The Asian Star July 02 2016

www.theasianstar.com Vol 15 - Issue 22

HAPPY CANADA DAY

Saturday, July 2, 2016

Man who won right for Sikhs to wear turbans in Canadian legions dies A prominent figure in the South Asian community who fought and won a high profile battle to allow Sikhs wearing turbans into Royal Canadian Legions, has died.

Independent body to govern BC real estate industry B.C. Premier Christy Clark says the government is ending self regulation for the B.C. real estate industry.

“The real estate sector has had 10 years to get it right on self regulation and they haven’t,” said Clark at a Vancouver new conference.

95-year-old Lt.-Col. Pritam Singh Jauhal passed away peacefully in Surrey over the weekend.

Jauhal fought for the British Empire in World War II, but on Remembrance Day in 1993 he was denied entrance to the Newton Legion in Surrey because of his turban and legion rules forbidding the wearing of hats and headgear.

“They had tried to explain that as soldiers they had fought with their turbans on so this was not something that was unknown to soldiers who had fought in World War II,” said Satwinder Bains, director for the centre for Indo-Canadian studies at the University of the Fraser Valley.

Continued on Page 6

Burnaby’s ‘Bollywood Boyz’ wrestle to the top Clark said the right to regulate the industry will be taken away from the Real Estate Council of B.C.and put into the hands of a newly established and dedicated superintendent of real estate. “The point of regulation is to protect people, to protect consumers,” she said. “Self regulation is a privilege.”

The announcement comes a day after a special advisory group issued a damning report on a decade of self regulation, which recommended several measures, including raising maximum fines for misconduct from $10,000 to $250,000 for agents.

Continued on Page 6

“You can’t hold back true talent.”

That’s what professional wrestling icon Bret ‘The Hitman’ Hart told Burnaby brothers and aspiring wrestlers Harv and Gurv Sihra in 2008, when they ran into the Canadian legend at wrestling event in Las Vegas.

“Over the last 10 years, whether we’re wrestling in front of 50 people in Winnipeg or 1,000 people in Vegas, we never forget that advice,” said Harv Sihra.

The Sihra brothers are better known by their in-ring alter egos, The Bollywood Boyz. They’re one of the highlights of the B.C.-based Elite Canadian Championship Wrestling promotion.

Once a month, you can find them sporting tights and tassels at the Russian Community Centre in

Kitsilano, eliciting cheers, dancing and chants of “Butter Chicken!” from the crowd.

Continued on Page 7

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Northern Gateway pipeline approval overturned by Federal Court The Federal Court of Appeal has overturned approval of Enbridge’s controversial Northern Gateway project after finding Ottawa failed to properly consult the First Nations affected by the pipeline.

“We find that Canada offered only a brief, hurried and inadequate opportunity … to exchange and discuss information and to dialogue,” the ruling says.

“It would have taken Canada little time and little organizational effort to engage in meaningful dialogue on these and other subjects of prime importance to Aboriginal Peoples. But this did not happen.”

The majority ruling was signed by two of the three judges on the Appeal Court panel. Judge Michael Ryer wrote a dissenting opinion.

Pipeline opponents have called the decision “landmark.”

“At every turn you’re going, you are seeing nails in the coffin of the Enbridge project,” said Peter Lantin, president of the council of the Haida Nation, one of the parties that appealed.

“I don’t think there’s enough room for another nail in the coffin.”

“First Nations, local communities, and environmental interests said no to Enbridge 12 years ago when it first proposed the project. And now that “no” has the backing of the courts,” said Ecojustice lawyer Barry Robinson.

“Between on-the-ground opposition and the federal government’s promises to keep B.C.’s North Coast tanker free and demonstrate climate leadership, this pipeline is never getting built.”

Northern Gateway president John Carruthers issued a statement saying

Enbridge will consult with Aboriginal groups, but is still committed to the project and “protecting he environment and the traditional way of life of First Nations and Métis peoples and communities along the project route.”

The federal government gave the go-ahead to the Northern Gateway project after a National Energy Board joint review panel gave its approval subject to 209 conditions. But the government was also supposed to meet a constitutional

requirement to consult with Aboriginal Peoples following the release of that report.

According to the ruling, the project would significantly affect the B.C. First Nations who were parties to the appeal: • Gitxaala.

• Haisla.

• Gitga-at.

• Kitasoo Xai’Xais Band Council.

• Heiltsuk Tribal Council.

• Nadleh Whut’en and Nak’azdli Whut’en.

• Haida Nation.

Their traditional territory includes the waterway that would be used by tankers, the Kitimat terminal and some of the land the pipeline would cross.

The ruling noted that the Aboriginal groups generally availed themselves of the joint review panel hearings, submitting both oral and written testimony to the NEB. But the release of the joint review panel report was only the third step in a five-part process before the permit to build the pipeline could be issued.

In the fourth phase, the Crown was supposed to consult with Aboriginal Peoples “on any project-related concerns that were outside of the Joint Review Panel’s mandate.”

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Vancouver School Board rejects B.C. government plan to help balance budget

GERMAN APPLIANCES PRICES SLASHED, BEST IN TOWN COOKTOPS

Mike Lombardi The Vancouver School Board has rejected a proposal from the B.C. government to help balance its budget using the future sale of Kingsgate Mall in East Vancouver.

The board chair said the $5.59-million proposal would have only partially fixed the $21.8-million shortfall in the district’s operating budget for next year, and added to future troubles.

“It was not a winning situation for us because we’d have to make the cuts all over again,” VSB chairman Mike Lombardi told.

“It was not additional funding, it was a one time help for right now but it would put us in a deeper hole next year so the trustees rejected it.” Minutes after the vote, B.C. Education Minister Mike Bernier released a statement firing back at the school board.

“Very disappointed that #VSB had a chance to help students and they said no they would rather own a mall,” he tweeted.

He also claimed the school board was going against the School Act by failing to adopt a balanced budget on time. The school board’s statement said it is still working towards that deadline, but Lombardi said it won’t happen. “We will not be passing a balanced budget on June 30,” said the former teacher. “We’re proud to be standing up for the kids of Vancouver.”

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Woman found dead after Mississauga explosion ID’d as missing homeowner Investigators have confirmed that a woman's body pulled from the rubble of a Mississauga, Ont., house flattened by an explosion Tuesday is that of one of its owners.

Mississauga explosion damage requires adjacent homes to be 'taken down,' fire chief says A coroner's report completed Thursday identified the deceased as 55-year-old Dianne Page, one of two people listed on the Hickory Drive property's records, police say.

Police have not revealed the cause of her death or whether she died before or after the blast.

Peel regional police confirmed the discovery of a second body — a man's —

Thursday afternoon, but he has not yet been identified.

Investigators had not been able to make contact with either Page or Robert Nadler — the couple listed as the owners of the house at the centre of the explosion that damaged 25 other homes nearby — and Nadler remains unaccounted for.

Neighbours described the couple as reclusive, and few could recall interactions with the pair in recent months.

The coroner's office is expected to perform an autopsy on the man's remains over the Canada Day weekend.

That second body took longer to find because of the dangerous conditions at the blast site, Const. Mark Fischer said.

"You have buildings that have been completely destroyed so it had become a point of [whether] it was safe for the rescuers to go into the area."

The fire marshal's office has taken control of the investigation into the cause of the fire.

Fischer said that the excavation will likely continue for another few days and that an

answer before then seems unlikely.

'We are going to be excavating very slowly' Because of the volume of debris, investigators have not been able to access some parts of the blast site.

Jeff Minten, supervisor of investigations for the Ontario fire marshal, said earlier Thursday that the excavation could take some time, as his team needs to preserve anything that could be considered evidence, both for their own investigation or a potential criminal case.

www.theasianstar.com # 202 - 7028, 120th Street, Surrey, BC V3W 3M8 Ph: 604-591-5423 Fax: 604-591-8615 E-mail: editor@theasianstar.com Editor: Umendra Singh

Letter to the Edtor Dear Editor, It is a pride to be a Canadian and participate on Canada Day celebration with zeal and enthusiasm.

A red letter day not only bring a chance of joy and merriment but provide an opportunity to rejuvenate spirit to become more reliable, loyal and patriotic Canadians.

Let us make decision on Canada Day and decide to be faithful citizen of Canada. A good citizen abide the rules and regulations, understand rights and responsibilities and maintain fair and equality approach towards fellow citizens.

The legendary journey of 149 years have been accomplished remarkably because our citizens contributed ceaseless efforts therefore we could achieve meaningful and significant nation wide progress.

Now duty rely upon us to carry on similar journey forward and dedicate decent role to make better nation where all Canadians coexist peacefully with emotional attachment and geographical integration.

Stand together with solidarity and sincerity.

Create climate of peace and harmony to build country strong, safe and shinning place on this planet.

Have a lovely Canada Day celebration to all !!!

Hanif A Patel Surrey

Associate Editor: Shruti Prakash Joshi Marketing and Sales: Ravinder S. Cheema..604-715-3847 Shamir Doshi..............604-649-7827 Harminder Kaur..........778-708-0481 Parminder Dhillon.......778-859-9234 Pre-Press: Iftikhar Ahmed Contributing writers: Akash Sablok, Kamila Singh, Jay Bains Photographer: Chandra Bodalia Publication Mail Agreement No 428336012 Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to Circulation Dept.

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Man who won right for Sikhs to wear turbans in Canadian legions dies Continued from Page 1 “But the legion was adamant that they take them off at the door.” “[Jauhal] didn’t understand that in the Commonwealth countries, how Canada could even think that people of the Sikh faith, who had fought in wars alongside Canadians and Europeans and people all over the world, could be not allowed into a legion,” said Bains.

Jauhal’s belief in religious freedom also led

him to speak out against the Conservative government’s ban on Muslim women covering their faces during citizenship ceremonies.

Jauhal’s memoir, A Soldier Remembers, was published in 2013.

Bains says Jauhal will be remembered as a kind man who stood up for what he believed in. “He had that in him, that gentle nature and yet that steel will and determination. This was who he was,” said Bains.

Independent body to govern BC real estate industry Continued from Page 1 The panel made 28 recommendations aimed at recognising the public interest, but they were not asked to consider independent regulation.

In announcing the move towards an independent regulator, Clark said the plan was part of a series of steps her government will be making towards addressing what has been viewed as a crisis of both affordability and speculation in the real estate market.

She said the hiring process for a new superintendent of real estate has already begun.

The position of Real Estate Superintendent currently exists, but is one of several titles held by the head of the Financial Institutions Commission of B.C. “It is primarily important that we protect consumers,” she said. “But the role of the real estate council and regulation is also to protect the vast majority of realtors who are honest, hard working people from having their reputations tarnished by a few shady operators.”

Allegations of questionable practices in the industry have been growing in B.C.’s hot market, including those of real estate agents “double-ending” deals in which an agent represents both buyer and seller and reselling or ‘”shadow flipping” contract assignments without the homeowner’s knowledge Speaking shortly before Clark’s announcement, Finance Minister Michael de Jong said the public was right to ask why the industry should still have the right to self-regulate.

The issues of housing supply and real estate regulation promise to be crucial ones with an election looming in B.C. next year.

Clark said the government plans to introduce a number of measures to address both concerns in the coming months, focusing on increasing housing supply, helping first-time home buyers get into the market and “making sure that the dream of home ownership in British Columbia remains in the realm of possibility for the middle class.

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Burnaby’s ‘Bollywood Boyz’ wrestle to the top Continued from Page 1 “If the wrestlers are having fun, the crowds starts having fun,” said Harv Sihra.

And after a decade of bruises, body slams, and Bollywood dances, the Boyz are bringing their “butter chicken beat-down” to World Wrestling Entertainment.

Last week, the Sihra brothers travelled to Orlando to compete in the WWE’s first ever Cruiserweight Classic — a 32-man tournament that showcases up-and-coming talent from across the globe.

The event gave Harv Sihra, 28, and Gurv Sihra, 31, the opportunity to each showcase their skills in front of 1,000 fans — and a handful high-ranking WWE execs.

“I can just remember, both of us being so nervous the night before,” said Gurv Sihra. “We could have the greatest match in Vancouver, or the greatest match in Las Vegas or anywhere in the states, but this was the one that counted the most.” But when it came time to enter the ring on June 23, they didn’t forget to indulge in the longawaited fruits of their labour.

“I remember just standing behind that curtain before that music hit, thinking ‘I’m about to wrestle for the WWE!’” said Harv Sihra.

“And you remember why you’re doing this — you remember being that eight-year-old kid watching wrestling on TV. So you enjoy the moment.” Long before the Sihras ever laced up their boots, they had dreams of making it to the big show. “Our earliest memories were watching guys like Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels as kids,” said Harv Sihra, adding that they both knew they wanted to be wrestlers while they were still in elementary school.

The Sihras started wrestling professionally in the lower mainland under ECCW in 2005. But it wasn’t until they embraced another childhood passion that they really made their mark on the local wrestling scene.

“We grew up being huge Bollywood film fans, watching it with our parents,” said Gurv Sihra.

“It truly is a part of who we are, and what our family is as well.” The duo decided to incorporate Bollywood into their wrestling personas, marketing themselves as The Bollywood Boyz, a tag-team duo that would just as soon strike up a traditional Punjabi dance as they would throw their opponents in a Boston Crab.

They quickly became crowd favourites, winning numerous championships in regional promotions across Canada, the U.S. and India.

But they always had their sights on the WWE. And getting their foot in the door wasn’t easy.

“We were actually in touch with the WWE for the last five or six years,” said Garv Sihra.

“Exchanging e-mails with them, knocking on the door, trying to get tryouts, trying to go to the camps — just to get noticed.”

Their persistence paid off in August 2015, when they were cast as extras during a taping of WWE’s Monday Night Raw in Seattle, appearing as members of wrestler Adam Rose’s entourage.

While they might not have wrestled on the show, their networking game was in full swing.

“We managed to get in a short little conversation with Triple H,” said Gurv Sihra, referring to the WWE’s superstar turned vice president of talent.

He advised them to try hard to make a name for themselves. They took his advice, and it paid off.

The following February, the WWE reached out to them to compete in the first ever Cruiserweight Classic.

There’s no guarantees the Bollywood Boyz will receive a long-term contract with the WWE. But they believe their performances, inside and outside the ring, will leave a strong impression on the WWE’s higher-ups.

“We got to talk to Triple H personally, we got to pitch him ideas. We got some hands on training with William Regal, it was just surreal. That whole week, we were just soaking it all in,” said Gurv Sihra.

“We’re hopeful we’re going to make another trip back,” added Harv. “We felt like we delivered, we’re different and unique, and right now we’re taking it one day a time.” The Sihra brothers are especially optimistic they’ll return given their popularity in India, one of the WWE’s biggest markets.

But if they do make the transition to a permanent spot in the big leagues, you can bet they’ll be sorely missed by one of their current employers. “Of course I’d be sad to see them leave,” said Scotty Mac, co-owner of of ECCW. “It’d be detrimental to the shows.” “But if I was sad I wouldn’t let them know it. It would just be the single tear rolling down my face as they ride off into the beginning of their WWE journey.”

Until then, the Bollywood Boyz will be bringing their dance skills back to ECCW at the sixth Commodore Ballroom Brawl in July.

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Farmer uses turban to save drowning teenage girl in Kamloops A quick-thinking farmer in Kamloops, B.C., used his turban to save a teen who had fallen into the cold waters of a nearby river.

Avtar Hothi and his son, Paul, were on their farm near Heffley Creek when they noticed a teen struggling in the North Thompson River close to their farm.

“I’m very proud of him,” said Paul Hothi, referring to his 65-year-old dad.

“We were trying to look around for branches, and he just sprung to action, took off his turban right away, threw it in the water and pulled her to shore.”

Paul Hothi said the girl was about 14 or 15 years old. He doesn’t know how she fell into the river, but said the water is very cold this time

of year.

“She was just in shock at the moment we pulled her out of the water. She was freezing basically,” he said. “[We] quickly covered her up with a blanket to warm her up.”

His father then drove the girl back to her grandmother’s house a few minutes from their farm.

Paul Hothi said his father, who is Sikh, doesn’t usually take his turban off outside their home.

“It’s a religious thing. You have to keep your head covered,” he explained.

The girl’s relatives confirmed a member of the family was rescued after falling in the river, but didn’t want to speak to media about the incident.

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SURREY BEAUTY CENTRE Experienced Professionals and Quality Care

By: Mindy Ghag

W

eight loss and maintaining one’s health are two things that a great number of people struggle with on a daily basis. Maria Stassions, owner and Esthetician at Surrey Beaut Centre, understands the struggle that people face Beauty t with their bodies, and thus chose to work in the beauty and weig weight loss industry.

Maria Stassions Stassio was born in France and began her work in the beauty industry with the French company, Thalgo, back in 1998. It was during this time, beginning with her training with Thalgo, that Maria came to the realization that this was the field that she wanted to dedicate her life to. Maria’s passion to help others obtain their goals only further ignited her determination to start up her own business.

Upon finishing her training at Thalgo, Maria left France to immigrate to Canada, where she continued her work for the company as a representative for the Canadian market. Stassions attended the Blanche Macdonald Centre of Beauty, one of Canada’s top schools for cosmetology. After finishing her beauty education, Maria focused all of her energy on opening her own beauty centre, as she felt at this point she had established herself as prominent figure in Surrey’s beauty industry, and created a loyal group of clients. Maria’s entrepreneurial spirit was predominantly motivated by her passion to help other women and men lose weight and obtain the appearances that they are striving towards. After working several years as a Thalgo representative, a position that Stassions still hold to this day, she decided to go forth and open her own beauty centre, which is now known as Surrey Beauty Centre, located in York Centre.

Various technologies and innovative methods are used at Surrey Beauty Centre to help people lose weight, and maintain their weight loss. Surrey Beauty Centre is

primarily known for its successful weight loss and sliming treatments. “We begin first by analyzing the client’s height and how much weight they have. After this, by using certain Thalgo products, we assess how much fat, cellulite or water the body needs to shed,” said Maria, emphasizing that all the products used at her Spa are completely natural with no side effects. After the treatment Maria also provides her clients with one month of maintenance tea so that the weight doesn’t come back.

Once the client has lost their desired amount of weight, she helps them tone the loosened muscles with massages, a technique that Maria has found successful with many former clients.

Maria has nearly twenty years of experience in the beauty industry. These years of experience and training have allowed Maria to excel in this specific field and have allowed her to provide her clients with the highest quality care and knowledge.

Maria is dedicated to helping her clients, new and returning, achieve their goals and desired results. Surrey Beauty Centre has a variety of services ranging from weight loss to skin care, which includes face tightening. Maria can also help provide relief to people who are suffering from a thyroid malfunction. “Malfunctioning thyroid gland is often the cause of gaining weight and with specialized massages I can provide relief to my clients,” asserts Maria, adding that she doesn’t diagnose the problem, but if her clients have an established thyroid problem, she can then provide relief through her form of massage therapy. Maria also treats elderly patients who have arthritis and those who suffer from fatigue. The initial consultation is free at the spa and the treatment itself ranges from $59 to $160 depending on the kind of weight loss that is needed. “Water retention is the easiest to lose, but fat and cellulite takes longer, therefore clients need to come back for a certain number of sessions,” said Maria, adding that each session makes her clients lose at least one pound if not more. For those seeking experience, knowledge, and professional care and advice regarding their beauty regimen, Maria Stassions at Surrey Beauty Centre is the person to see.

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Saturday, July 2, 2016

Foreign investment has impact on Vancouver housing market, say researchers Researchers in British Columbia say they’ve found empirical evidence linking immigration to real estate prices for the first time.

A study spearheaded by business professor Andrey Pavlov of Simon Fraser University looked at a nowdefunct federal program designed to entice investor immigrants to Canada and the impact its suspension had on the housing market in neighbourhoods popular with newcomers.

Communities favoured by Chinese immigrants in Vancouver saw a drop in housing prices over about a year relative to the overall housing market after the termination of the Canadian Immigrant Investment Program in 2014, Pavlov said.

‘Yes, there is an impact’ “This is as good evidence as we can get on the impact of foreign ownership on the real estate market. And the conclusion is: yes, there is an impact,” Pavlov said in an interview.

“It’s sort of intuitive and common sense, but in my view up until now we have not had direct evidence that this is the case.”

Housing affordability is a hot topic across the Lower Mainland as its notoriously overheated real estate market continues to surge, pushing the average price of a single-detached home in Vancouver to $1.5 million.

While the study zeroed in on spending made by new arrivals to Canada, Pavlov argued foreign investment has the same impact, despite the difficulty in separating the two for research purposes.

‘People and money tend to go together’ “People and money tend to go together when it comes to real estate,” Pavlov said. “So I don’t know if it matters all that much whether we can or cannot say which one it is.”

Tsur Somerville, a business professor at the University of British Columbia who collaborated on the study, was more hesitant about treating foreign money and immigrant investment as one and the same.

“The foreign capital is by connection. We’re looking at immigrants who have wealth. So therefore they come with capital. But it’s not foreign capital separate from immigrants,” he said.

“Since we don’t really actually measure the foreign money, it’s kind of really hard to test that.”

Still, Somerville said the argument that the two can be treated similarly is bolstered by the fact that higher-end neighbourhoods were more affected by the cancellation of the federal immigration program than lower-end areas.

“That, I think, is consistent with this [foreign] capital story rather than just people.”

Another conclusion from the study is that the so-called spillover effect of foreign investment, that housing price changes in areas popular with immigrants bleed into surrounding communities, isn’t necessarily as big as people have speculated, he added.

Somerville described the study as “a very small piece of a large puzzle.”

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Most independent schools in B.C. aren’t ‘elite’, says Fraser Institute report Most independent schools in B.C. have a religious or alternative teaching approach and don’t conform to an “elite” stereotype, says a new report from the right-wing think tank, the Fraser Institute.

The Fraser Institute report says that over half of all of B.C.’s 340 independent schools have a religious affiliation and about 20 per cent are what the think tank calls “speciality schools”.

These schools have a distinct teaching and learning approach (Montessori or Waldorf), have a specific focus such as the arts, athletics or STEM subjects or serve specific student populations such as those with special needs.

According to the right-wing think tank the Fraser Institute, only a fraction of independent schools in B.C. conform to the ‘dominant stereotype for private school’. (Fraser Institute) “Contrary to the common caricature that they are enclaves for the urban elite, independent

schools come in a wide variety of types and serve many educational preferences,” reads the report’s executive summary, which looked at school-level data from the ministries of education in various provinces across Canada.

“Our study found that less than fiveand-a-half per cent of independent schools conform to the dominant stereotype for private schools,” said report co-author Deani Van Pelt.

“It’s really key that all of us understand that the dominant stereotype that seems to be held for independent schools just simply doesn’t hold true.”

The report comes at a time when there has been outrage from the B.C. Teachers’ Federation and others over the fact that independent schools in this province are subsidized by taxpayers, yet many school

boards are facing cuts.

In B.C., funding is paid to independent schools on a per-student basis, with schools

divided into two groups receiving either 50 or

35 per cent of the local school district’s perstudent grant amount.

“These are not necessarily exclusive schools They are schools that fill in gaps, and they do so at less than 100 per cent of the cost to the taxpayer,” Van Pelt said.

“If those students were attending government schools, they would be entirely fully funded.”

However, according to an educational policy expert, the think tank’s premise — that most of the public believe independent schools are elite, prep-school types of institutions — is a “straw man” argument.

“That’s nonsense. Everybody recognizes they’re very heterogeneous,” said Charles Ungerleider, professor emeritus in UBC’s Faculty of Education and a former deputy education minister in the B.C. government.

City appoints new general manager of development services, buildings and licensing The City of Vancouver has appointed Kaye Matheny Krishna as the new General Manager of a newly created City of Vancouver department: Development Services, Buildings and Licensing. Kaye will assume leadership of the City’s efforts to transform its permitting and licensing processes and improve service and turnaround times for applicants. The licensing function, which has been under the Community Services Department will be integrated into the new department. Kaye will take on responsibility for several key policy issues, including management of liquor licensing and the City’s regulatory framework for marijuana dispensaries.

NEED WORKERS, PAY ACCORDING TO EXPERIENCE

“We are excited for Kaye to join the City of Vancouver. In addition to pursuing innovative policies, Kaye’s demonstrated leadership will ensure that we make developing a building or licensing a business easier in Vancouver,” says Sadhu Johnston, Vancouver City Manager.

“As part of her immediate efforts, we’ll be appointing an expert panel to look at ways to improve the development process in Vancouver, including tools that can be utilized through city processes to increase the supply of affordable housing in Vancouver.” Kaye brings extensive experience in local government, most recently as a Principal with HR&A Advisors, a real estate and planning firm, and

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Saturday, July 2, 2016

BC NDP calls for task force to fight tax fraud & money laundering in real estate British Columbia’s Opposition New Democrats are calling on Premier Christy Clark to launch a task force to fight tax NDP Leader John Horgan says for a relatively low cost the province could launch an integrated team of police, Crown prosecutors and auditors that would investigate and prosecute criminal activity in B.C.’s overheated housing market.

He says federal agency FINTRAC has a warehouse full of evidence of tax evasion and fraud but it doesn’t have a mandate to prosecute, and the province has failed to aggressively pursue rogue Realtors, companies and investors. Clark

was set to announce measures to strengthen consumer protection, and Horgan says if she doesn’t launch a task force then the NDP will if it wins next May’s election.

An independent panel released a report on real estate agent misconduct Tuesday that made 28 recommendations, including increased fines of up to $250,000 for individual Realtors and $500,000 for brokerages. Horgan says the NDP fully supports the recommendations but the report didn’t address the root causes of B.C.’s affordability crisis, including speculative investment, foreign cash, tax evasion and money laundering.

South Asian couple awarded $4.9 million compensation after tractor-trailer crash in 2009 Volvo Trucks North America has been ordered to pay a Surrey couple nearly $5 million after being found negligent in a tractor-trailer crash in 2009.

The B.C. Supreme Court ruling, released Friday, found Volvo was negligent in installing hardware on the tractor’s engine, causing the loss of electrical power.

Amandeep and Pavandeep Hans were travelling along a highway, returning to their home following a long trip that extended from the U.S. to Eastern Canada and Manitoba.

Amandeep was pulling a fully-loaded trailer about 65 to 70 km/h.

Without warning, all electrical power in the truck was lost, including the power steering, headlights and interior lights.

According to the ruling, Amandeep saw the trailer begin to jack-knife, and heard the sound of tires squealing, and sparks flying from the trailer’s landing gear hitting the pavement.

The truck was forced off the road and into a ditch, coming to rest on the driver’s side of the cab. He and his wife managed to get out and onto the roadway in the freezing night, but a Manitoba Hydro vehicle happened by shortly after the crash, and gave the couple shelter.

While neither suffered serious physical injuries, their lives have changed dramatically, the judgement said.

Amandeep is now “a shadow of his former self physically, emotionally and socially,” and is “incapable of enjoying life as he formerly did.”

During court hearings, medical experts said he suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder caused by the crash and his reaction to it.

Justice Barry Davies awarded the couple $4.86

million, including $1.45 million to Amandeep for loss of future earning capacity, and $1.78 for his future care and supervision, medication and rehabilitation therapies.

Lawyer Les Mackoff said his clients have lived very modestly since the 2009 crash, with Pavandeep working in the early mornings, and after school, every day of the week, with her days commonly 20 hours.

Amandeep has been diagnosed with a very serious chronic form of PTSD, and all treatment modes have failed so far, Mackoff said.

“There’s some small hope that his function will improve somewhat, but there’s a great danger of him harming himself in the future as well,” he said. “It’s a very delicate situation.”

Mackoff said post-traumatic stress disorder “actually physically changes the way the human brain works.”

“Two veterans can be involved in an IED (improvised explosive device) exploding in front of them and watching a comrade be blown to bits. One guy goes on and never recovers and another person says gee that was a horrible thing, but it has no appreciable affect on them,” Mackoff said. Volvo’s engineer admitted, Mackoff said, that they knew there were some trucks that had left the factory without a nut properly tightened on a critical joint where the electrical cables pass through a bulkhead between the engine compartment and the passenger cab. All the electrical wires from the truck’s engine terminate on what’s known as a pass-through plate, he said, and an improperly fastened nut loosened up and caused a failure of the electrical connection as the couple drove through Manitoba.

11

Surrey to seek new top cop Surrey’s top cop is moving onward and upward.

RCMP A/Comm. Bill Fordy has been named new Lower Mainland District (LMD) Commander with the BC RCMP. He will continue on as Surrey’s Officer in Charge until a suitable replacement can be found. “I’ve got a really strong team here in Surrey,” Fordy told the Leader in an interview Wednesday.

“I think the processes we have in place here will allow for that type of pressure until such time as the new person hits the ground.” As

commander for LMD, he takes over for retired RCMP A/Comm.

Dan Malo and will oversee the 13 detachments serving 29 communities, including Surrey.

His area of command stretches from Pemberton to the U.S. border and includes 2,500 RCMP officers and support staff.

He will also oversee all of the RCMP integrated units, such as the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team, Emergency Response Team and forensics team, to name a few.

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Saturday, July 2, 2016

Surrey by-law manager lets off pit bull owner without a fine The owner of a pit bull that savagely attacked a woman will not be getting a bylaw ticket for having the animal off leash.

On June 20 at about 10:20 a.m., Brenda Moon, 63, was walking by a convenience store at 91 Avenue and 120 Street when she was attacked by a grey and white pit bull.

While the dog was on a leash, the owner was not holding it and the dog lunged at Moon’s forearm.

Her injuries were significant. Moon suffered severe lacerations and bones were sticking out of her arm. At least one surgery was required.

The dog has since been put down.

Because the owner was not in control of the leash, he is in violation of the Dog Responsibility Bylaw.

As such, he faced fines of up to $2,000, plus the costs of prosecution.

Manager of Bylaw Enforcement Jas Rehal said the owner of the dog was not fined in this case.

“We didn’t proceed with a fine or a ticket,” Rehal told The Leader Monday. “We feel that ultimately, his dog was put down and we felt that was sufficient.”

RCMP looking for robbery suspect Surrey RCMP is asking for public help in identifying a woman alleged to have committed a robbery in May. On May 28, at about 11 p.m., a woman entered a business in the 15500-block of Fraser Highway, produced a knife and demanded cash from the store clerk.

The clerk was slashed on the arm during the incident.

The suspect fled on foot.

The suspect is described as a Caucasian female with

blonde hair and very distinctive teeth (see attached photo).

“We’re thankful that the clerk received only minor injuries,” said Cpl. Scotty Schumann in a press release.

Anyone with more information is asked to contact the Surrey RCMP at 604-599-0502 or Crime Stoppers, if they wish to remain anonymous, at 1-800-222-TIPS or www. solvecrime.ca.

Shot man shows up at Surrey hospital following Newton gunfire A 21-year-old was shot Monday in what Surrey police believe was a targeted incident.

The man showed up at an area hospital around 8:40 p.m. June 27 – less than an hour after police were alerted to shots fired in a Newton neighbourhood.

In an initial news release issued Monday night, police said they found evidence of shots fired in the 12800-block of 60 Avenue around 8 p.m., but no victims.

A second news release describing a man with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound was issued just before noon on Tuesday.

“Officers are investigating whether there are any linkages between this incident and the shots-fired incident that occurred last night,” the release states.

According to the initial release, two vehicles were seen fleeing the shots-fired scene.

Descriptions of the vehicles have not been confirmed. Newton has experienced dozens of shootings so far this year, with police linking some to rival drug gangs.

Investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information who has not already spoken to police is asked to contact Surrey RCMP at 604-599-0502 or, to remain anonymous, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or www. solvecrime.ca

Saturday, July 2, 2016

B.C. taking over regulation of real estate A new Superintendent of Real Estate will take over regulation of the B.C. industry, Premier Christy Clark said Wednesday.

Clark and Finance Minister Mike de Jong said a the current industry-led Real Estate Council of B.C. will be replaced by a board with a majority of “public interest, non-industry members,” and fines for real estate misconduct are to be increased.

Clark said the maximum fine for individuals will go to $250,000, and twice that for real estate brokerages. The government is adopting all the recommendations of an independent advisory group, including banning realtors from representing both buyer and seller in a transaction. “The real estate sector has had 10 years to get it right on self-regulation and

they haven’t,” Clark said. Clark said there will be more changes announced in the next few weeks to help people get into the real estate market in urban areas where house prices are spiralling.

In his latest budget, de Jong increased the property purchase tax exemption level from $475,000 to $750,000 for new homes only, and increased the tax rate from two to three per cent on the value of homes in excess of $2 million.

Clark was non-committal on a proposal by the City of Vancouver to impose a tax on vacant homes. She said the province is studying whether it has a role to play in such a tax, and repeated the federal housing minister’s position that all levels of government are needed to deal with housing affordability.

Report says more than 100,000 people in Metro Vancouver considered working poor More than 100,000 people in Metro Vancouver are working, but still living below the poverty line, according to a new study.

The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives released a report Wednesday that delves into census data from 2012 on income and employment.

It found that 8.7 per cent of Metro Vancouver residents who were of working age had jobs but were still poor.

That was up from 8.4 per cent in 2006 and only slightly below the area with the highest percentage of working poor in Canada: Greater Toronto.

Some of the largest cities, including Vancouver, Surrey, Burnaby, Richmond and Coquitlam, have some of the highest working

poverty rates, but the study found that several smaller municipalities — Greater Vancouver Electoral Area A (which includes UBC), Bowen Island and North Vancouver — had high levels as well.

The lowest rates were in Pitt Meadows (5.4 per cent), Port Moody (5.5 per cent), Delta (5.7 per cent) and Maple Ridge (5.7 per cent).

The largest increases from 2006 to 2012 were in West Vancouver (15 per cent), Coquitlam (13 per cent), White Rock (15 per cent), Lions Bay (17 per cent) and the District of North Vancouver (13 per cent).

“We are often told that the solution to poverty is for the poor to ‘get a job’ or for various sectors to create more jobs, but the reality is that having a job is not a guaranteed path out of poverty,” the report said.

It suggests poverty in B.C. arises increasingly from the low-paid, part-time and temporary jobs that have been created since the 2008 recession.

“Metro Vancouver’s booming economy relies on a large group of low-paid workers to provide security, catering, cleaning, administration and other services.”

As for solutions, the report urges the provincial government to boost the minimum wage to $15 an hour, strengthen employment standards, and invest in more social housing.

LOCAL

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Chinese bank claims fugitive bought luxury BC real estate with stolen funds A major Chinese bank has obtained a court order in B.C. freezing the assets of a businessman accused of fleeing China and buying “luxury� Lower Mainland homes after defaulting on a $10 million loan.

In an application brought before a B.C. Supreme Court judge last week, lawyers for China CITIC Bank claim Shibiao Yan and his wife bought more than $8 million worth of properties in Surrey and Vancouver over a three-month period beginning in June 2014.

The court documents claim Yan, who was president of the Tanyuan Wood Company in Shijiazhuang, China, withdrew RMB 50 million from a line of credit he obtained on behalf of his company.

The bank claims the 56-year-old provided a personal guarantee for the money.

The loan came due last summer. But the bank claims Yan and his family had already fled to the Vancouver area.

Yan could not be reached for comment. He was not represented at the ex parte hearing and none of the allegations against him have

been proven in court.

The lawyer who represents the bank, Christine Duhaime, would not comment on the proceedings, but tweeted that the case was of “global significance for China�.

The court case comes amid ongoing speculation about the role of offshore money and cash from wealthy Chinese investors in particular, in driving the out-of-control Lower Mainland real estate market.

Last year, Canada’s anti-money laundering watchdog FINTRAC claimed to have stepped up enforcement activities in Vancouver’s real estate market. A report prepared for the agency suggested the real estate sector was at “significant risk� for money laundering.

BC to roll back speed Bail denied again for man limits on two highways charged with smuggling Tamils into Canada after increase in crashes A man who was charged with helping to smuggle 492 Tamils into Canada aboard a rickety vessel has been denied bail following a review of his case.

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Speed limits will be rolled back by 10 km/h: to 90 km/h on Highway 1 and 80 km/h on Highway 5A. Twelve other routes where collisions have also increased will keep the higher speed limits, he said, because they can be improved with rumble strips, variable speed zones, wildlife signs and message boards.

Those enhancements are expected to take 12 to 18 months. “The most prudent and responsible thing to do is to assess each segment on its own merit,â€? Stone said. “If we believe the right speed has been set on a highway, we will keep that speed ‌ but if we feel, with an abundance of caution, that it’s prudent to roll back a speed to maximize the mitigation of risk related to a collision, we will do that.â€?

Speed limits were increased on 1,300 km of rural provincial highways in the Southern Interior, Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland two years ago. On some highways, including the Coquihalla — from Hope to Kamloops — motorists can drive up to 120 km/h.

New data released by the B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure shows crash rates have dropped, or are unchanged, on 19 of 33 sections of highway. The Coquihalla continues to see the lowest crash rate in the last 10 years, according to the province.

The ministry’s analysis, which compares crash data from Nov. 1, 2014 to Oct. 31, 2015 with crash data from the previous three years, notes that on seven sections, the rate of speed and crashes decreased, while on 12 sections, the rate of speed increased but crashes went down.

Kunarobinson Christhurajah was taken into custody in August 2010 after the vessel he owned, the MV Sun Sea, was intercepted off the B.C. coast. One person died during the vessel’s voyage across the Pacific Ocean and another 492 people were found on board by Canadian officials. In addition to Christhurajah, five other men were also initially charged under Canada’s human smuggling laws. In February 2013, a B.C. Supreme Court judge in Vancouver denied bail for Christhurajah. The reasons for the decision of Justice Jon Sigurdsson cannot be reported due to a publication ban imposed in the case. Such bans are routinely imposed at Canadian bail hearings.

The accused sought a review of that decision and in a ruling released Tuesday, B.C. Supreme Court Justice William Ehrcke denied him bail a second time. A ban was also imposed on Ehrcke’s ruling.

Christhurajah, dressed in red prison clothing, had little reaction to the ruling as he sat in the prisoner’s dock. His wife and child sat in the public gallery behind him.

Typically at bail hearings, judges assess whether an accused is a flight risk or a risk to re-offend. They also look at whether release of an accused would bring the justice system into disrepute.

A jury trial for Christhurajah and three of the other accused — Nadarajah Mahendran, Thampeernayagam Rajaratnam and Lesly Jana Emmanuel — is set for Sept. 26 in B.C. Supreme Court in Vancouver. Christhurajah’s three co-accused are on bail.

LOCAL

Saturday, July 2, 2016

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Realtors should face fines up to $250K for misconduct, B.C. report recommends An independent advisory group tasked with reviewing a series of damning revelations about unscrupulous activity in B.C.’s overheated housing market says real estate agents who break the rules should face fines of up to $250,000.

In a report prepared for B.C.’s Real Estate Council, the 11-member panel also calls for confidential lines of communication like a hotline or whistleblower programs for members of the public to report wrongdoing.

Among the 60-page report’s findings are recommendations for greater scrutiny of new licensees and the end of dual agency, in which a real estate agent is allowed to act for both the seller and buyer in a deal.

The group says the 11 real estate boards that advance the interests of Realtors in B.C. should stop performing quasi-regulatory duties, which might discourage complainants from taking their concerns to the regulator.

The chair of the advisory group, Financial Institutions Commission head Carolyn Rogers, admitted the panel was not asked to deal with the overarching concern of affordability in B.C.’s housing market. “Any time there is extreme price fluctuation, you have people that try to rush into the market to make a quick buck,� Rogers told reporters. “I think what’s going on in British Columbia is that houses are no longer just homes, they are trading as investments, and that puts pressure on a regime that was never designed for that.�

The group “found the Real Estate Council does not consistently make use of the principles and rules that already exist, to effectively deter misconduct and unethical behaviours that impact on the reputation and confidence in the industry,� the report says. “In some instances, the Real Estate Council interprets its jurisdiction narrowly and

appears reluctant to intervene, where it needs to be proactive and authoritative to head off problems earlier.�

The current maximum penalty for real estate agent misconduct is $10,000, while brokerages face a maximum penalty of $20,000. The report

says the ceiling for individuals should be increased to $250,000 for individuals and up to $500,000 for brokerages.

The public perception of existing penalties is that many Realtors see them as the cost of doing business. The recommendations also call for the Real Estate Council to have the power to go after the proceeds of misconduct from licensees and brokerages.The panel was formed after a series of media stories about questionable real estate practices including so-

called “shadow-flipping,� in which the contract for a house sale is assigned multiple times before the final contract is settled, with profit going to other Realtors without the knowledge of the original seller.

The province has since acted to crack down on shadow-flipping to ensure that sellers are fully informed about contract assignments.

The panel wants to see those rules apply to all real estate transactions, including “for-sale-byowner� deals.

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Saturday, July 2, 2016

Family dog is Surrey’s latest shooting victim Two separate shootings have left a 21-year-old man in hospital and a family dog dead.

Surrey RCMP say the first incident was reported around 8 p.m. Monday night near 128th Street and 60th Avenue in Surrey.

Occupants of two vehicles exchanged gunfire before taking off. By the time the RCMP arrived, they say all that was left for them were shell casings and a vague

description of one of the vehicles.

“A white Infiniti G35, or Mercedes C-class vehicle,” said RCMP Corp. Scotty Schumann. “We are still looking for those vehicles.”

About 40 minutes later, a 21-year-old man walked into a nearby hospital with a nonlife-threatening gunshot wound. Schumann confirmed that while the man is known to police, he is cooperating.

RCMP are still investigating whether the two incidents are linked.

Four hours later, bullets tore through the

front window and struck the front door of a residence on the 10100-block of 127th Street.

When officers entered the home, they found a single unharmed resident.

Unfortunately, the family dog appears to have been killed.

“The poor dog was in the wrong place at the wrong time,” said Schumann.

RCMP suspect the second shooting was targeted, but say there is no evidence to connect it to the rash of drug-related gun violence that spiked in March.

Surrey RCMP are still collecting evidence at the scene with help from the Lower Mainland Forensic Identification Services.

“At this point we have not located any witnesses to this incident, but it’s possible someone in the neighbourhood saw a person or vehicle that looked suspicious,” says Schumann. “We are asking anyone who may have seen anything at all to contact police with that information.”

There have now been 42 confirmed shootings in Surrey this year, but this is the first involving the death of a pet.

Anyone with more information is asked to contact the Surrey RCMP at 604-5990502 or Crime Stoppers, if they wish to remain anonymous, at 1-800-222-TIPS or www.solvecrime.ca.

Surrey cab driver fails drunk driving test while on the job A Surrey cab driver has been let go from his job after failing a roadside drinking test while on shift last week.

It was on June 24 that three young women called up a cab to get to a birthday party. But when they got in the vehicle they immediately noticed something was wrong with the driver.

“He was so dazed, he didn’t even have recognition he had just drove up on the lawn,” said Bryanna, one of the passengers.

“You could smell alcohol. At that point, we were like ‘he’s drunk, something is up,’” said

Avneet.

The three got out of the cab, and one of the passengers got her dad to come help. The father then moved his car to block the cab driver from moving, and phoned the cops.

“From what I have been told the driver has been penalized for three months and will not be allowed to drive for us in the future as well,” said a manager for Pacific Cabs.

Surrey RCMP confirm the cab driver was given a roadside test and failed. He has been handed a 90-day driving prohibition and the cab has been seized for 30 days.

South Asian landlord apologizes after targeted shooting in his home Chitvinder Kambo calls it his “apology tour”: he’s going door-to-door saying he’s sorry for renting his basement to people who were involved in a shooting attack in a quiet Prince George neighbourhood.

Kambo was in his room just after midnight on June 23 when he heard fighting coming from downstairs. He was going to check it out when he heard gunshots.

“At first I couldn’t believe what was going on,” he said. “My little cat was right in front of me. He ran so fast when those bullets went off.”

RCMP say it was a targeted shooting connected to the drug trade. Kambo says the experience will change the way he screens potential tenants.

“You actually have to go to the workplace and make sure they’re actually working.

If they’re a student, ask for the paperwork showing they’re actually enrolled in school.”

Ranjit Singh says he doesn’t blame Kambo for the shooting, but he is worried about an increase in violence in the area.

Singh’s home is almost directly between two targeted shootings that took place in a single week.

The first was just before midnight, June 15.

A 33-year-old man was shot dead on Forest Avenue at a home connected to Singh’s backyard. The second was at Kambo’s house, across the street from Singh.

Two attacks in such a short time has Singh worried for the safety of his twin four-yearold daughters.

“Imagine if any stray bullets come into our home and injure one of our kids. As we hear on the news all the time, we might just become a statistic.”

Jessica Ballantyne is also worried.

She moved to the area in an effort to get away from some of the violence she had encountered at her previous home, close to the city’s downtown.

“You do kind of have, when you move to a neighbourhood like this, a sense of invincibility almost,” she said. “It seems like a rich, safe neighbourhood. There’s a lot of young families, people settled down, older people and kids.”

When Ballantyne first moved, she would go for runs at night. Now, she’s being more cautious. “You kind of realize that stuff is everywhere.”

Victoria rally gets heated as protesters try to force their way into housing meeting A protest rally in Victoria got heated as dozens of protesters tried to force their way into a meeting with housing ministers from across the country.

About 30 housing advocates shouting “Christy’s cuts are class war!” tried to push past police officers and staff at the Grand Pacific Hotel.

They’re demanding the federal government spend more than $10 billion annually to build 77,000 housing

units per year in Canada.

“The message we’re getting from the government is that they’re interested in posturing around housing but not willing to take people off the street,” said Ivan Drury with the Alliance Against Displacement, who led the group’s attempt to bust into the hotel.

Before the rally, Drury and his fellow advocates got a surprise visit from Federal Housing Minister Jean-Yves Duclos, who stepped out of the hotel to met with the group.

“We are working across the housing spectrum, which goes from homelessness to market housing, and we have a huge interest in social housing,” Duclos said to the group.

In the 2016 budget, the federal government pledged $2.3 billion for affordable housing including a $150-million investment announced last Sunday, focused on B.C. But he said provincial housing ministers “have turned a page” on a national housing strategy and saw more support from the federal government to build housing.

Duclos said the government is trying to address a wide range of housing problems, from $1 million homes to social housing.

He said he and his provincial and territorial counterparts are working toward the country’s first national housing strategy in four decades.

“No one government can address those housing needs alone,” he said. “Today is a demonstration that we are there to listen and address the housing needs that Canadians have frankly expressed over the last few months and last few years.”

Saturday, July 2, 2016

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Saturday, July 2, 2016

Metro Vancouver mayors reject replacement of Massey Tunnel with 10-lane bridge The mayors of Metro Vancouver have rejected the provincial government’s plans to replace the George Massey tunnel with a 10-lane bridge.

It’s the first time the mayors, who make up the Metro Vancouver Board, have spoken out collectively against the $3.5-billion crossing.

The decision came as the board released a report assessing the impact of the bridge on the region’s traffic congestion and the environment.

“History has demonstrated the world over, you can’t reduce congestion by simply building more roads,” said board chair Greg

Moore in a written statement.

“This project represents an expansion of car-oriented infrastructure and diverts crucial funds from transportation projects that support the regional growth strategy.”

The board said that while it understands the need to reduce traffic congestion along the busy Highway 99, it questions how the $3.5-billion bridge would resolve those issues.

Moore said the board would prefer to see a smaller bridge with more lanes dedicated to public transportation.

The report highlights the following issues: Insufficient consideration of alternatives to a ten-lane bridge.

Lack of integration into the regional

growth strategy and transportation network.

Ecological disruption to the Fraser River estuary, an important habitat for salmon and birds.

Impacts on Metro Vancouver infrastructure, including water mains and sewer lines.

Recreational and ecological disruption on Deas Island Regional Park.

Downloading of major expenditures onto local governments for road improvements.

Negative effects on transit ridership and affordability.

Insufficient consideration to climate change and air quality.

“We are genuinely concerned about the possible impacts of bridge construction, roadway improvements, tunnel removal and possible future dredging which could impact between $500 million to $1 billion in regional infrastructure and assets,” said Metro Vancouver utilities committee chair Darrell Mussatto.

The board said it was also concerned about a lack of public consultation on the project.

It said it will send a letter to the province about the report and its analysis, highlighting its concerns.

The province announced plans last December to replace the aging George Massey Tunnel with what would be the largest toll bridge in the province.

Transportation Minister Todd Stone argued the bridge would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by reducing unnecessary idling and would save commuters up to 30 minutes a day of travel time.

The three-kilometre bridge will connect Richmond and Delta across the Fraser River.

Construction is expected to begin in 2017 and would take about five years.

Read Online, Visit our Website www.theasianstar.com

Michel Fournier, ex-Federal Bridge Corp. executive, charged in kickback scheme The former head of Canada’s Federal Fournier was a chief of staff to Liberal Bridge Corporation (FBC) and his wife have party leader Jean Chretien in the early 1990s. been charged with a string of corruption When Chretien became prime minister, he offences tied to allegations of kickbacks appointed Fournier to lead the FBC, a Crown and a $127 million contract awarded to corporation which oversees the awarding of the engineering firm huge megaproject contracts SNC-Lavalin to refurbish across Canada.

Montreal’s Jacques The investigation relates Cartier Bridge. to “allegations of bribery The RCMP yesterday payments paid to Fournier raided the Victoria home

by SNC- Lavalin,” said of Michel Fournier and RCMP spokeswoman his wife Judith BarkleyBrigitte Mineault, in a Fournier. statement.

It’s the result of the “The payments were Michel Fournier Mounties’ investigation made during the time the into millions of dollars in contract was awarded to payments to a Swiss bank account Fournier SNC-Lavalin … for repairs of the Jacquesopened in 2000 under the code name Cartier Bridge in Montreal.”

“Zorro,” just 20 days after awarding the Mineault said the alleged crimes took contract to SNC-Lavalin. place while Fournier was president of both The RCMP confirmed today they have FBC and Ponts Jacques-Cartier Champlain, arrested and charged Michel Fournier with: a Crown corporation responsible for Fraud on the government. maintaining bridges and highways in the Breach of trust.

Montreal region.

Possession of property obtained by crime.

An investigation by Radio-Canada’s Laundering the proceeds of crime.

Enquête and CBC News in 2014 uncovered Judith Barkley-Fournier has been arrested a trail of payments from a company called and charged with possession of property Promotag SARL — a commercial agent obtained by crime, and laundering the used frequently by SNC — which began proceeds of crime, the RCMP said. making deposits into accounts controlled The couple was released on a promise to by Fournier that would total more than $1.4 appear before a Montreal court on Sept. 26. million.

Chinese bought $1.3B of Canadian commercial real estate this year Chinese buyers are now the largest foreign investors in Canadian commercial real estate, having spent $1.3 billion in the first half of this year, according to global real estate firm CBRE Ltd. The figure is skewed by a single big sale, the purchase of the Bentall Centre in Vancouver by the Anbang Group, the same Chinese company that bought the Waldorf Astoria in New York City in 2014.

The Bentall Centre was reported to have sold for more than $1 billion.

This year’s $1.3 billion in investment in the first six months from China and Hong Kong compares to $309 million last year and is a marked difference from the previous five

years, when investment from Hong Kong and China represented just four per cent of the market.

So far this year, Chinese investors represent 65.4 per cent of more than $2 billion in total deals across the country in the first six months of this year.

CBRE Canada, which is based in Toronto, says China’s state-owned owned firms have an interest in Canada because they are seeking out a safe haven for capital.

With the Canadian dollar relatively low and Europe looking increasingly uncertain because of Brexit, there could be more interest in commercial real estate here in the year ahead, it predicted.

NATIONAL

Saturday, July 2, 2016

What Trudeau, Obama and Nieto agreed on at Three Amigos Summit What did the Three Amigos discuss?

The talks hadn’t even started between Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, U.S. President Barack Obama and Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto when statements began circulating about what they’d agree on.

Obama was barely off the plane when the White House announced a joint environmental action plan. There’s also a plan to tackle short-lived pollutants, including cutting methane emissions from the oil and gas sector between 40 and 45 per cent by 2025, reducing black carbon (soot) emissions and finding alternatives to hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs).

The trio is also collaborating on green transportation strategies and conservation measures to protect species at risk, like the monarch butterfly.

With protesters gathered in downtown Ottawa to denounce the 12-country TransPacific Partnership, would the official communiqués enthusiastically embrace this trade agreement?

Not really. There’s one line about the Pacific Rim deal the three North American partners must ratify by early 2018: “We will continue to work diligently to complete our respective domestic processes.”

In the meantime, the Amigos continue to adjust their existing North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) to changing economic circumstances. They’ve revised the rules of origin for pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, rubber, metals, industrial/electrical machinery, precision instruments and natural gas.

Briefing reporters on the plane to Ottawa, White House spokesman Josh Earnest reacted to Donald Trump’s call to repeal NAFTA by promoting the TPP, a deal once hoped to be Obama’s trade legacy: “We’ve already succeeded in renegotiating NAFTA. That’s exactly what the TPP does,” he said.

The North American trusted traveller program continues to roll out. By the end of 2016, Canadian and American citizens who are part of the NEXUS system, which streamlines border crossing for low-risk, frequent travellers, will be eligible to apply for a Viajero Confiable program to expedite

screening at Mexican airports.

In return, Mexicans will be able to apply for NEXUS processing.

Other work to improve technology and speed up border crossings continues, including data sharing.

In 2016, Canadian personnel will be embedded alongside Mexican counterparts in a U.S. customs centre to fight the illegal smuggling of contraband goods with better prescreening for high-risk cargo shipments.

The American release mentions steel first and greater co-operation to manage excess steel capacity through “robust trade enforcement.” Canada’s release mentions steel at the bottom.

The three countries will embrace “cluster asset mapping,” to identify regions with interconnected companies, suppliers and institutions and help attract new industries.

They will also collaborate on cybersecurity and convene an industry summit in Washington to share expertise.

Perhaps not surprisingly, given the priority Canada’s Liberal government puts on advancing gender equity, there’s a trilateral memorandum of understanding to promote women’s entrepreneurship. Canadian and American businesswomen are planning a trade mission to Mexico over the next year.

In the aftermath of the Orlando nightclub shootings that targeted that city’s gay community, the three leaders are calling on the international community “to ensure full respect for the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and intersex persons.”

The Amigos support the establishment of an independent expert at the United Nations to work on preventing violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. In particular, Canada and the U.S. commit their embassies to collaborate on efforts to promote decriminalization of same-sex conduct and combat violence and discrimination around the world.

During Trudeau’s visit to Washington earlier this year, the two leaders’ spouses attended an event in support of girls education. This global development issue pops up among the Three Amigos priorities as well.

19

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to march in Vancouver Pride Parade Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will march in the Vancouver Pride Parade July 31 according to the Vancouver Pride Society.

Trudeau has marched in the Vancouver parade on two previous occasions but this will be his first appearance as prime minister. He announced he will march in the July 3 Toronto

Pride Parade earlier this year. Trudeau has been a vocal advocate of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights.

Earlier this month he raised a Pride flag on Parliament Hill in recognition of the people who have “fought a long time” to secure equal rights for LGBT Canadians.

20

NATIONAL

Saturday, July 2, 2016

Mortgage Professionals Canada says there’s no evidence of housing bubble There is no housing bubble, and any misguided attempts to fix one will cause bigger problems in the long run.

That’s one of the main takeaways of a new report from Mortgage Professionals Canada, an industry group that represents 11,000 mortgage brokers across the country.

“Housing bubbles do not exist in Canada,” the group’s chief economist Will Dunning says in the report, adding that it would be “tragic” if any misguided attempts to fix a problem that doesn’t exist were to happen.

The report cites U.S. economist Joseph Stiglitz as saying a key requirement of

bubbles is that the price of something is “high today only because investors believe that the selling price will be high tomorrow.”

In other words, a bubble occurs when people buy something solely because prices are rising quickly and they deduce that they will continue to do so.

Unlike other purely financial assets, which people primarily buy because they plan to sell them for a higher amount later, housing is different, because people’s main motivation to buy is often to live in it.

That is why Dunning doesn’t buy the

housing bubble thesis. He says there are reams of evidence that suggest housing price appreciation is solidly backed by fundamentals — people want to buy houses

because they want to live in them.

“Price growth in Canada, even in Vancouver and Toronto, is still consistent with the economic fundamental of interest rates and affordability,” the report says.

In its recent Monetary Policy Report, no less than the Bank of Canada noted that it is on the lookout for “self-reinforcing price expectations” in the housing market.

As far as Dunning is concerned, however, there’s little to worry about in the numbers, because he notes that while mortgage debt is increasing, with rates so low the amount of mortgage payments that go to paying down the principal versus interest payments is

near record highs.

Still, group isn’t without some concern about the housing market. On the subject of foreign buyers, the report does concede that there’s at least anecdotal evidence that moneyed foreign buyers are driving up prices in Toronto and Vancouver, especially in the market for high-end homes.

As evidence, the group notes that in both cities the “rates of price increase are now much higher for single-detached homes than they are for lower-priced townhomes and condominiums. In other centres covered by the CREA index, that pattern is absent.”“This is consistent with increased buying by affluent foreign investors, although it is not conclusive proof,” Dunning says.

“We should accept that foreign buying is very substantial in Vancouver and that the Vancouver housing market is being severely distorted in consequence,” the report said.

“In Toronto, we do not have the same amount of anecdotal evidence, but the recent great strength in the market and an acceleration of price growth have led to suggestions that a similar set of effects may now be developing.”

Marijuana task force to be led by former deputy PM Anne McLellan Justice Minister Wilson-Raybould announced today the launch of a task force to advise the Canadian government on how best to move forward with its plan to legalize marijuana.

The nine-member task force will be chaired by Anne McLellan, a former deputy prime minister under Paul Martin who also served as a health and justice minister.

“The task force will use what it has heard to advise the government on the design of the legislation and the regulatory framework that will include a new system of strict marijuana sales and distribution,” Wilson-Raybould said during a news conference in Ottawa on Thursday.

The panel, whose recommendations will be made public, will have to report back to the government by November before legislation is introduced in the spring of

2017.

The other members of the task force are: Dr. Mark A Ware (vice-chair).

Dr. Susan Boyd., George Chow.

Marlene Jesso., Dr. Perry Kendall.

Rafik Souccar.,Dr. Barbara von Tigerstrom.

Dr. Catherine Zahn.

Wilson-Raybould reminded Canadians that police would continue to enforce the current laws until new legislation is in place.

“Production and possession of marijuana are illegal unless it has been authorized for medical purposes,” she said.

Selling pot commercially without a licence is still illegal, the government warned today.

“These storefronts sell untested products that may be unsafe and of particular risk to kids and they are supplied by illegal growers,” said Michel Picard, the parliamentary secretary to the minister of public safety.

LOCAL

Saturday, July 2, 2016

BC NDP calls for task force to fight tax fraud & money laundering in real estate British Columbia’s Opposition New Democrats are calling on Premier Christy Clark to launch a task force to fight tax NDP Leader John Horgan says for a relatively low cost the province could launch an integrated team of police, Crown prosecutors and auditors that would investigate and prosecute criminal activity in B.C.’s overheated housing market.

He says federal agency FINTRAC has a warehouse full of evidence of tax evasion and fraud but it doesn’t have a mandate to prosecute, and the province has failed to aggressively pursue rogue Realtors, companies and investors. Clark

was set to announce measures to strengthen consumer protection, and Horgan says if she doesn’t launch a task force then the NDP will if it wins next May’s election.

An independent panel released a report on real estate agent misconduct Tuesday that made 28 recommendations, including increased fines of up to $250,000 for individual Realtors and $500,000 for brokerages. Horgan says the NDP fully supports the recommendations but the report didn’t address the root causes of B.C.’s affordability crisis, including speculative investment, foreign cash, tax evasion and money laundering.

South Asian couple awarded $4.9 million compensation after tractor-trailer crash in 2009 Volvo Trucks North America has been ordered to pay a Surrey couple nearly $5 million after being found negligent in a tractor-trailer crash in 2009.

The B.C. Supreme Court ruling, released Friday, found Volvo was negligent in installing hardware on the tractor’s engine, causing the loss of electrical power.

Amandeep and Pavandeep Hans were travelling along a highway, returning to their home following a long trip that extended from the U.S. to Eastern Canada and Manitoba.

Amandeep was pulling a fully-loaded trailer about 65 to 70 km/h.

Without warning, all electrical power in the truck was lost, including the power steering, headlights and interior lights.

According to the ruling, Amandeep saw the trailer begin to jack-knife, and heard the sound of tires squealing, and sparks flying from the trailer’s landing gear hitting the pavement.

The truck was forced off the road and into a ditch, coming to rest on the driver’s side of the cab. He and his wife managed to get out and onto the roadway in the freezing night, but a Manitoba Hydro vehicle happened by shortly after the crash, and gave the couple shelter.

While neither suffered serious physical injuries, their lives have changed dramatically, the judgement said.

Amandeep is now “a shadow of his former self physically, emotionally and socially,” and is “incapable of enjoying life as he formerly did.”

During court hearings, medical experts said he suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder caused by the crash and his reaction to it.

Justice Barry Davies awarded the couple $4.86

million, including $1.45 million to Amandeep for loss of future earning capacity, and $1.78 for his future care and supervision, medication and rehabilitation therapies.

Lawyer Les Mackoff said his clients have lived very modestly since the 2009 crash, with Pavandeep working in the early mornings, and after school, every day of the week, with her days commonly 20 hours.

Amandeep has been diagnosed with a very serious chronic form of PTSD, and all treatment modes have failed so far, Mackoff said.

“There’s some small hope that his function will improve somewhat, but there’s a great danger of him harming himself in the future as well,” he said. “It’s a very delicate situation.”

Mackoff said post-traumatic stress disorder “actually physically changes the way the human brain works.”

“Two veterans can be involved in an IED (improvised explosive device) exploding in front of them and watching a comrade be blown to bits. One guy goes on and never recovers and another person says gee that was a horrible thing, but it has no appreciable affect on them,” Mackoff said. Volvo’s engineer admitted, Mackoff said, that they knew there were some trucks that had left the factory without a nut properly tightened on a critical joint where the electrical cables pass through a bulkhead between the engine compartment and the passenger cab. All the electrical wires from the truck’s engine terminate on what’s known as a pass-through plate, he said, and an improperly fastened nut loosened up and caused a failure of the electrical connection as the couple drove through Manitoba.

11

Surrey to seek new top cop Surrey’s top cop is moving onward and upward.

RCMP A/Comm. Bill Fordy has been named new Lower Mainland District (LMD) Commander with the BC RCMP. He will continue on as Surrey’s Officer in Charge until a suitable replacement can be found. “I’ve got a really strong team here in Surrey,” Fordy told the Leader in an interview Wednesday.

“I think the processes we have in place here will allow for that type of pressure until such time as the new person hits the ground.” As

commander for LMD, he takes over for retired RCMP A/Comm.

Dan Malo and will oversee the 13 detachments serving 29 communities, including Surrey.

His area of command stretches from Pemberton to the U.S. border and includes 2,500 RCMP officers and support staff.

He will also oversee all of the RCMP integrated units, such as the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team, Emergency Response Team and forensics team, to name a few.

12

LOCAL

Saturday, July 2, 2016

Surrey by-law manager lets off pit bull owner without a fine The owner of a pit bull that savagely attacked a woman will not be getting a bylaw ticket for having the animal off leash.

On June 20 at about 10:20 a.m., Brenda Moon, 63, was walking by a convenience store at 91 Avenue and 120 Street when she was attacked by a grey and white pit bull.

While the dog was on a leash, the owner was not holding it and the dog lunged at Moon’s forearm.

Her injuries were significant. Moon suffered severe lacerations and bones were sticking out of her arm. At least one surgery was required.

The dog has since been put down.

Because the owner was not in control of the leash, he is in violation of the Dog Responsibility Bylaw.

As such, he faced fines of up to $2,000, plus the costs of prosecution.

Manager of Bylaw Enforcement Jas Rehal said the owner of the dog was not fined in this case.

“We didn’t proceed with a fine or a ticket,” Rehal told The Leader Monday. “We feel that ultimately, his dog was put down and we felt that was sufficient.”

RCMP looking for robbery suspect Surrey RCMP is asking for public help in identifying a woman alleged to have committed a robbery in May. On May 28, at about 11 p.m., a woman entered a business in the 15500-block of Fraser Highway, produced a knife and demanded cash from the store clerk.

The clerk was slashed on the arm during the incident.

The suspect fled on foot.

The suspect is described as a Caucasian female with

blonde hair and very distinctive teeth (see attached photo).

“We’re thankful that the clerk received only minor injuries,” said Cpl. Scotty Schumann in a press release.

Anyone with more information is asked to contact the Surrey RCMP at 604-599-0502 or Crime Stoppers, if they wish to remain anonymous, at 1-800-222-TIPS or www. solvecrime.ca.

Shot man shows up at Surrey hospital following Newton gunfire A 21-year-old was shot Monday in what Surrey police believe was a targeted incident.

The man showed up at an area hospital around 8:40 p.m. June 27 – less than an hour after police were alerted to shots fired in a Newton neighbourhood.

In an initial news release issued Monday night, police said they found evidence of shots fired in the 12800-block of 60 Avenue around 8 p.m., but no victims.

A second news release describing a man with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound was issued just before noon on Tuesday.

“Officers are investigating whether there are any linkages between this incident and the shots-fired incident that occurred last night,” the release states.

According to the initial release, two vehicles were seen fleeing the shots-fired scene.

Descriptions of the vehicles have not been confirmed. Newton has experienced dozens of shootings so far this year, with police linking some to rival drug gangs.

Investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information who has not already spoken to police is asked to contact Surrey RCMP at 604-599-0502 or, to remain anonymous, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or www. solvecrime.ca

Saturday, July 2, 2016

B.C. taking over regulation of real estate A new Superintendent of Real Estate will take over regulation of the B.C. industry, Premier Christy Clark said Wednesday.

Clark and Finance Minister Mike de Jong said a the current industry-led Real Estate Council of B.C. will be replaced by a board with a majority of “public interest, non-industry members,” and fines for real estate misconduct are to be increased.

Clark said the maximum fine for individuals will go to $250,000, and twice that for real estate brokerages. The government is adopting all the recommendations of an independent advisory group, including banning realtors from representing both buyer and seller in a transaction. “The real estate sector has had 10 years to get it right on self-regulation and

they haven’t,” Clark said. Clark said there will be more changes announced in the next few weeks to help people get into the real estate market in urban areas where house prices are spiralling.

In his latest budget, de Jong increased the property purchase tax exemption level from $475,000 to $750,000 for new homes only, and increased the tax rate from two to three per cent on the value of homes in excess of $2 million.

Clark was non-committal on a proposal by the City of Vancouver to impose a tax on vacant homes. She said the province is studying whether it has a role to play in such a tax, and repeated the federal housing minister’s position that all levels of government are needed to deal with housing affordability.

Report says more than 100,000 people in Metro Vancouver considered working poor More than 100,000 people in Metro Vancouver are working, but still living below the poverty line, according to a new study.

The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives released a report Wednesday that delves into census data from 2012 on income and employment.

It found that 8.7 per cent of Metro Vancouver residents who were of working age had jobs but were still poor.

That was up from 8.4 per cent in 2006 and only slightly below the area with the highest percentage of working poor in Canada: Greater Toronto.

Some of the largest cities, including Vancouver, Surrey, Burnaby, Richmond and Coquitlam, have some of the highest working

poverty rates, but the study found that several smaller municipalities — Greater Vancouver Electoral Area A (which includes UBC), Bowen Island and North Vancouver — had high levels as well.

The lowest rates were in Pitt Meadows (5.4 per cent), Port Moody (5.5 per cent), Delta (5.7 per cent) and Maple Ridge (5.7 per cent).

The largest increases from 2006 to 2012 were in West Vancouver (15 per cent), Coquitlam (13 per cent), White Rock (15 per cent), Lions Bay (17 per cent) and the District of North Vancouver (13 per cent).

“We are often told that the solution to poverty is for the poor to ‘get a job’ or for various sectors to create more jobs, but the reality is that having a job is not a guaranteed path out of poverty,” the report said.

It suggests poverty in B.C. arises increasingly from the low-paid, part-time and temporary jobs that have been created since the 2008 recession.

“Metro Vancouver’s booming economy relies on a large group of low-paid workers to provide security, catering, cleaning, administration and other services.”

As for solutions, the report urges the provincial government to boost the minimum wage to $15 an hour, strengthen employment standards, and invest in more social housing.

LOCAL

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LOCAL

Saturday, July 2, 2016

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Chinese bank claims fugitive bought luxury BC real estate with stolen funds A major Chinese bank has obtained a court order in B.C. freezing the assets of a businessman accused of fleeing China and buying â&#x20AC;&#x153;luxuryâ&#x20AC;? Lower Mainland homes after defaulting on a $10 million loan.

In an application brought before a B.C. Supreme Court judge last week, lawyers for China CITIC Bank claim Shibiao Yan and his wife bought more than $8 million worth of properties in Surrey and Vancouver over a three-month period beginning in June 2014.

The court documents claim Yan, who was president of the Tanyuan Wood Company in Shijiazhuang, China, withdrew RMB 50 million from a line of credit he obtained on behalf of his company.

The bank claims the 56-year-old provided a personal guarantee for the money.

The loan came due last summer. But the bank claims Yan and his family had already fled to the Vancouver area.

Yan could not be reached for comment. He was not represented at the ex parte hearing and none of the allegations against him have

been proven in court.

The lawyer who represents the bank, Christine Duhaime, would not comment on the proceedings, but tweeted that the case was of â&#x20AC;&#x153;global significance for Chinaâ&#x20AC;?.

The court case comes amid ongoing speculation about the role of offshore money and cash from wealthy Chinese investors in particular, in driving the out-of-control Lower Mainland real estate market.

Last year, Canadaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s anti-money laundering watchdog FINTRAC claimed to have stepped up enforcement activities in Vancouverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s real estate market. A report prepared for the agency suggested the real estate sector was at â&#x20AC;&#x153;significant riskâ&#x20AC;? for money laundering.

BC to roll back speed Bail denied again for man limits on two highways charged with smuggling Tamils into Canada after increase in crashes A man who was charged with helping to smuggle 492 Tamils into Canada aboard a rickety vessel has been denied bail following a review of his case.

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' ! " 0 12345678966:; Transportation Minister Todd Stone said congestion and speed are believed to be major contributors of crashes on those segments.

Speed limits will be rolled back by 10 km/h: to 90 km/h on Highway 1 and 80 km/h on Highway 5A. Twelve other routes where collisions have also increased will keep the higher speed limits, he said, because they can be improved with rumble strips, variable speed zones, wildlife signs and message boards.

Those enhancements are expected to take 12 to 18 months. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The most prudent and responsible thing to do is to assess each segment on its own merit,â&#x20AC;? Stone said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If we believe the right speed has been set on a highway, we will keep that speed â&#x20AC;Ś but if we feel, with an abundance of caution, that itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s prudent to roll back a speed to maximize the mitigation of risk related to a collision, we will do that.â&#x20AC;?

Speed limits were increased on 1,300 km of rural provincial highways in the Southern Interior, Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland two years ago. On some highways, including the Coquihalla â&#x20AC;&#x201D; from Hope to Kamloops â&#x20AC;&#x201D; motorists can drive up to 120 km/h.

New data released by the B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure shows crash rates have dropped, or are unchanged, on 19 of 33 sections of highway. The Coquihalla continues to see the lowest crash rate in the last 10 years, according to the province.

The ministryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s analysis, which compares crash data from Nov. 1, 2014 to Oct. 31, 2015 with crash data from the previous three years, notes that on seven sections, the rate of speed and crashes decreased, while on 12 sections, the rate of speed increased but crashes went down.

Kunarobinson Christhurajah was taken into custody in August 2010 after the vessel he owned, the MV Sun Sea, was intercepted off the B.C. coast. One person died during the vesselâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s voyage across the Pacific Ocean and another 492 people were found on board by Canadian officials. In addition to Christhurajah, five other men were also initially charged under Canadaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s human smuggling laws. In February 2013, a B.C. Supreme Court judge in Vancouver denied bail for Christhurajah. The reasons for the decision of Justice Jon Sigurdsson cannot be reported due to a publication ban imposed in the case. Such bans are routinely imposed at Canadian bail hearings.

The accused sought a review of that decision and in a ruling released Tuesday, B.C. Supreme Court Justice William Ehrcke denied him bail a second time. A ban was also imposed on Ehrckeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ruling.

Christhurajah, dressed in red prison clothing, had little reaction to the ruling as he sat in the prisonerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dock. His wife and child sat in the public gallery behind him.

Typically at bail hearings, judges assess whether an accused is a flight risk or a risk to re-offend. They also look at whether release of an accused would bring the justice system into disrepute.

A jury trial for Christhurajah and three of the other accused â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Nadarajah Mahendran, Thampeernayagam Rajaratnam and Lesly Jana Emmanuel â&#x20AC;&#x201D; is set for Sept. 26 in B.C. Supreme Court in Vancouver. Christhurajahâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s three co-accused are on bail.

LOCAL

Saturday, July 2, 2016

15

Realtors should face fines up to $250K for misconduct, B.C. report recommends An independent advisory group tasked with reviewing a series of damning revelations about unscrupulous activity in B.C.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s overheated housing market says real estate agents who break the rules should face fines of up to $250,000.

In a report prepared for B.C.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Real Estate Council, the 11-member panel also calls for confidential lines of communication like a hotline or whistleblower programs for members of the public to report wrongdoing.

Among the 60-page reportâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s findings are recommendations for greater scrutiny of new licensees and the end of dual agency, in which a real estate agent is allowed to act for both the seller and buyer in a deal.

The group says the 11 real estate boards that advance the interests of Realtors in B.C. should stop performing quasi-regulatory duties, which might discourage complainants from taking their concerns to the regulator.

The chair of the advisory group, Financial Institutions Commission head Carolyn Rogers, admitted the panel was not asked to deal with the overarching concern of affordability in B.C.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s housing market. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Any time there is extreme price fluctuation, you have people that try to rush into the market to make a quick buck,â&#x20AC;? Rogers told reporters. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s going on in British Columbia is that houses are no longer just homes, they are trading as investments, and that puts pressure on a regime that was never designed for that.â&#x20AC;?

The group â&#x20AC;&#x153;found the Real Estate Council does not consistently make use of the principles and rules that already exist, to effectively deter misconduct and unethical behaviours that impact on the reputation and confidence in the industry,â&#x20AC;? the report says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In some instances, the Real Estate Council interprets its jurisdiction narrowly and

appears reluctant to intervene, where it needs to be proactive and authoritative to head off problems earlier.â&#x20AC;?

The current maximum penalty for real estate agent misconduct is $10,000, while brokerages face a maximum penalty of $20,000. The report

says the ceiling for individuals should be increased to $250,000 for individuals and up to $500,000 for brokerages.

The public perception of existing penalties is that many Realtors see them as the cost of doing business. The recommendations also call for the Real Estate Council to have the power to go after the proceeds of misconduct from licensees and brokerages.The panel was formed after a series of media stories about questionable real estate practices including so-

called â&#x20AC;&#x153;shadow-flipping,â&#x20AC;? in which the contract for a house sale is assigned multiple times before the final contract is settled, with profit going to other Realtors without the knowledge of the original seller.

The province has since acted to crack down on shadow-flipping to ensure that sellers are fully informed about contract assignments.

The panel wants to see those rules apply to all real estate transactions, including â&#x20AC;&#x153;for-sale-byownerâ&#x20AC;? deals.

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16

LOCAL

Saturday, July 2, 2016

Family dog is Surrey’s latest shooting victim Two separate shootings have left a 21-year-old man in hospital and a family dog dead.

Surrey RCMP say the first incident was reported around 8 p.m. Monday night near 128th Street and 60th Avenue in Surrey.

Occupants of two vehicles exchanged gunfire before taking off. By the time the RCMP arrived, they say all that was left for them were shell casings and a vague

description of one of the vehicles.

“A white Infiniti G35, or Mercedes C-class vehicle,” said RCMP Corp. Scotty Schumann. “We are still looking for those vehicles.”

About 40 minutes later, a 21-year-old man walked into a nearby hospital with a nonlife-threatening gunshot wound. Schumann confirmed that while the man is known to police, he is cooperating.

RCMP are still investigating whether the two incidents are linked.

Four hours later, bullets tore through the

front window and struck the front door of a residence on the 10100-block of 127th Street.

When officers entered the home, they found a single unharmed resident.

Unfortunately, the family dog appears to have been killed.

“The poor dog was in the wrong place at the wrong time,” said Schumann.

RCMP suspect the second shooting was targeted, but say there is no evidence to connect it to the rash of drug-related gun violence that spiked in March.

Surrey RCMP are still collecting evidence at the scene with help from the Lower Mainland Forensic Identification Services.

“At this point we have not located any witnesses to this incident, but it’s possible someone in the neighbourhood saw a person or vehicle that looked suspicious,” says Schumann. “We are asking anyone who may have seen anything at all to contact police with that information.”

There have now been 42 confirmed shootings in Surrey this year, but this is the first involving the death of a pet.

Anyone with more information is asked to contact the Surrey RCMP at 604-5990502 or Crime Stoppers, if they wish to remain anonymous, at 1-800-222-TIPS or www.solvecrime.ca.

Surrey cab driver fails drunk driving test while on the job A Surrey cab driver has been let go from his job after failing a roadside drinking test while on shift last week.

It was on June 24 that three young women called up a cab to get to a birthday party. But when they got in the vehicle they immediately noticed something was wrong with the driver.

“He was so dazed, he didn’t even have recognition he had just drove up on the lawn,” said Bryanna, one of the passengers.

“You could smell alcohol. At that point, we were like ‘he’s drunk, something is up,’” said

Avneet.

The three got out of the cab, and one of the passengers got her dad to come help. The father then moved his car to block the cab driver from moving, and phoned the cops.

“From what I have been told the driver has been penalized for three months and will not be allowed to drive for us in the future as well,” said a manager for Pacific Cabs.

Surrey RCMP confirm the cab driver was given a roadside test and failed. He has been handed a 90-day driving prohibition and the cab has been seized for 30 days.

South Asian landlord apologizes after targeted shooting in his home Chitvinder Kambo calls it his “apology tour”: he’s going door-to-door saying he’s sorry for renting his basement to people who were involved in a shooting attack in a quiet Prince George neighbourhood.

Kambo was in his room just after midnight on June 23 when he heard fighting coming from downstairs. He was going to check it out when he heard gunshots.

“At first I couldn’t believe what was going on,” he said. “My little cat was right in front of me. He ran so fast when those bullets went off.”

RCMP say it was a targeted shooting connected to the drug trade. Kambo says the experience will change the way he screens potential tenants.

“You actually have to go to the workplace and make sure they’re actually working.

If they’re a student, ask for the paperwork showing they’re actually enrolled in school.”

Ranjit Singh says he doesn’t blame Kambo for the shooting, but he is worried about an increase in violence in the area.

Singh’s home is almost directly between two targeted shootings that took place in a single week.

The first was just before midnight, June 15.

A 33-year-old man was shot dead on Forest Avenue at a home connected to Singh’s backyard. The second was at Kambo’s house, across the street from Singh.

Two attacks in such a short time has Singh worried for the safety of his twin four-yearold daughters.

“Imagine if any stray bullets come into our home and injure one of our kids. As we hear on the news all the time, we might just become a statistic.”

Jessica Ballantyne is also worried.

She moved to the area in an effort to get away from some of the violence she had encountered at her previous home, close to the city’s downtown.

“You do kind of have, when you move to a neighbourhood like this, a sense of invincibility almost,” she said. “It seems like a rich, safe neighbourhood. There’s a lot of young families, people settled down, older people and kids.”

When Ballantyne first moved, she would go for runs at night. Now, she’s being more cautious. “You kind of realize that stuff is everywhere.”

Victoria rally gets heated as protesters try to force their way into housing meeting A protest rally in Victoria got heated as dozens of protesters tried to force their way into a meeting with housing ministers from across the country.

About 30 housing advocates shouting “Christy’s cuts are class war!” tried to push past police officers and staff at the Grand Pacific Hotel.

They’re demanding the federal government spend more than $10 billion annually to build 77,000 housing

units per year in Canada.

“The message we’re getting from the government is that they’re interested in posturing around housing but not willing to take people off the street,” said Ivan Drury with the Alliance Against Displacement, who led the group’s attempt to bust into the hotel.

Before the rally, Drury and his fellow advocates got a surprise visit from Federal Housing Minister Jean-Yves Duclos, who stepped out of the hotel to met with the group.

“We are working across the housing spectrum, which goes from homelessness to market housing, and we have a huge interest in social housing,” Duclos said to the group.

In the 2016 budget, the federal government pledged $2.3 billion for affordable housing including a $150-million investment announced last Sunday, focused on B.C. But he said provincial housing ministers “have turned a page” on a national housing strategy and saw more support from the federal government to build housing.

Duclos said the government is trying to address a wide range of housing problems, from $1 million homes to social housing.

He said he and his provincial and territorial counterparts are working toward the country’s first national housing strategy in four decades.

“No one government can address those housing needs alone,” he said. “Today is a demonstration that we are there to listen and address the housing needs that Canadians have frankly expressed over the last few months and last few years.”

Saturday, July 2, 2016

ADVERTISMENT

17

18

LOCAL

Saturday, July 2, 2016

Metro Vancouver mayors reject replacement of Massey Tunnel with 10-lane bridge The mayors of Metro Vancouver have rejected the provincial government’s plans to replace the George Massey tunnel with a 10-lane bridge.

It’s the first time the mayors, who make up the Metro Vancouver Board, have spoken out collectively against the $3.5-billion crossing.

The decision came as the board released a report assessing the impact of the bridge on the region’s traffic congestion and the environment.

“History has demonstrated the world over, you can’t reduce congestion by simply building more roads,” said board chair Greg

Moore in a written statement.

“This project represents an expansion of car-oriented infrastructure and diverts crucial funds from transportation projects that support the regional growth strategy.”

The board said that while it understands the need to reduce traffic congestion along the busy Highway 99, it questions how the $3.5-billion bridge would resolve those issues.

Moore said the board would prefer to see a smaller bridge with more lanes dedicated to public transportation.

The report highlights the following issues: Insufficient consideration of alternatives to a ten-lane bridge.

Lack of integration into the regional

growth strategy and transportation network.

Ecological disruption to the Fraser River estuary, an important habitat for salmon and birds.

Impacts on Metro Vancouver infrastructure, including water mains and sewer lines.

Recreational and ecological disruption on Deas Island Regional Park.

Downloading of major expenditures onto local governments for road improvements.

Negative effects on transit ridership and affordability.

Insufficient consideration to climate change and air quality.

“We are genuinely concerned about the possible impacts of bridge construction, roadway improvements, tunnel removal and possible future dredging which could impact between $500 million to $1 billion in regional infrastructure and assets,” said Metro Vancouver utilities committee chair Darrell Mussatto.

The board said it was also concerned about a lack of public consultation on the project.

It said it will send a letter to the province about the report and its analysis, highlighting its concerns.

The province announced plans last December to replace the aging George Massey Tunnel with what would be the largest toll bridge in the province.

Transportation Minister Todd Stone argued the bridge would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by reducing unnecessary idling and would save commuters up to 30 minutes a day of travel time.

The three-kilometre bridge will connect Richmond and Delta across the Fraser River.

Construction is expected to begin in 2017 and would take about five years.

Read Online, Visit our Website www.theasianstar.com

Michel Fournier, ex-Federal Bridge Corp. executive, charged in kickback scheme The former head of Canada’s Federal Fournier was a chief of staff to Liberal Bridge Corporation (FBC) and his wife have party leader Jean Chretien in the early 1990s. been charged with a string of corruption When Chretien became prime minister, he offences tied to allegations of kickbacks appointed Fournier to lead the FBC, a Crown and a $127 million contract awarded to corporation which oversees the awarding of the engineering firm huge megaproject contracts SNC-Lavalin to refurbish across Canada.

Montreal’s Jacques The investigation relates Cartier Bridge. to “allegations of bribery The RCMP yesterday payments paid to Fournier raided the Victoria home

by SNC- Lavalin,” said of Michel Fournier and RCMP spokeswoman his wife Judith BarkleyBrigitte Mineault, in a Fournier. statement.

It’s the result of the “The payments were Michel Fournier Mounties’ investigation made during the time the into millions of dollars in contract was awarded to payments to a Swiss bank account Fournier SNC-Lavalin … for repairs of the Jacquesopened in 2000 under the code name Cartier Bridge in Montreal.”

“Zorro,” just 20 days after awarding the Mineault said the alleged crimes took contract to SNC-Lavalin. place while Fournier was president of both The RCMP confirmed today they have FBC and Ponts Jacques-Cartier Champlain, arrested and charged Michel Fournier with: a Crown corporation responsible for Fraud on the government. maintaining bridges and highways in the Breach of trust.

Montreal region.

Possession of property obtained by crime.

An investigation by Radio-Canada’s Laundering the proceeds of crime.

Enquête and CBC News in 2014 uncovered Judith Barkley-Fournier has been arrested a trail of payments from a company called and charged with possession of property Promotag SARL — a commercial agent obtained by crime, and laundering the used frequently by SNC — which began proceeds of crime, the RCMP said. making deposits into accounts controlled The couple was released on a promise to by Fournier that would total more than $1.4 appear before a Montreal court on Sept. 26. million.

Chinese bought $1.3B of Canadian commercial real estate this year Chinese buyers are now the largest foreign investors in Canadian commercial real estate, having spent $1.3 billion in the first half of this year, according to global real estate firm CBRE Ltd. The figure is skewed by a single big sale, the purchase of the Bentall Centre in Vancouver by the Anbang Group, the same Chinese company that bought the Waldorf Astoria in New York City in 2014.

The Bentall Centre was reported to have sold for more than $1 billion.

This year’s $1.3 billion in investment in the first six months from China and Hong Kong compares to $309 million last year and is a marked difference from the previous five

years, when investment from Hong Kong and China represented just four per cent of the market.

So far this year, Chinese investors represent 65.4 per cent of more than $2 billion in total deals across the country in the first six months of this year.

CBRE Canada, which is based in Toronto, says China’s state-owned owned firms have an interest in Canada because they are seeking out a safe haven for capital.

With the Canadian dollar relatively low and Europe looking increasingly uncertain because of Brexit, there could be more interest in commercial real estate here in the year ahead, it predicted.

NATIONAL

Saturday, July 2, 2016

What Trudeau, Obama and Nieto agreed on at Three Amigos Summit What did the Three Amigos discuss?

The talks hadn’t even started between Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, U.S. President Barack Obama and Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto when statements began circulating about what they’d agree on.

Obama was barely off the plane when the White House announced a joint environmental action plan. There’s also a plan to tackle short-lived pollutants, including cutting methane emissions from the oil and gas sector between 40 and 45 per cent by 2025, reducing black carbon (soot) emissions and finding alternatives to hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs).

The trio is also collaborating on green transportation strategies and conservation measures to protect species at risk, like the monarch butterfly.

With protesters gathered in downtown Ottawa to denounce the 12-country TransPacific Partnership, would the official communiqués enthusiastically embrace this trade agreement?

Not really. There’s one line about the Pacific Rim deal the three North American partners must ratify by early 2018: “We will continue to work diligently to complete our respective domestic processes.”

In the meantime, the Amigos continue to adjust their existing North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) to changing economic circumstances. They’ve revised the rules of origin for pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, rubber, metals, industrial/electrical machinery, precision instruments and natural gas.

Briefing reporters on the plane to Ottawa, White House spokesman Josh Earnest reacted to Donald Trump’s call to repeal NAFTA by promoting the TPP, a deal once hoped to be Obama’s trade legacy: “We’ve already succeeded in renegotiating NAFTA. That’s exactly what the TPP does,” he said.

The North American trusted traveller program continues to roll out. By the end of 2016, Canadian and American citizens who are part of the NEXUS system, which streamlines border crossing for low-risk, frequent travellers, will be eligible to apply for a Viajero Confiable program to expedite

screening at Mexican airports.

In return, Mexicans will be able to apply for NEXUS processing.

Other work to improve technology and speed up border crossings continues, including data sharing.

In 2016, Canadian personnel will be embedded alongside Mexican counterparts in a U.S. customs centre to fight the illegal smuggling of contraband goods with better prescreening for high-risk cargo shipments.

The American release mentions steel first and greater co-operation to manage excess steel capacity through “robust trade enforcement.” Canada’s release mentions steel at the bottom.

The three countries will embrace “cluster asset mapping,” to identify regions with interconnected companies, suppliers and institutions and help attract new industries.

They will also collaborate on cybersecurity and convene an industry summit in Washington to share expertise.

Perhaps not surprisingly, given the priority Canada’s Liberal government puts on advancing gender equity, there’s a trilateral memorandum of understanding to promote women’s entrepreneurship. Canadian and American businesswomen are planning a trade mission to Mexico over the next year.

In the aftermath of the Orlando nightclub shootings that targeted that city’s gay community, the three leaders are calling on the international community “to ensure full respect for the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and intersex persons.”

The Amigos support the establishment of an independent expert at the United Nations to work on preventing violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. In particular, Canada and the U.S. commit their embassies to collaborate on efforts to promote decriminalization of same-sex conduct and combat violence and discrimination around the world.

During Trudeau’s visit to Washington earlier this year, the two leaders’ spouses attended an event in support of girls education. This global development issue pops up among the Three Amigos priorities as well.

19

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to march in Vancouver Pride Parade Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will march in the Vancouver Pride Parade July 31 according to the Vancouver Pride Society.

Trudeau has marched in the Vancouver parade on two previous occasions but this will be his first appearance as prime minister. He announced he will march in the July 3 Toronto

Pride Parade earlier this year. Trudeau has been a vocal advocate of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights.

Earlier this month he raised a Pride flag on Parliament Hill in recognition of the people who have “fought a long time” to secure equal rights for LGBT Canadians.

20

NATIONAL

Saturday, July 2, 2016

Mortgage Professionals Canada says there’s no evidence of housing bubble There is no housing bubble, and any misguided attempts to fix one will cause bigger problems in the long run.

That’s one of the main takeaways of a new report from Mortgage Professionals Canada, an industry group that represents 11,000 mortgage brokers across the country.

“Housing bubbles do not exist in Canada,” the group’s chief economist Will Dunning says in the report, adding that it would be “tragic” if any misguided attempts to fix a problem that doesn’t exist were to happen.

The report cites U.S. economist Joseph Stiglitz as saying a key requirement of

bubbles is that the price of something is “high today only because investors believe that the selling price will be high tomorrow.”

In other words, a bubble occurs when people buy something solely because prices are rising quickly and they deduce that they will continue to do so.

Unlike other purely financial assets, which people primarily buy because they plan to sell them for a higher amount later, housing is different, because people’s main motivation to buy is often to live in it.

That is why Dunning doesn’t buy the

housing bubble thesis. He says there are reams of evidence that suggest housing price appreciation is solidly backed by fundamentals — people want to buy houses

because they want to live in them.

“Price growth in Canada, even in Vancouver and Toronto, is still consistent with the economic fundamental of interest rates and affordability,” the report says.

In its recent Monetary Policy Report, no less than the Bank of Canada noted that it is on the lookout for “self-reinforcing price expectations” in the housing market.

As far as Dunning is concerned, however, there’s little to worry about in the numbers, because he notes that while mortgage debt is increasing, with rates so low the amount of mortgage payments that go to paying down the principal versus interest payments is

near record highs.

Still, group isn’t without some concern about the housing market. On the subject of foreign buyers, the report does concede that there’s at least anecdotal evidence that moneyed foreign buyers are driving up prices in Toronto and Vancouver, especially in the market for high-end homes.

As evidence, the group notes that in both cities the “rates of price increase are now much higher for single-detached homes than they are for lower-priced townhomes and condominiums. In other centres covered by the CREA index, that pattern is absent.”“This is consistent with increased buying by affluent foreign investors, although it is not conclusive proof,” Dunning says.

“We should accept that foreign buying is very substantial in Vancouver and that the Vancouver housing market is being severely distorted in consequence,” the report said.

“In Toronto, we do not have the same amount of anecdotal evidence, but the recent great strength in the market and an acceleration of price growth have led to suggestions that a similar set of effects may now be developing.”

Marijuana task force to be led by former deputy PM Anne McLellan Justice Minister Wilson-Raybould announced today the launch of a task force to advise the Canadian government on how best to move forward with its plan to legalize marijuana.

The nine-member task force will be chaired by Anne McLellan, a former deputy prime minister under Paul Martin who also served as a health and justice minister.

“The task force will use what it has heard to advise the government on the design of the legislation and the regulatory framework that will include a new system of strict marijuana sales and distribution,” Wilson-Raybould said during a news conference in Ottawa on Thursday.

The panel, whose recommendations will be made public, will have to report back to the government by November before legislation is introduced in the spring of

2017.

The other members of the task force are: Dr. Mark A Ware (vice-chair).

Dr. Susan Boyd., George Chow.

Marlene Jesso., Dr. Perry Kendall.

Rafik Souccar.,Dr. Barbara von Tigerstrom.

Dr. Catherine Zahn.

Wilson-Raybould reminded Canadians that police would continue to enforce the current laws until new legislation is in place.

“Production and possession of marijuana are illegal unless it has been authorized for medical purposes,” she said.

Selling pot commercially without a licence is still illegal, the government warned today.

“These storefronts sell untested products that may be unsafe and of particular risk to kids and they are supplied by illegal growers,” said Michel Picard, the parliamentary secretary to the minister of public safety.

Saturday, July 2, 2016

Obama defends progressive values in speech to Canadian Parliament U.S. President Barack Obama handed the torch of progressive politics to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Wednesday in a warm, rousing speech to Parliament, in which he also bluntly urged Canada to spend more on defence to meet its international obligations.

He praised the extraordinary alliance and deep friendship between Canada and the United States.

“We see ourselves in each other and our lives are richer for it,” Obama said.

“The enduring partnership between Canada and the United States is as strong as it has ever been and we are more closely aligned than ever before.”

The American president reserved heartfelt mention for Trudeau, who he said has brought “new energy and hope” to the cross-border relationship.

“My time in office may be nearing an end, but I know that Canada and the world will benefit from your leadership in the years to come.”

But he also included pointed comments on a perennial sore spot, one that has taken fresh urgency in the face of a resurgent Russia and rising Islamic extremism.

“As your NATO ally and your friend, let me say, we’ll be more secure when every NATO member, including Canada,

contributes its full share to our common security,” Obama said to sustained applause from both Liberals and Conservative MPs and senators, who returned from summer break for the historic event.

“Because the Canadian Armed Forces are really good. And if I can borrow a phrase, the world needs more Canada.

NATO needs more Canada.

We need you.”

Washington has been ratcheting up the pressure on Ottawa to spend more for two years, ever since Russia annexed Crimea and set off a shadow war in eastern Ukraine.

At the moment, Canada spends just under $20 billion on defence — or 1 per cent of its gross domestic product, which is half the NATO standard.

The Trudeau government has also waffled on a call by NATO to contribute to a highmobility brigade destined for eastern Europe as a deterrence measure.

Although the federal government has privately expressed interest, it has yet to formally declare this publicly.

Obama’s remarks will put more pressure on the Liberal government for a public pronouncement.

His appearance on the floor of the House of Commons, alongside Trudeau and his wife, Sophie Gregoire Trudeau,was greeted with a thunderous ovation.

NATIONAL

21

PUNJAB

Saturday, July 2, 2016

Punjab to get â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;regularâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Governer after reshuffle Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has been criticised for failing to appoint a regular full-time Governor of Punjab, is expected to take a decision on the issue soon after the expansion-cum-reshuffle of his Council of Ministers. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Since the state elections are due early next year, Punjab will get a full-time Governor. Indications are that a decision on the name will be taken immediately after the reshuffle in the Union Council of Ministers,â&#x20AC;? said a senior official in the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

He indicated that Haryana Governor

Kaptan Singh Solanki, who holds the additional charge of Punjab and also acts as the Administrator of Union Territory of Chandigarh, may be named as the regular Governor of the state. â&#x20AC;&#x153;A few old ministers who have crossed the threshold age limit of 75 may be dropped and accommodated as Governors,â&#x20AC;? he said. Haryana would get a new face as its Governor.

Punjabâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s last full-time Governor Shivraj Patil relinquished charge on January 21 and Solanki assumed additional charge the following day.

Audi with torn pages of Quran impounded The Vishav Hindu Parishad (VHP) today claimed that Nand Kishor Goldy, its Pathankot zonal secretary, and his son Gaurav had been falsely implicated by the police in the Malerkotla sacrilege case to defame the party.

Devinder Sharma, state vice-president of the VHP, said Goldy belonged to Taragarh village in Pathankot district and had been performing voluntary service at Dera Pandori Mahanta, near Gurdaspur, for many years.

He said Gaurav ran a shop in Gurdaspur.

He demanded immediate release of the father-son duo and warned the government against defaming the VHP. Meanwhile, to collect more evidence in a case related to the desecration of Quran in Malerkotla on June 24, the police took the

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alleged mastermind, Vijay Kumar, to Delhi yesterday and searched his residence at Palam Colony.

Pritpal Singh Thind, SSP, Sangrur, today said during the raid at Vijayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s residence, the police found some torn pages of Quran from an Audi that had been impounded.

A police team, led by SP (Detective) Jaskiranjit Singh Teja, today searched Vijayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s two bank lockers in Delhi, from where some documents had been seized.

The SSP said Vijay, who claimed that he was into property business, had two flats in Delhi and the police were gathering information about his sources of income.

Talking over the phone from Delhi, Teja said Vijay (46), was a bachelor and originally belonged to Jind district in Haryana. From 2008 to 2010, he stayed in the US and from 2010 to 2014, he remained in Canada. On his return to India, he first settled in Mumbai and later shifted to Delhi, he added.

SIT to probe Malerkotla clashes The government has constituted a threemember Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate two cases of attacks on the residence of former chairman of Punjab Wakf Board Mohammad Izhar Alam and the police in Malerkotla on June 24 by a mob following the desecration of Quran. Pritpal Singh Thind, Sangrur SSP, said the team would be headed by Prabodh Kumar, ADGP. The other two members of the SIT were Paramraj Singh Umranangal, IGP, Patiala Zone, and Balkar Singh Sidhu, DIG, Patiala Range, he added.

Nine persons arrested in connection with attack on the police and on the residence of former DGP Mohammad Izhar Alam at Malerkotla on June 24 following an incident of desecration of Quran were produced in a court at Malerkotla on Thursday. The head constable said the court remanded all nine persons in police custody till July 5. Mohammad Yunus, Mohammad Moti Rehman, Mohammad Tariq Ali and Mohammad Alam Bhundi were arrested on Wednesday, while five others, namely Mohammad Tohid, Mohammad Saroz, Mohammad Suleman, Salman Khan and Mohammad Sehbaj, were arrested on Thursday.

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Mohali aims to eliminate child beggars On the footsteps of Chandigarh, Mohali now plans to work towards eliminating child beggars. Punjab State Child Rights Commission has formulated an extensive action plan for this and detailed guidelines have been issued to the deputy commissioners to ensure compliance to the commissionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s directive under Section 76 of Juvenile Justice (care and protection of children) Act, 2015.

In a communique to all deputy commissioners, chairman Sukesh Kalia has directed them to put all prominent places and public places under constant surveillance so that masterminds or a gangs responsible for begging by children could be caught and given capital punishment.

Kalia said that a special district-level task force was being constituted to ensure forceful implementation of the action plan formulated by the commission which will give its report to the commission every three months.

INDIA

Saturday, July 2, 2016

23

BJP chief unaware of Shyama Mukherjee’s history, says Congress The Congress today hit back at BJP president Amit Shah telling him that he should know history of his party leaders, insisting that Shyama Prasad Mukherjee was “as much a part” of the decision as Jawaharlal Nehru on referring the Kashmir issue to UN. Senior party leader S Jaipal Reddy said when Nehru’s government decided on special status to Jammu and Kashmir under Article 371, that time too Mukherjee was a member of the Cabinet.

“Mukherjee resigned from the Cabinet

on the ground that Sheikh Abdullah as Leader of the J&K government was not being properly checkmated,” he said, suggesting that Mukherhjee never made an issue of representation to the UN or Article 371 at that time.

Reddy emphasised that Mukherjee cannot be projected as the unifying force of pre-Partition India because “unlike Congress leaders, Mukherjee was pleading loudly for partition of Bengal”.

“Mukherjee was accused of being involved in the 1946 riots of Dacca. So

NCW summons Salman for “raped woman” comment Condemning Salman Khan’s “raped woman” remark and dissatisfied with his response to a written notice, the National Commission for Women (NCW) today summoned the filmstar to appear before it in person on July 8 in Delhi.

The commission also warned the 50-year-old actor that if he failed to appear before the panel, it might proceed to take action as it deemed fit.

The NCW had demanded an apology from the actor for saying that he felt like “a raped woman” after the physical effort he put into wrestling scenes for his upcoming film “Sultan”. The film is scheduled to release on July 6.

“Your remark is highly defamatory of women as a whole as rape/sexual assault is one of the most traumatic acts of violence against women. Any voluntary activity such as you were involved in cannot be compared to ‘rape’. Rape is an act of violence which

violates the bodily integrity and dignity of women,” said the letter sent by the commission to the actor today.

Stating that such remarks only further desensitised people to the plight of raped women, the letter said: “The explanation offered by you, after making such an insensitive and callous statement, that your voice goes on to say ‘I don’t think I should have said that…’ also does not amount to an apology. Your reply is, therefore, not satisfactory.”

NCW Chairperson Lalitha Kumaramangalam said: “The letter Salman sent to us through his lawyer is not at all conciliatory and did not even have a hint of an apology. There has been no retraction either...It is important to drive home the point that just because you are a celebrity you can’t make off-the-cuff remarks.

The comment he made is very injurious to the esteem of a woman.”

Explosive links Hyderabad to Paris & Brussels A lethal explosive triacetone triperoxide (TATP) that was used by Islamic State (IS) bombers in the Paris and Brussels attacks was found in the basement of a Hyderabad house of a member of the IS module that was busted by the NIA on Wednesday.

The deadly concoction seems to be a component of IS attacks going by the recent terrorist strikes. It was found from the basement of the house of Abdullah bin Ahmed Al Amoodi alias Fahad, one of the five youths arrested by the NIA. Had the IS

module succeeded in its reported plans to carry out bomb blasts at targets that included VVIPs, crowded places and government buildings — including police stations — it would have been the first use of TATP in India.

Sources said the IS suspects revealed that they planned to attack a police station, most likely in Hyderabad, making the NIA and intelligence agencies wonder if the module led by Mohammad Ibrahim Yazdani was considering a suicide attack.

why pit Mukherjee against Nehru when record of Mukherjee is not lily white,” said Reddy.

Taking a dig at the BJP chief, the former Union Minister said, “Amit Shah does not know history. He should at least know history of his party leader. He is new to national politics.”

Shah had yesterday blamed Nehru accusing him of having committed a “historic blunder” on Kashmir and had flayed the then Congress leadership for the Partition

24

INDIA

Saturday, July 2, 2016

Congress accuses BJP of bribing Vadra panel judge, seeks dismissal Former Haryana minister and six-time Congress MLA Captain Ajay Yadav on Thursday accused BJP of ‘bribing’ Justice S N Dhingra to indict party chief Sonia Gandhi’s son-in-law Robert Vadra in the Gurgaon land deal case. Dhingra heads the panel that was set up by the BJP government on May 14 last year to probe the grant of commercial licences to private firms, including Vadra’s Skylight Hospitality.

Yadav was referring to the BJP government sanctioning the construction of a road leading to a school being set up by a trust headed by Dhingra in a village in Gurgaon. The retired judge was expected to submit his report on Thursday as his tenure was ending. He has now asked for a six-week extension with some new documents having been found related to the deals. In an email to CM Manohar Lal Khattar, Dhingra said he received the documents on Thursday and needed to examine them in detail. Congress, however, has demanded that the panel should be dismissed as it has lost its credibility.

The school in question is being built at

Jauri Khurd where a villager had gifted 2,235 sq yards of land to the Justice Gopal Singh Public Charitable Trust in November last year.

Congress alleged that after a representation from Dhingra, a former judge of the Delhi HC, to the Gurgaon deputy commissioner on December 8, 2015, Rs 95 lakh was sanctioned in March for the road. Half of the amount was released immediately, the party said.

Congress raised the issue a day after the Dhingra commission informed the state government that it had completed its probe into land deals in Gurgaon struck under the previous regime.

Dhingra had taken charge of the panel on June 8, 2015. Dhingra did not respond to text messages and calls on Thursday. According to documents accessed, the ex-judge wrote a letter to the Gurgaon DC explaining how the new road would be beneficial to children under six. He mentioned in the letter that the trust had been donated the 2,235 sq yards plot with some construction by a generous villager, Harish Chakravarty, to start a school for the children of surrounding villages.

Jakhar alleges favouritism by govt in issuing Blue Cards State Congress vice-president and chief spokesman Sunil Jakhar led a protest march to the Sub-Divisional Magistrate’s office here today.

They raised slogans against the state government, blaming it for large-scale “bungling/malpractices” in the issuance of Blue Cards.

They stormed inside the office after none of the state government officials came out to accept their memorandum and hundreds of applications for Blue Cards which entitles people to grains at subsidised prices.

They waited for half an hour in the office but no one turned up. They finally left the memorandum on the table.

Addressing protesters, Jakhar claimed 32,000 persons in Abohar subdivision had last year submitted applications under the Food Security Act but only 18,000 Blue Cards were issued at the behest of SAD and BJP workers. He alleged that the ruling coalition had politicised the process. Some applicants alleged that the ruling political activists had charged Rs 20 to Rs 80 from them as “suvidha fee” to fill the forms. They said Even as th SDM had not “endorsed” the applications, some people with vested interests got these cards issued, he alleged.

Jakhar said the state government had become “deaf and dumb” to the problems of people.

9 killed in Mumbai medical store fire Nine members of a family, including five children, were burnt to death after a fire broke out early this morning at a chemist’s shop at Andheri in Mumbai, police and fire officials said.

The dead included a three-month-old infant, the police said. One fireman also received injuries, according to the fire brigade.

The police said the fire broke out the early morning inside Wafa Medical Store located in a cluster of shanties at Juhu Galli in Andheri. The ground floor hutment where the store was located had two storeys illegally constructed above it.

The victims who were sleeping in the first floor were trapped and couldn’t escape through the narrow entrance and exit.

However, some people asleep in the topmost floor managed to escape, the police

said.

Fire officials said the blaze inside the 120 sq ft chemist’s shop was most likely sparked off by loose wiring. A gas cylinder located inside the shop is also suspected to have exploded, they said.

Eight of the victims were rushed to Cooper Hospital where they were declared brought dead. One woman Sabiya Khan, 28, had suffered 45 per cent burns and died in the hospital.

The dead have been identified as - Saburiya Mosin Khan (52), Siddik Khan (35), Rabil Khan (28), Sabiya Khan (28), Mozhel Khan (8), Unnihay Khan (5), Aliza Khan (4), Tubba Khan (8) and Altaz Khan (3 months). The fireman, Avinash Shirgaokar, sustained injuries while carrying out rescue work and is being treated at Cooper Hospital.

India a bright spot, pleased with progress under PM Modi, says World Bank chief Jim Yong Kim he World Bank on Thursday appreciated developmental efforts under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying the country has emerged as a “bright spot”, as it has pitched for bettering its ranking in the ease of doing business index.

The World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim met Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Power Minister Piyush Goyal and Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday and discussed ways to increase funding in various projects, especially renewable energy sector.

“We are extremely pleased with the progress that’s been made in six priority areas. Prime Minister Modi and his entire Cabinet have set extremely difficult and important targets. I have been so pleasantly surprised how much progress that has been made,” Kim told reporters here.

He said the World Bank lending has gone up tremendously over the last two years to

over $5 billion and that would continue for the next few years.

“India’s growth that is now at 7.6 per cent is a true bright spot and one of the few bright spots in the global economy,” Kim said, adding, “India can act as a lesson for both

developing and even developed countries.”

Talking to reporters after the meeting, Jaitley said the discussions on global and economic situation and opportunities for World Bank to finance development projects figured in the meeting.

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26

INDIA

Saturday, July 2, 2016

‘Made in India’ Tejas inducted in Air Force Indian Air Force will raise the first squadron of home-grown Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas with the induction of two aircraft into the force in Bengaluru on Friday.

State-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) will hand over the first two Tejas aircraft to the Air Force which will make up the ‘Flying Daggers’ 45, the name of the first squadron of the LCA. The LCA squadron induction ceremony will be held at the Aircraft System Testing Establishment in the presence of Air Marshal Jasbir Walia, Air Officer Commanding-in Chief, Southern Air Command, officials said.

The aircraft are likely to perform a sortie during the induction ceremony.

The squadron will be based in Bengaluru for the first two years before being moved to Sulur in Tamil Nadu.

Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha, who on May 17 took his maiden flight in Tejas, had termed the aircraft as “good” for induction .

Air Force has said the idea is to have a total of six aircraft this financial year and about eight in the next.

Tejas will feature in combat plan of the IAF next year and will be deployed in forward bases also, it has said.

Stating that LCA squadron should be formed by July, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had earlier this month said, “Next year I think two MiG-21 squadrons are being decommissioned; this will go into initially replacing them.”

LCAs are better than the MiGs which are old and their parts are difficult to get, he had

said.

All squadrons of Tejas will have 20 planes in total, including four in reserve.

As per the plan, while 20 would be inducted under the “Initial Operational Clearance”, another 20 will be inducted later with Beyond Visual Range Missile (BVR) and some other features.

IAF plans to induct over 80 aircraft with better specifications known as Tejas 1A. The upgraded version of Tejas, with Active Electrically Scanned Array Radar, Unified Electronic Warfare Suite, mid-air refuelling capacity and advanced beyond the vision range missiles, will cost between Rs 275 crore and Rs 300 crore.

Saturday, July 2, 2016

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28

FIJI

Early morning catch wows crowd at Labasa fish market It took 14 men to carry a huge Saku fish believed to be around 200 kilograms early this morning at the Labasa fish market.

The catch attracted more than 100 people who rushed to the market to get a glimpse of the fish.

The fish was caught by a group of four young men from Cawaira village in Labasa who went out fishing last night.

Fisherman, Jone Rabonu said they did not expect the huge catch.

“There were four of us in our fishing vessel and all we felt was a heavy load on our big fishing net and to our surprise we found this Saku fish trapped inside,” he said.

Saturday, July 2, 2016

Rabuka maps plans for 2018 election THE Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA) is revising its timetable including that of its election campaign because of the possibility of an early election in 2018.

This was revealed by newlyelected leader Sitiveni Rabuka, who said there was a time structure for the party to move into action in preparation for the election. At his first meeting with the party executive this week, Mr Rabuka was briefed on the party’s way forward, particularly its plans for the election.

“We decided that we may have to revise that program and timetable because there is a very strong likelihood of the next election not happening in the month of the previous election. They could bring it forward into that year,” Mr Rabuka said.

“There has been a double dissolution in Australia where it is way short of their normal program so Government could do that.”

Reacting to National Federation Party president Tupou Draunidalo’s recent outburst where she condemned the 1987 coup leader and his re-emergence into the political arena, Mr Rabuka said he had accepted the comment.

However, he said, Ms Draunidalo should not allow herself to stay in 1987.

“She should allow herself to come forward from 1987 and see what I and others who were supporting me have done since 1987 so it’s sad that she said that.

Maybe she was still angry,” Mr Rabuka added.

Farmers served with eviction notices A group of sugarcane farmers at Johnson Rd in Lautoka are contemplating their future as farmers after the owner of the freehold land they live on served 30-day eviction notices to them.

The farmers have been residing on the land for about 50 years. They are now slowly dismantling their homes. For elderly couple Ramesh Chandra and Ram Dulari, the move has been difficult.

“We’ve been here for almost 50 years and we’ve been sugarcane farmers all our lives,” Mr Chandra said.

“We bought a piece of land nearby but it’s not the same as this place.

“This is our home.”

He said the lease expired nine years ago, but their attempts to acquire a renewal was futile.

“We still paid the lease money after it expired and we thought we had an agreement.”

Mr Chandra said there was about 200 tonnes of unharvested cane on the 10-acre land they farmed.

Meanwhile, their neighbour Sunil Kumar said there were a couple of more farmers such as Mr and Mrs Chandra who had been served with notices.

“The problem is that it’s freehold land,” he said.

“There isn’t much we can do but comply.”

Sugar Cane Growers Council CEO Sundresh Chetty agreed saying the freehold landowner had every right to execute the eviction.

“There are similar cases that have been brought to us and we have been looking into these cases,” he said.

“It’s a pity because they are on freehold land and there isn’t much we can do.”

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PAKISTAN

Saturday, July 2, 2016

29

Cleric suspended after selfies with Pakistan’s ‘Kim Kardashian’ A high-profile Pakistani cleric who posed for selfies with a controversial model famed for her suggestive photos has been suspended from a senior government committee, the country’s religious affairs ministry said, rebuking him for his behaviour.

Mufti Abdul Qavi was removed Wednesday from the country’s moonsighting committee which decides when the ongoing holy month of Ramzan begins and ends, according to a notification issued by the ministry and seen by AFP.

The suspension comes after he was widely ridiculed when social media starlet Qandeel Baloch — a deeply polarising figure in the conservative Muslim country — uploaded the pictures earlier this week along with a video of herself with the preacher, wearing his hat and pouting.

Baloch, a Kim Kardashian type figure who frequently posts semi-nude selfies, later called Qavi “a blot on the name of Islam” and accused him of inappropriate behaviour.

Army chief in Karachi after Sufi singer Amjad Sabri killing Pakistan army chief General Raheel Sharif flew into Karachi to chair a high-level meeting during which he promised to “leave no stone unturned” to nab the killers of noted Sufi singer Amjad Sabri and rid the city of crime and terrorism.

The army chief chaired a high-level briefing at Rangers Headquarters here in which he directed all commanders to focus on the entire network of terrorists, their abettors and financiers, and continue the clean-up in Karachi until peace is restored to the city.

“No stone would be left unturned to nab those behind the killing of Sabri,” Sharif said.

The army chief visited the city after a week of terror incidents rocked Karachi and spread fear among the people.

His visit comes after the high-profile kidnapping of advocate Owais Shah, son of the Sindh High Court Chief Justice, and the targeted killing of Sabri who was gunned down last week by unidentified motorcyclists in an attack claimed by a splinter group of the Pakistani Taliban.

In other incidents, two well-known religious figures also came under attack in Karachi but escaped unhurt. The incidents raised serious questions over the efficiency of the Rangersled operation since 2013 in Karachi.

Sharif was briefed in detail by Director General (DG) Rangers Major General Bilal Akbar on the paramilitary force’s ongoing operation, the law and order situation and the way forward for Karachi during the meeting.

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SOUTH ASIA

Suicide attack on Afghan police convoy kills 37 Taliban militants launched a twin suicide attack on Thursday, targeting a convoy of buses carrying Afghan police cadets outside of the capital and killing 37 people, mostly policemen, and wounding 40, an Afghan official said. The attack took place in Paghman district, some 20 kilometers west of Kabul, according to Mousa Rahmati, the district governor of Paghman.

The first suicide attacker struck two buses carrying trainee policemen, and a second attacker targeted those who rushed to the scene to help and also hit a third bus, Rahmati said. He

said that four civilians were among those killed.

The cadets were returning from a training center in Wardak province and were heading to the capital on leave, Rahmati said.

In a statement later on Thursday, the Interior Ministry said that 30 police recruits had been killed and 58 others wounded in the attack. It was not immediately possible to reconcile the different casualty figures.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack in an email sent to The Associated Press by spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid.

Saturday, July 2, 2016

Home-grown militants and ex-major behind Bangladesh attacks, police say Early in June, a man walked into the Dhaka premises of the Ramakrishna Mission, a Hindu centre for spirituality and learning in the Bangladesh capital, and delivered a handwritten note warning of an attack by Islamic State.

Days later, armed policemen were sitting inside the mission’s compound among orange-robed monks, the gates outside were closed and fewer people than normal showed up at a medical clinic it runs for the neighbourhood.

“We are monks, we will live and die here, but people with families are worried,” Swami Shivananda, a priest managing the administration of the mission, said of the country’s Hindu community, which accounts for 10 percent of the population.

Islamic State and al Qaeda have claimed responsibility for the killings

of more than 30 people since early last year, in an escalation of militant violence targeting liberals, atheists, foreigners, gays and religious minorities. They have shocked the largely moderate Muslim

country of 160 million people and heightened fears that Bangladesh, once hailed as the next Asian tiger economy with its huge garment industry, could lose out to more stable competitors in the region. Unlike some security experts, Bangladesh authorities say the

two international jihadi movements are not directly involved in the murders, many of which were carried out with machetes. But, as the police at the Hindu mission attest, the danger is real, and counter-terrorism officials warn it could get worse with one local militant group adopting al Qaeda’s methods and calling on the expertise of a former army major implicated in a failed 2011 coup.

Security officials say two local militant groups, Ansar-al-Islam and Jamaat-ulMujahideen, are behind the killings.

Of the two, Ansar, which pledges allegiance to al Qaeda, has emerged as the most organised and dangerous, they say, while Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen is seen as a looser organisation that claims it represents Islamic State but has no proven links to it.

Earthquakes hit Nepal - again

An earthquake of magnitude 5 and three other smaller tremors shook western Nepal on Wednesday, causing panic among the residents.

Two tremors of above 4 magnitude and two others above magnitude 3 were recorded in Bajhang district, 650 kilometres west of Kathmandu, according to the National Seismological Centre.

The tremors were recorded within one hour.

However, there were no immediate reports of damaged property or casualties, police said.

The earthquake recorded in the afternoon was of magnitude 5.0. The second earthquake recorded at 3.11 was of magnitude 4.2, according to the Centre.

The other two tremors were of 3.8 and 3.6 magnitudes.

The tremors were fresh and not the aftershocks of the last year’s powerful 7.8 magnitude earthquake that devastated Nepal and claimed about 9,000 people.

The centre also recorded nine other minor tremors on Wednesday.

The epicenters of the seismic events lay close to Mayana, a far north-east region in ancient town of Chainpur.

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FRUITICANA

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1

Saturday, July 2, 2016 Saturday - July 02, 2016

Sharmila Tagore, Freida Pinto, Deepa Mehta invited to vote for Oscars Legendary Indian actor Sharmila Tagore, Slumdog Millionaire star Freida

Pinto and director Deepa Mehta are among the Indian-origin film personalities, who have been invited by the prestigious Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to be its members.

This is a significant effort to boost diversity following the controversy earlier this year when no actors of colour were nominated for the Oscars.

Priyanka Chopra’s startling revelation: I have never dated Priyanka Chopra has always been secretive about her love life and the actress, who is riding high on her success in Hollywood, says she has never been on a casual date ever.

Priyanka Chopra’s startling revelation: I’ve never datedPriyanka Chopra The 33-year-old “Quantico” actress opened up about her love life in an interview with InStyle magazine.

“I’ve never dated. I’ve always been in relationship,” Priyanka said.

The actress, who will next be seen playing main antagonist Victoria Leeds in “Baywatch,” said the concept of going on casual dates doesn’t exist in India.

“It’s very different. You like someone, you court each other, you get into a relationship.

You’re answerable to each other. Whereas the non-answerability of dating, my god, I don’t know if I would ever be able to,” she added.

In the past Priyanka has been linked to actors Shahid Kapoor and Harman Baweja.

Twitterati slam Hrithik, Celina for tweets on Istanbul attack Bollywood celebrities Hrithik Roshan and Celina Jaitly’s tweets on Istanbul airport attack didn’t go down too well with Twitter users who have lashed out at the actors for being ‘insensitive’.

The bombing attacks in Istanbul’s Ataturk Airport have left over 40 dead and over 230 injured.

The attack took place on Tuesday night when three attackers arrived in a taxi and began firing at the terminal entrance.

Several Bollywood celebrities took to Twitter to condemn the attack and express angst.

Hrithik Roshan, who was with his kids Hrehaan and Hridhaan, had a narrow escape from the terror attack. Celina Jaitly, too, tweeted about the fact that she was at the Istanbul airport a month ago and shared a photo of the sunset from the airport.

Lisa Haydon: Had fun filming ‘Ae Dil Hai Mushkil’ Actress Lisa Haydon says she had great fun while shooting for her role in Karan Johar’s upcoming directorial venture ‘Ae Dil Hai Mushkil’.

The ‘Queen’ star features in a small role in the film which stars Ranbir Kapoor, Anushka Sharma and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan.

“I don’t know how much I am allowed to say, but that was the most fun I’ve ever had with a character. We have ten more days left at the end of July to finish up shooting. It was a really fantastic experience,” Lisa told PTI.

‘Ae Dil Hai Mushkil’ is a romanticdrama which also stars Fawad Khan. The film is scheduled to release this Diwali.

When asked if she will be sharing screen space with Ranbir, the 30-year-old actress said, “We have scenes together... I have got a small but a very interesting role. I got a great kick playing that character. I hope people will enjoy it too.”

Lisa will soon be seen as a judge on the second season of MTV’s ‘India’s Next Top Model’.

2 Are ‘Sultan’ makers minimising Salman’s interaction with media?

Bollywood

Saturday, July 2, 2016

Salman Khan ignited public outrage last week after he reportedly said that gruelling training sessions for his Eid release, ‘Sultan’, made him feel “like a raped woman”. He is yet to apologise for the controversial remark — the National Commission of Women, which demanded an apology from the star, has now pointed out that a response from Khan’s lawyer isn’t satisfactory. As the issue snowballs, the makers of Sultan have apparently decided to go slow with promotional activities and minimise Salman’s interaction with the media.

A source says, “Salman and his leading lady, Anushka Sharma, were supposed to visit various cities to promote the film. However, with the controversy attracting unsolicited attention, the makers want to skip a few city tours and limit Salman’s appearances at promotional events so that he doesn’t

have to face awkward questions from the media.”

The lead pair of ‘Sultan’ is likely to fly to Delhi shortly to spread word about the wrestling drama. The film’s spokesperson claims: “We have been shooting for reality shows, which was always part of the schedule, and that is what team Sultan is busy with. Nothing has changed.”

Our source, however, insists that while the actors are indeed visiting the sets of a few popular TV shows, they are not going overboard with the promotions. “The film’s marketing team is carefully planning Salman’s appearances and events so that he is not hounded for a reaction to his recent comment on any platform,” adds the source.

Meanwhile, Salman has requested his family not to make any comments on the controversy, we hear. Soon after all hell broke loose over his remark, his father, Salim Khan had apologised on his behalf on Twitter, while his younger brother, actorproducer Arbaaz Khan also claimed that he didn’t mean it. There were also reports that his rumoured girlfriend Iulia Vantur reprimanded him and asked him to be more careful in future.

“Now, the actor has asked everyone in his family to refrain from talking about it. He does not want the issue to take focus away from the film,” reveals an insider.

Photo of the day!

SRK and Salman Khan’s ‘bhai bhai’ moment on bike

Shah Rukh Khan tweeted a photo on Friday in which he can be seen posing with Salman Khan as they take a break from riding bikes.

Shah Rukh Khan took to Twitter to describe the moment as ‘Bhai bhai on bike bike’! It’s sure to make SRK and Salman fans smile!

Here’s what SRK wrote, “Bhai bhai on bike bike. No pollution…bhai says “Michael Lal Cylcle Lal.” Do you think this picture can break the internet? Meanwhile, amid the controversy over Salman Khan’s ‘rape comments’, Shah Rukh Khan says he cannot judge statements made by others as he himself has made some inappropriate remarks in the past.

When asked if Salman should apologies for his comments, the 50-year-old ‘Fan’ actor said, “In the last few years, I have come to realize that I have made so many inappropriate comments myself. I don’t think I am someone to sit in judgment for somebody else’s comment. Bollywood celebrities including Kangana Ranaut, Anurag Kashyap, Zoya Akhtar and Sona Mohapatra have condemned the ‘Bajrangi Bhaijaan’ star’s remarks, while his brother Arbaaz, Sonu Sood and Subhash Ghai among others have come out in his defense.

However, Shah Rukh doesn’t believe in taking sides.

Saturday, July 2, 2016

New released Bollywood films

Sultan July 6 Hai Apna Dil Toh Awara July 15 Madaari July 15 Love Ke Funday July 21 Fever July 22

Bollywood

3

Irrfan’s statement on ‘Qurbaani’ evokes criticism from Muslim clerics During the promotion of his upcoming film “Madaari” in the city recently, the actor has questioned that how one can get “Puny” by killing an innocent animal in the name of “Kurbaani”.

“Irrfan is an actor and he should focus on his work only. He has no religious knowledge and he should have contacted or get some knowledge from any cleric before raising any question regarding Kurbaani or Ramzan,” Khalid Usmai, city qazi, told PTI. He said Islam has no vague things and Irrfan should improve his knowledge.

Another scholar Maulana Abdul Wahid

Khatri, state secretary of Jamaat-e-Ulemae-Hind, also said he should concentrate on his career instead of speaking about the religion.

Irrfan Khan had said, “People should understand the real meaning behind a particular ritual.

Animals used to be the prime source of food when the ritual would have started and people sacrificed their food.

Today, one buy two goats from market and kill them in the name of sacrifice then how come it becomes a real sacrifice?

“I feel proud that I live in a country which is not run by any religious rules,” he had said.

‘Shivaay’ new poster out! Ajay Devgn and Erika Kaar’s mid-air romance will leave you thrilled Dilip Kumar and Saira Banu’s grandniece Sayyeshaa Saigal also makes her Bollywood debut with ‘Shivaay’. (Check out her look in the film!)

‘Shivaay’ was shot at scenic locales of the Balkan mountains of Bulgaria, besides in Hyderabad and Uttarakhand. ‘Shivaay’ is Ajay’s second venture as a director, after his 2008 movie ‘U Me Aur Hum’. ‘Shivaay’ will hit the theatres on October 28.

4

Bollywood

Saturday, July 2, 2016

HOROSCOPE Aries

Libra

March 21 - April 20

Sept. 24 - Oct 22

Your stars indicate a massive personal and professional turnaround. In terms of family affairs, parents seem to be more important than children. At the very least, you must observe the dictates of authority and tradition!

As fate would have it, this is one of those periods when you are liable to face last-minute family emergencies. The best astrological advice is to remain cool, calm and collected and take nothing for granted.

The better you manage your affairs now, the less the chance of your losing control.

Taurus

Scorpio

April 21 - May 20

Oct 23 - Nov 22

It looks as if Taureans will divide into two groups. On one hand, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be those smitten with a desire to leave home in search of adventure. On the other, will be a group who embarks on a quest for spirituality. What links the two is a conviction that the world could, indeed must, become a better place.

If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re travelling this week thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s one golden rule: check, check and check again.

Make sure you have everything you need, FRQÂżUP DOO GLUHFWLRQV DQG VHH WR LW WKDW DOO arrangements are understood by everyone concerned.

Gemini

Sagitarius

May 20 - June 21

Nov 23 - Dec 22

-RLQW ÂżQDQFLDO DUUDQJHPHQWV ORRP ODUJH and anything which occurs this week will require attention â&#x20AC;&#x201C; donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t delay any more than is necessary. At the heart of your current mood lies the feeling that you may have been undervalued in the past, and that you should now be paid the respect you are due.

Now is the time to pay special attention to anyone who feels that they have been ignored.. Such feelings may exist only in their imagination, but that makes them no less concerning. You should also be aware WKDW ÂżQDQFLDO JHQHURVLW\ FRXOG EH RQH RI the best ways of oiling your emotional wheels!

Cancer

Capricorn

June 22 - July 23

Dec 23 - Jan 20

The key to successful personal relationships is to participate in all social gatherings as much as possible but, at the same time, to retain a certain sense of detachment. That way youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be less likely to be taken in by unrealistic promises, or to be dismayed by those who get upset without reason.

Leo June 24 - August 23 You may well be concerned by the number of chores, duties and obligations which seem to be rolling in your direction. It does look as if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll now have the chance to abandon your commitments, but never do so without considering the consequences.

Virgo August 24 - Sept 24 If you have never had a reputation as a party-goer, now is the moment to acquire one. Many people say that this is a time for children, so have you considered what fun it would be to revert to childhood and have a good time?

John Abraham, Varun Dhawan rap in Dishoomâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s title track â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Toh Dishoomâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

A powerful and harmonious Sun-Moon alignment will be seen as a moment to inaugurate a series of new cycles, mainly personal ones. It is also, as luck would have it, an excellent time for making a fresh start in a number of family relationships: please lay the upsets and regrets of the past to one side.

Aquarius Jan 21 - Feb 19 Venusâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; celestial marriage with Uranus is a classic indicator of new emotional commitments. It reveals that this is an extraordinarily suitable period for making discreet declarations of love. As far as work is concerned, you should be thinking of a new collaboration once business picks up again.

Amidst several songs from Dishoom, the recently released song â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Toh Dishoomâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; is peppy that focuses on the youth. In fact, the trippy number has cool punch lines that promise to catch up with the youth.

Also, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Toh Dishoomâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; features the two buddy cops John Abraham and Varun Dhawan in a cool avatar who have also rapped for the song. The title track of Dishoom composed by Pritam has been sung by Raftaar and Shahid Mallya. The lyrics have been penned by Mayur Puri. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Toh Dishoomâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; is a peppy number with interesting lyrics, and the camaraderie shared by John

and Varun in the video make it a delight to watch. This is the second song released from the film, the first being â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Sau Tarah Keâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; that had featured Jacqueline along with the two actors. Sajid Nadiadwalaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Dishoom which revolves around two buddy cops Kabir and Junaid played by John and Varun brings to celluloid a bromance between two action heroes.

Produced by Sajid Nadiadwala under the banner of Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment, Dishoom is directed by Rohit Dhawan and is all set to hit the silver screen on July 29.

Rana Daggubati conďŹ rms no clash between Bahubali: The Conclusion and Rajinikanthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Robot 2.0 There were speculations that the highly anticipated movies of 2017, Bahubali: The Conclusion and Robot 2.0, were going to clash at the box office next year. It is now reported that the two big films wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be releasing on the same day.

Bahubali: The Conclusion actor Rana Daggubati has confirmed that Rajinikanthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s film Robot 2.0 wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t clash with their sequel as the film is still in shooting and have a lot of work to be done. The post production and VFX part will consume a lot of

time and it is not possible to complete the film this soon. Bahubali: The Conclusion, which was supposed to be released this year, got delayed as the VFX had consumed a lot of time. But, he confirmed that Bahubali: The Conclusion will be releasing on the scheduled date April 14, 2017.

Rajinikanthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Robot 2.0 is a futuristic film whereas Bahubali: The Conclusion is a period drama. Both are the sequels of the blockbuster hits and thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why they are highly awaited by the fans.

Pisces Feb 20 - March 20 If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not the life and soul of the party now, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll miss out. Granted, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the usual emotional turmoil going inside your Piscean soul, but that shouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t stop you letting it all out. The only draw-back is your tendency to keep your feelings to yourself.

Bollywood personalitiesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; birthdays

VIVIAN DSENA JUNE 28

SHENAZ TREASURYWALA JUNE 29

AVIKA GOR JUNE 30

RHEA CHAKRABORTY JULY 1

Happy Canada Day!

5

no name® smoked sausage selected varieties, 900 g 20734142

Seaquest® pollock fillets frozen, 680 g bag 20101999

97

ea

when you spend $250 in-store. †

white or whole wheat, pkg. of 12

3

ea

While quantities last.

2

77

ea

20026703001

.55

.86

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/lb 1.90 /kg

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McCain hash browns

LIMIT 8

900 g

.73

PC® or Blue Menu® sirloin beef or prime rib burgers

Farmer’s Market™ tomatoes on the vine product of Western provinces

Minute Maid frozen punch 20418237003

Thursday, June 30th to Thursday, July 7th, 2016.

That’s $25 in rewards.

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† When you spend $250 or more in store before applicable taxes and after all other coupons, discounts or PC® Points redemptions are deducted, in a single transaction at any participating store location [excludes purchases of tobacco, alcohol products, prescriptions, gift cards, phone cards, lottery tickets, all third party operations (post office, gas bars, dry cleaners, etc.) and any other products which are provincially regulated], you will earn the points indicated. Product availability may vary by store. We are not obligated to award points based on errors or misprints.

25,000

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Superstore

Saturday, July 2, 2016

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selected varieties, frozen, 1.02 - 1.36 kg 20941443

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Ziggy’s® meat strips selected varieties, 150-200 g 101675

97

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LIMIT 4

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5.27

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Old Dutch potato chips selected varieties, 255 g 20868465001

LIMITED TIME OFFER!

2

00 OR

5.00 EACH

47

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AFTER LIMIT

3.00

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PC® Organics lemonade 946 mL 20936902

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00 OR

2.99 EACH

SATURDAY & SUNDAY

Coppertone suncare selected varieties and sizes 20745911

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After Bite gel regular or kids

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selected varieties, 20 g 20308989002

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5.49

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Quantities and/or selection of items may be limited and may not be available in all stores. No rainchecks. No substitutions on clearance items or where quantities are advertised as limited. Advertised pricing and product selection (flavour, colour, patterns, style) may vary by store location. We reserve the right to limit quantities to reasonable family requirements. We are not obligated to sell items based on errors or misprints in typography or photography. Coupons must be presented and redeemed at time of purchase. Applicable taxes, deposits, or environmental surcharges are extra. No sales to retail outlets. Some items may have “plus deposit and environmental charge” where applicable. ®/™ The trademarks, service marks and logos displayed in this flyer are trademarks of Loblaws Inc. and others. All rights reserved. © 2016 Loblaws Inc. * we match prices! Applies only to our major supermarket competitors’ flyer items. Major supermarket competitors are determined solely by us based on a number of factors which can vary by store location. We will match the competitor’s advertised price only during the effective date of the competitor’s flyer advertisement. WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO LIMIT QUANTITIES (note that our major supermarket competitors may not). Due to the fact that product is ordered prior to the time of our Ad Match checks, quantities may be limited. We match identical items (defined as same brand, size, and attributes) and in the case of fresh produce, meat, seafood and bakery, we match a comparable item (as determined solely by us). We will not match competitors’ “multi-buys” (eg. 2 for $4), “spend x get x”, “Free”, “clearance”, discounts obtained through loyalty programs, or offers related to our third party operations (post office, gas bars, dry cleaners etc.). We reserve the right to cancel or change the terms of this program at any time.

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6

Bollywood

Saturday, July 2, 2016

SHORGUL Movie Review Clearly inspired from the riots that happened in Muzaffarnagar three years back, ‘Shorgul’ attempts to talk about the brewing religious tension in smaller towns and how the politicians make the most of Hindu-Muslim divide.

Outdated in its approach, and tacky in its handling, ‘Shorgul’ disappoints on more counts than one. Even though the intention might be to bring a gritty true story to life, it shows less guts and more compromise in the final product.

A Hindu boy (Aniruddh Dave) is in love with a Muslim girl (Suha Gezen) who’s already engaged to another Muslim boy (Hiten Tejwani). When jealousy gets the better of the fiancee, things go out of control and before the besotted man realises the repercussions, this incident is used as a trigger to start a communal riot.

Jimmy Sheirgill and Narendra Jha are the ruthless politicians who help the unrest to continue, to feed their political ambitions.

Jimmy’s Ranjeet Om (clearly based on the real life character Azam Khan) loves giving inflammatory speeches about growing influence of Muslims in the Hindu nation,

Shorgul’ U/A; Drama Directors: Jitentra Tiwari, Pranav Kumar Singh Cast: Jimmy Sheirgill, Ashutosh Rana, Hiten Tejwani, Eijaz Khan, Suha Gezen, Sanjay Suri, Narendra Jha

while Ashutosh Rana plays Chaudhury, the one sane voice who also loves giving speeches, but on secularity.

It is sad to see actors like Jimmy Sheirgill and Ashutosh Rana wasted in a film that is too wishy-washy to deal with a topic of this kind, and a good enough story to narrate.

Narendra Jha, who plays Om’s mama, is

effective. Hiten Tejwani is pleasing to look at and gives a convincing performance.

But the other actors (especially Gezen) has a long way to go before she tackles an emotional role of this kind. The director seemed to be too taken up by her beauty and the camera kept lingering on her face for too long to worry about her acting capabilities. Surprisingly Sanjay Suri who plays the CM, Mithilesh Yadav is too stiff.

Foodie

Saturday, July 2, 2016

7

MOMOS CHUTNEY RECIPE Momos chutney recipe, a popular and best spicy red chilli dipping sauce that is served with momos Momos chutney or red chilli dipping sauce served with momos is incredibly flavorful and easy to make. Ever since I posted the veg momos recipe, I have been flooded with requests to post momos chutney recipe.

Usually, the momos chutney that is served in Indian Chinese joints is spicy with a reddish hue and a texture that is neither too thin nor too thick. If we dunk or dip the momo in the dipping sauce, the smooth sauce sticks to the momo.

There are numerous versions to the basic momos chutney. I am yet to find an authentic momos chutney that is served along the North Eastern belt of India and Nepal. One version requires absolutely no cooking and it’s a smooth blend of red chilies, garlic, vinegar or lemon juice, soy sauce, sugar, and salt. Sometimes ginger, tomatoes or a few shallots are also added for variation. Another version requires roasting tomatoes over charcoal which gives a smoky flavored momos chutney.

I am sharing a version of momos chutney that requires blanching tomatoes and roasting garlic before blending to a smooth paste. I find this flavorful dipping sauce has more depth and perfectly balanced sweet, sour and spicy flavors. There is a subtle layer of sweet and sour notes and a dominant garlicky-spicy flavor with a perfect dipping texture.

Red chilies are an essential ingredient and

lend the sauce its deep red color and spicy flavor. Most times when I eat momos with chutney at a restaurant, I have a runny nose and tears flowing down my face due to the intense heat of the fiery chutney. I do not like a too spicy sauce so I make it at home I reduce the amount of chilies that go into the making of momos chutney recipe. I like to add sugar or honey to cut down on the spice and make it more palatable. If you are serving children, I’d suggest you reduce the red chilies used and increase the quantity of sugar.

Those who like a spicy momos chutney can increase the red chilies used in the recipe.

Method Bring 1 1/2 cups of water to a boil, place the tomato in the hot water and cook for 6 mins on high heat. Drain the red chilies from the water and add it to the boiling water. Cook on high for 3 mins. Turn off the

for a smooth flowing consistency.

Heat a tbsp of oil in a pan, add the ground paste and cook on medium heat for 4 mins stirring constantly so that it does not burn.

Turn off heat and remove to a serving bowl.

How to make momos chutney Momos chutney recipe Prep time: 20 min Cook time: 15 min Serves: 5 Ingredients Tomato – 1 Garlic - 8 cloves Red chilies - 3-4, tear, de-seed and soak in 1/2 cup warm water for 15-20 mins Soy sauce - 1/4 tsp (optional) Vinegar - 1 tbsp Sugar - 1 tsp Oil – 1 1/2 tbsps Salt to taste

heat. Drain water and cool the tomato and red chilies.

Heat 1/2 tbsp oil in a pan, add the garlic cloves and saute for a min. Turn off heat and set aside.

Once the tomato and red chilies reach room temperature, peel the tomato and discard the skin.

Blend the peeled tomato along with red chilis, roasted garlic, sugar, vinegar, soy sauce, and salt to a smooth paste. Add 1/3 cup water

Tips You can use up to 6 red chilies for a fiery chutney. I used 3 red chilies for a medium spiced chutney.

You can omit tomato and increase vinegar by a tbsp.

If the texture is too runny, mix a tsp of corn flour in little water and add it at Step 4 and keep stirring till it thickens.

You can omit roasting the garlic and blend it along with rest of ingredients.

I have used small garlic flakes. If using the large sized ones, use 4 garlic flakes.

8

Review by Jag

Saturday, July 2, 2016

2016 Mini Cooper JCW

A Go-Kart for Big People There are not very cars that make an adult feel like a kid again; remember those childhood days when racing around a go-kart track was the highlight of the year? Heart thumping, pretending to be a full Formula 1 race car driver, burning around the track to win the championship trophy – aahh,

great memories. Well, not too long ago, I had the chance to have that same silly childish grin on my face when I test drove the 2016 Mini Cooper JCW. This car may not be for everyone, but let me tell you, the improvements made to the engine, suspension, and interior are very welcomed and, really, make last year’s model blush.

The Mini, first made in 1959 by the British Motor Company, was an economy car that was not only practical, but spacious, despite its puny size. The original, and its predecessors, are considered British icons. Who can forget Mr. Bean driving around in his Mini? Or how about Austin Powers in his Union Jack schemed Mini?

Even though the new Mini, with the brand being owned by

BMW since 1994, is nothing like the original, it still carries some very familiar trademark characteristics. One of the most notable are the wheels, which continue to be pushed to the extreme corners of the vehicle. Another one, if examined closely, is the front grill; yes, it’s changed, but the heritage lines are still clearly visible.

For 2016, the Mini Cooper is still a fun-looking pocketsized car. As I alluded to before, the wheels are pushed to the four corners and it’s still quite low to the ground.

At the front, the headlights aren’t as pronounced as before, yet have that “deer caught in a headlight” look. Our tester, the JCW adds more to the package. First, there’s the distinct badging that points out this isn’t the “S” – nope, it’s got much more oomph! Next is a styling and design package that doesn’t just look good, but adds function. For example, at the front, Mini now has the most aerodynamic nose design yet. On the sides, just above each wheel well is a small lip that gives better air flow, reducing drag. And the rear apron, according to Mini Canada, complete with a new diffuser and flaps, now reduce rear lift by about 30%. What all these exterior features add up to is a Mini that does everything it’s supposed to, but with a masculine look, especially when you see the bigger roof-mounted spoiler.

Step inside the vehicle and digest again the name Mini. Here, however, what the designers of the car have done oh-so-beautifully is give the car its character, no matter what the size. Compared to the plasticlooking toggle switches and cheap feel from even a couple of years ago, the 2016 model has been

pleasantly refreshed with much better materials. Even a friend, who adores his 2013 Countryman JCW, noticed the differences in interior quality, fit, and finish. The front seats are comfortable and yes, they’re power – arm power, that is. So as you guessed, no seat memory either. Window controls continue to be on the door panels, where they ought to be – I never liked when they were toggleswitch controlled on the center console.

The speedo and tach are now better placed right behind the steering wheel, leaving the valuable real estate to the HD colour touch screen that houses the MINI Connected infotainment system.

Speaking of real estate, the back seats are incredibly small – Mini says that two small adults or children can sit in the rear seats but I disagree. With me sitting

in a somewhat comfortable seating position in the driver’s seat, my 8-year old daughter barely had enough room in the rear seat. A more viable Mini option, for a family like mine, would be the Clubman or the Countryman.

If you’re not stuck to the Mini brand, then try the Golf GTI or Ford Focus ST as well.

Now that we’ve talked about the upgrades to the interior fit and finish, Jag Dhatt let’s get to the real meat of it. There’s nothing Mini about the engine, which pumps out 231 hp and 236 lb-ft of torque – 25% more power than the outgoing model and when you’re talking numbers like that for a small car, you can really feel the difference. I was really hoping for the 6-speed manual but alas, our tester was fitted with the $1,650 automatic, which does the job, but takes away from

some of the excitement. Mini did a good job of making the automatic quite good, especially when you put the Dynamic Damper Control system to sport and use the paddle shifters. The cherry on top is that beautiful sound, thanks to a low backpressure exhaust system. So many times, I would downshift just to hear the exhaust – take that Mini S, sans JCW package. This puppy really does fly but with the Brembo brake package, the Mini JCW stops on a dime.

The Mini JCW is an excellent urban car because let’s face it, you don’t need or want much space when parking. Fuel consumption is also very good and if you want to maximize this element, then drive the car in Eco mode – but really, WHY? I mean, you’ve got the JCW package and in my opinion, the Eco mode doesn’t even need to be there. In the city, this car was fun to drive in a straight line, off a red light; but let’s face it, it shines on twisty, windy roads. I mean, would you drive a go-kart in a straight line?

For those of you who know Vancouver streets, you’ll be happy to know that the new suspension on this car makes the ride much more comfortable. In previous years, if you drove a Mini on our rough streets, you better have had a good dental plan. Now, however, the ride is much much better. The tires on our tester were run-flats, and if I owned this car, I’d swap them out for non-runflats in a jiffy.

The Mini JCW does have some shortcomings, the biggest being the sticker price. You can get into a Ford Focus ST or a Volkswagen GTI (or R) for less money and these are great cars as well. But if you need to get your heart racing in one of the most iconic British sports car, this may be your cup of tea.

Auto

Saturday, July 2, 2016

Toyota recalls 1.4 million cars for airbag problem

Toyota is recalling 1.4 million cars worldwide for a problems with exploding airbags.

Though Toyota said this recall does not involve a Takata airbag, it has not identified the supplier.

Toyota said it is not aware of any deaths or injuries related to this latest airbag recall.

It also said the cause of the problem, and the solution, is different from the Takata problem.

Related: Rental companies now have to repair recalled cars In this recall, the airbags are on the side of the car, not the steering wheel or passengerside dashboard.

These airbags have inflators composed of two chambers that are welded together.

Toyota (TM) said when the car is parked and unoccupied for a period of time, that weld can develop a crack and the two chambers can separate, causing the airbag to inflate

and some pieces of the inflator to shoot into the car.

The models involved in the recall include three hybrid models, the Prius, the Prius Plug-in and the Lexus CT200h produced between October 2008 and April 2012.

Nearly 500,000 of the 1.4 million cars being recalled are in the U.S. Takata airbags are the focus of the largest auto recall in history, with more than a dozen different automakers forced to recall cars with its products installed -- including Toyota.

There are 69 million Takata airbags that have been recalled or will be recalled by 2019 in the United States alone.

The Takata airbags need to be recalled because the inflators can rupture, sending shrapnel into the driver or front seat passenger. At least ten U.S. deaths have been linked to exploding Takata airbags, along with dozens of serious injuries.

6 U 6- U 6 U = U 0 U - U 89 9:/8 |36 SAVE ON PLAYPASSES AT:

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10

Classifieds

Saturday, July 2, 2016

JOBS

JOBS

JOBS

JOBS

Western Door Manufacturing Ltd located at #109-8250, 124th St, Surrey, BC V3W 3X9, has an immediate vacancy for Carpenter. We design and manufacture high end solid wood exteriors doors, solid wood interior doors and custom doors.

Job specification: Full time position with wages of $25/ hour. 35 to 40 hours per week.

Job requirement: High School with 2-3 years of experience.

Trade certificate will be considered as an asset.

Job duties includes read & interpret drawings & sketches to determine specifications; estimate height, width, length and other proportions; measure, cut, shape & assemble wood materials using woodworking machines, power tools and hand tools; Build exterior doors, interior doors, customs doors with jams; moulding, make transom arch shape; specially skilled in fancy wood design, traditional murals crafting on doors; Install hardware such as hinges, handles, catches; Repair doors and replace panels of doors.

If interested send resumes at

westerndoors@outlook.com -------------- May 21 2016

Permanent with 35 to 40 hours per week Salary : $18/hour Job duties : To supervise and coordinate activities of stock staff, plan and organize the display of stock in the showroom, identify outdated & defective stock, ensure orders are executed & delivered in time, maintain inventory and order merchandise, prepare periodic inventory reports, assign duties to stock clerks, providing stock clerk with the training, information, guidance encouragement &recognition needed to meet expectation, investigating, resolving & escalating customer issues as appropriate.

Requires: Completion of secondary school with one year of related experience.

If interested please send resumes by email at resume@ a1doors.ca” Optical Store Manager required at: Clear Cool Optical - 2450 McCallum Raod, Abbotsford, BC, Canada, V2S 6R9 For details check website: http:// www.jobbank.gc.ca/jobposting. do?id=19833072 - ---------------- Apr 23 2016

three years or six 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.

Send resumes by email at balwinderssinghmaar@gmail. com

Planet Pride Logistics Ltd. of Richmond, BC is urgently seeking an Office Manager on f/time, perm. basis. Must have min. high school education and either min. 2 yrs. exp. in clerical/ secretarial/office admin. or a university degree or college diploma in business admin.

Duties incl. manage office staff and assign tasks as needed; analyze internal processes and recommend / implement procedural or policy changes to improve operations; establish work priorities; manage office supply inventory and maintain office equipment repairs. wage btwn $22.25 - $24/hr (depending on exp). Please email resume to planetpridelogist@gmail. com. No phone calls or drop-ins please.

-------------- May 14 2016 “Vacancy for Stock Supervisor A1doors and mouldings, located at 12625 – 80th Avenue Surrey, BC, V3W 3A6 has an immediate vacancy of Stock Supervisor Term of employment : Full time,

---------------- Jan 23 2016 Perfect Space corner unit available for office Descriptions: Perfect Space corner unit with gorgeous view for Law office, as this corner on 72nd and 120th Street, has lots of traffic, with numerous medical doctors and all the top five major banks in the area.

There is no law office presence in the vicinity. Perfect opportunity for a law office to provide ICBC claims, and/or solicitor services to the financial area. Whether an exisiting law office looking for a satellitespace, or new lawyers wanting to establish their presence in this busy area.

Please phone 604 581 8400 for Shahin Soheili Managing Director Sutton Group or email: shahin@ sutton.com ---------------- April 16 2016

Vacancy

Required urgently for beauty salon in Burnaby We have a great opportunity to add a new member to our team. We are looking for someone who is professional and confident in there waxing and threading skills. Our salon has an amazing reputation in these services and would love the right professional for the job.

Please message for more info. 604-723-7553

for In-home Caregiver Balwinder Singh Singhmaar, resident of 15095 92Ave, Surrey, BC V3R 5V8 has a vacancy for Inhome Child caregiver for infant child and 9 years old son. Full Time, $11 / hour, 40 hrs/week.

Applicant must have high school with minimum of one year of related experience within last

-------------- Oct 31 2015 Baker / Sweet Maker wanted Nirala Sweets and Restaurant in Surrey BC needs fully qualified Pakistani style Baker/Sweet maker (Mithai). Responsibilities will include Sweet making for retail and banquets, training of employees, labour & food cost control and supervision.

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

Knowledge of Urdu an asset. ourly salary $15.50/hr. Contact Pasha 604 593 7323 or send resume at anwarpasha786@hotmail.com --------------- Jan 23 2016

JOBS planning, cooking for individual customers and banquets, training of employees, labour & food cost control and supervision of kitchen staff. Must have at least 3 years experience as a Pakistani cook.

Knowledge of Urdu and asset.

Hourly wage $17.00 per hour. 40 hours per week. Contact Pasha at 604 593 7323 or send resume at anwarpasha786@hotmail.com

Cook for Pakistani cuisine wanted Nirala Sweets and Restaurant in Surrey BC needs experienced chef for Halal Northern Pakistani style dishes. Must be expert in making kababs and tandoori dishes. Must be able to handle halal meats. Responsibilities will include menu design and

Need Janitorial Helpers Surrey Janitorial Services urgently require helpers for Surrey and Abbotsford and Vancouver.

Experience not a requirement but will be preferred.

Please call 778-859-9234

To PLACE YOUR AD IN THE ASIAN STAR CLASSIFIEDS Section Please

Call: 604-591-5423

Saturday, July 2, 2016

South Asian Seniors Fatherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day Ashirwad ( Blessings ) Dr. Swami Satya Prakash - 19th June. 2016 from 2.00 pm to 3.30 pm.

Vedic Seniors Parivar Centre of Vedic Hindu Cultural Society Surrey invites South Asian Adults/ Senior members and non members also, Everybody is welcome to attend the Presentation with Musical Touch on Fatherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day Ashirwad ( Blessings ) by Dr. Swami Satya Prakash a well known Swamiji in the community & Pandit Mansukhbhai Thandi will play on Tabla , on 19th June 2016 ( Sunday ) from 2.00 pm to 3.30 pm at Shanti Niketan Hall of Lakshmi Narayan Hindu Temple 8321 - 140th street Surrey BC. Please do attend it to avoid regrets that you missed it, tea and light snacks will be served after the presentation. Please contact Surendra Handa Coordinator Tel. 604 - 507 - 9945 for further information.

-------------------------------------------Vancouver Cross Cultural Seniors Network wins prestigious SFU award Metro Vancouver Cross-Cultural Seniors Network Societyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s (MVCCSN) Elder Abuse Awareness to Action Program was recently honored with the 2016 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; EAAAAInnovative Program Award by SFUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Gerontology Research Centre.

The award was presented by Prof. Gloria M. Gutman, of SFUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Gerontology Dept. and Gerontology Research Centre and received by President Ihsan Malik board members Sonia Chaudhary and Mohinder Grewal on behalf of MVCCSN. Recognizing the exemplary work that the society does for seniors, Gutman said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was impressive indeed that to date 837 South Asians from twenty-three different groups have attended the seventeen workshops on elder financial abuse that MVCCSN has organized.â&#x20AC;?

The 2016 SFU Gerontology Elder Abuse Awareness to Action Awards (EAAAA) were presented at a reception held on May 16 at SFUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s downtown Vancouver Harbour Centre Campus. Thanking Gloria Gutman, SFU award committee and all the community partners on behalf of the society, President of MVCCSN Ihsan Malik said he was humbled, honored and excited that his society was chosen for this prestigious award. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I would be amiss

if I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t mention the efforts of Board members Mohinder Grewal and Sonia Chaudhary in achieving this milestone,â&#x20AC;? added Mr. Malik.

Incorporated in September 1995, MVCCSN is a nonprofit organization whose members are seniors from various cultural backgrounds and service providers who are involved with seniorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; issues, including seniors who are newcomers and recent immigrants in Metro Vancouver. The Society is managed by a volunteer board, current members include Ihsan Malik (President), Mohinder Grewal (Vice Prsident), Barbra Mikulec, Arun Mehta (Director), Sonia Chaudhary (Treasurer), Narayan Kulkarni (Secretary), and Hien Phu Nguyen (Director). Our mission: The Society is committed to cultural diversity, and, as such, will show leadership in actively promoting inclusiveness, respect and participation through activities involving inquiry and advocacy.

2016 Board: Ihsan Malik (President), Mohinder Grewal (Vice Prsident), Narayan Kulkarni (Secretary), Barbra Mikulec (Director), Sonia Chaudhary (Treasurer), Arun Mehta and Hien Phu Nguyen ----------------------------------------Maha Harinam Picnic Saturday May 14th 12:00 - 3:00 PM @ Grandview Park 1657 Charles St. @Commercial Drive more info contact: Manu das 604 600 4527 Sunday Feast May 15th 5:30 PM ----------------------------------------------Surrey Night Market offers Honda Civic as Door Prize Surrey Night Market this year is making the market even more exciting and attractive by offering a grand door prize of a Honda Civic car.

The market which is geared to open on June 3rd for the third season has a brand new Honda Civic literally for the taking. To win the car attendees need to put their names in for the grand draw that will take place on August14, the last day of the market and they could be the lucky one to drive home this fantastic brand new car. Surrey Night

Round Wrap Industries, #150 1680 Savage Road, Richmond, BC V6V 3A9 A reputed company manufacturing foiled PVC doors, requires one Production Supervisor on full-time indeterminate basis. Duties: supervision, coordination and scheduling of workers; resolving work problems; training of workers; preparing reports and ensuring safe and smooth running of the production.

Education: Minimum secondary school.

Experience: Minimum 5 years as Supervisor in same or similar trade or industry.

Language: English & Knowledge of Punjabi / Hindi will be an asset.

Salary: $32/hr.

Contact by email: info@roundwrap.com or fax 604 278 1463

Community News Market will once again be an event full of fun and entertainment for the entire family. Apart from food and merchandise booths there will be rides and games for children; performances by magicians, local bands, singers and dancers and door prizes for attendees.

The family friendly multicultural market will run on Fridays and Saturdays from 6pm to 11pm and on Sundays from 5pm to 10pm at the Cloverdale Exhibition Grounds, 17726 - 62 Avenue, Surrey.

Parking is free. The following patrons will get free entry into the night market.

-----------------------------------------Families of all Canadian Forces personnel and Veterans Children less than 48â&#x20AC;? in height when accompanied by their families Residents of long-term care and assisted living facilities when coming as a group Wheelchair borne persons and their attendants Seniors over 65 years with proper ID In addition, anyone bringing a non-perishable food item or a new toy will be allowed free access and all collected items will be donated to the local food banks or charities.

For more information, visit www. surreynightmarket.com or contact them at info@ surreynightmarket.com or 604-805-3440South Asian Seniors - Visiting 6 Scandinavian Countries of Europe From Lakshmi Narayan Hindu Temple Surrey, 12th May to 28th May 2016.

-------------------------------------------South Asian Seniors have gone to visit Europe though 12 Nights Cruise & 3days tour of Amsterdam Holland on 12th May 2016. The Cruise Itinerary is DV IROORZV 6WDUWV IURP $PVWHUGDP +ROODQG ÂżUVW VWRS 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 for 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 have been organized by Surendra Handa Coordinator Vedic Seniors Parivar Center of Vedic Hindu Cultural Society Surrey.. The Cruise is by Ship Celebrity Silhouette from May 14th 2016 to May 26th 2016.

All 56 South Asian Seniors will be back in Surrey Temple from Tour/ Cruise of North Europe on 28th May 2016.

----------------------------------------â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sanskriti Cultural Awareness Society of BCâ&#x20AC;? invites you with your family and friends to a specially designed evening, full of laughter and humor to celebrate Holi a festival of joy, happiness and participation with legendary poets from India and North America coming to make everybody laugh and giggle. Program would be followed by dance and a lavish dinner. This is an family event. For queries contact: Janardan Pandey Prachand at 604-889-2204 , Sanjeev Sharma at 604 767 4366

11

Sanskriti Cultural Awareness Society of BC 15165 91Ave, Surrey BC V3R 1B6 PH: 604 767 4366 E:mail: humarisanskrit2@gmail.com www.humarisanskriti.ca --------------------------Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t give fraudsters an extra â&#x20AC;&#x153;taxâ&#x20AC;? this season With March being Fraud Prevention Month and UHVLGHQWV PDNLQJ ÂżQDO SUHSDUDWLRQV WR WKHLU WD[ returns, the Surrey RCMP is reminding residents to be extra vigilant when it comes to protecting their SHUVRQDO DQG ÂżQDQFLDO LQIRUPDWLRQ As frauds involving the Canada Revenue Agency are on the rise not only in Surrey but across the country, tax season is prime time for fraudsters to prey on unsuspecting victims. Residents need to be vigilant if they receive fraudulent communications from these agencies and report it to authorities immediately if they suspect they are a victim. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This time of year serves as a good reminder for residents to check their mail regularly when sensitive ÂżQDQFLDO DQG SHUVRQDO LQIRUPDWLRQ PD\ EH DUULYLQJ daily in your mailbox,â&#x20AC;? says Surrey RCMP Corporal Scotty Schumann. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If criminals are able to access this information they can fraudulently use it to gain access to bank accounts, apply for loans and credit cards, or engage in criminal activity that ultimately becomes associated to you.â&#x20AC;?

Surrey RCMP has also noticed a trend in fraudulent telephone calls claiming to be from debt collectors for unpaid phone, cable, hydro, or other utility bills.

Most of the reports involve complainants who have lost their wallets or purses within the last year and have not reported it to authorities. Scams like this are good reminders to cancel and replace all important cards once lost and to routinely check your credit report to ensure you are not a victim of identity theft.

Another scam that residents should be aware of that is making the rounds locally is the â&#x20AC;&#x153;blackâ&#x20AC;? or â&#x20AC;&#x153;whiteâ&#x20AC;? money scam. This sophisticated counterfeit scheme comes in multiple forms but usually involves currency that on initial appearance has no colour but can apparently be washed with a chemical that makes it a legitimate bank note. In most cases, the victims are usually conned into making an initial investment into this counterfeit money with the promise of large returns. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Surrey is a very diverse community that includes many residents who are new to Canada,â&#x20AC;? says Cpl. Schumann. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Unfortunately those who are unfamiliar with how our institutions and businesses operate can be more susceptible to these frauds. We ask that residents take this opportunity to discuss these recent fraud trends with family members who may not be aware.â&#x20AC;?

For more information on fraud prevention please visit the Scams & Fraud page on our website. If your business or community group would like to host an info session on fraud prevention please contact the Surrey RCMPâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Economic Crime Unit at 604-5990502. If you are the victim of a fraud, please contact your local police and report it to the Canadian AntiFraud Centre online or at 1-888-495-8501.

12

Hollywood

Saturday, July 2, 2016

Cheque that out

Leo ‘not pursuing’ film on poet Rumi KNOWN for playing iconic characters ranging from Howard Hughes in The Aviator to Hugh Glass in The Revenant, Leonardo DiCaprio will reportedly not be essaying Persian poet Rumi anytime soon, contrary to rumours.

Screenwriter David Franzoni and producer Stephen Joel Brown, who are working on a film about the 13th century poet, said in an interview that DiCaprio was their top choice to play Rumi.

However, sources close to

DiCaprio say no one from the film has reached out to him about the project.

“He hasn’t been asked, but, regardless, he will not be pursuing the project,” says a source.

Meanwhile, thousands of people signed a petition demanding producers cast a Middle Eastern actor to play the poet in the film. The petitioners called it the ‘Hollywood whitewashing’ for not giving Muslim actors positive roles and typecasting them as negative only.

A still from Deadpool, which released in February this year

Coming sooner than expected DEADPOOL 2 will hit theatres sooner than you thought. Shooting for the film is scheduled to take place early next year, with an early 2018 release date pencilled in.

According to Fox producer Simon Kinberg, Paul Wernick and Rhett Reese, the original screenwriters are working on the script. The first Deadpool film, which released in February 2016, became the highest-grossing R-rated film of all time,

so it comes as no surprise that Reese and Wernick, who penned the first script, are giving finishing touches to the sequel.

Once the script is complete, the casting shall then be finalised, followed by pre-production, under the directorship of Tim Miller.

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SCARLETT Johansson has reportedly become the highest grossing actress in Hollywood, officially earning more money at the box office than her female counterparts.

According to a box office reporting website, Johansson has already raked in $3.3 billion at the US box office, making her the 10th highest earning actor — male or female — in Hollywood.

By far the youngest actor on the top-10 list, Johansson, 31, was only beaten by the likes of Harrison Ford, Samuel L Jackson, Morgan Freeman, Tom Hanks, Robert Downey Jr, Eddie Murphy, Tom Cruise, Michael Caine and Johnny Depp. The next highest grossing actress on the list is Cameron Diaz at 19, followed by Helena Bonham Carter (26), Cate Blanchett (29), Julia Roberts (30), Elizabeth Banks (31), Emma Watson (32) and Anne Hathaway at 50.

Johansson has appeared as Natasha Romanoff, or Black Widow, in five Marvel films including Iron Man 2 in 2010, The Avengers in 2012, Captain America: The Winter Soldier in 2014 and Captain America: Civil War in 2016.

THE acclaimed star of The Wolf of Wall Street and upcoming Suicide Squad, Margot Robbie opened up about what drew her to play Jane in the upcoming Tarzan movie.

“I loved its sense of adventure; its epic and feels like a mix of all the films that I adore.” But she also sees The Legend of Tarzan as a love story. “It’s not something we were trying to inject; it was already on the page.

They are both strong people — Jane is emotionally strong, just as Tarzan is physically strong — and they are so madly in love with each other that when they get separated, you root for them to get back together,” she said.

Robbie added that she was thrilled to explore a complex, thoroughly modern female character in the film.

“In spite of the fact that she is being held captive for much of the film, Jane is defiant and independent — almost to a fault sometimes,” details the actress, cutting quite the contemporary figure herself in Jane’s vintage silks. “I think that’s one of the qualities I loved most about the role.”

Her co-star Alexander Skarsgård agrees, saying, “This is quite the opposite of any previous adaptations of this famous story, which are about taming the beast. This is about releasing the beast. It’s an interesting dichotomy that I think is timeless and universal since we, as human beings, all struggle with that. We live in cities and function somewhat successfully next to strangers, but, at the same time, we’re animals.”

An actor by accident JOHNNY Depp gave his first public interview since his acrimonious divorce from estranged wife Amber Heard on a radio talk show on June 26, but made no mention of his legal battle or allegations made against him.

During the interview, the 53-year-old revealed that he stumbled into acting while trying to pursue music as a teenager. “I’ve (been a musician) since I was little. I have played since I was 12. I started playing clubs when I was like 13 in Miami,” Depp said. “I needed to pay rent. Somebody said, ‘Why don’t you go meet an agent. My agent is with Nick Cage,’ so she sent me on an audition for something and I got it,” he added.

Depp said it wasn’t until his band broke up that he considered acting full-time. “It seemed like a good way to pay the rent for a minute,” he said.

Even as his divorce battle with Heard continues, Depp plans to take the stage with his band during their US tour, which commences today in Pennsylvania. A Los Angeles court hearing has been scheduled for

‘Modern Family’ actress Ariel Winter poses nude in bathtub

August 15 and 16 on Heard’s request for a permanent restraining order against Depp amid allegations that he abused her throughout their relationship. A temporary restraining order has been reissued in the interim.

— AGENCIES

The image shows the 18-year-old 'Modern Family' star taking a bubble bath and going nude with soap bubbles covering her private parts, reports aceshowbiz.com.

In the caption, she assured her Instagram followers that the glass next to her was filled with cranberry juice and that she is still wearing "lady bit pasties". Rumours about Winter and Gaudette's split began swirling earlier this month after some fans noticed she stopped following him on social media. She finally confirmed the breakup a few days ago.

Saturday, April 2, 2016 L 5

Vol. 6 No. 42 - Saturday - July 2, 2016

Tel: 604-591-5423

E-mail: ads@theasianstar.com

Commercial Drive 12-storey tower in question after Vancouver releases community plan The future of a controversial tower proposed for Vancouver’s Commercial Drive is now in question, with the release of the city’s draft neighbourhood plan that says a 12-storey high-rise doesn’t fit “the vibe of The Drive.”

The Kettle Boffo project, which has drawn lawn signs and protests as well as supporters, is proposed for the corner of Commercial Drive and Venables St. by developer Boffo Properties and the Kettle Society, which offers social services on the site now.

The project would include up to 30 units of supportive housing, about 200 units of market housing and social services offered by Kettle in an expanded facility.

The current view from the intersection where Venables St. crosses Commercial Drive. The property on the left, which houses the Kettle Friendship Society, is the one planned for redevelopment. Further north on Commercial Drive, there is already an apartment tower of more than 10 storeys. (Google Streetview) But the city’s newly-released draft plan for the Grandview-Woodland neighbourhood calls for just six to nine storeys on the property, with a limit of four storeys on the Drive itself.

“This proposal did kind of loom over Commercial Drive” in the view of those opposed, said Kent Munro, assistant director of planning for the city.

“We’ve set parameters to say, no ... we’re protecting the four storey or lower limit of Commercial Drive to keep the vibe of the Drive.”

The developer from Boffo Properties said he’s glad the long-awaited community plan is out, but the height and density restrictions would make the project unsustainable.

“We are a little disappointed with the draft plan’s recommendations but we remain optimistic that there is still flexibility at our location,” said Daniel Boffo.

The proposal offers supportive housing, expanded social services and other amenities without a taxpayer cost — paid for by the market housing units, said Boffo.

Going to six and nine stories would leave a funding gap, which the city acknowledged in its report.

“I’m not clear as to ... how that would be filled,” said Boffo.

The Kettle Society, Boffo Properties and the city each own parcels of the land that would be developed.

The draft community plan doesn’t rule out

the possibility of a taller tower, however.

It sets principles and parameters that a future application would have to meet in the neighbourhood, but the city is indicating there may be flexibility, depending on the community amenities offered.

More social services or supportive housing could tip

those scales, Munro said.

“There could be opportunities to massage what’s in the community plan to achieve those goals,” he said.

“The Kettle is an incredibly valued and important social service in the community. The city wants to do everything it can to support it.”

14

Real Estate

Saturday, July 2, 2016

Grandview-Woodland plan no solution to housing aďŹ&#x20AC;ordability crisis, says resident Vancouver has released its community plan for the Grandview-Woodland neighbourhood, which includes proposals for thousands of new housing units and a number of highrise towers, including a 24-storey tower at Commercial Drive and Broadway.

But one resident believes the plan falls far short in addressing the dual issues of affordability and lack of housing stock.

Kyle MacDonald, a 36-year-old father and home owner in Grandview-Woodland, stands out against a chorus of community activists and residents who oppose increased density.

MacDonald wants to see even more density than whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s proposed for the East Vancouver neighbourhood â&#x20AC;&#x201D; way more â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and believes the viability of the neighbourhood depends on it.

MacDonald is part of a burgeoning â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;YIMBYâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; movement in Vancouver. YIMBY stands for Yes In My Backyard.

He also once traded a red paper clip for a house, but thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s another story.

MacDonald spoke with the CBCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Stephen Quinn.

How challenging is it for you and your

family to live in Grandview-Woodland?

Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m not going to lie, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not difficult ... because I already own a house. My challenge is seeing the neighbourhood changing so quickly.

Half duplexes on my street were going for $700,000 to $900,000 last year. Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re $1.3 - $1.4 million this year.

And these are places without any rental suite help, places that until recently were quite affordable for a family to move into.

Pretty much the whole neighbourhood has been zoned for duplexes in the new plan.

What the plan doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t acknowledge is that pretty much the whole neighbourhood is already at duplex zoning density. You have a lot of suites and a lot of garages with people living in them.

Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s already significant density in the neighbourhood, but I think thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s room for much more. I think the zoning could go to a four-plex or a five-plex. Why not up the [floor space ratio]?

I think you could get young families maybe splitting a lot, forming little mini co-ops for

each lot, things like that.

Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve said Grandview-Woodland is at risk of becoming some kind of Point Grey or

Shaughnessy East. What did you mean by that?

I think thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a lot of Italian days/hippies on the Drive vibe still there. The population of the neighbourhood has gone down by about 2,000 since 1995. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the only neighbourhood in Vancouver to lose population.

And whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s happening is the older residents, their kids have moved out of the house, and the population density is actually decreasing in the [current] single family zones. I honestly donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think the duplexes will save this neighbourhood.

Should oďŹ&#x20AC;ers without conditions be part of Realtor regulation?

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Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s called a no-conditions offer, and if you havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t heard of it, you havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t bought a home in Vancouver.

Of course, real estate agents are supposed to discourage customers from putting bids on houses with no protection and little information about what theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re buying.

But in reality, everyone knows someone who has been scared into going no-conditions â&#x20AC;&#x201D; or more often, someone who has lost out on the opportunity to mortgage their future to a complete unknown because of a weakness called â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;cautionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;.

You might say the no-conditions offer is a byproduct of a frenzied market like the one that exists in the Lower Mainland.

After all, where else do buyers trail around open houses with a mortgage broker to the left of them and a home inspector to the

right, desperate to beat a line-up of other overextended consumers for the privilege of paying hundreds of thousands over asking for a home that sold for a quarter of the price 10 years ago?

But the release of a report on the state of real estate regulation in B.C. this week begs a question: what is the link between effective regulation and the prevalence of sanity in a marketplace that feels more like an Army and Navy shoe sale than a home purchase?

In announcing the 28 recommendations aimed at overhauling the Real Estate Council of B.C., Independent Advisory Group chairwoman Carolyn Rogers stressed that her panel was not tasked with solving B.C.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s housing crisis. Nor, she said, is the council itself. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They are not the regulator of housing affordability. And they are not government who makes the decisions on who is granted self-regulatory power and who is not,â&#x20AC;? Rogers said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;So we interpreted those things as guiding our mandate and we set our terms of reference clearly to do what we were asked to do.â&#x20AC;? The report paints a picture of a regulator too closely tied to the interests of industry.

One of the key recommendations is for half the 17 people who make up the council to be drawn from outside the world of real estate.

Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s as opposed to just four outsiders now. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is our view that some industry members voted to council may not fully appreciate that their role is to serve the councilâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s public interest mandate, and not the interests of their peers or local board,â&#x20AC;? the report says.

The panel recommends doing away with dual agency, in which a single Realtor is able to represent both the buyer and the seller in a deal, saying the very idea â&#x20AC;&#x153;runs contrary to the fundamental concept of agency.â&#x20AC;?

Saturday, July 2, 2016

Ottawa, provinces work on national housing plan Federal and provincial housing ministers emerged from their meeting in Victoria Tuesday with a promise to create the first Canadian housing strategy in 40 years.

With house prices soaring out of reach of many people in urban areas and a scarcity of rental units, Jean-Yves Duclos,

federal minister responsible for the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, has promised B.C. a $150 million share of the Justin Trudeau government’s first budget for housing initiatives.

Duclos said housing affordability is a problem from low-income renters to people attempting to buy homes in urban areas, and is increasing with an aging population.

While there little comparison between someone struggling to pay rent and a family

trying to save for a down payment, he said it is all connected.

“If affordable housing is not there, it will put pressure on social housing,” Duclos said. “If social housing is insufficient, it will create pressure on shelters. If market housing doesn’t work efficiently, it will create pressure in other sections of the housing spectrum. No one government can address that alone.”

Coleman said the $150 million budgeted for B.C. in the latest federal budget can be shared between upgrading existing provincial housing, building new social housing and matching provincial funds set aside for housing for aboriginal people.

When word of the ministers’ meeting at a Victoria hotel was made public, a group of protesters using a bullhorn and public address system descended on the hotel to chant and yell demands for social housing.

They briefly attempted to force their way into the hotel, but were dispersed by police.

They then returned to the tent camp that took over a lawn next to the Victoria courthouse last fall.

Real Estate

15

16

Real Estate

Saturday, July 2, 2016

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