The Asian Star June 13 2020 by The Asian Star Newspaper

www.theasianstar.com

Vol 19 - Issue 20

Saturday, June 13, 2020

Most British Columbians approve of NDP’s job during COVID-19 pandemic Eighty-seven per cent of British Columbians say Premier John Horgan’s government has done a good job handling the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a recent poll by the Angus Reid Institute. Only the provincial governments of New Brunswick, at 91 per cent, and Newfoundland and Labrador, 89 per cent, received higher ratings in the nationwide poll, which found that at least seven in 10 residents in every region of the country believe their province has done a good job in handling COVID-19. Most British Columbians approve of NDP’s job during

COVID-19 pandemic The B.C. Centre for Disease Control rates B.C.’s current COVID-19 risk as “very low” as the number of new cases continues to decline, along with the number of cases in hospital and critical care. As of Friday, 2,632 people had tested positive for the disease in B.C. with just 193 of those cases considered active. There have been 167 COVID-related deaths in British Columbia. There are 96,129 confirmed cases in Canada and the national death toll has climbed to 7,830.

RCMP officers in BC and Alberta face charges over use of force Two RCMP officers in Alberta and three in British Columbia face charges over use of force in two incidents, including one northwest of Edmonton where a suspect was shot several times and died. The criminal charges in Alberta are the first the province’s police watchdog has pursued against officers in a fatal shooting. They come as police forces in Canada and across the continent are under scrutiny over use of force and targeting minorities, particularly Indigenous and Black people. On Monday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he favoured more officers wearing body cameras after a string of high-profile allegations

of police brutality surfaced last week.Deputy Commissioner Curtis Zablocki said in Alberta on Monday that while racism exists in “pockets” in police services, Canadian forces are not comparable to their U.S. counterparts when it comes to mistreating people. “I don’t believe that racism is systemic through Canadian policing,” he said. “I don’t believe it is systemic through policing in Alberta.” Racism, he said, is not tolerated and the RCMP is working to eliminate it.Two RCMP members in Whitecourt, about 170 kilometres northwest of Edmonton, have been charged with criminal negligence causing death in a fatal shooting in 2018

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Restaurant capacity limits eased as BC marks 6 days without COVID-19 death BC has marked sixth straight day without a death from COVID-19, but Dr. Bonnie Henry is drawing attention to the province’s other health emergency with a tearful statement about the overdose crisis. On Thursday, the provincial health officer said BC has confirmed another 14 cases of the novel coronavirus, to bring the province’s total to 2,694 to date, including 183 that are still active. Thirteen people are in hospital, including five in intensive care. Restaurant restrictions easing Henry also announced Thursday that she is lifting restrictions on restaurants that required them to operate at 50 per cent of their regular capacity.

Raghbir Dosanjh died of COVID-19, this is why his family wants you to know his story Raghbir Dosanjh had the kind of depressed look on his face that even strangers couldn’t ignore. It was 1970, his young family still in India, and their future was in the hands of Canadian immigration officials who decided to review his case upon learning he only had five dollars in his wallet. A couple passing by at the airport in

Continued on page 8

You can be fined $3,000 for texting while driving Distracted driving (especially texting and driving) causes more deaths in Canada than impaired driving .It’s why every province and territory has laws against driving while operating a cell phone. Texting and Driving fines range from $2,500 to $3,000, and some provinces scale them up for subsequent offences. If caught, demerit points will also be added to your licence. It’s important to practice safe driving for your own sake and that of Continued on page 6

THINKING OF BUYING OR SELLING YOUR HOME ???

Trudeau govt’s aid to Indian students causes resentment in Canada

he Canadian government’’s decision to give a monthly benefit of $2,000 each to foreign students during the corona crisis has caused resentment among local students who get only $1,250 each. As Indian students - currently numbering 219,855 - make up about a third of all 642,480 foreign students, the resentment is visible among many in the Indo-Canadian community for this ‘’preferential treatment’’ to them. Since Indian students are also allowed to work 20 hours a week, many in the community

have been expressing resentment against them on radio and TV talk shows for stealing local jobs. “The monthly assistance of $2,000 for each student comes over and above $1,000 they are still allowed to earn from their work. Corona has spelt a sort of bonanza for foreign students,” said journalist Balraj Deol who runs the Punjabi weekly Khabarnama. “In normal times even if they are paid the mandatory minimum wage of $14 per hour, no foreign student can earn more

than $1,100 per month. But now many can earn much more than $3,000 a month thanks to government assistance,” he said. Another Punjabi journalist added: “Many students B.A. (Hons.), MA., LLB are reportedly sending money back to their families in India. I have also heard that many of them might be claiming this money while still stuck in India, though they are legally SRS Panorama required to be in Canada. So why won’’t there Realty be craze in Punjab to send their children to Suite #103 - 12030, 80 Ave, Canada?” Surrey, BC

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www.theasianstar.com

Vol 19 - Issue 20

Saturday, June 13, 2020

Cross-border families can now reunite under new exemption Effective at midnight, immediate family members of citizens or permanent residents who are foreign nationals can enter Canada to be reunited, under a new limited exemption to the current border restrictions. This new policy, announced by the federal government on Monday, will allow immediate family members from the United States, as well as from other countries, to be able to enter Canada under a series of stipulations. Eligible immediate family members will be spouses, common-law partners, dependent children and their children, parents, and legal guardians. In order to be allowed in, the family members must have a plan to stay in Canada for at least 15 days, and they will have to self-quarantine for 14 days as soon as they enter the country. The family member in Canada who will be welcoming their loved one in will have to confirm they have a suitable

place for their family to self-isolate for the first 14 days of their stay, where they will be able to access food and medication. Their place of quarantine cannot be where they would have contact with a vulnerable person such as a senior or someone with pre-existing medical conditions, unless that person consents. It will be possible for foreign nationals with immediate family in Canada to come for 14 days or less, but they need to prove that their reason to come is not discretionary and that they can comply with the quarantine. “To be clear, the immediate family exemption does not mean the border will now be open to weekend travellers, or those seeking just to attend a personal or social gathering. For people traveling from abroad, they must still have a valid visa or Electronic Travel Authorization,” said Minister of Immigration.

Human trials approved for BC drug company to treat COVID-19 A Vancouver-based drug repurposing company will conduct human trials on patients with acute lung injury in the U.S. and Canada. Chris Moreau, CEO of Algernon Pharmaceuticals Inc., said the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the company’s application on June 3 for a human study of its repurposed drug Ifenprodil as a potential therapeutic treatment for patients with COVID-19. Moreau said a doctor-led human trial of the drug was about to start in South Korea, but the planned trial in Canada, the U.S. and possibly Australia would be larger and led by Algernon and participating research hospitals. Ifenprodil is a generic drug developed in the early 1970s and approved for human use in Japan and South Korea to

treat neurological conditions like vertigo. Algernon has filed a method of use patent on the drug and now has exclusive rights. Moreau said that in early March the company found a Chinese study of Ifenprodil on mice infected with the H5N1 virus — the world’s most lethal flu — that showed improved survivability and reduced lung injury, particularly with the cytokine storm that leads to the loss of lung function among COVID-19 infected patients.

“If we see Ifenprodil acting this way in an animal study for H5N1 we may expect to see similar results in a human study for COVID,” he said. Moreau said the phase two human trial would be among 100 COVID-19 patients in acutecare settings in research hospitals in Canada and the U.S. and was expected to start within two months. The patients will get the drug two times a day for three weeks through intravenous fluid. If that trial is a success, a phase three trial on a larger group of patients would go ahead in September. Moreau said that if all trials work the drug could be available in the first three months of 2021.

Tel:604-591-5423

4 Michael Taube

OPINION

Saturday, June 13, 2020

Political parties shouldn’t take federal funds

Canada, like many other countries, has introduced emergency relief services to help individuals and businesses facing financial hardship during COVID-19. The overall cost will be enormous once everything is said and done. An interesting recent twist with the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy, however, is making some people wonder if our nation’s generosity is getting out of hand.

As noted on the government of Canada’s website, some employers “whose business has been affected by COVID-19 … may be eligible for a subsidy of 75 per cent of employee wages for up to 24 weeks, retroactive from March 15, 2020, to August 29, 2020.” The implementation of this wage subsidy will enable businesses “to re-hire workers previously laid off as a result of

COVID-19, help prevent further job losses, and better position you to resume normal operations following the crisis.” It was a costly, but necessary, temporary economic measure in these unusual times. But imagine the surprise on some people’s faces when they discovered that four of Canada’s five major federal political parties – Liberals, Conservatives, NDP and Greens – applied for the federal wage subsidy. Only the separatist Bloc Quebecois opted not to do it. Why has this happened? The parties have been unable to raise funds during the pandemic. Unless they received the subsidy, they would either have to furlough or permanently lay off some staff members. Canada’s political parties have the right to apply for the subsidy. But while the decision is completely above aboard, it also looks, smells and feels completely inappropriate. One of the leading Conservative leadership candidates, Erin O’Toole, came out against his party taking the subsidy. “Canadians have sacrificed enough,” O’Toole wrote in a May 23 tweet. “They shouldn’t have to pay for wage subsidies for political parties. Under my leadership the Conservative Party will not take the subsidy and over time will repay the amount it has taken. I call on all other parties to do the same.” Peter MacKay, the other leading Conservative candidate, followed suit the next day. “Political parties should not qualify for a wage subsidy and Justin Trudeau’s law is flawed,” MacKay tweeted on May 24. “As leader, I would have stopped the application in its tracks. We should not be bailed out by taxpayer money with millions unemployed and small businesses struggling to stay afloat.” They’re both right. It looks terrible that four of Canada’s major political parties are applying for this subsidy when so many Canadians are struggling to survive on a weekly and/or monthly basis. These same individuals will vote in the next federal election. Some will distinctly remember, and others will be constantly reminded, of what several political leaders did during COVID-19. The fact the Liberal government created a subsidy the Liberal Party is applying for doesn’t look too sharp on their part, either. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau sidestepped the issue when he was asked about it at a press conference. Michael Taube is Troy Media syndicated columnist

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Saturday, June 13, 2020 CMHC tightens mortgage rules in latest response to COVID-19

On June 4, 2020, the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) announced changes to the eligibility rules for mortgage insurance, in the agencyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s latest response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The new rules will lower the amount of debt an applicant for an insured mortgage can carry, set a higher credit score to qualify for CMHC insurance, and will require a homebuyer to use their own, and not borrowed, funds for their down payment. COVID-19 â&#x20AC;&#x153;has exposed long-standing vulnerabilities in our financial markets, and we must act now to protect the economic futures of Canadians,â&#x20AC;? said Evan

Siddall, CMHCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s President and CEO. CMHC provides insurance that protects lenders if homeowners default on their mortgage. If a buyer has a down payment of less than 20% of the purchase price, mortgage default insurance is required, and is paid by the homeowner. Some properties, including those with a purchase price of $1 million or more, are not eligible for CMHC insurance. Siddall says the new rule changes will stabilize housing markets by reducing demand and putting a damper on â&#x20AC;&#x153;unsustainable housing price growth.â&#x20AC;?

From page 1

You can be fined $3,000 for texting while driving

your fellow drivers. Canada is cracking down on its distracted driving problem with

the rollout of stricter laws that impose harsher penalties and heftier fines on guilty offenders. Such measures are more than necessary now, as distracted driving has claimed more lives than impaired driving in provinces like: Ontario,Newfoundland and Labrador,Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Alberta, Saskatchewan, British Columbia,Manitoba. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s taking effect as of June 8, 2020, and it adds serious penalties to those convicted of distracted driving. Drivers with a full G or M license pulled over for distracted driving can expect:

A $1,500fine if everything is settled out of court. A $2,000 fine if you received a court summons and are convicted. 3 demerit points added to your record. A 3-day license suspension for the first conviction. The second distracted driving conviction will receive: a $4,000 fine. a 7-day license suspension. 6 demerit points added to your record (in addition to the other 3 the first time). Drivers caught driving distracted three or more times can expect: $7,000 in fines. A license suspension for 30 days. 6 demerit points.

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Saturday, June 13, 2020

Saturday, June 13, 2020 From page 1

Raghbir Dosanjh died of COVID-19 and this is why his family wants you to know his story

Toronto asked him what was wrong. When they heard his story, they each gave him $100. Dosanjh became a Canadian on Remembrance Day that year. His son Rav says he spent years working in a lumber mill, saving up enough money to bring his family from Punjab, eventually moving them into a modest home Abbotsford, B.C., where he’d started farming. “The conditions were horrible back then,” Rav said. “It was basically a starting point for us.” Dosanjh, 86, worked hard, saved his money and built a good life for his four children. He was a tireless volunteer at his gurdwara, loved his eight grandchildren and had a love-hate relationship with the Vancouver Canucks. He died April 17 after contracting COVID-19. His family is sharing his story to honour Dosanjh, but also to illustrate that the 167 people in B.C. who’ve died from the disease are just that — people — and not statistics. Dosanjh wanted to pass along his strong

work ethic to his four children, which is why his daughter Rani Birk says he was strict as they worked in the fields alongside him. “We would see how much he had to struggle, but he never cheated anybody,” she said. “You work hard, you save and you set your own path. That’s what he taught us.” In the mid-1980s, Dosanjh had a health scare and needed a major operation, which prompted some lifestyle changes. He was never a big drinker, but he swore off booze altogether, watched what he ate and took long, daily walks. When he became a grandpa, the stern man who toiled the berry fields melted into a hugger who couldn’t spoil his grandchildren enough.

“I tell the kids he was strict,” Birk said, laughing. “They’re like, ‘really?’ That was grandpa?’ “ Rav says his dad was always independent, even in his later years, insisting on taking the bus to the gurdwara where he volunteered every morning. He was happy, healthy and finally, after a life of hard work, beginning to relax. Then he got sick. Rani Birk sorts through pictures of her late father. When Rav Dosanjh came home in January and saw his father wasn’t feeling well, he immediately knew something was wrong. Raghbir Dosanjh couldn’t move the right side of his body, was slurring his speech and, always the tough guy, insisted he’d be fine in the morning. He’d had a stroke.

He was showing signs of progress after a few months at Worthington Pavilion’s rehabilitation unit in Abbotsford which was closed to visitors in mid-March when the pandemic hit. Dosanjh loved to return to India where he’d put on his sunglasses and rip around on a scooter, visiting friends and family. (Submitted by family) Rav got a call from a friend in early April, notifying him that he’d heard on the radio there was an outbreak at the facility. He says staff assured him that his father had no contact with the person who’d been infected, but shortly after he brought Dosanjh home, he was hospitalized. “They called the next day saying he tested positive for COVID-19 and then, four or five hours later, they called saying it was serious,” Rav said. “That same night we got a call saying you guys can come say your final goodbyes.” Dosanjh was placed on a ventilator and died days later. The memorial service was restricted to close family due to physical distancing rules, but was streamed online so that Dosanjh’s extensive network of friends and family could watch. “I broke down at the funeral because I was very close to him,” Rav said. “He’s always lived with me.” S h o r t l y before Dosanjh got sick, Birk and her family visited him at the care facility to celebrate his 86th birthday. They were separated by glass because of health and safety rules, but they got to sing happy birthday and watch his face twist into the kind of joyful expression only grandchildren can create. Her son captured the moment with a perfect photograph. The look on his face in that picture is how they’ll always remember him — proud of the family he worked so hard to provide for and grateful for the joy that they brought him in return. To hear Raghbir Dosanjh’s children remember their father on The Early Edition, tap the audio link below:

Premier Horgan extends state of emergency till June 23 Premier Horgan has extended the state of emergency for the sixth time, meaning BC remains within the longest period of emergency it has ever seen. Minister of Public Safety Mike Farnworth initially declared a state of emergency on March 18 as a result of COVID-19, which was originally in effect for 14 days. It was then extended five times by Premier Horgan, on March 31, April 15, April 29, May 13th, and May 27. The announcement further extends the state of emergency until the end of day on June 23, 2020. Declarations of emergency can be extended by the province by increments of 14 days at a time. “This is part and parcel of our making sure that we’re putting public safety first, putting us in a position to better manage any challenges that may emerge and I’m confident that as the summer proceeds, we’ll see less and less requirement for the state of emergency,” said Horgan.

LOCAL

Saturday, June 13, 2020 No COVID-19 death in BC for five days Wednesday marked five days in a row with no COVID-19-related deaths. 167 people have died of the novel coronavirus to date. There have been 2,680 confirmed cases in B.C. 185 cases are still active. 12 people are in hospital, including four in intensive care. 2,328 people have recovered from their illness. Two community clusters of COVID-19 have now been linked to large family groups in B.C., news officials say should serve as a reminder that the virus is still spreading. “When you bring households together, regardless of how many people that may include, everyone brings their own risk with them and the potential for spreading COVID-19 increases,” Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix said in a joint statement on Wednesday.

“This is why fewer faces and bigger spaces needs to continue to be our guidepost for how we move forward.” Henry and Dix also announced a new outbreak in long-term care at Holy Family Hospital in Vancouver, bringing the number of active outbreaks associated with care homes up to five. To date, B.C. has confirmed 2,680 cases of COVID-19, of which 185 are still active. Twelve people were in the hospital with the virus on Wednesday afternoon, including four in intensive care. On a more positive note, the province has now marked five straight days without a death from COVID-19. As of Wednesday, 167 people have died from the novel coronavirus in B.C.

Congratulations TO THE CLASS OF You worked hard to reach this very unique graduation day, and now it’s time to celebrate your accomplishments. We wish you a happy and successful future. A message from your teachers, members of the Surrey Teachers’ Association

iStock

LOCAL / NATIONAL

Saturday, June 13, 2020

Vancouver ready to welcome NHL after Premier Horgan announces revised quarantine plan Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry has signed off on amended quarantine proposal that could pave the way for the NHL to choose Vancouver as a hub city. The plan calls for modified restrictions that would allow an entire NHL team to be treated as a “family

entity” or “bubble,” according to Premier John Horgan.“Individuals within an organization would stay together in one hotel. They would travel to Rogers Arena together in private transportation,” said Horgan. “No interaction with the public would take place for the 14

All law enforcement will now be completely barred from Vancouver’s Pride parade and other events associated with the annual LGBT celebration. Organizers with the Vancouver Pride Society (VPS) announced the change Wednesday, saying they will also amplify calls from Black Lives Matter to defund police. “We stand with Black communities who have taken to the streets to demand accountability from the police,” the VPS said in an online statement. “The roots of Pride

are in righteous anger, riot and uprising against police brutality. These riots against the violence of the police were led by Black and Brown trans women and queer people.” The statement invokes the 1969 Stonewall riots against police actions in New York City, which led to the world’s first Pride marches a year later. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s Pride festival will be held virtually, and the VPS is asking in its online submission the city not include any police.

day quarantine period. According to Horgan, NHL clubs would be responsible for their own COVID-19 testing. B.C. officials won’t bend health rules to let NHL play in province The mandatory 14-day quarantine period required by those travelling across borders into B.C. had

been a sticking point with the NHL. Last month Commissioner Gary Bettman announced the league would resume its 2019-20 season at an undetermined date, using two hub cities — one for Western Conference teams and one in the Eastern Conference — to stage multiple games.

No more police at Vancouver Pride as organizers join call to defund VPD But the organizers acknowledge that traditional, in-person events require police to be hired for a permit to be issued in Vancouver. VPS says it is looking at options for challenging that system. Executive director Andrea Arnot said, the decision to bar police and correctional officers will be reviewed annually, “but I believe this will be ongoing — even next year when we hopefully move back to real-life events.” Police reform hasn’t worked, pride society

says Police uniforms have been barred from the Pride parade since 2018 in response to concerns from Black Lives Matter Vancouver and other members of the community who suggested a visible police presence made them feel unsafe. Some LGBT police officers in Metro Vancouver are already expressing their disappointment with the latest development, including Surrey RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Elenore Sturko, who wrote in a tweet that she’s “disheartened” by the news.

Saturday, June 13, 2020

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LOCAL / NATIONAL Coroners Service said 170 of an illicit drug overdose highest total ever recorded month in provincial history.

Saturday, June 13, 2020

BC records highest number of fatal overdoses in a single month It’s also more people than have died from COVID-19 in B.C. all year. “It’s frustrating to see the number of illicit

drug deaths go up and to reach a new high ... It’s sad to see this many people impacted, losing their lives,” said Andy Watson, a spokesperson for the coroners service. The province said 167 people have died of COVID-19 since B.C.’s first case of the virus was confirmed six months ago. The annual total for overdoses in B.C. was 554 as of May 31. More than 82 per cent of overdose deaths in May involved fentanyl. Watson said post-mortem toxicology testing suggests there were a greater number of cases with “extreme” concentrations of the opioid

in May compared with previous months. CERB benefits contributing to spike in overdoses, outreach workers warn “The rate and the level of fentanyl concentration is the highest that we’ve seen it,” Watson said Thursday. “We know ... that the drug supply right now is highly toxic ... For people who are using drugs, it’s a dangerous time right now.” A statement from the coroners service said 70 per cent of drug overdose deaths this year were men, with 85 per cent of fatalities happening inside a home.

BC companies working on COVID-19 saliva test Researchers in B.C. are working on creating COVID-19 tests that detect the virus through saliva, as opposed to nasal swabbing, which has been the primary form of testing thus far. Thanks to $300,000 in funding from the National Research Council of Canada’s Industrial Research Assistance Program, Metabolic Insights, based in Kelowna, is looking at repurposing existing salivary

insulin technology to detect COVID-19. “The device uses a pair of antibodies to bind to the target protein, which in the particular case of insulin would be the insulin molecule,” CEO David Turner said. “We’re simply going to swap out the antibodies used for that with a pair of antibodies which specifically bind to the spiky protein of the COVID-19 virus.

Saturday, June 13, 2020

Crypto exchange Quadriga was a fraud and founder was running Ponzi scheme, OSC report finds The Quadriga cryptocurrency exchange that saw millions of dollars disappear just as its founder died was a “fraud” and Ponzi scheme, according to the Ontario Securities Commission. The regulator said Thursday that Vancouver-based Quadriga’s late founder Gerald Cotten committed fraud by opening

accounts under aliases and crediting himself with fictitious currency and crypto asset balances, which he traded with unsuspecting clients. Cotten, the OSC said in a new report, ran into a shortfall in assets available to satisfy client withdrawals when the price of the crypto assets changed.

Continued on page 14

LOCAL

Saturday, June 13, 2020

WorkSafeBC told to investigate allegation of ‘culturally unsafe’ workplace at City of Vancouver WorkSafeBC, which oversees workers’ health and safety in the province, has been ordered to investigate an Indigenous woman’s claim that she was traumatized by a “culturally unsafe or insensitive workplace” as a City of Vancouver employee. The woman worked as an activity leader at Oppenheimer Park through a municipally run community centre from October 2018 to April 2019, when she went on leave after allegedly witnessing what she claimed were “multiple incidents

of cultural insensitivity” and “dehumanizing treatment of homeless patrons living in tents.” Although the woman said she wasn’t directly targeted, she claimed she was subject to numerous microaggressions and witnessed racism toward Indigenous people by co-workers, engineering department staff and police officers. Microaggression refers to intentional or unintentional comments or behaviour that disparage a culturally marginalized group.

Crypto exchange Quadriga was fraud and founder was running Ponzi scheme, OSC report finds

From page 13

He started running a Ponzi scheme that covered the shortfall with other clients’ deposits, the agency determined. “What happened at Quadriga was an old-fashioned fraud wrapped in modern technology,” the OSC said. “Quadriga did not consider its business to involve securities trading and it did not register with any securities regulator. This lack of registration facilitated

Cotten’s ability to commit a large-scale fraud without detection. So did the absence of internal oversight over Cotten.” The OSC spent 10 months analyzing trading and blockchain data, interviewing key witnesses, collaborating with overseas regulatory bodies and using third-party and bank information to reconstruct what was going on at Quadriga in the months leading up to 30-year-old Cotten’s death.

Her claim for stress leave was originally denied, but a review officer with WorkSafeBC, which administers the Workers Compensation Act, said in a decision released last month that the woman’s claims were not adequately investigated. “My co-workers’ and colleagues’ prejudicial attitudes show they had very little, if any, awareness of the historical reasons for the present-day grievances of Indigenous peoples in Canada,” the woman wrote in a statement quoted in

the decision. “My workplace has put me in the intolerable position of being a witness to racism, abuse of power and derogatory and dehumanizing comments in my workplace toward Indigenous people.” ‘It opens the door’ The review decision does not provide the name of the municipality or the employee, but the CBC was able to confirm through a friend of the woman that the alleged events took place in Vancouver.

Vancouver city council formally apologizes for historic, racist actions around Komagata Maru Vancouver City Council unanimously passed a motion to formally apologize for actions of members of the 1914 city council regarding the Komagata Maru incident and declare May 23 as “Komagata Maru Remembrance Day.” The Komagata Maru, a Japanese charter ship, arrived in Vancouver on May 23, 1914, carrying 376 passengers from India who were then British

subjects under the Commonwealth and entitled to immigration to Canada. They were denied entry by immigration officials, based on the prevailing discriminatory practices at the time that called for a curtailing of Asian immigration. The ship remained docked in the harbour for two months, its passengers lacking proper access to food and water. The ship was eventually forced to return to India. Upon arrival in what is now Kolkata, India, the ship was stopped by British soldiers. Nineteen passengers were killed and others imprisoned following an ensuing riot. The provincial government formally apologized for the Komagata Maru incident in May 2008, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau apologized on behalf of the federal government in the House of Commons in 2016. Wednesday’s motion before city council was brought by Coun. Jean Swanson. Her motion noted the words of Vancouver’s 1914 city council which passed a resolution saying it was “unalterably opposed to the admittance of Hindus and other Asiatic races into this country” and that “... these people would prove a serious menace to our civilization, both economically and socially.” Raj Singh Toor, whose grandfather was aboard the Komagata Maru, is the spokesperson for the Descendants of the Komagata Society. Toor was one of the community members instrumental in bringing Wednesday’s motion forward. He described how in 1914, thenVancouver mayor Truman Baxter organized an anti-Asian rally to prevent the passengers aboard the ship from disembarking. Toor described the words of popular politician H.H. [Harry] Stevens, who was one of the speakers at the rally, as capturing the atmosphere of that time. “He stated ... ‘I intend to stand absolutely on all occasions on this one great principle of a white country and a white British Columbia,’” said Toor.

BC Liberals call for decisive action on housing affordability Press release

Official Opposition Leader Andrew Wilkinson is calling on the government to take further steps to increase housing supply and improve affordability in British Columbia. “There has been a growing need for affordable housing in Metro Vancouver that has been made worse for many people due to the pandemic,” said Wilkinson. “We need to see this government taking bold action so that our communities can grow sustainability and young people can enter the housing market.” In his letter to the Premier, Wilkinson recommends the government take immediate steps to address housing affordability, including working with local governments to put in place a one-year suspension of new requirements that add costs and delays to projects, as well as encouraging the building of more rental units per year to allow for a broader range of housing options in B.C. communities “Unfortunately, the government has done little to help increase supply or improve affordability,” said Todd Stone, BC Liberal Critic for Housing. “Only 3,000 housing units have been built since 2017, and nearly half of the projects announced have yet to receive funding. It is clear that much more needs to be done.” “Affordability in B.C. will only improve if the government takes tangible steps to increase housing supply,” said Wilkinson.

LOCAL / NATIONAL

Saturday, June 13, 2020

Trudeau loses NDP support for CERB reform bill that would punish fraudsters The Trudeau Liberals’ push for changes to a key benefit for workers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic hit political roadblocks as the New Democrats withdrew support for a draft bill that would fine or imprison people who made fraudulent claims. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Tuesday the legislation would enact punishments for those who knowingly and wrongfully claimed the $2,000-a-month benefit — not those who simply made mistakes in good faith. Speaking outside his Ottawa residence, Trudeau said he believed his minority government would gain opposition support for the legislation, which has been subject to closeddoor negotiations among the parties. The opposition parties were given a copy of the draft

bill on the weekend by the Liberals, ahead of a sitting of the House of Commons on Wednesday. NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said his party couldn’t support the legislation because it would hurt the very people the Canada Emergency Response Benefit was designed to help: vulnerable people who have faced financial hardship because of COVID-19. He also said it was hypocritical for Trudeau to take a knee on Parliament Hill during Friday’s countrywide anti-racism demonstrations while such a bill was being drafted. Singh said new criminal penalties will hit poor and racialized people harder, and that the tax system should be used to recover funds that should not have been paid. Singh said all parties previously agreed that people should not be unduly penalized if they applied for benefits in good faith.

#HealthNotHate survey shows alarming levels of anti-Asian prejudice due to COVID-19 pandemic in Canada Press release

Canadians must fight COVID-19 and the racism that has come alongside. June 1, 2020, Canada: Leaders from Canada’s multicultural marketing and film/television communities rallied together to launch a #HealthNotHate campaign and nationwide survey to better understand the spate of rising anti-Asian incidents. The survey was conducted in May 2020 and sampled 1250 Canadians from all backgrounds, including 250 Chinese Canadians. Racist Incidents Experienced by Chinese Canadians The survey showed that one in five Chinese Canadians have experienced some kind of racist incident as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. 19% of those who identify as Chinese Canadian surveyed said that they had “personally experienced racism during the COVID-19 pandemic.” Many of the survey respondents who experienced racism shared stories of being targeted with insults or questioned by passers-by and even store staff while shopping. Others were targeted by fellow passengers while using public transit. Often wearing a mask would trigger the insults. Some of the stories: “I was out for get toilet paper, and I was wearing a mask…. One of the white guys there saw that and said, “because of you guys, we are all in trouble.” And another day, when I was sitting in the car, a white lady passed by, using her finger to point at me saying, “it’s all your fault, the world got crazy”. “I was just taking a walk with my mom in our neighbourhood but this middle aged white man came out of his house and yelled to his house mate and said “These fuckers are out here walking around.” while looking at my mom and I.” “My friend’s daughter is in SK this year. One student in her class said “you are eating snakes and this is the reason you get infected.” How come a 5-year-old girl could know this? This is definitely her parents who taught this mindset. No scientific proof. No academic research.” Prejudiced Attitudes Among the Canadian Population The survey also found a significant minority of the Canadian population hold prejudiced views of Asian Canadians as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. For example 14% of Canadians agree with the statement “Chinese Canadians are more likely to carry the COVID-19 virus than other people in Canada” and 14% agree that “Eating in Chinese restaurants in Canada is less safe than eating in other types of restaurants due to COVID19.”Almost one in four (23%) of Canadians agreed with one of the statements that was used in the survey to identify prejudiced statements. “That level of agreement with prejudiced statements is a concern and those views will no doubt potentially contribute to racist attitudes and even actions,” said Sonny Wong who started the #HealthNotHate campaign. “Most alarming to me is how prevalent these attitudes are among younger Canadians” said Robin Brown from the research company, Dig Insights who designed the survey. The survey showed that agreement with prejudiced attitudes was even higher among Canadians aged 18 to 34. A third (32%) of those

aged 18 to 34 agreed with at least one of the prejudiced statements. About the Study These are the results of a survey conducted May 13th to May 18th, 2020 using Logit’s consumer research panel LOOP among a sample of n=1,000 Canadian adults designed to be representative of the Canadian population in terms of age and province. The precision of these survey results can be calculated using a credibility interval with a poll of 1,000 accurate to +/- 3.5 percentage points. An additional n=250 online interviews were conducted specifically among those who selfidentified as Chinese Canadian recruited from Ethnic Voice Accord and AV Communications’ Ethnihub™. About #HealthNotHate: #HealthNotHate is a community and social justice campaign created and led by Hamazaki Wong Marketing Group, Megafone Media, Orange Studio, and Werewolves of London, and Multicultural Marketing Alliance of Canada. The organizations are active in the marketing, media, and film and television industries. During this time of COVID-19, The group hopes to use its collective efforts and networks to draw attention to a key issue that has erupted from the stresses of the COVID-19 pandemic, and to change attitudes toward greater social understanding and inclusiveness. Learn more at HealthNotHate.com

Richmond RCMP searching for missing teen The Richmond RCMP is asking for the public’s help to find a 16-year-old male. Arjun Punn was last seen on Tuesday around 3:30 p.m. after boarding a bus near Seaton Place and Seaton Road. He was apparently on his way to the Richmond Centre. Punn is described as five

feet, eleven inches tall, South Asian male, medium-build and short black hair. He was last seen wearing a black North Face vest, black hoodie and a pair of black Nike jogging pants. Police and family are concerned for his safety and well-being. Anyone with information about Punn are asked to contact their local police.

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Test all asymptomatic patients, no one to be denied treatment for not being Delhiite: LG Lieutenant Governor of Delhi Anil Baijal Monday overruled the AAP government’s decision to not test suspected asymptomatic patients for Covid-19, stating it could result in inadequate contacttracing of affected individuals and further spread the disease in the national capital.

The order came soon after Baijal overruled another decision of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s government, stating treatment for Covid-19 would only be provided to residents of the national capital in Delhi government-run and private hospitals.

China begins evacuation of its nationals from India

China began evacuating hundreds of its nationals from India starting from Monday due to the prevailing Covid-19 situation in the country, the official media reported. One flight from Mumbai left on Monday while four more chartered flights taking Chinese nationals back home will depart from India in the coming days, the Global Times reported. Quoting an official surnamed Hu, the paper

said that four chartered flights will depart from the Indian cities of Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata and arrive in China in the coming days. “People want to go back to China badly,” Hu said. He said there were about 3,000 Chinese people doing business or studying in big cities in India, and about half of them returned to China before the lockdown began on March 25.

Mumbai beats Wuhan as COVID-19 cases reach 51K Mumbai surpassed Wuhan in numbers of COVID-19 cases. The cases in Mumbai crossed 51,000 mark. With this, Mumbai is ahead of Wuhan by 700 cases. Only last

week, Maharashtra’s covid infection had crossed that of China. 1,760 people have succumbed to death by COVID-19 so far.

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Govt of India said it has asks UK not to consider any request for asylum by fugitive businessman Vijay Mallya as there appeared to be no ground for his persecution in the country. Last week, the UK government indicated that Mallya is unlikely to be extradited to India anytime soon, saying there is a legal issue that needed to be resolved before his extradition can be arranged.

“We have been in touch with the UK side for his early extradition. We have also requested the UK side not to consider his asylum, if requested by him, because there appeared to be no ground for his persecution in India,” External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said at an online media briefing.

LAC resolution to be peaceful: India India, on Thursday, said a series of diplomatic and military engagements with China have underlined the need to arrive at an early resolution of the disputes on the Line of Actual Control (LAC). In recent weeks, India and China have maintained communications through established diplomatic and military channels to address the situation in areas along the India-China border. A meeting was held between the

Corps Commander based in Leh and the Chinese Commander on June 6 in the Chushul-Moldo region, in which both sides agreed to peacefully resolve the situation. They also noted the agreement between the leaders that peace and tranquillity along the LAC were essential for the overall development of the bilateral relations, said the Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson, Anurag Shrivastav.

Brahman mahasangh members destroy Chinese products in Pune Amid the Sino-India border standoff, members of an organisation on Monday destroyed Chinese products, including smartphones, and called for a ban on import of items from the neighbouring country. Members of the Akhi Bhartiya Brahman

Mahasangh gathered at the Sawarkar Smarak on Karve Road and destroyed smartphones and other items presumably manufactured by Chinese companies by banging them on the road. They also threw Chinese flag on the ground during the protest.

Mercury rises in north India, monsoon advances further Temperatures in several places in north India, including Delhi, increased by a few notches on Tuesday, even as the southwest monsoon further advanced into more parts of west central and north Bay of Bengal. The mercury in the national capital was above the 40 degrees Celsius-mark.

The Safdarjung Observatory, which provides representative figures for the city, recorded a maximum of 40.6 degrees Celsius. On Monday, it recorded a high of 37.6 degrees Celsius. The weather stations at Palam and Lodhi Road recorded their respective maximum temperatures at 42 and 39.9 degrees Celsius.

South Asia Nepal will get back land from India through dialogue: PM Oli “We will get back the land occupied by India through holding a dialogue,” Oli said while responding to questions in Parliament on Wednesday. He claimed that India built a Kali temple, created “an artificial Kali river” and “encroached the Nepalese territory through deploying the Army” at Kalapani. The river defines the border between the two countries. Oli’s claim comes in midst of a raging boundary row between the two countries with India sternly asking Nepal not to resort to any “artificial enlargement” of territorial claims after Kathmandu released a new political map laying claim over Lipulekh, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura. The ties between India and Nepal came under strain after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated an 80-km-long strategically crucial road connecting the Lipulekh pass with Dharchula in Uttarakhand on May 8. Nepal reacted sharply to the inauguration of the road claiming that it passed through Nepalese territory. India rejected the claim asserting that the road lies completely within its territory.

Saturday, June 13, 2020

Punjab to enforce stricter lockdown over the weekends, holidays after cases spike A Amid apprehensions of community spread of COVID-19 and projections indicating that the pandemic peak in the state was still two months away, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, on Thursday, ordered stricter lockdown on the weekends and public holidays, with movement to be restricted to e-passes holders.

All citizens, except medical staff and essential service providers, will be required to download e-passes from the COVA app, the Chief Minister directed during a video-conference meeting to review the pandemic situation and the state’s preparedness to handle further spread, a press release by the state government said.

Punjab reports 86 new COVID-19 cases, tally now 2,805 Punjab reported 86 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, the state’s COVID bulletin showed---a worrying sign that the infection could be spiking again even as the state continues to ease lockdown restrictions in line with other states in the country.

Punjab’s COVID-19 infection tally now stands at 2,805. The state also reported one more fatality, although this has yet to be recorded in the official tally. An 86-year-old man who recently tested positive for COVID-19 died in Jalandhar.

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166 employees will be made redundant by Sofitel Fiji Resort and Spa from early next month due to no tourist arrivals as a result of COVID-19. This has been confirmed by Director of Human Resources Mereoni Gusuivalu who says that the resort is closed at the moment and there is no clear indication when they will open up again. Gusuivalu says they have had one on one discussions with their staff who are being made redundant and have informed them about it. She says the staff will be given a redundancy package which is a weeks pay for each year of service.

We acted within our powers – says Winston Thompson The Pro-Chancellor of the University of the South Pacific, Winston Thompson has stressed that the university’s Executive Committee acted within its powers to look into allegations of material misconduct against Vice-Chancellor Pal Ahluwalia and to suspend him pending an independent investigation. In a press conference, Thompson says claims that the Executive Committee acted illegally on Monday, are incorrect. Thompson says if you read the statutes and ordinance, it gives specific powers to the Executive Committee to do what it did. He stresses that during an emergency, the Executive Committee may act on behalf of the USP Council and then report back to the Council. Thompson says the allegations against Ahluwalia will be thoroughly investigated so that the facts will come forward and hopefully it will be sufficiently clear, and it will point to one way or the other.

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Police are still looking for a suspect who allegedly raped a 4-year-old girl in her home in Lautoka over the weekend. Police are also requesting for information. The girl had gone to sleep with her mother and in the middle of the night, she was discovered missing from their bed. Police say upon checking around the house, the mother found her daughter lying in the next room. She then rushed her daughter to the Lautoka Hospital following the discovery of blood. The girl remains admitted at the Lautoka Hospital.

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