The Asian Star August 15 2015 by The Asian Star Newspaper

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Issue 29 Saturday, August 15 , 2015

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2 i Saturday, August 15, 2015

Canada Post mailbox slab destroyed by Montreal mayor

hroughout the day, Coderre had expressed his disappointment with the Crown corporation via a news conference, angry tweets, and finally, destroying the concrete slab itself. “It’s a matter of fact that they’re doing what they want, and then they try and

piss in your ears and say, ‘Oh don’t worry, we are wishing to collaborate,’ but at the end of the day, baloney, it’s not working,” he said. Earlier in the day, Coderre said it was “totally disgraceful” that the Crown corporation moved to erect community boxes in Parc l’Anse-à-l’Orme with-

out any authorization from the municipality. Flanked by Westmount Mayor Peter Trent, Southwest borough Mayor Benoit Dorais, Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension Mayor Anie Samson and Pierrefonds-Roxboro Mayor Jim Beis, Coderre condemned Canada Post for what he called a total absence of consultation.

Denis Coderre used a jackhammer to break the base of the Canada Post community mailbox.

“It was a new country but it very quickly felt like home.”

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New Delta to force landlords to provide parking spots for secondary suite

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Councillor says homeowners with secondary suites using tenants’ parking

ity councillors in Delta, B.C. are mulling over a new bylaw that would penalize homeowners with secondary suites who push their tenants to park on the street. All homes in Delta must have two parking spots plus another stall if they have a secondary suite. Coun. Sylvia Bishop says a lot of residents use that space for their own cars, boats, RVs or junk. “Our streets are getting crowded and it’s getting harder for people to drive and get into their own homes because of the number of cars parked on the street rather than on site,” said Bishop. The new bylaw would fine owners $200 for not providing the required space for tenants to park their cars. Delta Coun. Bruce McDonald said a lot of Delta residents have been speaking out on the issue. “Lots of complaints from neighbours of places with suites and people who actually rent suites but found out they didn’t really have a parking

spot after all,” said McDonald. The bylaw still needs to go through a final reading.

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Bollywood section

INDEPENDENCE DAY

Check Inside for Details

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Issue 29 Saturday, August 15, 2015

Independence Day for India and Pakistan was celebrated on August 14th and August 15th around the World including Metro Vancouver. Pakistan became independent on August 14, 1947 and India on August 15, 1947 from Britain.

Thunderstorms in the forecast for Metro Vancouver

Volkswagen recalls 41,300 vehicles

Spinach and Feta Pasta bollywood section

Page

70-year-old woman sexually assaulted

Massive man-hunt for the culprit

tors are canvassing the 70-year-old woman neighbourhood and hope who was physically and sexually assaultto get more information ed in her South Surrey home from the victim, who rehas suffered significant injuries, mains in hospital. “We’re but will recover, said RCMP on putting all of our serious Thursday. A man with a weapcrime resources on this on entered the woman’s house and will be working on near 167th Street and 28th Avit 24-7 until we identify enue Wednesday afternoon and the suspect,” said Schuldemanded cash and other items mann. Mounties say said Surrey RCMP Cpl. Scotty the man used an ATM Schumann. “When she was unin Langley just after the able to meet his demands she was restrained and physically assault on Wednesday and sexually assaulted,” said afternoon. In the photos Schulmann. “After a period of he appears to be: • A time she was able to escape and Wanted Caucasian male. • 20 get to a neighbour’s residence to 30 years old. • Five feet 10 inches and call police.” The suspect remains at large. to six feet tall with a medium build, He is described only as 20 to 30 years old, ap•Clean shaven, no visible marks, scars proximately five-feet-eight inches to six-feet tall. or tattoos.•Shoulder-length hair at the Police are extremely concerned about the incitime of the offence, but it may be a wig. dent, said Schulmann. “This is a terrible crime The man had a weapon when he allegedand even the most experienced officers cringe ly entered the woman’s house near 167th when they hear this kind of thing. It’s terrible the trauma this victim has suffered.” InvestigaStreet and 28th Avenue Wednesday af-

Continued on page 6

World’s hottest mirchi grown in Vancouver Finally!! After months of hot weather, Environment Canada forecast cool and rainy weather for Metro Vancouver for Friday evening and Saturday morning. Maybe even a thunderstorm or two. Environment Canada says there’s a 40 per cent chance of rain Friday morning and early afternoon with a risk of thunderstorm. There were a few rain drops on Friday morning but no thunderstorms. However, the weather was definitely cool and cloudy – as if the skies would burst Continued on page 6

400 times hotter than the average jalapeño

he world’s hottest pepper is grown in Vancouver. It looks harmless, even cheerful, with its shiny red skin and soft green leaves. But make no mistake, the Carolina Reaper is a weapons-grade pepper, the hottest in the world, and Marpole resident Brad Dodds has them growing in his backyard. Dodds ordered the seeds “on a lark” from the Reaper’s inventor, the PuckerButt Pepper Company in South Carolina, and has been trying for two years to grow them. The Continued on page 6

Brad Dobbs holds a Carolina Reaper he grew in his garden.

4 i Saturday, August 15, 2015

EDITORIAL

Why were Punjabi-speaking NDP canvassers being paid $4 an hour less than others

he New Democratic Party is in a bit of a self-made scandal after it was revealed last week that the party, which prides itself as defender of workers’ rights and equality, was found to have paid its Punjabi-speaking canvassers $13 and hour - compared to

$17 an hour paid to non-Punjabi canvassers. The party has tried to deflect blame to a sub-contractor and point out the fact that the Punjabi canvassers were reimbursed with back pay to make up for the $4 an hour les s they

were being paid. Don’t call it racism. Don’t call it discrimination. Call it a mistake made by a sub-contractor that has now been rectified. “We’ve now cleared that up,” said Bob Penner, president of Vancouver’s Strategic Communications, a key NDP consulting company. “We will now ensure the employees in question are paid at a rate of $17 per hour, which is the rate of pay offered by the NDP,” he said. But what if the media had not highlighted this story?? The scandal could not have come at a worse time for NDP, as it is riding high in national polls and is being touted as the party most likely to form government after the October 19 federal election.And party leader Tom Mulcair has been preaching of a NDP policy of a $15 an hour minimum wage across the country. An ad for Punjabi canvassers, offering them $13 an hour was placed on Craigslist by a Burnaby-based employment agency Express Professionals - and the NDP says it was a mistake. NDP hired Strategic Communications to conduct telephone canvassing. Strategic Communications subcontracted the Burnaby employment agency to do the hiring, which then hired the Punjabi-speaking canvassers for $13 an hour. “We didn’t know about this,” said NDP spokesman Glen Sanford. “We don’t discriminate in any shape or form. When we identified that there was a problem with a subcontractor, we took steps to make sure people are paid accordingly.” High profile NDP MP Jinny Sims, has brushed of fthe scandal ina statement, saying that momentum for the NDP continues to grow, “and I am very pleased at the growing number of volunteers and staff who are joining our ranks.” “In BC, the NDP directly hires paid canvassers at $17 per hour, which is a very good rate by industry standards. We consider additional language skills, including Punjabi, Mandarin and Cantonese, to be valuable assets for our phoners. I have been very excited to see how many people want to join our team and bring change to Ottawa.” Her statement said. “As for media coverage about a job posting that appeared for a phone project in Ontario, let me clear the air. The NDP contracted with a company called Stratcom, who in turn subcontracted with a job agency to recruit two phoners. We did not know about the subcontractor.

Continued on page 6

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Saturday, August 15, 2015 i 5

LOCAL

6 i Saturday, August 15, 2015

RCMP targets fentanyl scourge as deaths mount

he RCMP is working with the United Nations and China to dampen the influx of the dangerous opioid fentanyl onto Canada’s streets, but one high-level investigator expects the overdose problem to increase. That information comes as health officials across Canada urge jurisdictions to collaborate to combat the drug linked to at least 655 deaths. A bulletin released by the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse says fentanyl was determined to be a cause or contributing cause of the deaths between 2009 and 2014. Fentanyl is a white powder that’s easily disguised, tough to expose and in high demand by those with addictions, said Cpl. Luc Chicoine, the RCMP’s national drug program co-ordinator. Chicoine said it’s being smuggled into the country in many ways, from inside shaving kits on passenger planes, to couriers, to gangs importing shipments in commercial containers. Police have been unable to confirm the drug’s primary origin. All the while the death toll climbs and could get worse, Chicoine said.

“That’s why I’m going back into my speech of awareness, and understanding the longterm problem that we’re slowly stepping into.” Sixteen people overdosed in Vancouver on Sunday alone — including six in one hour — from heroin that police suspect was laced with fentanyl. The drug has been linked to the deaths of 12 people, mostly in Metro Vancouver, since July 27. “You need so little fentanyl, (that tracing) the chemical signature would be extremely difficult,” Chicoine said. “I don’t even know if the technology is there.” About 100 grams can be mixed with fillers to make one kilogram of street drug, while only a few salt-sized granules can be toxic, he warned. Fentanyl is between 50 and 100 times more potent than morphine. The drug represents an entirely “different scale” than bad narcotic batches in the past, such as tainted ecstasy, add health experts in B.C. Deputy provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry is calling for a “national co-ordinated approach” to better predict how the overdose situation will evolve, while noting the problem has accelerated in recent years,

Mulcair focuses on environment in bid for B.C. voters

DP leader Tom Mulcair said Sunday in Vancouver that he would restore a robust environmental law system and review process gutted under Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper. “Our position is that we can develop our natural resources as long as it’s done sustainably,” he told reporters following a rally of more than 1,000 supporters at the Westin Bayshore. “To do that, I’ll bring in overarching sustainable development legislation that will include clear principles like polluter pay, user pay, internalizing the costs, and, yes, our environmental assessments of these projects will include an analysis of whether or not it allows us to meet internationally-agreed targets for Canada for greenhouse gas reductions,” Mulcair said in his first campaign stop in B.C. The NDP leader attacked Harper on the economy and government corruption, including the Senate scandal. Mulcair is trying to make a major breakthrough in B.C. where he is leading in the polls, as he is nationally. He will need to win big in British Columbia — where the number of seats has increased to 42 from 36 in 2011 — if the NDP has chance of winning the Oct. 19 election. The oilsands and major pipeline projects are hot-button issues in British Columbia and are expected to figure in the election. Critics have complained that National Energy Board-led reviews of two pipelines to the

B.C. coast — Enbridge’s $7.9-billion Northern Gateway project and Kinder Morgan’s $5.4-billion Trans Mountain expansion — have not addressed issues such as greenhouse gas emissions and upstream oilsands development. Changes have also blocked participation in the reviews, say critics, although the Harper government had accused environmentalists of hijacking the process with hundreds of participants. A number of lawsuits have been launched to challenge pipeline review decisions. Mulcair has said he is open to oilsands development, and has favoured a west-to-east pipeline from the Alberta oilsands. But earlier Sunday, Harper said a comment from a prominent NDP candidate shows the party has no interest in developing Canada’s natural resources. Continued on page 8

World’s hottest mirchi grown in Vancouver From page 1

400 times hotter than the average jalapeño

first crop flowered, but didn’t fruit. But this year’s unusually warm spring and hot summer has Dodds’s four plants sporting dozens of little Reapers. On a recent afternoon, Dodds let The Sun tag along as he and three friends sampled one for the first time. It was a moment Dodds said he was both looking forward to and dreading, as the Reaper has a fearsome reputation. It is about 300 times hotter than a habanero and 400 times hotter than the average jalapeño. The Internet is full of videos of people vomiting after ingesting the smallest of pieces. Ed Currie, the South Carolina breeder who created the Reaper, said in a phone interview he will never forget the first time he ate one. “I actually hallucinated … It gives

you an endorphin release kind of along the lines of getting high,” he said. “I got two of my friends to come over that evening for dinner with their wives and they took a bite and they both threw up.” The people who handle the peppers to harvest seeds and make sauces typically wear two pairs of surgical gloves because the oil from the peppers will eat through a single one in about 10 minutes, Currie said. I actually hallucinated … It gives you an endorphin release kind of along the lines of getting high, So it was gingerly that Dodds picked the smoothest, reddest pepper he could find — about the size of a walnut — and cut it up carefully on a plate. Oil oozed slowly out of it.

Thunderstorms in the forecast for From page 1 Metro Vancouver any moment a d rain would come splachign down. The temperature was expected to reach a high of 21 degrees C. The rest of the weekend is a mix of rain, sun and cloudy skies. On Saturday, the agency

says there’s a 70 per cent chance of rain but the sun should come back out again on Sunday. There’s also a slight chance of rain on Monday.

70-year-old woman sexually assaulted From page 1 Anyone with information on this incident ternoon and demanded cash and other is asked to contact the Surrey RCMP at 604items. When she was unable to meet his de- 599-0502 or Crime Stoppers, if they wish to mands he allegedly sexually and physically remain anonymous, at 1-800-222-TIPS or assaulted her before fleeing. www.solvecrime.ca.

Why were Punjabi-speaking NDP canvassers being paid $4 an hour less than others From page 4 However, when Stratcom learned the phoners were paid less than $17 per hour, their salaries were immediately topped up.” Sims statement said “Contrary to spin by the Liberals and Conservative, the subcontractor pays exactly the same rate to all of its phoners, which is $17.,” she said.

“In BC, we do all of our hiring directly, and I’m proud that we offer a rate of pay that exceeds industry standards. Anyone who wants to work for the NDP as a paid phoner for $17 an hour should send their resume to: jason.hjalmarson@ndp.ca” “It’s an exciting time to be part of the team that will defeat Stephen Harper and elect the first ever NDP government.” Sims said.

OPINION

Saturday, August 15, 2015 i 7

Public health IT system defective, way over budget, says B.C. AG

.C.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s auditor general is blaming a lack of leadership inside the Health Ministry for massive cost overruns and thousands of defects plaguing the provinceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s public health IT system. In a damning report issued Thursday morning, Auditor General Carol Bellringer slammed the ministry for mismanaging the project, resulting in a 420 per cent cost overrun for the $115 million project. She notes that when finally delivered by the contractor IBM in 2010, the Panorama public health IT system was plagued with more than 12,200 defects. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The project is five years late, incomplete, riddled with deficiencies, and much of the technology may already be out date,â&#x20AC;? concluded Bellringer in her report. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Of particular concern, is not only a failure to control costs, but decisions that unnecessarily increased costs,â&#x20AC;? wrote Bellringer. â&#x20AC;&#x153;When IBM could not deliver on the original contract terms, we saw no evidence that the ministry considered other options such as contract termination or alternate systems. Instead, the Ministry of Health renegotiated with IBM in a way that transferred financial risk from IBM to taxpayers.â&#x20AC;? Panorama was originally intended to be a nation-wide system to enable the sharing of data on immunization, communicable diseases and other public health outbreaks across all provinces and territories, following the SARS outbreak in 2003. B.C. was picked as the province to lead the development and implementation of the program with the contractor IBM, and received $44 million from the federal government to get it off the ground. Bellringer made four recommendations

as a result of her investigation, including a review of the entire Panorama project, and reviews of how the government manages, contracts and leads future major IT projects. The government response to the findings, which is included in the report, acknowledges the project faced challenges, but defends it as an effective tool that has already been upgraded and used to manage immunization programs â&#x20AC;&#x153;To effectively manage outbreaks and detect emerging disease threats, public health officials must be able to track data across the whole province. Panorama allows us to better protect the public, through information and tools weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve never had before,â&#x20AC;? said an additional statement issued by Health Minister Terry Lake after the report was released. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Though it is not perfect, public health experts across Canada agree there is no other system that can provide the comprehensive solution that Panorama provides. With this in mind, we will not pursue alternative systems,â&#x20AC;? said Lake Some of the findings of the auditorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s report include: â&#x20AC;&#x153;B.C.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s implementation of Panorama was supposed to be complete in 2009. Today, aspects of the system are in place, but major components are still outstanding. Also of concern is that Panorama is a stand-alone system. This no longer aligns with health authority IT strategies which are shifting towards integrated health systems.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;To date, the Province has spent approximately $113 million â&#x20AC;&#x201C; or 420 per cent of what was budgeted at the project outset â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and implementation is still not complete. The Province expected to pay $16.2 million for IBM implementation services, but it ended up costing $73.5 million. B.C.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ongoing support costs are estimated to be approximately $14 million per year.â&#x20AC;?

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LOCAL

8 i Saturday, August 15, 2015

Mulcair focuses on environment in bid for B.C. voters

121 feet Nishan Sahib flying at Gurdwara ‘ Darbar Siri Guru Granth Sahib’ in Surrey

From page 6 Linda McQuaig, a well-known author and the NDP candidate for the riding of Toronto Centre, told a CBC television panel discussion Friday that for Canada to meet its climate change targets, “a lot of the oilsands oil may have to stay in the ground.” In Vancouver, Mulcair said it’s Harper’s fault, because of a weakened review system, that major natural gas projects in Canada are stalling. The changes have angered First Nations, environmentalists and even some rural communities, and amped up opposition to pipeline projects in particular. “Mr. Harper thought he was helping companies by eliminating a thorough, credible environmental assessment process. He’s gutted a series of environmental laws: whether it’s the navigable waters protection action,

A 121 feet high Nishan Sahib will be flown on Sunday August 16, at 1pm at Gurdwara’ Darbar Siri Guru Granth Sahib Ji’ 8820-168 Street, Surrey in the presence of BABA Ji Baldev Singh of Bulandhpuri Sahib. Baba ji is preaching religious teachings of Siri Guru Granth Sahib from July 26 to August 16 everyday from 7 pm to 8:30pm at Darbar Siri Guru Granth Sahib. All are invited at this auspicious occasion.

species at risk, fisheries,” Mulcair said. “And, you know, the reason none of these projects are getting off the drawing board is because Mr. Harper thought he could get away with eliminating environmental laws the public and the environment need,” he said. The Northern Gateway line, which had already been conditionally approved by the federal government under Harper, has stalled in the face of First Nation opposition over environmental concerns. Kinder Morgan is in the midst of a federal review and also faces stiff opposition. The company has said it is pulling advertising for its Trans Mountain project during the federal election after an NDP candidate seeking re-election complained about a flurry of ads in local newspapers.

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Saturday, August 15, 2015 i 9

Semiahmoo chief receives annual salary of nearly $270,000 Most of reserve’s income is provincial grant

ouncillor Joanne Charles and Chief Willard Cook of the Semiahmoo First Nation were paid salaries totalling nearly $460,000 in the 2013-14 fiscal year. The tiny Semiahmoo First Nation in Surrey paid salaries to its chief and one of its councillors totalling nearly $460,000 in the 2013-14 fiscal year. The community of less than 100 joins a handful of other First Nations in British Columbia that have paid their chiefs exorbitant salaries, disclosed through now-required financial filings to the federal government. Chief councillor Willard Cook was paid $267,309 in fiscal 2013-14 and councillor Joanne Charles received $187,138. Charles also had expenses of $13,618 and Cook expenses of $420. Roxanne Charles — the only other council member — was paid $4,725 and had expenses of $27,473. When the tax-free status is factored in, it makes the chief possibly the highest paid politician in Canada. It would take more than $400,000 off reserve to generate after-tax takehome pay of $267,000. Prime Minister Stephen Harper earns $327,400 plus a $2,000-a-year car allowance. B.C. Premier Christy Clark has a $193,532 annual salary. Both would also receive living and travel allowances. There was no answer by phone Thursday at the band’s office in the oceanfront community located just north of the Canada-U.S. border. Voice messag-

es left at the office and emails to Charles were not returned. A person reached at Charles home on the reserve directed calls to the office. The salary information was revealed in filings for the financial year ending on March 31, 2014. The band was supposed to file last fall, but only filed statements last month. The First Nation was one of more than a dozen B.C. bands that failed to file financial disclosure documents by November of 2014, required under a federal law brought in by the Conservative government. Most of them have now done so. None paid their chiefs or councillors salaries in the range of the Semiahmoo. Most are in the $20,000-to-$40,000 range, with the exception of the Takla Lake and Tsay Keh First Nations, which pay their chiefs in the $80,000-to-$90,000 range. One First Nation, the High Bar First Nation in Clinton, paid its chief Larry Fletcher only $1,498, according to the filings. However, a number of huge salaries paid to other chiefs have come to light. Former Shuswap First Nation Chief Paul Sam had been paid an annual salary of $200,000, and he and family members had pulled in more than $4.1 million in pay over a four-year period ending in 2014. A new chief was elected following the disclosure. Kwikwetlem First Nation chief Ron Giesbrecht was paid almost $1 million in income in the 2013-14 fiscal year, including an $800,000 bonus in 2013 related to a land deal with the B.C.

Local government auditor problems confirmed

he release of a spring survey of B.C. municipalities confirms the problems that led to the firing of B.C.’s first Auditor General for Local Government in March. The Union of B.C. Municipalities surveyed the 17 local governments that had participated in former AGLG Basia Ruta’s reviews by March. All but one responded that AGLG staff and auditors lacked understanding of how local government operates in B.C. One community with RCMP service said the AGLG was “not quite sure how to assess our situation” because the municipality had little discretion over the terms of its policing contract. The survey also found that high turnover in Rutia’s office hampered its performance audits. That was one of the factors that led to Ruta being fired, after she refused to cooperate with a review of her office’s functions. Former B.C. auditor general Arn van Iersel was appointed acting AGLG in April and is working with the UBCM on its recommendations, including training of audit

staff. Hired to execute an idea proposed by Premier Christy Clark in her 2012 bid for the B.C. Liberal Party leadership, Ruta set herself a target of 18 audits in the first year. Clashes with staff at her Surrey office and her supervising board began to emerge, and only one audit was completed in that time.

Winners of the Miss Fiji Canada Beauty Pageant held in Surrey on Friday of the previous week are as follows: Miss Fiji Canada Winner Shovanna Pratap, First Runner Up Alisha Goundar, Second Runner Up Bryanna Prasad, Third Runner Up Danita Prasad. A community service award was presented to Shimeran Goundar and Most Photogenic award to Alisha Goundar.

6 Vancouver police officers injured, 1 man dead in altercation

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10 i Saturday, August 15, 2015

LOCAL

Unsanctioned Commercial Drive street party angers Vancouver councillor

Police ask public to stay away

n unsanctioned street party expected to attract more than 4,000 people to Commercial Drive next weekend is drawing ire from a Vancouver councillor since the anonymous organizers refuse to apply for permits for the event or pay for policing costs. Non-Partisan Association Coun. Melissa DeGenova said Wednesday it’s “completely unfair” that the group that calls itself Vancity Mayday isn’t going through the proper channels for its Aug. 21 event at Grandview Park while non-profit groups such as Car Free Day must complete the rigorous city permit process and pay fees. “This is an unfortunate situation that this group has put the city and the police in,” DeGenova said, noting taxpayers will end up footing the bill for traffic control and policing. (She also blames Vision Vancouver for not having a plan for unsanctioned events in general: “I don’t see our mayor coming out and saying it’s not OK.”) In an email interview (the anonymous organizers would not speak on the phone), the group said their inspiration for the event comes from a desire for a free, accessible celebration. It also wants to challenge the city’s “insistence on charging money for permits to use public space and the VPD’s threat of going after organizers of unsanctioned events.” Thousands attended a similar dance party held by the same group in May. “We heard from many people that they had never experienced such a joyful, communal atmosphere in all of their

time spent in Vancouver, a city notorious for the isolation experienced by its residents,” But Vancouver police spokesman Sgt. Randy Fincham described the May event as “violent.” There was damage to a police car and property, a large amount of litter and people used front yards as bathrooms, Fincham said, adding that some residents were afraid to leave their homes. There was also a stabbing, but it cannot be directly linked to the party, he said. Police have reached out to the organizers to try to arrange police assistance in advance, Fincham said, but the group has deleted the posts from police on its Facebook page. “Our concern is obviously that event is held in a safe matter,” said Fincham, who described the event as “a demonstration or protest under the guise of a street party.” “It required a significantly large police presence to bring the event under control last May. We expect to have another police presence there.” But organizers blame the violence in May on the police. They also brushed off DeGenova’s comments as an attempt to silence freedom of speech. “We are also taxpayers with a strong belief in our unalienable right to use public space for recreational and political means,” they wrote. “Public resources should be available to everyone, not just those with the economic capabilities to pay exorbitant amounts of money for event permits.” As for toilets, organizers say they’re fundraising to provide additional facilities.

Saturday, August 15, 2015 i 11

Concerns about secret hearings

C Civil Liberties Association executive director Josh Paterson can’t talk about testimony he gave to the Canadian Security Intelligence Service Wednesday over Canada’s spy agency allegedly spying on B.C. environmental groups. Paterson can’t say why he can’t talk about it – not even to his own client. “I testified (Wednesday) and I’ve been directed that I’m not allowed to say anything,” he said. In February 2014, the BCCLA filed a complaint against the Canadian Security Intelligence Service that it was unlawfully spying on members and volunteers of the Dogwood Initiative, ForestEthics Advocacy, Leadnow.ca, Sierra Club BC, and participants in the #IdleNoMore movement. Government documents released under the Access to Information Act recorded one particular incident of intelligence-gathering at a January 2013 volunteer meeting in Kelowna. Celine Trojand, Dogwood Initiative’s director of organizing, said at one meeting she had tied up her laptop with her dog around a tree and after a moment of not looking at it her laptop bag was gone. When she searched for it around the corner she found it in the hands of RCMP officers who had it open to her Facebook page, scrolling through it. Trojand said when she confronted them they returned it to her without incident. Trojand testified in the hearings on Thursday that are taking place in Vancouver over the complaint.

Celine Trojand, Dogwood Initiative’s director of organizing, discusses her experience of finding RCMP officers going through her laptop without permission.

12 i Saturday, August 15, 2015

LOCAL

Chinese investment in Vancouver housing market might not be as high as you’d think

ealthy buyers from Mainland China may not be exerting as much influence on average home prices as you might think. Numbers from a local real estate firm suggest that segment represents a rather small percentage of average home sales. These statistics are only based on transactions handled by MacDonald Realty in 2014. VP of operations Jonathan Cooper says Chinese ownership is having the greatest impact on homes worth more than $3-million. “I’d say about 3-million. It could be between 50 and 70 per cent but again I hasten to add most of those buyers are not non-resident offshore buyers in the

sense that they are in the process of becoming Canadians or they already are.” This group of buyers only represents about 20 per cent of transactions valued between $1-3 million. That number drops to 11 per cent for homes worth less than one million. “Entry level housing product, mid-level housing product is still predominantly just affected by the normal ebb and flow of supply and demand factors,” says Cooper. “Interest rates, the scarcity of land in the Lower Mainland, the fact that, not just for Asians, but for people from other parts of Canada and around the world, this is one of the most desirable places to live on the planet.”

Surrey man dead, another arrested after altercation in Whalley A Surrey man is dead and another is in police custody after an altercation in Whalley Wednesday. On Wednesday (Aug.12) police were called to the 13000-block of Hanson Road around 5:30 p.m. after reports of a fight at a residence. Police say 27-year-old The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team is looking David Hennessey was into the death of Surrey resident 27-year-old found at the scene with David Hennessey what appeared to be stab wounds and later died in hospital. A second man was also treated for injuries in hospital and has since been arrested for the alleged murder of Hennessey. Anyone with information regarding this investigation can call the IHIT tipline by calling 1-877-551-IHIT (4448) or email at ihittipline@rcmp-grc.gc.ca. If you wish to remain anonymous provide your anonymous tip information on the web at Solvecrime.ca or by phone at 1-800-222-8477.

Drone was getting images of woman sunbathing topless

Vancouver woman is distressed after a drone appeared to be trying to capture images of her suntanning topless on her private balcony, sparking concerns about irresponsible drone use. Kathryn Redford, 30 (pictured), lives on the second floor of an eight-storey apartment near West 4th Avenue and Pine Street in the Kitsilano neighbourhood. Her secluded balcony is shielded by a brick wall on one side and a large tree on the other side which allows only a “sliver” of sunlight into the otherwise private balcony. There are no apartment buildings across the street from Redford, and the inside of the balcony is not visible from street level. Redford was reading and suntanning topless on her balcony floor Wednesday around 2:30 p.m., as she’s done before, when she heard the “unmistakable” sound of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). A yellow quadcopter with a small flashing light appeared by her balcony, in the “sliver” of space between her building and the tree and hovered for about 10 seconds. In shock, Redford covered herself with her book and watched as the UAV took off. As she gathered her things to retreat inside, the UAV re-appeared and this time, remained for about 30 seconds. “I wasn’t expecting it. It felt like an invasion of privacy,” Redford said. “I’m 100 per cent for drones … but this is perhaps someone who is not a responsible pilot.” After putting on a shirt, Redford looked out of her balcony and down the street to

see if she could spot the UAV’s operator. Seeing no one, she then called the non-emergency police line and filed a report about the interaction, which lasted only a couple of minutes. Redford said police told her there wasn’t much that could be done aside from following the UAV back to its operator, and that similar reports are happening more frequently in Vancouver. While Redford said she felt violated by the incident, she emphasized that “restrictive regulations” may not be a solution. Instead, she encouraged education and responsible usage, noting it only takes one person to give the technology a bad reputation. I wasn’t expecting it. It felt like an invasion of privacy “I’m really excited to see what happens with drones. I can see a lot of applications for crops and a lot of people are using them for those things, just surveying land or mapping and aerial photographer and videography — those are all really cool,” said Redford, an agricultural researcher. “But like anything, there’s always going to be irresponsible pilots.” Redford acknowledged there may have been an innocent explanation, but said it “was very suspicious” how the UAV appeared and hovered. “To me, in my mind, it was trying to get a different angle,” she said of the drone’s second visit.

LOCAL

Saturday, August 15, 2015 i 13

#DontHave1Million calls on parties to match Harper’s foreign buyer data pledge Vancouver affordable housing advocates want the Liberals, NDP and Green Party to promise to collect data on foreign real estate transactions, too.

ffordable housing advocates in Vancouver are calling on all federal parties to match Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s promise to collect data on foreign buyers in Canada’s housing market, a pledge he announced in North Vancouver Wednesday morning. #DontHave1Million campaign organizer Eveline Xia was surprised by Harper’s announcement that acknowledged the need for data to figure out if foreign buyers are actually driving up housing prices and making it unaffordable for locals to enter the real estate market in cities such as Vancouver and Toronto. There is rampant speculation but limited evidence that foreign buyers, especially from China, are driving up the city’s real estate market. “I think he’s thrown the gauntlet down and he’s definitely injected the affordable housing debate that’s been raging in Vancouver into the federal election,” Xia said after the speech where he pledged $500,000 for data collection. “The other federal candidates should match this promise… collecting data should not be a partisan issue,” she said. Xia, who started the viral hashtag about the plight of young professionals that can’t afford to stay in Vancouver, has long argued it’s impossible to make policy decisions without data on who is buying, where the money is coming from and whether homes are being purchased as investments and left emp-

ty. The federal Liberals and NDP did not respond to emails asking whether they would match the prime minister’s promise by Metro’s deadline. While Vancouver’s city council has passed motions asking senior governments to collect data on foreign real estate buyers, governing party Vision Vancouver was less enthusiastic about Harper’s announcement even though it gives them what they want. Coun. Kerry Jang (he spoke in place of Mayor Gregor Robertson, who is on vacation) called the announcement a “distraction” from the real problem – creating more affordable housing in a city with near zero vacancy rates. “Collecting data is fine and good. We’re happy with the fact that the federal government wants to collect data. But what’s more important to me is what are you going to do with it?” Jang said. Jang noted the Conservatives have gotten out of the housing game and made no promises for building coop housing or supportive housing for people with mental illness. The city is asking for a real national housing program, which only the NDP has really offered so far, Jang said. Jang also criticized the government’s record on data, noting they trashed the long-form census and ignore data that shows Insite is working.

Vancouver Fire Department cracking down on false fire alarms

f you live in Vancouver, you could get fined if you end up having three or more false fire alarms in a year. It’s all a part of the fire department’s plan to eliminate the problem. “So, what we’ve done is set a fee for an occupancy that has more than three or more false fire alarms within a year because at that point we feel it’s not just a matter of the inevitable false alarm that happens occasionally but it’s a problem building that’s not having their alarm system looked after,” explains Captain Jonathan Gormick.

He says there are more than a thousand false alarm calls every year which cost the city money but is also a safety concern. “The owner or the occupant is not only utilizing our resources improperly but also endangering the occupants of the building because if the alarm system isn’t functioning properly it may not function in case there is a fire.” He says normally false alarms occur when there’s an issue with the panel and it needs to be fixed. The fine is $200 for each occurrence after three in a year.

The 4th annual Vancouver Punjabi Mela at Walter Moberly Park in Vancouver was held in Vancouver on August 9 and hundreds of people turned up. Pictured above are NDP MPs, Don Davies (Vancouver Kingsway) at right and Jinny Sims (Surrey-Newton) with others on stage at the Mela. Photo: Chandra Bodalia

14 i Saturday, August 15, 2015

Newton rec centre to undergo $5 million expansion

ewton rec and you can see centre is we have limitabout to ed space and undergo a $5 milthis will give lion expansion. us a first-class The fitness space recreation comwill be doubled plex. It’ll make through the adus comparable dition of an exto the CloverAdditions will double the fitness tra fitness room dale or Guildspace in the facility and an expanford rec cension of the mat tre.” Exterior renovations are in the room, making plenty of room planning stages. “We’re proposing an for wrestling and yoga groups. outside natural centre for children in When finished, the fitness space will front of the rec centre. The architect’s total 8,000 square feet. “Our fitness design is kind of airy and open.” Pubrooms are jam packed. There’s definitelic art will be incorporated into the ly a community need and want,” said building as well. Construction is exPerry Fulop, community and recreation pected be begin in October or Novemservices manager for Newton. “I think ber, and Fulop said the work will hopewe get sort of a bad rap,” he said of the fully be completed in the fall of 2016. Newton facility. “I work here everyday

Liberal membership chair for B.C. quits after party stops a nomination bid

he official tasked with overseeing the membership of the federal Liberals in British Columbia has resigned after party brass halted a bid for a nomination that he was chairing. Mike Hillman, who first joined the party in 1968, said he resigned as membership chair of the party’s B.C. arm on Tuesday because barring former two-time Liberal candidate Wendy Yuan from running was contrary to the wishes of the party faithful in the new riding of Steveston-Richmond East. Over the weekend, Yuan was disqualified as a nominee, with the party telling reporters “some serious issues prevented” her from being approved as a candidate. Instead, the party announced it would acclaim former Richmond MP Joe Peschisolido at a meeting Tuesday evening and that is what happened.. Hillman, who also chaired two campaigns that Yuan lost as a Liberal can-

didate in Vancouver Kingsway, said he found it “unbelievable” she wasn’t allowed to contest the nomination this time around and he has “reacted accordingly.” “It’s a statement for all our membership and all of our people to always make sure that members have a key and very important role to play in our party,” he said of his resignation. Yuan has quit her position as policy chair in the local riding association, along with her spokesman and riding communications chair Sunny Chiu. Five other executive members, including president Peter Xie, also resigned. Xie and two other members were on vacation and unaware of the unfolding controversy. Xie, a card-carrying Liberal for the past 15 years, said Yuan’s campaign team had signed up 2,500 to 3,000 of the riding’s roughly 4,000 registered members. He said Peschisolido’s team had led about 1,000 people to join the riding association. Xie said he hopes his resignation and those of the other executive members act as a wake-up call to the leadership in Ottawa that they should heed party Leader Justin Trudeau’s stated commitment to transparent, open nomination processes. “We have two potential candidates. I think we should let the members decide who’s going to run for the next election,” Xie said Tuesday afternoon. “It is very disappointing. We all know that Liberals are not very strong in B.C. and we always look at this riding as a totally winnable riding.

Surrey teacher underpaid for six years A Surrey teacher who was underpaid for six years after her role changed in 2005 — allowing her to earn pay increments — will only receive a single month’s back pay, after the B.C. Supreme Court ruled she should have caught the error earlier and reported it. According to the decision, Charlotte Austin was transferred from her status as teacher on-call to “contract teacher” in 2005. But the Surrey School District, the court said, made a mistake and didn’t add her experience as a teacher on-call into its payroll system. “The mistake was not discovered by Ms. Austin until December 2011. When she raised the matter with the school district, it immediately admitted the error, but took the position that she could only be retroactively reimbursed for the immediately preceding 30 days,” wrote Judge Gary Weatherill in the decision. The reason the school district gave was that a month’s retroactive reimbursement was what was set out in the union-employer collective agreement. She appealed, first to the Labour Relation Board, and more recently to the B.C. Supreme Court — both times ended in failure. The labour board ruled Austin “should have discovered the mistake on her pay stub long, long ago,” which the court agreed with. Austin argued in court that limiting the back pay to 30 days “rewards carelessness and offers no incentive for the school district to find and correct mistakes.”

LOCAL

Abbotsford residents concerned about sex offender’s presence

im Iverson loves her neighbourhood in the Abbotsford community of Bradner. It’s a peaceful, rural area where everyone knows each other – there are just five houses on the street – and she often has several kids playing in her yard in addition to her two children, ages four and two. Iverson feels that peace has been disrupted since convicted sexual offender James Conway recently moved onto the street. “My house always has tons of kids … It’s quite disturbing (that Conway lives there),” she said. The Abbotsford Police Department released a public notice on Aug. 1 that Conway, 40, would be moving to the community, although privacy laws prohibited them from saying exactly where. Conway has a long criminal history, including three sexual offences against children, as well as sexual interference of a person under 16, sexual assault and arson. He has also breached the conditions of his release at least twice. In April 2014, he was caught staring at young girls on SkyTrain, looking down their shirts and engaging them in conversation by producing a teddy bear. He was later sentenced to 10 months in jail and three years’ probation. Police issued a public notice about his release from prison in February of this year, when he settled in the Surrey area. At that time, BC Corrections said in a press release that he has a pattern of “sexual offending against female children in a predatory and opportunistic manner.” Conway was back in jail 10 days later, after allegedly breaching his conditions when he sat down on a bus beside a 14-year-old girl, even though other seats were available. A public notice was issued again

Warning issued after high-risk sex offender freed following guilty plea B.C. Corrections issued a public warning Thursday after a high-risk sex offender who sexually assaulted a fellow inmate at Surrey Pretrial Services Centre was sentenced to time served and released from custody and is planning ot live in Vancouver. Jeffrey Alan Goddard, 25, pleaded guilty in June to one count of sexual assault and was sentenced on Thursday in provincial court in Surrey. The incident took place on Oct. 4, 2014, when Goddard was in pretrial custody on breach and fraud-related charges. One day earlier a 19-year-old man, who can only be identified as T.D. due to a publication ban, was transferred to Goddard’s unit at Surrey Pretrial. The men had never met before but quickly became friends. Goddard said he would get T.D. a job and that his mother would give T.D. a calling card. T.D. invited Goddard to share his cell. The night of the assault, the two were in their bunks chatting when the subject of sex came up. T.D. made some

comments in jest, but Goddard took him seriously. When T.D. tried to back out, Goddard used threats to convince T.D. to touch his penis and masturbate him.

James Conway in April, when Conway was released from prison and planned to reside in Delta. Iverson said she and her neighbours found out by word of mouth that Conway is now living on their street in a home with one other person, and they have confirmed it. She said residents in the area are livid that he has been allowed to reside there.

Saturday, August 15, 2015 i 15

RCMP targets fentanyl scourge as deaths mount

of awareness, and understanding the longterm problem that we’re slowly stepping into.” Sixteen people overdosed in Vancouver on Sunday alone — including six in one hour — from heroin that police suspect was laced with fentanyl. The drug has been linked to the deaths of 12 people, mostly in Metro Vancouver, since July 27. “You need so little fentanyl, (that tracing) the chemical signature would be extremely difficult,” Chicoine said. “I don’t even know if the technology is there.” About 100 grams can be mixed with fillers to make one kilogram of street drug, while only a few salt-sized granules can be toxic, he warned. Fentanyl is between 50 and 100 times more potent than morphine. The drug represents an entirely “different scale” than bad narcotic batches in the past, such as tainted ecstasy, add health experts in B.C. Deputy provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry is calling for a “national co-ordinated approach” to better predict how the overdose situation will evolve, while noting the problem has accelerated in recent years, leaving an “immense” impact.

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16 i Saturday, August 15, 2015

LOCAL

Deadly crane collapse on Vancouver Island

ne person is dead and another is injured after a construction crane tipped at a Metchosin worksite Thursday afternoon. West Shore RCMP say the operator of the crane went into cardiac arrest and died. Another worker was injured when the crane tipped over about 2:40 p.m. It’s not clear whether the operator went into cardiac arrest before or after the crane tipped. B.C. Ambulance paramedics responded and took the injured worker to Victoria General Hospital. Mounties, B.C. Coroners Service and WorkSafe B.C. are investigating what caused the crane to tip at 4744 McVicker Road, where a large house is being built at the top of a steep slope. The crane was about halfway up the gravel driveway. The names and ages of the workers have not been released and it’s un-

Vancouver man’s team wins $6.6 million US playing Dota 2 video game

T A construction crane tipped in Metchosin, on McVicker Road on Thursday, Aug. 13, 2015.

known what company they worked for. WorkSafe B.C. spokesman Scott McCloy said investigators will be talking to other workers who witnessed the incident and making sure the site is safe before further work resumes. “We want to find out what happened, how it happened and try to find out ways to prevent it from happening in the future,” McCloy said.

he first time Kurtis Ling (pictured) came home from a video game tournament with a few thousand dollars in prize money, his mother thought it was a hoax. But when his team, Evil Geniuses, won $6.6 million US last weekend in Seattle, Pat Ling knew her son’s job is very real — and she’s understandably proud. “We were just thrilled. It is incredible, we never knew video games could have such a big impact on people.” Kurtis, 22, is on a team with five players who take on oth-

er teams in the multiplayer online battle known as Dota 2. They beat 15 other teams at The International, a sold-out tournament with the best Dota players in the world and more than $18 million US in prize money. The Ling family hooked up their TV to the computer to watch the final on Saturday from their East Vancouver home, with sister Kaitlin explaining to her parents what was going on. But Pat Ling said she couldn’t bear to watch. just like when the Vancouver Canucks were in the Stanley Cup finals. “I was too nervous ... although I didn’t understand it, I was very nervous for him, so I went to cook supper.” Left UBC to play full-time Long before his parents understood video game playing could be a job, Ling dreamed it would be his. “When I was young I never really wanted to become a policeman or fireman, I just wanted to play games all day, and it’s probably worrisome for my parents,” Kurtis told Ian Hanomansing in a report for CBC’s The National last year. “But that’s really what I wanted and somehow I’ve been granted that wish.” After Saturday’s win, Pat Ling recalled how her family — like many others — had struggles with their son’s video game playing, especially in high school. “Playing computer games was such a contention … we set time limits and boundaries, homework first, etc.,” she said. “We viewed someone playing video games as someone just sitting in front of the computer and playing and playing and not doing anything else. “As a parent when you look at that, you’re thinking, ‘Oh no, that’s my son and he’s wasting his life.’” During university, Ling started making money in the growing field of e-sports, and three years ago left school to game full time, said his mom. Last year, he told CBC he was making in the “low six figures,” and occasionally e-sports fans would stop him on the street and call him by his gaming handle, Aui_2000. Now, he’s taking a share of $6.6 million US home to Vancouver, where he plays — or rather, works — in his parents’ basement. “There’s this sort of stereotype where you have the unemployed male playing video games all day in his parents’ basement,” he said last year. “That’s actually me, that’s who I am, except I’m employed in it.”

LOCAL

Saturday, August 15, 2015 i 17

U.S. charges Winnipeg pharmacy company with smuggling bad cancer drugs, money laundering An online Canadian pharmacy sold $78 million worth of unapproved, mislabeled and, in two cases, counterfeit cancer drugs to doctors across the United States over three years, U.S. government prosecutors said. An indictment filed in U.S. District Court in Montana charges Canada Drugs and its affiliates in the United Kingdom and Barbados with smuggling, money laundering and conspiracy. Thirteen of the 14 companies and individuals named as defendants are located outside the U.S. and have not appeared to face the charges, leading prosecutors to undertake a possibly lengthy extradition process. The 14-year-old Winnipeg company’s website describes itself as offering low prices on medicine from Canada, the U.K., Australia and New Zealand. A company spokesman and its attorney did not return calls Monday. The medicines named in the criminal indictment are mainly clinical drugs that treat cancer or the effects of chemotherapy. Nearly all of the drugs are legal in the U.S. when sold by FDA-approved manufacturers and marketers. Health Canada suspended the company’s establishment licence in June, 2014 over what it called “significant concerns” about its manufacturing practices. Canada Drugs’ affiliates bought their nonFDA authorized or mislabeled drugs abroad, and shipped them to the United States to sell to physicians at lower prices compared to the U.S. equivalents, according to the indictment. The money would go to the company’s Barbados affiliate, which would then send the profits to Canada, the indictment said. Prosecutors said sales went on until 2012, when the FDA began investigating the company’s involvement in distributing counterfeit versions of the cancer drug Avastin. The company’s U.K. affiliate, River East Supplies, had bought another supplier’s inventory of Avastin that included

Crime Stoppers MOST WANTED Subject: 1 Name: BESZEDES; Greszen Born: Nov. 23, 1995 Age: 19 Height: 5’3” (160cm) Weight: 130 lbs (59kg) Hair: Brown Eyes: Brown Wanted: B&E x5, Mischief, Attempt Theft, Assault w/Weapon Warrant in Effect: August 11, 2015 Subject: 2 Name: RUUD, Lorna Born: Oct 19, 1967 Age: 47 Height: 5’8” (172cm) Weight: 140 lbs (63kg) Hair: Brown Eyes: Blue Marks: Pock mark skin Wanted: Use Stolen Credit Card, Obstruct Police, Breach Warrant in Effect: August 11, 2015 Note: Goes by Lorna Yates or Barbara Chaplin Subject: 3 Name: ADUN, Ramadan Abdillahi Born: April 15, 1989 Age: 26 Height: 6’4” Weight: 210 lbs Hair: Black Eyes: Brown Wanted: Assault x6 (VPD) Warrant in Effect: August 11, 2015

some counterfeits. At least one of the counterfeits was sold to a U.S. physician, prosecutors said. The company also sold a non-U.S. approved Turkish version of Avastin, called Altuzan, to U.S. doctors, and that shipment included counterfeit packs of the medicine, according to prosecutors. The indictment accuses the company of falsifying customs declarations by placing low values on its shipments to avoid scrutiny by U.S. customs officials. When the drugs arrived at warehouses in the U.S., they sometimes were not stored properly, the indictment alleged. The grand jury returned the original indictment in November 2014, but the case in Montana federal court was under seal until this month. It was unsealed to allow the case against the one defendant living in the U.S., Ram Kamath of Downers Grove, Illinois, to move forward while prosecutors attempt to extradite the other defendants. Kamath was the director of pharmacy policy and international verifications for an unnamed Illinois entity. Prosecutors said Kamath agreed to temporarily store some of the company’s Avastin supplies in his house when Canada Drugs was shipping its inventory back to the U.K. amid the FDA investigation.

The 4th annual Vancouver Punjabi Mela at Walter Moberly Park in Vancouver was held in Vancouver on August 9 and hundreds of people turned up. Photo: Chandra Bodalia

18 i Saturday, August 15, 2015

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Northern Property to create $3B REIT in deal with True North

Calgary-based real estate trust would control one the largest collections of rental apartments in Canada after a proposed three-way deal involving nearly 25,000 residential suites in eight provinces and two territories. Under the friendly deal announced Monday, Northern Property Real Estate Investment Trust of Calgary will acquire True North Apartment Real Estate Investment Trust of Toronto. Northern would also acquire a 4,650-suite portfolio of multi-family properties managed by Starlight Investments Ltd., which is controlled by True North chairman Daniel Drimmer. Drimmer, 42, would become the largest investor in the merged company, to be named Northview Apartment Real Estate Investment. Drimmer would have a 14.5 per cent interest and have the right to name two members of its board. Northview is expected to be listed as NPR.UN on the Toronto Stock Exchange, where Northern Property and True North units are also traded. It would become Canada’s third-largest publicly traded apartment-oriented real estate business after Canadian Apartment Properties REIT and Boardwalk REIT. “The benefits of the proposed transaction are significant,” Northern Property president and CEO Todd Cook said in a conference call. Better funding opportunities “NPR’s portfolio will expand into Eastern Canada while True North gains exposure to Canada’s North and an expanded presence in Western Canada.” In addition, Cook said the larger, combined company would have better access to capital markets that provide funding and to real estate opportunities — including through thousands of additional residential units through its relationship with Starlight. “We anticipate providing the same quality of service (to residents) that we provide now. There may be different signs on the building but there will be little or no impact for our tenants,” Cook said. True North president and CEO Leslie Veiner, who would be operations chief for the combined business, said he plans to leverage the strength of each management team and a services agreement with Starlight over a three-year transition period. He also said Northview will be looking at regional asset management, opportunities to stabilize occupancy, maximize revenue generation and improve profitability. In total, the Northview would have suites in more than 60 markets in every province but Prince Edward Island and Manitoba, as well as about 800 employees. The largest number of suites is 8,235 in Ontario. 3-way deal Under the proposed deal, True North shareholders would receive 0.3908 of a share of Northern Property for each share.

Based on Friday’s closing price, the offer was worth $9 per share when the deal was announced, which was 16 per cent above True North’s closing price of $7.73 per share. In adNorthernJuly Property would pay $535 4dition, i Saturday, 25, 2015 million — including $316 million cash,

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July housing starts hint at condo construction cooldown The pace of new home construction slowed down in July largely because of an 8-per-cent decline in the building of multiple urban starts which include condominiums, the CMHC said Tuesday. Canada’s housing agency said the seasonally adjusted annual rate of home

construction was 193,032 units last month. That’s down from 202,338 units in June and less than the 195,000 pace that economists had been expecting. “The decline is mostly due to a drop in multi-family units which fell by 8.2 per cent (or 10,700 units),” Scotiabank said in a note to clients, while adding that the condo segment is “more volatile and lumpy than single-family units” which only inched lower by 0.8 per cent to 57,520 units. Indeed, over a longer time frame, the picture is nowhere near as bleak.

real estate / finance

2 i Saturday, August 15, 2015

July 2015 Housing Starts in Vancouver

ousing starts in the Vancouver Census Metropolitan Area (CMA) were trending at 21,874 units compared to 20,080 units in June, according to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). The trend is a six-month moving average of the monthly seasonally adjusted annual rates (SAAR)(1) of housing starts. “Strong demand for all types of homes translated into higher levels of housing starts in July”, said Robyn Adamache, CMHC’s Principal Market Analyst for Vancouver. “The trend measure of singledetached house construction edged higher

while apartment and townhome building registered more substantial increases. These trends point to robust demand for homes across the price spectrum.” 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.

July Housing Starts in BC

ousing starts in British Columbia’s urban areas(1) were trending at 31,102 units in July compared to 29,321 units in June, 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. “The pace of new home construction picked up since May, reflecting strength in the resale market” said Carol Frketich, CMHC Regional Economist for BC. “Demand for new homes has matched supply, keeping inventories of completed and unabsorbed homes in check.” 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 36,501 units in July, compared to 34,870 units in June. 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. Follow CMHC on Twitter @CMHC_ca Additional data is available upon request. (Ce document existe egalement en francais) (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

Saturday, August 15, 2015 i 3

OMG! Hrithik Roshan in Aashiqui 3 Even after 25 years of the filmâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s release, the songs from Aashiqui are crooned, hummed and re-mixed by all those who care for good music! People still remember Anu Agarwal and Rahul Roy only for their performances in the film, the two never found equal success with any other project they may have been a part of. Thus when Aashiqui 2 was announced the expectations were huge and not surprisingly the film surpassed all expectations and was

superbly successful at the box office with equally good music. Now according to reports in bollywoodlife.com, we hear Aashiqui 3 is on the cards and guess whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s playing the lead? We hear it is none other than Hrithik Roshan! Hrithik Roshan who recently shot a special video song Dheere dheere se from Aashiqui with Sonam Kapoor, could be playing the lead in Aashiqui 3. Though it is a known fact that the Bhatts always work with newcomers, Hrithik in Aashiqui 3 will be huge! We do hope this project works out, for the sake of good music and good looks!

4 i Saturday, August 15, 2015

Saturday, August 15, 2015 i 5

Spinach and Feta Pasta Ingredients :

Recipe

riginal recipe makes 4 servings, 1 (8 ounce) packagepenne pasta, 2 tablespoonsolive oil, 1/2 cupchopped onion, 1 clovegarlic, minced, 3 cupschopped tomatoes, 1 cupsliced fresh mushrooms, 2 cupsspinach leaves, packed, salt and pepper to taste, 1 pinchred pepper flakes, 8 ouncesfeta cheese, crumbled

Method:

1.Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook pasta in boiling water until al

dente; drain. 2.Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat; add onion and garlic, and cook until golden brown. Mix in tomatoes, mushrooms, and spinach. Season with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Cook 2 minutes more, until tomatoes are heated through and spinach is wilted. Reduce heat to medium, stir in pasta and feta cheese, and cook until heated through.

Happy 69 Independence Day India and Pakistan th

John Horgan Leader, BC Official Opposition

Harry Bains, Surrey-Newton

604-597-8248 harry.bains.mla@leg.bc.ca

Raj Chouhan, Burnaby-Edmonds

604-660-7301 raj.chouhan.mla@leg.bc.ca

Judy Darcy, New Westminster

604-775-2101 judy.darcy.mla@leg.bc.ca

Mike Farnworth, Port Coquitlam

604-927-2088 mike.farnworth.mla@leg.bc.ca

Sue Hammell, Surrey-Green Timbers

604-590-5868 sue.hammell.mla@leg.bc.ca

Bruce Ralston, Surrey-Whalley

604-586-2740 bruce.ralston.mla@leg.bc.ca

Jane Shin, Burnaby-Lougheed 604-660-5058 jane.shin.mla@leg.bc.ca

6 i Saturday, August 15, 2015

BOLLYWOOD / FILM

Jacqueline Fernandez’ Heartwarming, adorable moments

oday, Bollywood’s most adorable

and loved actress Jacqueline Fernandez turns 30. After winning Miss Sri Lanka Universe title in 2006, Jacqueline’s journey as a model and then actress began! Kick actress is not only drop-dead gorgeous but also brilliant and holds a graduate’s degree in Mass Communication. After working as a TV reporter in Sri Lanka and then as a model, Ja c queline stepped into Bollywood with Sujoy Ghosh’s fantasy drama film Aladin in 2009. For her role in the film, the actress won IIFA Award for Best Female Debut. But it was after her film

Murder 2 that Jacqueline received the major recognition in the industry. So far, the actress has given us superhit films such as Housefull 2, Race 2, Kick and many more. Very soon, we’ll get to see Jacqueline in Karan Malhotra’s upcoming film Brothers, which also stars Akshay Kumar and Sidharth Malhotra. Jacqueline is fun loving, energetic, gorgeous and a very warm person. The actress loves social networking sites and camera as much as they love her. The actress never stops entertaining and making everyone’s day with her positive outlook on life. Today, Jacqueline turns 30

and we wish the beautiful actress a very Happy Birthday and on this special day, let’s take a trip down memory lane and recall 30 best and most adorable moments that took place in her life!

Your f

avou

MORE THAN 40 VARIETIES OF DOSAS (VEG. NON VEG) We also make IDLI, VADA, CHICKEN 65, FISH PAKORA & LOTS OF SOUTH INDIAN SPECIALITIES

rite D

osa p

lace

CHEF SELVAM

Unit 110 - 8248 - Fraser Street, Vancouver, BC

Experienced chef in South Indian Cuisine

Ph: 604-312-9297

BOLLYWOOD / FILM

Saturday, August 15, 2015 i 7

8 i Saturday, August 15, 2015

LOCAL

Insurance company must pay out owner for marijuana grow-op destroyed by arson

B.C. Supreme Court Justice ruled 4300 Westsyde Rd. When police raided the an insurance company must pay out house in April 2010, they found a grow oplosses to a homeowner whose West- eration with more than 600 plants, property syde house was burned in an arson following they believed was stolen and illegal firearms. an RCMP raid on a marijuana grow operation. One day later, the home was destroyed Wawanesa originally arWawanesa Insurance Co. denied benefits to in an arson. gued Davidson was responsible for the arthe homeowner, Steven Michael Davidson, arson, but later dropped that contention. guing he knew about a sizable grow-op in the basement of his home. Davidson has a dated The insurance company relied in part on criminal record for forgery and possession of wording in its policy that voids coverage in stolen property. He was working at the time the event of marijuana production, whether of the raid and arson as a contractor setting or not the insured even knows about it. But, Fitzpatrick said, there is no evidence the arup illegal grow operations in the son immediately fol100 Mile House area. Davidson A judge in Kamloops lowing the raid had was on bail for assaulting his wife, has ruled the owner any relationship to charges that were later dropped, of a house that had the grow-op, despite and was banned as part of a court a marijuana grow-op the suspicious timing. order from being within 100 in its basement didn’t The insurer also obmetres of his Westsyde house, know about it, and tained video shot in where she continued to live. ordered his insurer to March 2010, shown Davidson argued that since he pay for the destrucin court, of Davidwas working away from Ka- tion of the property in son discussing a an arson fire. mloops and banned from bevisit to his home. ing at the home, he did not “Are you telling me know about the grow-op. she hasn’t got the basement fired up again?” While he did make a visit to his house, contrary to his bail order, Davidson tes- an unidentified male asks Davidson in the tified he did not notice a basement video. “Not very well,” he replies. “F—ing door drywalled shut and painted over. very pathetic what I seen down there, I fiInstead, in a rage, he smashed goods nally went in there, you know, she showed at the house he believed were sto- me a couple plants, brought them up to me, len by his wife, Tammy Boucher. up, you know up to the door ... you know, “This is a case close to the line,” Jus- they look pretty good, but there’s not very tice Shelley Fitzpatrick said in her ruling. many there ... what the f—, not very many “But, I accept the evidence of Mr. Davidson ... Yeah, ha, I just got tired of the bullshit and find, as a fact, that he did not know of there, huh. So we agreed that she would be the grow operation or even the other activi- out in two months. “I told her at the end of ties relating to potentially stolen property or May that should be enough time to get her potentially illegal firearms over the relevant program finished, you know, get it up and period of time leading up to the fire.” Fitz- running and finished, and then we, we’ll patrick ordered Wawanesa to pay Davidson, ... and I’ll sell the f—ing house, get rid of who represented himself at the trial, $215,000 it, get my headaches over, I get rid of her.” for loss of the home and contents. The re- Davison argued “her program” referred to maining amounts for the loss were paid to Boucher’s psychiatric program. the bank that had a mortgage on the house at

Saturday, August 15, 2015 i 19

Vancouver Police raid medical marijuana dispensary allegedly linked to Hells Angels associate

n associate of the Hells Angels is listed as the operator of an East Vancouver medical dispensary, according to a search warrant executed in a raid on the business. The court document claims the Pitt Meadows resident, who has not been charged in association with the investigation, shows up in City of Vancouver records associated with the Limelife Society at Society at 4866 Rupert St. ‘High end’ vehicles “He is a known Hells Angel associate and is ‘Of Interest’ in five separate gang intel files since 2010,” the warrant states. Vancouver police swore the information this week to obtain a search warrant for the business. According to the court document, police started investigating after observing “new and high end” vehicles in the parking lot. “I believe these vehicles to be associated to the Hells Angels based on common Hells Angels insignia,” wrote Const. Brian Hobbs, the officer who swore the warrant. According to the warrant, three of the vehicles are linked to a man who socializes with a full patch Hells Angel. The man, who has also not been charged, allegedly told police he had nothing to do with the store. But in the warrant, police claim he is listed as a contact for one of the dispensary’s accounts. They also claim an employee who sold marijuana to an undercover officer is the girlfriend of a Hells Angel. According to the warrant, she was allegedly arrested at Vancouver Internation-

al Airport in 2012 after coming back from Mexico with three grams of marijuana. An undercover officer was allegedly able to purchase pot from the store without any identification, Health Canada authorization to possess the drug or doctor’s note. Police said they found the store, which is a short distance away from an elementary school and a park, was also selling pot to minors. The dispensary under investigation is one of five locations associated with the Limelife Society. The owner of the society itself told CBC he has no criminal record and no ties to organized crime. Police have executed search warrants at 11 medical marijuana dispensaries since the businesses started proliferating in the city. Local politicians recently voted to regulate and license the roughly 100 medical marijuana retailers in Vancouver. The move has drawn criticism from Ottawa because of fears that organized crime is behind many of the operations. The bylaw will charge retail dealers a $30,000 licence fee — the city’s highest permit cost — and prevent shops from operating within 300 metres of community centres, schools and other pot shops. None of the charges alleged in the search warrant has been proven in court. One employee was arrested and released during the raid, and evidence was seized to further the investigation.

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. 2 - Saturday - August 15, 2015

Tel: 604-591-5423

Northern Property to create $3B REIT in deal with True North

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Professional and Award Winning Service

real estate / finance

2 i Saturday, August 15, 2015

July 2015 Housing Starts in Vancouver

July Housing Starts in BC

BOLLYWOOD / FILM

Saturday, August 15, 2015 i 3

4 i Saturday, August 15, 2015

Saturday, August 15, 2015 i 5

Spinach and Feta Pasta Ingredients :

Recipe

Method:

1.Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook pasta in boiling water until al

Happy 69 Independence Day India and Pakistan th

John Horgan Leader, BC Official Opposition

Harry Bains, Surrey-Newton

604-597-8248 harry.bains.mla@leg.bc.ca

Raj Chouhan, Burnaby-Edmonds

604-660-7301 raj.chouhan.mla@leg.bc.ca

Judy Darcy, New Westminster

604-775-2101 judy.darcy.mla@leg.bc.ca

Mike Farnworth, Port Coquitlam

604-927-2088 mike.farnworth.mla@leg.bc.ca

Sue Hammell, Surrey-Green Timbers

604-590-5868 sue.hammell.mla@leg.bc.ca

Bruce Ralston, Surrey-Whalley

604-586-2740 bruce.ralston.mla@leg.bc.ca

Jane Shin, Burnaby-Lougheed 604-660-5058 jane.shin.mla@leg.bc.ca

6 i Saturday, August 15, 2015

BOLLYWOOD / FILM

Jacqueline Fernandez’ Heartwarming, adorable moments

oday, Bollywood’s most adorable

and we wish the beautiful actress a very Happy Birthday and on this special day, let’s take a trip down memory lane and recall 30 best and most adorable moments that took place in her life!

Your f

avou

MORE THAN 40 VARIETIES OF DOSAS (VEG. NON VEG) We also make IDLI, VADA, CHICKEN 65, FISH PAKORA & LOTS OF SOUTH INDIAN SPECIALITIES

rite D

osa p

lace

CHEF SELVAM

Unit 110 - 8248 - Fraser Street, Vancouver, BC

Experienced chef in South Indian Cuisine

Ph: 604-312-9297

BOLLYWOOD / FILM

Saturday, August 15, 2015 i 7

8 i Saturday, August 15, 2015

NATIONAL

20 i Saturday, August 15, 2015

Canada’s biggest South Asian festival, draws record crowds

Windsor police officer who was caught bringing undeclared booze over the border fights to save her job

n appeal hearing began Wednesday morning for a disgraced Windsor police officer fighting her dismissal. Const. Dorothy Nesbeth (pictured), caught bringing booze over the border without declaring it, was fired Dec. 19 after a hearing process that dragged on more than four years with her on paid suspension. The day she was fired, she contacted a new lawyer to launch an appeal. Provincial rules dictate that Nesbeth must go back on paid suspension until the appeal process is finished. That appeal, before the Ontario Civilian Police Commission, was scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. Wednesday in Toronto. $400,000 and counting collected by cop nabbed for undeclared beer

Canadian border officers stopped Nesbeth at the Ambassador Bridge on July 28, 2010. They seized 102 cans of beer, 10 litres of wine and two bottles of rum, all undeclared. She was charged under the Police Services Act with deceit and two counts of discreditable conduct. Nesbeth’s hearing began Aug. 30, 2011 but was bogged down for years by repeated delays, including her attempt to have news media banned from the proceedings. The hearing officer convicted Nesbeth in October 2014 of deceit for making false statements and discreditable conduct for failing to declare goods at the border. He found her not guilty of the second discreditable conduct charge for allegedly threatening customs officers.

Harper says Mike Duffy’s Senate expenses ‘could not be justified’

onservative Leader Stephen Harper was met in Vancouver with questions about Senator Mike Duffy’s ineligible expenses, despite being a long distance away from Ottawa, where Nigel Wright, his former chief of staff, gave much-anticipated testimony in court on Wednesday. Duffy, whose trial resumed Wednesday, has pleaded not guilty to 31 charges of fraud, breach of trust and bribery related to expenses he claimed as a senator and later repaid with $90,000 he received from Nigel Wright. Harper was asked why he didn’t know that Wright was the one who repaid Duffy’s ineligible expenses. “Mr. Duffy came to me and I said to him that his expenses in my judgment could not be justified. You could not justify claiming expenses you did not actually incur — regardless of what the rules were,” Harper said. “Mr. Wright was obviously speaking to Mr. Duffy and had indicated to me that Mr. Duffy would repay those expenses, which is exactly what Mr. Duffy told the Canadian public,” Harper said. Wright told the RCMP during the course of its investigation in 2013 the prime minister was made aware on Feb. 22, 2013, that Duffy had agreed to repay his ineligible expenses, but not that the $90,000 was coming from his personal savings. But an email from Wright to Benjamin Perrin, Harper’s legal counsel, which came to light in court documents has raised more

questions than it has answered to date. Led to believe Duffy would ‘repay’: Harper “I do want to speak to the PM before everything is considered final,” Wright said in an email to Perrin and others in the Prime Minister’s Office. Less than an hour later, Wright wrote, “We are good to go from the PM.” On Wednesday, Harper maintained that it was his understanding that Duffy would be made to repay his ineligible expenses — not that Wright would pay them for him. “I did not believe Mr. Duffy’s expenses could be justified and I thought he should repay them. And Mr. Wright was working with Mr. Duffy to make sure he did repay them. That’s what we were told was going to happen. “When I found out that is not what happened, that in fact they had been repaid back by somebody else, we made that information public and I took the appropriate action against people who were involved in that,” Harper said in Vancouver. Harper initially told the House of Commons that Wright had “offered his resignation” and that he’d accepted it. But in a radio interview months later, Harper flip-flopped and said Wright had been “dismissed.” On Wednesday, Wright told an Ottawa courtroom he felt he had “an obligation” to follow through on an initial plan to see Duffy repay his expenses, which included having the Conservative Party repay approximately one-third of the amount.

cluded lasers which lit up the venhe Bollywood Monster Mashue, with beautiful laser logos creating up, Canada’s biggest South patterns on the walls of the City Hall. Asian festival, drew record True to its mash-up character, the biggest crowds of thousands of people for two Bollywood festival in Canada was not just days of dance, music, yoga, fun, food, about Bollywood films and music, but also shopping and laser blasts at the Celincluded yoga, dance classes, and tastiest ebration Square in Mississauga here. delicacies. Reminding visitors of Dilli Haat, Mississauga, which is the sixth largest its Bollywood Monster Marketplace offers city in Canada and neighbours Torona unique shopping experience for visitors. to, is home to the second biggest conIn fact, the festival has been created with centration of Indians in the country. the fusion of Bollywood and other genres The brainchild of famous Indian-Canadian composer Vikas Kohli, the festival reflects the multicultural character of the city by serving Bollywood music and dance in fusion with various genres from around the world. The highlights of the festival which ended last week were Indian-Canadian singer Jonita Gandhi, who has worked with A.R. Rahman and Shreya Ghoshal and Dance and lasers at Bollywood Monster Mashup sung the title song of “Chennai Express”, and Indian-British singer to reflect the multicultural character of Ash King, who is known for hit BollyMississauga city where immigrant peowood songs such as “Te amo”, “Aunty ple from over a hundred countries have ji”, “I love you” and “Meherbaan”. settled. Summing it up, Kohli said: “EvCrowds at the fully packed Miserything about this Bollywood festival is a sissauga Celebration Square went fusion act - cultural fusion, genre fusion... berserk with joy as the two singorchestra, laser show... hug acts on state. ers belted out their hit numbers. Actually, we are throwing a huge par“It’s an absolutely fantastic turnout... ty (for people of all cultures in the city). We do not have official estimates yet. “Five years ago, Mississauga city asked me However, we have heard people sayto fill the gap because we didn’t a have a ing that we might have beaten (the high-quality festival. Immediately, Bollyrecord of) Canada Day celebrations wood Monster Mashup was a hit because at the Celebration Square which gets Bollywood is so popular everywhere. In approximately 100,000 people,” said just five years, we have become the largest Kohli, the event’s executive director. south Asian film festival in Canada. We get Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie our locals artistes to mingle with internawas on hand to soak in the Bollywood tional artistes. In fact, many artistes come spirit. Shaking a leg to the song “Balam for their premiere Canadian performances Pichkari” from the film “Yeh Jawaani Hai here.” Notable international performancDeewani”, she had the crowds in splits. es at this year’s festival included MexiFor the first time, the festival incan Trumpets and Brazilian Percussion.

Small business body calls Ontario pension plan a ‘job-killer’

ohn Marsh says Ontario’s proposed mandatory retirement savings plan will take $400,000 out of his company’s pocket over the next 15 years and provide almost no benefit to his employees. “I have to be opposed, because this is a job-killer. I’m not just talking about our company,” said Marsh, president of medical office supplier Elecompack Systems Inc. of Mississauga. “Either we have to lay off people or I’m considering a moratorium on pay raises for two years. “It’s got to come from somewhere.” Most of Marsh’s 14 employees are over the age of 50, and, thus, he says, stand to gain very little from putting roughly $1,000 a year into the proposed new plan until they retire. That’s because they won’t have been in the plan long enough to earn much of a benefit, he explained. At the same time, his company, which will also have to contribute at least $1,000 per employee, is facing higher hydro costs and carbo-emission costs under the province’s proposed cap-and-trade program, he said. Business reaction to new details of Ontario’s proposed pension plan was mixed Tuesday. Small business organizations called it a job-killer. “This move is a further slap in the face to Ontario’s small businesses and their

employees,” CFIB president, Dan Kelly, said in a statement, noting there was nothing new in the announcement for small businesses. He dismissed it as “election sabre-rattling.” The plan has become a focal point in the federal election campaign; Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne has blasted Prime Minister Stephen Harper for refusing to support it. The province settled a major business issue Tuesday with an announcement that employers who offer defined-contribution retirement-savings plans would be exempt from the Ontario plan under certain circumstances. To qualify, the defined-contribution plans must be locked in to prevent contributors from taking the money out early for other purposes. Employers and employees must also contribute a combined 8 per cent of eligible income at minimum. Previously, the government had said only employers that offered defined benefit plans would be exempt from Ontario’s retirement savings plan. Defined benefit plans offer a higher level of income security to employees by guaranteeing a certain level of retirement payout, while defined-contribution payouts depend on the performance of the underlying investments. “It’s a good step forward,” said Scott Clausen, partner and senior retirement consultant with benefits firm Mercer.

NATIONAL

Nigel Wright says he had ‘obligation’ to pay Mike Duffy’s expenses

But Harper was not aware of the deal to pay of Duffy’s expenses

igel Wright testified today he paid $90,000 of Senator Mike Duffy’s expenses while serving as the prime minister’s chief of staff because he felt he had an “obligation” to fulfil an arrangement that he said he made with Duffy “I had an obligation to fulfil my end of the arrangement with him. I couldn’t think of another way of doing it. “I lived to regret that decision,” Wright said in court. Wright also testified that Prime Minister Stephen Harper wasn’t informed that the Conservative fund was to be used in an initial plan to pay off Duffy’s expenses, when they were believed to be only $32,000. And Wright explained to the court what he meant when he wrote an email to Benjamin Perrin, the prime minister’s former adviser and legal counsel, saying “we are good to go from the PM” about that initial plan. He also reaffirmed what he said in a past statement, that Harper did not know Wright would be paying personally to cover those expenses. Wright’s term as chief of staff ended weeks later when that information became public, though

it is still unclear whether he resigned or was fired. Wright testified Wednesday he initially thought Duffy owed $32,000 related to living expenses, and was “furious” to learn it was actually, according to an external audit, more than $90,000 for various expenses. Duffy, who was in the courtroom and sat quietly with his wife beside him listening to Wright’s testimony, has pleaded not guilty to 31 charges of fraud, breach of trust and bribery related to expenses he claimed as a senator and later repaid with the $90,000 he received from Wright. Wright testified there had been ongoing negotiations with Duffy and his lawyer to reach an agreement in which Duffy would accept some responsibility for his inappropriate expenses, when they were believed to be $32,000. During those negotiations, Duffy had demanded a number of things, including that he would be withdrawn from an external audit process, that the party would agree he met the requirements to sit as a P.E.I. senator; and that he would be kept “whole” on repayment and his legal fees would be paid.

Conservative pledge to collect data on foreign homebuyers gets mixed reception

he Conservatives’ pledge to spend $500,000 on collecting “comprehensive data on foreign buyer activity in Canada’s housing market” has been met with a mixed reaction among Realtors, many of whom acknowledge the need for more data but are skeptical that such information will do anything to solve the problem of affordability in overheated real estate markets such as Vancouver and Toronto. “There are real concerns that foreign, non-resident real estate speculation is the reason some Canadian families find house prices beyond their budgets,” Conservative Leader Stephen Harper said at an election campaign stop in Vancouver on Wednesday. “If such foreign, non-resident buyers are

artificially driving up the cost of real estate, and Canadian families are shut out of the market, that is a matter we can and should do something about.” Whether the concerns Harper referred to are justified has been hard to assess, because information about residency and citizenship status is not collected in any systematic way by the agencies that track the housing market.

Saturday, August 15, 2015

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Stephen Harper pledges higher RRSP withdrawal limit for 1st time homebuyers

tephen Harper says a Conservative government would raise the amount that first-time homebuyers can draw out of their RRSPs to buy a house — from $25,000 to $35,000 — if elected. At a campaign stop in Vancouver, Harper said a Conservative government would increase the upper limit of what’s known as the Home Buyer’s Plan. Under current rules, a would-be homebuyer can withdraw up to $25,000 from his or her RRSP without paying a penalty, as long as the money will be used to help pay for a first home. The homebuyer must also pay back the funds within 15 years, and doesn’t get the benefit of the tax credit while replenishing the money. Under the new Conservative proposal, that limit would be increased to $35,000. “For most Canadians, the family home is their biggest asset and their most significant investment in their future financial security. It’s also the centre of their lives,” Harper said. Since the plan started in 1992, more than 2.8 million Canadians have used the plan to help pay for a first home, the Canadian Real Estate Association, which represents realtors across the country, said in a release following the policy pledge. The plan would cost the government $30 million a year in lost tax revenue starting in the 2017-18 fiscal year, Harper said. Foreign buyer

scrutiny Harper also promised to take a closer look at how foreign money may be influencing the housing market in Toronto and Vancouver, two cities that have seen outsized gains in home prices for several years now. “We need to ensure we have the necessary information to assess the situation and take action,” an announcement on the website for the Conservative Party of Canada said. “We’re announcing that our government will commit to collecting data on foreign buyer activity in Canada’s housing market. We will take action in co-ordination with provinces, as necessary, to ensure foreign investment in Canada’s housing sector increases the availability and affordability of homes for Canadians.” Campaign material provided by the Conservatives to The Cana-

dian Press pointed to rules in other countries that force foreign investors to only purchase homes under construction, or to limit home ownership for foreign nationals to just the time that they live in the country. About 15 per cent of the condos in Vancouver are empty year-round by some estimates, with the owners sitting on the properties hoping to make a profit as the prices of homes rise. Other estimates, including one calculation by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, puts the number at 2.4 per cent of the condo market.

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CLASSIFIEDS

Saturday, August 15, 2015

C JOBS “Balwinder Singh Singhmaar, resident of 15095 92Ave, Surrey, BC V3R 5V8 has a vacancy for In-home Child caregiver for infant child and 9 years old son. $10.25/hrs, Full Time, 40 hrs/ week. Applicant must have high school with 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

JOBS 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 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

JOBS

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 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 Mayuri Indian foods inc is looking to hire an Ethnic Food Cook in Surrey BC. F/T & Perm.$17/hr. Must have at least 2-3 yrs experience in South Indian cuisine & specialized knowledge in Indian spicing. Duties: Prepare & Cook meals; Supervise Kitchen helpers; Plan menus; Ensure quality & determine food proportions; Monitor & order food supplies; Set up & oversee buffets; Manage kitchen operation. Mail resume or apply by person Mayuri indian cuisine , Unit 102A,12677 80th Ave., Surrey BC V3W 3A6 Fax: 604-572-3281 ------------------------------------English Classes for Adults Register for classes September 2-8 For more information,Visit: www. victoryesl.com Call: 604.755.7976 E-mail: victoryesl1@gmail.com ----------------------------

E JOBS

Cook Require Curry junction Restaurant in White Rock need cook immediately, This is a full time permanent position for a experienced person, Depending on experience salary will be upto $21 per hr. with other benefits. Call:604-729-6741 or 604-385-1558 ---------------------------Transworld Security located at 2nd Floor, 5050, Kingsway, Burnaby BC V5H 4H2 is looking for a Static Guard, Static Guard Supervisor, Mobile Supervisor and Field Manager. These are permanent full-time positions. Static Guard pay rate is $13.00 per hour plus vacation pay. You would be required to patrol industrial and commercial premises to prevent and detect signs of intrusion and ensure security of doors, windows and gates. Answer alarms and investigate disturbances. Monitor and authorize entrance and departure of employees, visitors and guests. Call police or fire departments in cases of emergency. Circulate among visitors, patrons and employees to preserve order and protect property. Static Guard Supervisor pay rate is $14.00 per hour plus vacation pay. You would be required to oversee and supervise Static Guards. You will need to ensure the duties of the Static Guards you supervise are being completed and the client’s needs are be-

S Matrimonial Seeking a suitable match for Ravidasia Sikh Boy, 30 / 5’10”, Living in Canada, B.Tech. Please send your biodata and pics at aman.shine@gmail. com or contact +1 306 461 3131. ing met. Field Manager pay rate is $18.00 per hour plus vacation pay. You would be required to report to the Director of Operations and you are responsible for supporting, mentoring and supervising the security officers in the field. You will be required to manage the company’s field operations and resources after business hours. Mobile Supervisor pay rate is $18.00 per hour. You would be required to provide ongoing leadership, direction and training. You need to ensure all standing orders and scheduled daily activities are carried out for each shift. You will be required to discipline staff when necessary

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Call: 604-591-5423

COMMUNITY Independence Day Celebrations at the Consulate General of India The 69th Independence Day of India will be celebrated on 15th August 2015 (Saturday) at the Consulate General of India, 201-325 (3rd floor– Conference Hall) Howe Street, Vancouver BC. 2. The Flag hoisting ceremony will take place at 1000hrs. National Anthem, reading of President of India’s address to the nation and a brief reception over simple refreshments, will follow. 3. Consulate General of India, Vancouver cordially invites all Indian nationals, people of Indian origin and friends of India to participate in the Independence Day celebrations. ---------------------------------------------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. 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. 604507- 9945 for further details. ------------------------------------Vancouver’s 42nd Chariot Festival of India 11:30 to 1:00pm Sunday, August 9, at 2nd Beach in Stanley park, Vancouver --------------------------------------------Free Community Workshops & Activities August 1–16 English & Multilingual August 1: Powell St Festival August 8: Korean Cultural Heritage Festival August 27: Wood Boat Festival Meet up location will be confirmed upon registration 604 438 8214 --------------------------------------Vedic Seniors Parivar Centre of Vedic Hindu Cultural Society Surrey invites South Asian Adults, Senior members and also non members to come and attend Meditation for Anxieties ( Worries ) to retrieve your ‘’ Inner Child ‘’ so that you can become whole as a person and learn better self care, by Dr. Jaswant . S . Bhopal a Psychiatrist, Physician & Spiritual Preceptor on

August 2nd 2015 ( Sunday ) from 2.00 pm to 3.30 pm at Shanti Niketan hall of Lakshmi Narayan Hindu Temple 8321 - 140th Street Surrey BC. Please bring yoga Matt. with you, Dr. Jas Bhopal will answer all your questions about Meditation for your better self care after the Meditation. Tea and light Snacks will be served in the end. Please call Surendra Handa Coordinator Tel. 604- 507-9945 for further information. --------------------------------------Free Multicultural Activities All are invited to Progressive Intercultural Community Services Society’s (PICS) wrap up event for “Many Faiths-One Common Thread” program funded by Inspirit Foundation on Friday July 24, 2015. The program is to inspire pluralism among young Canadians (ages 18-30) of different spiritual, religious and secular beliefs. Apart from a delightful multicultural dinner there will be fun activities for all. What: Wrap up event for Many

Saturday, August 15, 2015

Faiths-One Common thread 12160 Beecher Street, Surrey When : Friday, July 24th 2015 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM For more info: Mukhwinder Rangi 604-596-7722 ext. 121 if you wish to attend. -------------------------------------------Vedic Seniors Parivar Centre of Vedic Hindu Cultural Society Surrey invites South Asian Senior members to come and join, to get an unforgettable experience of our unique & favourable pot luck held every year, to be held on July 25th 2015 ( Saturday ) from 11.00 am to 2.30 pm. You will be stunned to see the variety of home made dishes prepared by the members [ vegetable snacks, vegetable South Asian dishes and mouth watering desserts ]. There will be light & live entertainment program also by our Parivar members starting at 11.30 am and is expected to continue up to 2.30 pm at Shanti Niketan hall of Lakshmi Narayan Hindu Temple 8321 - 140th street Surrey BC. Registration required

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for non members & participants, please contact Surendra Handa Coordinator at 604 - 507 - 9945 for registration. ------------------------------------------------South Asian Seniors are planning to visit Europe though 12 Nights Cruise & 3days tour of Amsterdam Holland in May 2016. The Cruise Itinerary is as followsStarts from Amsterdam Holland, first stop 1 day visit Berlin Germany, 2nd stop for 1 day visit Tallinn Estonia, 3rd stop 2 days visit St. Petersburg Russia, 4th stop 1 day visit Helsinki Finland, 5th stop 1 day visit Stockholm Sweden, 6th stop 1 day visit Copenhagen Denmark and back to Amsterdam Holland the 13th day morning. All arrangements will be made for your Air Travel, Cruise bookings, all Excursions for all ports and Amsterdam City, Hotel stay & food in Amsterdam and also pick up service by Bus from Surrey Temple to Vancouver airport and back to Temple from Vancouver airport on return. The Cruise is by Ship Celebrity Silhouette from May 14th 2016 to May 26th 2016. The total tour will be for 16 days

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Saturday, August 15, 2015

Business / Finance

Canadian house prices up 1.2% in July, but Calgary drops Demand in Toronto, Hamilton, Vancouver drives strong gains in those cities

he Teranet-National Bank house price index rose 1.2 per cent in July, traditionally a much quieter month for real estate sales, driven by demand in Ottawa, Toronto, Hamilton and Vancouver. But prices were down on the month in five Canadian cities, including Calgary, where house prices dropped by 1.9 per cent in the past month. The composite index of house prices from cities across Canada is at an all-time high and has risen 5.1 per cent in the past year. But that upward trend masks differing market conditions in Canadian cities. Markets have remained hot in Vancouver, where prices are up 9.9 per cent on the year; Toronto is up 8.4 per cent and Hamilton, up 6.7 per cent.

These are sellers’ markets, with more buyers than homes listed for sale. But in Calgary, house prices are down 2.3 per cent since last year, reflecting the economic slowdown that has followed the advent of cheap oil. The drop in the past month indicates a hit from the worsening job situation and many people putting their homes up for sale in the face of economic uncertainty. Prices also dropped year-over-year in Montreal and Halifax, down 0.6 per cent in both cities. While July is traditionally a slow month, as people are on vacation and may be less interested in homes during hot weather, sales have been unusually strong across the country in every market but Halifax and Winnipeg, Teranet said.

China pushes yuan down further amid fears of currency war

Move sparked fears of a global currency war

hina’s yuan hit a four-year low on Wednesday, falling for a second day after authorities devalued it in a move that sparked fears of a global currency war and accusations that Beijing was giving an unfair advantage to its struggling exporters. Spot yuan fell to 6.43 per US dollar, its weakest since August 2011, after the central bank set its daily midpoint reference at 6.3306, even weaker than Tuesday’s devaluation. The currency fared worse in offshore trade, touching 6.57. The central bank, which had described the devaluation as a one-off step to make the yuan more responsive to market forces, sought to reassure financial markets on Wednesday that it was not embarking on a steady depreciation. “Looking at the international and domestic economic situation, currently there is no basis for a sustained depreciation trend for the yuan,” the People’s Bank of China said in a statement. Nevertheless, a senior trader at a European bank in Shanghai said the unexpected devaluation had caused “some panic” in the markets. “Although the central bank made explanations again today, stressing

the yuan would not show sustained depreciation, the market is very jittery,” he said. The yuan has now lost 3.5 per cent in China in the last two days, and around 4.8 per cent in global markets. Other currencies hit lows Other Asian currencies were also lower on Wednesday in response, with Indonesia’s rupiah and Malaysia’s ringgit hitting 17-year lows, and the Australian and New Zealand dollars at six-year lows. Indonesia’s central bank pinned the rupiah’s fall directly on the yuan devaluation and said it would step into the foreign exchange and bond markets to guard against volatility. A trader at a Chinese commercial bank said he expected the yuan devaluation would be over once it nears the official midpoint. “Judging from past two days ... the one-time devaluation engineered by the central bank could be between 4 to 5 per cent before the currency returns to fresh stability,” he said. Poor economic data Tuesday’s devaluation followed a run of poor economic data and raised market suspicions that China was

embarking on a longer-term slide in the exchange rate. It was the biggest one-day fall in the yuan since a massive devaluation in 1994.

Bear Head LNG export licence approved by National Energy Board

he National Energy Board has approved export and import licences for a proposed liquefied natural gas facility in Cape Breton. The Bear Head LNG Corporation wants to build a facility in Point Tupper, Richmond County. On Friday, the board issued an import licence for natural gas and approved the plant to export liquefied natural gas. Its ruling is subject to the approval from the governor in council. Heritage Gas filed an official comment raising concerns how exporting liquefied natural gas could affect the

supply in Canada and how it “flows into the Maritimes.” “We have determined that the quantity of natural gas proposed to be exported by Bear Head LNG is surplus to Canadian needs,” wrote the board in its decision. The U.S. Department of Energy approved Bear Head LNG for an export licence back in July. Environmental approval was granted by the Nova Scotia’s Environment Department in May. The company must address 32 terms and conditions to control greenhouse-gas emissions and to reduce impacts on wildlife, water and wetlands at the site near Port Hawkesbury.

Oil dips to $41.35 amid predictions it will keep falling

orth American oil prices hit their lowest point since March 2009 on Friday morning, with the crude contract for the North American benchmark known as West Texas Intermediate falling to $41.35 US a barrel. By mid-morning it had bounced above $42 again, as the U.S. dollar headed lower against other currencies. At midday, WTI was at $42.57. But the trend is clearly downward, with WTI crude losing value every week since hitting $61.35 US a barrel on June 10. Citigroup has predicted it will slide further and analysts are saying it could enter the $30 range. The catalyst this week has been the devaluation of the Chinese yuan. The currency held firm against the U.S. dollar overnight, but is down 2.9 per cent this week after the Chinese government allowed it to float. ■Oil prices are down, gasoline prices are not. What gives?

Business / Finance

CMHC raises red flag on Toronto housing market, now sees it as high risk Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. says and unsold units has risen significantly from Toronto’s red-hot housing market as high risk the last quarter and is now above its historical and therefore more likely liable to see claims. average. It did point out the number of con‘Ghost vacancies’ haunt downtown Calgary dominium apartment units under construcas oil patch layoffs empty office buildings tion continues to slow and with condominium Vacancy rates in Canada’s energy capital resale and rental markets “tight” any unsold have spiked as companies lay off thousands inventories could be easily absorbed as long as of employees in the worst oil rout in recent developers don’t overbuild. Nationally, the agency only sees modest history, but insiders say the official tally may overvaluation and house prices are only slightunderestimate just how empty offices are. In ly ahead of levels consistent with personal its quarterly house price and analysis and income. “Our overall assessment of the risk assessment of 15 markets, the Crown corof problematic conporation which advises the govditions varies from “This caused ernment on housing policy, says centre to centre due th“Resale market Toronto, Winnipeg and Regina to regional differencconditions remain es in housing marare all now considered high-risk balmarkets. “In Toronto, the high kets. Imbalances in anced, keeping overall risk reflects a combinalocal housing markets tion of price acceleration and price growth in could be resolved overvaluation. The high level of with further modercheck. ation in house pricrisk in Winnipeg reflects risks of overvaluation and overbuilding, while in Regi- es or improving economic conditions,” said na it reflects price acceleration, overvaluation Bob Dugan, chief economist of CMHC, said and overbuilding, particularly of condomini- in a statement. In Vancouver, the country’s um apartments,” CMHC says in a release. In most expensive housing market, CMHC said Toronto, where detached homes are now sell- there is a low risk of any sort of correction. ing for on average about $1-million, CMHC “Resale market conditions remain balanced, says the price appreciation is a reflection of a keeping price growth in check. Despite high larger share of pricier homes hitting the market. Vancouver home prices, demand for housing Those price gains have not been matched by across the price spectrum is supported by a growth in personal disposable income, giving growing population and growth in personrise to a modest risk of overvaluation, said the al disposable income as well as by the limagency. Canada Prime Minister Stephen Harp- ited supply of land. First-time home buyers er vows limit on foreign home buyers if needed focus on lower-priced options in suburban Tories pledge to let Canadians withdraw more locales, whereas at the high end of the price money from RRSPs to buy homes Toronto de- spectrum, demand is supported by high nettached home prices drop below $1 million, but worth residents or repeat buyers with signifsales approaching record icant equity in their homes,” said the Crown CMHC added the number of completed corporation.

Move in with parents to prosper, say financial experts

illennials have gotten a bad rap for their habit of moving in with their parents after post-secondary school. There’s even a disparaging term for the phenomenon — “failure to launch syndrome.” But some financial experts say we’ve got it all wrong. In an era of sky-high tuition and soaring housing costs, they argue the group known as Generation Screwed can help unscrew themselves by moving home to pay off debt. “For these graduates, the biggest financial advantage they have is living at home and taking the rent part off of the table,” argues Christine Romans, chief business correspondent for CNN in New York. In her new book, Smart Is the New Rich: Money Guide for Millennials, she advises cash-strapped young people that retreating home is the best economic move they can make.A shameful move? The vote of confidence would have helped Katelynn Langer when she moved home in October to pay off her student debt and get her life in order. At the time, the 25-year-old worried that other people would judge her. So she referred to her mother as her “roommate” in conversations.“I always tried to tiptoe around the fact that I lived back at home with my mom,” says Langer, who shares an apartment in New Hamburg, Ont., with her 50-year-old mother, Marjorie. Langer was embarrassed because of the bad press surrounding the boomerang generation. According to Statistics Canada’s 2011 census, 25.2 per cent of young adults between the ages of 25 and 29 were living at home,

more than twice the percentage in 1981. In a recent blog, financial commentator and TV personality Kevin O’Leary told young adults, “Bunking in with your folks when the going gets tough deprives you of the chance to realize your potential.” Just weeks ago, a commentary in the Chicago Tribune informed millennials that living at home was hurting the economy, because it cut down on their spending. Moving home to get ahead It’s all nonsense, according to Romans. “If they move out, they don’t have the money to move the economy forward anyway,” she argues. She contends it’s better for the economy and for debtplagued millennials if they move home and save up. She says, typically, new grads don’t have the cash to invest and are working low-paying jobs because they haven’t launched their careers yet. So, “the only lever they have is the housing lever. It’s the only thing they really have to move forward.” Langer believes moving home has definitely helped her move forward. She lived on her own for a year after getting two diplomas, in recreation and leisure and drug and alcohol addiction counselling. Even though she was working two waitressing jobs, she found she could barely make a dent in her approximately $28,000 in student loans. Despondent about her future and looming debt, she moved in with her mother. “[My loan] was too big not to make the decision to move back home,” says Langer. She continued working two jobs and, without the burden of big rent bills, managed to cut down her debt by $8,500.

Saturday, August 15, 2015

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PUNJAB

Saturday, August 15, 2015

Villagers refuse to cremate body of sex assault victim unless all accused arrested

esidents of Kalbanjara village today placed the body of sexual harassment victim, who had allegedly immolated herself, on the Lehragaga-Patran road in protest. They demanded the arrest of the remaining three alleged accused. The 16-yearold victim, who had suffered 70 per cent burns, died at the PGI, Chandigarh, yesterday. Residents of Kalbanjara village protesting They said they would not lift Chief Parliamentary Secretary Navjot the dharna and cremate the body till the arKaur Sidhu, who joined the villagers, assured rest of the remaining accused. Bimal Kumar them that she would talk to Chief Minister Sharma, DSP, Moonak, reached the spot and Parkash Singh Badal to upgrade the village told the protesters that they had arrested the school and name it after the victim. Beremaining three accused who were named by sides, she would also ask the Chief Minister the girl’s brother. Some residents then went to to compensate the bereaved family. Promithe police station to confirm the arrests. The nent among others who joined the protest protesters later lifted the dharna and crematincluded CPI state secretary Hardev Arshi, ed the body. state president of Krantikari Pendu Mazdoor

Another Chief Parliamentary Secretary revolts

fter Chief Parliamentary Secretary (CPS) Navjot Kaur Sidhu embarrassed the Akali Dal-led regime, another CPS, this time an Akali, Inderbir Singh Bolaria threatened to fight against the government’s move to set up a solid waste management plant at Bhagtanwala dumping ground which falls in his Amritsar South Assembly segment. Bolaria today staged a dharna along with local residents, who have been opposing the upcoming plant. Rift in the

Akali Dal came to the fore as Bolaria’s supporters and some SAD workers entered into a scuffle when the CPS joined the protest in the morning. Bolaria alleged he was not taken into confidence while deciding the site for the plant which, he said, would have harmful effects on the health of the people living in the vicinity. The CPS also gave a call to all political leaders to join their struggle. He said he would meet the Akal Takht Jathedar on the matter.

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Overflowing rivers drown farmers’ hopes

he Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) has again raised the volume of water being released into the Sutlej river due to the increased inflow of water into the Bhakra Dam. Today, the flood gates of the dam were lifted further and a total of 59,900 cusec of water was released downstream. Yesterday, a total of 55,000 cusec water was released from the dam. The discharge from the dam is likely to be increased further in the coming days as the meteorological department has forecast heavy rain on August 14 in the catchment area. Today, 37,400 cusec was released downstream from Nangal dam into the Sutlej while the remaining 22,500 cusec was put into hydel channels. The dam has been witnessing a heavy inflow of 84,000 cusec touching the level of 1,665.31 ft by noon today. The officials have decided to increase the discharge from the dam as the meteorological department has made a forecast of heavy rain on August 14 in the catchment area, said sources. In such a situation, it will be difficult to maintain the water level at 1,668 ft by August 15 — as was directed by BBMB Technical Committee in its meeting held yesterday at Chandigarh — unless the release of water is increased. Meanwhile, Mataur, Burj, Lodhipur, Dasgrain, Hariwal, Ballowal, Mehndli Kalan, Lower Baddal, Nikkuwal and Chan-

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mum storage capacity of the dam is 1,390 ft. Considering the heavy inflow, the maximum level can be achieved within the next few days. For the safety of the dam, it should not be filled more than 1,680 ft by August 15. Officials at the BBMB confirmed that the floodgates at the Bhakra Dam and Pong Dam would remain open for the safety of the dams till the water level was not brought down to permissible limits.

DSP, SI among 4 held for taking Rs 40 lakh bribe Chandigarh, In a major embarrassment for the Chandigarh Police, the CBI today arrested a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) posted with the Economic Offences Wing (EOW), a sub-inspector (SI) and two businessmen for allegedly taking a bribe of Rs 40 lakh. Those arrested are DSP (EOW) RC Meena, SI Surinder Kumar, Sanjay Dahuja, owner of Berkeley Automobiles in the Industrial Area, and Aman Grover, owner of KLG Hotel. DSP (CBI) Ram Singh said two civilians — Sanjay Dahuja and Aman Grover — were arrested from the office of Berkeley Motors in the Industrial Area while taking a bribe of Rs 40 lakh. “They were receiving the money on behalf of the DSP and the SI,” Ram Singh said. He said the suspects, after receiving the bribe amount, called up the DSP to inform him about it.

‘Thugs’ forcibly stop Sikh wedding in London

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group of nearly 20 locals stormed a gurdwara in Southall and forcibly stopped an ongoing inter-faith wedding of a Sikh bride with a non-Sikh groom last weekend, a media report said. The members of Sri Guru Singh Sabha Gurdwara said a group of men opposed the “inter-faith marriage” and forced the couple to cancel the wedding. “A group of 22 people arrived shortly after 8 am. They were all thugs. None of them were

recognised by any of the Sikh groups here,” The Independent. com quoted Sohan Singh Sumra, vice-president of the gurdwara, as saying on Wednesday. Sumra said they got a call to stop the inter-faith wedding. However, bride’s family gave a go ahead when they were contacted by the gurdwara. “We had a meeting with local temples because we do not want anything like that happening to any other couples,” he was quoted as saying.

Sikh asylum-seekers protest in Florida jail

ine out of the 22 Sikh asyDiscount lum-seekers on a hunger strike

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dpur Bela villages continue to be flooded – with no signs of any immediate relief. Ropar Additional Deputy Commissioner Karnesh Sharma today visited the area and directed that fodder needs to be supplied to the farmers as their fields were inaccessible and crops had been damaged. Meanwhile, authorities at the Pong Dam have another point to worry about as the water level there reached 1,381.57 ft at 2 pm and the inflow had been as high as 1,12,521 cusec since 8 am. The maxi-

in a Florida jail demanding to be released while their asylum cases are evaluated with have set- free, media rethisbeen coupon ported. The nine were released on Auexpires 31 gust 10 while theDec. remaining 13 were still under Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody at the Broward Transitional Centre, according to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). “Things should never have reached this extreme point,” Latin Times newspaper quoted Shalini Agarwal, Florida staff attorney at ACLU, as saying on Tuesday. The 22 Sikh men were detained after arriving at the Texas border in May. The men began a hunger strike when

they learned that they were denied a bond hearing, that could have released them from custody and sent to their family members in the US, until their asylum inquiry. “ICE needs to honour immigration enforcement priorities and use its prosecutorial discretion to not detain asylum seekers without bond, especially where they have demonstrated credible fear of persecution if returned to their home countries,” Agarwal said. “Their granting of bond to some of these men is an important step, but there are many more detainees like them who should not be kept behind bars while their asylum proceedings are underway,” she said. Some of the men may have been subjected to forced feeding and solitary confinement, a letter sent to ICE by the ACLU on August 6 said.

INDIA

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BJP Govt goes all out to protect Sushma

he Congress’ 23-day offensive in the Lok Sabha against Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj’s role in aiding former IPL commissioner Lalit Modi ended today with the House defeating its adjournment motion to censure the minister. “The question of Sushma Swaraj resigning doesn’t arise,” Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said replying to the six-hour debate that saw acrimonious exchanges between Sushma and Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, who had accused her of accepting money for facilitating the release of UK travel documents to Lalit Modi, an economic offender. After Jaitley’s reply, which mainly accused the UPA of doing nothing to bring Lalit back, the House negated Congress’ Mallikarjun Kharge’s adjournment motion by voice vote amid a walkout by members of the Congress, Left, NCP and AAP. These parties were asking for Prime Minister Na-

Saturday, August 15, 2015

rendra Modi’s reply to the motion that read: “Action taken by the government on the reported involvement and admission of a Union Minister in assisting a fugitive.” While Jaitley used the debate to say that legally sustainable action against Lalit Modi is being taken only now and that the UPA did nothing to bring him back, Sushma turned her defence into an attack on the Gandhis. Rejecting Rahul’s quid pro quo charges in the case, she recalled late PM Rajiv Gandhi’s alleged moves to let off Bofors accused Ottavio Quattrocchi and Bhopal gas tragedy accused Warren Anderson. “Quid pro quo is when P Chidambaram is Finance Minister and his wife is appointed senior counsel for the IT Department… when Rajiv Gandhi helps Quattrocchi and trades Anderson for a presidential pardon to his childhood friend Adil Shaharyar languishing in a US jail. My family didn’t take money.

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Indian government sues Nestle for $100m over Maggi noodles

he complaint against Nestle is that it caused damage to consumers through misleading advertisements related to its Maggi noodles product. Maggi was banned in India after the food safety regulator accused Nestle of not complying with food safety laws. Nestle has challenged this at the Bombay high court, saying its products are safe. But the company, which has 80% of India’s instant noodles market, has already destroyed 400m tonnes of Maggi products. The claim, made on behalf of Indian consumers, was not filed through the courts but with the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC), which has semi-judicial powers. A Nestle spokesman in Delhi told the Reuters news agency that the compa-

ny would only be able to “provide substantive response” after it received an official notice about the complaint filed to the NCDRC. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) had earlier said that tests deemed the instant noodles to contain “unsafe and hazardous” amounts of lead. Nestle says that its noodles are safe as seen in the results of tests conducted in other countries, including the US, Britain and Singapore. Two Indian laboratories in the western state of Goa and the southern city of Mysore also recently cleared the noodles, but the findings were dismissed by India’s food safety authority, saying there were lapses in the tests. The Bombay high court verdict on the case is expected soon.

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Saturday, August 15, 2015

INDIA fOOD

6 i Saturday - April 4, 2015

Congress holds up GST Bill again

Saturday, August 15, 2015

i 29

India stops bid to sell 410-year-old Koran

di. “What is rendian police markable about the have arrested calligraphy is that 10 people who the font is crystal tried to illegally sell clear on a page that a 17C edition of the is just six inches holy Koran. The 604by four inches,” he page Koran is written said, adding that in black italics on such clarity had golden paper and has only been seen gems embedded on in old editions in the cover. Experts esTurkish museums. timate it to be around The 604-page Koran is written in black italics The last page of 410 years old, written on golden paper the book mentions soon after the death of that it was written Mughal emperor Akbar who ruled from 1556 to 1605. Police said the 10-member gang around 1050 as per the Islamic calendar. “We had been asking for 50m rupees ($770,000; think it landed in the hands of the accused £500,000) for the book. “The calligraphy is through a chain. Our information is that it exquisite. I have seen many old Korans in came to this gang from Hyderabad. We are India, but nothing like this one,” prominent investigating,” superintendent of police in the Ingredients city of Mysore Abhinav Khare historian Professor Sheikh Ali told BBC Hin- southern • 250g boneless chicken India plans to celebrate 1965 war ‘victory’ • 2tbsp rapeseed oil • 1 medium red onion over Pakistan • 3 largeceasefire. tomatoes UN-sponsored ” The 1965 war has ndia plans to celebrate the 50th an• ½ cup cashew nuts been largely forgotten by the Indian people niversary of its “victory” over Pakilowed by voting over the contentious issues. • 100g tomato puree More than 100,000 Indian soldiers fought in stan in the 1965 war with a series of 1 tbsp dried fenugreek leavescarnithe war.• The main event - a “victory events, including a “grand carnival”. The • 100ml low fat cream Terminator redux? Robot kills a man at val” with a show of military might, song and war was fought on the western front after garam dance -• is1tsp planned formasala 20 September on RajHaryana’s Manesar factory Pakistan launched “Operation Gibraltar” • 1tsp red chilli powder path - the wide boulevard in the city centre half ago. Lal was at work in the welding unit - a covert offensive in which up to 30,000 • 1tbsp gingergarlic pasteparade is GURGAON: This one’s straight out of a that has special-purpose machines and rowhere the annual Republic Day fighters were pushed across the ceasefire • 2tbsp thick low fat yoghurt Terminator film. Sharp welding sticks jut- botic welding lines. Around 63 workers and held and where India recently organised a reline into Indian-administered Jammu and • salt toyoga tasteevent. The celebrations ting out of the robotic arm of a machine 39 robots were on duty when the accident cord-breaking Kashmir. India retaliated by crossing the pierced a worker killing him at a factory here took place. “The robot is pre-programmed will also include seminars, photo exhibitions international border at Lahore. For over on Wednesday. The worker had apparently to weld metal sheets it lifts. One such sheet and a concert. “The 1965 war has been forProcedure: three weeks, more than 100,000 Indian moved too close to the robot while adjusting got dislodged and Lal reached from behind gotten by people and this is an effort to revive Marinate the chicken with the ginger garlic paste and the yoghurt for 20 min. soak the cashew warm water 15 minutes.chop soldiersinfought againstforPakistan’s 60,000 the onions and tomatoes. Heat 1 tbsp a metal sheet that had come unstuck. the memory,” said former journalist Nitin thehot machine it.on This wasside when oil to a pan. sear the chicken pieces in the oil forto1 adjust minute each to welda golden colour. the chicken in the troops. remove “The celebrations arepieces. set to kick offsame pan, add 1tbsp oil and the chopped The victim was rushed to a nearby hospital ing sticks attached to the pre-programmed Gokhale who has been commissioned by the onions. saute till a translucent pink. Add the tomatoes, red chili powder, garam masalaon powder and cook flame till the tomatoes are tender (approx. 4-5 28 August, the on daymedium Indian troops capbut he was dead by the time he was wheeled device pierced Lal’s abdomen,” a co-worker defence ministry to write a book on the minutes). remove from flame and run in a blender with the soaked cashews to make a smooth paste. return to the add the tomato puree. Bring to a boil and add contured the strategic Haji Pir pan Pass,and ” Indian in. Ramji Lal (24), from Unnao, UP, worked said. Another shop floor colleague claimed flict. India captured the key Haji Pir pass the chicken pieces. simmer for 4-5 minutes till the chicken is cooked. Add the low fat cream andministry simmer spokesman for 2 minutes. Broil the defence Sitanshu Karfenugreek leaves on a pan. crush the as a loader for SKH Metals, an auto ancillary that had Lal approached the robot from the “a major ingress route for Pakistanis” - and fenugreek leaves over the curry and remove from fire. serve hot. said.. “They will go on until 22 September company, at the Industrial Model Township front and hadn’t stooped to adjust the sheet, made some big gains in Sialkot and reached - the day India and Pakistan agreed to a (IMT) Manesar. He joined a year-and-a- the accident wouldn’t have happened. the doors of Lahore in Punjab.

determined Congress stalled the government’s attempt to initiate discussion on the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Bill in the Rajya Sabha on a day Opposition leaders took on the BJP-led NDA for “using” industrialists and corporate heads to attack them for Parliament disruptions. Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien’s reminder that the Constitution Amendment Bill for GST was Congress’ “baby” and that the protests were “undemocratic” failed to make headway. As Finance Minister Arun Jaitley (pictured) moved the GST Bill for discussion, a vociferous Congress ensured the adjournment of the Rajya Sabha which, due to paucity of the BJP-led NDA’s numbers, has borne the brunt of the agitations against “Lalitgate” and Vyapam scam this monsoon session that ends tomorrow. The BJP’s attempts to corner the Congress by holding it responsible for stalling the GST Bill and harming the country’s economy has failed to affect prevailing sentiments in the lead Opposition party. In fact, Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad, Janata Dal-United leader Sharad Yadav and CPM’s Sitaram Yechury have accused the government of “using” media and business lead-

ers to attack the Opposition for the disruptions in Parliament. Yadav strongly objected to India Inc asking all political parties to end the logjam, saying that after 68 years of Independence, “capitalists” were telling leaders to let Parliament function. “They must know that 125 crore Indians have chosen Parliament and they want to run it,” he said. Azad supported him saying: “We discuss the comments being made about MPs every day. Now, industrialists are saying that the House should function. The government is using media against the Opposition”. Jaitley responded by questioning whether the common man wanted Parliament not to function. In what is being called the first-ofits-kind initiative, over 15,000 people, including India’s top industrialists, have launched a signature campaign, urging MPs to allow Parliament function, debate and legislate. Soon after the House met in the afternoon session, Jaitley moved the GST Bill for discussion. While Congress members stormed the Well shouting “No”, some Opposition members could be heard asking the government to begin a debate fol-

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Saturday, August 15, 2015

Goddess Kali projected on New York’s Empire State Building

n a breathtaking spectacle, Goddess Kali was projected on the Empire State Building in New York. Artist Andrew Jones designed the portrait of the goddess to make the point that Mother Nature now more than ever needs a fierce avatar to fight the dangers of pollution and extinction, Firstpost.com reported. Earlier images of endangered species, including Cecil the lion, were also projected on the iconic building

Indian-American charged in $1.9 million fraud scheme

Indian-American former president of a construction company has been arrested and charged in a USD 1.9 million fraud scheme in which he underpaid dozens of his employees, some of whom were working illegally. Yashvant Patel, 59, has been charged with four counts of mail fraud and four counts of making false statements in documents required to be kept under federal laws. The indictment seeks forfeiture from Patel of USD 1.9 million. While each count of mail fraud carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a USD 250,000 fine, each count of making false

n Indian man is among three persons who have pleaded guilty to stealing thousands of dollars from their employer, a luxury accessories company, in the US. Sanjay Damodar (31) of New Jersey, Brandon Detvo (40) and Kelly Rogel (32) pleaded guilty in New York State Supreme Court to charges of grand larceny, Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance said. The three were senior employ-

statements carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a USD 250,000 fine. Patel, who was arrested last week near Chicago, paid less-than-union-scale wages to dozens of employees, including illegal aliens, in order to reduce the employer contributions to benefit funds, according to the indictment.

Court sentences two for 1971 war crimes

commander of the Razakars, an armed auxiliary force of Pakistani troops during Bangladesh’s 1971 liberation war, was handed down the death penalty today while another from the notorious militia group was sentenced to life by a court here for genocide and war crimes. Sheikh Sirajul Haque alias ‘Siraj Master’ was given the death penalty with Chairman of the three-member International Crimes Tribunal 1 Justice Enayetur Rahim pronouncing the verdict. Haque would be hanged to death or shot down as he was found guilty on two charges of genocide and three of crimes against humanity, the judge ruled. Lawyers and legal experts said according to Bangladesh’s penal code, convicts sentenced to death are hanged by the neck but the special tribu-

ees of Henri Bendel’s New York Finance team and stole thousands of dollars from their employer, a luxury accessories company. Detvo and Damodar additionally pleaded to one count of falsifying business records. Rogel is expected to be sentenced later this month while Detvo and Damodar will be sentenced in September. “These company supervisors stole from the very accounts that they were hired to manage,” Vance said.

Indian-origin man jailed for 11 years for money laundering in UK

n Indian-origin man has been sentenced for a total of 11 years after being found guilty of laundering 3.5 million pounds of criminal funds. Harkishan Talwar from Southall in west London received two sentences of eight and three years to run concurrently by the Old Bailey court in London on Friday for laundering criminal funds over a four-month period. The 44-year-old’s accomplice, Muhammad Khan, was tried in his absence after breaching his bail conditions in July 2013 by fleeing

SOUTH ASIA

nals could also order war crimes convicts to be executed by firing squads since they are being tried under a special law. Justice Rahim said five of the six charges brought against Haque was proved beyond doubt and he deserved no punishment other than the death penalty for the gravity of crimes he had committed. The tribunal also sentenced fellow convict Khan Akram Hossain, a member of the Razakar force under Haque’s command, to imprisonment until death for his role in the killing of about 50 people in southwestern Bagerhat district in 1971. Haque and Hossain, both in their 70s, faced the trial in person and were present in the dock as the judgment was read out. A third accused was also being tried along with the duo but charges against him were dropped as he died a nat-

Indian, 2 others plead guilty to stealing thousands of dollars

the country. He was found guilty of laundering 1.4 million pounds and sentenced to one year in prison. “Khan and Talwar were making a lot of money by laundering millions of pounds on behalf of criminals and in doing so played a vital and significant role in enabling serious criminal behaviour,” said City of London Police’s investigating officer, detective constable James Nellist. “Using his position as the director of a Money Service Bureau to help transfer criminal money around the globe

UN provides food to 435,000 flood victims in Myanmar

NITED NATIONS: The World Food Programme (WFP) is working to provide emergency food assistance to 435,000 people in Myanmar. “A onemonth supply of rice, chickpeas, cooking oil, salt and, in some cases, a one-week ration of high-energy biscuits is being provided,” Xinhua quoted UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric as saying on Tuesday. The WFP is working with the government of Myanmar, other UN agencies and local NGOs regarding the food assistance, he said. “So far, more than 213,000 people have been reached with food aid.” The deadly flood in Myanmar, triggered by heavy rainfall since June, have affected 13 regions and states across the

country, destroying houses, farmland, railway lines, bridges and roads. The Myanmar government has declared four disaster zones -- Rakhine, Chin, Sagaing and Magway, of which Rakhine state was the worst hit. The severe flooding has affected

The deadly flood in Myanmar, triggered by heavy rainfall since June, nearly one million people in the country

Don’t cross the limit, cops tell Bangladesh bloggers DHAKA: Bangladesh police have asked secular bloggers not to “cross the limit” while writing on religious issues, even as authorities failed to make any headway in the brutal murder of a fourth blogger who hacked to death by suspected al-Qaidalinked Islamists. “Do not cross the limit. Do not hurt anyone’s religious belief,” inspector general of police AKM Shahidul Hoque said. The “freethinkers” should keep in mind that hurting someone’s religious sentiment is a criminal offence, Bdnews quoted Hoque as saying. On the killing of blogger Niloy Chakrabarty Neel, Hoque said police were investigating it “with top priority”. Neel was hacked to death by four assailants inside his flat in the capital’s Goran area on Friday. He is the fourth blogger to have been killed this year. Hours after the gruesome attack, Ansar-Al-Islam, the Bangladesh chapter of al-Qaida in the Indian subcontinent, had claimed responsibility for killing 40-year-old Neel

FIJI

Bus bursts into flames after morning run

Tensions rise as more people arrested for sedition Attempt to form a separatist state

Commissioner of Police Ben Groenewald says he will not comment on whether firearms that police intelligence teams are combing the Western Division for are linked to weapons that reportedly went missing during the 1987 and 2000 coups. When questioned by this newspaper on the ability of the police to handle issues that could stem from the questioning of groups of people suspected to be involved in the alleged

formation of a separatist State, Groenewald said it was too soon for him to comment. Last month 16 people were arrested and charged with sedition and inciting communal antagonism and another five were subsequently arrested this week. However, the police chief has not established links between the search for firearms and the individuals and group of people being questioned across the Western Division.“Because investigations are ongoing it would not be prudent to reveal

‘No security threat’ claims top cop

Police Commissioner Ben Groenewald has assured people living in the Western Division that there is no security threat in the area. The reassurance came in the wake of the arrest and detention of five Ra men this week, who were charged with sedition and inciting communal antagonism. “I can officially confirm that we had earlier received information with regards to training of a seditious nature being conducted in the interior of Ra by certain groups,” he said in a statement released yesterday. “An investigation commenced thereafter headed by my chief of intelligence and investigations Assistant Commissioner of Police Henry Brown.”

“It had returned afhe driver of a bus ter servicing the Vaivai escaped serious route. We have no leads injuries after the vehicle so far and investigations he was driving caught fire by us and the authorities yesterday morning. The are ongoing,” Mr Kumar incident happened at Tasaid. Police spokeswomvakubu in Lautoka when an Ana Naisoro said an a Pacific Transport LimFire officers attend to the bus fire at Taited bus was returning vakubu in Lautoka yesterday. The bus was investigation had begun. She said the driver was to the company garage. returning to the garage with no passengers on board when it caught fire. inside the bus at the time Residents in the area said of the incident. Nationthey were caught by surprise as they witnessed the bus engulfed in al Fire Authority CEO John O’Connor said they had begun their investigations. He said flames at midday. Pacific Transport Limited’s Lautoka man- the driver tried to extinguish the fire by usager Jaswant Kumar said it was fortunate no ing his on-board extinguisher but failed. “We one was hurt. He said the bus was empty after have ascertained the fire began in the engine having just dropped off passengers at the bus compartment but have yet to determine what actually caused it,” Mr O’Connor said. station.

too much information at this stage or speculate on any possible links the recent case would have on other cases,” Groenewald said. “The officers in the Western Division are being aided by a team from Suva and I have every confidence in the investigations and work they are conducting and again would like to reassure members of the public that we are monitoring the situation very closely.” Groenewald refuted claims of missing weapons from the two coups being stored at unknown locations across the country . A police team from the West, aided by a team of intelligence officers from Suva, have been conducting investigations in the Ra and Tavua area on information received that a group of men were training in a seditious manner and that weapons were allegedly being used.

Good News!

Saturday, August 15, 2015 i 31

Good News!

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Sedition charge against 16 men The Lautoka Magistrates Court has granted bail to three Rakiraki men accused of having been in possession of firearms. The trio — Saimoni Nacolawa, Timoci Nagata and Pita Gaunavoimoala — appeared before Magistrate Raramasi Salakubou yesterday afternoon. They were represented by Lautoka lawyers Mark Anthony and Aman Ravindra-Singh. The court was told the men were charged with sedition and inciting communal antagonism. Magistrate Salakubou bailed the trio in the sum of $2000 each and told them to adhere to strict Because of jurisdictional issue, Magistrate Salakubou has transferred the case to the Rakiraki Magistrates Court

New Zealand suspends Fiji products

iji believes that actions taken by New Zealand to suspend eggplant, mango, breadfruit and papaya imports from Fiji are unjustified. The Ministry of Primary Industries of New Zealand made the decision to suspend imports of the four products after initially rejecting a shipment of eggplant because of an anomaly in the operational measures taken in Fiji under the bilateral quarantine agreement. However, the Government also says that it is taking urgent action to ensure Fijian agricultural products continue to be exported freely and safely to New Zealand and will not rest until normal exports are restored.

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PAKISTAN

32 i Saturday, August 15, 2015

Biometric machines to be used in by-election

Pakistan must take ‘forceful actions’ against LeT, US says

Pakistan must take forceful actions against Haqqani network and Lashkare-Taiba in a manner similar to the way they campaigned against the Pakistani Taliban, a top Obama administration official has said. “Just as they have vigorously pursued the Pakistani Taliban, they must take equally forceful actions against groups like the Haqqani Network, which pose serious threats to American (and Afghan) lives and resources, and Lashkar-e- Taiba, which has the potential to destabilize the region,” Dan Feldman, special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, said. Having just returned from his final trip to the AfPak region, Feldman acknowledged that there has not been much change in Pakistan’s approach vis-a-vis the Haqqani Network and the LeT —

Hafiz seeks ban on new Bollywood film JuD chief and Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed has filed a plea in a Lahore court, seeking ban on the release of Bollywood movie ‘Phantom’ in Pakistan, alleging that the film, set on post-26/11 attacks and global terrorism, contains “filthy propaganda” against the country. In the petition filed in the Lahore high court on Saturday, Saeed, through his advocate A K Dogar, pleaded that the Saif Ali Khan-starrer film, which is scheduled to release on August 28, has “venom against Pakistan and Jamaat-ud-Dawa”. “The film is about the 2008 Mumbai attack and global terrorism implicating the JuD. Filthy propaganda has been done in the film against Pakistan under subject of the world terrorism,” he alleged.

he Election Commission of Pakistan announced that for the first time in the country’s history, it would use biometric machines in the National Assembly constituency-19 Haripur by-elections on Aug 16. “Biometric machines will be used at 30 polling stations in the Haripur by-elections for the verification of voters,” the ECP said in a statement. A senior ECP official told that the use of biometric machines for voter verification was a pilot project meant to check if the option was feasible for future elections. He said besides biometric machines, the traditional method of verifying voters manually would also be in place at 30 designated polling stations in Haripur constituency. The official said the ECP couldn’t abandon the manual voter verification method for biometric method as the law didn’t allow it. He said the National Database Registration Authority, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority and Ufone cellphone

company would offer technical assistance for the smooth functioning of biometric machines. The official said voter verification would be done online with the help of Nadra, PTA and Ufone. “The Ufone services, PTA towers and Nadra database will be used for the verification of voters,” he said. The official said the presiding officers of all polling stations would separately collect data of voters verified and unverified by biometric machines. He said the decision on whether or not to use biometric machines in elections would be made in light of voters verified and unverified. The official said the trial run of biometric machines would identify hurdles to their functioning and after seeing them, the ECP would be in position to decide whether it was feasible for holding elections. According to him, since the whole exercise is to be performed on experimental basis, the impact of the use of biometric machines on by-elections will not disturb the electoral process in the constituency.

Seven arrested in child sex abuse case An anti-terrorism court ordered 7 men for judicial remand in criminal case of child sex abuse, sent them in police custody for interrogation

even people have been arrested in eastern Pakistan on suspicion of involvement in a child sexual abuse and extortion scandal. The Chief Minister of Punjab province, Shahbaz Sharif, ordered a judicial inquiry into reports that hundreds of children had been abused. Local media say a gang made videos showing the abuse of children, whose parents were then subject to blackmail. The scandal centres on a village near the city of Kasur. Police have seized almost 20 videos and say more arrests are expected. ‘Largest scan-

Child sex abuse case: Gang members in police custody in village Hussain Khanwala, Punjab.

dal’ Last week, more than 20 people were injured as families of the alleged victims clashed with police in Kasur, accusing the authorities of ignoring their complaints. Saba Sadiq, the head of Punjab’s child protection bureau, described the case as “the largest child abuse scandal in Pakistan’s history”, the AFP news agency reports.

Strong 6.7 quake jolts Pakistan

A strong earthquake of 6.7 magnitude on Monday jolted several parts of Pakistan. The epicentre of the quake was in the border region of Afghanistan and Tajikistan at the depth of about 200 km. The tremor was felt in various parts of the country including Islamabad, Faisalabad, Mianwali, Peshawar and Sargodah. It also hit Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK). So far, there was no report of any loss to life or property from any area of Pakistan.

Child abuse case shocks, families angry at police HUSAIN KHAN WALA: Parents at the centre of a growing child abuse scandal in Pakistan have accused police of failing to do enough to break up a paedophile ring in Punjab province, the prime minister’s political heartland. Accounts of abuse in the central Punjabi village of Husain Khan Wala were splashed across the front pages of Pakistani newspapers over the weekend, and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is expected to be questioned on the topic in parliament on Monday. Villagers said on Sunday that a prominent family there has for years forced children to perform sex acts on video. The footage was sold or used to blackmail their impoverished families. “I went to the police station to file a complaint, but instead of registering a (report), they took my son into custody,” said mother Shakila Bibi. The 15-year-old is still in jail, she added. If an inquiry found inadequate police work or complicity, the scandal could engulf the provincial government, headed by the prime minister’s brother. District police officer Rai Babar said the force would act decisively. “I assure you that we are taking this very seriously and there will be a fair and very transparent investigation,” he said.

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How old people became the future of the auto industry

ichard Emmons, 83, likes to spend his weekends cruising around in a 1995 Jaguar convertible with a big 12-cylinder engine. His weekday drive is either a 2009 Volkswagen Eos or the $82,000 Audi A8 sedan he bought in November. After all, this octogenarian needs something reliable for his 10-mile commute to the Pratt & Whitney plant in Windsor, Conn., where he works full-time as a jet engineer. “I’m bad at retiring,” Emmons says. “I don’t really have a lot of hobbies anymore. I just like cars and investing.” American seniors have never been healthier or wealthier. At the same time, cars have never been crammed with more features to safeguard drivers with fuzzier vision, slower reactions, and stiffer necks. Those forces have created a powerful economic engine for car manufacturers. This might just be the first time ever that one of the most promising demographics for the auto industry is represented by Social Security recipients. “Honestly,” says Harley-Davidson Chief Marketing Officer Mark Hans-Richer, “we sell new bikes to guys in their 80s all the time.” The roads in America are going gray. From 2003 to 2013, the number of licensed drivers over the age of 65 surged by 8.2 million, a 29 per cent increase, according to U.S. Census data. The very old were particularly stubborn about pulling over for good. There are now about 3.5 million U.S. drivers over 84, a staggering 43 per cent increase over a decade ago.

On the other end of the age spectrum, teenagers no longer have the income or inclination to own a car. Over that same 10- year period, the ranks of drivers under age 20 declined by 3 per cent. Not only are seniors staying on the road longer, they also aren’t coasting into the sunset in clunkers. In the past five years, the number of new cars registered to households with a head age 65 or older has risen 65 per cent, according to IHS. Drivers over the age of 75, meanwhile, registered about six times as many new cars as those age 18 to 24. The children may well be the future, but the fogies have the cash. What’s

more, they want to use it before it’s too late. Ben Winter, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles’ vice president for product planning, calls these customers “the matures.” They tend to like minivans for schlepping the grandchildren and large sedans such as the company’s Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger. “We don’t ignore any group ever. But some of the metrics are fairly compelling,” Winter says. “I’d say we’re talking about this group much more than we used to.” They’re also increasingly spendthrift. CarGurus, an online shopping platform based in Boston, said the No. 1 vehicle searched by senior citizens on its site in recent years is the Chevrolet Corvette.

Saturday, August 15, 2015 i 33

Google creates Alphabet, but name already belongs to BMW

ne can only assume that before Larry Page and Sergey Brin chose Alphabet as the name for their new holding company, they Googled it. If so, they would have discovered that the Internet domain alphabet. com, as well as the trademark Alphabet, already belonged to someone else - namely, the German automaker BMW. And if they had dialed BMW headquarters in Munich, they would have discovered something else: BMW does not want to sell. Alphabet is the name that Page and Brin, Google’s founders, have given the newly created parent entity that will house the Google search business and several smaller holdings like Nest, a maker of smart thermostats, and Calico, a company focused on longevity. But Alphabet is also the name of a BMW subsidiary that provides services to corporations with vehicle fleets. A

BMW spokeswoman said Tuesday that the automaker was not informed ahead of time of plans by Page and Brin to create a company called Alphabet and had not received any offers to buy the Internet domain or the trademark. “We are not planning to sell the domain,” said Micaela Sandstede, a BMW spokeswoman in Munich. She described the website as a “very active” part of Alphabet’s business. BMW is examining whether any trademark infringement has taken place, Sandstede said. Just because one company uses a name does not mean another company cannot use it. Trademark infringement occurs if another company’s use could create confusion with consumers, according to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Google is involved in the auto industry. It offers a version of the Android operating system for use in cars and has done extensive research on self-driving vehicles.

Volkswagen recalls 41,300 vehicles in Canada for airbag fault

olkswagen is recalling about 41,300 vehicles in Canada and another 420,000 in the U.S. to fix a fault that could prevent airbags from deploying in a crash. It announced Friday that the recall would affect: ■ 2010-2014 Volkswagen CC, Passat and Tiguan. ■ 20102013 Eos and Jetta. ■ 2011-2014 Golf and GTI. ■ 2011-2013 Jetta SportWagen. The automaker said debris may contaminate the airbag clock spring, a spiral wound, flat cable that keeps the airbag powered while the steering wheel is being

turned. This could result in a loss of electrical connection to the driver’s frontal airbag and it might not deploy properly in an accident. Volkswagen said no deaths or injuries had been reported in connection with the fault. The recall is listed on Transport Canada’s database. Volkswagen is currently the world’s largest automaker, outstripping Toyota for that title earlier this year. In Canada, sales to July 2015 totalled 43,592, a 13.8 per cent increase from the previous year.

34 i Saturday, August 15, 2015

WHEN YOU PAY WHAT WE PAY LIPA I.

FORD EMPLOYEE

ANTOINE A.

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24,972

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APR

BI-WEEKLY FOR 84 MONTHS WITH $1,195 DOWN. OFFERS INCLUDE FREIGHT AND AIR TAX OF $1,790

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INCLUDES FREIGHT AND AIR TAX OF $1,665

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IN TOTAL PRICE ADJUSTMENT

Employee Price Adjustment Delivery Allowance

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ON MOST NEW 2015 AND 2016 FORD MODELS

SEARCH OUR INVENTORY AT BCFORD.CA AND VISIT YOUR BC FORD STORE. 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 F-150 Super Cab XLT 4X4 300A 3.5L/2015 F-150 Platinum Super Crew 4X4/2015 Escape SE FWD 2.5L with Cargo Package/2015 Focus SE Sedan or Hatch Automatic/2015 Focus Titanium for $32,887/$57,045/$24,972/$20,622/$25,822 after total Ford Employee Price adjustment of $10,212/$12,354/$2,967/$1,492/$2,092 is deducted. Total Ford Employee Price adjustment is a combination of Employee Price adjustment of $4,712/$8,354/$1,967/$1,492/$2,092 and delivery allowance of $5,500/$4,000/$1,000/$0/$0. Taxes payable on full amount of purchase price after total Ford Employee Price adjustment has been deducted. Offers include freight and air tax of $1,800/$1,800/$1,790/$1,665/$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. 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. ¥Based 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 $1,000 towards the purchase or lease of a new 2015 (and 2016 where the model is available) Ford (excluding Fiesta, Focus, 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

Saturday, August 15, 2015 i 35

36 i Saturday, August 15, 2015