The Asian Star November 27 2021 by The Asian Star Newspaper

www.theasianstar.com Vol 20 - Issue 42

Man shot in driveway of Surrey home The white Nissan Rogue was in the Newton neighbourhood around the time a 67-year-old man was shot last week, The Surrey RCMP serious crime unit is asking for help identifying the driver of a white Nissan Rogue that was in the area of a shooting at a Newton home in the early morning hours of Oct. 3. Investigators believe the crime was targeted, but are unclear if the 67-year-old man who was shot was the intended target. They have released a black and white photo of the car captured around the time of the incident in the 5800-block of 129 Street, and believe the driver may have information that could help solve the case. The victim remains in the hospital in critical but stable condition. Earlier, police said a tall and skinny man wearing a black shirt and black pants was seen fleeing the scene. B.C. Liberals promise to hold referendum on Surrey’s police-force transition if elected “This investigation has unique circumstances that are adding to its complexity,” said Cpl. Elenore Sturko “The community wants to know if this could be a case of mistaken identity, and that is one of the key questions investigators are still working to determine.” Anyone with information is asked to contact the Surrey RCMP at 604-5990502 or anonymously at Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS or www.solvecrime.ca.

Saturday, November 27, 2021

No choice for millions in new Delhi but to chock on polluted air Gulpreet Singh begs for food from a dirty hemp mat spread on the sidewalk outside Delhi’s South Campus metro station. Like millions of Indians who survive on handouts or daily wages, the 84-year-old says he has no choice but to be outside, breathing air thick with smog in the Indian capital. “I come here and wait. Sometimes, people give me food,” said Singh, his

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Years of warnings about poor flood plans ignored prior to BC floods, says consulting firm Years of warnings about inadequate flood prevention and mitigation measures were ignored ahead of last week’s catastrophic flooding, says a Vancouver-based flood management consulting firm. In a report earlier this year, Ebbwater Consulting warned the “current model for flood risk governance in B.C. is broken,” and advised the province to take a more proactive approach. That builds on years of concern about more than 1,100 kilometres of sporadically maintained dikes across the province,

Continued on page 19

Continued on page 7

Fraser Valley, Metro Vancouver, Howe Sound & West Vancouver Island remain under rainfall warning Environment Canada said the rain will be the heaviest Thursday as the storm moves across the South Coast. The heavy rain will ease Thursday night as the system moves out of the region. Rainfall amounts are expected to be lower than the Nov. 13 to 15 event, which caused widespread and devastating flooding,

Parts of BC’s South Coast remain under weather warnings on Thursday, as the first of three expected atmospheric rivers hit the province. Fraser Valley, Metro Vancouver, Howe Sound and West Vancouver Island remain under a rainfall warning. Between 50 millimetres and 80 millimetres of rain is expected to fall in the Fraser Valley, Metro Vancouver and Howe Sound.

Continued on page 17

Fake social media profiles targeting Sikhs exposed A network of fake social media profiles of people claiming to be Sikhs, and promoting divisive narratives, has been exposed. A new report shared exclusively with the BBC ahead of its publication on Wednesday identified 80 accounts in the network, which have now been suspended because they were fake. The influence operation used accounts across Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to promote Hindu nationalism and pro-Indian government narratives. The aim of the network appears to have been to “alter perceptions on important issues around Sikh independence, human Continued on page 6

India has more women than men for first time Indicating a demographic shift, the number of women surpassed men for the first time in India with the sex ratio being 1,020: 1,000, according to findings of the National Family and Health Survey-5. “With this, we can say India moves in the league of the developed countries - as the sex ratio crosses 1000,” a health ministry official said, attributing it to measures taken for women empowerment such as financial inclusion and for combating gender bias and disparities. The sex ratio at birth also improved from 919 in 2015-16 to 929 in Continued on page 8

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Darbar Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji and Gobind Sarvar School Community devoted several days of the month of November towards celebrations of Guru Nanak Dev ji’s of 552nd Gurupurab of Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji, tremendous celebrations were organized by the Sewadars of the Gobind Sarvar, at Darbar Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji. Large congregation of followers and admirers of Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji’s philosophy endorsed and cherished the central theme of this occasion- Sarab Sanjhiwalta, Universal Brotherhood! In the spirit of Universal Brotherhood, leaders of all faith groups, Wasim Ahmed Bashir of the Ahmadiyyas, Vinay Sharma and Satish Kumar from Sri Lakshmi Narayan Mandir, Madhu Acharya from Buddhist Foundation, Balwant Singh Sanghera of Gurdwara Nanak Niwas, Surinder Singh Jabal of Gurdwara Sahib Brookside, Pundit Mohan Murrari of Fraser Valley Hindu Cultural Society, Harbhajan Singh Atwal from Gurdwara Sahib Sukh Sagar came to participate, share their views on brotherhood and wish the Sikh community on the occasion of birth

anniversary of the founder of Sikhism- Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji. The elected members of our community came in large numbers to the celebrations. Mayor Doug McCallum and his Councillors Mandeep Nagra, Lauri Guerra, Allison Patton came and wished the congregation a Happy Gurpurab. Honorable Member of Parliament, from Newton, Sukh Dhaliwal, Honourable Minister of Labour of British Columbia Harry Bains, Honourable Member of Legislative Assembly, Jinny Sims, Honourable Member of Legislative Assembly, Rachna Singh, Honourable Member of Legislative Assembly Jagrup Brar, Honourable Member of Legislative Assembly Mike Star-Chuk, Harjit Singh Gill of Sher-e-Punjab radio, Bree-Anna Berman – Fleetwood Community Association, and Dean Barbour of Fleetwood Business Association came specially to be with the Sikh community and wish them Happy Gurpurab. Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji was himself perhaps the most widely travelled Spiritual leader of that time. His odysseys took him across the Himalayas, across the Indian Ocean, Arabian Ocean, deserts of sand and salt, dense tropical forests to the centers of many religions. Wherever he went people loved him – owning him as their own Nanak Pir or Nanak

Lama to name a few. He recognized the common link in all – the link of humanity – cooperation and building associations… Dr. Rishi Singh, the Principal of Gobind Sarvar School said, “as an educator, it is my foremost endeavour to have this essence of Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji rooted in my school students.” Gobind Sarvar Community is a worldwide community teaching Punjabi language, Santhiya, Shabad Kirtan’s education to students in thousands. Gobind Sarvar Elementary and Secondary Schools and Gobind Sarvar Gurmat Schools are in Fresno, CA, Detroit, MI, Indianapolis, IN, New York, NY in the USA; Punjab, India, Walsall, UK; Bobigny, France; Parma, Italy; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Te Puke, New Zealand; Melbourne, Australia; Brampton, Calgary, Edmonton and our own Surrey in Canada. At Gobind Sarvar School, Surrey, Dr. Rishi Singh stated that the school lays strong foundations for a student right at the kindergarten smart classrooms to enhance every experience of a student in the school. Since the opening of the school in September 2021, the students of the schools have experienced all safety drills, book fairs, Student Vote exercise, Interactive session with Fred Fox, brother of Terry Fox, participated

in Terry Fox run and fund raised money for the foundation, students learnt about the unfortunate history of Residential Schools, " as community organized Kirtan and Gurbani Kanth competitions, learnt about Bandi Chorr Diwas, Mata Sahib Kaur ji, paid respects to the veterans by celebrating remembrance day, food and blanket drive, and contributed in a joint assembly with all Gobind Sarvar Schools in Canada and most importantly Gobind Sarvar School students’ Path Jaap. From the academic vantage point, school students are taken outdoors by their teachers in the beautifully located School campus and learn from nature. The students did extremely well in Foundation Skills Assessment exam, held recently. With growing interest of many parents to send their children to our school, the school’s management and leadership team is working diligently to build one of the best school facilities for children. Gobind Sarvar Community seeks everyone’s blessing, support, and best wishes for the future endeavors. May Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji message continue to guide us all!

OPINION

By Sylvain Charlebois, Professor Dalhousie University

Saturday, November 27, 2021 management system. Only a privileged few can produce milk in Canada, making milk almost a public good. Most people are willing to pay extra for good Canadian milk and dairy products. Even without supply management and our quota system, milk prices would likely be high, perhaps even higher. But it’s sensible to believe Canadians still want domestic quality. But in recent months, Canadians have seen that quality may not always be there. ‘Buttergate’ shone a light on the practice of feeding cows palmitate, an imported palm oil derivative. It affected our butter’s hardness and made many Canadians scratch their heads. Why would we import an ingredient to produce butterfat and compromise quality when the Dairy Farmers of Canada’s Blue Cow logo is all about local? The Dairy Farmers of Canada banned the practice in the spring and created a working group to investigate the matter. So far, the group hasn’t released a single report about its progress or offered any new quality assurance practices the industry is pursuing at retail. Not one hint of transparency to reassure Canadians. With this latest increase, raising farmgate prices for milk so farmers can make a decent living isn’t really the issue. What’s problematic is the way the commission does it. The Canadian Dairy Commission, a Crown corporation owned by all Canadians, is controlled by three people, all with dairy connections. Processors, retailers and, most importantly, consumers aren’t even represented on the board. To be clear, the 72 people working for the commission in Ottawa are actually working for the Canadian public, not dairy farmers. We set dairy prices, not farmers – the supply management regime is owned by all Canadians. However, 91 per cent of the Canadian public doesn’t even know the commission exists and how it operates, even though its decisions impact the lives of most of us. And the commission hasn’t shown any interest in being transparent and forthcoming with information. Its press release about the record-breaking price hikes, posted late on a Friday afternoon, wasn’t shared by the commission, just by citizens on social media. Many observers are also concerned about the methods used to calculate increases. The commission posted a very simplistic seven-page report explaining how it calculated the increase. Not only is raw data not provided but we have no idea if data used in the pricing formula are verified by competent authorities.

Milk prices rising - Time to reform the Canadian Dairy Commission

The Canadian Dairy Commission announced recently that farmers will get an unprecedented 8.4 per cent more for their milk and better than 12 per cent more for butter starting in February. For consumers, this certainly isn’t great news. Milk, butter and yogurt prices will likely skyrocket in the new year. It’s the highest increase since the commission was created in 1967.

Provincial boards will need to approve these increases, but that likely won’t be a problem. But Canadian industrial milk was already the most expensive in the world and has been for many years. In Canada, we produce what we need and dairy farmers get a fair price for their work. That sounds reasonable. The Canadian Dairy Commission is the centrepiece of that supply

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Saturday, November 27, 2021

South Asian dentist permanently banned from sedating patients A dental surgeon with a history of discipline related to serious complications during surgery has been permanently barred from sedating patients. Dr. Bobby Rishiraj (pictured) has also agreed to step down as director of the Kamloops Oral Surgery and Implant Centre and to pay $29,000 in fines and costs, but will retain his licence, according to a consent agreement from the College of Dental Surgeons of B.C. The disciplinary action comes after Rishiraj admitted to committing professional misconduct for a second time in the face of allegations he “incompetently practised dentistry,” according to a notice from the college. He acknowledged that he failed to: maintain proper sedation records; record his patients’ levels of consciousness and required pre-operative assessments; make sure staff were properly trained to assist with moderate sedation; maintain medication and equipment on the clinic’s mobile emergency cart; and properly store restricted drugs. The latest disciplinary action comes six years after Rishiraj was temporarily suspended from

practice and ordered to pay more than $100,000 in fines and costs after a teenage girl suffered a heart attack leading to severe brain damage while she was under deep sedation. Dentist Bobby Rishiraj suspended, fined after leaving patient with severe brain damage. Kamloops dentist Bobby Rishiraj’s mistake leaves patient with severe brain damage.In that case, Rishiraj admitted to performing deep sedation on 12 patients without approval to do so. A college discipline panel also found that he failed to properly monitor patients while they were sedated, and ran his clinic to promote “efficiencies” by trying to see as many patients as possible in as little time as possible. He was suspended from practice for three months in that case and ordered to complete a course in ethics. The more recent issues with his work were first noticed during tri-annual inspections of his clinic, and verified through a review of 17 patients’ records, according to the college. The conditions of Rishiraj’s latest discipline also stipulate that he cannot be the operator or director of any clinic that provides sedation.

Time ticking for South Asian man charged in $1B international stock fraud scheme A Vancouver physician turned stock promoter has until Nov. 30 to respond to charges he was involved in an alleged $1 billion international stock fraud scheme. In early August, Dr. Avtar Singh Dhillon was arrested in Long Beach, California, while residing in his $12 million, 9,300-square-foot, yacht-lined waterfront home — once advertised as one of the region’s most expensive residential properties. He has since turned in his passport and is monitored by authorities with a GPS ankle bracelet after posting a $1.5 million bond. Dhillon, 60, was once a family physician, after obtaining a medical degree from the University of B.C., but over the past 25 years he has pivoted his career toward promoting mainly health science companies and

claimed to have raised more than $1 billion from investors. He’s also served as past chairman of the Cannabis Canada Council and is a former member of the securities practice advisory committee to the B.C. Securities Commission. Dhillon’s most recent and prominent Canadian venture is a medical marijuana company that he founded with prominent Vancouver securities lawyers and family members, including his cousin, a convicted heroin trafficker. On Aug. 3, the U.S. Department of Justice filed criminal charges of conspiracy to commit securities fraud, securities fraud, and two counts of obstruction of a proceeding before the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) against Dhillon.

Abbotsford homeless camp flooded out, advocates fear jump in toxic drug deaths Health advocates worry that toxic drug deaths in Abbotsford could rise after floodwaters displaced many of the city’s homeless. People living in a 50-person encampment on the edge of Sumas Prairie fled for higher ground Nov. 15 after being warned of flood danger. “Creek waters beside tents were rising after the rain,” recalled Jesse Wegenast, executive director of 5 and 2 Ministries, a nonprofit that distributed harm reduction supplies including sterile needles and naloxone to residents of the streamside camp. The evacuation alert prompted some tent-dwellers to hitch rides to emergency shelters. Others moved elsewhere outdoors. “The displacement was a problem. Any time

there is an interruption to routine services, vulnerabilities increase – there’s no question about that,” Wegenast said. Brittany Maple is the director of Matsqui-Abbotsford Impact Society which oversees a network of drug survivors who provide harm-reduction services. She said, “when people are displaced like this, so is their natural community.” At the Sumas Way encampment, overdoses are common. But so are life-saving reversals — “because peers there are looking out for one another,” Maple said. “People in the encampment use drugs together and carry naloxone in case of emergency. The fast-acting medication reverses overdoses,” Wegenast added.

500 cattle dead following devastating flooding in Abbotsford BC Dairy Association Approximately 500 cattle have died as a result of the devastating flooding in Abbotsford and Yarrow. That’s the latest estimate from the BC Dairy Association (BC Dairy), which released a preliminary assessment on Tuesday morning. The organization says that prior to last weekend’s severe weather event, there were approximately 23,000 cattle in the region. “About 500 are deceased as a result of flooding,” BC Dairy says in a release. “An estimated 6,000 cattle were evacuated to other farms in the Abbotsford, Chilliwack, or Agassiz areas and are being cared for there, while an estimated 16,000 remained on their own farms.”

In addition, the number of deceased cattle could continue to rise if more flooding occurs or if animals need to be euthanized due to health problems caused by the flooding. BC Dairy says that it’s working with the provincial government, transportation companies, farmers, and volunteers to ensure that cattle on impacted farms are housed, fed, and watered. “While just one cow perishing in a natural disaster is disheartening, it is a credit to the tireless work of farmers, their families and volunteers that so many cattle were saved and so few lost,” Holger Schwichtenberg, chair of the BC Dairy Association says.

Saturday, November 27, 2021

From page 1

Fake social media profiles targeting Sikhs exposed Many of the accounts used profile pictures of celebrities, including actresses in the Punjabi film industry. A composite of images of twitter accounts with “fake” stamped on them, next to the same images from the Twitter profile pictures used on other websites. Using a celebrity profile picture does not in itself prove an account is fake. However, the report says that combined with the co-ordinated messaging, frequently used hashtags, similar biography descriptions and follower patterns, the pictures added to the evidence that each of these accounts was not genuine. The BBC attempted to contact eight of the celebrities whose images had been used, requesting comment. One replied via their management to confirm they were not aware their image had been used in this way, and said they would take action.

rights and values”, according to the report’s author, Benjamin Strick. There is no evidence linking this network directly with the Indian government, which has yet to respond to a BBC request for comment. The network used so-called “sock puppet” accounts, which are fake ones controlled by real people posing as independent individuals, rather than automated “bots”. The fake profiles used Sikh names and claimed to be “Real Sikhs”. They used the hashtags #RealSikh to endorse, and #FakeSikh to discredit, different political viewpoints. The report, from non-profit organisation the Centre for Information Resilience (CIR), found many of the accounts in the network used the same fake profiles across several platforms. These accounts shared the same names, profile pictures and cover photos, and published identical posts.

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Surrey teen powerlifter sets national records in his very first competition Surrey’s Gaurav Dhanoa set four powerlifting records during his very first competition in the sport. An Enver Creek Secondary student, the 16-year-old was in Victoria for the Kabuki Strength Van Isle meet on Nov. 20-21. In the Junior Male weight class of 67.5KG, he squated 315 lbs., bench-pressed 228 and deadlifted 425, for a total of 968 lbs. “Gaurav set the national record in all four categories,” according to coach Pavi Toor,

with Young Guns Weightlifting Club. “He was given the fourth attempt at squat and deadlift. This is not common practice but because he beat the national record, the competition organizers wanted to see his maximum lift. He is now looking forward to the Nationals which will take place in Alberta in 2022. “It’s huge for Gaurav – he’s a celebrity at his school right now,” Toor added.

Woman charged after falsely posing as nurse in hospital for a year: police Vancouver police say a woman falsely posing as a nurse is facing charges after working at a Vancouver hospital for an entire year. Vancouver police say Brigitte Cleroux, 49, worked at BC Women’s Hospital between June 2020 and June 2021 under fraudulent pretenses. Police allege she provided care to patients at the hospital while using the name of a real nurse. “Our detectives worked collaboratively with the Ottawa Police Service, which was conducting a parallel investigation into the same suspect,” VPD Const. Tania Visintin said. “We don’t yet know how many people in Vancouver may have received treatment from the fraudulent nurse, but we’re working with the Provincial Health Services Authority to identify patients who may have had contact with her.” Ottawa police allege Cleroux fraudulently presented herself as a nurse while working at a medical and dental clinic in that city, where she administered medications and injections to patients. They launched an investigation into Cleroux after getting a tip she had used aliases and assumed the identities of registered nurses. It was not immediately clear how many patients Cleroux worked on in Vancouver, what duties or

Fundraiser set up for toddler who lost parents in recent rains and mudslide near Lillooet, BC A fundraiser has been set up for a young child who in a mudslide on Highway 99. The couple was killed lost both of her parents in the Highway 99 landslide. on November15, 2021, when a mudslide struck the According to the GoFundMe page, Anita and Mirsad highway they were driving on near Lillooet BC. Hadzic were on their way home from an Okanagan They were driving home when they were caught getaway on Monday Nov. 15 when they were caught up in mudslide on Highway 99, near Duffey Lake Road, in the mudslide between south of Lillooet, Pemberton and Lillooet. a town about 250 Police have said that the kilometres northeast bodies of four people have of Vancouver. been found in the slide; Family friend one woman and three Ali Azodi, who said men.“Anita and Mirsad Mirsad was “like a were the most wonderful brother,” said the parents. They were kind, couple leave behind hardworking and loved by a two-year-old so many,” the fundraiser daughter. He said page reads.“Anita and the couple had been Mirsad were high school on their way home sweethearts, I remember Anita and Mirsad Hadzic, the couple died during recent rains from a long-weekend her telling me they couldn’t getaway in the and mudslide on Highway 99. stand being apart, and they Okanagan.The Duffey are now together for all eternity.”Their child, a two- Lake slide is one of dozens of mudslides that took out year-old girl, is in the care of family. In one day of the major roads in southwestern British Columbia during fundraiser being launched more than $49,000 of the a torrential rainstorm last weekend. Authorities have $50,000 goal had been raised.Anita and Mirsad Hadzic recovered a total of four bodies from the debris, while a were driving home to Vancouver when they were killed fifth man remains missing.

Saturday, November 27, 2021 From page 1

Years of warnings about poor flood plans ignored prior to BC floods, says consulting firm

said the firm’s principal and founding engineer Tamsin Lyle. “For the last 20 to 30 years we’ve been presenting this information, providing updates on what we think it would cost if there was a large flood in the Fraser Valley or elsewhere in the country or in the province,” she said. “But for the most part that falls on deaf ears until there’s actually an event.” In 1948, dike breaches contributed to one of the most damaging floods in B.C. history, according to the province. That flood in the Fraser Valley — parts of which are underwater again this week — caused several casualties, destroyed about 2,000 homes, and did roughly $210 million in damage. Dike breaches also played a major role this time, with breaches in Abbotsford, B.C., contributing to the evacuation and flooding of the Sumas Prairie. Today there are 600 kilometres of dikes in the Lower Mainland alone, but they’re managed by a variety of governments,

farmers and other authorities or stakeholders, leading to inconsistent maintenance. Some dikes are “orphaned,” meaning they receive no maintenance at all. “There are many that are substandard and we know that they fail when they’re not maintained, and they fail even when they are maintained,” said Lyle. “Dikes are not a good solution for all flood mitigation problems.” Ebbwater Consulting has advised the B.C. government to change its flood management “paradigm” and create a clear and consistent authority structure that spells out who is responsible for what. That means a central knowledge hub within the provincial government that collaborates with Ottawa and develops best practices across the province, and regional hubs that focus on specific watersheds and support underserved communities, according to its 2021 report.

Three missing kids, including Richmond girl, may be in Langley Two 12-year-olds and a 14-year-old may be together and police want public help to locate them. Three teens are considered missing and may be together in Langley. The Langley RCMP is working alongside the Richmond RCMP and others to find the children. ”Richmond RCMP continues to actively search for missing 12-year old Mya Steenbergen. Investigators now believe that she may be in the company of two additional children, both of whom, were reported as missing in Langley,” said Cpl. Dennis Hwang, with the Richmond RCMP. Madison Savoie and Hunter Keys are believed to be in the company of Mya Steenbergen, a 12-year-old missing from Richmond.Madison Savoie is First Nations, 14-years-old and last communicated with family on Monday, Nov. 22. She is described as being 5 ft. 3 in. tall, approximately 140 lbs. and has black hair and green eyes. Hunter Keys is Caucasian, 12-years-old and was last seen when he was dropped off in Langley City on Sunday, Nov. 21. Hunter is described as being 5 ft. 8 in. tall, 120 lbs. and has short brown hair and brown eyes. His right ear is pierced. He was last seen wearing a black ‘Vans’ baseball cap a black ‘SantaCruz’ hoodie, blue jeans and black and white ‘Vans’ skate shoes. Mya Steenbergen is described as a 12-year-old Caucasian girl, 5 ft. 7 in. tall, 125 lbs., with dyed reddish shoulder length hair, hazel eyes, possibly wearing a black shirt, black pants, and black backpack. She was last seen by her mom around noon on Monday, Nov. 22. “With weather conditions worsening, police are very concerned about the well-being of all three children,” Hwang noted. Anyone with information that might assist to locate either of these two youths is asked to call Langley RCMP at 604-532-3200. People with information can also call nearest police office or CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-8477

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Saturday, November 27, 2021

From page 1

India has more women than men for first time

in 2019-20, indicating the positive impact of measures like implementation of the PC and PNDT Act and various other interventions. According to NFHS-3, conducted in 2005-06, the sex ratio was 1000: 1000 and in 2015-16 (NHFS-4), it declined to 991:1000. On November 24, the Union health ministry released NFHS-5 (2019-21) results for India and 14 phase-II states and union territories in the form of fact sheets of key indicators on population, reproductive and child health, family welfare, nutrition and other health-related areas. The findings of NFHS-5 in respect of 22 states and union territories covered in phase-I were released in December 2020. According to NFHS-5, 88.6 per cent of the births (in the 5 years before the survey) in the country were delivered in a health facility. A significant rise since NFHS-4 (78.9 per cent) is proof that India is marching towards achieving universal

Vancouver mayor wants a climate levy in the city’s 2022 budget

institutional births, officials said. “Assistance by properly trained health personnel working within an enabling environment is needed to eliminate preventable maternal and newborn deaths. A key strategy to ensure skilled care during childbirth is to that all births take place in health facilities in which obstetric complications can be treated when they arise,” the official said. Nearly four-fifth (78 per cent) mothers received postnatal care from health personnel (doctor/nurse/LHV/ ANM/ midwife/other health personnel) within two days of delivery in the country, a significant rise from 62.4 percent in NFHS-4. This would result in reducing the maternal and infant mortality rates in the country. The days and weeks following childbirth - the postnatal period, are a critical phase in the lives of mothers and newborn babies. Most maternal and infant deaths occur in the first month after birth.

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the targets in its plan quicker. Council will hear the proposal at its meeting next week and is scheduled to make a decision on the budget on Dec. 7. Stewart said this year has shown the effects of climate change. “In 2021, we find ourselves in a constant state of climate emergency, with out-of-control wildfires and heat domes in the summer, and now devastating rains and flooding in the winter,” he said in a news release.

If it’s adopted by city council, Kennedy Stewart says the money raised from the levy would be used to cover infrastructure upgrades needed because of climate change. He estimates the levy could raise more than $100 million over the next decade. Vancouver’s climate plan has set a goal of a 50 per cent cut in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. Stewart says the new fund would allow Vancouver to reach

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Saturday, November 27, 2021 Surrey radiothon raises nearly $1M for Canadian Red Cross to help flood victims RED FM’s Gurpurab Radiothon fundraiser has raised more than $955,000 for the Canadian Red Cross. The annual radiothon has raised millions for the Surrey Hospitals Foundation redirected its donations to the Canadian Red Cross in the wake of historic flooding in B.C. last week. A release from the station said the funds raised will help the Canadian Red cross “to carry our relief, recovery, resiliency, and risk reduction activities in and beyond the region at the individual community levels.” On Saturday (Nov. 20), RED FM announced it had raised $955,000 for the Red Cross. The station started taking pledges from donors at 6 a.m. Friday and continued through to 10 p.m., surpassing the usual 12 hours. RED FM’s president and CEO Kulwinder Sanghera said the South Asian and Punjabi communities “never

cease to surprise me with their big hearts.” “This community never gets tired of giving back and helping during difficult times.” In addition to the funds raised for the Canadian Red Cross, $227,266 was also raised for the Surrey Hospitals Foundation. That’s a total of $1.18 million raised in one day. In an update on the Surrey Hospitals Foundation’s website, it says that “due to the urgent need for flood relief assistance in the Fraser Valley region, Surrey Hospitals Foundation has asked that all funds from this year’s event be directed to the Canadian Red Cross who are coordinating relief efforts throughout the region.” Now in its 15th year, the RED FM Gurpurab Radiothon has raised more than $8.5 million for the Surrey Hospitals Foundation, including $710,000 last year.

Saturday, November 27, 2021

BC’s paid sick leave program draws mixed reaction from business community B.C.’s permanent sick leave program got the seal of approval from the Surrey Board of Trade at Wednesday’s unveiling. Other business organizations aren’t nearly so enthusiastic over the initiative that will guarantee workers five days of paid sick leave each year beginning this coming January 1. “Let’s be clear. While many businesses have been resilient through this pandemic, it doesn’t mean they are thriving,” Fiona Famulak, president and CEO of the B.C. Chamber of Commerce, said in a statement. “The added cost of the permanent paid sick leave program is on top of a number of cost increases that businesses have needed to shoulder in the last few years, that include the introduction of the employer health tax, rising property taxes and costs associated with implementing safety measures for the pandemic.” The Greater Vancouver Board of Trade estimates the program will cost businesses that don’t already offer paid sick leave between $506

million and $1.1 billion each year. The province’s temporary program, launched in May and due to expire December 31, offers workers three days of paid sick leave, while employers are reimbursed up to a maximum of $200. The province reduced its budget for reimbursements significantly during the last fiscal update, with Labour Minister Harry Bains indicating it was because fewer people than expected tapped the three-day paid sick leave program. No reimbursements will be offered to businesses under the permanent program. “The benefit of paid sick leave far exceeds the cost or modest cost that comes with paid sick leave,” Bains said, adding businesses will benefit from increased productivity and higher rates of retention. Anita Huberman, CEO of the Surrey Board of Trade, said employees face a stark option when feeling ill: “Go to work while sick to collect a vital paycheck, or stay home and receive no money.”

‘Disturbing’ pattern of discrimination alleged among BC police services A new report reveals a ‘disturbing’ pattern of discrimination among the province’s police forces, says the office of B.C.’s Human Rights Commissioner. The report was funded by commissioner Kasari Govender and collected race-based data from five police jurisdictions — the Vancouver police, the Nelson police, and the RCMP in Surrey, Prince George and Duncan/ North Cowichan. It’s part of a presentation by the commissioner to a provincial legislature committee is working to reform the Police Act to address alleged systemic racism in police services. Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth began the study of the act in response to Black

Lives Matter rallies across Canada following the death of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man killed by Minneapolis, Minn., police. The commissioner, who made oral submissions to the committee in February, said in a written summary that the time for debate about whether system racism exists in policing is over, particularly, but not exclusively, as it affects Indigenous and Black people in B.C. “It is time to act,” said the summary, which added that analysis of the data provided by the five police departments confirmed what communities had long been saying, namely that Indigenous and Black people are either grossly or significantly overrepresented in arrest statistics.

Saturday, November 27, 2021

$2,000 payments coming to eligible evacuees from flooded BC communities Eligible evacuees from B.C.’s floodravaged communities will be receiving support payments of $2,000 per household through the Canadian Red Cross, the government announced Tuesday. The payments are intended to help displaced residents meet “the immediate needs associated with being evacuated due to flooding,” the Ministry of Public Safety said in a news release. Only B.C. residents who were forced to leave their primary residence due to evacuation orders resulting from last week’s intense storm are eligible, officials said. Deputy Premier Mike Farnworth encouraged all British Columbians who are able to donate to one of the numerous organizations aiding in the province’s flood response, such as food banks and the United Way. “We’ve been tested by disaster after

disaster in recent years,” Farnworth said at a news conference Tuesday. “Each time we have risen to the challenge by working together, by helping each other.” He also acknowledged a coalition of B.C. business that have already donated more than $1 million to the Red Cross’s B.C. Floods and Extreme Weather Appeal. All donations made through that fundraiser will be reserved for the current crisis, according to the charitable organization, with no more than five per cent going toward fundraising costs. For evacuees to receive the $2,000 payments, they must first register with the Red Cross by calling 1-800-863-6582 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Officials assured evacuees that the extra financial support will not impact their eligibility for other benefits

COVID-19 health orders that limit gatherings to vaccinated people in part of B.C. extended indefinitely COVID-19 health orders have been extended indefinitely in a part of B.C. that’s seeing higher case rates per capita and lower vaccination uptake. In an update last week, Northern Health announced its orders that cover most of the region were being extended. “At this time, NH Medical Health Officers have determined there remains a need for regional public health measures to limit transmission, reduce case counts and reduce rates of COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths in the north,” the health authority’s statement said. The orders were implemented on Oct. 14 and would have expired on Nov. 19. However, the expiry was removed, with the health authority saying the

“measures will remain in effect pending further assessment of the region’s COVID-19 status.” The orders, initially referred to as a “circuit breaker,” restrict indoor and outdoor personal gatherings to fully vaccinated people. “If you are unvaccinated or have unvaccinated people in your households, then you need to stay with your household only,” Dr. Bonnie Henry said when she announced the measures on Oct. 14. The restrictions apply to the entire Northern Health region with the exception of the local health areas west of Kitwanga, including Terrace, Kitimat, Haida Gwaii, Prince Rupert, Stikine, Telegraph, Snow Country and the Nisga’a areas.

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Star & Style

Saturday, November 27, 2021

Deepika enters the metaverse in animated car video Deepika Padukone often shares goofy videos on her Instagram handle and they go viral on the internet in no time. Recently, the actress posted a video of her in a car and gave us a glimpse of her entering into the metaverse. Deepika shows how to rock comfy and chic outfits in her latest video. In this video, we can see the actress sitting inside a red car. She can be seen driving it on a lonely road. Suddenly, the camera zooms on to her face. She sees a board that has ‘entering metaverse’ written on it and suddenly the

windows of her car rolls up and the car speeds away. Later, the car enters a cube of light and jumps in the air. Sharing this video the actress wrote, “Into the metaverse”. On the work front, a few days back, Deepika wrapped the shoot of Shakun Batra’s untitled next. The film also stars Siddhant Chaturvedi

Rani Mukerji defends ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’ character Rani Mukerji’s popular character ‘Tina’ in film ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’ has often received flak from the audience. The actress recently defended the character by stating that it had a lot of depth in it. Talking about it to a news portal, Rani said that Tina was very hard to get for Rahul which resulted in him having the curiosity to go more after her. According to her, the fact that she sang ‘Om Jai Jagdish Hare’ on the college campus while he thought

that she’s born and brought up in London, showed that she is so deeply rooted to her culture and that she’s so grounded. Elaborating further, she added that there was a lot of depth to Tina’s character for someone like Rahul to have fallen for her because, at the end of it all, it was Tina who understood the love that Rahul and Anjali had for each other. The actress also went on to point out at the fact that she also makes her daughter reunite the two of them.

Preity Zinta gets twins ‘Jai & Gia’ through surrogacy Preity Zinta took to her Instagram handle to announce the arrival of her twin children with Gene Goodenough. The actress opted for surrogacy. She wrote, ‘Hi everyone, I wanted to share our amazing news with all of you today. Gene & I are overjoyed & our hearts are filled with so much gratitude & with so much love as we welcome our twins Jai Zinta Goodenough & Gia Zinta Goodenough into our family.’ Further she added, ‘We are very excited about this new phase in our lives. A heartfelt thank you to the doctors, nurses and to our surrogate for being part of this incredible journey. Loads of love and light - Gene, Preity, Jai & Gia #gratitude

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#family #twins #ting.’ The actress has been away from the silver screen ever since she tied the knot with Gene Goodenough. However, she is quite active on social media where she is often seen treating her fans with stunning pictures and videos of herself and keeping her followers updated on her whereabouts and life. Preity completed 23 glorious years in Bollywood in August this year. Recalling her journey in the industry so far, she wrote, “23 Years of Movies If you are in the habit of chasing rainbows be ready to get drenched in the rain cuz a life without rain is like the sun without shade.

Star & Style

Saturday, November 27, 2021

Amitabh Bachchan to begin shooting for ‘Uunchai’ soon Weeks after Sooraj Barjatya’s film ‘Uunchai’ went on floors, with Anupam Kher, Danny Denzongpa and others, buzz is that Amitabh Bachchan will also be joining them. Having said that, Danny and Amitabh will be sharing screen space together, nearly after three decades since they last starred in ‘Khuda Gawah’. Amitabh Bachchan will begin shooting for the film in December. A source close to the production said, “A set is being constructed at Mehboob Studio in Mumbai and Mr Bachchan will join the team here in December.” Bachchan had earlier worked with the Barjatyas in ‘Saudagar’ about 48 years ago. Speaking of ‘Uunchai’, the film is reportedly a family drama, dealing with the friendship of senior citizens. Apart from that, actress Sarika who also plays a pivotal role in the film, has returned to the Barjatyas’ production house as well.

She is currently shooting with the unit in Nepal along with Parineeti Chopra and Anupam Kher. The source also said, “She started her career as a leading actress with Rajshri Productions’ ‘Geet Gaata Chal’ in 1975 opposite Sachin Pilgaonkar. So featuring again in Sooraj Barjatya’s ‘Uunchai’ is like a homecoming for her.” Sarika started off her career as a child artiste in 1967 and she featured in lead roles right through the 70s and 80s. In fact, now that Amitabh Bachchan is also part of the cast, the film will also be a reunion of Big B and Sarika, since they worked together in ‘Satte Pe Satta’, ‘Nastik’, and Anurag Kashyap’s TV show ‘Yudh’ a few years ago.

Amir Khan’s third marriage new goes viral? Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao announced divorce after 15 years of their marriage. The duo has a son Azad together. In a joint statement, Aamir and Kiran described their 15 years of togetherness as ‘beautiful’ during which they shared a ‘lifetime of experiences, joy and laughter’. Months after Aamir Khan announced his divorce from Kiran Rao, rumours have started doing the round that the Bollywood actor is gearing up to tie the knot, again. A few days back, there were reports doing the rounds on social media that Aamir will announce his wedding after the release of his upcoming film Laal Singh Chadha, co-starring Kareena Kapoor. However, according to the latest reports, Aamir’s third wedding rumours are fake. According to media reports, there is no truth to the news of Aamir’s third marriage

and all such reports are fake. It further clarified that he doesn’t want to interfere with the Laal Singh Chadha’s limelight and nothing like this is happening. Laal Singh Chaddha: Aamir Khan-Kareena Kapoor starrer release pushed to April 2022. After Aamir and Kiran’s divorce, people had come up with the theory that the actor’s alleged relationship with his Dangal co-star Fatima Sana Shaikh was the reason for their separation. Addressing their dating rumours, she had said in an interview, “A bunch of strangers, whom I’ve never met, are writing things about me. They don’t even know if there’s any truth to it. People reading it assume that I’m ‘not a good person’. You feel like telling that person, ‘Ask me, I’ll give you an answer. It disturbs me because I don’t want people to assume wrong things.”

Alia Bhatt’s sister posts appreciation for her

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Alia Bhatt shares a close bond with her sister Shaheen Bhatt. We often get to see pictures of the Bhatt sisters from their brunch dates, vacays and movie outings. Recently, Shaheen took to her Instagram handle to share an appreciation post for the ‘Raazi. Shaheen posted a photo of Alia from their recent Maldives trip. In this picture, we can see the actress sitting on a chair on the beach as she posed for her sister. She was all smiles for the camera and showed off her nomakeup look. She wore a green halter neck tee and a pant. The post was captioned as, “Just an Alia appreciation post”. Alai Bhatt performed playback singing for the song “Sooha Saaha” in Highway (2014). A. R. Rahman, the composer of the film, invited her to his music school to undergo training. In 2014, she sang the unplugged version of the song “Samjhawan”, for the composers Sharib-Toshi, in Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania.[4] In 2016, she sang an alternate version of the song “Ikk Kudi”, for the soundtrack of Udta Punjab, with her co-star Dosanjh

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LOCAL / NATIONAL Citing rise in gun violence, Liberals say they’ll allow provinces to ban handguns

The Liberals’ throne speech promised to work with provinces and territories to allow them to ban handguns, going further than the government had proposed previously in allowing cities to ban the weapons. “Gun violence is on the rise in many of our biggest cities. While investing in prevention and supporting the work of law enforcement, we must also continue to strengthen gun control,” reads the speech delivered in the Senate on Tuesday. “The government will now put forward measures like a mandatory buyback of banned assault-style weapons, and move forward with any province or territory that wants to ban handguns.” Public Safety Minister Marco Mendocino said the government wants to do whatever is required to deal with gun violence. “We’ve seen too many

innocent lives lost. And certainly that is true in my hometown in Toronto and in many other parts of the country,” he said. “If municipalities and provinces are ready to engage the federal government on looking at additional ways, on how we can get illegal guns, including handguns out of our communities, then my door and this government’s door will remain open.” In the last Parliament, the Liberals introduced, but did not pass, a sweeping gun bill that included measures limiting the capacity of rifle magazines, banning certain weapons and allowing municipalities to ban handguns within their jurisdiction. The bill died with the election in August and the Liberals will have to reintroduce the legislation in this Parliament.

Be sure you’re registered for COVID-19 boosters, B.C. seniors advised B.C. Seniors Advocate Isobel Mackenzie is urging people aged 70 and up to make sure they are registered with the province’s Get Vaccinated system as booster third doses of COVID-19 vaccine are being administered. Mackenzie says having a B.C. vaccine card does not necessarily mean your are registered, and anyone in doubt should call the Get Vaccinated phone centre to confirm that they are. The centre is open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week at 1-833-838-2323. Registration and booking appointments online can be done here. If seniora are homebound and unable to get to a vaccination centre, they can receive the vaccine through a home visit by contacting their local health authority. Those who have received their first two

doses at home should be contacted by the regional health authority within the next two weeks for the third dose appointment. B.C. Centre for Disease Control data show “breakthrough” infections of vaccinated people are relatively rare, except for those aged 70 and up whose immune systems do not respond as strongly to vaccines. Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry has authorized booster doses as early as four months after the second dose, and recommends it after six months as public health officials track the ongoing effectiveness of vaccines. Indigenous people aged 12 and older are also eligible for booster doses before the general adult population is offered third doses in the first half of 2022. Health Minister Adrian Dix said Nov. 22 that 317,000 booster doses have been

Saturday, November 27, 2021 Canada ends COVID-19 policy turning back asylum-seekers between border crossings Canada is ending its pandemic-era policy of turning back asylum-seekers trying to cross into the country between ports of entry, according to a revised policy document released on Sunday. Canada turned at least 544 would-be refugees back to the Unites States between March 2020 and mid-October. The government did not immediately respond to questions regarding why it was ending the policy now and what if any quarantine rules would apply to asylumseekers who are not vaccinated. Canada had

said the measure was necessary given health concerns during the coronavirus pandemic. But refugee advocates argued attempts to claim asylum should not be considered “discretionary travel” and pointed to class exemptions Canada made during the pandemic for professional athletes, among others. “It’s a relief to see the measures for refugees align more with our international obligations, and I think it’s been clear all along that public health and refugee protection could coexist,”

Keystone XL pipeline developers seek $15 billion for cancellation in one of biggest trade appeals against U.S. ever Developers of Keystone XL are seeking to recoup more than US$15 billion in damages connected to President Joe Biden’s decision to yank a permit for the border-crossing oil pipeline even after construction began. With a request for arbitration filed Monday, Calgary-based TC Energy Corp. formally opened one of the largest trade appeals ever against the U.S. and asked to put its longrunning dispute over Keystone XL in front of an international arbitration panel. The legal claim is being mounted under provisions of the North American Free Trade Agreement

that allow foreign companies to challenge U.S. policy decisions. “The U.S. decision to revoke the permit was unfair and inequitable,” TC Energy said in its filing, blaming the U.S. for putting Keystone XL on a 13-year “regulatory roller coaster.” The proposed pipeline, which would have transported up to 900,000 barrels per day of Canadian crude to U.S. refineries, was rejected by then-President Barack Obama after he concluded it would exacerbate climate change. Keystone XL was later revived by President Donald Trump, only to have Biden reject it again, on his first day in office.

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Saturday, November 27, 2021 First session of new Parliament’ looking a lot like the old one and facing same issues Members of Parliament return to the House of Commons today for the first time in five months. It’s a new Parliament that looks almost identical to the old one, after an election Sept. 20 that saw only a handful of seats change hands and gave Justin Trudeau’s Liberals their second

consecutive minority. And it’s facing many of the same issues: the ongoing battle against COVID-19, rebuilding the battered economy, climate change, Indigenous reconciliation. It’s likely to face a similar partisan divide as well, with the Conservatives putting up stiff

Liberals pledge action on COVID benefits, sick leave, conversion therapy The Liberals plan to push ahead with bills on conversion therapy, an extension of some COVID-19 benefits, a bill to protect health care workers from harassment and providing 10-days paid sick leave for workers. Liberal house leader Mark Holland outlined the legislative agenda, which includes many promises the party made during the campaign, at a press conference Monday morning just before parliament resumed.

Holland said the party wants to have bills on all four issues through the House of Commons before a recess scheduled for Dec. 17. “I’m not looking to tolerate a lot of obfuscation or political games. And the good news is that’s the spirit I’ve heard from all of the parties,” he said. Monday’s opening of the House of Commons didn’t get to any of this legislation and focused instead on procedural issues including the election of a speaker.

Refinery that supplies estimated one-third of Lower Mainland gas runs out of crude oil A refinery that supplies an estimated one-third of the gas to the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island said Tuesday it has stopped processing operations because it had run out of crude oil due to the Trans

Mountain pipeline shutdown after last week’s catastrophic flooding. Calgary-based Parkland Corp.’s Burnaby refinery is now in “standby mode,” so that it can resume processing quickly once new shipments

Conservatives say all MPs should vote on vaccination mandate to enter House Conservatives say all 338 members of Parliament should be able to vote on whether they must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to enter the House of Commons. Tory whip Blake RichardsaskedCommons Speaker Anthony Rota on Tuesday to rule that the nine-member, multiparty body that governs the House does not have the authority to impose a vaccine mandate on all MPs. The complaint from the Conservatives

represents the latest chapter in their threemonth struggle with mandatory vaccinations in general, which first emerged as an issue during the September election campaign. It has since morphed into a leadership challenge for Erin O’Toole, who has faced calls for his tenure to be reviewed following the party’s election loss.

Tory vaccination status in spotlight after MP tests positive on eve of new Parliament Concern over the vaccination status of Conservative MPs was front and centre on the eve of a new session of Parliament after one of them tested positive for COVID-19. Quebec MP Richard Lehoux’s diagnosis added urgency to the push by Liberals and New Democrats to continue with a hybrid format in the House of Commons, which would give MPs the option of participating in proceedings virtually. And it prompted government House leader Mark Holland to suggest Sunday that the Commons needs to adopt a system for verifying the validity of medical exemptions claimed by an unknown number of Conservative MPs. Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole has said he and all his 118 MPs will be in the House

when it returns Monday, either because they’re fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or because they have a medical exemption. He has repeatedly refused to say how many are not fully immunized. But that was before Lehoux tested positive for the virus on Saturday, despite being fully vaccinated. Conservative spokeswoman Josie Sabatino confirmed that Lehoux’s diagnosis came two days after he’d attended an in-person caucus retreat on Wednesday and Thursday. She would not say how many unvaccinated Conservative MPs may now be required to self-isolate as a result of being in close contact with him. She would say only that “all MPs will abide by all public health guidelines.” She provided a link to

Canada considers boosting military aid to Ukraine as Russia amasses troops at the border Canada is considering bolstering its military mission to Ukraine, amid a debate over whether additional NATO forces would deter Russian President Vladimir Putin from further aggression against his country’s neighbour. Two sources with knowledge of the deliberations said Defence Minister Anita Anand is considering deploying hundreds of additional troops to support the Canadian soldiers already in Ukraine on a training mission. Other options being looked at include moving a warship into the Black Sea, or redeploying some of the CF-18 fighter jets based in Romania. Any reinforcement would be intended as a message to Mr. Putin, who has raised alarm for the second time this year by amassing troops and equipment near his country’s

borders with Ukraine. Videos posted online show thousands of battlefield weapons – including tanks, armoured personnel carriers and multiple-launch rocket systems – being moved toward Ukraine from their regular bases in other parts of Russia. By some estimates, there are now just shy of 100,000 Russian soldiers within a short drive of Ukraine – a country Mr. Putin has never seen as a fully sovereign state, and one he is determined to keep from joining the U.S.-led North Atlantic Treaty Organization. How to respond to Russia’s renewed pressure on Ukraine looms as Ms. Anand’s first major international test since she was appointed Defence Minister last month, replacing Harjit Sajjan. She and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau must calibrate whether a further Canadian show of

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This 4 bed / 4 bath executive style home on the bluff has outstanding 2nd floor views all the way to the North Shore. Above garage reno added in 2001 and larger reno in 2014 including solarium, upstairs bathroom, master bedroom with spa like ensuite. No expense spared with 2 way see through fireplace with jetted Chromotherapy/ Aromatherapy tub. Large walk in shower with rain head and body sprays. Enjoy the outdoor view in a private back yard with mature Palm and bamboo trees while you lounge around the concrete pool with attached hot tub. Pool is solar heated as well as gas and the yard is

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Saturday, November 27, 2021

Saturday, November 27, 2021 From page 1

Fraser Valley, Metro Vancouver, Howe Sound & West Vancouver Island remain under rainfall warning

mudslides that killed five people. B.C. floods: Another atmospheric river moves across large parts of the province 5th victim of deadly B.C. mudslide identified as 36-year-old man The mayor of Abbotsford will be keeping a “careful eye” on the Nooksack River over the next few days, as the heavy downpour of another atmospheric river begins. Flooding in the Washington river poured into the B.C. city just last week, contributing the worst flooding the Sumas Prairie has ever seen, said Henry Braun. He said he doesn’t know how much more the existing system will take and he expects a call from the mayor of the Washington border city of Sumas the moment its sirens go off for flooding. “We’ve done everything to get ahead. Our dikes are at a now at a level that they were before,” he said. “What I am worried about — and I mean worried, not just concerned — is what will the Nooksack do.” Coquihalla Highway could open to

commercial traffic by January 2022. The Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development is maintaining a flood warning for the Sumas River, including the Sumas Prairie and the surrounding area. In addition, the River Forecast Centre is

Sunshine Coast, Howe Sound and the North Shore corridor. While the rivers in the Fraser Valley are expected to rise, it will be more typical for fall storms, the forecast centre said, but flooding may be worse due to flood response, recovery efforts and damaged infrastructure.

upgrading the South Coast to a flood watch, including Sea‐to‐Sky including areas around Squamish, Whistler and Pemberton, the Sunshine Coast, Howe Sound, the North Shore mountains and the Lower Mainland including areas along the Fraser Valley and around Hope. The organization said rivers are expected to rise on Thursday with the potential for the highest flows around the

The second storm on the weekend is currently forecast to bring higher rainfall totals with warmer conditions resulting in additional snowmelt, the forecast centre added. There is potential for flows to reach 10‐year to 50‐year levels (or higher), likely occurring Sunday or Monday.

On the Nooksack River in Washington State, the Northwest River Forecast Centre (NOAA) is currently forecasting the potential for the Nooksack River to reach overbank flood stage at Cedarville and Ferndale on Friday and again on Sunday, with ongoing risks again later next week, the forecast centre said. A flood watch has been issued by the National Weather Service for Whatcom County and the Nooksack River. The forecast centre said overflow from the Nooksack River into the Sumas River drainage is possible, especially if more rain falls into the Nooksack River watershed. ‘Abbotsford mayor ‘worried’ about flooding from Washington’s Nooksack River’ Meanwhile, a winter storm warning is in effect for Highway 3, Paulson Summit to Kootenay Pass and the Trans-Canada Highway, Eagle Pass to Rogers Pass. Hazardous winter conditions are expected in these areas, Environment Canada said. The strong weather system will bring widespread snowfall from Thursday and into Friday. Friday is expected to be dry before the next storm system moves through on Saturday with another big one coming next Tuesday.

Saturday, November 27, 2021

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Saturday, November 27, 2021 From page 1

No choice for millions in new Delhi but to chock on polluted air

his voice straining over the noise of auto rickshaws and cars belching fumes just meters away. Delhi is often ranked among the world’s most polluted cities, and air pollution there reached “hazardous” levels in early November, according to India’s National Air Quality Index (AQI), which tracks the presence of harmful particles in the air. But some Delhi residents have become so accustomed to bad air that it’s a part of daily life — they barely notice it, they say. Others say it’s making them sick. Choking on smog. A police officer directing traffic at one of Delhi’s busy junctions says pollution levels have become “unbearable” this winter. “I’ve taken off my mask because I need to blow the whistle to stop traffic, but it’s been horrible,” said the 48-year-old officer, who didn’t reveal his name because he is not authorized to speak to the media. Exhaust fumes flow from the rows of vehicles around him — he says he finds it hard to catch his breath. “My eyes hurt. It’s hard to breathe. It’s not easy,” he said. Social worker Neelam Joshi, 39, says she feels the pollution every time she steps out of her house to catch the train to work. “When you leave the house in the morning, that’s the first thing which hits you,” Joshi said. By the end of the day, she says her body seems to have adjusted, but the next day, it happens all over again. “In the last six years that I have lived in Delhi, there’s never been a reduction in pollution,” she said. “It only increases every year. Every year we reach a different level, and during festivals it always becomes worse.” Amanpreet Kaur, 28, a flight attendant from Delhi’s Rohini area, recently crewed a flight from the United States and was stunned by the difference in air quality. “When I landed back into India, after my flight from USA, it was horrible. I’m continuously coughing,” she said.

Kaur says the smog is so bad that you can see it at night as a dirty haze around street lamps and car headlights. “When the sun sets, all you see is smog, just smog all around,” Kaur said. “It’s very dangerous to live in Delhi.” ‘My right to breathe’. Aditya Dubey, an 18-year-old environmental activist, has spent the past two years lobbying for urgent action against Delhi’s pollution.

farmlands. By November 5, most locations in Delhi were recording an AQI above 500 — the highest level on the scale. At that point, Dubey had had enough. The activist filed a petition with the Supreme Court seeking protection for his “right to breathe.” On November 15, the court ruled in his favor and ordered the central government to do more. Subsequently, schools were shut, non-essential

Every year, the city is plagued by a throatsearing cloud of murky smog, but it’s worse in winter when lower temperatures and a drop in wind speed trap particles in the air for longer. “Winter has become a torture and every day feels like a punishment,” Dubey said. “I have a burning sensation in my eyes and they start watering. I feel breathless.” Last month, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal tried to control pollution levels by banning firecrackers for Diwali, the festival of lights, but celebrations mostly proceeded as normal. The smoke from Diwali was exacerbated by a spike in the burning of crop waste in surrounding

traffic was suspended, construction projects were halted, and six out of 11 coal-fired plants were ordered to close until the end of November. Construction projects resumed Monday as Delhi recorded a marginal improvement in air quality. But for many, the damage had already been done. The ‘silent killer’ Delhi is not the only Indian city choked by smog. Last year, nine of the world’s 10 most polluted cities were in India, according to monitoring network IQAir. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution causes an estimated 7 million premature deaths a year globally,

mainly as a result of increased mortality from cardiovascular diseases, cancers and respiratory infections. Bad air could be reducing the life expectancy of hundreds of millions of Indians by as much as nine years, according to a recent study by the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC). The study also found that every single one of India’s 1.3 billion residents endure annual average pollution levels that exceed guidelines set by WHO. In 2019, the central government announced a national clean air campaign, with an aim to reduce particulate pollution by up to 30% by 2024. Specific plans were created for each city; in Delhi, those plans included measures to reduce road traffic, burn-offs and road dust, and to encourage the use of cleaner fuels. But in the past few years, India’s pollution problem has worsened, partly due to the country’s dependency on fossil fuels — and in particular, coal. At the recent COP26 climate summit in Glasgow, India was among a group of countries that pushed for an 11th-hour amendment to the agreement to phase “down” coal rather than phase it “out”. In Delhi, noxious air is claiming tens of thousands of lives each year, according to analysis of IQAir data by Greenpeace. But despite the worsening air quality, some Delhi locals have become so accustomed to it they don’t seem to notice. Many roam the streets without a face mask and have developed a general complacency toward pollution levels. Omprakash Mali, a 50-year-old gardener, say the air pollution doesn’t affect him or his work. “We work with mud and in dust as a gardener, so I don’t feel anything additional,” he said. “I think the top priority for the government should still be Covid-19. Pollution happens every year.” Meanwhile, Shesh Babu, 18, a manual laborer, said he “doesn’t really care” about Delhi’s thick smog. His priority is earning money.

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Saturday, November 27, 2021

Cabinet approves bill to repeal farm laws The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved a bill to repeal the three farm laws, which triggered protests at Delhi borders by thousands of farmers, and will be tabled in Parliament during the upcoming winter session for passage. Govt extends 5-kg free foodgrains scheme till March 2022; to cost exchequer Rs 53,344 crore On November 19, Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his address to the nation had announced the withdrawal of the three farm laws, saying

the government could not convince protesting farmers about the benefits of the agriculture sector reforms. He had also urged them to end the protest and return home. The Cabinet has approved the Farm Laws Repeal Bill, 2021 to rollback the three laws passed by Parliament in September last year, with an objective to bring reforms in the agriculture sector, especially marketing of farm produce. The three laws to be repealed are: Farmer’s Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion

India’s E-commerce Industry continues upward trend amid Covid-19 n the lead up to the first-ever Republic ‘India Economic Summit’ scheduled for November 26 in the national capital, Republic World establishes an overview of the world’s fifth-largest economy and key contributory factors to its growth, crisis and sustenance. At the Republic Economic Summit 2021, Union Ministers and top

corporates are set to ideate on pressing questions, especially in a post-COVID apparatus, while profound economists will place the world’s fastest-growing major economy under the microscope. At a time when the global economy is showcasing an inflection point amid COVID-19, let us understand the penetration of e-commerce & retail in the Indian context.

India backs Russia’s inclusion in IORA India & Nepal to recognise Covid vax certificates Indian Ambassador to Nepal Vinay M Kwatra signed the MoU along with Nepal’s Ministry of Health and Population Secretary Roshan Pokhrel at a ceremony organised at the ministry office in Kathmandu, according to a

press release issued by the Indian Embassy here. Health Minister Virodh Khatiwada was also present at the event. The MoU, between the health ministries of the two countries, is a significant step in easing travel for fully Covid-19 vaccinated travellers of both the countries, it said.

With Indian support, Russia has become the dialogue partner of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) after a meeting of its Foreign Ministers hosted by Bangladesh last week. India has been calling on Russia to play a bigger role in the Indian Ocean Region while Moscow wants New Delhi to be more active in Central Asia and the Russian Far East. The common interest is to use the other’s presence to balance China.

The IORA has 23 members all across the Indian Ocean Rim and 10 dialogue partners, including China, the US, Japan, South Korea, Britain and Germany. Pakistan is not eligible to join IORA because its founding members, including India, had decided that any country which does not have most favoured nation status will not be admitted.

Andhra passes bill prohibiting sale of movie tickets at cinema halls The Andhra Pradesh assembly on Wednesday passed a bill prohibiting the sale of movie tickets at counters, making it mandatory for cinema halls to sell their tickets through a government-run online platform -- the first state in the country to take over sale of movie tickets to minimise tax evasion. The government has decided to introduce a seamless online movie booking system, on the lines of Indian Railways online

ticketing system, minister for information and public relations Perni Venkatramaiah alias Nani told the assembly as he introduced the legislation on behalf of chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy. The assembly later unanimously passed the Andhra Pradesh Cinemas (Regulation) (Amendment) Act, 2021 by a voice vote. It will be introduced on Thursday in the state’s legislative council for passage before seeking the governor’s assent.

Court orders FIR against BJP worker for posting Kejriwal’s doctored video supporting ‘farmers law’ A Delhi court directed the police to register an FIR against BJP leader Sambit Patra for allegedly posting a doctored video of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal supporting the farm laws, saying it may have resulted in rioting like situation across the nation. Metropolitan Magistrate Rishabh Kapoor directed the Delhi Police to register the FIR under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and conduct a thorough investigation against the BJP Spokesperson while allowing the application of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Atishi.

Atishi had moved the court seeking registration of FIR against Patra claiming that the video contained statements that were diametrically opposite to the stand taken by the Delhi CM and the Aam Aadmi Party concerning the farm laws and caused discontent and dissatisfaction in the minds of farmers. The judge noted, “The fact that the video was published on the Twitter handle of proposed accused with the caption ‘teeno farm bills ke laabh ginate hue (Counting the benefits of the

CRPF enhances ex gratia payments for families of troops killed in action The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has enhanced the ex gratia payment provided to the families of troops who are killed in action or who die on duty due to other causes, officials said on Wednesday. As per the new rules, families of troops killed in combat will be provided an ex gratia payment of Rs 35 lakh, up from Rs 21.5 lakh being given till now.

Similarly, the families of those troops who die due to any other causes like accident, suicide or illness while in service will be provided Rs 25 lakh, up from Rs 16.5 lakh, they said. The decision was taken during the annual governing body meeting of the paramilitary force held in September, a senior officer said.

Saturday, November 27, 2021 .

Punjab Congress issue show cause notice to Patiala MP Preneet Kaur

Congress party’s Punjab affairs incharge Harish Chaudhary on Wednesday issued a show-cause notice to party MP and wife of former chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh, Preneet Kaur.

The party has accused the Congress MP from Patiala of anti-party activities. In a communication to Preneet Kaur, Harish Chaudhary said, “From the last many days, we are continuously receiving reports

Govt to pay Punjabi University ‘s Rs 150 crore loan- CM Channi Providing a major relief to cashstrapped Punjabi University, Patiala, Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi on Wednesday announced that the state government would take over the university’s Rs 150 crore bank overdraft. He also announced an increase in the university’s monthly grant (from Rs 9 crore

to Rs 20 crore) to tackle its financial crisis. He was at the university at the launch of two centres - ‘Centre for Restoration of Ecosystem in Punjab’ and the ‘Centre for Rural Entrepreneurship and Skill Training’. He said, “We discussed the financial crisis of the university and have decided to take over the bank loan of Rs 150 crore of the university

Investigation team summons Dera Sacha Sauda chairperson Two weeks after a four-member Special investigation Team (SIT) of Punjab Police visited Rohtak’s Sunaria jail to question Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in connection with three sacrilege incidents, including theft of a “bir” of Guru Granth Sahib at Burj Jawahar Singh

Wala and Bargari, the SIT on Wednesday summoned the chairperson and senior vice chairperson of the dera for questioning. The SIT has summoned chairperson Vipassana Insaan and senior vice chairperson Dr PR Nain at Ludhiana on November 26, said Surinder Pal Singh

AAP questions Punjab CM’s announcement of fixing cable TV connection charges The Punjab unit of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Wednesday raised questions on Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi’s announcement to fix at Rs 100 the monthly charges for a cable TV connection, saying the government should immediately issue a notification if it thinks it can fix these rates. Senior AAP leader and spokesperson Malvinder Singh Kang claimed that huge support, which his party is getting from the public ahead of next year’s Punjab assembly polls, has “unnerved” the ruling Congress. As a result of it, the chief minister has been making

announcements without any thought, “but in reality nothing is being done on the ground”, Kang claimed. “That is why Chief Minister Channi was being ridiculed by the people as a fake Kejriwal,” he said. About the announcement to fix Rs 100 monthly charge, Kang said, “Let the chief minister tell how it will be possible? When will the notification be issued? Prior to announcing the decision, did Charanjit Singh Channi conduct any study or research on the rules and regulations of the state and Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) for cable network operations?

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on CJP and a ‘convict’ delivering speeches at the same event It is “unfortunate” that Chief Justice of Pakistan and a person convicted by the country’s top court delivered speeches in the same event in Lahore, Prime Minister Imran Khan said on Wednesday, referring to a Conference organized in memory of a late activist, Asma Jahangir.

Prime Minister’s statement came amid inauguration of four new projects for youth Kamyab Jawan Markaz, Kamyab Jawan Green Youth Movement, Kamyab Jawan Innovation League and Kamyab Jawan Talent Hunt Youth Sports League for the welfare of the youth at the Convention in Islamabad.

Protests erupt amid growing backlash against China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project Massive protests have erupted in Pakistan’s port city of Gwadar against unnecessary checkpoints, a severe shortage of water and electricity and threats to livelihoods from illegal fishing, part of a growing backlash against the ChinaPakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project. The protests organised by workers of some political parties, civil rights activists, fishermen and concerned citizens have been

going on for a week at Y Chowk on Port Road in Gwadar, a coastal town in the restive southwest Balochistan province of Pakistan. The protesters demand removal of unnecessary security checkposts, availability of drinking water and electricity, eviction of big fishing trawlers from the Makran coast and opening of the border with Iran from Panjgur to Gwadar, a newspaper reported on Sunday.

IMF reaches agreement to revive funding to Pakistan The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said on Monday it has reached a staff-level agreement to revive stalled funding for Pakistan. “The Pakistani authorities and IMF staff have reached a staff-level agreement on policies and reforms needed to complete the

sixth review,” the IMF said in a statement. It said completion of the review would make available SDR 750 million, or approximately $1.059 billion, bringing total disbursements so far to about $3.027 billion.

83kg hash recovered from drug peddlers, 7 arrested Police & Rangers in a joint intelligence operation arrested seven drug peddlers from Karachi’s Orangi town area recovered 83kg hashish from their possession. The arrested were identified as Shireen Zada, Wasim, Akbar, M. Ali, Umar Farooq, Muhammad Wali, Nadeem Khan

alias Lala. During initial interrogation arrested accused confessed their ring-leader who used to bring 10 to 20 kg of hashish from Sohrab Goth area on his autorickshaw to further supply the drugs to small scale drug peddlers. Besides, Nadeem and Umar used to stock the drugs at their homes.

FIJI Pandemic indicators showing signs of slowing down This has been reaffirmed by the Ministry of health as Fiji records six COVID cases in the 24 hour period that ended at 8 am yesterday. However, Permanent Secretary for Health Doctor James Fong says they are still concerned with excessive gathering predicted for this festive season. Doctor Fong says people should continue with COVID-safe behaviors to minimize the possibility of another outbreak from these gatherings.

He adds domestic travel continues but will be restricted to a 50 percent capacity for both air and sea travel. This restriction will be reviewed once vaccination ramps up in the maritime zone. As of today, 600,944 people or 97.2 percent of adults have received one dose and 559,111 people or 90.4 percent of the target population are now fully vaccinated.

Domestic violence victims moved to safe houses More than twenty-five victims of domestic violence were moved from their homes to safe shelters during the COVID-19 lockdown. Domestic violence cases increased over the last ten months with the Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre recording 5,610 cases so far this year. Head of Counselling, Shobhna Devi, says statistics show that women faced a number of problems during the lockdown. “They were controlled by their husbands.

Whenever they called FWCC, they would either have to find a place when there was no one around or if their husbands or partners are asleep then they would quietly send us text messages that they are needing our assistance.” FWCC Co-ordinator, Shamima Ali, says they had to intervene and move women to safer places. She also highlighted that some women were forced into prostitution.

High Court convicts Prime Fiji Ltd of corruption-related offences Prime Fiji Limited has been convicted of one count of forgery and one count of using a forged document under the Crimes Act. This was after the High Court in Suva overturned the judgement of the Magistrate’s Court acquitting Prime Fiji Limited against corruption-related charges brought against the company. The company was charged by the Fiji IndependentCommissionAgainstCorruption (FICAC) in 2016 with one count of forgery

and one count of using a forged document. It was alleged that Prime Fiji Limited had submitted a falsified Performance Security of Westpac Banking Corporation amounting to $351,865 for the street light renewals with the intent to dishonestly induce Fiji Roads Authority in their capacity as public officials to accept it as genuine and to dishonestly influence the exercise of their functions. Furthermore, FICAC filed an appeal against the judgement delivered in the Magistrate’s Court on February 20, 2020.

22 Press release

Saturday, November 27, 2021

Prakash Purb Celebration

Guru Nanak Devji’ s 552nd Parkash Purb was celebrated with great enthusiasm at India Cultural Centre of Canada Gurdwara Nanak Niwas, 8600 #5 Road, Richmond. It started with the commencement of Akhand Paath Sahib on Wednesday, November 17 and concluded with the Bhog on Friday, November 19 in the evening. It was great to see the devotees turn out in large numbers to pay tribute to Guru Ji and also enjoy themselves looking

Press release

at the exhibition about Guru Nanak Dev ji’s travels, mission and message. We are very thankful to the congregation and volunteers for their support .Also, we would like to thank United Sikhs and their volunteers for organizing this excellent exhibition about Guru Nanak Dev ji. Balwant Sanghera, General Secretary . Balwant Sanghera

NDP refuse to extend government-funded sick pay

Despite the continuing challenges brought on by the global pandemic, the NDP are breaking their promise to struggling business owners, confirming they will cut governmentfunded sick leave for workers and businesses in 39 days and download those costs onto small businesses when they can least afford it. “No one should have to choose between going to work sick or losing wages during this pandemic, which is why sick pay is so crucial to British Columbians. But between the strains of COVID-19, wildfires, and floods, B.C.’s businesses are hanging by a thread and cannot afford to be saddled with an additional financial burden that this government promised to carry,” said Opposition Labour Critic Greg Kyllo. “When the NDP introduced paid sick leave legislation, John Horgan said they would not burden businesses with the costs while they are still struggling to recover from the economic turmoil they

have endured for more than 18 months , but now that’s exactly what they’re doing.” The government has confirmed that $310 million budgeted for sick leave will be unspent and returned to general revenue , and refused to commit to extending it when pressed by members of the Official Opposition. “Businesses are still completely blind to what this paid sick leave program will look like when they are forced to take it on,” added MLA Todd Stone, Opposition Critic for Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation. “The NDP could easily roll over the unspent funds and continue the current governmentfunded program until B.C. businesses have fully recovered. All they had to do today was say ‘yes.’ Instead, the NDP government is pocketing the $310 million underspend, and crippling businesses with additional costs they simply cannot afford right now.”

Saturday, November 27, 2021