The Asian Star November 21 2020

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www.theasianstar.com Vol 19 - Issue 42

Saturday, November 21, 2020

Vancouver City approves planning for road tolls into downtown & Central Broadway Vancouver city approves Climate Emergency Action Plan that could see levy placed on all vehicles entering Vancouver downtown core. Green Party Coun. Pete Fry said in a social media post that council voted in favour of the plan Tuesday night. It’s said to be part of a drive to make Vancouver one of the greenest cities in the world. Another section of the plan proposes a carbon pollution surcharge on gas or diesel vehicles. The entire strategy is not slated to take effect until at least 2025 and meetings will be held over the next 18 months to gather public reaction. As Vancouver ponders downtown toll for drivers, experts warn it could harm low-income commuters Continued on page 6

BCCDC illustrates most common ‘exposure settings’ An update from the B.C. Centre for Disease Controls provides a clear picture of not only where COVID-19 is most prevalent, but in which settings it is being spread. The update, published Nov. 12, shows Surrey has more cases than any other city in the province, with at least 3,993. Surrey is also home to more than 27 per cent of B.C.’s confirmed cases. Extending north to 40 Avenue, South Surrey-White Rock is in a different health boundary than the rest of Surrey, and reported 298 cases.

Canada is ‘getting into trouble’ as COVID-19 cases spike Dr Fauci says America’s top infectious disease specialist Dr. Anthony Fauci says Canada, once an example of managing COVID-19, is wading into dangerous territory as the virus surges across the world. “Right now, the entire planet is in trouble. If you look at almost every country, there are very few exceptions,” Dr Fauci said, “The European Union, if you look at the number of new infections, it’s out of sight. The United States is out of sight. Canada, which was supposedly doing so well, is also getting into trouble.

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Premier Horgan calls for restrictions on non-essential travel in Canada The premier of British Columbia says Canada needs a national strategy to discourage non-essential travel between provinces. With COVID-19 numbers surging in his province and across the country, John Horgan says he’ll be calling on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to implement a panCanadian approach to limit travel within the country. “We need to make sure that those who want to come to British Columbia must do so only if it is essential for their business or their well being,” Horgan said. “What I’m suggesting is that the people of Quebec, Ontario and Manitoba need to know that they should stay in Quebec, Ontario and Manitoba, until we get to a place where we can start distributing a vaccine across the country.”

Provinc-wide social gathering ban plus masks must indoor in BC British Columbians must now wear masks in all indoor public places, officials announced, as part of sweeping new measures to crack down on the province’s second wave of COVID-19. Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said on Thursday that

she reversed her stance on the issue after hearing that businesses were concerned about having to enforce guidelines on mask-wearing in a bid to slow the spread of the disease. “You name it, for the most part,” Henry said, referring to the wide list of places Continued on page 6

Nigerians are leading global asylum claims to Canada despite Covid-19’s travel restrictions In February, data showed that, for the fifth year in a row, more Nigerians emigrated to Canada in 2019 than the year before. Another marker of that exodus is that the number of

Nigerians issued permanent residence (PR) permits by the Canadian government has tripled since 2015. In 2019 alone, 12,595 Nigerians were issued the permits.

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OPINION

Dr Bonnie Henry

British Columbians have been nimble in adapting their individual actions to slow the spread of COVID-19 in our communities over the last ten months, and it has had a big impact. Our actions have helped keep our hospitals, schools and workplaces open - and protect the ones we love. Such essential actions include maintaining a safe distance from others, cleaning our hands and staying home

Saturday, November 21, 2020 Why B.C. doesn’t have a universal mask mandate if we get sick. Using masks appropriately is another important example of an individual act that results in a collective good. Each of these is a layer of protection to guard against a virus that never rests. Some people are asking when we will see masks mandated in B.C. The answer is that they already are. The mandate to use masks appropriately is a cornerstone of businesses’ and organizations’ COVID-19

safety plans, and is embedded in our healthcare facilities’ operational policies and restart protocols in other public institutions. Despite how it might appear when we watch the news or go on social media, research shows that most of us in B.C. are doing the right things most of the time. Ordering universal mask use in all situations creates unnecessary challenges with enforcement and stigmatization. We need only look at the COVID-19 transmission rates in other jurisdictions that have tried using such orders to see what little benefit these orders by themselves have served. We also know that when orders and fines are in place, it is racialized people and those living in poverty or homeless who are most often targeted. Each day, we are continuing to learn more about the virus and how it spreads. Right now, we are seeing rapid transmission in social gatherings where masks would not be worn anyway, in certain workplaces and risky indoor settings, like group fitness activities. Provincial health officer orders are always a last resort and we have used them carefully to address these recent trends. The orders we have in place now complement our clear and expressed expectation that people will wear masks in indoor public places like shopping malls, stores, on ferries and transit. Our orders also mandate that businesses and workplaces must have COVID-19 safety plans in place. These should include mask wearing, in addition to barriers, reduced numbers of people in spaces, screening of workers and the public and availability of hand cleaning and sanitation. Staff and customers must abide by these plans and businesses must offer virtual, online or contactless alternatives to customers who cannot wear a mask. COVID-19 safety plans are enforceable and something businesses and workplaces now plan for and have in place, in accordance with our orders. We know that people want to do the right thing when they understand the reasons behind our thinking and have the tools they need to do what is asked of them. Mask use is important, and we need everyone to have the same understanding of our expectations. Wearing a mask will never eliminate all risks, but it is a significant part of the layers of protection that can help protect us, our loved ones and our community.

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Saturday, November 21, 2020

Surrey city councillor calls for stricter Covid-19 enforcement A Surrey city councillor is calling for a crackdown on COVID-19 rule breakers. Recent modelling data revealed that the city has seen the highest number of COVID-19 cases in the province. Coun. Jack Hundal says enforcement needs to be stepped up before the caseload gets even worse. “I think there’s an opportunity to do more enhanced enforcement and I’m a firm believer that it’s only going to take maybe a few examples of dropping some heavy fines for people to wake up and start getting realistic about what’s going on here,” Hundal said. The former Mountie would also like the attitude about holding each other accountable to change. “This isn’t necessarily snitching on your neighbours. It’s actual community health primarily and it’s been about community health from the beginning and certainly if people are

not prepared to do the right thing, there needs to be a level of intervention into that,” Hundal said. The Fraser Health region reported 484 infections, accounting for 68 per cent of all the new cases Tuesday. Dr. Bonnie Henry has said the virus is spreading at private gatherings like weddings and funerals and that the South Asian community has been disproportionately impacted. Hundial says he believes officials may have to make an example of rule breakers in order for them to take the situation seriously. The councillor also wants community leaders to set a better example, pointing out that two elected officials in Surrey have already been spotted not following the rules. Hundal says mask compliance in the city is also an issue with many still going bare faced in public spaces.

BC enters most complex phase of pandemic with new orders toughest to enforce B.C. is in a new and complex phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, one in which transmission of the virus is primarily in private settings where public health measures are difficult to enforce. In this phase, health officials’ “soft-hands” approach – prioritizing education over enforcement – appears to have little impact. The province and local governments have so far been focused on public health messaging, rather than fines for breaking the rules. Unfortunately, that messaging is often contradictory and has left people feeling confused, even after hearing from the premier and the provincial health officer. Now, one expert believes that the people who haven’t listened to public health messaging up to this point, never will. “I think the idea of saturation is helpful here,” said University of Alberta professor and public health sociologist Amy Kaler. “There’s nothing wrong with the message. There’s nothing wrong with letting people know, ‘This is what you can do to reduce your risk,’ and to also be a good citizen and help protect other people. That’s all good stuff, but that has a ceiling on it in terms of the amount of behaviour change that it will produce … Messaging is no longer enough.” She believes it’s time for European- or Australian-style “circuit breakers”: temporary but strict, fixed-term lockdowns intended to clamp down on virus-spreading opportunities, whether they be at businesses or schools. B.C. health officials have found social gatherings at private homes to be a major issue in transmission here, so much so that they’ve ordered people not to have any visitors from outside their households in the Vancouver

Coastal Health and Fraser Health authorities. “It really is about looking at your household and the connections that you have and reducing those social connections where we have larger groups of people,” said provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry on Nov. 7, urging people to keep to their immediate family only. Her announcement prompted some confusion, and she later had to elaborate and clarify certain details, like allowances for those who live alone. On Wednesday, the premier didn’t help matters when he referenced months-old advice rather than the latest health orders. “We need to reduce the interactions we have with people that we don’t know and we need to make sure we keep our bubble tight,” said John Horgan, even though Henry had emphasized that friends and family and other close contacts, rather than strangers, are the primary sources of transmission right now. That also makes it a challenging situation for bylaw officers and police responding to reports of public health order infractions. In the City of Vancouver, police have issued just two COVID-19-related tickets since August, preferring an educational approach. Despite this, so far this month, the city has received 212 reports of gatherings of more than 50 people or house parties. “The city asks residents and businesses to report all complaints and concerns via VanConnect or by calling 3-1-1,” said a city spokesperson in an email.

Property tax hike plus a special levy: Here’s a quick look at Surrey’s proposed budget Released Monday, the City of Surrey’s proposed budget shows how much more property owners may be asked to pay in 2021. Despite the financial challenges many faced due to COVID-19 this year, the city is suggesting property owners pay more in property taxes in the new year, and on top of the hike, they may pay an extra $200. The city faced its own challenges because of the pandemic, a news release outlining the proposal says. The plan suggests extra charges to property owners would help it achieve a fully balanced budget. City staff suggest homeowners pay 2.9 per cent more on property taxes in the coming year – the same increase as in 2020 and 2019. Additionally, the city suggests residents pay a capital parcel tax increase of $200. A parcel tax is a flat rate charged to all properties where residents are receiving or have the opportunity to receive a specific service. This money would be earmarked for

projects including the new and upgraded sports and recreation centres, as well as improvements to local parks. In the statement from the city, Mayor Doug McCallum acknowledges the economic hit his taxpayers took, and says council “recognizes the importance of not increasing the burden to our taxpayers.” But, he went on, the pandemic will come to an end. He said the 2021 proposal would put the city “on a steady and stable course.” Earlier this month, city councillors in Vancouver were presented with possibilities for their 2021 budget. Staff said it would take a property tax hike of 12 per cent to fully balance the budget, a measure obviously not under consideration. Instead, the options presented to council were increases of three, 4.3 and five per cent. Around that time, the city was dealt another blow.

Premier Horgan says BC legislature will return in early December BC Provincial politicians will be back to work in the coming days. Premier John Horgan announced Tuesday during a provincial address that the B.C. legislature will return on Dec. 7. He also said his cabinet will be sworn in on Nov. 26, with members of the legislature will take part in a swearing-in ceremony. “We will do that largely virtually,

but there are opposition members on the Island, there are government members on the Island, so we will have a contingent of people in the legislature doing the business of the people,” he said. The B.C. NDP won a majority after Horgan called a snap election earlier this year.

Shoppers Drug Mart, Superstore, and more Metro Vancouver grocery store employees test positive for COVID-19 Several more staff members at major grocery and drugstore chains operating in Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley have tested positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Loblaw Companies Ltd, the parent company of retailers Shoppers Drug Mart and Real Canadian Superstore provided updates to its COVID-19 employee case listings on Nov. 19. The following stores are newly affected: Real Canadian Superstore, 8195 Scott Rd, Delta: The last day the two infected team members worked were on Nov. 6 and Nov.11, respectively. Shoppers Drug Mart, 4326 Dunbar Street, Vancouver: The last day the team member worked was on Nov. 12. Shoppers Drug Mart, 20151 Fraser Hwy, Langley: The last day the team member worked was on Nov. 13.

Loblaw says they share updates about testpositive COVID cases in their stores in order to maintain transparency. Its last test-positive team member case in B.C. was reported on Nov. 17. Sobeys, Inc, the parent company of grocery stores Safeway, Thrifty’s, and FreshCo, is another major retailer operating in British Columbia that uses a public online tracker to post employee coronavirus test-positive cases. On Nov. 18, Sobeys, Inc indicated an employee at one of their franchise stores was newly-confirmed as being infected. The following store is affected: FreshCo, 7450 120 Street, Surrey: The last day the employee worked was November 14. “Out of respect for our teammates and their confidentiality, we will never release any personal information about our people. We will always do everything we can to support our teammates and ensure their safety,” says Sobeys.

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Provinc-wide social gathering ban plus masks From page 1 included under the new rules such as grocery stores, shopping malls, and restaurants when not eating or drinking. She noted again that the recent spike in transmission has not been between workers and the public, but between workers themselves in places like break rooms and car pools. “This is one of those things we did very reluctantly. But right now, I have concern we have transmission happening even if it’s with the seemingly appropriate measures in place. This is a measure I feel is important now.� The province also extended the Nov 7. ban on social gatherings in the Fraser Health and Vancouver Coastal Health regions to December, and expanded it to the entire province.

Vancouver City approves planning for road tolls into downtown & Central Broadway Fry says a lot of work lies ahead to address issues related to equity, economy and resilience. “To be sure, there will be a lot of consultation on transport pricing� Fry says in his post. He says by the time the plan is implemented in 2025, other North American cities will have similar strategies that “will make this seem less scary.�

Nigerians are leading global asylum claims to Canada From page 1 But while those figures are based on people who moved to Canada through its skilled workers immigration program, Nigerians are also taking other paths to move to the North American country. In fact, Nigeria is set to end 2020 with the highest number of finalized asylum claims (i.e claims that were either accepted, rejected, abandoned, or withdrawn) to Canada for the fourth straight year. Nigeria overtook China as the country with the highest claims back in 2016. Nigeria’s hold on the top spot is despite a major slowdown in asylum claim rates given global travel restrictions in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. In fact, Canada has seen a 71% drop in finalized asylum claims so far in 2020 Canada’s “open doors� While Canada’s skill-based immigration program offers immediate residency permits and a long-term pathway to citizenship, the country’s perceived openness to immigrants, particularly relative to the US in recent years, means it has also become subject to rising asylum claims as well.

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Workers and employers of B.C. are doing their part. Make sure you update and follow your COVID-19 safety plan as conditions change. Help keep workers safe and keep businesses open. Find resources at worksafebc.com #LetsDoOurPartBC

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Audit demanded after more than 800,000 ineligible people get CERB A Conservative MP says Canada Revenue Agency has some explaining to do after more than 800,000 ineligible people got Canada emergency response benefit cheques. CRA’s own records — filed in an inquiry of ministry tabled in the House of Commons — show 823,850 people who didn’t file a tax return in the past year received $2,000 monthly CERB cheques at a cost to taxpayers of nearly $1.7 billion, according to Blacklock’s Reporter. “I find it remarkable,” Conservative MP Kelly McCauley said. “This is a huge amount. People were losing their homes and really needed help, but

claims were made by others who were either ineligible or didn’t really need it. I want the government to do a proper, transparent audit of this. We just owe it to taxpayers.” The federal government approved paying CERB to unemployed tax filers who made at least $5,000 in 2019. The CRA didn’t explain how non-tax filers could have claimed the benefit. The CERB program was first budgeted at $24 billion, but by the time it expired Oct. 3, payments exceeded $81 billion. More than 14,000 people in the top income tax bracket — earning $210,371 or more in 2019 — filed for CERB, saying they were without income.

Saturday, November 21, 2020

Horgan still “targeting Christmas” for $1,000 payout to British Columbians After BC Premier John Horgan recently said that he couldn’t “guarantee” that British Columbians would receive the $1,000 COVIDrelief payout promised during his election campaign, Horgan changed his tune this week, saying he is “still targeting Christmas” for the payout. The party has promised a one-time $1,000 payment to families with an annual household income below $125,000 – with a sliding scale up to $175,000, or a $500 direct deposit to single people earning less than $62,000 annually – with a sliding scale up to $87,000. Horgan made the comments during a press conference, in which he announced that the BC legislature would resume on December 7, with the payout at the forefront of the discussion. “We need to appropriate the resources to distribute the money…and then it’s up to the ministry of finance to distribute those, based on

the criteria that was laid out during the campaign, and will, of course, be laid out in any legislation that we bring forward,” he said. “Then, we’ll distribute those dollars by direct deposit is the intention.” Horgan said he’s “pretty confident that should we get through the legislative session quickly in a week or so, we’ll be able to get those deposits done shortly thereafter.” And while he’s “targeting Christmas of course,” Horgan said he believes that “at this extraordinary time, British Columbians will be happy to have access to $1000 bucks for their family, or $500 for individuals whether it comes on December 24, or it comes on the 5th of January.”According to the NDP, the one-time payment is meant to help “ease the financial impact of COVID-19 for people in British Columbia who have been hit the hardest.”

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LOCAL / NATIONAL

Saturday, November 21, 2020

Tories push Liberals to decide 5G, Huawei amid China imprisonment of Kovrig, Spavor Chinese telecom giant Huawei rose to dominance by stealing the technology of the defunct Canadian firm Nortel, Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole says. O’Toole levelled the industrial-espionage charge against Huawei and the Chinese Communist Party on Tuesday as he announced that the Conservatives are pushing the Liberals to decide within 30 days which companies can provide Canada’s nextgeneration 5G wireless internet technology. “The rise of Huawei was itself facilitated by years of industrial espionage conducted by China against Nortel,” O’Toole told a press conference on Parliament Hill. “Intellectual-property theft, counterfeiting and digital piracy are not exceptions to our dealings with China. They are the reality, and it’s high time our government

and many corporate leaders realize that,” the Conservative leader added. “We may have lost Nortel to Huawei … but we can and must learn from it. Because if we don’t, we have to accept that another company will be next.” “The rise of Huawei was itself facilitated by years of industrial espionage conducted by China against Nortel,” O’Toole told a press conference on Parliament Hill. “Intellectual-property theft, counterfeiting and digital piracy are not exceptions to our dealings with China. They are the reality, and it’s high time our government and many corporate leaders realize that,” the Conservative leader added. “We may have lost Nortel to Huawei … but we can and must learn from it. Because if we don’t, we have to accept that another company will be next.” Nortel Networks Corp., a once mighty Canadian telecom giant, filed for bankruptcy in 2009, becoming one of the country’s most spectacular business failures. Two years later, Nortel executed the biggest patent sale in history, raising billions in cash, when it auctioned off 6,000 patents to a consortium that included Apple and Microsoft.

Saturday, November 21, 2020

Canada still in ‘incredibly serious’ situation with COVID-19, Trudeau says Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the military could play an integral part in rolling out COVID-19 vaccines across the country, though question marks remain around cost and distribution. As case counts continue to climb at an alarming pace, the Canadian Armed Forces are already helping the Public Health Agency of Canada hammer out a support plan for vaccine rollout and set up a national operation centre to oversee broader delivery. “Obviously, getting those vaccines from an airport tarmac or a port to Canadians right across the country is a significant logistical challenge,” Trudeau said Tuesday in Ottawa.

“That will involve multiple government agencies, possibly private contracts as well. It may well involve the Canadian Armed Forces.” The remarks line up with those from Maj.Gen. Trevor Cadieu, who heads the military’s strategic joint staff. He told the House of Commons national defence committee Monday the Forces “expect a potential request” for assistance with vaccine distribution. Uncertainty remains around other logistical details. “It’s a bit of a moving target,” Dr. Howard Njoo, deputy chief public health officer, said Tuesday of the number of doses bound for Canadian shores.

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LOCAL

Saturday, November 21, 2020 COVID-19 mortality rate higher in neighbourhoods with more visible minorities: StatsCan Residents of communities home to more visible minorities had a higher likelihood of dying from COVID-19 in Canada’s three largest provinces, according to Statistics Canada, in a trend health experts say underscores the need for provinces such as B.C. and Quebec to improve their data collection on race and mortality. A report issued by StatsCan late last month looking into COVID-19 mortality rates in “ethno-cultural neighbourhoods” found communities in B.C. that were home to more than 25 per cent visible minorities had an ageadjusted COVID-19 mortality rate that was 10 times higher than neighbourhoods that were less than one per cent visible minority. In Ontario and Quebec, neighbourhoods with large visible minority populations had ageadjusted mortality rates three times higher than

the general public. That COVID-19 deaths in B.C.’s ethno-cultural neighbourhoods are ten times higher than comparable rates for Canada’s broader population could be partially linked to a lower general death rate in the province. As of Monday, 299 people with the virus had died in B.C., out of more than 11,000 deaths across Canada. The Statistics Canada analysis was compiled when B.C. had fewer than 200 coronavirus deaths. But the analysis is part of a growing body of literature showing that visible minority communities in Canada have been hit harder by the virus than the general population. Dr. Andrew Boozary, the executive director of Social Medicine and Population Health at the University Health Network in Toronto, said it’s important to have specific, reliable data so affected populations can be protected.

HAPPY

BC’s public school teachers are proud to join in the celebration of Diwali. We are all enriched when we share our cultural traditions.

A message from the Surrey Teachers’ Association

13

14

LOCAL

Saturday, November 21, 2020 Surrey ‘ground zero’ for COVID-19, but has seen less than half of B.C. deaths: Dix Surrey is “ground zero” for COVID-19 in B.C. That’s what Health Minister Adrian Dix told a virtual business crowd this week during a Surrey Board of Trade-hosted digital townhall Tuesday with Dix and Victoria Lee, Fraser Health President and CEO. Dix said that of the province’s more than 6,000 active cases on Tuesday, roughly 75 per cent were in the Fraser Health region “with the largest share of those in Surrey.” According to new region-by-region statistics released by the BC Centre for Disease Control, the Surrey health region is responsible for at least 27.7 per cent of the province’s total COVID-19 cases while being home to only 11 per cent of the B.C.’s population. The most recent map, created Nov. 10, shows that 3,993 cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in Surrey from January to October, dwarfing surrounding municipalities. Surrey has more than four times the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Abbotsford (880). Surrey also has more cases than Vancouver (3,444), when all Vancouver health regions are combined.

However, Dix said the disproportionate infection rate in Surrey doesn’t hold true when considering B.C.’s COVID-19-related deaths. “It should be said that if you look at overall people who passed away from COVID-19, Fraser Health is not leading the province,” he said Tuesday. “Under half of the people who passed away from COVID-19 live in the Fraser Health region which indicates two things: I think, the excellent performance of the authority, but also the fact that in general Fraser Health is younger than other health authorities… and in Surrey.” With rising rates of infection in B.C’s largest school district and beyond, Dix was asked what the threshold would be to close schools again. The health minister said “there is no number” and that it’s his government’s “strong intention to keep schools open” as “there’s not a lot of transmission in schools.” Instead, he said, community transmission must be reduced. Lee echoed that schools aren’t seeing high levels of transmission.

LOCAL / NATIONAL

Saturday, November 21, 2020

Plan unveiled to make Vancouver first jurisdiction in Canada to decriminalize drug possession Vancouver Mayor Kennedy Stewart has announced a plan to decriminalize simple possession of drugs in the city through a federal health exemption. If approved by the federal government, Vancouver would be the first Canadian jurisdiction to do so. Click to play video ‘Highlights from Dr. Bonnie Henry’s one-onone on B.C.’s deadly overdose crisis’ 4:33 Highlights from Dr. Bonnie Henry’s one-on-one on B.C.’s deadly overdose crisis Highlights from Dr. Bonnie Henry’s one-onone on B.C.’s deadly overdose crisis – Sep 30, 2020 “Personal possession and use of drugs is not a criminal justice issue, it is a health issue,� Stewart said in a statement. “It is time to end the stigma around substance use, help connect more of our

neighbours to health care, and save lives.� With 328 overdose-related death in the city this year, Stewart said 2020 is on track to be the worst year yet for overdoses and a new approach is needed. The move is backed by B.C. Premier John Horgan, provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry, and Vancouver Coastal Health chief medical health officer Dr. Patricia Daly. Earlier this year, the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police called for the decriminalization of simple possession of illicit drugs. If passed by council, Stewart’s motion would direct the City to write to federal officials to request an exemption from the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act to decriminalize personal possession of illicit substances within city boundaries for medical purposes.

Abbotsford care home now has 101 COVID-19 cases He said the outbreak is hitting everyone hard. “This is a sad reality for many and we know and feel the weight of this deeply, just as we know you do as well,� Levitt said in his update. Levitt said that Tabor Home is maintaining a “robust staffing roster� with full-time, part-time and casual workers. “An essential services staff plan was implemented at the beginning of the outbreak to outsource additional health-care workers from Fraser Health, staffing agencies and post-secondary institutions’ health-care programs,� he said. “Most importantly, Tabor Village is blessed with health-care workers who are going out of their way to be in the middle of the outbreak to support their colleagues, to ensure the work gets done, that safety measures are in place and that care from the heart continues.�

Tabor Home in Abbotsford now has total of 101 staff and residents who have tested positive for COVID-19. The latest update, sent out to families on Monday afternoon (Nov. 16), indicates that 42 staff members and 59 residents – exactly half of the 118 people who reside there – have now tested positive. The long-term-care facility is owned and operated by Tabor Village, whose executive director is Dan Levitt. “Many staff who tested positive for the virus were in shock as they experienced no symptoms,� Levitt said in the update. “It is our belief that many of these positive cases are individuals who already had the virus within them, but didn’t display symptoms or show on their test until later.�

15

Virtual Mediations – What to Expect Cathy Rizzo, Lawyer Simpson, Thomas & Associates

M

ediation can be a great option for resolving your ICBC claim. The goal of mediation is to bring the parties together— including an ICBC representative— to discuss the issues and try to reach settlement, with the guidance of a neutral mediator. Traditionally, “bringing the parties together� meant that everyone was physically in the same room. The technology for virtual mediation has existed for some time, but many ICBC claim lawyers were concerned that the mediation process would lose its effectiveness if not done face-to-face. The COVID-19 pandemic forced parties to embrace the use of technology and may have forever changed the way personal injury claims are handled. Increased used of virtual mediation Our experienced ICBC claim lawyers have been using virtual mediations on an increasing number of personal injury claims throughout the year and we have been impressed with the results. Online mediation works and can be just as effective as traditional mediation. In fact, the way mediations run may be forever changed, as online mediation offers some great benefits. For example, online mediation can be less intimidating, allowing an accident victim to do the

mediation in the comfort of their own home with loved ones close by, rather than having to go to an unfamiliar office and sit face-to-face strangers dressed in suits. What to expect in a virtual mediation Here are some key parts of the virtual mediation process: t&BDI QBSUZ QSFQBSFT BOE FYDIBOHFT a mediation brief via e-mail before the mediation date, so that facts, issues, and positions are known in advance. t" TFDVSF POMJOF QMBUGPSN TVDI BT Zoom is used to conduct the virtual mediation session. The meeting can be locked to ensure privacy and prevent someone else from unexpectedly joining. t1BSUT PG UIF NFEJBUJPO JODMVEJOH UIF opening session, will be done with all parties and the mediator in the same virtual “room.� Parties and their legal counsel can then have private, confidential discussions in separate breakout “rooms� as needed, which the mediator can join and “shuttle� between. t%PDVNFOUT DBO CF TIBSFE BOE FEJUFE in real time using screen sharing. If settlement is reached, Minutes of Settlement can be circulated and signed remotely. Do you have questions about mediating your ICBC claim? Surrey / Delta, Vancouver, Burnaby and Abbotsford office appointments are available, as are virtual appointments over Zoom, if you have questions about virtual mediation of your personal injury lawsuit. Simpson, Thomas & Associates has considerable experience handling all types of ICBC claims. Call us on 604-689-8888 to set up your free legal consultation, or schedule online at simpsonthomas.com/contact.

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View! View! Truly delightful 3 storey 4200 SF home sits on over 6200 SF lot in Royal Heights.House has spacious 8 bedrooms & 7 bath,lots of Parking,1 year old hot water tank & brand new washer & dryer.House has 3 basement suites (2 bed+1 bed+ 1 bed.)for mortgage help.Stunning view of New Westminister downtown,Fraser River,mountains & much more.Easy access to Alex Fraser & Pottullo Bridges.Priced to sell.A must see.Call now.

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16

Saturday, November 21, 2020

Saturday, November 21, 2020

17

18

Saturday, November 21, 2020

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Christmas

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19

Saturday, November 21, 2020

More than 100 cases at Tabor Home in Abbotsford, as BC continues to break grim records Here’s your daily update with everything you need to know on the novel coronavirus situation in B.C. for Nov. 19, 2020. We’ll provide summaries of what’s going on in B.C. right here so you can get the latest news at a glance. This page will be updated regularly throughout the day, with developments added as they happen. B.C.’s Covid-19 case numbers As of the latest figures given on Nov. 18: t 5PUBM OVNCFS PG DPOĕSNFE DBTFT BDUJWF t /FX DBTFT TJODF /PW t )PTQJUBMJ[FE DBTFT t *OUFOTJWF DBSF t $07*% SFMBUFE EFBUIT OFX

t $BTFT VOEFS QVCMJD IFBMUI NPOJUPSJOH t 3FDPWFSFE t -POH UFSN care and assisted-living homes, and acute care facilities currently affected: 55 The Vancouver Tenants Union is calling on Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.’s provincial health officer, to advocate to the provincial government for an immediate reinstatement of the eviction ban because of the surge in COVID-19 cases. The union says it has sent a letter to the ministries of health and municipal affairs and housing, but no one has acknowledged the receipt of the letter. “With the health orders now in place indicating that social gatherings are unsafe, you have to wonder how safe it is to lose your home,� said VTU spokesperson Mazdak Gharibnavaz. “Renters’ homes are their first line of defense when it comes to preventing sickness. Dr. Henry must be asked if she believes it is currently safe for renters to lose their homes, and if it’s not, will she commit to advocating to the provincial government for an immediate reinstatement of the eviction ban.� According to the union,

about 15 per cent of rental households have not paid full rent during the pandemic and are shouldering the burden of rent debt. Many of these households have been evicted or are at high risk of eviction due to the rent hikes that have been enforced by the government under its sanctioned repayment plan, the union added. Health officials say there are more than 100 cases of COVID-19 at Tabor Home in Abbotsford, in the largest outbreak at a long-term care centre in the Fraser Health region since the pandemic hit B.C. in March. Fraser Health declared the outbreak on Nov. 6, saying that two staff members and two residents had tested positive for the virus. Tabor Home is a long term care facility in Abbotsford that is owned and operated by Tabor Village. It has 118 long term care beds. In a note to family and friends Monday, Tabor Village said that 42 staff and 59 residents had tested positive for the virus. “Many staff who tested positive for the virus were in shock as they experienced no symptoms,� the note said. “It is our belief that many of these positive cases are individuals who already had the virus within them, but didn’t display symptoms or show on their test until later.� 8:30 a.m. – More pandemic protection needed for B.C. seniors as second COVID-19 wave hits: report An organization representing seniors-care providers in British Columbia has released new recommendations as a second wave of COVID-19 descends on the province. The B.C. Care Providers Association, which speaks for long-term care, assisted living, independent living and home health operators, has issued a report examining the response to seniors care during the pandemic.

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20

INDIA

Saturday, November 21, 2020

Modern-day India is counted as success story despite armed separatist movements, corruption: Obama Former US President Barack Obama has said that modern-day India can be counted as a success story in many respects, despite bitter feuds within political parties, various armed separatist movements, and corruption scandals. The 44th US president, in his latest book, says the transition to a

Indian Navy receives first of four P-8Is submarine killers India’s navy received its ninth P-8i surveillance aircraft on Wednesday, manufacturer Boeing Co. reported.The plane is the first delivered under an option contract, signed in 2016, for four additional aircraft, the remaining three of which are expected to arrive in 2021. The Indian navy was the first international customer to receive the plane, in 2013. The P-8i is modified from the Boeing 737-800ERX passenger plane and built originally for the U.S. Navy. It is used in anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare and shipping interdiction roles. Armed with torpedoes, Harpoon antiship missiles and other weapons, it can drop and monitor sonobuoys, and can operate in combination with Northrop Grumman’s MQ-4C Triton maritime surveillance drone.

more market-based economy in the 1990s unleashed the extraordinary entrepreneurial talents of Indians, leading to soaring growth rates, a thriving technology sector, and a steadily expanding middle class. In his book “A Promised Land”, Obama

Bangladesh cricketer Shakib threatened over Hindu ceremony Bangladesh cricketer Shakib Al Hasan has been forced to make a public apology after receiving Islamist threats for attending a Hindu ceremony in neighbouring India. The leading all-rounder is the latest target of increasingly vocal Islamists who have also staged huge anti-France rallies in recent weeks over the publication of cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed. Shakib, who has recently completed a year’s ban for failing to report corrupt approaches, set off a social media storm in the Muslim-majority country after attending a ceremony in Kolkata dedicated to a Hindu goddess. Islamic preachers in Bangladesh say people should not attend the ceremonies of other faiths. “I was on the stage for barely two minutes. People are talking about this and thought I inaugurated it,” Shakib told an online forum

Statement on the 22nd Commemoration of the assassination of newspaper editor & publisher Tara Singh Hayer Tara Singh Hayer (Nov. 15, 1936 – November 18, 1998) was an Indo-Canadian Times newspaper editor & publisher, who was assassinated in Surrey Canada on November 18, 1998 after reporting about terrorism, he was recognized with hundreds local, provincial, national and international awards. Some of those awards include: The Order of British Columbia, the Journalist Award by the Municipality of Surrey for courageous and outstanding contribution to Punjabi Journalism in Canada, the Commemorative Medal for the 125th Anniversary of Canada, the International Award of Distinction for Journalism from the International Association of Punjabi Authors and Artists, a Certificate of Appreciation from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). In 1999, Canadian Journalists for Free Expression renamed its Press Freedom Award the “Tara Singh Hayer Press Freedom Award” in Hayer’s honour. Each year, the award is given to a Canadian journalist who, through his or her work, has made an important contribution to reinforcing and promoting the principle of freedom of the press in Canada or elsewhere. In 2000 Tara Singh Hayer’s name was added to the Canadian News Hall of Fame. Tara Singh Hayer was the first Canadian of non-English, non-French origin to be added to the Hall, In 2000, Hayer was also selected as one of the International Press Institute’s 50 World Press Freedom Heroes of the past 50 years. One of the presenters of the Award for Late Tara Singh Hayer as “World Press Freedom Hero” in May 2000 was USA Senator Ted Kennedy in Boston, USA and Award was accepted by Dave Hayer & Isabelle Martinez Hayer on behalf of the Hayer family. On Wednesday, November 18th we commemorate Tara Singh Hayer, my father’s message of freedom of expression and freedom of speech, his message against hate, violence, extremism and terrorism. My father’s life was devoted to democracy, freedom of speech, and freedom of the press to speak out against those who try to prevent those freedoms, the right that we in Canadian society hold so precious, to live and speak without fear. He believed in leading by example, and even though he knew he was putting his life in danger, he had the courage to not only speak out about his own beliefs but also speak out for victims and the innocent. My father believed that it was not right to remain quiet while some individuals worked against our

writes on his journey from the 2008 election campaign to the end of his first term with the daring Abbottabad (Pakistan) raid that killed al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden. “A Promised Land” is the first of two planned volumes. The

freedoms, because then they would win … and we must never let those who promote hatred, extremism, violence and terrorism succeed. Fear is what drives terrorism around the world, but we must stand united against that, and fight back peacefully as my father did through his newspaper and through his words. And we must have the courage, as he did, to keep talking about, and keep fighting for our freedoms and our rights. As a result of my father’s teachings, and his example of standing up for others, I and all of my family will continue the fight for the rights of victims, for the rights of families of victims & for the rights of all law-abiding Canadians. We will continue to do all we can to ensure that the rights of victims, and our rights as lawabiding Canadian Citizen’s, are stronger than the rights of those who commit crimes against us. All of us must work long and hard to ensure that Canadian Laws protect the rights of victims, rights of the victims’ families and the rights of all innocent individuals The rights of all law-abiding Canadians must be stronger than the rights of those who commit criminal acts. Our justice system must recognize that. Too often our courts and judges allow the rights of criminals to triumph, to supersede the rights of innocent victims, and as a result there is little redress or closure for the victims. We must, as my father often said, and our community members tell me, close the revolving door of our courts that allow criminals to essentially walk free, while victims and their families continue to suffer, grieve and be held hostage to the “rights” of the criminal. I would like everyone to remember my father as a voice for freedom, democracy and for the courage that supported him to speak out against the terrorism that resulted in the deaths of 331 innocent people, over 268 Canadians & 86 children were killed in Air India bombings. I would like everyone to remember that only by speaking out, by being strong and unafraid of threats can we win the fight against terrorism, hatred and violence. We all need to work together. We all need to be united in achieving those goals. Only then we will be truly free, and truly able to live in a society where our rights are equal. Dave S. Hayer on behalf of Tara Singh Hayer’s family and relatives. Cell: 604 833 4000 E: Daveshayer@gmail.com

late Monday. “I did not do this and being a conscious Muslim I would not do this. But, maybe, I should not have gone there. I am sorry for this and apologise,” he said. “As a practising Muslim I always try to follow religious customs. Please forgive me if I have done anything wrong,” he added. Shakib spoke hours after a man made personal threats against him on a Facebook live forum, accusing him of “hurting religious sentiment”. The man later apologised and went into hiding, but he was arrested in the northeastern district of Sunamganj on Tuesday. Shakib, currently the International Cricket Council’s top-ranked all-rounder in one-day internationals, was found in October 2019 to have breached the ICC anti-corruption code and was banned for two years, with one year suspended.

first part hit bookstores globally on Tuesday. In many respects, modern-day India is counted as a success story, having survived repeated changeovers in government, bitter feuds within political parties, various armed separatist movements, and all manner of corruption scandals, Obama writes. As the chief architect

Why India chose to stay out of Asia’s mega free trade pact Indian business community felt it would be swamped by imports with low duties, which it would not be able to compete with. The govt decided that it cannot afford to take the chance What happened with the Regional Economic Cooperation Agreement (RCEP)? Last year, in November, when heads of state of 16 nations (10 ASEAN+6) met at Bangkok to conclude the discussions on RCEP, the expectation about the formation of the regional trade bloc was at its peak. It got punctured to quite an extent when Prime Minister Narendra Modi decided to withdraw from the commitment to sign the RCEP agreement a year later in 2020. Modi made the announcement hours before the leaders were to go on stage to affirm they had concluded the negotiations that had been on since November 2011.

Terrorism biggest global problem & Countries supporting terrorists need to be held accountable - Modi Asserting that terrorism is the “biggest problem” the world is facing, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said there was a need to ensure that countries supporting and assisting terrorists are held guilty, in an oblique reference to Pakistan. Modi made the comments at the 12th BRICS summit, held virtually, as the five-nation grouping

is looking at adopting a new counter-terrorism strategy to effectively deal with the menace. The summit, hosted by Russian President Vladimir Putin, was also attended by Chinese President Xi Jinping, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.

US President elect Joe Biden spoke with Trump allies Netanyahu & Modi US President-elect Joe Biden on Tuesday held his first talks since his victory with the prime ministers of Israel and India, allies of Donald Trump who has not conceded defeat. Biden told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who had a notoriously rocky relationship with the last Democratic president, Barack Obama, that he was determined “to ensure that the USIsrael relationship is strengthened and enjoys strong bipartisan support.” Biden “reiterated his steadfast support for Israel’s security and its future as a Jewish and democratic state,” the president-elect’s office said in a statement. The office of Netanyahu, who had vigorously challenged the 2009-2017 Obama-Biden administration over its diplomacy with Iran

and push for Palestinian rights, said he had a “warm” conversation with the president-elect. Biden also spoke to President Reuven Rivlin, whose position is largely ceremonial. “I said that as an old friend of Israel he knows our friendship is based on values beyond partisan politics,” Rivlin wrote on Twitter. Biden separately voiced optimism about working with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who had heaped praise on Trump in two giant joint rallies in Texas and Gujarat. India enjoys support across party lines in Washington but Democratic lawmakers have increasingly voiced concern about human rights under the Hindu nationalist Modi.

Delhi policewoman promoted for tracing 76 missing kids in last 3 months Delhi Police head constable Seema Dhaka, 33, did not take a single day off for almost three months she worked to trace and reunite 76 missing children with their families. She would go home for two-three hours on most days and even if she got a clue about a child in the middle of the night, Dhaka would leave to follow it up at that hour. Dhaka, who is now an assistant sub-inspector, was on Wednesday awarded for her feat with an outof-turn promotion under a new initiative that promises quick promotions for constables and head constables for tracing missing children. Dhaka said some of the children have developed a special bond with her and a few of them wept when she handed them over to their families. “There were these two children whom I traced. While accompanying them to their homes in West Bengal, they developed

a special bond with me during the train journey. They were crying when it was time for me to leave them with their parents,” said Dhaka. Being a mother, it was easier for her to bond with the children. “I have an eightyear-old son. I could feel what the children felt on being separated from their parents, what the parents felt on losing their children. That motivated me to work harder,” said Dhaka. She said a child she helped reunite with his family in Bengal after travelling on two separate boats in flood-hit areas in October did not want to go back to his stepfather. “The boy said that his stepfather was abusive. I had to ensure that the mother knew of it and that she would take care of the boy after I was gone. I ensured that the boy and the parents were counselled,” said Dhaka.

FIJI

Saturday, November 21, 2020

Punjab Capt Amarinder to launch scheme to empower persons with disabilities In a bid to empower Persons with Disabilities (PwDs), the Punjab Cabinet on Wednesday okayed a new scheme – Punjab Divyangjan Shaktikaran Yojna (PDSY), to be implemented in a phased manner across the state. The first phase of the scheme will involve strengthening the existing programmes to ensure that their benefits reach the

persons with disabilities in a more effective manner, while in the second phase, 13 new interventions are proposed to be undertaken for the empowerment of such persons. A decision to this effect was taken in a virtual Cabinet meeting chaired by the Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh here this afternoon.

Sikh community in US sees slight decrease in hate crimes: Advocacy Sikhs in the US experienced a slight decrease in the number of hate crimes last year, a leading community advocacy organisation has said, citing an FBI report which showed that 2019 was the deadliest year on record with the highest number of hate crime murders since 1991. The South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT), a not-for-profit organisation, cited a report of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and said that the Sikh community in the US saw a slight decrease in the number of reported anti-Sikh incidents in 2019,

after a record 200 per cent increase in 2018. While crimes motivated by antiMuslim sentiment decreased, with 176 reported, overall hate crime incidents targeting Muslims and those perceived as Muslims has been up since 2015, it said. Since November 2015, SAALT and its partners have tracked 348 incidents of xenophobic or Islamophobic rhetoric, and 733 incidents of hate violence targeting Muslims and Asian Americans, and those perceived as Muslim or Asian American.

Amarinder reaches out to US corporate sector for investments Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has reached out to the US corporate sector for investments, highlighting the industryand investor-friendly policies of the state. Addressing a virtual USA-Punjab Investors’ Roundtable 2020 on Tuesday, he said that after months of lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Punjab’s economy is coming back

on track, the industry is back on its feet and migrant labourers have started returning. Punjab’s industries have opened up again, Singh said, adding that his government offers industry-friendly and investor-friendly policies. Inviting the investors to enjoy the state’s unique business-friendly culture that promoted entrepreneurship, Singh said that the US is the top export destination for companies from Punjab.

Pakistan Imran Khan’s Chinese game plan for Gilgit-Baltistan explained Prime Minister Imran Khan’s political party Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) has claimed victory in recent elections for Gilgit-Baltistan’ Legislative Assembly. This result is in line with the tradition that Federal ruling party claims victory in northern areas Gilgit-Baltistan. What sets Prime Minister Imran Khan’s ruling PTI party’s victory apart is that it has come at a time when Pakistan is nearing

its plan to permanently alter the status of Gilgit-Baltistan. India slammed Pakistan saying any action to alter the status of GilgitBaltistan by Islamabad has no legal basis. The current election has been held at the time when Pakistan is moving towards declaring Gilgit-Baltistan as its fifth province. The announcement was made by PM Imran Khan’s govt in September this year.

Saudi Arabia is pressuring Pakistan to recognize Israel - report A journalist Mubasher Lucman believes that Saudi Arabia is one of the countries pressuring Islamabad into recognizing Israel, he said in an interview with i24 News. Lucman’s statement follows Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan’s statement that Islamabad has been placed “under pressure” by the United States, and other unnamed countries, to recognize Israel. “I have no doubt that in my analysis that the other country he is talking about is Saudi Arabia, and no one else,” Lucman

told the i24 presenter. “There are only four countries that could have said this: One is the United States, second is Israel, third is India and fourth is Saudi Arabia. There is no fifth country that has that kind of influence over [Pakistan].” Pakistan is not “on talking terms with Israel – officially at least. And [Pakistan] does not get along with Indians, so it’s very simple,” he added. Lucman further notes the complex geopolitical situation of the region, as well as its evolution over the years –

Founder of hardline Islamist party dies at 54 The founder of influential Islamist party created to protest any reforms to the country’s ultra-conservative blasphemy laws died Thursday, days after leading demonstrations against France, an official said. Khadim

Hussain Rizvi, 54, who had led Tehreek-eLabbaik Pakistan (TLP) since its creation in 2015, died in hospital in the eastern city of Lahore after “suffering from a fever”, TLP spokesman Pir Ijaz Ashrafi said.

Abu Dhabi puts the squeeze on Imran Khan, Pakistanis in UAE feel the heat Relations between Pakistan and the UAE appear to be on a sharp downward spiral in recent weeks, particularly after Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan was critical of the UAE’s formalisation of its relationship with Israel, people familiar with the matter said on condition of anonymity. This has manifested itself not just in the arrest

of pro-Palestine Pakistani activists in the UAE, but also of other Pakistani residents, sometimes for minor crimes. The people familiar with the matter said about 5,000 Pakistani inmates are housed in Al Sweihan Jail in Abu Dhabi alone. It is likely that the UAE could impose tighter visa norms for Pakistani nationals who wish to travel to the Emirates for employment.

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Accused tells court: Why I defended myself A woman, who is charged for one count of grievous bodily harm, yesterday told the court she acted in self defence. Theresa Senilagakali of Kinoya, Nasinu, appeared before Magistrate Nirosha Kannangara of the Nadi Magistrates Court. The 23-year-old said that the complainant, David Kuppuswamy, allegedly abducted her from Suva and was involved in a drug ring. Senilagakali said: “I want to say I did it for my safety. I took it for a reason. He followed me

and wanted to burn me or kill me.” It is alleged that Senilagakali stabbed Mr Kuppuswamy multiple times at Sariyawa, Momi on November 15. Legal Aid Commission lawyer Ronisha Chand represented the accused. She informed the court that her client had grievous wounds on parts of her body including her thighs. Police prosecutor Inspector Theodore Lew objected to bail for the safety of the accused. The court heard that the complainant was recovering at the Lautoka hospital.

WAF taking steps to minimise water disruptions The Water Authority of Fiji (WAF) has apologised for the water disruptions in Fiji last weekend. “Unfortunately, there were some factors beyond our control that caused the disruptions. However there are some aspects we can improve upon and I have initiated an independent investigation to

this end,” said WAF CEO, Barry Omundson. Our teams worked around the clock to normalise water supply, many gave up their weekend,” said WAF CEO, Barry Omundson. “Fiji is not unique when it comes to water disruptions, many cities and towns in countries around the world face similar issues for similar reasons.

FNPF Board to begin the process of finding a replacement for current CEO as soon as possible - Patel The Chairman of the Fiji National Provident Fund, Daksesh Patel says the Fund’s Board will begin the process of finding a replacement for current CEO, Jaoji Koroi as soon as possible, given that the Fund is an important institution and the CEO’s post is critical especially during this period. Koroi is the new Group CEO for Fijian Holdings Limited effective from March 8th, 2021. Patel says the FNPF Board is committed to finding a suitable replacement on merit. He says while the preference is to find

a local candidate, the Board will keep its options open to ensure a suitable and qualified candidate is selected. Patel says Koroi is an outstanding executive and this is a great loss for FNPF. He says FHL is very fortunate to have Koroi re-joining them. The FNPF Chairman says in his capacity as Chief Investment Officer, Koroi was instrumental in the rehabilitation of the Fund’s investments, particularly the nonperforming assets and also the expansion

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Saturday, November 21, 2020

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Saturday, November 21, 2020

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Saturday, November 21, 2020

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