, has emerged over the last week as a top ballot-box issue. The Syrian emergency suddenly hit home for many more Canadians last week when a photo emerged of three-year-old refugee Alan Kurdi lying dead on a beach in Turkey. In recent weeks, apocalyptic images have appeared in the media. Middle East migrants are flocking to Europe, mainly from Syria, but also from Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya and elsewhere. They’re coming to escape the brutal consequences of civil and religious wars in the region, but they also come for something else: they’re demanding a share of the security and prosperity of the West. The pictures are heart-rending, the crisis is acute, but the dilemma isn’t purely humanitarian. It’s also historic and has been visible on the horizon for some time. In popular literature, an early appearance popped up in Jean Raspails dystopian novel, Le Camp des Saints. Published 1973, the speculative fiction book was set in the not-too-distant future when migrants from the Third World inundate the First World with catastrophic consequences. Some 2,500 refugees have
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arrived in Canada since the government began opening spaces for Syrians in 2013. In all, the Harper government has committed to opening the doors to 11,300 people by the end of 2018. Mulcair attacked Conservative Leader Stephen Harper on Thursday, saying he has done little to address the issue. “Mr. Harper keep piling up the excuses for doing nothing,” said Mulcair, who later called on the federal government to match donations made to registered Canadian charities providing assistance to Syrian refugees. At a campaign stop Thursday, Harper hinted for the first time that work is underway to accelerate the process of refugee resettlement. The New Democrats have committed to giving to 46,000 Syrian refugees a home in Canada over four years. The Liberals, meanwhile, have made a more-ambitious year-end pledge, if elected, promising to resettle 25,000 Syrian refugees in Canada by Jan. 1. The NDP also announced Thursday that it would unveil its “fully costed, balanced fiscal plan” before next Thursday’s economic debate in Calgary. Mulcair, who was in Winnipeg to announce a multimillion-dollar pledge aimed at addressing youth unemployment, has come under fire by opponents for his costly suite of campaign promises. Speaking at a training centre, Mulcair promised to create more than 40,000 youth jobs, paid internships and co-op placements over four years. He said an NDP gov-
ernment would work with the private sector and NGOs and provide up to $100 million a year for the program, which aims to cut the youth unemployment rate from 13.1 per cent. The plan, he said, requires that apprentices be hired for all federal infrastructure projects greater than $10 million. The NDP government would also provide $5 million a year in grants so that municipalities can create 1,250 apprenticeships. The program also calls for a crackdown on unpaid internships.
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Stephen Harper suggests Canada will do more to help Syrian refugees
0,000 refugee pledge Tories made last agreed to resettle 11,300 Syrian refugees month would add to earlier commit- by the end of 2017, and 23,000 Iraqi refment to resettle 11,300 The Conser- ugees by the end of 2015,” Lariviere said. vatives, after continued criticism they are So far, 2,374 of those 11,300 Syrian refnot doing enough to address the Syrian ref- ugees have been resettled in Canada. ugee crisis, are expected to announce withAs well, Canada plans to resettle: in days some new ways Canada could help. 6,500 Bhutanese by 2015. At a campaign stop in P.E.I., Conserva900 Colombians out of Ecuador by 2017. tive Leader Stephen Harper said he wasn’t 2,500 Congolese out of Tanin a position to announce specific measures zania and Burundi by 2018. Thursday, but his government was “going to 4,000 Eritreans out of Sutake some concrete steps to expedite the pro- dan and Ethiopia by 2019. 5,000 refugees based in Turkey by 2018. cess” of resettling Syrian refugee families to Increasing pressure Canada. CamHarper has faced paign officials increasing pressure told CBC News over the refugee isnew measures to speed up sue, including from the process of provincial and mubringing in nicipal leaders who Syrian refuhave pledged mongees would be ey and support to unveiled soon. do what they can to The governget more refugees Conservative Leader Stephen Harper suggested into the country. ment is expectThursday that he may soon announce more help Provincial immied to look at for Syrian refugees, amid an outpouring of support what targets can gration ministers across Canada. be reasonably continued discusachieved and how much of the process can sions about how to proceed during a conbe sped up by adding resources. That may ference call on Thursday, and called on the also include lifting the requirement that refu- federal government to convene an “urgent” gees be privately sponsored and have proof of meeting on resettlement efforts, though that refugee status from the United Nations High may have to wait until after the Oct. 19 elecCommissioner for Refugees or a foreign state. tion. Harper has said the government will not A number of Canadian organizations and airlift thousands of refugees from countries church groups raising money to sponsor refu- such as Syria and Iraq, where extremist orgagees have been frustrated by the time it can take nizations operate, without conducting prop— possibly years — to bring in Syrian families. er security screening. He has said that efforts “We’re also going to make sure we tap to bring in more refugees cannot come at the into that generosity that I think is very expense of Canada’s security. Four million genuine across the country,” Harper said. Syrians have already fled the country, accordLast month Harper promised that a ing to the United Nations High Commissionre-elected Conservative government would er for Refugees, which estimates that another admit 10,000 more Syrian and Iraqi refu- 7.6 million have been displaced inside Syria. gees over four years. The Conservative cam- Liberals, NDP would resettle more, faster paign confirmed to CBC News Thursday Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau has said that those refugees would be in addition to the Canada should resettle 25,000 refugees from roughly 14,000 refugees Canada brings in Syria as soon as possible. Meanwhile, the per year on average from around the world. NDP said it would get 10,000 Syrian refugees In January, the government announced it to Canada by the end of the year and more was planning to resettle 10,000 Syrians by than 46,000 government-sponsored refugees 2017, over and above an earlier commitment to Canada by 2019. Both Liberals and the to bring in 1,300 by the end of 2014, but it was NDP have said their proposals are above the unclear if those were new openings or if they existing intake commitments. NDP Leader would be part of Canada’s annual allotment. Tom Mulcair on Thursday called on the fedRemi Lariviere, an immigration depart- eral government to match donations made to ment spokesman, confirmed to CBC News registered Canadian charities involved in the Wednesday the additional Syrian refu- Syrian refugee relief efforts. “Where there’s a gees announced in January would not be will, there’s a way. Mr. Harper keeps piling up new spaces. They will get a greater share of the excuses for doing nothing,” Mulcair told Canada’s annual refugee commitment, at reporters at a campaign stop in Winnipeg. the expense of refugees from other places. “I am concerned about security, but it’s not “As part of its multi-year commitments an excuse for inaction, that’s the difference to different refugee populations around between Mr. Harper and myself,” the NDP the world, the government of Canada has leader said.
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LOCAL
Saturday, September 12, 2015 i 9
Surrey Liberal quits over marijuana advocacy
A
Liberal candidate in portant right now – ensuring B.C. abandoned her all Canadians receive the real candidacy on Thursday change and new leadership after Liberal leader Justin Trudeau they deserve.” The Conserdistanced himself from her convatives have long tried to use troversial comments on marijuaTrudeau’s advocacy for pot na. Joy Davies, running in South legalization, and the Liberal Surrey-White Rock against former leader’s admission he smoked Surrey mayor Dianne Watts, was weed since becoming an MP, quoted on Facebook and in a subto damage his credibility. The sequent interview as saying that Conservatives issued a stateit’s fine for parents to smoke pot at ment Thursday morning sayhome with children present. Even, ing Trudeau should fire Dashe said, if the mother is pregnant. Liberal hopeful in South vies, and Harper condemned “The children of the mothers who the candidate in a speech in Surrey-White Rock Joy used it during pregnancy had Davies recommended mar- Saint John. “This is the kind higher IQs and were better socialof thing that comes with Jusly established than the children ijuana for health, even for tin Trudeau’s advocacy for pregnant women whose mothers didn’t,” Davies told the full legalization of mariHuffington Post Canada. Trudeau, whose par- juana, and it is totally irresponsible and we will ty advocates legalization of marijuana, said in not stand for that,” Harper said. Davies, who Vancouver early Thursday that Davies’ com- couldn’t be reached for comment Thursday, ments reflect neither the party position nor his also argued that the Canadian Cancer Society personal views. “The Liberal Party took the doesn’t do research on the possible role of canposition we have to control and regulate mar- nabis in treating cancer because it is an “outlet ijuana primarily for one reason. Mr. Harper’s for Big Pharma.” And she posted photographs approach is currently not protecting our chil- on Facebook suggesting that weed can cure dren,” he told reporters in Vancouver. skin cancer. “I can think of few things as irreLate Thursday, Davies took to Facebook sponsible as encouraging expectant mothers again: “After much consideration, I have decidto use drugs,” Watts said. ed to resign as the Liberal candidate for South At a press event for Liberal candidates with Surrey-White Rock, effective immediately. South Asian media, Davies had also claimed “I believe in the work that the Liberal team is that “tough on crime” policies and legislation doing and my personal opinion and past comments should not distract from what is most im- were basically an attack on those who are poor.
H
Health Canada threatens B.C. pot shops with police action
ealth Canada has sent out letters to a handful of marijuana dispensaries for advertising the sale of pot and called on them to immediately suspend all activities. The 13 targeted dispensaries include at least one operation each in Vancouver and Victoria, and another in Saskatchewan, according to B.C. Compassion Club Society spokeswoman Jamie Shaw, who is also the president of the Canadian Association of Medical Cannabis Dispensaries. “The sale and advertising of marijuana is illegal ... You are encouraging Canadians to engage in conduct that could also expose them to criminal liability,” said the Health Canada letter received by the Compassion Club Wednesday. It said if the dispensary does not cease all activities with controlled substances, Health Canada will contact the RCMP within 30 days “for enforcement action as they deem necessary.” The dispensary has until Sept. 21 to tell Health Canada they will stop advertising and selling pot without a valid licence. It’s a further indication that Health Canada is prepared to enforce the law. In June,
it sent a letter to the Vancouver International Jazz festival that marijuana advertising is illegal after pot ads appeared in its program guide.
NDP MP Jinny Sims, candidate for Surrey-Newton, at the official opening of her campaign office and volunteer appreciation event on Wednesday in Surrey. Pictured above MP Sims (middle) with MLA Harry Bains (second from left) and supporters.
Omar Khadr allowed to attend morning prayers, night classes as part of bail conditions
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ormer Guantanamo Bay prisoner Omar Khadr was granted a bit more freedom from an Edmonton judge on Friday morning. He’s now allowed to attend early-morning prayers and attend a night class, one of several bail condition requests he made. Decisions on whether he can visit his family in Toronto and if he can speak to his family in a language other than English will be made next week, said Justice June Ross, adding she wants to hear from Khadr’s bail supervisor first. Khadr, 28, was released on bail in May pending an appeal in the U.S. of his conviction for war crimes, includ-
EYEGLASSES
ing the murder of an American soldier. He has been living in Edmonton with his lawyer, Dennis Edney, since his release. In paperwork filed with Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench, Khadr also asked for: •The removal of his electronic monitoring bracelet. Khadr’s lawyer said in court that his client plays on a soccer team, and the bracelet interferes with his ability to play. •A change to his bail restriction that he only speak to his family in English and in the presence of a chaperone, since his
grandfather doesn’t speak English. Khadr argues he is now mature enough not to be influenced by views held by his family.
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10 i Saturday, September 12, 2015
LOCAL
Evergreen Line 9 months behind schedule as tunnel machine idle for half a year
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Saturday, September 12, 2015 i 11
Second methadone dispensing pharmacy in Vancouver shut down
cerns, including a proliferation of methhe Evergreen ect. The people he College of Pharmacists of adone-dispensing pharmacies in the Line’s tunnel who live near the B.C. has ordered a pharmacy in Downtown Eastside and parts of Surrey. is only half sinkholes (created Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside The report also found that methadone complete, but the during constructo shut down, citing health and safety and its associated fees account for the secproject is already tion) don’t feel like concerns similar to those that resulted ond-highest drug cost for PharmaCare, nine months beanybody associated in a different store being ordered closed B.C.’s provincial drug plan, at nearly hind schedule due with the project is in May. The college says it ordered the to problems that $44-million last year. B.C. has among the being upfront about closure of Downtown Pharmacy at 348 have left the borthe project and most generous remuneration schemes in Powell St. after an inspection turned ing machine idle for residents just have Canada for dispensing methadone; disup problems including mould, rat traps the past six months. to take their word pensing methadone to a single patient and feces, and dirty fixtures and furniB.C.’s Transportafor it.” can generate nearly $6,500 a year in fees. ture during an inspection. Previoustion Ministry says The machine — Doctors prescribe methadone to people ly, on May 29, the college also ordered the overall project is nicknamed Alice as a substitute for heroin. The province the Native Vancouver Pharmacy at 50 70-per-cent finished after Canadian geintroduced a regulation last year that East Hastings St. over similar condiand is still in line for a ologist Alice Wilson required additional information from tions. The inspections and closures are fall 2016 completion. who became the pharmacies to enroll in the provincial part of the college’s recently announced But if the second half first woman to hold drug plan. Under that regulation, which action plan on methadone mainteof the tunnel is constructed at the same pace a professional position at the Geological came into effect June 1, nearly 30 pharnance treatment. The plan, announced as the first half, completion of the 11-kilo- Survey of Canada in 1911 — which is 10 macies have terminated their enrolment in July, followed a provincial report on metre project could take until early 2017. metres in diameter, excavates soil in front after receiving notice their enrolment was B.C.’s methadone maintenance pay“I’m very suspicious of the timeline,” said of the cutterhead. going to be cancelled by the province. ment program that flagged several conJordan Bateman, B.C. director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation. “It doesn’t seem very likely that they’ll finish the tunnel by the end of the year.” Bateman also slammed the government for a lack of transparency over the project. Neither of two Transportation Ministry spokeswomen would answer a question about how long the boring machine has been idle on the $1.4-billion project. But the machine is stalled in the same place it was in March — under Clarke Road and Seaview Drive, about halfway through the 2.2-kilometre tunnel — according to information published then and now. AdvertisementSpokeswoman Sonia Lowe said the machine ”is stopped for regular maintenance.” “Challenging ground conditions (are) making it difficult to prevent water and sandy soils from entering the tunnel-boring machine cutter head” to allow workers to change the tools, she said in an email. Lowe called it “maintenance on a regular basis.” And ministry spokeswoman Kate Trotter said in a separate email a day later: “We have encountered challenging ground conditions while undertaking regularly scheduled maintenance, which has led to delays.” Lowe and Trotter said the boring, which is 53-per-cent com• CREDIT CARDS DEBT • COLLECTION CALLS plete, is to resume this week. • LINE OF CREDIT • LEGAL ACTIONS Delays have already pushed the • BUSINESS LOANS • GARNISHMENTS opening of the long-awaited Sk• REVENUE CANADA DEBT • SEIZURE OF ASSETS yTrain service to the northeast (GST, PST, PAYROLL, TAXES) • INTEREST ON PAYMENTS sector of Metro Vancouver to • ICBC • NEED TO DO the fall of 2016, from the original • STUDENT LOAN BANKRUPTCY summer completion date. When the boring began in June 2014, Call Now For A Free Confidential Appointment engineers said it would be complete in 200 days or about seven months. Tunnelling is now in its Registered Credit Consultant 16th month. “You just have to Email: tahir@tahirmalik.ca do the math to know it’s unlikely that it will be done by the end of the year,” said Bateman. “If it’s taken them 16 months to finish SURREY: ABBOTSFORD: 2 LOCATIONS TO 55 per cent of the tunnel, what 208-9200, Scott Road 200 A 2451 Clearbrook Rd SERVE YOU BETTER makes them think they can finish the rest of it in four months?” ALSO PROVIDING SERVICES FROM TORONTO, MONTREAL, WINNIPEG, EDMONTON & CALGARY He also said, “There’s a lack of transparency about the projWe Provide Hope to the hopeless... We are your bridge to a DEBT FREE LIFE !
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12 i Saturday, September 12, 2015
Saudi Arabia offers Germany 200 mosques — one for every 100 refugees - but will not accept any refugees itself
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audi Arabia has reportedly re- der, estimated by the BBC to total sponded to the growing num- around $900 million (£600 million). ber of people fleeing the Middle But amid a history of competiEast for western Europe - by offering tion between the Gulf states and to build 200 mosques in Germany. Iranian-allied nations, there is a Syria’s richer Gulf neighbours deep fear that allowing an influx have been accused of not doing of Syrian refugees could also let in their fair share in the humanitari- Syrians loyal to Bashar al-Assad. an crisis, with BahThere also exrain, Kuwait, Qatar, “Their integration will ists a more general certainly take place concern about deOman and the UAE in part via children, mographic change, also keeping their who will learn Ger- leaving the states doors firmly shut man very quickly in kindergar- opposed to the to asylum-seekers. ten. I hope and believe that the idea of welcomAccording to the great majority will want Frankfurter Alling refugees. In to learn our language gemeine Zeitung, the UAE, foreign very quickly.” which quoted a renationals already port in the Lebanese outnumber citnewspaper Al Diyar, Saudi Arabia izens by more than five to one. would build one mosque for every Pope Francis calls on all of Eu100 refugees who entered Germany in rope’s Catholics to house migrants extraordinary numbers last weekend. In Germany, Angela Merkel welIt would be unfair to suggest that comed two refugee families at a home the Gulf Arab states have done noth- for asylum-seekers in the Berlin subing to help the estimated four million urb of Spandau on Thursday. She Syrians who have fled their country told reporters after the visit: “Their since the start of the conflict in 2011. integration will certainly take place Just this week, the Al-Hayat in part via the children, who will newspaper reported that 500,000 learn German very quickly in kinSyrians had found homes in Sau- dergarten. And I hope and believe di Arabia since the civil war be- that the great majority will want to gan - as workers, not refugees. learn our language very quickly.” There have also been significant Whether she will welcome Saudi contributions from rich individ- Arabia’s reported offer, which Al Diyar uals towards the upkeep of refu- noted would “have to go through the gee camps round the Syrian bor- federal authorities”, remains to be seen.
LOCAL
Justin Trudeau promises $20 billion for transit during Vancouver stop
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ith the region still reeling from its failed plebiscite, Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau stopped by Vancouver Thursday to promise more funding for public transit. Trudeau promised an additional $20 billion over 10 years for Trudeau speaks in Vancouver in front of assembled Liberal Party public transit projects, although was candidates on Thursday, Sept. 10, 2015. “We’ve been conditioned to look at the scant on details, saying he would leave it up federal government as the one who decides to the provinces and the cities to decide exwhich projects get built, even though the actly how that money is spent if elected. expertise is right here at city hall, in muTrudeau said his “historic” funding comnicipal offices across the city, is in listening mitment would create jobs and quadruto community leaders and provincial exple federal investment in transit infrastructure as part of a larger $60 billion, perts,” he said. Trudeau was questioned by 10-year infrastructure plan aimed at cre- reporters about comments he made during ating jobs and stimulating the economy. a CBC interview which aired Tuesday. “Lack of federal funding will no longer He made comments that some small busibe a roadblock to action. When it comes nesses are formed by the wealthy to avoid to transit, the need is real and the projects paying taxes, and on Thursday, he was asked are ready to go,” he said, name checking if he formed a small business to manage his Vancouver’s proposed Broadway subway public speaking business for that very reason. Trudeau noted that the Liberals commitand light rail in Surrey as such projects. ted to lowering taxes for small businesses. However, Trudeau said he would not commit As to the creation of his own small business, to funding any particular projects and left that Trudeau said he followed all of the laws. up to provincial and municipal governments.
Off-duty officer may have committed offence in crash that killed Abbotsford teen: IIO report
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he Independent Investigations Office has concluded that an off-duty Abbotsford police officer may have committed an offence under the Motor Vehicle Act that led to the death of a young longboarder last December. The IIO said in a release that it has forwarded its report on the case to the criminal justice branch to determine if a charge should be laid. Fourteen-year-old Marcus Larabie died on Dec. 26, 2014 after he was hit about 6:15 p.m. at Bourquin Crescent West and Mill Lake Road, near Sevenoaks Mall. The driver of the car was a local officer who had just finished a shift with the APD. Abbotsford Police Const. Ian MacDonald said Friday that both the officer and the APD cooperated fully with the IIO investigation.
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Virginia man travelled to Abbotsford to see 13-year-old girl he met online
oshua Michael Napoli, 33, of Virginia has been charged with sexual assault against a child, child luring and sexual interference. A Virginia man has been charged with multiple sexual offences after police allege he travelled to Abbotsford, B.C., and spent the night with a 13-year-old girl. Joshua Michael Napoli, 33, of Newport News, Va., appeared in provincial court in Abbotsford on Tuesday. Abbotsford police spokesman Const. Ian MacDonald said Napoli and the 13-year-old girl connected online using a social media app. He said the pair exchanged messages, which spawned into a “troubling but distant” friendship over the course of two months. In early September, the man made plans to travel to Canada and meet in person. On Saturday, the man allegedly arrived to Abbotsford and rented a hotel room. Police said the young girl met him there and stayed with him until the morning. She left and called her guardian, who
then contacted police. Napoli was arrested outside the hotel on Sunday. He has been charged with sexual assault against a child, child luring and sexual interference. MacDonald said the girl was upset and shaken following the incident. “It’s horrible,” said MacDonald. “It’s absolutely a parent’s worst nightmare.” The Abbotsford police major crime unit is continuing to investigate, and is working with U.S. authorities to determine if Napoli has a criminal history in that country. He said Napoli is not believed to have had any prior contact with police in Canada. MacDonald said the incident serves as a reminder for parents to be aware of their children’s online activities. “You have to take the precautions that are necessary to safeguard your children,” he said. “You have a responsibility to know where your kids are at all times.” Napoli’s next scheduled court appearance is Oct. 11.
Cultural tension around sex-ed can be overcome, advocates say
Talking about sex is hard enough among many families, but in certain cultures, the topic can be even more taboo. That became apparent a year ago, when the Vancouver School Board enacted a policy to better support transgender students by allowing them to be addressed by the name that corresponds with their gender identity, and to use the washroom of their choice. The policy drew fire from a group of parents — many of whom are of Chinese heritage. Three parents even filed a petition in B.C. Supreme Court, arguing the policy violates basic public morality, and that it would make their children uncomfortable and deny parents important knowledge about their kids. Jerry Wu, who manages settlement workers with the Vancouver School Board, says the fear exists because sex education is often a very sensitive subject among Chinese immigrants. The topic is hardly talked about, and the lack of communication leads to misunderstanding.
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Three types of Smirnoff Ice coolers have been recalled in BC
ollowing a Canada-wide warning about possible glass contamination. S m i r n o f f ’s supplier Diageo Canada voluntarily recalled several of the alcoholic drinks last week because of the possibility they may contain small pieces of glass. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency also issued a recall warning, advising people to avoid drinking the beverages. B.C.’s liquor distribution branch issued
its own recall Wednesday for 12-packs of Smirnoff Ice, four-packs of Smirnoff Ice cranberry lime and fourpacks of Smirnoff Ice peach bellinis. Customers are being asked to return recalled products to the store where they were bought for a full refund. A list of Smirnoff Ice drinks that are being recalled elsewhere in Canada is posted on the food inspection agency’s website.
Saturday, September 12, 2015 i 13
14 i Saturday, September 12, 2015
LOCAL
Teen facing terror charges saw Canada as ‘land of war’
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CMP investigator Brahim Soussi did his best to persuade the 15-year-old suspect sitting across from him that they were not all that different. They were both Muslim immigrants from North Africa, eldest sons and Arabic speakers, he noted. The boy, who had just been arrested for a convenience store armed robbery and was suspected of planning to leave Canada to join the jihad in Syria, was having none of it. “You are a traitor,” the teen, who cannot be identified because he is a minor, told Soussi. He said that by working for the Canadian state, the police officer was complicit in “crimes against Muslims. … You betray your brothers. You are no longer their brother. You are an apostate.” Over the course of the two-hour interview, a video of which was introduced as evidence at the teen’s trial in a Montreal court on Wednesday, he remained silent
on most questions touching the robbery. But he could not resist spouting off when Soussi questioned his religious knowledge. “I understand Islam better than you,” he told Soussi, citing as his source the father of Wahhabism, an austere form of Islam that interprets the Koran literally. Christinne Muschi for National PostDepanneur Esposito seen in Montreal, Quebec, September 8, 2015. The boy, who turned 16 this year, elaborated on his beliefs, which he said he had gleaned from the Internet. The police officer was not a true Muslim because he worked to enforce laws other than Allah’s, he said. He accused Canada of “massacring his brothers and sisters” by taking part in the armed mission against ISIL in Iraq. The government sent its troops, and in a democracy the government is elected by the people, he said. “So the people are at fault. Oh, yes.” Democratic governments must be removed, “by force if necessary,” he said.
Flawed science, lack of consultation cited as ruling ends fracking water licence
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First NaThey just can’t tion with arbitrarily say, a trea’I’m flashing ty in the heart of this licence, I British Columbia’s can do whatever oil and gas territory I want.“’ The says the provincial First Nation government can’t appealed the allow energy comdecision almost panies to dry up two years ago streams and lakes after Nexen was to support fracking permitted to Nexen’s b-77-H, 18 well pad site at Dilly Creek operations. Fort use billions of in the Horn River Basin Nelson First Nation Chief Liz Logan said litres of water for shale gas fracking in northB.C.’s Environmental Appeal Board sided with east B.C. The three-member board ruled the her members and overturned a water licence licence was based on “serious technical flaws,” granted to Nexen Inc., no longer allowing the and “serious flaws in the consultation proCalgary-based company to pump water from cess.” Nexen can use water it has stored in Tsea Lake. “We want sustainable, maintainable area pits, but can no longer take water from the development that’s going to be there for a long lake. “The ministry appeared to take the view time, and they have to do it right,” Logan said. that further consultation with the First Nation “They’ve got to use good science. They’ve got would simply delay the inevitable issuance of to use good data. They’ve got to talk to us. the licence,” said the decision issued last week.
Terror suspect beaten in jail after trying to convert inmate to Islam, lawyer says
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jailhouse video released in court shows the beating of Carlos Larmond, one of the Ottawa twins facing terrorism-related charges, after Larmond allegedly tried to convert another inmate to Islam. The video, released to the media on Thursday, shows two men attacking Larmond on March 3 in a common area of the Ottawa-Carleton Detention Centre located on Innes Road, with other inmates surrounding the group. One of the accused, 24-year-old Terrence Wilson, has since been sentenced on Thursday to 60 days in jail for assault causing bodily harm related to the jailhouse attack. The other accused inmate, who was 29 years old at the time, is scheduled to appear in court for sentencing at a later date. Larmond allegedly made death threat Paolo Giancaterino, the lawyer representing Wilson who submitted the video as evidence, said Larmond had tried to convert his client to Islam on several occasions. The efforts turned from friendly to aggressive, though, and Larmond eventually told Wilson “he was going to kill him in his cell,” Giancaterino said. Carlos Larmond suffered a broken left hand, a black eye and multiple scrapes and bruises in the beating, according to police. He did not file a victim impact statement during Wilson’s trial, Giancaterino said. Larmond and his twin brother, Ashton Larmond, were arrested by RCMP in early January. Carlos Larmond is facing one count of participating in the activity of a terrorist group and one count of attempting to leave Canada to participate in terrorist activity abroad. The twins have since been transferred out of the Ottawa jail.
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BC Coroners Service confirms identity of deceased male
he BC Coroners Service has confirmed the identity of a male who was found deceased in a storm drain in Vancouver on Sept. 6, 2015. He was Charles Derrick Oudie, aged 26, of Greater Vancouver. On the morning of Sept. 6, 2015, a passerby spotted Mr. Oudie upside
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down in a storm drain in a laneway near the 500-block Kaslo St. on the east side of Vancouver. Mr. Oudie was found to be deceased at the scene. The BC Coroners Service and Vancouver Police continue to investigate to determine the cause of this death. Oudie’s family has been notified of his death.
BC Coroners Service identifies motor vehicle incident victim
he BC Coroners Service has confirmed the identity of a man who died after a motor vehicle incident in Merritt on Aug. 31, 2015. He was Jesse Dan Dietz, aged 32, of Surrey. Mr. Dietz was a passenger in a pickup truck that, while travelling on Highway 5 in Merritt, left the travelled portion of the roadway and hit a rock bluff shortly after 8 a.m. on Aug. 31. Mr. Dietz was rushed to Nicola Valley General Hospital in Merritt, but succumbed to his injuries soon after arrival at hospital. The BC Coroners Service and RCMP Traffic Services continue to investigate this death. Mr. Dietz’s family has been notified of his death. On behalf of family members, the BC Coroners Service asks that the media respect their privacy at this difficult time. Media Contact: Larry Marzinzik Regional Coroner, Interior Region BC Coroners Service 250 861-7429 Connect with the Province of B.C. at: www.gov.bc.ca/connect
Ottawa mayor says he’s ‘fed up’ with ‘reckless, dangerous’ taxi driver protests
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ayor Jim Watson condemned Ottawa’s protesting taxi drivers, saying he is fed up with their behaviour and that they are no longer welcome at his City Hall office. Watson called Tuesday’s blockades on the Airport Parkway in which several passing taxis were attacked “reckless” and “dangerous.” “That kind of behaviour is not acceptable. I’ve told the union that until they stop these kinds of tactics, I’m not going to meet with them,” Watson told reporters on Wednesday. “I’m fed up, the public is fed up and I’m not going to reward bad behaviour by having them come to my office.” Police confirmed Wednesday that they have opened seven investigations into Tuesday’s events, most of them related to the blockade on the parkway at the Uplands Drive overpass. Coun. Eli El-Chantiry, chairman of the Police Services Board, said Wednesday afternoon that police expect to charge at least two people and perhaps a third who was seen in a YouTube video attacking a passing Blue Line cab. Police said Wednesday afternoon that the investigations were ongoing and no charges had been laid. The drivers blocked the parkway for about three hours Tuesday morning, then returned during the Tuesday afternoon rush hour to block the roadway again. The YouTube shows drivers attacking an airport-bound cab that had slowed for the protest and tried to pass on the shoulder. The video, taken by a dashboard camera, then shows the cabbies race across the road to attack a city-bound cab, swinging sticks and throwing picket signs.
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Saturday, September 12, 2015 i 15
Police seeking witness to assault in Holland Park
urrey RCMP is seeking a female witness to an assault that occurred on August 25th in Holland Park. On August 25th between 12:00 pm and 8:00 pm, a woman was sexually assaulted by a male unknown to her in Holland Park near King George Boulevard and 100th Avenue in Surrey. The assault was interrupted when another woman, who was walking her dog nearby, spotted the incident and asked if the victim needed help. The suspect fled the scene and the victim was not able to get the witness’ name. A suspect has been identified and is
described as a Caucasian male, 6’ tall, muscular build, reddish short hair, and wearing a blue hat and black sweater. The Surrey RCMP is looking to speak with the female w i t ness regarding this incident. Anyone with more information is asked to contact the Surrey RCMP at 604-599-0502 or Crime Stoppers, if they wish to remain anonymous, at 1-800-222-TIPS or www.solvecrime. ca. Please quote file#2015-123850.
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16 i Saturday, September 12, 2015
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LOCAL
Premier Clark announces $1M fund for Syrian refugees
ritish Columbia will set aside $1 million to help support Syrian refugees who manage to make their way to the province, Premier Christy Clark announced at a news conference Tuesday. While the province doesn’t have any say over how many refugees it can accept, Clark said it will be ready to help with services such as trauma counselling, language skills and job placements should the federal government accept more people. “It’s just not good enough to only open our doors, we have to make sure that when refugees get there we’re doing everything we can to help them achieve the Canadian dream and find their home as seamlessly as possible into British Columbia society,” Clark said. The fund, which will be distributed through community groups and churches, was created after the outpouring of support for Syrian refugees in response to the photograph of three-year-old Alan Kurdi’s body washed ashore a Turkish beach. His death really brought the ongoing crisis home for British Columbians since the little boy’s family was trying to find a way to B.C.,
Clark said, tearing up as she spoke of his tiny figure on the sand. Thousands have since expressed the desire to help sponsor refugees. Clark didn’t wade into the political debate over how many refugees the federal government should accept, but argued all provinces should have the same power as Quebec to determine how many refugees they can take in. Last year B.C. welcomed about 36,000 immigrants, including 1,528 refugees. Clark said it would be great to see both numbers go up. “[The Kurdis] didn’t die because they were anything but unlucky enough to live in a country wracked by war,” Clark said. “As Canadians we are incredibly lucky, and as Canadians we have an opportunity and I would argue a uniquely Canadian duty to share the luck.” The announcement was welcomed by the Canadian Immigrant Settlement Sector Alliance. “We feel that that is a real strong step in the right direction in helping to increase the capacity to provide the best possible start for refugees
Hundreds attend Vancouver forum on how to help Syrian refugees
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ancouverites, many who felt help-
help with the Syrian refugee crisis. less when they saw the photoMayor Gregor Robertson, who graph of a lifeless Syrian toddler acknowledged the city takes a last week, flocked to city hall on Tuessupporting role to help refugees, day night for a forum on how they can got loud applause for calling on help prevent others from the same fate as three-yearold Alan Kurdi. More than 300 people packed two rooms at city hall for the standing room only event, hastily organized over the weekend Eyob Naizghi of MOSAIC, left, speaks to a full house at Vancouver after city hall was city hall on Tuesday night with Mayor Gregor Robertson (centre) flooded with calls and Chris Friesen of the Immigrant Services Society of B.C. asking how they can the federal government to increase the number of refugees it accepts to 20,000 a year by 2020. “Judging from all of you here tonight, I think it’s an important step,” he said, adding the city will look at increasing support to refugee services. Immigrant Services Society of B.C. director Chris Friesen and MOSAIC director Eyob Naizghi outlined the refugee crisis, noting that it’s worldwide and not just in Syria. The photograph of the little boy has resulted in an outpouring of compassion and humanity from citizens and some political leaders, which is encouraging, said Naizghi, who was a refugee in his 20s. “The photo, maybe in a strange sort of way, and this groundswell of support provides homage to this little boy and inspires all of us to do more for refugees so maybe his death wasn’t in vain,” Friesen said. Top three ways to help Friesen listed the top three ways people can help. First, he suggests donating to organizations already on the front lines such as the UN Refugee Agency. Second, he recommended donating to local, experienced organizations and existing sponsorship agreement holders to offer help with fundraising and volunteering. While he said there has been immense interest in sponsoring refugees, he cautioned people about the complexities of filing an application without being fully prepared for the challenges. “My fear, and not wanting to put a wet blanket on the enthusiasm of British Columbians, is that refugee sponsorship is both complex and time consuming,” Friesen told Metro. It costs between $25,000 and $35,000 to sponsor a family of four or five, he said, not including hidden health care costs and plane tickets. It can take up to two years to bring a family to Canada.
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Three friends charged in murder of Langley teen
he father of a Langley teen whose he said. “Now we know that will nevbody has now been found says er happen. Nick is gone forever. We the three men charged with are devastated and we feel betrayed.” Craig described his son as a wonderfirst-degree murder in connecful, loving boy who adored his tion with the death were friends family, especially his niece. of his son who were often inHe described how his son vited into the family’s home. would laughingly piggyback Nicholas Hannon, 19, was last her throughout the house. “He seen Feb. 26, 2014, by his younghad a smile that would light up er brother. A day later, his vea room. Now the room won’t hicle was found abandoned at be so bright," he said. "Never the end of McKinnon Crescent again will I be able to hug him in Langley and a missing perand say, ‘I love you, buddy.'" sons investigation was launched. After a 19-month investiga- Nicholas Hannon On Tuesday, Staff Sgt. Jennition, BC RCMP’s Integrated Homicide fer Pound confirmed investigators believe Investigation Team announced Tues- Hannon was, at one point, acquaintancday that three men had been arrest- es, if not friends, with the three men. She ed in connection with Hannon's death. could not provide further details as the Bradley Michael Flaherty, 20, Keith William case is now before the courts. “We believe Tankard, 20, and Connor Angus Campbell, this was a result of conflict which turned 21, have all been charged with first-degree violent and ultimately deadly,” she told remurder. They were scheduled to appear porters. “Our hearts go out to the family." in Surrey Provincial Court on Tuesday. Hannon’s body was found in a heavily wooded area in Morris Valley in the Mission area. An autopsy is scheduled for later this week. Craig Hannon, father of Nicholas Hannon, told reporters at an emotional news conference Tuesday that his family had welcomed the three men, who he considered to be his son's friends, into their home on many occasions. “Until this weekend, my family maintained a glimmer of hope that just maybe, Nick would come barging through the front door and shout, ‘I’m home,’”
Attendance PNE down
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he storm that toppled trees, knocked out power to thousands and drenched Metro Vancouver in rain at the end of August also wreaked havoc on the annual Fair at the PNE, resulting in a 10-per-cent decline in attendance from its 10-year average, organizers said Tuesday. Although the first five days of the fair saw a positive start with 238,530 visitors, about 22,500 visitors more than anticipated, six days of stormy weather dampened organizers’ hopes for record-breaking attendance figures this year. “We understand that we can’t do anything about weather, but obviously this was unlike anything that we’ve seen before,” PNE spokeswoman Laura Ballance told Metro. “I think that what we saw [in attendance] was what would be expected given how dramatic the temperature fall was.” The fair’s final attendance was 678,193, about 82,000 less than the 10-year average of 760,000. During the six days of wet and windy weather, attendance dropped dramatically compared to the 10-year average. On Aug. 29, the same day the windstorm hit and the fair was forced to close its gates for an hour, 33,707 people visited the fair, compared to the 10-year average of 52,000. Attendance largely rebounded on the final four days. On the final day, organizers also offered free attendance in a bid to boost visitor numbers. Ballance said organizers will look at ideas for improving attendance, including possibly changing the fair’s dates in the future. “No idea is off the table,” she said. “I used to for years say that the sentiment that it always rains on the fair is a bit of a myth, but I don’t say that anymore. You can see that the weather patterns are shifting.”
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Man charged after 2 girls grabbed near Stanley Park
ancouver police have charged a year-old girl was grabbed and dragged man with two counts of assault and away from her family at the north end one count of forcible confinement of Denman Street, near the entrance to in connection with two child abduction at- Stanley Park. The man ran away when he was confronted by the girl’s tempts in Vancouver’s West End. parents. Police said the girl was Nathaniel David Jessup, 28, has upset, but not physically hurt. a long criminal record dating In both cases police back a decade in the B.C. comsearched Stanley Park with munities of Cranbrook, Cresthe aid of park rangers. ton, Kamloops and elsewhere. On Monday, a man with no fixed He has previously been address was taken into custody in charged with assaulting a peace officer, trespassing, break- Nathaniel David the 1800 block of Alberni Street. Vancouver police spokesman ing and entering, possession Jessup, 28, Const. Brian Montague called of stolen property and possession of a firearm among other charges. the abduction attempts “very brazen.” The parents of the first victim said Police said a man grabbed a two-yearold girl Monday while she was with the incident has left them shaken. “It’s broad daylight, at the end of Denher family near Lost Lagoon in Stanley man Street,” said Nadine Wicks. “It makes Park. When the girl’s father confrontyou think it would happen anywhere and ed the man, he released her and ran off. Three days before that attack, an eight- it reminds you to have a talk about safety and where everyone is at all times.”
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GARRY GREWAL
604-614-3400
Sutton Group Medallion Realty 7832 - 120 St., Surrey, BC V3W 3N2 Ph: 604.572.1211 Fax: 604.572.3216
Commercial Medallion Club Memeber
Vol. 6 No. 4 - Saturday - September 12, 2015 - Tel: 604-591-5423 - E-mail: ads@theasianstar.com
Competition rising for multi-family housing in Lower Mainland
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ierce competition for a limited number of properties has been wreaking havoc in the Lower Mainland’s single-family-house market for the past year. Now that same competition, complete with bidding wars, is showing up in larger, multi-family sites as developers compete for land for new projects, says a report compiled by Colliers International. “This sector has been very strong over the past two years, but it appears that in the last 12 months it really took off,” said Kirk Kuester, Colliers executive managing director. In the first six months of 2015, there were 200 transactions worth about $845-million, says the LandShare Report. That’s about the same number of transactions as the previous year, but the value of them jumped from $519-million over last year, an increase of 63 per cent, the report said. That includes $162-million in sales in Burnaby, $50-million in downtown Vancouver, $140-million around Cambie Street, $34-million on the North Shore and $34-million in Surrey. Some of that is attributable to a few big deals. Concord Pacific Developments bought the old Sears site at Willingdon and Lougheed in Burnaby for $100-million; Onni was the successful bidder, paying $80-million, for the Pearson-Dogwood lands near 57th and Cambie owned by Vancouver Coastal Health. The recent trend has been accompanied by buyers paying more. In the region, the price has gone from $225 to $250 per “buildable square foot” – the space that developers have the right to build under a city’s current zoning. In Vancouver, it’s gone from $350 to $400 a buildable square foot in the last year, Mr. Kuester said. Several factors are pushing developers – both locals and a wave of new investors from offshore and elsewhere – into fighting for sites. “It’s a function of low interest rates and a lot of consumer demand for product,” he said. As single-family-house prices have soared, it’s pushed buyers to the condo, townhouse and rowhouse market in increasing numbers. Mr. Kuester, echoing what some local developers have been saying the last few months, said a new group of people who want to buy properties just as investments to sit on, rather than to develop immediately, have also entered the market. That’s boosted prices and reduced the number of developable sites available too, he said. His firm has acted for offshore buyers on streets like Broadway, where one new owner is planning simply to maintain the existing businesses rather than redeveloping immediately. The Lower Mainland’s developer association says the jump in value of sales isn’t surprising.
Professional and Award Winning Service
Condo construction pushes pace of housing to highest level
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anadian housing starts jumped to their highest level in almost three years last month, CMHC says. Builders picked up the construction pace in August, breaking ground on new condos at a breathtaking speed and pushing the annual pace of overall housing starts up to its 4 i Saturday, July 25, 2015 highest level since September 2012.
The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation said Wednesday that a surge in multiple units pushed Canada’s housing starts figure to its highest level of the year in August, at 196,565. “Housing starts have been trending up, supported by strong condominium activity in Toronto,” CMHC’s chief economist Bob Dugan said.
Developers broke ground on 23,400 more units in August than were already underway in July — almost a 20 per cent increase. Much of the rise in the national figure is tied to Ontario, the housing agency said. Ontario’s housing starts figure increased by 43,500 across all types of housing.
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real estate / finance
Huge urban area housing starts in August
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ousing starts in British Columbia’s urban areas were
trending at 31,696 units in August compared to 31,099 units in July, according to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). The trend is a six-month moving average of the monthly seasonally adjusted annual rates (SAAR)(2) of housing starts. “Housing starts in British Columbia have been trending higher over the past three months, due to gains in multiplefamily starts,” said Carol Frketich, CMHC Regional Economist for BC. “Singledetached starts have remained relatively stable since February. Gains in multiple-family starts have been driven by a combination of rental and condominium projects,” said Frketich. CMHC uses the trend measure as a complement to the monthly SAAR of housing starts to account for considerable swings in monthly estimates and obtain a more complete picture of the state of the housing market. In some situations, analysing only SAAR data can be misleading in some markets as they are largely driven by the multiples segment of the markets which can be quite variable from one month to the next.
The standalone monthly SAAR for urban starts in British Columbia was 26,349 units in August, compared to 36,510 units in July. Preliminary Housing Starts data is also available in English and French at the following link: Preliminary Housing Starts Tables As Canada’s authority on housing, CMHC contributes to the stability of the housing market and financial system, provides support for Canadians in housing need, and offers objective housing research and information to Canadian governments, consumers and the housing industry. (1) Urban areas are centres with populations of 10,000 or more people. (2) All starts figures in this release, other than actual starts and the trend estimate, are seasonally adjusted annual rates (SAAR) - that is, monthly figures adjusted to remove normal seasonal variation and multiplied by 12 to reflect annual levels. By removing seasonal ups and downs, seasonal adjustment allows for a comparison from one season to the next and from one month to the next. Reporting monthly figures at annual rates indicates the annual level of starts that would be obtained if the monthly pace was maintained for 12 months. This facilitates comparison of the current pace of activity to annual forecasts as well as to historical annual levels.
BOLLYWOOD / FILM
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Singer Mika Singh to rock Vancouver
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IKA SINGH is coming to Vancouver to entertain his fans with over 75 songs which have been on top of billboard charts for a long reign. The favourite of Salman Khan, Shahrukh Khan, Akshay Kumar, Shahid Kapoor & Ajay Devgun for giving them continuous hits over the years, MIKA SINGH is one of the most sought after singers at reality shows, award shows & corporate shows. Now, KVP Entertainers & Kamal’s Video Palace are presenting MIKA SINGH & Party like never before as he will be accompanied by talented singers & musicians from Mumbai and the dynamic dancers of SHIAMAK DAVAR for what will be the most rocking night in Vancouver, on MONDAY, OCTOBER 12th, 2015 ( Thanksgiving Holiday Long Weekend ) at Vancouver’s iconic ORPHEUM THEATRE @ 6 PM. Tickets at $ 35, 45, 55, 65, 75, 100 & VIP + $ 3 F.C. are already available at KAMAL’S VIDEO PALACE, Surrey or www.vtixonline.com For moreinformation, please call Kamal Sharma at (604)592-9777 or (604)833-1977.
Jolly Arts -Custom painted wall murals for home, office or commercial establishments. -Interior and decorative wall painting along with decorating design ideas.
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TSM Gallery 9353 - 120 St. Delta
778.395.5354
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BOLLYWOOD / FILM
Emraan Hashmi begins shooting for Cricket legend’s biopic
ctor Emraan Hashmi has begun shooting for former Indian cricketer Mohammed Azharuddin’s biopic, “Azhar”. The actor took to Twitter to make
the announcement and also asked his fans for their good wishes. “We begin Azhar’s journey... Wish us luck,” tweeted Emraan, alongside a
Rajani under their banners Balaji Motion Pictures and MSM Motion Pictures, respectively. It is slated to release on May 13, 2016.
picture of a clapboard. The film is being directed by Anthony D’Souza and produced by Ekta Kapoor, Shobha Kapoor and Sneha
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BOLLYWOOD / FILM
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irector Vikas has shown Shahid Kapoor’s Mrs Mira their upcoming film ‘‘Shaandaar’’ the actor has said. Shahid made the revelation when asked by the mediapersons what he gifted his wife on her
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Shahid Kapoor’s upcoming film ‘Shaandaar’ birthday earlier this week. While he kept mum on the gift, the 34-year-old actor revealed, “Vikas called Mira and showed her our new film ‘Shaandaar’, which only she has seen and not even me.”
The film, co-starring Alia Bhatt, is scheduled to release coinciding with Dussehra next month. Shahid, who tied the knot with Mira in a private ceremony in July, had shared a picture of the duo on Instagram
and captioned it, “#happybirthdaybabywife” on her birthday a few days back. The actor surprised everyone by taking to social media to express his love and affection for his wife Mira.
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LOCAL
Trudeau promises sweeping reforms to employment insurance system
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he federal Liberals are promising cuts to employment insurance premiums, but those cuts won’t go as deep as reductions already promised by the Conservatives. Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau was campaigning in Atlantic Canada, where changes to employment insurance and their impact on seasonal workers have become an election issue. The Liberals say if they form a government after the Oct. 19 election, they would reduce EI premiums from $1.88 per $100 earned to $1.65 starting in 2017. In their 2015 budget, the Conservatives projected premiums would fall to $1.49 by 2017. Liberals say their plan would result in an extra $2 billion per year in revenue for the government, though Trudeau
said this does not amount to a tax hike in disguise. “We will also be investing in the program with the money people are paying in, so that they have better benefits,” the Liberal leader said at a campaign stop in Bouctouche, N.B. “Our plan is completely balanced and we will be able to do everything we’re announcing today while at the same time cutting EI premiums for workers across the country.” The Liberals are also pledging to reduce the waiting time for people who apply for EI from two weeks to one week and to scrap a rule that requires anyone entering the workforce for the first time or re-entering after an absence of at least two years to work a minimum of 910 hours before they are eligible for EI.
Second woman fights to have face covered during citizenship ceremony
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second Muslim woman is challeng- 400 people in December 2013 but was not ing a government policy that pro- allowed to take part because she refused to hibits people from covering their remove her veil. Citizenship officials later faces while swearing the oath of citizenship. offered to reschedule her for a smaller cerIn a complaint filed with the Canadian Human emony with about 80 people, but Zaafrane Rights Commission, Maiia Mykolayivna Zaadidn’t accept the offer, Elghawaby said. frane says she was discriminated against on the Zaafrane has no problem showing her face basis of religion when she was not allowed to in a private room to a female official to participate in a citizenship ceremony because she refused to remove her niqab, a garment confirm her identity but insists on keeping that covers her head and face, except her eyes. her face covered during the public cereThe niqab ban became a major political flash- mony, Elghawaby said. point this year after a Muslim woman, Zunera “NCCM believes she is within her Ishaq (pictured) challenged the policy in rights to request an accommodaFederal Court. A judge ruled in February tion of her religious beliefs,” she said. that the policy was unlawful because it vio- The test before the Human Rights Tribulated federal regulations requiring citizenship nal will be to determine whether the niqab judges to allow would-be citizens the “great- ban — which was introduced in 2011 by est possible freedom in the religious solemni- then-Immigration Minister Jason Kenney zation or the solemn affirmation of the oath.” — violates the Canadian Human Rights Prime Minister Harper immediately vowed Act. If discrimination is found, the trito appeal, saying it was “ofbunal can order that a fensive” that newcomers victim be compensated. would hide their faces at the Meanwhile, the Ishaq moment they are joining case is set to be heard bethe “Canadian family.” The fore the Federal Court of Conservatives also promised Appeal later this month. that, if re-elected this fall, It is likely to focus on the they would bring in legisquestion of whether the lation entrenching the noniqab ban violates the face-cover policy into law. Zunera Ishaq Citizenship Act and its Zaafrane’s human rights complaint was filed regulations. The appeal court may also have in April 2014 but only recently came to light to consider whether the policy infringes after the federal government tried to have on the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. her case adjourned pending the outcome of A spokeswoman for Citizenship and Imthe appeal of the Ishaq decision. The gov- migration Canada declined to comment, ernment’s motion to adjourn was dismissed saying the matter is before the courts. and Zaafrane’s complaint will proceed be- A study released last year by the Canafore the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal. dian Council of Muslim Women found Zaafrane, who lives in Montreal, moved to that niqab-wearing women in CanaCanada several years ago from Ukraine, da constitute a very small sub-culture where there is a small Muslim population. sustained by “determined individuals.” She declined an interview request. The decision to wear one is highly perBut Amira Elghawaby, a spokeswoman for sonal and individual, but “religious oblithe National Council of Canadian Muslims gation” and “expression of Muslim iden(NCCM), which assisted Zaafrane with tity” were the reasons cited most often. her complaint, said Zaafrane showed up ----------------at a citizenship ceremony consisting of
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High school teacher fired after investigation into series of anti-Islam tweets
Richmond Hill, Ont., high school teacher connected to a series of anti-Islam tweets and a blog post discussing his desire to impose atheism on students was fired after a 10-week York Region District School Board investigation. Richmond Green Secondary School English teacher Michael Marshall was dismissed following a board meeting Tuesday, YRDSB spokesperson Licinio Miguelo said in an emailed statement. Miguelo said the school board would not provide further comment on the matter. Marshall could also not be reached by the National Post for comment. A now-deleted Twitter account, @firstatheist, featuring a profile picture which students said appeared to be of Marshall, frequently tweeted in objection of hijabs, prayer and sharia law. One of the tweets mentioned a specific student by name and said: “I get sad when girls I teach decide to wear a hijab. I feel like a failure.” In another, the account — which had accumulated about 4,500
tweets — wrote in response to Muslims praying during work hours: “Pray on your own time. Like pooping. Do it in private and wash your hands after.” Another tweet read: “Decided that I am way too racist to be a teacher.” The account also admitted to a stark hate for those who practice Islam, saying: “Just watched a segment on 60 min about radicalized #muslims in the UK. I’ve never felt such instant hate for a group of people. #Islamophobia.” At one point, the account linked to a blog titled “Emancipaction,” which purports to be written by someone who says his name is Michael, describes himself as a teacher, atheist and free-thinker. The blog’s one post from Aug. 24, 2014 mentions a specific gay-straight alliance group Marshall supervised, according to former students. The writer describes wanting to use the group to impose atheism on students. “I think I need to start veering it in a new direction; nudging it, pushing it away from the safe banks of the river and over the waterfall of atheism,” the blog post read. “It’s time. I’m moving forward. I will dismantle the hopeless, evil edifice of organized religion and smile at the remains.”
POLITICS
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Green Party platform promises to expand rail, eliminate tuition
lizabeth May wants to grow green jobs, tackle climate change and wean Canada’s economy off oilsands The Green Party wants to wipe out university and college tuition fees, expand Canada’s rail and urban transit systems and halt the use of fossil fuels by mid-century. The party’s 44-page election platform, released by party leader Elizabeth May in Vancouver today, makes big — and expensive — promises to help students, seniors and small business. But it focuses heavily on planks to tackle climate change and wean the national economy off the oilsands. “Given climate realities and volatile international oil prices, expanding oilsands production is simply not on,” the platform reads. “Most of the bitumen in the Alberta oilsands must remain in the ground.” End subsidies to fossil fuel industry New jobs in the sector should be created by refining product here rather than shipping it out raw to other countries, according to the Green plan. Its climate and energy strategy would end subsidies to the fossil fuel industry to the tune of $1 billion, and introduce a fee-and-dividend system that would put a price on carbon and share the returns with every Canadian over the age of 18. “The plan will defend our climate, diver-
sity our energy mix, grow our economy and ensure energy security for Canadians,” the platform reads. Green Party Leader Elizabeth May announced her National Housing Strategy in Burnaby, B.C. late last month. Today she released her full, costed election platform. May also wants to overhaul Canada’s tax system by increasing the corporate tax rate back to its 2009 level of 19 per cent, eliminating credits for the wealthy and penalizing pollution and waste. A budget overview included in the document forecasts that Green initiatives would shift spending priorities and cuts, but come to roughly the same bottom line as current Conservative projections until 2019-2020. Costing predicts $13.1 billion surplus by 2019-2020. The costing projects a $1.9 billion surplus this fiscal year, which would gradually climb to a $13.1-billion surplus in four years. The Greens would spend $6.4 billion on municipal infrastructure, implement a national pharmacare program and cover dental costs for low-income youth. To ease the financial student burden, the Green plan would have tuition-free education by 2020, beginning with lower-income Canadians. It would also eliminate any existing or future debt above $10,000,
Health care, environment largely ignored in campaign so far
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conomy dominates the election campaign in the first month, so what is not getting discussed?
The federal election campaign so far has easily been dominated by one issue the economy. The issue was pushed aside briefly last week when the plight of Syrian refugees was driven home by the heartbreaking photo of a young boy who drowned in a desperate attempt to leave the violence in Syria. But for those who want to see other agendas debated on the campaign trail, the election so far has been frustrating. No surprise, the economy came up the most frequently. Other issues, such as the environment and climate change, were reduced to fine print. Louise Comeau, an activist with Climate Action Network, said she isn’t surprised. “It comes up, but it hasn’t
come up in what I would characterize in an honest and realistic way,” Comeau said. For example, Comeau notes that a Canadian delegation will travel to Paris this December for a United Nations meeting on climate change, where the world will commit to new cuts in greenhouse gas emissions. But she argues there’s been no discussion from party leaders over how they would reduce emissions and move away from a reliance on fossil fuels. Instead, Comeau says the closest politicians get to talking about climate change is during announcements on other topics
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Canada will not airlift refugees without proper security screening: PM Harper
tephen Harper says the government is looking to improve the refugee resettlement process, but it will not airlift thousands of refugees from countries such as Syria and Iraq, where extremist organizations operate, without conducting a proper security screening. “To help, we must ensure we screen every potential refugee carefully. We have been clear that we are willing to take more people, but we must be sure we are helping the most vulnerable. “We cannot open the floodgates and airlift tens of thousands of refugees out of a terrorist war zone without proper process. That is too great a risk for Canada,” Harper said on Tuesday during a question-and-answer session on Facebook. Harper and other world leaders have come under increased pressure to take in more refugees as the war in Syria continues to displace millions of people into neighbouring countries. Four million Syrians have already fled the country, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees,
which estimates that another 7.6 million people are displaced inside Syria. Harper said on Tuesday, during a morning campaign stop in Mississauga, Ont., that efforts to bring in more refugees cannot come at the expense of Canada’s security. “This government has already announced prior to the latest round of headlines, we announced our intention to bring more Syrian and Iraq refugees to this country … we’re looking to bring in more and we’re looking to improve the process.” “When we are dealing with people that are from, in many cases a terrorist war zone, we are going to make sure that we screen people appropriately and the security of this country is fully protected,” Harper said. In January, the Harper government announced it would resettle 10,000 more Syrian refugees over the next three years and another 3,000 Iraqi refugees by the end of 2015, in addition to the 20,000 Iraqi refugees who have already resettled in Canada.
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CLASSIFIEDS
Saturday, September 12, 2015
C JOBS Western door manufacturing Ltd. located at #109-8250 124Street, Surrey BC V3W 3X9, has an immediate vacancy of Carpenter. We design and manufacture high end solid wood exterior doors, solid wood interior doors and custom doors. Full time permanent job position with wages of $25per hour. 35 to 40 hours per week. Job Duties includes Read & interpret drawings & sketches to determine specifications; Estimate height, width, length, & other proportions; Measure, cut, shape, & assemble materials using woodworking machines, power tools and hand tools; Build exterior doors, interior doors, custom doors with jams; Install hardware such as hinges, handles, catches using hand tools and power tools; Repair doors & replace panels of doors. Job requirement: High school with 2-3 years of experience. Trade certificate will be considered as an asset. If interested send resumes by email at westerndoormanufacturing@gmail. com ------------- September 5, 2015 “Balwinder Singh Singhmaar, resident of 15095 92Ave, Surrey, BC V3R 5V8 has a vacancy for Inhome Child caregiver for infant child and 9 years old son. $10.25/ hrs, Full Time, 40 hrs/week. Applicant must have high school with
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JOBS minimum of 1 year of related experience within last 3 years or 6 months of full time training in caregiving. Job Duties includes Supervise and care for children, prepare formulas and change diaper of infant, feeding, bathing, dressing, prepare children for rest period, escort child to school, prepare and serve nutritious meal and snacks, accompany to and from activities & appointments, light housekeeping, laundry, maintain safe environment at home, keep record of day-to-day activities, health and progress of children. Optional accomodation is available at no charge but this is not a condition of employment” -------------- August 13 2015 Jun13_155 Long Haul Truck Drivers Reqd. Sal:$23.00/hr, 40hr/wk, +1yr exp. & Class A 0r 1 license reqd., FT/PT Duties: Operate, drive straight or articulated trucks to transport goods & materials on local routes or over long distances.Plan trip logistics & obtain required documentation to transport goods.Perform pre-trip & post-trip inspection of vehicle systems.Record cargo information, hours of service, distance travelled & fuel consumption.May perform emergency roadside repairs. Lang: English. Work at various location in Canada & USA. Contact: Balwinder
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from Metro Transport ltd.12772 82nd Ave, Surrey, V3W 3G1 E-mail your resume at metro_transport@ yahoo.ca. ------------------------------Jun13_15
1 Optical Frame Fitter Reqd. Sal: $22.00/hr, 40hr/wk, +1yrs exp. or certification reqd., FT/ PT Duties: Obtain specifications for eyeglasses or contact lenses from a prescription. Assist clients in selecting eyeglasses. Grinding & polishing of lenses. Cut & edge lenses & fit lenses into frames. May supervise or manage activities of other opticians. Lang: English. Location: 12841 96 Avenue, Surrey, BC, V3V 6V9 Contact: Imran from Eye See 2020 Optical at opt_eyesee@yahoo.ca. ------------------------------Jun 06_15 Dosa Corner Restaurant Ltd in Vancouver Looking to hire an authentic south indian chef . This is a full time permanent position. $18.50/hr. 40hrs/week. Must have at least 3-5yrs experience in south indian cuisine & specialized knowledge in Dosas. Duties include Prepare & cook meals.kitchen management. Plan menus & quality. Orders food supplies. Mail your resume to selvamm164@ gmail.com or apply by person at DosaCorner Vancouver. 110-8248 Fraser Street. Vancouver. B.C.. V5X 3X6
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Ph: 604-324-3672. -----------------------------------Seamstress required Seamstress (Tailor) needed Foam & Décor is looking for Full Time or Part Time Seamstress ( tailor) for drapery in Surrey. Salary will be provided @ 12 per hour. Please call 604-594-1882
S Matrimonial
Parents looking match for their Canadian 27 year old very handsome, jat sikh boy, 5’9”, sportsman, graduate , working in own business. Girl must be well cultured, educated, Canadian citizen or permanent resident . Contact after 6pm 604-598-1987 - 778-387-1672
enced person, Mayuri Indian foods inc is looking Depending on experience salary to hire an Ethnic Food Cook in will be upto $21 per hr. with other Surrey BC. F/T & Perm.$17/hr. benefits. Call:604-729-6741 or Must have at least 2-3 yrs expe604-385-1558 rience in South Indian cuisine & ---------------------------specialized knowledge in Indian Transworld Security spicing. Duties: Prepare & Cook located at 2nd Floor, 5050, meals; Supervise Kitchen helpers; Kingsway, Burnaby BC V5H 4H2 Plan menus; Ensure quality & is looking for a Static Guard, determine food proportions; Static Guard Supervisor, Mobile Monitor & order food supplies; Supervisor and Field Manager. Set up & oversee buffets; Manage These are permanent full-time kitchen operation. Mail resume positions. Static Guard pay rate or apply by person Mayuri indian is $13.00 per hour plus vacation cuisine , Unit 102A,12677 80th pay. You would be required to Ave., patrol industrial and commercial Surrey BC V3W 3A6 premises to prevent and detect Fax: 604-572-3281 signs of intrusion and ensure ------------------------------------English Classes for Adults To PLACE Register for classes YOUR September 2-8 AD IN THE For more information,Visit: www. ASIAN STAR victoryesl.com Call: 604.755.7976 CLASSIFIEDS E-mail: victoryesl1@gmail.com ---------------------------Section Cook Require Curry junction Restaurant in Please White Rock need cook Call: immediately, This is a full time permanent position for a experi604-591-5423
COMMUNITY Colour Festival (Holi) Sunday September 13th 1:00 - 5:00 PM more info: bhaktiyogavancouver@ gmail.com --------------------------------Sunday Feast Special Presentation By POPULAR DEMAND Kaliyapani Prabhu (ACBSP) will perform the same multi-media dramatization of Krishna Lila that he did on Janmastami & Special Guest Speaker Lecture and Kirtan by His Grace Mahatma Prabhu (ACBSP) --------------------------------Monday Evening Sanskrit Classes Every Monday 7:00 - 8:00 PM by Her Grace Radhika Devi Dasi (ACBSP) --------------------------------Upcoming Workshops Friday - Saturday - Sunday Sept 18th, 19th, 20th by His Grace Mahatma Prabhu (ACBSP) more about Mahatma Prabhu http://mahatmadas.com/ mahatma-das --------------------------------Chaitanya Charitamrita Classes facilitated by Jaya Govinda Dasa Wednesday & Friday Evenings 7:00 - 8:00 PM
5462 Marine Drive Burnaby, BC 604 433 9718 http://vancouver.iskcon.ca --------------------------------Want To Be Self Employed? Register with PICS Self-Employment Program PICS is calling all potential entrepreneurs in Delta, Surrey and Burnaby to join their next session of Self Employment Program in September 2015. Through this program you will learn to develop self-employment skills, business plans, marketing plans. You will also learn how to arrange start-up funding and the best possible ways to manage your cash. PICS Self-Employment Services are available through WorkBC Program to eligible British Columbian job seekers who are unemployed/underemployed and who have received EI in the past 3 years or Maternity Benefits in the past 5 years. Selected clients may be eligible to receive up to $300 per week for 48 weeks. To learn more about the program reserve a spot TODAY for an information session at PICS Head office - #205-1272580th Avenue, Surrey, on Wednesday, September 09, 2015 at 2:30 PM Hurry! Seating is limited Pre-register at deshpal.grewal@pics. bc.ca or sunil.rawat@pics.bc.ca . Or call Mr. Deshpal Grewal at 604-596-7722, Ext 126, or Mr. Sunil Rawat at 604-596-7722, Ext 128. --------------------------------------MOSAIC Seniors Club provides free activities for immigrant seniors age 55 and above. We also provide workshops and individual support on topics relevant to seniors. We run activities such as walking clubs, English conversation classes and field trips. Come make new friends, practice English, get information and have fun! Volunteer language sup-
Saturday, September 12, 2015
port available in many languages. For more information, or to register, call: Burnaby South: 5902 Kingsway || 604 438 8214 Basic computer classes, English conversation circles, Persian calligraphy, DIY class Burnaby North: 2055 Rosser Avenue || 604 292 3907 English conversation circles, Taichi class Vancouver: 1720 Grant St || 604 254 9626 ext 273 English conversation circles, basic computer classes For the Vancouver location, there is priority for Permanent Residents. -------------------------------------------Vedic Seniors Parivar Centre of Vedic Hindu Cultural Society Surrey invites South Asian Adults/ Senior members and also non members, even family members to come and watch the Bollywood Movie MORNING WALK - on big screen free on August 23rd 2015 ( Sunday ) at 1.30 pm to 4.00 pm at Shanti Niketan hall of Lakshmi Narayan Hindu Temple 8321 - 140th street Surrey BC. A retired professor Anupam Kher experiences his morning walk changes his life forever, when he meets his once a classmate and friend Sharmila Tagore. A beautiful and heart tugging tale of two families who are so different from one another, yet connected through a special bond. Light snacks and tea will be served during intermission.Please contact Surendra Handa Coordinator Tel. 604 - 507 - 9945 for further information. ------------------------------------Culture & Conversation Night August 27 MOSAIC Vancouver, 2nd floor, 1720 Grant St‘ 604 254 9626 ext 488 Karen Legal Information Workshop: Employment Standards Learn about your rights in the workplace. Topics include: minimum wage,
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parental leave, working hours, statutory holidays, filing complaints as well as the rights of caregivers, employees and employers. There will be sample scenarios to explore. August 30 1–3pm Our Lady of Mercy Parish, 7455 10th Ave, Burnaby Joy 604 438 8214 ext 211 -------------------------------------Vedic Seniors Parivar Centre of Vedic Hindu Cultural Society Surrey invites South Asian Adults/ Senior members and non members also to attend a Powerful Presentation - Exercise for a Healthy Life Style with a Focus on Healthy Heart by Monika Tsia Clinical Exercise Physiologist and Amy Sangha Physiotherapist both working for Fraser Health in Cardiac Rehablitation and Prevention Program at Jim Pattison Out Patient/ Surrey Hospital. They will explain Health related Fitness and will demonstrate you, how to perform different types of Exercise for Healthy Life Style. Monika Tsia and Amy Sangha will answer all your questions about Health related Fitness. Tea and light snacks will be served after the Powerful Presentation. Please contact Surendra Handa Coordinator Tel. 604- 507- 9945 for further details. ------------------------------Vedic Seniors Parivar Centre of Vedic Hindu Cultural Society Surrey invites South Asian Adults/ Senior members and non members also to attend a Powerful Presentation - Exercise for a Healthy Life Style with a Focus on Healthy Heart by Monika Tsia Clinical Exercise Physiologist and Amy Sangha Physiotherapist both working for Fraser Health in Cardiac Rehablitation and Prevention Program at Jim Pattison Out Patient/ Surrey Hospital. They will explain Health related Fitness and will demonstrate you, how to perform different types of Exercise for Healthy Life Style.
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Saturday, September 12, 2015
Business / Finance
Buy your first home in Canada with confidence
or many newcomers one of the most exciting milestones is buying their first home in Canada. And while they share the enthusiasm to become home owners, behaviour varies across the country. According to a Newcomer Home Ownership study conducted by RBC, more than one-third (39%) who have lived in Canada for less than five years report they own a home or condo. Of these, Chinese newcomers are more likely than South Asians to be homeowners in the first five years (48% vs 32%). Another one-third (34%) of newcomers plan to purchase property within the next two years. This is especially true in the case of South Asian
newcomers where almost half (42%) express this intention vs 22% of Chinese respondents. “The appetite for purchasing a home in Canada is top of mind for Chinese and South Asian newcomers,” says Christine Shisler, the Director of Multicultural Markets, RBC. “There are so many things to consider when building a new life in a new country, and for many, the first major decision is home ownership. Whether buying in the first month, first year or longer, take the time to speak with a Mortgage Specialist who can help you make the right decisions.” Christine offers some helpful guidance: Do your research – While the prospect
of purchasing your first home in Canada is exciting, make sure that you weigh your options. It’s important to consider a number of factors: the location and the longevity of your stay in a home, the proximity to schools and work, and the future potential value of the home. Know all the facts. Create a budget – According to the RBC study, 33 per cent of newcomers indicated that looking back to their first years in Canada they would have budgeted more carefully. We’re all guilty of making convenience-related decisions. Creating a budget to anticipate unexpected expenses is a great way to get a head start on your financial plan. There are many great
online tools, including the RBC mortgage calculator. Budget for today, and explore your future financial needs, too, especially as it relates to home ownership. Talk to an expert - There are differences to banking in Canada, therefore make sure you have the whole picture before making any major decisions. RBC has been helping newcomers for over 145 years, and provides service across the country and in multiple languages. Talk to a mortgage specialist and others to make sure you have access to advice and direction as it relates to buying your first home here. Additional information available at www.rbc.com/canada.
Bombardier turned down Chinese bid for its rail unit: report
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State-owned company that owns Beijing subway lines bid for up to 100% of Bombardier tansportation
ombardier Inc. has turned down an offer to buy up to 100 per cent of its rail division from China’s Beijing Infrastructure Investment Co., according to a report from Reuters. Reuters said it has seen an Aug. 14 letter in which the Chinese state-owned firm, which operates 18 metro lines in Beijing, osffered to buy 60 to 100 per cent of the rail unit. Louis Veronneau, Bombardier’s vice-president for mergers and acquisitions, replied in another letter that the company wasn’t interested in selling a majority stake. Bombardier Transportation is one of the world’s largest suppliers of subway, streetcar and other rail equipment for mass transit systems and accounts for about half the parent company’s overall business. The Quebec company has been under pressure to sell off part of its successful rail division to improve value to shareholders. Its stock has been beaten down for the past four years as the aerospace division puts millions of dollars into developing the CSeries jet, without creating a product that can go to market. Bombardier stock was at $3.65 this time last year, but today was trading at about $1.30.
The rail division is attractive to the Chinese, as the country invests billions in its own infrastructure. Bombardier has won several significant projects in China in the past year, including a $ 381 million US contract with China Railway Corp. to supply 15 high-speed trains and four contracts valued at $136 mil-
lion US to provide propulsion and control equipment for the Beijing Mass Transit Railway. Chinese partners are eager to gain control of new technology in the rail sector and become bigger players in selling rail equipment to the world. Bombardier has said it is considering spinning off part of its rail division into a separate listing to raise cash.
Business / Finance
Bank of Canada keeps benchmark rate at 0.5%
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Central bank has cut its target for the overnight rate twice this year, most recently in July
he Bank of Canada has opted not to lower or raise its benchmark interest rate, choosing to keep it at 0.5 per cent. Economists had been expecting the bank to keep its trend-setting target for the overnight rate where it is now. A few believe, however, that another cut might be possible later in the year unless the economic picture improves. Last month, Statistics Canada put out gross domestic product data showing the Canadian economy shrank for the first two quarters of the year, meeting the bar of what is considered to be a recession. After sitting on the sidelines for more than four years, the bank has moved to cut its benchmark interest rate twice this year — once in January and again in July. The goal of those cuts was to stimulate the economy by making it cheaper to borrow. The goal was to encourage businesses to borrow to invest and expand, which would provide Canada’s economy with a much-needed shot in the arm after the oil price lost more than half of its value in the past year. The bank’s interest rate announcement Wednesday suggests the central bank thinks its two previous cuts might have been enough to achieve that goal.
“The stimulative effects of previous monetary policy actions are working their way through the Canadian economy,” the bank said in a statement Wednesday. Despite the shrinking GDP, other economic indicators suggest that Canada’s economy is waking from its slumber. Canada has added more than 100,000 jobs this year, and exports — especially of things that aren’t energy — are slowly rising again. “Economic activity continues to be underpinned by solid household spending and a firm recovery in the United States, with particular strength in the sectors of the U.S. economy that are important for Canadian exports,” the bank said. ‘The tone seemed more optimistic than originally expected.- Rahim Madhavji, currency expert Economists weren’t surprised by the decision, noting that the bank has been saying for a while that it was assuming a slight recession to start this year, followed by modest growth, after that. “In recent weeks, the economy’s performance has been unfolding in line with these expectations,” TD Bank economist Brian DePratto said.
Affordable housing crisis affects one in five renters in Canada: Study
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cross the country, 40 per cent of renters spend more than 30 per cent of their household income on the cost of rent and utilities, the level at which many say housing costs become unaffordable. About 20 per cent spent more than half their income, which housing advocates say puts them at high risk of becoming homeless. “There is a huge segment of the population that has been completely forgotten when it comes to our housing strategy, and that is about half of renters in this country,” said Tony Roy, chief executive officer of the BC Non-Profit Housing Association. While rents tend to be highest in cities such as Toronto, Vancouver and Calgary, the communities facing the greatest affordability crisis tended to be the suburbs, where home prices have been soaring and developers have built little in the way of rental apartments or social housing. In British Columbia, 31 per cent of renters in West Vancouver spend more than half their income on housing, compared with 25 per cent in the City of Vancouver itself. Communities such as Burnaby, Coquitlam and Richmond are among the worst when it comes to both affordability and supply of rental housing, the group found. In the Toronto area, average rents are higher in suburban communities such as Milton and Vaughan than in the City of Toronto. Mississauga ranked among the worst cities in the country when it comes to a shortage of affordable rental housing. In WhitchurchStouffville, a suburb north of the city, 30
per cent of renters spend more than half their income on shelter costs, the highest in the province and well above the 22 per cent of renters in Toronto. Affordable-housing advocates say soaring rents in the suburbs are a symptom of a lack of low-cost rental supply in the major cities, where the bulk of the new rental stock has come from high-priced, investor-owned condos. That has pushed many low-income workers, particularly those working in the downtown service industry, farther away from the core in search of housing. “Eventually you can only move so far,” said Sharad Kerur, executive director of the Ontario Non-Profit Housing Association. “If you are a service industry worker at the Royal York Hotel, how much farther can you go out to find a home until you start to say, ‘I can’t do this any more?’” Smaller towns and cities face their own challenges. The Western Canada resource boom has brought an influx of transient workers into small communities in northern Alberta and Saskatchewan, driving up rents. In Ontario and B.C., popular vacation destinations for well-heeled summer residents and retirees, such as Muskoka and the Okanagan, are also grappling with high shares of residents who have been priced out of the local rental market. But the problem appears to be most severe in the small cities that act as magnets for residents living in impoverished rural regions nearby.
Saturday, September 12, 2015
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Saturday, September 12, 2015
PUNJAB
After cycles, Badal’s photo taken off 108 ambulances
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hotographs of CM Parkash Singh Badal have finally been removed from 108 ambulances. Despite facing a strong onslaught by the Opposition, the ruling SAD-BJP government had held on to those pictures for long. On Independence Day, the Punjab Government distributed cycles to students under the Mai Bhago Scheme without the earlier flagship picture of the Chief Minister. Jatinder Sharma, Project Director of 108 ambulances, said that he had got orders from the state government a week back citing the orders of the Supreme Court regarding the ban on the use of pictures of the CM and ministers for advertisement purposes. Following that, the photographs had been removed. “A communiqué had been issued by the State General Administration Department to all departments directing them to ensure that no picture of any minis-
ter should be used on government stationery, forms, cards, vehicles or advertisements. We have removed the pictures after this order,” he said. While the Supreme Court order had come in May, Punjab and Haryana High Court advocate HC Arora had — on June 4 — served notice to Chief Secretary, Punjab, and Principal Secretary, Health, to remove the photos of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal from the ambulances of 108 emergency service, terming it a violation of the Supreme Court order.
UK Sikhs to mark Battle of Saragarhi anniversary
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ritish Sikhs will get together at a special ceremony here to mark the 118th anniversary of the Battle of Saragarhi which demonstrated the expertise of the Sikh soldiers during the British Raj. The event to be held on Saturday will commemorate the 21 Sikh soldiers who fought bravely in the battle on September 12, 1897, as part of the
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British Indian Army and celebrate present Sikh heroes within the UK Armed Forces. “In an ultimate test of devotion to duty, 21 British Indian Army Sepoys (Sikh soldiers) defended the Saragarhi outpost in the hills of the North West Frontier Province, now Pakistan, but then part of British India, against 10,000 Afghan tribesmen,” a UK Defence ministry statement said.
Sajjan instigated mob, witness tells court
key witness has told a trial court that Congress leader Sajjan Kumar had instigated a mob to attack her family as part of the anti-Sikh riots in Delhi in November 1984. Deposing before Session Judge Kamlesh Kumar at the Karkardooma court
complex here, Sheela Kaur said Sajjan had asked the mob to kill all Sikhs as the community was responsible for the assassination of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, who was “your mother.”
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Badal, Khattar still waiting for sops
ays after he met the Prime Minister in Delhi seeking a bigger support window for Punjab’s distressed farmers, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal will get another chance to press home the demand following a fresh round of criticism over state’s inability to do much for the cotton growers battling crop destruction in pest attacks. His Haryana counterpart Manohar Lal Khattar is also looking for some sops for his state. Modi will be in the city on Friday to inaugurate the international airport,
preside over a convocation function at the PGI and address a political rally during his four-hour visit starting 9.30 am. Farmers of both states have been facing a major crisis following attack of whitefly in the cotton belt. Sentiment is low in the farm sector and reports of cases of suicide in the sector continue to pour in from the countryside. The two states are also grappling with unemployment, declining water table and faltering economy. Badal has been under attack from the Opposition for his inability to get any major project for the state from the Modi government during its 16-month stint at the Centre.
Chandigarh International airport takes off
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oming to the city for the first time after becoming the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi inaugurated the new international terminal of the Chandigarh airport on Thursday and hand over the keys to selective allottees of the Sector 63 housing scheme of the Chandigarh Housing Board (CHB). In the city for over three hours, the Prime Minister will address the 34th convocation of the PGI. He will also address a political rally of the BJP at the Sector 25 rally ground, where a gathering of over 50,000 is expected. BJP leaders and their supporters from all over the region are expected to participate in the rally. From the Sector 25 rally ground, the Prime Minister will electronically unveil the plaque of the General
Chandigarh International Airport
Self-Financing Housing Scheme, Sector 63, and hand over the keys and possession letters to 10 beneficiaries, four each from the EWS and LIG (one-bedroom) categories and one each from the two-bedroom and three-bedroom categories.
Don’t finalise medical admissions: High Court
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ust about 10 days after a Single Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court ruled out re-examination for PMET 2015, a Division Bench today made it clear that the admissions were not to be finalised for the time being. Fixing September 17 as the next date of hearing, the Bench of Justice SS Saron and Justice Shekher Dhawan asserted: “In the meantime till the adjourned date, the counselling for admissions may continue. However, the admissions be not finalised by deposit of admission fee”. The directions came on an appeal filed against the Single Bench verdict by Reetika and other candidates through a battery of lawyers, including Gurminder Singh, IPS. Kohli, RPS Bara, and MS Longia.
Saturday, September 12, 2015
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**
TH
MBER 30 ENDS SEPTE
WHEN
YOU CAN STILL PAY WHAT WE PAY NADINE Y.
SHOPPING FOR A FORD
TASHA M.
SHOPPING FOR A FORD
2015 ESCAPE SE FWd 2.5L Employee Price Adjustment Delivery Allowance
1,967* 1,000*
$ $
2,967
TOTAl PRiCE ADjUSTmENTS
$
SHARE OUR EmPlOYEE PRiCE PURCHASE fiNANCE fOR ONlY
24,972
$ OR
*
*
147@3.49%
$
‡
APR
Bi-WEEklY fOR 84 mONTHS WiTH $1,195 DOWN. OffERS iNClUDE fREiGHT AND AiR TAX Of $1,790
#1 SELLING SUV IN CANADA FOR THE PAST 8 YEARS (2007 - 2014)Ω
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• SYnc® VoicE-actiVatEd communicationS and EntErtainmEnt SYStEm • rEar ViEW camEra
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2015 FOCUS 4 dr SE automatic SEdan or hatch
2015 F-150 SuPEr caB XLt 4X4 300a 3.5L Employee Price Adjustment Delivery Allowance
1,492
TOTAl PRiCE ADjUSTmENTS
$
SHARE OUR EmPlOYEE PRiCE lEASE fiNANCE fOR ONlY
*
20,622
$ OR
$
†
APR
Bi-WEEklY fOR 60 mONTHS WiTH $1,195 DOWN. OffERS iNClUDE fREiGHT AND AiR TAX Of $1,665
$ OR
ELIGIBLE COSTCO MEMBERS
$
1,000
12,354
$
*
iN TOTAl PRiCE ADjUSTmENTS
OVER 500,000
RECEIVE UP TO AN ADDITIONAL
ENDS SEPTEMBER 30TH
*
iNClUDES fREiGHT AND AiR TAX Of $1,800
STEP UP TO A 2015 F-150 PLATINUM SUPER CREW 4X4 AND GET UP TO
HURRY! EMPLOYEE PRICING
*
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TOTAl PRiCE ADjUSTmENTS
*
97 0.99
$
4,712* 5,500* $
$
CANADIANS
≠ON mOST NEW 2015 AND 2016 fORD mODElS
HAVE SHARED OUR PRICE SINCE 2005
($500 ON mOST fiESTA & fOCUS)
ViSiT BCfORD.CA OR YOUR BC fORD STORE TO SEE OUR All-NEW SHOWROOm AND GET YOUR EmPlOYEE PRiCE TODAY. WISE BUYERS READ THE LEGAL COPY: Vehicle(s) may be shown with optional equipment. Dealer may sell or lease for less. Limited time offers. Offers only valid at participating dealers. Retail offers may be cancelled or changed at any time without notice. Dealer order or transfer may be required as inventory may vary by dealer. See your Ford Dealer for complete details or call the Ford Customer Relationship Centre at 1-800-565-3673. For factory orders, a customer may either take advantage of eligible Ford retail customer promotional incentives/offers available at the time of vehicle factory order or time of vehicle delivery, but not both or combinations thereof. Retail offers not combinable with any CPA/GPC or Daily Rental incentives, the Commercial Upfit Program or the Commercial Fleet Incentive Program (CFIP). **Ford Employee Pricing (“Employee Pricing”) is available from July 1, 2015 to September 30, 2015 (the “Program Period”), on the purchase or lease of most new 2015/2016 Ford vehicles (excluding all chassis cab, stripped chassis, and cutaway body models, F-150 Raptor, F-650/F-750, Mustang Shelby GT500, Shelby GT350, 50th Anniversary Limited Edition Mustang). Employee Pricing refers to A-Plan pricing ordinarily available to Ford of Canada employees (excluding any Unifor/CAW negotiated programs). The new vehicle must be delivered or factory-ordered during the Program Period from your participating Ford Dealer. Employee Pricing is not combinable with CPA, GPC, CFIP, Daily Rental Allowance and A/X/Z/D/F-Plan programs. *Until September 30, 2015 purchase a new 2015 Focus 4 DR SE Automatic Sedan or Hatch/Escape SE FWD 2.5L with Cargo Package/2015 Escape Titanium FWD/2015 Escape Titanium AWD/2015 F-150 Super Cab XLT 4X4 300A 3.5L/2015 F-150 Platinum Super Crew 4X4 for $20,622/$24,972/$30,441/$32,399/$32,887/$57,045 after total Ford Employee Price adjustment of $1,492/$2,967/$3,648/$3,890/$10,212/$12,354 is deducted. Total Ford Employee Price adjustment is a combination of Employee Price adjustment of $1,492/$1,967/$2,648/$2,890/$4,712/$8,354 and delivery allowance of $0/$1,000/$1,000/$1,000/$5,500/$4,000. Taxes payable on full amount of purchase price after total Ford Employee Price adjustment has been deducted. Offers include freight and air tax of $1,665/$1,790/$1,790/$1,790/$1,800/$1,800 but exclude variable charges of license, fuel fill charge, insurance, dealer PDI (if applicable), registration, PPSA, administration fees and charges, any environmental charges or fees, and all applicable taxes. Total Ford Employee Price adjustment is a combination of Employee Price adjustment and available delivery allowance amounts and range from $636 on 2015 Fiesta S to $14,720 on 2015 F-350 Lariat Super Crew Diesel 4x4. Employee Pricing is not combinable with CPA, GPC, CFIP, Daily Rental Allowance and A/X/Z/D/F-Plan programs. See dealer or ford.ca for details. All prices are based on Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price. ‡Until September 30, 2015, receive 3.49% annual percentage rate (APR) purchase financing on a 2015 Escape SE FWD 2.5L for a maximum of 84 months to qualified retail customers, on approved credit (OAC) from Ford Credit. Not all buyers will qualify for the lowest interest rate. Purchase financing monthly payment is $319 (the sum of twelve (12) monthly payments divided by 26 periods gives payee a bi-weekly payment of $147) with $1,195 down payment. Cost of borrowing is $3,056.89 or APR of 3.49% and total to be repaid is $26,833.89. Down payment may be required based on approved credit from Ford Credit. Offers include total Ford Employee Price adjustment of $2,967. Total Ford Employee Price adjustment is a combination of Employee Price adjustment of $1,967 and delivery allowance of $1,000. Offers include freight and air tax of $1,665 but exclude variable charges of license, fuel fill charge, insurance, dealer PDI (if applicable), registration, PPSA, administration fees and charges, any environmental charges or fees, and all applicable taxes. Taxes payable on full amount of purchase price after total Ford Employee Price adjustment deducted. All prices are based on Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price. †Until September 30, lease a new 2015 Ford Focus SE 4 DR Automatic Sedan or Hatch for up to 60 months and get 0.99% annual percentage rate (APR) lease financing on approved credit (OAC) from Ford Credit. Not all buyers will qualify for the lowest APR payment. Lease a new 2015 Ford Focus SE 4 DR Automatic Sedan or Hatch with a value of $22,114 (after $1,195 down payment or equivalent trade in and Total Ford Employee Price adjustment of $1,492 deducted and including freight and air tax charges of $1,665) at 0.99% APR for up to 60 months with an optional buyout of $7,519, monthly payment is $210 (the sum of twelve (12) monthly payments divided by 26 periods gives payee a bi-weekly payment of $97), total lease obligation is $13,795. Total Ford Employee Price adjustment is a combination of Employee Price adjustment of $1,492 and delivery allowance of $0. Taxes payable on full amount of purchase price after Total Ford Employee Price adjustment has been deducted. Additional payments required for PPSA (RDPRM for Quebec), registration, security deposit (except in Quebec), NSF fees (where applicable), excess wear and tear, and late fees. Lease offer includes freight and air tax of $1,665 but excludes variable charges of license, fuel fill charge, insurance, dealer PDI (if applicable), registration, PPSA, administration fees and charges, any environmental charges or fees, and all applicable taxes. Some conditions and mileage restriction of 80,000km for 60 months applies. Excess kilometrage charges are 12¢per km for Fiesta, Focus, C-Max, Fusion and Escape; 16¢per km for E-Series, Mustang, Taurus, Taurus-X, Edge, Flex, Explorer, F-Series, MKS, MKX, MKZ, MKT and Transit Connect; 20¢per km for Expedition and Navigator, plus applicable taxes. Excess kilometrage charges subject to change (except in Quebec), see your local dealer for details. All prices are based on Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price. ΩBased on Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers’ Association year-end 2007–2014 total sales data for utility segment vehicles in Canada. ‡‡F-Series is the best-selling pickup truck in Canada for 49 years in a row based on Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers’ Association statistical sales report up to 2014 year end. ≠ Offer only valid from August 1, 2015 to September 30, 2015 (the “Offer Period”) to resident Canadians with an eligible Costco membership on or before July 31, 2015. Receive $500 towards the purchase or lease of a new 2015 (and 2016 where the model is available) Ford Fiesta (excluding S), Focus (excluding S and BEV), and $1,000 towards all other Ford models (excluding C-MAX, GT350, GT500, F-150 Raptor, 50th Anniversary Edition Mustang, and Medium Truck) model (each an “Eligible Vehicle”). Limit one (1) offer per each Eligible Vehicle purchase or lease, up to a maximum of two (2) separate Eligible Vehicle sales per Costco Membership Number. Offer is transferable to persons domiciled with an eligible Costco member. Applicable taxes calculated before CAD$1,000 offer is deducted. ©2015 Sirius Canada Inc. “SiriusXM”, the SiriusXM logo, channel names and logos are trademarks of SiriusXM Radio Inc. and are used under licence. ©2015 Ford Motor Company of Canada, Limited. All rights reserved. Available in most new Ford vehicles with 6-month pre-paid subscription
DOCKET # DBC-ALI A54672
LIVE:
None
COLOuRs: 4C
PRODuCTION: Mario Pariselli CREATIVE:
DATE
INITIAL
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Saturday, September 12, 2015
Real Canadian Superstore速 location is the convenient one-stop shopping solution for everyday needs and for special occasions. You'll find variety, value, and a wide range of South Asian specialities -- at great price! 350 SE Marine Drive, Vancouver T: (604) 322-3727
Fax: 604-322-3744 Store Hours: Monday to Friday 9:30AM-8:00PM Sat 9AM - 5PM & Sun 12PM - 5PM
Contact for more assistance:
Remo Mastropieri Store Manager
6 i Saturday - April 4, 2015
fOOD
Saturday, September 12, 2015
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r e f f l O ree a i c Spe Get 1 F Pre-paid Package 0 1 y Refexology $360/11 sessions Bu Acupressure $400/11 sessions Three Locations Opening
★E Hastings ★Abbotsford ★Port Moody Reflexoloy: $34.29 + tax = $36/50 mins
Acupressure: $38.09 + tax = $40/55 mins
chicken (no butter) Masala Your favourite butter chicken but without the butter and added calories!
Ingredients • 250g boneless chicken oil mins LD Massage: $38.09• +2tbsp taxrapeseed = $40/55 • 1 medium red onion • 3 large tomatoes ½ cup cashew Gua Sha & Fire Cupping:• $21.91 + tax =nuts $23/20 mins • 100g tomato puree • 1 tbsp dried fenugreek leaves • 100ml cream Traditional pedicure: $38.09 + low taxfat = $40/session • 1tsp garam masala • 1tsp red chilli powder • 1tbsp ginger- garlic paste Acupuncture: $55/session • 2tbsp thick low fat yoghurt • salt to taste
Van-Granville:
Richmond:
7950 Granville St.
(604) 266-6080
5333 No.3 Road
(604) 303-0665
4880 Victoria Dr. (604) 568-3890 Van-Victoria: Procedure: 3516 Kingsway Van-Kingsway: (604) 558-3689 Marinate the chicken with the ginger garlic paste and the yoghurt for 20 min. soak the cashew in warm water for 15 minutes.chop the onions and tomatoes. Heat 1 tbsp 102-22325 Mcintosh Maple Ridge:pieces. (604) oil to a pan. sear the chicken pieces in the hot oil for 1 minute on each side to a golden colour. remove the chicken in the same pan,Ave. add 1tbsp oil and380-2666 the chopped 102-7655 Edmonds St. 544-6777 onions. saute till a translucent pink. Add the tomatoes, red chili powder, garam masala powder and cook onBurnaby: medium flame till the tomatoes are tender(604) (approx. 4-5 (604) 497-0888 Surrey: 105-15155 101 Ave. minutes). remove from flame and run in a blender with the soaked cashews to make a smooth paste. return to the pan and add the tomato puree. Bring to a boil and add (604) 492-2298 Johns St. Moody Ave. the chicken pieces. simmer for 4-5 minutes till the chicken is cooked. Add the low fat cream and simmerPort for 2Moody: minutes.9-3130 Broil St the fenugreek leaves on a pan. crush the Van-E Hasting: 120 - 2741 E Hasting St.. (604) 559-9599 fenugreek leaves over the curry and remove from fire. serve hot. Abbotsford: 5-32298 South Fraser Way (604) 744-8898
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Saturday, September 12, 2015
INDIA
NIA puts bounty on top two Naga militant group leaders
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he National Investigation Agency (NIA) has announced a cash reward for any reliable information about two top leaders of Naga rebel group NSCN-K, including its chief SS Khaplang. The agency has announced Rs 10 lakh reward for information leading to the arrest of Niki Sumi, a resident of Surumi police station, Nagaland, and Rs 7 lakh for information on Khaplang (Shangwang Shangyungi), a resident of Pangsau district of Myanmar. Khaplang heads the NSCN (K), while Niki Sumi holds the charge of the armed wing of the group. An NIA communiqué said the two were closely associated with the decision to attack Assam
Rifles personnel at Indira Gandhi Stadium, Kohima, on March 26, 2015 and subsequent string of attacks on the armed forces, including the attack on 6 Dogra Regiment convoy in Chandel district of Manipur on June 4,
Can a piece of jewellery make you safe?
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an wearing a pendant make you safe? On the face of it, Safer is a large-ish gem pendant set in steel casing, and worn on a steel chain. But this piece of attractive jewellery (available in colours like blue sapphire, emerald green and onyx black) has a small triangular chip embedded in the back which, if pressed twice, connects to an app that then sends out an alert to designated mobile phones of “guardians” who can then track the wearer’s location and movement on Google Maps. Paras Batra, the sales head at Leaf, which has created the pendant, says he started thinking about a product to provide safety to women after the December 2012 gang rape of a 23-year-old student on a bus in India’s capital, Delhi. “I live in Munirka, the area in south Delhi from where this young woman boarded the bus in which she was attacked. I was very disturbed by it and felt that we needed to do something about it, to make the city safer for women,” he says. He talked it over with his childhood friend Chiraag Kapil, who brought in his college mates Ayush Banka, Manik Meh-
ta and Avinash Bansal, who then began discussing a product. “We considered a shock giving jacket, but then we thought how many women would wear a jacket in the city’s heat? We considered lots of other ideas and then we thought, women like to wear jewellery and that’s how this beautiful pendant was born,” says Mr Kapil, who heads Leaf ’s mobile app development and graphic design team. The “Safer” pendant has been priced at 3,500 rupees ($53; £34) and ahead of its launch in November, is being sold at a discounted price of 2,700 rupees ($40; £26). The device has won several Indian and international awards, including the prestigious Lockheed Martin National Innovation Award. Later this month, the young innovators will be at Silicon Valley as one of the “Top 10 Innovators of India” The Safer team comprises five 22-year-old Delhi engineering students Since the Delhi rape, a plethora of mobile phone apps and other devices have been launched to make women feel safe in India.
PM takes swipe at Sonia
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rime Minister Narendra Modi today hit back at Congress president Sonia Gandhi over her barbs against him saying “scamsters are unnerved” following the tough stance of the government on black money and are putting “roadblocks” in the reforms agenda. Attacking the Sonia for her remarks on Tuesday that the Prime Minister has been “reduced to unedifying flip flops” and most of his poll promises were nothing more than “hawabaazi” (empty talk), he said the “hawalabaaz” (scamsters) are seeking answers from him even as his
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government has plugged leakages in schemes and enriched the nation’s coffers. Addressing BJP workers here, Modi said the Congress was resorting to “disruptive tactics” as it was not being able to come to terms with its defeat in 2014 Lok Sabha polls. “I wonder whether there is a place for an attitude of confrontation due to sheer arrogance in a democracy. I had publicly appealed to the party, which has been defeated and has been rejected by the people, to allow Parliament to function,” he said. “I know their problem. One after another decisions are being taken by this government.
BJP, allies weigh seat-sharing options
aced with a daunting combined vote base of regional satraps JD-U and RJD and NDA allies’ demand of “respectable/equitable” share in Bihar seats, the BJP is taking into account all factors to arrive at a winning combination in the mustwin state. On a day allies again drove up to lead negotiator Ananth Kumar’s house, seeking their due share in the 243-member Bihar Assembly, BJP sources said while devising the formula they were even analysing factors such as contribution of individual allies on seats the saffron party would be contesting.
“To work out a winning formula that caters to both ends of the caste spectrum — upper castes and Dalits — while catering to allies’ individual egos is a massive task,” a party source said, adding that hopefully consolidation of anti-saffron forces will work in their favour. While Rashtriya Lok Samta Party president Upendra Kushwaha has written to BJP chief Amit Shah mandating him and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take the final call on seat-share, he has also added a rider.
Saudi diplomat accused of raping Nepali maids is hiding in the Embassy
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Saudi diplomat, who has been accused of raping two Nepalese women, met senior External Affairs Ministry officials and protested the action by Gurgaon police at his residence which he claimed was in violation of the Vienna Convention. The Saudi Arabian embassy is learnt to have invoked “diplomatic immunity” for its diplomat accused of rape by two women from Nepal and registered a protest over Gurgaon police allegedly entering his house to conduct investigations, sources told The Indian Express. This was conveyed to Indian officials, including Ministry of External Affairs joint secretary (Gulf) T Darlong, by a Saudi embassy delegation, led by Ambassador Saud Mohammed Al Sati,
on Wednesday afternoon, the sources said. Darlong is learnt to have told the delegation that police did not know initially that the premises housed a Saudi diplomat, and that the raid to “rescue” the two women engaged as domestic help was based on a tip-off from an NGO. Under the Vienna Convention, 1961, “diplomatic immunity” cannot be violated unless the country that has posted the diplomat waives it off. The Saudi embassy also issued a statement terming as “false” the allegations of sexual assault against the diplomat. “The embassy strongly stresses and have not been proven,” it said. It added that the embassy has also brought to the notice of officials in the MEA the “unwarranted media briefings before investigations are complete.
Widespread job curbs on women in India
W
omen in India face widespread restrictions for jobs and there are no laws to protect them against sexual harassment in public places, according to a new World Bank report on South Asia’s largest economy. In a report released on Wednesday, the World Bank said in India job restrictions remain widespread, with women not allowed to work in mining or in jobs that require lifting weights above a certain threshold or working with glass. The law also prohibits women from jobs “involving danger to life, health or morals”. In addition, there are no laws to protect women against sexual harassment in public places, protections which exist in 18 other economies around the world, the bank said in the report ‘Women, Business and the Law 2016’. At the same time, the bank said in the past two years, India undertook one reform in the areas covered by the report. By introducing a law mandating at least one female member on the board of publicly-listed companies,
FIJI
Fiji runs in 5 tries, beats Canada Fiji beat Canada 4718 early this morning in their warm-up match just before the start of the Rugby World Cup this weekend. Halfback Nikola Matawalu and Waisea Nayacalevu finished with two tries apiece and Metuisela Talebula had one to his name. As expected Nemani Nadolo
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Family in shock over girl’s murder
was on kicking duties and gathered 22 points for himself by keeping 100 per cent kicking record.
Police spokesThe horror and pain of woman Ana losing 15-year-old Simran Naisoro said the Sumita Singh to a suspectcause of the mured mentally ill man who der was being inhacked her to death with vestigated. The a cane knife is something victim’s sister, the Singh family of Naria, Janish Singh, 23, Rakiraki, is still coming to said the tragedy terms with. Sister and mother of the deceased Shayal was hard to acSingh are comforted by neighbours as they Family members are mourn in Naria cept. “She’s the still reeling from the shock of losing the Penang High School student youngest in the family and it’s really painso tragically. Simran was attacked near her ful for us knowing that she died this way,” home on Wednesday afternoon while re- she said. “Until now we are still trying to turning from school. The alleged attacker, figure out why anyone would want to hurt a 36-year-old labourer, also injured Sim- her or my father.” Singh, who resides in Suva, said her 43-year-old father would ran’s father when he tried to defend her. He was arrested by police in Rakiraki at wait every afternoon for Simran when she returned from school. midday yesterday.
Dominiko Waqaniburotu (middle) of Fiji during the pre-Rugby World Cup International Friendly match between Fiji and Canada at Twickenham Stoop in London, England
Fiji gov’t lacks transparency
iji is among countries that have been ranked as the world's worst on budget transparency. This was revealed by the International Budget Partnerships Open Budget Survey conducted last year. The survey revealed that Fiji's score in relation to budget transparency had slightly improved from six out of 100 in 2012 to 15 out of 100 in the 2015 ranking. Countries are ranked from 1-100 with a cut-off mark of 45 — those between 1 and 45 being at the lower end of the transparency scale while those between 46 and 100 were at the top end with New Zealand being the most transparent. "Although the Fiji Government has increased the amount of budget information available to the public, the survey further reveals that Fiji still ranks among the world's worst on budget transparency," the survey said. However, Citizen's Constitutional Forum CEO Bulutani Mataitawakilai said it was very encouraging to see that Fiji's budget transparency ranking had improved. He said the improvement indicted the country was heading in the right direction. "There is much work that still needs to be done to enable citizens to understand and influence the use of public money," Mr Mataitawakilai said. Fiji's score is lower
Saturday, September 12, 2015 i 31
than the global average score of 25 and is ranked 10th in the Asia-Pacific Regional Comparison after Malaysia and Papua New Guinea. He said Government could improve this through continuing public engagements in budgeting, feedback on public submissions that had been received
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The Fiji National Provident Fund has listed the $6.5million worth of unidentified accounts within its system as one of its major challenges. An update of the fund’s performance in its Employers’ Workshop release stated that the total value of members’ accounts whose FNPF numbers had not been provided correctly stood at $6m. The statement revealed that the value of members accounts with mismatched names stood at $0.5m.
Police hunt for rapist
A 54 years old man who allegedly raped three primary school students in the Northern Division after luring them with money is being sought by police. Police spokesman Inspector Atunaisa Sokomuri said the alleged incident happened in Macuata Province. “The students are aged 13, 12 and nine and it is believed that the old man used money to lure them before allegedly raping them,” he said. “One of the students lodged the complaint with her parents and we are at this stage looking for the man who is a villager as well.
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PAKISTAN
32 i Saturday, September 12, 2015
Second journalist to be killed in 24 hours
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olice in Pakistan say gunmen have shot dead two journalists in separate attacks in the country’s violent port city of Karachi in the last 24 hours. Police say the first attack on Tuesday night saw gunmen open fire on a van of the private satellite news channel Geo TV, killing a technician and wounding the driver. The second attack happened Wednesday morning. Feroz Shah, a deputy inspector-general of police, said gunmen on a motorcycle shot and killed journalist Aftab Alam as he stood outside his home. Alam previously worked with Geo TV. It wasn’t clear whether the two attacks were related or due to the fact those involved were journalists. However, Geo TV has previously been banned over a spat between it and the country’s powerful Inter-Service Intelligence spy agency.
Man puts children ‘on sale’ to pay off fine
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n a bid to pay a fine imposed by a Pakistani Jirga (tribal court) a man put his children on sale at Rs 1.6 million. Ghulam Rasool put his four children, aged between three and eight years, ‘on sale’ at Pakistan’s Jacobabad press club to pay the amount as fine imposed by a Jirga, Dawn news reported. Ghulam Rasoo said a family belonging to the Khoso tribe had accused his son of having an extra-marital affair with a woman of that tribe about two years ago. He said the family took the matter to the Jirga who found his son guilty and imposed a fine of Rs 1.6 million to be paid to the rival side to settle the dispute. He was not in position to afford the burden and had to sell his two daughters and two grand-daughters to raise the money and save his family from violence, Ghulam Rasool said
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Talks with India only if Kashmir on table: Sartaj Aziz
rime Minister Nawaz Sharif ’s advisor on national security and foreign affairs Sartaj Aziz (pictured) said on Tuesday that Pakistan was ready to start a dialogue process with India only if Kashmir issue is on the agenda. While talking to media in Islamabad, Aziz said that the NSA-level talks with India were cancelled due to inflexibility shown by it, as no dialogue with New Delhi can be successful without the Kashmir issue as part of the agenda. “Kashmir will be part and parcel of any agenda of talks with India and that the international community has accepted Pakistan’s stance in this regard,” Sartaj Aziz said. Following in footsteps of his army chief Raheel Sharif, the top Pakistani diplomat warned India against any misadventure saying that Pakistan’s security forces will give a befitting response to Indian aggression. “Pakistan would not be pressured by Indian threats of an attack at any time. If India even thought of attacking, Pakistan
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would provide a befitting response,” Aziz said. He said that Pakistan would raise the issue of ‘unprovoked’ Indian firing across the Line of Control and the Working Boundary during a dialogue between the Director-General Pakistan Rangers and Indian Border Security Force chief in New Delhi on Wednesday. “The meeting is being held in accordance with the Ufa declaration and will help reduce tensions along the LoC and Working Boundary,” he said. Aziz claimed that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government has been anti-Pakistan from day one. “Narendra Modi contested elections on anti-Pakistan platform and now wants to dictate terms for the dialogue with Pakistan but we will never accept this and we have already conveyed it to New Delhi,” Aziz said. Moreover, PM Sharif ’s advisor rejected Indian allegations about the presence of India’s underworld don Dawood Ibrahim in Pakistan.
Former president Zardari expresses concern over party MPA’s disqualification
ormer president and PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari on Friday expressed grave concern over the sentencing of party’s Sindh MPA Syed Ali Nawaz Shah by an accountability court in Karachi. Zardari termed Shah’s conviction as misuse of judicial process for political victimisation. A National Accountability Bureau (NAB) court convicted Ali Nawaz on Thursday along with his nephew, Syed Imtiaz Ali Shah, and cousin, former MNA Syed Khadim Ali Shah, in a case pertaining to land revenue fraud worth millions of rupees. The veteran politician and PPP lawmaker was disqualified from holding membership
of the legislature for ten years and was sentenced to five years in prison “If such (political) victimisation becomes the norm and judicial processes are misused and manipulated to secure convictions of political opponents... things will go far too far,” said the former president. The Pakistan Peoples Party co-chairperson said that Ali Nawaz Shah enjoyed a good reputation among the political and social circles of Sindh and sending him to prison in a case registered years ago has again brought forth the old tradition of using federal institutions for political victimisation.
Three killed in drone attack in North Waziristan
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akistan Army on Monday claimed to have killed three suspected militants in Shawal valley of North Waziristan tribal region on the border with Afghanistan in its first ever air strike by a locally manufactured unmanned drone aircraft, named “Burraq”. Major General Asim Bajwa, army’s spokesperson, announced the first ever use of the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) on his Twitter page saying that a terrorist compound was hit and three high-profile militants were killed in the air strike carried out by “Burraq”. The strike means Pakistan has joined a small club of nations, to have successfully used a remote-controlled aircraft to eliminate their enemies. ‘Burraq’ was developed alongside ‘Shahpar’ in cooperation with the National Engineering and Scientific Commission (NESCOM), which is a civilian controlled Pakistani scientific research organisation. Pakistan Army had tested ‘Burraq’ armed with laser-guided ‘Barq’ missile for the first time on March 14, 2015. Both Burraq drone and Barq missile, according to the army, have been indigenously developed. Jane’s Defence Weekly had reported that the Burraq bore a “striking resemblance” to a drone produced by China, Pakistan’s close ally. Shawal valley, where Pakistan army targeted militants for the first time with drone, is considered as the last bastion of militants in North Waziristan. The army had launched a ground offensive in the thickly forested mountainous Shawal Valley last month.
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Auto parts makers make plea to save sector as TPP talks resume Canadian, Mexican parts industries agree they could live with 50% NAFTA-made content
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uto parts makers in Canada, the U.S. and Mexico have urged their governments not to give in to demands from Japan for less NAFTA-made content in vehicles at new talks on the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Canadian and Mexican negotiators are in Washington today trying to work out terms for automotive issues in the trade deal which would open up freer trade among 12 Pacific nations. The key issue in talks with Acting Deputy U.S. Trade Representative Wendy Cutler and Japanese officials is “automotive rule of origin,” a term that describes how much content in autos and auto parts must be made within NAFTA. The TPP talks broke down in July when Mexico and Canada balked at content rules that could have meant Japanese vehicles could be imported with fewer parts made in North America. Canadian, Mexican parts makers join forces Flavio Volpe, president of the Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association of Canada, said he has been told by Trade Minister Ed Fast that Ottawa “would continue to block any outcome in TPP negotiations that would hurt the automotive parts sector.” The AMPA joined with its Mexican and U.S. counterparts to draft a letter
to Fast yesterday to again urge Canadian officials to reject any deal that would eat into the North American share of parts manufacturing. “An inadequate content rule for parts will dramatically impact our domestic parts manufacturing industry and the jobs that come with it,” the letter said. Although TPP negotiations are held in secret, publication Inside U.S. Trade reported the Japanese want a rule that vehicles can be imported tariff-free to North America with just 30 per cent content from the U.S., Canada or Mexico. The Japanese are reported to be negotiating a side deal with the U.S. on the issue. That could open the door for Japanese vehicles with much cheaper parts made in China, Thailand or other Asian countries to be imported tariff-free. Under NAFTA, the rule is that 62.5 per cent of the value of cars and 60 per cent on auto parts, must be made within the region. Going for 50% content The parts makers say they could live with 50 per cent of the value of parts or content in finished cars and trucks made in North America, a proposal made by the vehicle manufacturers. “We would like to take this opportunity to urge your continued
Saturday, September 12, 2015 i 33
NDP leader Tom Mulcair makes automotive pitch in Conservative-held Ontario seats
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om Mulcair is taking his pitch funding that was supposed to foster infor growing employment in novation, Mulcair said, pledging to fix Ontario’s sluggish manufac- that, with a particular focus on environturing sector straight to ridings currently held by Stephen Harper’s Conservatives, beginning Wednesday with an automotive sector announcement in Niagara Falls, Ont. “It’s time to get good-paying, auto manufacturing jobs back to these communities,” Mulcair said, in the warehouse of SpenTom Mulcair wants to revitalize Canada’s auto industry cer ARL, an automotive logistics company that supplies General Motors. On mental technol“It’s time to get ogies for the Harper’s watch, Canada’s preg o o d - p a y i n g , sector. “Clearly vious automotive trade surplus has turned into a $19-billion auto manufac- Mr. Harper has deficit, the NDP leader said, his foot on the turing and new investments evapo- jobs back to these brake when we rated. should be in the communities,” “Canada failed to attract a fast lane,” he Mulcair said single dollar. Not one. Zero,” said. “We need he said, pledging that if elected, to do better.” his party will champion the renewal of the The NDP leader also said he’d convene automotive sector if it forms government a meeting of provinces and other stakeafter the Oct. 19 federal election. At the holders within the first 100 days of an moment, automotive manufacturers have NDP government to set priorities and difficulty accessing federal government co-ordinate strategy. vigilance in finalizing a Trans-pacific Partnership that allows for domestic, regional and global growth for motor vehicle component manufacturers,” AMPA and its Mexican and U.S. counterparts say in the letter to Fast. They point to the three million automotive-related jobs in North America.
Jim Stanford, economist for autoworkers’ union Unifor, says Canadian officials have no mandate to negotiate away Canadian jobs, particularly as an election is under way. Canada already incurs an annual $5 billion deficit in bilateral automotive trade with Japan, he said.
34 i Saturday, September 12, 2015
SOUTH ASIA
Four killed in Nepal constitution protests
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iolent protests against a proposed new constitution intensified in Nepal’s southern plains on Wednesday with demonstrators attacking police who shot dead at least four people, officers said. Nepal, which emerged from civil war in 2006, is in the final stages of preparing a new constitution that would carve the country of 28 million people into seven federal provinces. Many people in Nepal’s southern plains bordering India oppose the plan which would split their narrow region and merge the pieces into larger provinces with other ethnic groups. Thirty people have now been killed since the draft constitution was unveiled last month. Three demonstrators were shot in the town of Jaleswor in Mahottari district, 100 km (60 miles) southeast of Kathmandu, after a police post was attacked by thousands of protesters armed with sticks and stones, police official Saurav Rana said. Hundreds of demonstrators armed with catapults clashed with police in the nearby Saptari district, where a fourth protester was shot dead, police official Sisir Karmacharya said.
1 in 4 Asians will be over 60 by 2050, says WHO One in every four people across Asia will be above the age of 60 by 2050 as the world rapidly ages, said the World Health Organization. WHO’s latest estimates say that between 2000 and 2050, the proportion of the world’s population over 60 years will double from about 11% to 22%. The absolute number of people aged 60 years and above is projected to rise from 901 million in 2015 to 1.4 billion by 2030 and 2.1billion by 2050 and could rise to 3.2 billion in 2100. By 2050, Europe will have about 34% of its population over 60. Latin America, the Caribbean and in Asia, the prevalence will be about 25%. India on the other hand has an unique problem — feminization of its aging population the majority of India’s elderly being women. Estimates say that quarter of the global elderly population will be in India by 2015 and the elderly population in India will be more than 12% of the total population by 2026. WHO said nearly 142 million people in the southeast Asia region are above the age of 60 years. The number of aged people will double by 2025, and triple by 2050 compared to 2000. India’s 80+ will increase over six times from existing 78 lakh to about 5.14 crore by 2050. The 65+ population is expected to quadruple from 6.4 crore in 2005 to 23.9 crore, while those aged 60 and above will increase from 8.4 crore to 33.5 crore over the next 43 years.
Saturday, September 12, 2015 i 35
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36 i Saturday, September 12, 2015