www.theasianstar.com
Vol 19 - Issue 19
Saturday, June 6, 2020
South Asian couple murdered in India while awaiting opportunity to return home to Calgary A Calgary couple who were trying to get home after being stranded in India during the COVID-19 pandemic were found dead on the weekend, leaving family and friends in northeast Calgary in shock. Kirpal Minhas, 67, and his wife, Davinder Minhas, 65, were visiting Phagwara in the Punjab region of northern India, where they owned property. They’d been there
since November. F a m i l y members say the couple were victims of a violent robbery at one of their properties on May 29. News coverage in India, including a report by The Times of India, suggest the two were stabbed and strangled. They were trying to get back to Calgary but flights had been cancelled due to
Continued on page 6
Slow start to spring forecasted to lead to above average summer for BC - Weather Network Most Canadians may have missed out on spring, but one of the country’s most prominent weather forecasters says they’ll likely get to enjoy a more seasonal summer. The Weather Network is calling for slightly warmer than normal temperatures across most of the country, with Ontario and Quebec slated for the longest stretches of significant heat. But Chief Meteorologist Chris Scott says the summery conditions in central Canada may come with a price, predicting precipitation levels somewhat above seasonal norms throughout June, July and August. Scott says the season may get off to a slow start in the Atlantic provinces, but forecasts more typical summer weather patterns towards
the end of June as well as above average storm activity throughout the region. He’s also expecting to see higher precipitation across much of the prairies, noting the same weather that may complicate spring planting for regional farmers is slated to give way to favourable harvest conditions by season’s end. Scott says a cooler month of June in British Columbia and the Yukon is expected to lead to temperatures that are slightly above seasonal norms, while average temperatures in Nunavut and the Northwest Territories are projected to fall below levels recorded in a typical summer.
Tel:604-591-5423
What you need to know about COVID-19 in BC The latest: Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry reported nine new cases Thursday and no new deaths. Henry is presenting new epidemiological models Thursday. As of Thursday, there have been 2,632 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in B.C 166 people have died.2,265 people who tested positive have recovered. 26 people are in hospital, including six in intensive care. There are 201 active cases of the virus across B.C. Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry reported Thursday that nine new cases of COVID-19 have been detected in B.C. There were no new deaths reported. So far, B.C. has detected 2,632 cases of Continued on page 9
South Asian COVID-19 survivor warns people to remains vigilant after 8-week hospital stay Atish Ram, 58, is reminding British Columbians that the pandemic isn’t over and the disease can be devastating. When Atish Ram, 58, was admitted to Royal Columbian Hospital after testing positive for COVID-19, he had a neat, white goatee. When he was finally discharged 54 days later, he sported an impressive white beard. The unchecked growth of facial hair marked the time stolen by the disease, but it was the 30 pounds he lost, the shortness of breath, the coughing and the oxygen
Continued on page 9
Charges laid in crash that killed Vancouver Whitecaps prospect Brandon Bassi A 19-year-old man has been charged in a fatal collision that took the life of a Vancouver Whitecaps prospect last spring. Brandon Bassi, then 19, died when the Jeep he was a passenger in crashed at the intersection of 78 Avenue and 122 Street, around 12:30 a.m. on May 18, 2019. Six people were in the Jeep when it crashed. Three other people were taken to hospital, two of them in serious condition. At the time of the crash, police said two people fled the scene but were later identified. Surrey Continued on page 9
Ottawa to become 1st Canadian city to make masks ‘mandatory’ on transit Ottawa will become the first city in Canada to officially require passengers and staff on its public transit system to wear masks, but no one will be barred from boarding a bus or train if they’re not.In a 10-1 vote Monday afternoon, the city’s transit commission approved OC Transpo’s plan to make mandatory the wearing of non-medical masks or some other sort of face covering. Only citizen commissioner
Michael Olsen, who said he believes maskwearing should be voluntary, voted against the initiative. However, for what is being billed as a mandatory program, there appears to be little to no enforcement planned. “We’re not going to have mask police,” the city’s general manager of transit, John Manconi, told the commission. “Yes, we can invoke fines and so forth, but that’s not what we’re going to be doing. We’re going to be asking everybody to do their part to help
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www.theasianstar.com
Vol 19 - Issue 19
Saturday, June 6, 2020
Strains from Europe and Eastern Canada account for most COVID-19 cases in BC Strains traced to Europe and Eastern Canada are by far the largest source of COVID-19 infections in B.C., according to new modelling presented by the provincial government Thursday. Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry revealed the results of genomic tracing of different strains of the virus, showing that of those samples that have been sequenced, early cases linked to travel from China and
Iran appear to have been well contained, leading to relatively few other infections. But beginning in March, with an outbreak that began when an infected person recently arrived from Germany attended the Pacific Dental Conference in Vancouver, infections with strains from Eastern Canada and Europe spiked dramatically. Strains traced to Washington state have also been linked to a large number of cases, particularly in long-term care homes
in the Vancouver Coastal Health region. Henry explained that this kind of tracing is possible because the genome of the virus changes relatively quickly, but not as fast as diseases like
Tel:604-591-5423 influenza. Genomic tracing of different strains of the novel coronavirus show most infections are linked to variations that have been traced to Europe and Eastern Canada.
CN Rail worker killed in an incident leaves behind wife & 9-month-old son The online fundraiser says Riar was the sole provider for his family. The employee killed in switching incident at Surrey rail yard CN Rail has not provided any further details about what happened. The Transportation Safety Board confirmed an investigator has been assigned to the case.
The Canadian National Rail worker killed while on the job in Surrey this week was a young dad who left behind a wife and nine-month-old son. Jas Riar, 31, was killed during a switching incident at 2 a.m. Monday at Thornton Yard. A few of his close friends started a fundraiser that had raised more than $71,000 as of Wednesday afternoon for his wife and son.
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4 by Doug Firby
OPINION
Saturday, June 6, 2020
Some day soon, we have to stand up to China
Diplomacy is a dirty business. When two countries are trying to build or repair a relationship, they often resort to tactics that are illegal, immoral, mendacious or just generally offensive to our sense of what’s right and wrong. Just ask the two Michaels. Diplomat Michael Kovrig and businessman Michael Spavor have been in prisons in China
for more than 400 days each, even though neither has been charged with a crime and the government of that country has provided no evidence that they broke any laws. They were in solitary confinement for months and haven’t had a chance to see their families, although of late they have been allowed to talk to their
lawyers. Their crimes? They just happened to be in the right place at the wrong time when China was looking for pawns. As readers know, it’s accepted as fact that the two Michaels were nabbed in retaliation for the arrest of Huawei’s chief financial officer, Meng Wanzhou. RCMP took her into custody in Vancouver in December 2018 on a U.S. extradition warrant. The process of getting her to the U.S. so she can stand trial on charges of corporate fraud is dragging on. It’s widely assumed that the problems of the Michaels could be resolved quickly if only Canada would set Meng free. Here’s the dilemma: Canada has an extradition treaty with the U.S., its closest neighbour and largest trading partner. Freeing Meng would require our country to not just violate that agreement, but also allow politicians to do an end-run around the legal process. Not only is it just not how we operate, it would also put a chill on already shaky Canada/U.S. relations during the Donald Trump era. Yet standing up to China is not an easy thing. That communist country is quickly overtaking the U.S. as the dominant world economic power. It buys our wood pulp, oil seeds and grains, ores, mineral fuels and oil, spending as much as $48 billion annually on those goods. In short, Canadian producers have come to rely on China as both a very important market and a way to diversify our markets. As Albertans know all too well with their fossil fuels, selling goods only to the U.S. makes us price-takers – we have to take whatever price they offer us. So it’s gut-check time. Do we stay the course with Meng, knowing full well that two innocent Canadians will pay the price – possibly by facing many more years of unwarranted incarceration? Do we stay the course, knowing that the strained relations will likely lead to further retaliation through China’s boycott of our goods? Do we stay the course, knowing that it will seriously set back our goal of market diversification? These are painful decisions with farreaching implications. However, one also has to think of the consequences of giving in to China’s demands.
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6 get back to Calgary but flights had been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “They were catching up with family and checking up on properties that they owned there,� said the couple’s son-inlaw Kam Rathore, who lives in Calgary. The couple had been visiting northern India since November but were unable to travel home dues to Covid-19 travel restrictions. (Kam Rathore) “Thefamilyisdevastated.Weallare,�saidRathore. He says adding to the pain is the family not being able to travel to India for the last rites and cremation due to pandemic travel restrictions still in place. “There’s not closure,� he said. “This is something we never expected.� “They do have three suspects in custody. The motive was robbery, for cash and jewelry. That’s what’s been explained to us by authorities there,� said Rathore. Rathore says one of those arrested was renting a portion of the couple’s home.
From page 1
Saturday, June 6, 2020
South Asian couple murdered in India while awaiting opportunity to return home to Calgary Hesaysthecoupledidn’tknowtheywereindanger. “They never realized, not a slight chance. It never occurred to us or them that this could happen,� Rathore said. The couple were permanent residents of Canada and had been living in Calgary since 2016. Son-in-law Kam Rathore says three people are in custody in connection with the killings on the weekend. He was told Kirpal and Davinder Minhas were targeted for cash and jewelry. (Dan McGarvey/CBC) The couple had two daughters in Calgary and two sons living in the United States and were well known and respected figures in Calgary’s Sikh community. “He was very nice, a very gentle, very religious guy. They took care of volunteer
work and religious work, that’s what they were doing right now,� said Rathore. “The community has been very kind and helpful, reaching out on a daily basis,� said Rathore. But COVID-19 is impacting well wishers, too, with messages of condolence coming online and via phone calls rather than in-person, as would usually happen. The volunteer group Bring Canadians Back Home says the deaths could have been prevented if there were more repatriation flights to bring Canadians stranded in India back home. The couple were registered with the group and were waiting for a chance to fly home after eight flights due to bring them back in April were cancelled when the group’s permit was revoked. Davinder and Kirpal Minhas were originally from Mumbai and were permanent residents
in Canada. They had properties in the Punjab region, where they were visiting when they were killed on May 29. (Kam Rathore) “The federal government could have supported us. We had permission for eight flights, we started booking and then the flights were cancelled. We asked the government to support us but we got no support,� said Gina Takhar. Takhar says in some cases NRIs, or NonResident Indians, are being ostracized and blamed by locals in places like Punjab for bringing COVID-19 to India with them. She says that sentiment can even lead to visitors becoming the victims of threats and violence. She says others have health-care issues and face different outcomes in India than in Canada. She says she has a list of thousands of individuals and families still stuck in Mumbai, south India and the state of Punjab.
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Saturday, June 6, 2020
India’s Bollywood cuts kissing scenes, epic dance routines under new coronavirus rules
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s Bollywood resumes shooting in the next few weeks based on coronavirus guidelines issued by the Producers Guild of India, the Hindi film industry is bracing itself for a new world with little of the old razzamatazz. Filming will be lean and sparse to prevent Covid-19 infections. Forget the epic song-and-dance routines or the opulent wedding scenes filled with thronging crowds. Think string quartet rather than an orchestra. There will also be no handshakes or hugging or kissing on set. The Guild’s strict guidelines for the industry, which employs some 300,000 workers, is linked to the fact that Mumbai, home of Bollywood, has been engulfed by the pandemic with some 42,000 infections. Mumbai is the capital of Maharashtra, India’s worst-affected state, which has 75,000
coronavirus cases, accounting for more than one-third of the country’s total. Having lost billions of rupees over the past three months, the world’s second largest film industry is eager to return to work. Movies, along with cricket, are India’s two greatest pastimes. But the eagerness is combined with anxiety, as it is all over the country as the lockdown rules are gradually relaxed. No one expects the industry, which generates US$2.28 billion a year, to start churning out the 2,000 films per year that used to be the norm. But some shooting will start and when it does, the crazy and chaotic scenes that once characterised life on a set will not be allowed. No actor above the age of 65 will be allowed
to film. That rules out top actors such as
Amitabh Bachchan, 77, and Shabana Azmi, 69, to name only two. Plenty of legendary directors are also 65 and above. “Lots of other actors also come to mind.
Also, some films have been partially or substantially shot with actors over 65. Casting younger actors to reshoot may not be financially viable,” said one director who did not want to be named. Among other rules, no audience scenes will be allowed. Only a third of the crew will be allowed on set at any given time. In stories about families, casting directors will have to try to find real families to minimise contact among strangers. Actors will have to do their make-up at home. If that’s not possible, it will be applied on set by make-up artists wearing protective clothing. Costumes will be fitted at the actors’ homes. No food will be allowed on set. All this is in addition to the usual social distancing, constant sanitisation, and masks. And all this assumes that actors and top stars will be prepared to leave the safety of their homes to join sets where some 50-100 people may be present. Bosco Martis, an awardwinning choreographer who specialises in large-scale dance sequences, said he preferred to wait until the city had contained the virus before returning to work. “I want to see if the rules are being followed on set first and then decide,” Martis said. “I am also exploring if I can work with only one or two persons directly on the set, but use special effects to create a crowd for the sequence.”
Film producer Nitin Tej Ahuja, while welcoming the rules as thoughtful and comprehensive, was concerned about their feasibility. How was social-distancing possible for scenes requiring actors to be in close proximity? What about camera attendants holding heavy equipment or a make-up artist applying make-up? “While some of the rules may work in a closed indoor set, it’s difficult to sanitise outdoor locations. In some films, you may be able to rewrite outdoor scenes to be shot indoors, but not in every situation and some outdoor scenes may be critical to the narrative,” Ahuja said. He also pointed out that film shoots were not just about celebrities and senior crew members who lived in affluent and safe environments. “The set boys, for example, live in more congested and vulnerable areas,” Ahuja said. “I wonder how comfortable actors will be at the perception of increased exposure?” A scene from Bollywood musical comedy Om Shanti Om. Photo: Handout Meanwhile, some film buffs are predicting that the absence of intimacy dictated by social distancing will bring Bollywood back to the era when movies portrayed love and sex with coyness and euphemism. Although modern Bollywood films have been showing kissing for years.
Saturday, June 6, 2020 Police impound vehicle for speeding 100 km/hr on Cambie bridge There may be fewer cars on the road due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but drivers should note that the VPD Traffic Unit is still active on Vancouver’s Streets. On May 29, Vancouver Police Sgt Mark Christensen tweeted an image of a Mercedes-Maybach being towed on the Cambie Street Bridge. He said the car was going 100 km/hr, which is double the 50 km/hr speed limit. And while he notes that this isn’t an uncommon incident, he adds that the driver was a Learner with a supervisor. What’s more, the car did not have the required “L” on the back. The Motor Vehicle Act defines excessive speeding as going over 40 km/hr above the speed limit. Doing so comes with a hefty $368 fine
in addition to a seven-day vehicle impound. In addition, the driver was slapped with a $109 fine for the missing “L”. In May, VPD Traffic Enforcement warned leadfoots that they were doubling down on efforts this week to target excessive speeders and other forms of dangerous behaviour as part of Canada Road Safety Week. As people start to return to the roads, police say that they are dedicated to increasing road safety with targeted enforcement of unsafe behaviour. They also note that less traffic on the roads due to COVID-19 is not an excuse for speeding, racing or stunt driving.
South Asian COVID-19 survivor warns people to remains vigilant after 8-week hospital stay From page 1 bottle he keeps by his side that tell the story of COVID’s physical toll. “The virus attacks your lungs, and what it did to me was it attacked my lungs, and it caused pneumonia,” said Ram a few days after he returned to his Surrey home on Saturday. He had an underlying heart condition before contracting the virus, and his long hospital stay — in and out of the intensive care unit — was largely due to complications and the disease’s persistence. Active COVID-19 cases in B.C. fall to lowest number since public health emergency declared Now that the province is continuing to resume regular activity, and measures taken to reduce the spread of the virus are easing, Ram wants his case to serve as a reminder that the pandemic isn’t over, and the virus can still find its way to vulnerable people — causing suffering or death. Atish Ram says his 54day hospital stay after contracting COVID-19 took a mental toll. He wasn’t allowed visits from family and had little energy to speak on the phone and have FaceTime chats. On Tuesday, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry announced four new COVID-19
cases in B.C. There are now 207 active cases of the virus across the province, the lowest number since a public health emergency was declared on March 17 — just four days before Ram started noticing COVID-19 symptoms. “I am really worried about it,” said Ram of the rate that people are returning to normal behaviour. “Until a vaccine is found, nobody is safe.” ‘The most difficult thing that I had to do’ He said the duration of his hospital stay was a struggle, but the lowest point was about 10 days in, when he was in the ICU for the second time. Ram says his complications from COVID-19 ranged from constipation to internal bleeding and low blood pressure. According to Ram, a nurse told him he’d likely be intubated — a procedure in which a tube is inserted down a patient’s throat to keep airways open — and put on a ventilator that night. He was told he could be in a coma for as much as a month and he should call his family. “Basically he was telling me, you’ve got to say your last words to them, and it was the most difficult thing that I had to do,” said Ram. “They stabilized me enough so I could talk, then I was able to phone my wife and kids.”
Charges laid in crash that killed Vancouver Whitecaps prospect Brandon Bassi Surrey RCMP said Wednesday that Dilpreet Sandhu is now facing eight charges, including dangerous driving causing death and failure to remain at the scene of a fatal crash. Bassi played for Simon Fraser University’s men’s soccer team where he had recently started an undergraduate arts degree, according to the school. He had joined the Whitecaps residency
program after playing for B.C. Soccer’s provincial squad, according to the B.C. Soccer. In the wake of the tragedy, Bassi’s family launched a crowdfunding campaign to create the Brandon Bassi Foundation. It said the foundation will award a $1,000 scholarship annually to a student who “demonstrates leadership in and outside of the classroom.”
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Seniors to receive up to $500 in promised COVID-19 emergency aid in early July Some Canadian seniors will soon be receiving a special one-time COVID-19 payment. According to the federal government, seniors who already receive old-age security benefits will receive $300, while those who are on the guaranteed income
supplement will receive an additional $200. Roughly 8.2 million eligible seniors are expected to receive the pandemic-related top-up, which will come in the form of a direct deposit for the week of July 6. The Liberal government first promised
Police are on scene of a duplex in the 13800-block of 108th Avenue Thursday morning (June 4), after the “suspicious” death of a woman. Just after 3 a.m. on Tuesday (June 2), Surrey RCMP said it received a report of “an injured woman who had been
transported to Surrey Memorial Hospital, in medical distress.” She died in hospital “as a result of her injuries,” said Sergeant Frank Jang, with the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team. Jang said the woman was transported by first responders to the hospital from the duplex, and “that’s why we’re looking into
the extra help in mid-May, but Seniors Minister Deb Schulte said Thursday that the delay in getting the money into the hands of those who need it was because the government had to create a new, effective delivery system that didn’t involve seniors
having to apply for the extra benefit. “We want to ensure accuracy and we want to make sure seniors are not vulnerable, or not exposed to any fraud or the kind of things we’ve been seeing as people are applying,” Schulte said.
Police on scene at a Surrey duplex after ‘suspicious’ death of woman that address.” He said her death is “suspicious” as of now and they’re “trying to determine the cause of death.” Jang added there will be an autopsy either Friday or early next week. Asked if she was found alone in the
home, Jang said “there were people at scene who we’re speaking with.” “We don’t believe that this was a random case, but again, we’re not going so far as to say it’s a homicide yet because it’s really dependent on determining that cause of death. That’s the crucial part right now.”
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Premier Horgan promises help for BC’s devastated tourism industry A domestic tourism campaign will be rolled out over the next few weeks in a bid to restart B.C.’s devastated travel industry. B.C. Premier John Horgan said Tourism Minister Lisa Beare had been meeting with representatives of the tourism sector over the past six weeks to help come up with a recovery plan. COVID-19: Horgan promises help for B.C.’s devastated tourism industry “We’ve been pushing all of that information back to the federal government so that we can have a response that helps sustain many of the
businesses that have been the foundation of our tourism economy for decades,” Horgan said. The tourism industry is the worst hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, with virtually all travel eliminated overnight when the federal government banned non-Canadian travellers on March 16. The Canada-U. S. border was closed to non-essential travel five days later. Canada Border Services Agency figures for the last week of May show arrivals at Vancouver International Airport fell by 97 per cent compared to the same period in 2019.
Saturday, June 6, 2020
Education minister announces new South Surrey elementary school South Surrey is getting another elementary school. Minister of Education Rob Fleming announced a 655-seat elementary school coming to the Sunnyside Heights area, along with a 195-seat addition for White Rock Elementary and a 190-seat addition at Morgan Elementary.
The new $44-million Sunnyside Heights area elementary school will be built at 20th Avenue and 165A Street. The Surrey school district is contributing $5 million. It is expected to be ready by fall of 2023, Fleming said.
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Seniors to receive COVID-19 emergency aid of up to $500 in July - Prime Minister Trudeau Seniors facing higher costs for groceries, transportation and prescriptions due to COVID-19 can expect emergency aid payments of up to $500 in early July. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced during his daily news conference in Ottawa Thursday that the payments would be distributed starting the week of July 6. Trudeau initially announced the one-time top-up on May 12. The payments are to offset increases in the cost of living due to COVID-19. Seniors who qualify for Old Age Security (OAS) will be eligible for a one-time tax-free payment of
$300, and those eligible for the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) will get $200. Those eligible for both will receive $500. The direct supports will amount to $2.5 billion, and are expected to help 6.7 million older Canadians. Seniors to receive COVID-19 emergency aid of up to $500
Indian economist appointed to key World Bank position in South Asia Abhas Jha, an Indian economist, has been appointed by the World Bank to a key position on climate change and disaster management in South Asia, the global lender said. Jha’s appointment comes at a time when Cyclone Amphan has badly hit West Bengal and Odisha in India and Bangladesh. In his capacity as World Bank’s Practice Manager for Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management for South Asia, one of the top priorities of Jha will be to encourage and help the South Asia region (SAR) Disaster Risk Management and Climate Change team to connect and collaborate across Global Practice boundaries, the bank said in a statement on Friday. And also to the World Bank to conceive and deliver innovative and high-quality development solutions to respond to client demands and strengthen disaster risk management and
climate action in the region, the statement said. Based out of Singapore, Jha will also work closely with other Practice Managers, Global Leads and Global Solutions Groups to incubate, pilot and scale up innovative and high-quality development solutions, and to promote the generation and flow of global knowledge to serve these countries, the bank said. According to the bank, Jha’s mandate is to nurture, lead, inspire and deploy a team of highly-qualified professionals to deliver the best solutions for these countries. Jha, an Indian national, joined the Bank in 2001 in the office of the Executive Director for Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Sri Lanka and has since worked in Latin America and the Caribbean, Europe and Central Asia, and East Asia and the Pacific regions. His most recent assignment is Practice
in
July: Trudeau Prime Minister Trudeau says seniors facing higher costs for groceries, transportation and prescriptions due to the pandemic can expect emergency aid payments of up to $500 in early July. 2:03 Trudeau said many seniors are facing increased costs
such as additional dispensing fees for prescriptions, added costs for grocery delivery services and taxi fees when they might have taken the bus in past. “What makes things even harder is the fact that this is the new normal for many of them, at least for a little while,” Trudeau said. “Even as we start to reopen parts of the economy, many seniors will have to stay home for longer to protect their health. And that’s really weighing on them.”
Asian grocery giant to suspend temperature checks at their stores While many businesses have adopted temperature checks at their stores, one Asian grocery giant has decided to suspend these checks as of June 9. All T&T Supermarket locations across Canada, including all those in Metro Vancouver, will be suspending temperature checks at the door after finding the numbers “inaccurately high.” According to Tina Lee, CEO of T&T Supermarkets, the high temperature numbers was a result of customers lining up outside of the grocery store on a hot weekend in Toronto.
“We don’t want to be turning away customers that are registering a high temperature just because they have been standing outside in the heat, or just coming in aftersomeoutdooractivity,”saidLeeinastatement. Company employees will still undergo mandatory temperature checks, while shoppers areaskedtostillwearmaskswhenenteringthestore. T&T was one of the first stores that implemented temperature check protocols with the intention to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in April.
Saturday, June 6, 2020 Feds to fast-track $2.2B in funding for municipalities struggling amid COVID-19 pandemic The federal government is fast-tracking the entire 2020/2021 amount of federal support for municipalities, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said during an address from Rideau Cottage on Monday (June 1). The full $2.2 billion will come through the gastax fund to help cities whose budgets have been decimated amid the COVID-19 crisis. Trudeau said it was important to get the funding out now as municipalities struggle to gather revenue to provide liquidity right now. “We need to do more and we will do more,” Trudeau promised. Monday’s announcement falls short of the money asked for by the
Federation of Canadian Municipalities. “We are calling for a federal operating infusion of $10–15 billion over the next six months,” the organization said in a report released this spring. The report stated that property tax and utility bill deferrals, as well as a lack of transit fare revenue and a drop-off in tourism revenue have left Canada’s municipalities in a rough spot. Trudeau said he was “very concerned” about how municipalities would handle paying for necessary services like transit, police and firefighting, but that provinces would have to work together with Ottawa. The feds have not offered help for transit in Canadian cities.
Face covering rules are expanded on planes, trains and ships Travelling in Canada is going to look very different — as of noon today. In an effort to fight the spread of COVID-19, Transport Minister Marc Garneau has announced new requirements on the use of face coverings on planes, trains and ships. And, he says, new rules are on the way for trucks, buses and other forms of transportation. “My top concern continues to be the well-being of the transportation workers and the travelling public,” Garneau said in a statement released Wednesday. “The use of face coverings can limit the transmission of the virus where physical distancing cannot be maintained,” he said. Here are the changes: Airline flight crew and airport workers will be required to wear non-medical marks, in addition to the existing requirement for passengers; Railway operators will have to notify passengers to wear a face covering when physical distancing of two metres
from others can’t be maintained, or as requested by the rail companies; All railway workers will be required to be given face coverings and ensure they are worn according to risk or when mandated by local authorities;Marine workers will be advised to possess a face covering that will be worn depending on the workplace risk, when physical distancing can’t be maintained or where local authorities require it Practices for the use of personal protective equipment, including masks, will be established for trucking, motor coaches and transit in collaboration with provinces, territories and industry. In April, Garneau rolled out new rules that — among other things — required that all air travellers wear face masks covering their noses and mouths while in transit. Those rules also required people flying in Canada to wear masks at all Canadian screening checkpoints whenever maintaining two metres separation from others was not possible.
Canada’s mortgage insurer tightens rules as it forecasts home-price drop of up to 18% The government-backed Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp said on Thursday it would tighten rules for offering mortgage insurance from July 1, after forecasting declines of between 9 per cent and 18 per cent in home prices over the next 12 months. The move would make it harder for riskier borrowers, who offer down payments of less than 20 per cent, to access CMHC’s default mortgage insurance. CMHC is establishing a minimum credit score of 680 instead of the current 600, the group said in an emailed statement. It will also limit total gross debt servicing ratios to its standard requirement of 35 per cent of annual income, compared with a threshold as high as 39 per cent currently, and total debt servicing to 42 per cent versus as much as 44 per cent now. The measures will help curtail “excessive demand and unsustainable house price growth,” CMHC Chief Executive Evan Siddall said in the statement. He said COVID-19 has exposed longstanding financial-market vulnerabilities, and “we must act now to protect the economic futures of Canadians.” Some 35 per cent of Canadian banks’ mortgages are insured, their financial statements show. CMHC is the top mortgage insurer, while Genworth MI Canada and other private companies also provide similar products. Despite evaporating activity in the housing market due to the COVID-19 pandemic, prices have continued to rise as listings have fallen off alongside demand. Home prices across the country rose 1.3 per cent in April from March, and data from Toronto and Vancouver real estate boards showed increases of 3 per cent and 2.9 per cent in May, respectively, from a year earlier. The CMHC has taken a more bearish view of the housing market than others. Last
week, some of Canada’s biggest banks forecast maximum price declines of about 7 per cent. Siddall last week responded to critics of its more dire outlook, saying on Twitter they were “whistling past the graveyard and offering no analysis.”
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No prasad, touching of idols at shrines; govt also issues SOPs for shopping malls, restaurants The government on Thursday issued standard operating procedures (SOPs) for restaurants to run in COVID times, stating that only 50% seating permitted at a time. ThegovernmentalsoissuedSOPsforreligious places to operate during COVID pandemic.
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SOPs bar physical offering of ‘prasad’, sprinkling of holy water, touching of idols inside shrines. Physical distance norms mandatory to prepare and serve ‘langar’. SOPs were also issued for shopping malls. While malls open children play
1,409 COVID-19 new cases in India reaches total number 21,700 686 deaths The death toll due to COVID-19 rose to 681 and the number of cases climbed to 21,393 in India on Wednesday, registering an increase of 49 deaths and 1,486 cases since last evening, according to the Union health ministry. The number of active COVID-19 cases stood at 15,859. While 3,959 people have been cured and discharged, and one patient has migrated, the ministry said. Meanwhile, the United States has recorded 1,738 deaths from coronavirus in the last 24 hours, a lower toll than the day before, according to a running tally by Johns Hopkins University. The new deaths bring the total number of COVID-19 fatalities in the US to 46,583 since the outbreak began there, by far the highest figures recorded by any country caught in the global pandemic.
Here are all the live updates: 9:28PM: Coronavirus cases in Delhi rise to 2376; death toll mounts to 50: Authorities. 8:42PM: All those who attended the Tablighi conference in Delhi from Kerala have been traced and tested. I am particularly mentioning this because there is a conscious attempt to spread rumours about it: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan 7:43PM: Death toll due to COVID-19 rises to 686 in India, cases climb to 21,700: Health Ministry. 7:14PM: 1687 cases of Coronavirus have been reported in Madhya Pradesh out of which 83 people have lost their lives & 203 patients have recovered. Indore has recorded 945 cases & 53 deaths; in Bhopal, 323 cases & seven deaths have been reported: State Health Department.
Poco teases new smartphone launch in India, likely to be manufactured under ‘Make in India’ initiative Poco is working towards launching a new smartphone in India. A video tweeted by Poco India mentions that the device is expected to come soon. The Xiaomi sub-brand has, however, not revealed the name, date and other details of the upcoming phone. “With a dream of serving Indian consumers, @ IndiaPOCO was born 2 years ago in Delhi, India. We took ahead the
#MakeInIndia initiative by making products and services that are crafted for India. We were, are and will always be #POCOForIndia!” the tweet said. Poco teases new smartphone launch in India, likely to be manufactured under Make in India initiative
Defence secretary Ajay Kumar tests positive for COVID-19 Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar, a 1985-batch IAS officer, who had been at the forefront in battling the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in India, has reportedly tested coronavirus positive on Wednesday, 3 June. The portion of South Block on the Raisina Hill complex in Delhi has been sealed and is in the process of sanitisation. After the reports of Kumar reportedly tested positive came in the corridors of South Block, many top Ministry of
Defence officers did not attend their office. It was also reported that Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also did not attend the office. The ministry is carrying out an extensive contact tracing, and the disinfection of offices in South Block is underway. It has been found that around 30 people came in close contact with the defence secretary over the last couple of days and they have been told to go into home quarantine.Till 1 June, the officer was consistently active on social media and was telling masses about the government initiatives to contain the spread of the deadly virus. We’ll get through this! Meanwhile, here’s all you need to know about the Coronavirus outbreak to keep yourself safe, informed, and updated.
European leaders see India as an alternative amid US-China trade tensions During a recent webinar, Members of the European Parliament and experts expressed their belief that the time has come for the European Union to look for alternatives to China. According to reports, many European leaders participating in the discussion said that India being a diplomatic nation would serve as a good partner for European investments. As per reports, the web event was organised by the Economic Development Foundation, Istanbul (IKV) which is a nongovernmental research organisation that specialises in European Union and TurkeyEU relations. A member of the European Parliament, Thierry Mariani, said that countries across the world were relying too heavily on China and need to look for alternate markets in the post-COVID era. He said, “For me, this new Silk Road is just one opportunity but it cannot be said
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Saturday, June 6, 2020 Statement from Laurie Throness on Children and Youth in Care Week Press release Laurie Throness, MLA for Chilliwack-Kent and Opposition Critic for Children and Youth, has issued the following statement today in honour of Children and Youth in Care week: “This year we celebrate the 10th annual Children and Youth in Care Week here in British Columbia. For a decade now, B.C. has dedicated this week to breaking down the barriers and ending the stigma that surrounds children and youth in care, as well as recognizing and celebrating their amazing talents and accomplishments. “What makes this initiative so amazing is that it is largely driven by the youth themselves. Youth and children in care advocated for this week back in 2011 so they could help create a
supportive community for their fellow youth that empowers those in care and helps them realize their full potential. This year’s logo was even designed by children and youth in care. “I would also like to thank all staff and support workers who care for and support our children and youth in care, especially during these trying times. “So please take a moment this week to help raise social awareness for children and youth in care using the hashtag #BCCYICW2020. Together we can help change the stigma surrounding youth in care and give equal opportunity to all children across our province.”
Statement from Linda Reid and Norm Letnick on B.C. Seniors’ Press release Linda Reid, MLA for Richmond South them for their incredible services to our Centre and Opposition Critic for Seniors’ province. Thank you.” Care, and Norm Letnick, MLA for KelownaLake Country and Opposition Critic for Health, released the following statement today in honour of B.C. Seniors’ Week: “Today marks the beginning of B.C. Seniors’ Week, a time for us to honour seniors across our province by celebrating the incredible contributions they make to our province and recognizing their role as an integral part of our communities. “This Seniors’ Week, it is more important than ever that we not only honour and celebrate our seniors, but take a moment to reflect on the services and supports available across our province and what we can do to improve the quality of life for our parents, grandparents, and loved ones who depend on them. “During this pandemic, seniors have made up a disproportionate number of the COVID-19 cases and improving care for our seniors must play a vital role in our Province’s recovery. Our heartfelt condolences go out to all families who have lost a loved one during this difficult time. “I would also like to take this moment to thank all caregivers, support staff, frontline workers, and family members who have worked tirelessly to offer support to our seniors during this trying time. “Our seniors built our communities into what they are today, so please take a moment this week to thank a parent, grandparent, family friend, or neighbour and show them that our communities recognize and thank LOCAL
Minimum wage for workers in BC rises to $14.60 / hour The minimum wage for workers in British Columbia is rising to $14.60 an hour on Monday, a welcome boost for earners across the province but one which still leaves them earning far less than a “living wage,” which would cover basic expenses such as food, clothing, shelter, transportation and child care. The new number is a 75-cent jump from $13.85 for thousands of workers across the province, many of whom are essential staff helping provide people with products and services they need to get through the pandemic. Hannah Estrabrook, 21, works at the Zero Waste Emporium bulk food store in Victoria. She said the increase is a step in the right direction for some of the most low-income workers in B.C., but the rate still isn’t enough. “It still comes nowhere near to a living wage,” said Estabrook, who earns $15 an hour and works around 30 hours per week.
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Punjab reports 39 new cases of COVID-19, total tally rises to 2,415 Amritsar reported 15 new cases, while Jalandhar and Pathankot reported four cases each. Ludhiana reported six new COVID-19 cases, taking the district’s case tally to 209. All six are contacts of positive cases, according to District Epidemiologist Dr Ramesh. The District Epidemiologist said that out of a total of 22 samples sent to GMC Patiala, five have reported as COVID-positive, according to the
results received on Thursday morning. These include one patient from Meharban village and four from Baupur village in Ludhiana. All the four cases from Baupur are contacts of a patient who came back from Manesar. The Baupur village cases include a 57-year-old woman, a 14-year-old boy, a five-year-old boy and a 24-year-old man.
Doctors protest fee hike in Punjab Government doctors across the state today protested the recent MBBS/MD fee hike. Doctors wore black badges in many government hospitals on a call given by the Punjab Civil Medical Services Association. The protests were supported by the Punjab Paramedical and Health Workers Union in the state. Major protests were seen at the office of Directorate Health Services, Chandigarh, district, sub-divisional and block-level hospitals in Moga, Bathinda, Mansa, Sangrur, Barnala, Tarn Taran, Muktsar, Fraidkot,
Hoshairpur, Patiala and Fatehgarh Sahib. Addressing a protest in Moga, PCMSA state president Dr Gagandeep Singh said, “The government has hiked the fee for MBBS by 80 per cent. The fee for the course was earlier Rs 4.40 lakh for students in the merit list. After the hike, it will be Rs 7.80 lakh, which is very high for marginal, middle and lower middle families.” Dr Manohar Singh, general secretary of the PCMSA, and Gagandeep Singh Shergill, its senior vice president,
3 migrants who returned to Bihar from Punjab test positive with COVID-19 wo per cent of migrants returning to Bihar from Punjab have been found infected with Covid, random sampling by the Bihar Government has revealed. Only three persons of the 157 tested on return to Bihar were found positive. A Health Department spokesperson said the fact assumed greater significance in the backdrop of huge percentage of positive
figures in comparison with other states. The spokesperson said Delhi recorded the highest percentage with as many as 218 (26 per cent) found positive of the 835 tested. In case of those returning from West Bengal, 373 samples were collected, of which 33 were found positive. In case of Maharashtra, a total of 1,283 samples of labourers were tested by the Bihar Government and of these, 141 i.e. 11 per cent, were found positive.
81-year-old Sikh feeds 2 million on remote Maharashtra highway Since the coronavirus-induced lockdown began in last March, an 81-yearold Sikh has fed over 2 million people on a remote highway in Maharashtra. Baba Karnail Singh Khaira, the head of the Dera Kar Seva Gurudwara Langar Sahib which is located on National Highway-7, has been providing food to people since the lockdown began. He is popularly known as Khaira Babaji in the region. On the 450 kilometre stretch, this is the only place where a decent meal is available free of cost. Since there is no other dhaba or restaurant in the region, buses, trucks, tempos and other vehicles stop at the gurudwara to have ‘Guru ka langar’. The ‘Guru ka langar’ is linked with the historic Gurudwara Bhagod Sahib, Wai, which is located
around 11 kilometre away in a forested area. “Since the Gurudwara Bhagod Sahib is away from the main road, in 1988 (32 years ago), this free ‘langar’ came up here as its branch. I was assigned to manage it with the blessings and guidance of Nanded Gurudwara Sahib’s Baba Narinder Singhji and Baba Balwinder Singhji,” Khaira Baba said. “We had hordes of people coming daily and we kept continuously cooking food for them... We welcomed all with smiles and folded hands, irrespective of caste, religion... My regular team of 17 sevaks, including 11 cooks and other helpers were overworked, but ensured a non-stop supply of fresh, piping hot food,” Khaira Baba said.
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Pressure mounting on World Rugby to deliver findings of investigation into Fiji Rugby Union chair Francis Kean Pressure is mounting on World Rugby to deliver the findings of an investigation into the disgraced chairman of the Fiji Rugby Union, Francis Kean. Already known as a convicted killer, he stepped down from the World Rugby Council amid accusations of homophobia linked to secret recordings of him berating prison officers and ordering them to carry out acts of brutality on inmates and fellow wardens. Kean is also Fiji’s Commissioner of Prisons, and the brother-in-law of Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama. One of his accusers told the ABC’s Pacific Beat program it was vital World Rugby conducted a thorough investigation, because he said nothing would happen in Fiji. Adding to the pressure on the world
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ruling body, the man who led Fiji’s national rugby team, the Flying Fijians, to the last two World Cups told Pacific Beat that Kean interferes in the running of rugby at every level below the national team. The secret recording of Kean, which Pacific Beat has independently verified, first came to light during a Facebook live transmission late last year. Kean’s general tone is aggressive and frequently homophobic, as he berates prison officers and orders them to carry out brutal instructions. “Walking or running?” he can be heard asking one officer in Fijian. “I don’t want people walking, they should be running, the motherf***ers. Boots and trousers, is that clear? You f***ing arse. We’re not breeding poofters and weaklings here!” The tirade continues. “Get tough on those two senior cadets.
PAKISTAN akistan could not afford indefinite lockdown amid COVID-19 - Prime Minister Imran Khan
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Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday said over 150 million Pakistanis had been affected due to the coronavirusinduced lockdown as he urged the provinces to allow public transport to resume operations, reiterating that the country could not afford an indefinite shutdown. Addressing media with his core team to highlight the steps taken to tackle the coronavirus pandemic in the country, Khan said Pakistan cannot impose lockdown like the US, Europe and China. He said already the lockdown had badly impacted the economic situation in the country, especially the vulnerable segments, including 25 million people who lived on daily or weekly wages. “Around 150 million people have suffered economically due to the coronavirus and lockdown,” he said. Pakistan’s total population is around 220 million. Khan also made plea for resumption of public transport as its suspension “is hitting hard the poor people”.
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Pakistan on Thursday surpassed China, the first epicentre of the coronavirus, after a record 4,688 new cases were registered during the last 24 hours to take the tally to 85,246. China with 84,160 patients has been placed at 18th position, one step lower than Pakistan, according to the data of Johns Hopkins University. On Thursday, the Ministry of National Health Services said till now Pakistan has witnessed the deaths of 1,770 patients with COVID-19, including 82 in the last 24 hours. The country registered 4,688 new COVID-19 cases during the period, the highest in a single day, the ministry said. Another 30,128 had recovered. Sindh so far reported 32,910 patients of coronavirus, Punjab 31,104, KhyberPakhtunkhwa 11,373, Balochistan 5,224, Islamabad 3,544, Gilgit-Baltistan 824 and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir reported 285 cases of the viral disease. On the positive side a record 20,167 tests were done in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of tests conducted so far to 615,511.
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