The Asian Star January 14 2023

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Surrey homicide victims identified as family of three

The extended family of three victims of a homicide in Surrey, says they were “shocked” to hear of their deaths on Jan. 9.

The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team has identified the family as 56-yearold Xiao Yan Zhen, 58-year-old Li Li and 24-year-old Daniel Li, all of Surrey.

“When we heard the tragic news, we were strongly shocked with profound sadness,” Zhijun Li said in a statement on behalf of the grieving family. “In our memory they

were a happy family, loving each other. Thanks to police and all who provide us with support and help. To respect the deceased, it is our hope that the acquaintances and friends of them do not disclose the details of the family to the public, and no photos of them appear in the media.” Homicide investigators were called to Surrey, B.C.’s Fraser Heights neighbourhood on Monday,

where the three members of the Li family were found dead inside the home.

Surrey RCMP officers found the bodies just after noon at the house on 112th Avenue near 156th Street while responding to a call for a well-being check.

Police do not believe there are any outstanding suspects.

Anyone in need of support during this time is asked to reach out to the Surrey RCMP’s victim services at 604-599-7600.

India to send astronauts into space in 2024

India has announced it’s ready to launch its first human space flight in 2024 almost

Golden Globe Winners 2023

India made history!

a year after making yet another attempt to land a rover on the surface of the moon. The planned launches of the Gaganyaan

RRR’s song ‘Naatu Naatu’ bagged the Golden Globe 2023 award for the ‘best original song. The Fabelmans won Best film – drama and House Of Dragon became the Best TV series- Drama. Check out the Golden Globe 2023 full winners list here. The night of grand celebration has come to an end with the best taking

series of rockets will be counted as a success of the country’s Make-In-India campaign.

‘humse badi galti ho gayi’

US-based businessman

Darshan Dhaliwal, who was deported during farmers’ protest, said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi apologised to him in front of 150 people and said that he made a big mistake.

Dhaliwal was deported from the Delhi airport on October 23-24, 2021 for organising the biggest langar during the farmers’ protest. Now nearly two years later on January 10, 2023, he was conferred with Pravasi Bharatiya Samman award. He was recognised for his contribution in business

Continued on page 6

In Eugène Sue’s famous bon mot “Revenge is a dish best served cold.” By that measure, the platter of sour grapes that Bill Morneau presented over the weekend must’ve come out of a very deep freeze. In his new book and in interviews, Morneau has provided endless fodder for the Conservatives as

Continued on page 7

Canada to buy $406M surface-to-air missiles for Ukraine

The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has announced that Canada will buy a U.S.made missile defence system for Ukraine and will welcome U.S. President Joe Biden for a visit in March. The news came during the North American Leaders’ Summit in Mexico City on Tuesday, following a meeting between Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Biden. A PMO readout of the meeting said Trudeau informed Biden that Canada will purchase a National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) for Ukraine.

PM Modi saying to NRI, he deported

Tom Mulcair: Think Trudeau overspent? Don’t take Poilievre’s word for it, just ask Morneau

‘In our memory they were a happy family’

RRR’s Naatu Naatu wins best original song in Golden Globe 2023

Happy Lohri

US President Joe Biden to make first official visit to Canada this spring

US President Joe Biden will be visiting Canada in March, his first official trip to the country since taking office.

Biden’s Canadian trip was confirmed by officials on Tuesday, following a meeting between Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the US president at the North American Leaders’ Summit.

The president’s full itinerary has yet to be mapped out and it is not yet known where in Canada he will go. The last US

president to visit Ottawa was Barack Obama, in 2016. Former president Donald Trump did not visit Canada during his presidency, marking the end of a practice that newly elected US presidents visit Canada at least once in their term. In 2016, Trudeau said it was a “great pleasure” to work with Obama after the two shared a fruitful relationship as respective country leaders.

Grieving husband has life-size silicone statue for his dead wife

An Indian man has been making news headlines for honoring his late wife’s wish to build a life-size statue of her so they can still be together.

An Indian retired civil servant who lost his wife of 39 years during Covid-19 has spent £2,500 (250,000 rupees) on a life-sized replica doll made in her image.

Retired civil servant Tapas Sandilya, 65, commissioned a sculptor to create a silicone statue of his

late partner Indrani, who died on May 4, 2021, aged 59. She passed away alone in hospital as Tapas was forced to isolate at their home in Kolkata during India’s second wave of Covid-19, which proved far more devastating than the first. But now Indrani’s likeness sits on the sofa in her favourite spot, adorned in a sari and gold jewellery with her hair coiffed just so by Tapas himself.

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If you’re among BC’s approximately 2 million property owners, you should receive your 2023 property assessment in the mail early in January. If you haven’t, call us toll-free at 1-866-valueBC

Access and compare property assessment information using our free assessment search service at bcassessment.ca.

The 2023 assessments are based on market value as of July 1, 2022

If you have questions or want more information, contact us at 1-866-valueBC or online at bcassessment.ca

For more property information and assessment highlights, visit bcassessment.ca

for your assessment is January 31, 2023.

Retired civil servant Tapas Sandilya, 65 (left), with a silicone statue (right) of his late partner Indrani, who died on May 4, 2021, at the age of 59.

OPINION

The CEO-to-worker pay gap is now 243 times more than the average worker’s pay. You could call it the breakfast of champions: by 9:43 a.m. on January 3, the average bestpaid 100 Canadian CEOs already made $58,800 – that’s what the average Canadian worker will toil to earn in an entire year.

CEO pay is out of control in Canada

High-rolling CEOs’ pay packages come from their ability to maintain a market lock on a Canadian economy that is increasingly defined by monopolies and lack of competition. From grocery stores to gas prices, the Canadian economy is full of concentrated power.

And the people at the top of that food chain – CEOs – are reaping the rewards.

The latest data shows that CEOs broke every single compensation record in the book in 2021: the 100 richest company bosses took home an average of $14.1 million each. That shatters the previous all-time record of $11.8 million in 2018. CEOs make most of their money from bonuses, which are linked to things like company revenue or profits, not salaries. This year corporate profits are at a historic high – and so are CEO bonuses.

It would be one thing if workers were receiving equally generous pay increases as the country’s highest-paid CEOs are enjoying, but that’s nowhere near the case: the CEO-to-worker pay gap is now 243 times more than average worker’s pay, smashing 2018’s previous record of 227 times.

The hard reality is that workers’ wages are being eaten up by inflation while major corporations and their CEOs are profiting from it. When profits go through the roof, CEO bonuses go through the roof. As a result, inflation has been an important driver of CEO pay.

In contrast, inflation has been bad for workers: the average private sector worker saw their pay fall by 1.8 per cent once you include inflation.

So what can we do about it? In an economy that is decidedly rigged in favour of the CEO class, the federal government has a lot of room to restore fairness to Canada’s tax system.

In practice, that means bringing in measures like closing the capital gains tax loophole, which allows CEOs to pay half the taxes when they sell their company shares.

Secondly, the top tax bracket on wages in Canada is low, historically speaking: it’s between 20 and 30 per cent lower than in the 1950s and ’60s. It’s time to raise marginal taxes on Canada’s richest.

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On the 25th anniversary of the brutal killing of Nirmal Singh Gill by the white supremacists, one of the fastest growing municipalities of Canada made a proclamation to recognize the incident.

Gill, who was a caretaker at the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey, laid down his life in the line of duty on January 4, 1998, when a group of neo Nazis came to attack the place of worship. On Saturday, Mayor of Surrey, Brenda Locke, presented the proclamation to the relatives of Gill at a commemorative event held inside the gurdwara. Gill’s maternal grandson Paramjit Singh Sandhu came from Toronto to accept the proclamation that declares January 4 as ‘Nirmal Singh Gill Day’. Locke, who also addressed the congregation, was presented with a robe of honour by gurdwara officials for raising her voice against a controversial bill in Quebec that prohibits people from wearing religious symbols in public service. The law has affected turbaned Sikhs and hijab-wearing Muslim women, besides other faith groups and fuelled racial tensions. Minister of Education and Child Care Rachna Singh, who has previously served as Parliamentary Secretary for anti-racism initiatives, was also in attendance and presented a certificate recognising the sacrifice of Gill to the temple officials for keeping the

history of resistance against racism alive. Last year, Gill’s picture was installed at the seniors’ centre located on the temple premises. Among those who paid tributes to Gill on the occasion was anti-hate educator and former Neo Nazi Tony McAleer. An author of The Cure for Hate: A Former White Supremacist’s Journey from Violent Extremism to Radial Compassion, McAleer has visited the gurdwara in the past to repent the episode. Although he was never directly involved, he has taken moral responsibility for contributing to the hate through his activities that culminated into the death of Gill. He had apologised to the son-in-law of Gill when the former was visiting Canada in 2015. He had also donated money through the proceeds of the sale of his book to the gurdwara. Imtiaz Popat, co-founder of Coalition Against Bigotry, also spoke at the event. He has made a documentary on Gill.

The speakers unanimously called upon everyone to contribute to fight back against racism that refuses to die. A message from Gill’s daughter in India, Ranjit Kaur, was read out at the event, while Sandhu recalled the memories of the last days of his grandfather in Surrey in a choked voice.

Man seriously injured in shooting in Whalley area

One man is in hospital with serious injuries after he was shot in the Whalley neighbourhood of Surrey early Wednesday. The shooting was reported just before 2:30 a.m. at a convenience store in the 13100-block of 104 Avenue. Police

said a a 44-year-old man was taken to hospital with serious gunshot wounds.

Police believe the shooter and the victim know each other. They say a fight broke out between the two individuals, before the one man was shot. Anyone with information is askedtocontactSurreyRCMPat604-599-0502.

Eight arrested in police raid in Whalley area house

This happened in the 13700-block of Grosvenor Road in Bolivar Heights on Wednesday afternoon.

Eight people were arrested when Surrey RCMP and the Emergency Response Team executed a search warrant at a house in the 13700-block of Grosvenor Road in Bolivar Heights on Wednesday afternoon.

“There just working on processing some of the exhibits seized so we can get a more fulsome picture of everything that was located and seized,” Cpl. Vanessa Munn said Thursday.

Area resident Dominic Vallee said he heard one gun shot and glass breaking. “I heard a shotgun, there was tear gas deployed,

it was pretty f—-ing mental,” he said. “I personally heard two kinds of weapons, so there was an exchange of fire, guaranteed.”

The Surrey RCMP says no shots were fired.

“Nope, no shootout, a search warrant being executed, no shots fired, no,” Munn said. “It was a search warrant that was executed in relation to the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act and at the initial execution eight people were arrested inside the residence.” Meantime, on Dec. 22, 9:30 p.m., Surrey Mounties responded to a report of shots fired at a residence in the 13700-block of Grosvenor Road and a man was taken to hospital, suffering from a gunshot wound.

Police in B.C. have renewed their concerns regarding catalytic converter thefts on the South Coast. Police in Delta and on Vancouver Island are warning the public about a recent sharp increase in thefts. The problems have been well documented in the bigger municipalities like Surrey and Vancouver but even smaller communities are facing challenges.

RCMP in North Saanich Sidney put out a warning Wednesday.

And in Delta, during the first 11 days of 2023, 33 catalytic converters have been boosted — equating to three a day. Police said in the last five years the crime has morphed from a handful of prolific offenders to a much more widespread problem. “We would arrest two or three prolific (catalytic converter thieves) and the numbers would

go down by 20 to 30 per cent right away,” said Surrey RCMP Const. Hwan Lee. “Now, those kinds of arrests have a very little impact on the overall numbers (of thefts).” Read more: Catalytic converter thefts are surging again. So what is being done to stop them?

It’s a similar story in neighbouring Alberta but police there have rolled out a possible prevention tool.

In Calgary, Kal Tire shops are working with police to inscribe the vehicle information on the catalytic converter itself.

“Phones are off the hook,” said Alex Earl, a Kal Tire spokesperson.

“Customers are trying to get in to get the service done as quickly as possible.”

Calgary police said the idea was adopted from other provinces, which have successfully mitigated thefts with the engraving program.

Police

in BC warn catalytic converter thefts on the rise

Surrey proclaims day in memory of Sikh victim of racist attack

Surrey mayor, Brenda Locke, presenting the proclamation to the relatives of Nirmal Singh Gill.

Flood, avalanche risk heavy as rain & wind hit BC’s South Coast

Rain and wind warnings cover much of Vancouver Island and the inner South Coast as the remnants of a storm that brought flooding to California now hammers southern British Columbia.

Environment Canada estimates total rainfall of 50 to 100 millimetres before conditions ease Friday.

The weather office warns heavy downpours can spawn flash floods, while winds gusting to 90 km/h over northern Vancouver Island and the Greater Victoria region could cause damage or power outages.

Avalanche Canada says the storm will create “very dangerous avalanche conditions” on coastal and Vancouver Island mountains and has raised the avalanche risk

to “high” in those areas. California grapples with cleanup, fallout from deadly storms.

It warns that up to 35 centimetres of new snow has fallen since Monday, covering a deeply buried thin and breakable crust and it urges backcountry users to avoid avalanche terrain during the ongoing storm.

The River Forecast Centre has posted high streamflow advisories across Vancouver Island, Howe Sound, Sunshine Coast, Metro Vancouver and Fraser Valley, saying downpours and rising freezing levels will raise the potential for low-lying flooding before waterways peak Friday.

Sister of abducted Ontario woman says family is still hopeful

The last time Aysa Hajtamiri spoke with her sister was nearly a year ago. They kept the phone conversation short as Hajtamiri was driving but planned to reconnect soon. That next phone call never happened. Not long after she got home, Hajtamiri said she learned that her younger sister had been kidnapped.

Ontario Provincial Police have said three men dressed in police gear snatched 37-year-old Elnaz Hajtamiri on the evening of Jan. 12, 2022, from a relative’s house in Wasaga Beach, Ont., and loaded her into a white Lexus SUV. One year later, she is still missing. Her family says they’ve been grieving ever since Hajtamiri’s disappearance but are holding out hope she could be found alive one day. “I know it is one year, but we try to keep our hope that she will come back home soon,” Aysa Hajtamiri told The Canadian Press in a phone interview from her home in Melbourne, Australia. “We always think that she is alive, and that we can see her, we can hug her.”

Ontario Provincial Police -who have been investigating the disappearance -- and the family have made public appeals for information that could help locate Elnaz Hajtamiri.

Police have also said that Hajtamiri was assaulted with a frying pan in an underground parking lot in Richmond Hill, Ont., in December 2021, just a few weeks before she was abducted. Her ex boyfriend, Mohamad Lilo, 35, was charged

1 year later

in both cases in July. Police have said he faces an abduction charge in Hajtamiri’s January disappearance, and attempted murder and attempted abduction charges in the December parking lot incident.

York Regional Police have also charged two other men in the December case.

But investigators are still looking for the three people who dressed up as police and snatched Hajtamiri from the Wasaga Beach home, and they continue to work on finding Hajtamiri.

“We will do everything in our power as the police to locate Elnaz, identify and hold accountable those responsible for her kidnapping,” OPP Det. Martin Graham, who is leading the investigation, said in an interview.

“The police to this point, despite the best efforts of everyone, have not been able to either locate (her) or to identify and hold accountable those responsible for that kidnapping.”

Hajtamiri’s sister said she appreciates what the police have done so far, but argues they could have done more to help before the abduction took place.

She alleges police initially told her sister not to worry about threats from her exboyfriend, claiming police told Hajtamiri such things were expected during breakups.

Metro Vancouver’s TransLink ranked North America’s 4th-best

As a mid-size urban region in terms of population, Metro Vancouver’s public transit system punches well above its weight, according to a new global ranking of the world’s best public transit networks. TransLink’s system in Metro Vancouver is ranked the 22nd best public transit network out of 60 major regions globally, with the vast majority of these regions being significantly larger than Metro Vancouver in terms of both land area and population. It is also effectively the best in Canada. Metro Vancouver’s public transit system ranked just behind Chicago and Barcelona, and just ahead of Kuala Lumpur and Washington DC. This is based on a new ranking by New York City-based international consulting firm Oliver Wyman. A total of 13 systems in North America made the ranking, with Vancouver just behind NYC (13th globally), San Francisco (16th globally), and Chicago (20th globally), but ahead of Washington DC (24th globally).

Montreal has North America’s sixthbest public transit system (31st globally), while Toronto ranked seventh (34th

From page 1

globally). Calgary and Edmonton did not make the cut. The world’s top five public transit systems are in Hong Kong, Zurich, Stockholm, Singapore, and Helsinki.

The ranking described the TransLink system as “affordable” and a “strong multimodal network,” with its “long history of automated transit started with its SkyTrain, putting the system at the forefront of innovation.”

It also gives weight to TransLink’s plan to acquire hundreds of battery-electric buses by 2030 as part of its long-term strategy to transition to net zero emissions by 2050.

While Metro Vancouver’s SkyTrain is best known for being fully driverless, both Montreal and Toronto are making major inroads into expanding rail public transit networks using full-automation technologies, with inspiration stated to be clearly sourced from the success of SkyTrain. With the completion of the SkyTrain Millennium Line extension to Arbutus in 2026 and the SkyTrain Expo Line extension to Langley Centre in 2028, the SkyTrain network will grow from its current length of 80 km to over 101 km.

‘humse badi galti ho gayi’

PM Modi saying to NRI, he deported

business and community welfare. Pravasi Bharatiya Samman award is the highest honour conferred on non-resident Indians, persons of Indian origin, or an organisation or institution established and run by them. Speaking to The Wire after receiving the award from President Draupadi Murmu during the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman, Dhaliwal said the conversation took place in April 2022 when PM Modi received a Sikh delegation at his official residence in Delhi. The meeting that Dhaliwal was referring to was called ‘Sadbhavana: A Gesture of Goodwill’ in April 2022, which was led by PM Modi and Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri. “I was not troubled when I was deported during the farmers’ protest and I have nothing much to say even now. I am elated to have received such an honour. I have always remained with my community and will continue to serve them,” he said. He claimed that PM Modi told him, “Hum se galti ho gayi thi jo humne aap ko wapis bheja, aap ka

baddapan hai ki hamare kehne par aap phir aye [We committed a mistake by deporting you but you were gracious to accept our invitation).” He added, “PM Modi met me in front of 150 people at his residence.”

Recalling his deportation, Darshan Dhaliwal said that the immigration officials at the Indira Gandhi International Airport gave him two options. “I was told to either stop the langar and mediate with the farmers or go back,” he said. Does Darshan Dhaliwal support farmers’ issue?

Speaking about his take on the protests, he said that he decided to help the farmers after seeing a video. He added that he was just doing social work even though the protests were political.

Dhaliwal said, “I was supporting the farmers for their stay and food. I was not for the law nor was I against them. I have got nothing to do with it.” He said that the protest was political and he only does social work.

up for the next election, likely to come later this year.

Tom Mulcair: Think Trudeau overspent? Don’t take Poilievre’s word for it, just ask Morneau in the South of France. A difficult “mistake” to understand coming from someone who has set up corporate ownership entities his whole life.

All of their themes are there. Morneau stops just short of calling it Justin-flation but does hint that his warnings about the perils of a cost of living increase went unheeded.

Think Trudeau overspent? Don’t take Pierre Poilievre’s word for it, just ask Bill. He pouts that the highest number he’d have allowed for one key pandemic program was not followed by Trudeau and that Trudeau was (wait for it) trying to please the public. What a shocker! hat type of whinging simply underscores the obvious: Morneau was unclear on the concept of this “politics” stuff.

On CTV’s Question Period, Vassy Kapelos tried asking hi twice whether Trudeau was a competent financial administrator. His refusal to answer spoke volumes.

The timing is of course mere coincidence, but it’s hard not to see a parallel between Prince Harry’s memoir targeting his own family and Morneau’s self-serving stilettos aimed at Trudeau. Two very wealthy, very privileged, very entitled men sharing their deep thoughts on just how unfair things have been for them, and settling accounts.

They weren’t born with a silver spoon in their mouths, theirs were 24-karat gold! But hey, we seem to live in a culture of victimhood, so why not give it a shot.

Harry is being paid US$20 million as an advance by his publisher, and millions of people around the world will side with him. Morneau won’t make more than pin money for his ruminations and other than the occasional former gopher, it’s hard to see who’s going to side with him.

One can safely predict that the entire Conservative front bench and their research staff will be quoting Morneau non-stop during question period. Beyond that, there won’t be too many ordinary Canadians interested in buying this door-stopper.

‘MORNEAU IS A SMART COOKIE’

Don’t get me wrong. Morneau is a smart cookie. Very successful in running his father’s business.

When Morneau jumped (or was dumped) from the political train, he hadn’t exactly accomplished marvels. Having first been elected in 2015 on a promise to run only an itsy-bitsy-teenyweenie deficit, he had overspent by close to C$100 billion. When the pandemic hit, the record spending was on top of that. That’s no one’s fault but his own.

In 2021, the Ethics Commissioner ruled that: Morneau had contravened subsection 6(1), section 7 and section 21 of the Conflict on Interest Act, while he was finance minister. A serious problem in a financial world where compliance is considered paramount.

Prior to that he’d made a false statement concerning a villa he and his family owned

So what is it about Morneau that leads him to believe that he’s in any position to lecture Trudeau on anything?

His timing is curious given the fact that he’s been out of politics since 2020. Why now? Again, the answer appears to be that it’s now that his recriminations will have the greatest effect…against Trudeau. It’s hard to believe that it’s taken him since 2020 to lay this egg.

What exactly is the complaint about the generous pandemic programs? If there’s one thing that Trudeau will always deserve credit for it’s making it his top priority to help the millions of Canadians who lost their jobs overnight.

the Golden Globe award. The night honoured TV series and movies from across the world and India made history. Pan-India film RRR’s song ‘Naatu Naatu’ bagged the award for the ‘best original song–motion picture’.

While the SS Rajamouli directorial starring Ram Charan and Jr NTR lost in the best non-English film category to Argentina 1985; it is definitely a proud moment for the country. On the other hand, The Fabelmans won the award for Best film – drama and House of Dragon became the Best TV series- Drama. Check out the Golden Globe 2023 full winners list here. Best film – drama Avatar: The Way of Water

Canfor permanently closing Pulp & Paper mill in Prince George

One of the biggest employers in Prince George is shutting down a large part of its operation.

Canfor said it’s permanently closing its pulp operations at its P.G. pulp and paper mill by the end of the month.

Around 300 people are expected to lose their jobs.

The company said the “very difficult” decision comes after an extensive analysis of its operations and the long-term supply of fibre for pulp.

The company’s CEO Kevin Edgson said the move was made necessary following the closure of several sawmills in the area.

Canfor said the mill’s specialty paper facility will stay open.

For

Prince George

New Westminster police release video of car connected with December assault investigation

Last month, police found a man unconscious and suffering from life-altering injuries after an apparent assault in New Westminster.

Police, who are turning to the public to further their investigation, have released a photo and short video of the vehicle in which police say the suspect left the scene. According to police, the assault happened on Dec. 23 around 11:15 p.m. near Begbie and Carnavon streets.

“The New Westminster Police Department

Major Crime Unit has learned the victim was assaulted by someone who was with two other people at the time of the assault,” said Sgt. Justine Thom.

“After the assault, the group left the area in a vehicle, and investigators are hoping a suspect will be identified by sharing a video of this vehicle.” The vehicle is an older model Blue Pontiac Sunfire with black rims, police say.

Police have uploaded CCTV footage of the vehicle on YouTube.

Family, friends, community grieve Nelson officer killed in avalanche

A police officer from Nelson, B.C., who was killed in an avalanche this week is being remembered by friends, family and colleagues as a dedicated worker, respected mentor and devoted family man.

Const. Wade Tittemore, 43, died on Monday after being buried in an avalanche while skiing with a colleague on a mountain northwest of Kaslo, B.C., in the province’s southeast.

Tittemore was married and had two elementary-school-aged sons. “He just had a beautiful family,” said

Const. Adam Sutherland, who had worked with Tittemore since he joined the Nelson Police Department four years ago.

“For the majority of us that’s probably the hardest part, is knowing that left behind from all of this is a young family that is going to be forever missing one of the greatest guys that I’ve had the pleasure of working with.”

Tittemore and his colleague, Const. Mathieu Nolet, were swept away in the backcountry avalanche on Jardine SE3, a subsidiary peak of Mt. Jardine, on Monday.

Man shot at police & paramedics with pellet gun arrested in Downtown Eastside

A man was arrested inside a Downtown Eastside rooming house on Sunday night (Jan. 8), after police say he fired a pellet gun at officers and paramedics.

The Vancouver Police Department says paramedics were responding to an emergency call in the lane behind the Carnegie Centre, near Main and Hastings streets, around 11 p.m. when someone began firing at them from an open window overhead. Several first responders and their ambulance

were hit and they called for help from VPD. When officers arrived, they too were shot with pellets, according to the department. VPD’s emergency responses team searched inside the Maple Hotel, a rooming house at 177 East Hastings Street, and arrested a 45-year-old man who they believe to have been the shooter.

VPD says the man was on bail for an unrelated assault and was wanted B.C.-wide for theft. He now faces new charges for assault, possession of a weapon and breaching bail conditions.

Ontario man pleads guilty to transporting two people into USA

An Ontario man has pleaded guilty after he brought two people into the United States illegally, U.S. officials say.

In a statement released by the Department of Justice (DOJ), officials said the incident occurred in May 2019 when Edwin Ramirez-Cordones launched a boat into the Niagara River with two people onboard who he knew were not U.S. citizens.

Ramirez-Cordones operated the boat across the river, into the U.S.

and docked in Lewiston, N.Y., despite knowing it was not a designated port of entry, the statement continued.

After the two people left the boat, Ramirez-Cordones returned to Ontario.

The DOJ said he was to be paid $8,500 for bringing them to the U.S. Ramirez-Cordones, 46, has since pleaded guilty to bringing an alien to the U.S. at a place other than a designated port of entry, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, officials said.

South Asian trucker faces homicide charges in US crash that killed student & bus driver

A Calgary trucker is facing homicide charges in Pennsylvania for a 2021 highway crash that killed a student and school bus driver. State officials have issued an arrest warrant for Karandeep Singh on 27 charges, including two counts of homicide by vehicle, reckless driving and operating with unsafe equipment.

Singh, now age 30, was returning to Interstate 79 from a truck stop in Butler County on Nov. 2, 2021, when his loaded flatbed trailer was hit from behind by the school bus, according to media reports.

Court documents state an inspection of Singh’s vehicle found several “violations that were present on the truck tractor at

the time of the crash that would have resulted in an out-of-service order for the truck,” CBS Pittsburgh reported.

Investigators determined Singh was travelling about 30 km/h at the time of the crash. The bus was travelling 67 m.p.h., or about 110 km/h. The posted speed limit was 70 mph.

Singh’s truck wasn’t able to reach highway speeds due to a mechanical issue, according to police.

Singh is not in custody.

“Despite the fact he is a resident of Canada, we will utilize all resources available to us to bring Mr. Singh to Butler County to face these charges,” District Attorney Richard Goldinger said in a statement to WPXI-TV.

Indian-origin Ranj Pillai chosen premier of Yukon

Indian-origin Cabinet minister Ranj Pillai will on January 14 take oath as the 10th premier of Canada’s territory of Yukon, becoming the second politician of Indian heritage to head a region in

the country, according to a media report on Tuesday. Pillai, whose roots can be traced to Kerala, was on January 8 unanimously chosen as the leader of Yukon Liberal Party, the party said in a statement.

Across the street from a strip mall lined with restaurants and hair salons, the shield of the Wenzhou Friendship Society hangs above a gated entry.

What has gone on behind those doors is part of a Canadian national security investigation into the aggressive foreign interference tactics of the Chinese government.

The RCMP is probing allegations

China has been operating covert centres in Canada that use threats, intimidation and corruption to suppress local opposition and sway policy.

No charges have been laid in relation to the Wenzhou society, a registered charity that benefits from federal tax advantages and says it supports new immigrants and helps them repay Canada. Emails

requesting interviews went unanswered.

Ringing the doorbell on a recent weekday likewise garnered no response. A society director has denied any wrongdoing. The others could not be reached.

But the group’s website, social media and tax returns suggest a charity that engages in local fundraising while sending delegates to events featuring Chinese Communist Party officials.

Representatives of the B.C. society have taken part in gatherings along with members of the United Front Work Department (UFWD) and Overseas Chinese Affairs Office (OCAO), the website said.

The Canadian government alleges the UFWD and OCAO are key parts of the Chinese Communist Party’s covert efforts to pressure and manipulate Chinese communities outside China.

BC plans $500M fund to keep older rental buildings with non-profits, not developers

The provincial government has announced plans to create a $500-million fund that will enable nonprofits to buy older rental buildings in B.C., rather than allowing those buildings to be sold to developers.

The announcement Thursday was billed as a move to help protect tenants from rising rents across the province.

“We’re taking action to protect renters who found an affordable place to live, but are worried their building will be bought out from underneath them,” read a statement from Premier David Eby.

The Rental Protection Fund will give non-profit housing organizations onetime grants so they can buy affordable rental buildings. The non-profit could then “work with tenants to make

improvements or expand to house more people, and at the same time protect affordable housing.”

New B.C. housing minister says he plans to rapidly increase housing supply in province

The strategy, the statement said, is to keep buildings away from speculators, developers and large corporations.

“Their business model often includes redeveloping properties so they can evict tenants, allowing the trusts to make large profits by either hiking rents or selling the units and taking much needed rental housing off the market,” read the province’s statement.

The province said the fund will be operational “in the coming months” and financed by March 31.

Teen killed in Langley crash identified

The 17-year-old who died following a single-vehicle crash in Langley, B.C., over the weekend has been identified online.

Taren Singh Lal was driving home from work on Saturday night when he crashed into a utility pole on the Fraser Highway, according to a GoFundMe set up to support his family.

The fundraiser described Lal as a “positive and joyful presence” in his community, and

as a “caring friend and family member” who hoped to one day become a police officer. The teenager lost control of his vehicle – initially reported to be a 2021 Tesla – due to poor weather conditions, according to the GoFundMe page. Langley RCMP said they were called to the crash scene near Fraser Highway and 228th Street at around 8:30 p.m. Authorities believe the driver died on impact.

BC group under RCMP scrutiny for Beijing ties has charitable status in Canada

Total Canadian government debt is on track this year to hit nearly double what it was just 15 years ago, a new study from the Fraser Institute projects. With governments at both the provincial and federal level having shifted heavily into spending mode since the 2008 financial crisis, and particularly during the pandemic, combined federal-provincial debt is now nearly the equivalent of three-quarters of the entire Canadian economy, according The Growing Debt Burden for Canadians, released Tuesday.

“Generally we saw every jurisdiction in Canada increase its debt level over the last decade and a half,” said Jake Fuss, associate director of fiscal studies at the Fraser Institute, who authored the report. Although many provinces recorded surpluses last year, Fuss said both federal and provincial debt rose sharply since the 2008–09 recession.

Combined debt from both the federal government and individual provincial governments is expected to nearly double from $1.1 trillion in 2007–08 — the year before the last major recession — to an estimated $2.1 trillion by the end of this fiscal year. A large spike in that debt, Fuss said, can be blamed on the COVID-19 pandemic. “The period between the mid-1990s to 2007 or so was really a period of debt declines across governments,” Fuss said, explaining the trend was true across most provinces and the federal government.

“You had the Conservative government in Alberta under Ralph Klein, the (Saskatchewan) NDP government of Roy Romanow, and you had the federal government in Ottawa under the Liberals with Jean Chrétien, all of them were reducing debt over that period of time.”

Nova Scotia woman dies after waiting 7 hours in hospital emergency room

The husband of a Nova Scotia woman who died after a seven-hour wait at the emergency department in Cumberland County said he felt they were “neglected” until “it was just too late.”

Allison Holthoff, 37, of Tidnish, N.S., was a beloved mother of three, avid community volunteer, animal lover and deputy chief of the local fire department.

“She was always happy to help people,” her husband, Gunter Holthoff, said during a news conference Monday.

“She was just a caring person for everybody. I wish somebody would have been there for her.” Holthoff detailed how his wife had collapsed on the morning of Dec. 31, 2022, complaining of an upset

stomach. Holthoff detailed how his wife had collapsed on the morning of Dec. 31, 2022, complaining of an upset stomach.

He said they waited more than six hours in the emergency department before Allison was taken to a room inside the unit, which had no medical equipment.

It would be another hour before she actually saw a doctor and received pain treatment.

While having an X-ray taken, Allison’s condition worsened.

Read more: Nova Scotia among the highest in wait times for medical procedures in Canada Holthoff recounted how Allison screamed in pain while they tried to reposition her, and he tried to comfort her. Her eyes rolled back, he said, and the machines started beeping.

In recent months, you’ve likely found yourself budgeting as much as you can yet no matter how hard you try, your savings just can’t catch a break!

If that’s the case, you’re not alone. According to a recent study conducted by the British Columbia public opinion database, Research Co., 45% of British Columbians say their household’s financial situation is worse now than before the COVID-19 pandemic. Of the 800 BC residents polled, “two in five British Columbians aged 18-to-34 (40%) say their household’s finances are not at the level they were in February 2020,” said Mario Canseco, President of Research Co.  “The proportions are higher among those aged 35-to-54 (47%) and aged 55 and over (46%).”

When it comes to saving for retirement or a “rainy day,” 71% of British Columbians agree they are struggling the most in this area, while 66% have admitted to struggling to save when it comes to leisure.

As inflation continues to impact Canadians, those living in BC have now received additional funds this month through GST credit as a way to support residents through this time of inflation.

Here’s why most BC residents GST credit came with additional funds this month

BC’s Minister of Finance, Katrine Conroy, says she wants British Columbians to know that their government is thinking about them.

“The winter season often brings extra expenses for people and, with the rising costs we’re seeing around the world,

Man arrested after students’ keys, contracts stolen during break-in at UBC residence

According to the university’s RCMP, a man in his 30s has been arrested after a weekend burglary at a University of British Columbia apartment building in which hundreds of keys and contracts were stolen.

According to a spokesman for UBC Student Housing, the burglary happened at the reception of the Thunderbird dorm, which houses up to 634 condominium students. “When our staff arrived early Monday morning, they saw that there had been a break-in and they immediately reported it to the RCMP,” said Andrew

Parr, associate vice president of student housing and community services at the University of British Columbia.

According to Parr, among the stolen items were apartment door keys and contract cards, which contain the students’ personal information.

“Obviously that’s a security breach and that was a big concern for us,” he said. According to Parr, the university is replacing locks on over 400 front doors and many bedroom doors.

The university’s RCMP says the arrested man is not a student and has been released. He is scheduled to appear in court at a later date.

Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston is calling the recent death of a 37-yearold woman in an Amherst, N.S., hospital an “incredibly sad tragedy.”

The premier spoke out a day after the woman’s husband held a news conference about his experience that day.

“A 37-year-old mother, wife, community leader, it’s incredibly sad,” said Houston, during an interview with CTV Power Play host Vassy Kapelos Tuesday. “The impact that it has on the community, on the family of course, but on the whole

province, it’s really, really heavy... So, it’s front and centre on all of our minds.”

On Dec. 31, 2022, Allison Holthoff waited hours for care at the Cumberland Regional Health Care Centre in Amherst, despite showing signs of medical distress while waiting in the emergency department. Holthoff died at the hospital about 12 hours after arriving.  Houston says the health-care system in Nova Scotia, as well as across the country, is under pressure and has been that way in his province for “quite a while.”

Canada to buy$406M surface-to-air missiles for Ukraine

The Department of National Defence (DND) confirmed the purchase in a news release later Tuesday.

“Canada’s NASAMS donation will help Ukraine strengthen its air defence systems against destructive air attacks on military sites, civilian critical infrastructure and population centres,” DND said in the news release.

The release said the donation would cost approximately $406 million and would come from $500 million in aid to Ukraine that Trudeau announced in November 2022. The release did not say when the system is expected to arrive in Ukraine.

In an interview airing Tuesday on CBC’s Power & Politics, Defence Minister

Anita Anand told guest host Catherine Cullen the government is “working with the United States to get it to Ukraine as soon as possible.”

“All options will always be on the table in terms of our support for Ukraine,” Anand said.

The missile defence system was designed and developed jointly by the American defence company Raytheon and Norwaybased Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace.

“NASAMS provides air defenders with a tailorable, state-of-the-art defence system that can maximize their ability to identify, engage and destroy current and evolving enemy aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles and emerging cruise missile threats,” Raytheon says on an online information page.

Nova Scotia Premier reacts to woman’s ER death, speaks on status of health-care system

Governments have doubled total federal-provincial debt in just 15 years: report

Poll finds 40% of BC residents are struggling to keep up with the cost of living

Sonam Kapoor shares throwback pics at Farah’s b’day

Priyanka launches her first make-up collection

Priyanka Chopra has officially launched her first make-up collection with Max Factor. The launch took place in the UK. The collection includes the Masterpiece Eye Palette, nine Colour Elixir Lipsticks and eight Miracle Pure Nail Polishes. Priyanka Chopra looked the epitome of glamour in the campaign shoot. “Inclusivity is the backbone of this collection and to help women feel confident and as a woman of colour, I am all too aware of the struggles many people can have when searching for the

right make-up for them,” said Priyanka Chopra, as reported by Independent UK.

Meet Salman Khan’s closest friend

from the sets of Veere Di Wedding and wrote a sweet note. The birthday post also includes a picture of Farah and Sonam with

Visit our Website www.theasianstar.com

Salman Khan had the most special birthday wish for his “closest and longest friend” Nadeem Qureshi. He is the founder and managing partner of the actor’s TV Production company - SK TV. On Wednesday, Salman Khan posted a photo of himself with Nadeem and described him as his “closest and longest friend.” He wrote, “Happy birthday to my brother Nadz. My closest, longest friend. My CC EE OO YO...Wish you all the best in life, all the happiness and wealth.” In the snap, the actor is seen wearing a peach tee while the CEO of The Kapil Sharma Show looks cool in a white printed shirt. Reacting to the birthday post,

comedian Kapil Sharma, who shares a great bond with his show’s maker, dropped red heart icons. Actor-comedian Kiku Sharda, who also appears in The Kapil Sharma Show, commented: “Happy Birthday, Nadeem bhai.”

Vidya Balan at screening of new release ‘Kuttey’

Ahead of the release, Kuttey was roaring on Wednesday night as the makers held a special screening. Starring Arjun Kapoor, Tabu, Radhika Madan, Naseeruddin Shah, Kumud Mishra and Konkona Sen Sharma, the upcoming film is going to hit the theatres. So, the makers organised the screening at Yash Raj Films Studio (YRF is a distributor of the film) for the celebs. The screening was attended by director Aasmaan Bhardwaj and his parents and producers of Kuttey, Vishal and Rekha Bhardwaj. Arjun Kapoor’s family, including sister Khushi Kapoor, cousins ShanayaJahaan Kapoor and Mohit Marwah, uncle Sanjay Kapoor and aunt Maheep Kapoor were also spotted.  Other celebs who attended the Kuttey screening were Vidya

Balan and her husband Siddharth Roy Kapur, Richa Chaddha and Ali Fazal, Huma Qureshi, Patralekhaa, Sanya Malhotra and Varun Sharma.

Community news

New Game which we have recently purchased, Bean Bag Toss or Corn Hole Game. This game is designed to engage Seniors in activities of sports and the exercise for arms & Shoulders. The game will start on January 15th 2023 at 2.00 pm to 3.30 pm at Shanti Niketan hall of Lakshmi Narayan Temple, 140th St., Surrey, BC

In Person Yoga Classes will continue for members only at

Shanti Niketan hall every Monday and every Thursday by expert Yoga Instructor Mr. Ashwani Bansal from 10.00 am to 11.15 am both the days. Mr. Mahender Kumar Juneja a Yoga Expert will also be there to help & advice corrections to make sure all seniors are doing correct Yoga.

For more info call: 604 - 507 - 9945

Filmmaker & choreographer Farah Khan celebrating her 58th birthday, and on this occasion, she received an adorable wish from Sonam Kapoor. On Instagram, Sonam Kapoor shared throwback pictures

Jagdeep

Veteran actor, comedian Jagdeep, best known for his role as Soorma Bhopali in famous film Sholay, passed away at the age of 81.

The actor, whose real name was Syed Ishtiaq Ahmed Jafri. He was born on March 29, 1939 and died July 8, 2020.

Known by his stage name Jagdeep, He was an actor and comedian who appeared in more than 400 films.

He played Soorma Bhopali in famous film Sholay (1975), Machchar in Purana Mandir (1983), in Andaz Apna Apna (1994) and directed the movie Soorma Bhopali, with his character as the protagonist.

Jagdeep started his film career as a child artist extra in B. R. Chopra’s Afsana, then went on to do films as a child artist in films like Ab Dilli Door Nahin, K. A. Abbas’s Munna, Guru Dutt’s Aar Paar, Bimal Roy’s Do Bigha Zamin and AVM’s Hum Panchhi Ek Daal Ke.

He was launched as a leading man by AVM in the films Bhabhi, Barkha and Bindiya, and went on to do a few more films as a leading man. He established himself as a comedian since the movie Brahmachari. Some hit songs are picturised on him like “Paas baitho tabiyat bahal jayegi” from Punarmilan, “In pyar ki rahon mein” from the same film, “Chal ud ja re Panchhi” and “Chali Chali re Patang”, from the superhit movie Bhabhi, where he is paired opposite Nanda, and “Aa Gaye Yaaro Jeene Ke Din” from Phir Wohi Raat.

He is also known for his appearances in many horror movies, especially in projects of the Ramsay Brothers. He appeared in famous hits like Purana Mandir and 3D Saamri. He died at his home in Mumbai on 8 July 2020, following age-related health issues.

Jagdeep married three times and

was the father of six children.

In 1960, he married Sughra Begum. They had two sons, Javed Jaffrey and television producer/director Naved Jaffrey, Naved and Javed were hosts of the dance show Boogie Woogie.

Later, Jagdeep married Nazima. They have one daughter, Muskaan.

He’s known as comedian but he was great actor as well. Jagdeep, in fact, was leading in many films like Bhabhi (1957), Barkha (1959) and Bindiya (1960), and was cast opposite Nanda in the first two.

Many popular songs like Paas baitho tabiyat bahal jayegi from Punar-milan (1964), Chal udd ja re panchi and Chali chali re patang, from Bhabhi, were picturised on him. He later became a comedian and went on to act in more than 400 films.

Alia Bhatt to host a party

Alia Bhatt is beaming with joy and is highly grateful to SS Rajamouli for making her a part of his most ambitious film RRR. The filmmaker today is gone on the global map and all thanks to Rajamouli Garu. Naatu Naatu song won the best song and has defeated songs of popular ace singers Taylor Swift, Rihanna and more. Alia Bhatt who was a part of the film shared all the proud moments on her social media account and expressed her happiness to the world and how. And now an insider claims that the RRR actress Alia is planning to throw a party after the big win of RRR. The new mommy in town will host a grand celebration for Rajamouli. Ram Charan, Jr NTR and the entire crew member of the film. After Rajamouli and the team won the Golden Globes Awards,

Janhvi Kapoor

Janhvi Kapoor made looked absolutely beautiful as she stepped out to the gym and got papped by the shutterbugs. The Mili actress was requested by few male fans to get clicked she happily posed with them but looed extremely uncomfortable as they came close to her comfort and these pictures are proof. Janhvi Kapoor strikes an uncomfortable

pose as a male fan stands beside her to get clicked. She is seen taking the support of a plant pot and this leaves the netizens applaud her for her sweetest gesture.

She flaunted at her superior body in this gym wear and you definitely can take all the fitness goals from the diva. Isn’t she gorgeous?

the actress immediately texted the filmmaker to congratulate him and the entire team. Not only Alia, but many actors like Ranbir Kapoor

One of the best actor, comedian of India cimema

Jagdeep

BC stratas considering 55-plus age restrictions amid rental restriction ban

A number of British Columbia strata corporations are considering implementing 55-plus age restrictions, after the province moved to block bans on rentals.

The amendment to the Strata Act, passed last November, eliminated all rental restriction bylaws, except those banning short-term rentals, and all age restriction bylaws, except those for “seniors only” (55-plus) buildings.

In announcing the plan, Premier David Eby said the changes were necessary to address the province’s persistent housing crisis.

Not everyone was pleased with the

changes, and some strata councils have started looking at ways to get around them.

“People are afraid of the change, so they are taking some kind of measure,” Victoria Realtor Tony Zarsadias told Global News.

About 300,000 strata units in B.C. were under some kind of rental restrictions when the province amended the Strata Act.

At least 2,900 of them are estimated to be owned by people who would like to rent them out.

B.C. Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon told media, some owners

may be confused by the new rules.

“Anyone that thinks by moving your building to 55-plus you are not going to have renters, you are wrong. You are going to have renters that are 55 and older,” he said.

If a building moves to 55-plus, younger owners would be grandfathered in.

But the challenge would be what would happen if the owner has a child.

“You will make it more complicated for the people who live there,” Kahlon said.

“These new rules have a lot of unintended consequences. And when they

have renters they will realize that is OK.”

Historically, restrictions have affected a property’s value, pushing sale prices down because it limits the buyer pool, according to Condominium Home Owners Association executive director Tony Gioventu.

“I am really encouraging strata corporations to think about implications because it could have a significant impact of values and ability to sell units,” he said.

The new rules will apply to pre2010 buildings. many of which are smaller self-managed strata corporations with fewer than 50 owners.

Canada’s banking regulator seeks input on proposals that could mean big changes for mortgage lending

Canada’s banking regulator is proposing big changes for housing finance, with potentially threenewlimitsonhowlendersgrantmortgages.

The proposal comes after the Bank of Canada has ramped up interest rates by four percentage points since March 1, the average Canadian home price has plunged 22.4 per cent in the past nine months and the threat of recession looms.

On Thursday morning, the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) released the new proposed mortgage guidelines for public comment.

Essentially, OSFI wants to skim another layer of the least-qualified borrowers off the federally regulated mortgage market. But how they’ll do that is not yet determined.

“We’ve thrown out some ideas we’re considering,” OSFI Superintendent Peter Routledge told The Globe and Mail in an interview. “We’re opening up the

consultation early. We want ideas. We want constructive critiques. We want to hear from players in the system.”

Downtown Vancouver office space vacancy rate increases to almost 10%

As of the end of 2022, the office space vacancy rate in downtown Vancouver has quadrupled from its 2019 pre-pandemic levels.

CBRE’s newly released leased office space market update for the fourth quarter of 2022 indicates Metro Vancouver’s overall office space vacancy rate has increased to 7.8% — up from 6.6% in 2022’s third quarter.

This accounts for the vacancy rates of 9.8% for the downtown Vancouver market and 5.8% for the suburban market, which are up from 7.1% and 6.2%, respectively, in the third quarter of 2022.

In real numbers, the vacancies translate to 3.02 million sq ft in direct space vacancies across the region, including 1.8 million sq ft in downtown Vancouver and 1.2 million sq ft in the suburbs, plus 991,00 sq ft in sublet space vacancies across the region, including 722,000 sq ft in downtown and 270,000 sq ft in the suburbs.

Office vacancy rates have not reached such heights since the middle of the 2010s, before the emergence and rapid growth of the tech industry in the region. In 2015/2016, office

vacancy rates reached a high of about 11.5% for the entire region, 10.5% for the downtown Vancouver market, and 14% for the suburban market. Vacancies were even higher in the early 2000s, with the entire region as a whole at 17%, downtown at 14%, and the suburbs at 23%.

However, Metro Vancouver’s office space vacancies — overall region, downtown, and suburbs — are still the lowest amongst Canada’s 10 largest urban regions, which mostly saw vacancies trending upwards as well.

For example, Greater Toronto’s overall office vacancy has increased to 16.2%, including 13.6% in downtown and 19.3% in the suburbs, while the Montreal region’s overall vacancy is now hovering at 17%, with downtown at 16% and the suburbs at 18.3%.

Office space vacancy rates between 4% and 8% are generally considered healthy or within “balanced” territory. June 2022 construction progress on The Stack office tower at 1133 Melville Street, Vancouver.

CIBC’s Benjamin Tal predicts bumpy real estate ride

The fog of uncertainty that has kept real estate sellers and buyers on the sidelines in recent months will start to clear in 2023, predicts Benjamin Tal, deputy chief economist at CIBC World Markets.

With stability in the market, sellers will be encouraged to list in greater numbers, Mr. Tal expects, and some distressed borrowers will add to the supply.

“That lack of listings now is protecting prices from going down farther,” he says.

Pent-up demand from buyers will establish a bottom in prices by the spring, Mr. Tal said in an interview.

The overall tone of the market will be soft, the economist says, but he stresses that it will not go into free fall. Still, his forecast does not rule out some bumps along the way.

According to Mr. Tal, sales are likely

to fall another 10 to 15 per cent in 2023 before rebounding modestly in 2024.

All of Bay Street is watching for the next signal from the Bank of Canada, which has raised its key interest rate from 0.25 per cent at the start of 2022 to 4.25 per cent today as it seeks to rein in inflation.

It’s important that the central bank not overshoot, cautions Mr. Tal, who expects policy-makers to keep the policy rate at its current level, or possibly lift it one more time, to 4.5 per cent.

The economist cautions that some households are feeling the strain of dealing with higher interest rates for a prolonged period, and he does expect some borrowers to run into trouble if they need to renew their mortgage at higher rates this year. The greater pressure on renewals will come in 2024 and 2025, he predicts.

Tens of thousands of Canadian borrowers could be vulnerable to defaulting on their mortgages if interest rates rise and homeowners struggle to make monthly payments, according to CEOs of the country’s largest banks.

Scotiabank’s new CEO said about 20,000 of the bank’s borrowers could be at risk, accounting for about 2.5 percent of the bank’s mortgage customers. The CEOs of several other major Canadian banks said Monday that small percentages of their borrowers are at risk, potentially adding up to tens of thousands of Canadians.

In addition, millions of other bank borrowers are likely to face financial problems this year and next as they renegotiate fixedrate mortgages or make ever-increasing monthly payments on adjustable-rate loans.

Still, at a day-long conference hosted by RBC, bank CEOs stressed that they don’t seriously expect a wave of mortgage defaults Effects on their own bottom line.

“This is not a bank credit problem. This is a consumer lifestyle issue,” said

Victor Dodig, CEO of CIBC. “More money needs to flow from discretionary spending to interest spending.” CEOs said household savings built up during the pandemic, a strong job market and a general surge in property values in recent years should provide a cushion for most of their mortgage customers.

They said only a small percentage of borrowers –BMO’s Darryl White put it at 1 percent for his bank, while RBC’s Dave McKay put it in the “low singledigit percentage range” –are “vulnerable” to default.

These customers typically have low credit ratings and homes that aren’t worth much more than their mortgages.

Scott Thomson, who will take over the helm at Scotiabank on February 1, said the bank’s estimated 20,000 at-risk borrowers should be a “manageable situation for us”.

The number of Canadians who actually

default on their mortgage payments by three months or more is historically low — ranging from about 0.25 percent to 0.5 percent of mortgage holders over the past two decades, according to the Canadian Bankers Association. About 10,000 to 20,000 mortgages were in arrears for each month during this period.

Referring to higher payments, Dodig gave a few examples, noting that fixed-rate mortgage holders who renegotiate this year can expect to pay an average of about $350 more per month, while variablerate mortgage payments are down about $700 US dollars per month will increase.

On the plus side, Dodig said, the mortgage stress test (put in place by the federal government in early 2018 to protect against a rapid rise in interest rates) means most customers facing renewals have had

to prove that they Loans can carry interest rates between about 5.2 and 5.4 percent.

That’s just below what they might expect to pay on a new five-year fixedrate mortgage (about 5.45 percent) and not far from what they might pay for an adjustable-rate mortgage (6.05 percent). . In short, it might hurt, but they’ve already proven they can probably afford it.

McKay said more than 50 per cent of RBC’s adjustable rate mortgage holders will have a “trigger effect”, meaning their monthly payments will only cover interest.

In such situations, borrowers need to make a change and likely increase their payments, but McKay said the bank’s careful look at its own extensive customer data suggests “the cash flow is there to absorb it and the collateral is there, to absorb him to a large extent degree.”

The resilience of Canada’s job market — the country added 104,000 jobs in December, Statistics Canada said on Friday — should also help, McKay said, noting there is still “strong demand for jobs.”

A new report from TD Economics predicts Canada will see the weakest level of home sales since 2001 this year.

The housing market outlook from economist Rishi Sondhi attributes the prediction to the poorest affordability level since the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Sondhi is forecasting that home prices

will reach their bottom sometime in early 2023, after declining 20% from peak to trough. He said steep annual average price declines are

#106 - 7565 132 St. Surrey, BC 604.572.3005

expected in most of the Atlantic provinces, Ontario and B.C. in 2023, while lesser drops will materialize

across the Prairies and in Newfoundland and Labrador.

The Canadian Real Estate Association said last month that the national average home price was $632,802 in November, a 12% decline from the same month last year.

November home sales totalled 30,135, a 39% drop from a year prior.

Canada will see weakest level of homes sales this year since 2001, TD report forecasts

Tens of thousands of Canadians could default on mortgages due to rising rates, bank CEOs say

In a deliberate emulation of India’s revered independence hero Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, the country’s main opposition leader at present is on the final leg of a mammoth public walk across the length of the subcontinent.

Defying critics and sceptics, the 3,500km (2,175 miles) walk by Rahul Gandhi — no relation to the freedom fighter — has succeeded as both political protest and mobilisation. Over the last three months, the Bharat Jodo Yatra or the March for the Unity of India has been met with widespread enthusiasm. Now in its last phase, the yatra entered the northern state of Punjab on Tuesday night as it makes its way to its conclusion on the high peaks of Indian-administered Kashmir. In walking so long, Gandhi — the face of the Indian National Congress — is offering the world’s largest democracy a new political vision and script pitched against the shrill political Hinduism or Hindutva of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

A long march offers a glimpse of a post-Modi India

The aim of the yatra, a term usually associated with a Hindu pilgrimage, is political redemption. It has reignited the Congress party that had been immobilised for a decade with serial electoral defeats. Mocked mercilessly by the BJP as an amateur politician, Gandhi has emerged today as a leader with mass appeal.

With a simple message of interreligious harmony and prosperity for all, the epic walk has focussed on common human interactions. At each stop every day, Gandhi’s aides document and disseminate on social media the conversations their leader has with farmers and workers, young and old, men and women and children too about their shattered dreams under the Modi government. These capture a snapshot of the lived realities of the Indian economy, where unemployment and inflation are high, with a government that has been

high on promises and low on their delivery.

Gandhi’s message is that Modi’s strident Hindutva is what is weakening the economic and social potential of India. All this and the

accompanying clamour for hugs and selfies with the bearded opposition leader have charged a political and media landscape that has otherwise been monopolised by Modi. For the first time since his ascent, Modi has been rendered silent.

New data indicates that the value of exports of Indian-made iPhones will hit $3 billion in Apple’s current fiscal year. While that number will be double what it was in 2022, that number is minuscule when compared with the number of Chinese iPhone exports.

Apple has been working to ease its reliance on China as its manufacturing base, thanks to COVID-19 disruptions over the last few years. A recent COVID-related disruption at Foxconn’s main assembly plant is said to have cost Apple a billion dollars per week.

Originally, the first India-made iPhones were limited to a single model – the original iPhone SE – and were intended only for sale in India.

Since then, Apple has expanded its iPhone production in India. iPhone 14 assembly had been expected to begin simultaneously in both China and India. While the company didn’t quite pull off

the simultaneous production, the iPhone 14 did begin assembly in India. This year’s iPhone 15 lineup is expected to begin simultaneous production later this year.

Bloomberg reports that exports of iPhones made in India doubled between April and December last year.

Apple exported more than $2.5 billion of iPhones from India from April to December, nearly twice the previous fiscal year’s total, underscoring how the US tech giant is accelerating a shift from China with geopolitical tensions on the rise.

Foxconn Technology Group and Wistron Corp. have each shipped more than $1 billion of Apple’s marquee devices abroad in the first nine months of the fiscal year ending March 2023, people familiar with the matter said. Pegatron Corp., another major contract manufacturer for Apple, is on track to move about $500 million of the gadgets overseas by the end of January, the people said, asking not to be identified revealing private information.

Under a centrally-sponsored scheme, residents of a tribal area in Tethan in Dooru block, Anantnag district of south Kashmir received electricity connection after almost 75 years. The electricity has now reached the village with a population of just 200 people under the centrally

sponsored PM Development Package scheme. This scheme was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Transformers, 38 HT and 57 LT poles (total 95 poles) have been installed, which have illuminated 60 houses in the village.

India to spend $522M on missiles, air defense and naval weapons

India’s top arms buyer on Tuesday approved a budget of 42.76 billion rupees (U.S. $522.17 million) to acquire weapons solely from domestic companies.

The approved projects are for Helina anti-tank guided missiles; very short-range air defense systems for the Army; and the Brahmos missile launcher and a fire control system for Navy ships.

A meeting of the Defence Acquisition Council on Jan. 10, chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, granted a socalled acceptance of necessity for three capital acquisition proposals, the Ministry of Defence said. The announcement did not provide quantities nor costs

for each program, and the ministry did not respond to a request for comment.

The purchase of the weapons systems will fall under the Buy Indian IDDM procurement category. According to the ministry, this category requires the procurement of arms from an Indian vendor that were indigenously designed, developed and manufactured while containing at least 50% locally made technology.

An acceptance of necessity in India is essentially fiscal approval that paves the way for tenders, which lead to the purchase of new arms and related equipment.

Situation along northern border stable but unpredictable: Army chief

The situation along the frontier with China is “stable” but “unpredictable” and Indian troops are adequately deployed to deal with any contingency even as there was slight increase in number of Chinese troops in their areas across the eastern sector, Army Chief Gen Manoj Pande said on Thursday.

At a press conference ahead of Army Day, Gen Pande also said the Indian troops deployed along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) have been able to maintain a robust posture to defeat any evil design of the adversary with a “firm and resolute” manner.

The Chief of Army Staff asserted that the preparedness level of the Indian Army remained “very high” along the LAC and it has adequate forces and reserves in each of the

sectors to effectively deal with any situation.

“The situation is stable and under control, yet unpredictable. You are aware of the ongoing talks where we have been able to resolve five out of seven issues that were on the table and we are continuing to talk both at the diplomatic as well as the military level,” he said.

The government needs to intervene to make the manpower skilled, reform-oriented and driven by timelines-based quality outcomes

Defence indigenisation takes off, but needs course correction

If the government decides to go ahead with Rafale-M, it will bring compatibility since the Indian Air Force also operates Dassault Aviation’s jets

Apple slowly reducing dependence on China, as exports of iPhones made in India to hit $3B in 2023

Kashmir village gets electricity supply after 75 years, residents thank govt

US ‘thinking big’, says Piyush Goyal, rules out mini trade deal or FTA

The Modi government and the Biden administration are “thinking big” in terms of their trade and commerce relationship, a top Indian official said on Wednesday as he ruled out the previously talked about mini trade deal or a free trade agreement and noted that restoration of GSP is not a priority for New Delhi.

The previous Trump administration revoked the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) from India. The GSP allows eligible developing countries to export duty-free goods to the US. It is during the previous administration

as well that the two countries were on the verge of a mini trade deal, which has now been kicked out of the table. The Biden administration is also not in favour of a free trade agreement which businesses from either side are now talking about.

“I think in terms of GSP, I have not heard any significant clamour from the Indian industry. To focus our energies on the GSP issue, I have raised it today with my counterparts,” Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal told reporters at a news conference at the conclusion of the India-US Trade Policy

Bharat Jodo Yatra reaches Ludhiana

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi addressed people after Bharat Jodo Yatra reached Ludhiana.

A large number of supporters welcomed Rahul Gandhi. There were Congress flags on both sides of the road. He addressed the public at Samrala Chowk. The yatra entered Ludhiana from Jugiana, proceeded towards Dhandari Khurd. After this it passed through Dhabha Chowk, Shiv

Chowk, Transport Nagar and reached Samrala Chowk. MP Ravneet Bittu said it is a historic yatra and people should rise above party politics to be a part of it.

“Rahul Gandhi is not just travelling but he is meeting people from the interiors of the country and listening to their problems and issues faced by the people living in cities and villages,” said Bittu.

Leader of influential Hindu group backs LGBT rights in India

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s security was breached during a roadshow in Karnataka’s Hubbali Thursday after a 10-year-old boy rushed towards Modi to garland him, however, the security officials managed to intercept him on time.

Modi, who reached Hubballi to inaugurate the 26th National Youth Festival, was heading to the venue in a convoy. It was a planned roadshow where the road was barricaded and the public was not allowed. Despite security by local police, a boy carrying a garland rushed towards

Modi who was waving his hand at the public. The Special Protection Group (SPG) of the Prime Minister immediately intercepted him and got hold of the garland and handed it over to the Prime Minister who put it inside his car.

The minor was later detained by Hubballi police. The police later said it was not a security breach and they are investigating how the boy managed to evade such tight security. The police are yet to reveal the identity of the child but said his parents have been summoned.

Court rejects bail of accused in Delhi woman’s hit-and-drag case

A Metropolitan court dismissed the bail plea of Ashutosh Bhardwaj, an accused in the Kanjhawala hit-and-drag case that killed a 20-year-old woman in the national capital.

Metropolitan Magistrate Sanya Dalal

said considering the gravity of the offences, the fact that the investigation is at an initial stage and the offences alleged against the accused are exclusively triable by sessions court, this court is not inclined to grant bail.

Indian hackers target Pakistan

Assets of critical Pakistan government agencies, some of which are affiliated to the military, have been facing persistent cyberattacksfromagroup,whichdomesticand international experts claim, is based in India.

The group, which observers and experts have named the “SideWinder”, aka Rattlesnake, has launched a staggering over-1,000 attacks since April 2020 on government, military and business cyber assets based in Pakistan and managed

to hijack, steal or modify content in the intended computer systems.

Earlier, such India-based “nationalist” cyber groups, would, at the most, deface the websites, while Pakistan and China-based similar entities would indulge in cyber espionage and disruption of critical assets of organisations based in India. According to a report by California-headquartered Zscaler, a cybersecurity company, which has four offices in India, the people behind SideWinder, in one of their recent attacks.

Mohan Bhagwat is chief of the powerful Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) The RSS is the fountainhead of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s govt has in the past refused to legalise same-sex marriage.

The leader of a Hindu group that is the parent organisation of India’s ruling party has come out in support of the gay and transgender community, days before the government is due to respond to the Supreme Court about petitions to legalise same-sex marriage.

India decriminalised homosexuality when it scrapped a colonial-era ban on gay sex in 2018, but it remains a taboo topic in this socially conservative country of 1.4 billion.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government has in the past refused to legalise same-sex marriage.

But the recent comments by Mohan Bhagwat, chief of the powerful Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), which is the fountainhead of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), could force the government to reassess its opposition, said a junior minister in the federal government and a senior BJP leader, both declining to be named as they were

not authorised to speak to the media.

Speaking to an RSS-backed magazine published this week, Bhagwat said the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community “should have their own private and social space as they are humans and have the right to live as others”.

He cited Hindu scriptures and mythology as the basis of his support, and added: “Without much hullabaloo, we have found a way with a humane approach to provide them social acceptance.”

The RSS, established in 1925, is estimated to have millions of active members across India and overseas. The organisation was behind Modi’s rise to power.

This month, India’s Supreme Court started hearing petitions to recognise same-sex marriages after four gay couples stated that without legal recognition, they can not have access to rights such as those linked to medical consent, pensions, adoption or even club memberships.

The hearing is set to resume in March.

Lawyers for the couples declined to comment about Bhagwat’s comments, saying the matter was before the court.

BJP spreads hatred, ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ about communal harmony: Rahul

The foot march will also raise the issues of price rise and unemployment, he said Alleging that the BJP and RSS are spreading hatred in the country, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday said the Bharat Jodo Yatra aims to promote harmony and brotherhood.

The foot march will also raise the issues of price rise and unemployment, he said, addressing a gathering after the yatra entered Telangana Sunday morning from Karnataka.

The Bharat Jodo Yatra is against the ideology of BJP-RSS and hatred and violence, he said. He alleged that “two Indias” exist todayone that belongs to a select few and the rich, and the other that belongs to lakhs of youth, farmers, workers and small businessmen. “We don’t want two Indias. We want only one India and all should get justice, employment in it. There should be brotherhood in the country,” he said.

Security breach at PM Modi’s roadshow in Hubbali, boy rushes towards his car with garland.

CM appoints 17 heads for various corporations

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann appointed 17 chairpersons of various corporations, boards and improvement trusts in Punjab.

CM Mann shared the details of the new appointments on his Twitter handle. Among them, AAP leader Pradeep Chhabra was appointed as

A 23-year-old man in the UK has been jailed for six years for recklessly driving at a speed of nearly 100 mph, which led to the death of a Sikh woman -- mother to a five-month-old.

Hashim Aziz was driving at over three times the speed limit to “impress his cousins” when his Audi A3 crashed into Baljinder Kaur Moore’s Vauxhall Corsa in West Midlands,

chairperson of the Punjab Large Industrial Development Board. AAP Punjab unit spokesperson Neel Garg has been appointed as chairperson of the Punjab Medium Industrial Development Board while Jasvir Kudni has been made chairperson

in November last year, the Mirror reported.I Baljinder, 32, was on her way to pick up her husband from his brother’s home, and she was driving at 62 mph.

The Wolverhampton Crown Court heard that two witnesses had spotted Aziz flying past them “in excess of 100mph” before they heard “loud bangs”.

Expose ‘invisible hand’ behind anti-Sikh riots: BJP leader asks Centre

With ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ traversing Punjab, the ruling BJP on Wednesday stepped up its offensive against the Congress, asking the Centre to file details of action taken on report of Justice SN Dhingra Committee, which flagged an

While the PCS Officers’ Association withdrew its mass casual leave call and resumed duties today, the issue of naming IAS officer Neelima in the PSIEC land bifurcation case hangs in balance.

Even as the Vigilance Bureau chief Varinder Kumar reiterated his stand that

“invisible hand” behind the 1984 anti-Sikh riots and revealed a “police-politicianjudicial nexus” to bury the conspiracy.

In a letter to Home Minister Amit Shah today, BJP national secretary RP Singh, who is an intervener in the matter before

no prior approval was needed to register an FIR in the PSIEC land allotment case, the IAS officers’ lobby seemed pushed to the wall to clarify its stand. An FAQ in the case was uploaded on the website of “Invest Punjab”, clarifying each and every allegation levelled against then PSIEC

Pakistan

Election Commission issues arrest warrant against Imran Khan

The case is based on the statement issued by PTI leaders against the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and the Chief Election Commissioner.

The Election Commission issued bailable arrest warrants for former prime minister and other top leaders of his party in a contempt case.

The case is based on statements issued by top Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leaders against the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and Chief Election Commissioner Sikander Sultan Raja.

A four-member ECP bench headed by Nisar Durrani issued warrants against Khan and his close aides - Fawad Chaudhry and Asad Umar.

The election watchdog had issued notices against them in August and September last year in the exercise of its powers of contempt after the PTI leaders repeatedly bashed the commission and Raja over what they claim is their partisan policy and their alleged favouring of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).

UN urges ‘massive’ aid to rebuild flood-hit areas in Pakistan

Numerous countries to assist Pakistan with its reconstruction efforts in the aftermath of recent floods, with the total aid amount topping $8 billion, Information minister said.

Pakistan was devastated by floods last year and held a joint conference on

Monday with the United Nations to raise money for reconstruction efforts. The flood-torn nation asked countries for $8 billion over the next three years and said it could cover the rest, which would also be another $8 billion.

China concerned over safety of its citizens in Pakistan

China’s new Foreign Minister Qin Gang in the first phone call with his Pakistani counterpart Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that Beijing is concerned about the safety of its workers based in Pakistan and urged him to

take “strong” security measures to protect them.

Qin, who recently succeeded Wang Yi, had a phone call at the request of Bilawal on January 9, a Chinese Foreign Ministry statement here said on Tuesday.

Punjab Chief Minister wins historic vote of confidence as opposition walks out of the Assembly

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi successfully won the vote of confidence as 186 lawmakers of Punjab Assembly voted in his favour. In a chaotic session held during early hours of Thursday, CM, Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi managed to get vote of confidence from Punjab Assembly after that opposition walked out claiming that the vote was

“bulldozed” and “unconstitutional”.

Speaker, who presided the session, said that Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi got 186 votes exactly the number required to retain his strong position. Outside Punjab Assembly hall , federal Minister Rana Sanaullah labelled the session’s proceedings “against the rules and Constitution”, and accused the speaker of “bulldozing” the vote of confidence.

Fiji U-17 secures first win in OFC Championship

The Digicel Baby Bula Boys have secured their first win in the OFC Under 17 Championship after beating Samoa 3-0 at the HFC Bank Stadium. William Khan scored the first goal for Fiji as they led 1-0 at halftime. Prashant Kumar doubled the lead after slotting in from a rebound after Ibraheem Afazal’s attempt came off the post.

Vinayak Rao scored the third goal for the Baby Bula Boys from the penalty spot.

Ibraheem Afzal was named man of the match.

All the teams will be on a break tomorrow.

Fiji will take on Tonga on Wednesday at the HFC Bank Stadium

Ministry profiles 39 cases of homeless people in Suva City

The Ministry of Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation has profiled 39 cases of people who are homeless in Suva City and from this exercise, 21 were adults between the age of 18 to 59 years, 16 were children under 18 years and 2 were Older Persons.

Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Ashwin Raj confirms that there is an

increase in homeless people in Suva and they are working in collaboration with partners through a task force that tries to understand the issues of those on the streets.

He says they understand that while immediate measures are being rendered through welfare assistance, more strategic, consulted and inclusive means

Ministers and Assistant Ministers receive further 10% pay cut – PM

Rabuka had earlier said with 19 Ministers, the Cabinet is larger than he initially planned, and some Fijians will be concerned about the cost.

He added that he has

considered it necessary to appoint 10 Assistant Ministers to provide additional ministerial power needed for the enormous job of putting things right in virtually all aspects of the nation’s life.

Prime Minister dismisses comments by Kumar

Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka says the coalition Government’s plan to remove teachers’ contracts will allow them to meet the stringent requirements to obtain home loans and other major purchases.

He said this at a news conference yesterday where he dismissed comments made by former education minister Premila Kumar who claimed under the FijiFirst

government, teachers on three-year contracts were not disadvantaged.

When asked to respond to Government’s plan to remove teachers’ contracts, Ms Kumar said the private sector also did not provide life-long jobs.

“Contracts are what we have to sign and they were only for three years but that does not mean we could not get

Reckless driver was driving thrice the speed limit in London killed Sikh woman

Vigilance Bureau chief cites SC verdicts for action against ‘corrupt’ officials

Wells Fargo fires VP after he allegedly peed on co-passenger in business class

A man has been fired from his job at Wells Fargo after he allegedly urinated on a female co-passenger on an Air India flight from New York.

Mumbai resident Shankar Mishra, 34, worked as the vice president of India operations for the financial services giant. He was accused of urinating on an unsuspecting woman, 72, while on a plane to Delhi on November 26.

According to the victim’s statement, Mishra walked up to her seat soon after lunch was served and the lights in the plane were dimmed. He unzipped his pants and began urinating on her, soaking her clothes, shoes, and bag, which contained her passport and other important documents. Air India did not file a formal complaint with police until December 28, according to Hindustan Times. Air India in-flight crew members assumed the matter was resolved after the man and woman had a conversation on the plane.

India’s Directorate-General of Civil Aviation took notice of this and called out the airline in a statement this past week: “The conduct of the airline appears to be unprofessional, and has led to systemic failure.”

Mishra was banned from flying Air India for 30 days. Delhi Police has charged him with obscenity and sexual harassment and is on the lookout for him. The man is believed to be on the run, possibly making his way to his hometown of Mumbai.

In her statement, the victim discusses her shocking experience and subsequent mishandling of the case by Air India.

“The flight staff refused to touch [my bag, shoes, and clothes], sprayed my bag

and shoes with disinfectant, and took me to the bathroom and gave me a set of airline pyjamas and socks,” she said.

“I asked the staff for a change of seat but was told that no other seats were available.

However, another business class passenger who had witnessed my plight and was advocating for me pointed out that there were seats available in first class. The night crew told me that the pilot had vetoed giving me a seat in first class.”

The woman said she stood around for 20 minutes after cleaning up to get a seat. She refused to talk to the offender after he offered to apologize, but airline staff brought the two face to face against her wishes. She wanted him arrested ASAP.

“I was stunned when he started crying and profusely apologizing to me, begging me not to lodge a complaint against him because he is a family man and did not want his wife and child to be affected by this incident,” the statement further reads.

“I told him that his actions were inexcusable, but in the face of his pleading and begging in front of me, and my own shock and trauma, I found it difficult to insist on his arrest or to press charges against him. The woman also demanded that Air India reimburse her for her soiled belongings, but they allegedly refused and said it was the perpetrator’s responsibility to sort it out. She also stressed the staff’s lack of judgment in terms of serving appropriate amounts of alcohol to passengers.

To add insult to injury, the woman was also not fully refunded for her ticket. She says that she expected a follow-up investigation from Air India but was not contacted by the airline.

BC Liberal statement on pulp line closure at Canfor’s Prince George Mill

BC Liberal Shadow Minister for Forests Mike Bernier released the following statement today in response to the announcement of an intended closure of the pulp line at the Canfor Pulp and Paper Mill in Prince George: “The news out of Prince George yesterday that the pulp line at Canfor’s Pulp and Paper Mill will be shut down in late March is devastating to countless families.

“More than 300 workers, and many other indirect jobs will be impacted by this decision. My heart goes out to the workers and their families who had this dropped on them yesterday, with most now wondering what they’ll do for work in two months’ time.

“The situation in our forestrydependent communities is dire, and this second-term NDP government has failed to come to the table with solutions. No solutions for the industry as a whole, and no solutions for workers and their families.

“David Eby has admitted that the industry is facing unprecedented amounts of stress and yet one of his first orders of business

was to disband the Cabinet Working Group on Forestry.

“Calls for action and substantive policy suggestions from the BC Liberal Caucus have been ignored by this government for years.

“While we recognize there are changes and reforms necessary in the forest sector, this government’s failure to consult and plan for the future of the industry has let down British Columbians.

“After nearly 6 years of NDP failures on forestry, people have no faith that this government has the willingness or ability to tackle the situation.

“This requires a concerted focus and commitment from government with tangible supports made available on the ground immediately for the families impacted and a plan forward for forest sector workers and forestry-dependent communities that addresses a range of NDP policies that have unnecessarily exacerbated strains on the industry.

“Anything less is a failure of this NDP government’s responsibility to British Columbians. People deserve so much better.”

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