The Asian Star September 4 2021

www.theasianstar.com Vol 20 - Issue 30

BC in COVID-19 ‘pandemic of unvaccinated,’ data show British Columbia is now in a “pandemic of the unvaccinated,” provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said Tuesday. Releasing the latest round of modelling numbers in a presentation, Henry said this past week was a success in terms of immunization; particularly in those under 30 years of Continued on page 8

Baliku Vadhu actor & ‘Bigg Boss’ winner Sidharth Shukla dies India’s famous tv and film actor Sidharth Shukla, who became a household name with his role in the long-running TV show “Balika Vadhu”, died on Thursday. He was 40.

Sidharth’s sudden death leaves all in shock; Kapil Sharma, Sunil Grover among first to react.

Shukla, who is survived by his mother and two sisters, was dead when he was taken to the Cooper Hospital in Juhu around 10.20 am, authorities at the hospital said.

Continued on page 19

Harvinder Sandhu

Saturday, September 4, 2021

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Majority of Canadians may not vote for Trudeau, Maru poll finds Justin Trudeau may find himself in real trouble on Sept. 20, after a new poll has found that the majority of Canadians may vote for a political party other than the Liberals. The Maru Public Opinion survey found that 73 per cent of Canadians polled are open to voting for a party to run the country other than the Liberals led by

Trudeau, while a mere 27 per cent have remained loyal to the prime minister. The poll surveyed 1,514 Canadians between August 28 and 29 with a margin of error of +/- 2.5 per cent. Trudeau on Aug. 14 called a snap election for Sept. 20, arguing that Canadians deserved a say in the national fight to end the COVID-19 pandemic.

Continued on page 7

Western provinces driving Canada’s 4th COVID-19 wave as physicians warn cases are ‘out of control Canada’s western provinces are largely driving the country’s fourth wave of COVID-19 cases, and physicians are now raising the alarm — saying lax and late public health measures helped spark a rise in serious infections that’s already putting pressure on hospitals and impacting patient care.

In British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan, infection rates are high

above the country’s average and far beyond every province to the east, including Ontario, whose population is larger than all three westernmost provinces combined. The rate of cases in the last seven days in B.C. was 93 per 100,000 people as of Aug. 30, federal data shows, with Alberta’s rate at 159 and Saskatchewan’s at 135 — with no Continued on page 6

‘Ashamed’ Vancouver surgeon apologizes for telling South Asian man to ‘crawl back to Surrey’ The head of Vancouver Coastal Health has admitted the organization didn’t do enough after learning a surgeon had made “racist” comments, apologizing to staff and including an statement of contrition from the doctor involved. President and CEO Vivian Eliopoulos sent a memo to 14,000 VCH employees Friday afternoon addressing a social media video of surgeon Jason Faulds in Vancouver

Election 2021 Randeep Sarai, for Surrey Centre

September 20, 2021 is just a few weeks away, and many Canadians may not be aware of election promises being made by the political parties. To assist our readers, The Asian Star is reaching out to candidates of each party in Surrey to obtain firsthand what their party is promising to the voters. In our second segment we bring to you direct responses from our interviews with Liberal party candidate for Surrey Centre, the incumbent MP Randeep Sarai, MP Kerry-Lynn Findlay the Conservative party incumbent candidate for South Surrey/White

Rock riding, and the NDP party Leader MP Jagmeet Singh, to answer questions that are top of mind for many voters. Here are the answers.

The Asian Star: What have you done for your constituents since you were elected in the last election? “In 2015 we helped fund, through BC Housing modular housing of 160 units to get everybody of the strip of 135A street so that they have proper housing. That was temporary, while we built 250 permanent shelters for them.

Continued on page 5

telling a South Asian man to “crawl back to Surrey,” acknowledging she’d known about the incident for some time. “I have been reflecting on our organizational commitments as it relates to a racist incident that occurred last year and was brought to my attention several months ago,” she wrote. “The first step in our learning and healing is acknowledgement and, on behalf of VCH, I share my deepest apologies for the late response.”

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Saturday, September 4, 2021

Land border crossings into BC nearly tripled when US travellers allowed in, but nowhere near pre-COVID numbers Pent-up demand by American travellers caused a spike in land border crossings into B.C. after non-essential travel restrictions were lifted last month, but the numbers are only a fraction of border crossings into Canada from the United States before the pandemic began. Statistics from the Canada Border Services Agency show that from Aug. 9 to 15, the first full week after U.S. citizens were permitted to travel into Canada, 32,296 foreign nationals entered B.C. from the U.S. by land. That’s almost triple the previous week, when only essential travel was allowed and 12,038 foreign nationals crossed into B.C. at land borders from the U.S. However, traveller numbers dropped by 10 per cent to 28,594 at B.C. land crossings during the week of Aug. 16 to 22, which is the most recent date of published statistics. It’s yet to be seen if that number will continue to trend downward as the U.S. State Department advised its citizens

this week to “reconsider travel” to Canada due to “a high level of COVID-19” north of the border.

The numbers provided by the CBSA do not break down how many foreign nationals were U.S. citizens; however, only American travellers are currently permitted into Canada for non-essential reasons. The spike in border numbers after Aug. 9 is nowhere near the number of land border crossings from the U.S. into B.C. in 2019, before the pandemic began. During the week of Aug. 9 to 15, 2019, there were 126,862 land border crossings from the U.S. into B.C. At that time, Canadian borders were open to all foreign travellers, and the 2019 statistic also does not distinguish between U.S. citizens and other foreign nationals who crossed into B.C. from the U.S. Meanwhile, statistics provided by Canada’s Public Health Agency show 971 travellers who crossed into B.C. by land, air and sea since April

Demand for Fraser Valley homes continues to soar: FVRB Demand for Fraser Valley real estate reached the second highest sales ever in August, as supply dropped, according to a report from the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board. The report Thursday says 2,087 homes were sold in the region last month, up four per cent from July and 2.4 per cent from the same month last year.

Sales were unusually high for the month, and second only to August of 2005, the board said.

Board president Larry Anderson said home buyers are facing one of the worst supply shortages in Fraser Valley history.

“Our sales are over 30 per cent above normal, while our housing stock is at levels last seen in the early 80s,” he said, in a statement. He added that realtors sold 94 of every 100 townhouses that came on the market in August. Anderson said a lack of supply continues to increase the cost of a home and the market conditions remains in favour of the seller.

Board CEO Baldev Gill said noted the BC government introduced the foreign buyers’ tax in 2016 and the federal government introduced the mortgage stress test two years later to improve affordability. “And yet, in the last five years, the price of a typical detached home in the Fraser Valley has increased by 50 per cent, he said, in a statement. “Those measures did not address the core issue, which is insufficient supply to meet the rise in our population growth. All levels of government must work together to correct the structural housing shortage.” In August, the average price for a detached home was $1,336,800, an increase of 1.3 per cent compared to July and up a whopping 31.1 per cent over last August.The average price for a townhouse went up 1.3 per cent from he month previous to $697,500, representing a 23.7 per cent compared to the same month last year. Condos were up 1.0 per cent to $498,800, an increase of 14.1 per cent

Mom convicted in case of horrific assaults on four-yearold son gets six months jail

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A woman who was convicted in connection with horrific assaults that were committed against her fouryear-old son, who a judge described as someone who “looked like a victim of torture,” has been sentenced to a little under six months in jail.

In March, the mother, who is only identified by initials in a court ruling, was found guilty in provincial court in Surrey of failing to provide the necessaries of life in relation to the injuries suffered by her son.

The 32-year-old mom and her partner, who she claimed had committed the assaults, were both charged with assault; but the charges were stayed and the only charge proceeded with was the charge against the mom of failing to provide the necessaries of life.

The trial heard that the assaults against the boy occurred in the defendant’s home in Surrey during September 2015. The mom testified she delayed taking the boy to a hospital because she was terrified of her partner, who she said had threatened to harm her or kill her if she reported the abuse.

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Man counter-protesting anti-vaccine rally at Kelowna hospital spat on, shoved — has no regrets He knew he’d be outnumbered, he wasn’t surprised when he was spit on, shoved and shouted at, but one man in Kelowna says he just couldn’t sit idly by while a thousand people protested COVID-19 vaccines and restrictions outside the hospital. So he made a sign, masked up, and braved the crowd. When Ben Van Exan heard about protests planned at healthcare facilities across B.C. Wednesday, he was furious.

“The hospital is full of doctors and nurses whose responsibility is to take care of the general public.

For thousands of people to gather and protest in front of hospitals is insane. It’s just absolutely crazy and mind-blowing,” he tells NEWS 1130.

“I thought that it would be good to go down and represent the respect that I have for healthcare workers, and the respect that we all should have for people who are actually scientific-minded and understand what they’re talking about.

“I was just going to stand there with my sign, and request that people get vaccinated. I didn’t really have a goal in mind, other than just to represent people who do respect healthcare workers, who do respect the orders from Dr. Bonnie Henry and the orders from the province — the orders that are in place to protect society.”

Protests in Vancouver, Abbotsford, Kamloops, and Victoria also drew large crowds and widespread condemnation.The Vancouver man is in Kelowna helping family, and says he’s attended a lot of protests in the past where there have been confrontations between opposing groups. But this was different. “I knew that I would be harassed which I was. I was spit at.

I was coughed at immediately. Within five minutes of being there, people were right up in my face coughing right into my face,” he says.

Unvaccinated driving COVID-19 surge in BC, new data show B.C. government data released August 31 back up health officials’ assertions that unvaccinated people are driving the province’s fourth wave of COVID-19 outbreaks, with older people suffering the most severe consequences once infected.

The 187 COVID-19 patients now in B.C. hospitals is the highest total since June 9. Of those 103 people are in intensive care units (ICUs). Those wards have not been as filled with COVID-19 patients since May 21.

B.C. health officials detected 655 new COVID-19 infections in the past 24 hours, raising the number of those actively battling infections to 6,045. The Interior Health region remains the province’s hot spot for new and active cases.

The province’s positive-test rate, for 9,281 tests, exceeded 7% for the first time in many weeks.

Two more individuals passed away overnight while infected with COVID-19, raising the province’s pandemic death toll to 1,816.

Perhaps the most striking set of statistics includes data from mid-to-late August, which showed that people who are unvaccinated are: t UJNFT NPSF MJLFMZ UP DPOUSBDU $07*% than those who have had two vaccine doses; t UJNFT NPSF MJLFMZ UP MBOE JO IPTQJUBM with COVID-19 than those who have had two vaccine doses; and t FJHIU UJNFT NPSF MJLFMZ UP EJF GSPN COVID-19 than those who have had two vaccine doses.

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OPINION

By Sylvain Charlebois, Professor Dalhousie University

Saturday, September 4, 2021

O’Toole offers a thoughtful strategy to tackle food inflation

The Conservative Party of Canada recently promised to control food inflation for Canadians.

It’s an odd promise for a party typically known to embrace market-free conditions but it holds great potential. What makes this promise even more atypical is that Canadians have access to one of the most affordable food baskets

in the world, 18th on the list compiled by the Global Food Security Index. That rating could be better, but it’s not bad. Canada is ranked with Switzerland, France, the United Kingdom and Israel, and rates No. 10 in food quality and safety, according to the same index. Canada isn’t doing too poorly, then, so having government

tackle food inflation may seem a little strange.

But Canadians are feeling pinched by what’s coming from the food industry, having to pay more at the grocery store or buying a meal in food service. If you feel you’re paying more for food, it’s not an illusion. An average family of four in Canada is paying about $1,000 more for their food since January 2020. And no sector is immune to systemic pressures affecting the industry. It’s practically impossible for governments to control macro-variables that indirectly affect food prices – like interest rates, the effects of the pandemic on global logistics, climate change, currency wars and labour woes, especially during a four-year mandate.

Openly stating to Canadians that food prices at retail should be lowered or, at least, controlled would simply be foolish and irresponsible.

Controlling food prices at retail isn’t something most Canadians want or should want. It rarely works for everyone. For example, Quebec controls the price of fluid milk at retail and it’s been a disaster for consumers. Milk is very expensive in Quebec because regulatory mechanisms barely give room for consumers to advocate for themselves. Industry lawyers and lobby groups will always overpower the welfare of consumers, especially those with limited means. Controlling prices or even nationalizing parts of our food distribution system would only lead to higher food prices and discourage investments and innovation – domestically and from abroad. And it would mean fewer choices to consumers. The quality of food products for Canadians would surely be compromised. But that’s not what the Conservatives are promising.

Their plan is to tackle innate market conditions that could impact food prices at retail and up the food chain. The Conservatives want to end criminal behaviour or at least punish it. The bread price-fixing scandal revealed by Loblaw and Weston Bakeries in 2017 was troubling.

For 14 years, bread prices were artificially inflated through industry collusion. According to Statistics Canada, bread prices went up 116 per cent, making it one of our food products Sylvain Charlebois, Professor Dalhousie University

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Saturday, September 4, 2021 From page 1

Those are done now, there are 5 permanent shelters with 50 units each. One shelter is located on 104 Ave by the Superstore (146 St.), another by the hospital, another in Newton, basically we spread them out to best meet the needs of the people,” shared Mr Sarai, continuing to layout the Liberal party’s plans, “The 3rd step is last year we made 3 announcements for Rapid Housing Initiative, we did one for Atira Women’s Shelter on King George and 92 Ave, the 2nd is near the hospital and the 3rd, this is going to be for at risk youth, 18 years old and above, who don’t have parents or have run away from home. This shelter’s location is not yet decided, we have given the money to the city.”

Mr Sarai also explained why there seems to be many more homeless here. “The reason we see more homeless here in Surrey is because there are many more services here helping the homeless.

One of the things you will hear from the homeless is that in Surrey ‘you never go hungry’. They gravitate more here. Whereas other cities are in denial, Burnaby until now was in denial that they have a homeless problem, so they won’t have or give them any services.” Mr Sarai sees the homeless problem as a regional problem, stating the whole region of Metro Vancouver needs to recognize the problem and create services as well as housing in their respective cities in Metro Vancouver to mitigate the homeless problem. “Surrey recognizes the problem and is building shelters and creating services and that’s why more people come here.

If you actually ask the homeless you will see most are not from here. It is good that they are coming here for help, but it also means that it’s costing Surrey. The cost should be shared by other cities in the region as well,” MP Randeep Sarai said. He shared the positive response from the businesses in the area stating the business owners now don’t have to ask a homeless person to move out of their doorway or away from their place of business, they are very happy that improvements have happened with at least 50% improvement in tackling the homeless problem.

The Asian Star: How have you approached the gang related violence that plagued Metro Vancouver earlier in the year?

Randeep Sarai: “That is actually my passion – from way before when I was younger in high school, I was on the crime prevention group, I represented BC in the National Crime Prevention Conference in Ottawa & Montreal. And then when the whole

gang war of Randeep Sarai, for Surrey Centre Gang Life, to mention a few the Dosanjhs – for example – Yo Bro is for and the Johals, all that started, people like Wally little kids, WRAP (Surrey Wraparound Program) Opal and Herb Dhaliwal asked me to start some is if you are in school, but if you got kicked-out or community organization to put the community over 18 then you don’t qualify. And none of these together. It didn’t make sense as our youth are not programs are for girls,” shares MP Sarai, adding, from poor and impoverished neighbouhoods, they “Kwantlen University has a program for girls to are from middle-class neighbourhoods. We are not help them get out of gang life, prostitution or looking for hand-outs we are looking for proper being a drug mule.” This is very confusing for services for our kids, right, so back then the Sikh parents who are already stressed, with many society of Lower Mainland became The South Asian having difficulties navigating all the services.

Societies of Lower Mainland to fight gang violence.”

“If you are a mom or dad and don’t know where MP Sarai shared views of community, “I always to go or who to ask, what we did is we listened saw that if you put the community together and and lobbied our Liberal government to give us you find out from the police and the stakeholders $250million for a national funding program – that help prevent gang violence, they will give you which did 2 things – on the enforcement side, answers, and the community can then lobby for $85 million went to the CBSA and the RCMP the money or resources. Before the last election I – the Conservative government had cancelled committed that I would do a task force on crime, and right after the election, (then) Mayor Linda and laid off everyone in the organized Crime Hepner, I asked me to join her task force on crime Unit and 30% of border guards. We re-built that instead of starting a separate one. So, we jointly did unit and funded the CBSA. I mean they (CBSA) it, we had town hall meetings all over Surrey, to find check the vehicles coming in, the trucks, etc., out what people were thinking, what parents were stuff and people coming to our borders need thinking, what kids were thinking. I personally and to be vetted and for that we need more CBSA through that process met with all the police bodies officers not less.” in the different neighbourhoods in the city, the gang squad, the Surrey WRAP program, which provides services to any kid in school that wants to exit a gang, now, that one was under-funded when the Liberals came in power.”

He informed that the WRAP program had a waitlist of 3 months. “When a gang member wants to quit today, and then is told to wait for 90 days to get the help to quit the gang. That is not going to work for that youth! So, we gave them $500 thousand quickly so to clear the backlog and to not have a waitlist going forward.”

MP Sarai shares this process brought him into contact with local RCMP asking for help for a forensic lab. It seems BC RCMP did not have a high-caliber forensic lab, they had an old one in Vancouver. “We got $60 million in funding, it got announced and opened within four years here in Green Timbers area.” Now it’s Canada’s largest lab with 140 scientists, forensics specialist who do ballistics tests, and no time lag – like before when stuff was sent to Ottawa or Toronto labs, it’s all done here now.

MP Sarai said he saw another challenge which came in the form of too many services in Surrey for gang prevention. The challenge was that these myriad services and resources were not coordinated. “From Yo Bro’/Yo Girl’, KidsPlay, End

BC sees new vaccinations nearly double in week after unveiling Covid-19 vaccine card The number of newly administered first doses almost doubled week-over-week in the days after B.C. unveiled plans for a vaccine card restricting access to many non-essential venues and events. Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry introduced the measure on Aug. 23. According to the health ministry, the week before that 24,102 people got their first vaccine dose. The week after, from Aug.

23–29, that number rose by 90 per cent to 45,799. First doses will be required to access places like restaurants, fitness centres and indoor organized event as of Sept.

13, while people will need to be fully immunized – two doses plus one week – to access those venues as of Oct. 24. B.C. is not the only province in Canada to bring in a vaccine passport system; Quebec’s went into effect Wednesday while Ontario’s will come into effect on Sept. 22.

LOCAL

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The Asian Star: Foreign students and their work permits. This has created an ongoing problem for the foreign students, there is exploitation of them; many of these students had to pay anywhere from $10,000.00 $50,000.00 CDN to get a job through the LMIA that will help them secure PR later, the jobs they get their pay is usually half or less than half per hour from the provincial minimum of $15.20 per hour. How the Liberal government is going to help and or educate these students so that they are being exploited?

Randeep Sarai: “Originally when this came in, if you were in a degree granting course you would get a post-graduate ‘Open work permit’ for three years, allowing you to work anywhere you want. For those students in non-degree granting or private colleges, they have to get an LMIA. I encourage these students to not look in the same circle here. There is a big shortage of workers in BC and in many cities across the country, to look at other markets as well, look online at hotels, retail businesses, they too have LMIA’s in fact, some businesses are even paying bonuses to entice workers.”

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Saturday, September 4, 2021 From page 1

Western provinces driving Canada’s 4th COVID-19 wave as physicians warn cases are ‘out of control

the east hitting more than 43. In terms of raw case growth, Alberta currently has the most new infections in the country, with more than 7,000 cases reported in one week. The province is now in the early stages of postponing surgeries and transferring patients to help boost capacity, but it has yet to reinstate major public health

measures or bring in a vaccine mandate to curb case growth as the fast-spreading delta variant surges across much of the country.

“Things are going very poorly. They’re only going to get worse,” said Dr. Ilan Schwartz, an infectious diseases clinician and researcher at the University of Alberta in Edmonton.

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Saturday, September 4, 2021

Majority of Canadians may not vote for Trudeau, Maru poll finds From page 1 The move was met with fierce criticism from opposition parties, who accused the prime minister of an opportunistic power grab, prioritizing his chance at a majority government before the health and safety of voters in the pandemic.

However, Trudeau’s hopes that his government’s handling of the pandemic may garner him a win may be in vain, according to John Wright, the pollster’s executive vice president.

“I think this shows that the electorate is soft in terms of its support for this government, even when they say they acknowledge that Trudeau should be the prime minister and his party should get a majority,” he told the National Post.

The poll, he explains, tiers Canadians based on how strongly they feel about the Trudeau. Of those polled, only 27 per cent are strongly committed to the Liberal party, while 32 per cent say they would use their vote to help them win a majority government. Meanwhile, 35 per cent say it would be “good to give Justin Trudeau a four-year uninterrupted majority government”, while 37 per cent say that Trudeau does “deserve to be elected to a majority”, all the while not committing their vote to the Liberals.

“People are still looking around,” Wright said. “They’re the people who should be driving the car but they’re distracted looking at the scenery outside.”

The current numbers may spell trouble for Trudeau; on Aug. 29, Wright tweeted that when “a slide like this starts, it’s almost impossible to recover.”

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Saturday, September 4, 2021 From page 1

BC in COVID-19 ‘pandemic of unvaccinated,’ data show

of age in the Interior Health and Northern Health regions, but COVID-19 case rates continue to be higher in areas of the province where there are lower vaccination rates.

Cases are still highest in areas such as Kamloops, the Cariboo Chilcotin and Nechako regions where vaccination rates are among some of the lowest in the province as of Aug. 23, according to the province’s data.

However, Henry said the good news is that some of the areas where case counts are the highest are also seeing the highest increase in vaccination rates. “Vaccines are making a difference, we’re not seeing the same type of

spread that we saw a few months ago,” Henry said.

COVID-19 case rates in the Lower Mainland are continuing to stay low and are levelling off and coming down in the Central Okanagan region, she added. The exception is in areas such as Creston, Nelson, Enderby, and Vernon, which have faced challenges with events such as heat and wildfires and getting vaccine clinics set up, Henry said. Data provided by the province from July 1 to Aug. 26 shows the rate of infection and hospitalizations among the unvaccinated has risen rapidly since about July 22, while there has only been a very slight increase of cases among the vaccinated population.

Saturday, September 4, 2021

RCMP investigating threatening & racist letter sent to Langley Mosque Members of the Langley Islamic Centre are “shocked” and “disappointed” after receiving a threatening and racist letter.

The letter was mailed anonymously on August 26 and makes a threatening demand for the centre to close in two months.

It makes reference to the Christchurch mosque attack, where a white supremacist killed 51 worshippers at two mosques in New Zealand, on March 15, 2019.

“The feeling that came back originally was of disgust and shock. I don’t think people believe we live in a world where things like this still exist. Some people are upset, some people are furious,” said Imam Fawad Kalsi of the Langley Islamic Centre.

RCMP are investigating the incident.

Fatema Abdalla with the National Council of Canadian Muslims says Canada is in the midst of a crisis of hate, systemic racism and Islamophobia.

“Enough is enough. Our communities should not have this constant fear of being a target, especially in our own places of worship,” she said.

“We have seen constant vandalism at places of worship ... we’ve seen attacks on our London family ... we’ve seen attacks on primarily Black Muslim women, in Calgary and Edmonton ... and now we’re seeing serious threats being made.”

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Saturday, September 4, 2021 Island Health CEO says protesters abused, assaulted health-care workers

Island Health’s chief executive says the anti-vaccine protests around Vancouver Island on Wednesday led to verbal abuse of health-care workers and at least one assault.“I am proud my country supports the democratic right to peaceful protest,” said Island Health president and CEO Kathy MacNeil in a statement Wednesday afternoon. “However, some of today’s protests disrupted safe access to healthcare facilities.” MacNeil said health-care workers

were verbally abused on their way to and from work, adding that there had been “at least one case” of physical assault. “What happened to our health-care teams today is not acceptable to me nor to the people and communities they serve,” MacNeil said. “Our health-care teams deserve respect and support, no matter what personal beliefs we hold.” Hundreds of people gathered outside the B.C. legislature building in Victoria to protest.

BC deal gave developer more than $200-million in interestfree loans, newly released contract reveals The private developer of a condo project that promised to include more than 200 units of social housing on land once owned by the provincial government doesn’t have to pay off the $200-million it owes until 2027. It has also not had to make any interest payments, a justreleased contract shows.Amid a housing crisis in Vancouver, the land has sat mostly vacant for 13 years.Holborn Group’s controversial deal with the former BC Liberal government

allowed the company to purchase land in central Vancouver next to Queen Elizabeth Park and demolish 234 dated units that were on the site. The deal was in exchange for a commitment to build the same number of government-subsidized units as part of a larger housing development. The company also planned for an additional 1,400 market-rate condos. The contract between Holborn and the province specifies that the sale consisted

Case of missing Langley woman handed over to RCMP’s serious crimes unit The disappearance of a missing teacher in Langley has now been turned over to the RCMP detachment’s serious crimes unit. Naomi Onotera, 40, has not been seen since the late afternoon of Aug. 28 when she left her home in Langley City. The elementary school teacher was reported missing by her family the following night.

Langley RCMP confirmed Wednesday that the case is now in the hands of its serious crimes team, which investigates cases where more resources might be required and a serious threat could be present. “Her disappearance is very much out of character for her,” Cpl. Holly Largy said earlier this week. “(Onotera) is known to go on long hikes in the floodplain area in the north part of Brookswood, sort of in between 200th and 208th.” RCMP said it is believed she was wearing black, stretchy pants that had a slight flair at the bottom, and a black T-shirt.

They released a photo Wednesday showing her wearing these clothes.

A Facebook group has been set up to help volunteers organize and communicate about the search.The group was started by a member of Trina Hunt‘s family, the Port Moody woman whose remains were found near Hope in March, two months after she went missing.

In Onotera’s case, police asked anyone who has video surveillance or dashcam footage from the area of 200 Street and 50 Avenue from Saturday, Aug. 28 at 6 p.m. until Sunday, Aug. 29 at 7 p.m. to contact the tip line at 604-532-3398.

Saturday, September 4, 2021 Liberal Party releases multibillion-dollar election platform for post-pandemic recovery The Liberal Party released its election platform today — an ambitious document that offers billions in new spending to address both long-standing policy problems and new ones that have emerged during the past 19 months of the pandemic crisis.

The sprawling, 53-page platform proposes $78 billion in new spending. It differs substantially from the Conservative plan released earlier in this campaign in that it proposes to invest more in Liberal priorities — such as efforts to fight climate change, Indigenous reconciliation and the arts and cultural sector — while promising tighter restrictions on firearms and new money for provinces that ban handguns.

The party is also promising to restore employment to pre-pandemic levels and go “beyond” its previous pledge to create one million jobs by extending the Canada Recovery Hiring Program — which subsidizes businesses that hire new workers — until March 2022.

It also accuses the Conservatives of being “opposed to support for workers and businesses.”

‘(O’ Toole) can’t even get his own candidates vaccinated’ — Trudeau With just 19 days left in the campaign, the Liberals are arguing that the Conservative Party presents a risk to the country — because it won’t deliver on mandatory vaccinations for public servants and the travelling public and plans to roll back a national child care plan the Liberals maintain would dramatically reduce costs for parents.

“What Erin O’Toole is doing is not leadership. Courting special interests – from anti-vaxxers to climate deniers, from the gun lobby to anti-choice organizations — failing to mention racism even once in a platform and ripping up $10-a-day child care agreements across the country, none of that is leadership,” Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau said Wednesday at a Toronto campaign event.

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Star & Style

Saturday, September 4, 2021

Krishna Shroff reveals who’s fitter and who’s lazier between her and brother Tiger Shroff We wanted to know who’s fitter between Kirshna and Tiger Shroff, and who’s lazier and keener when it comes to hitting the gym. Krishna Shroff graciously indulged us by revealing all during an exclusive interview with BollywoodLife while also sharing some profitness tips for those who can’t find the time to hit the gym and would rather exercise from home. Krishna Shroff is as hot as she’s fit, and it seems to run in the family as everyone from brother Tiger Shroff to their parents, Jackie Shroff and Ayesha Shroff are all very well maintained and look drop-dead

gorgeous. But, coming to just the sibling, we wanted to know who’s fitter between her and Tiger, and who’s lazier and keener when it comes to hitting the gym. Krishna Shroff graciously indulged us by revealing all during an exclusive interview with BollywoodLife while also sharing some pro-fitness tips for those who can’t find the time to hit the gym and would rather exercise from home.

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Janhvi Kapoor flaunts her legs as she steps out of pilates session Janhvi Kapoor has arguably got the hottest legs and mid-riff today in Bollywood, and she again underlined this fact she when stepped out recently post her pilates session, looking sexy AF Is there anyone in Bollywood who has hotter legs and a better mid-riff than Janhvi? We think not, or, there won’t be more than a handful of contenders to lay claim to distinction other than her. Underlining this fact, Janhvi Kapoor again gave us an eyeful of those sexy legs and delicious mid-riff as she stepped out recently post her pilates session, looking sexy AF. Check out the video above yourself and see if

we’re making sense or not?

Jhanvi made her debut in 2018 with Shashank Khaitan-directed romance film Dhadak, co-starring Ishaan Khatter. A Hindimovie, remake of 2016 Marathi film Sairat, it featured her as a young upper-class girl whose life turns tragic after she elopes with a lowerclass boy (played by Khatter). The film received predominantly negative reviews,[4] but with a worldwide collection of ₹1.1 billion, it proved to be a commercial success.

Celebrities arrive at Sidharth Shukla’s residence for saying him goodbye Varun Dhawan, Aly Goni, Jasmin Bhasin, Rashami Desai and others arrive at late actor’s residence to pay their last respects – watch videos Varun Dhawan, Aly Goni, Jasmin Bhasin, Gurmeet Choudhary, Gauahar Khan, Maniesh Paul, Rashami Desai, Prince Narula, Yuvika Choudhary, Shehbaz Gill and others reached at Sidharth Shukla’s Andheri residence to pay their last respects to the late actor.

Bollywood woke up with shocking news of actor Sidharth Shukla’s death, who passed away

after massive heart attack.

While we saw several celebritiess expressing their grief on social media, stars like Varun Dhawan, Aly Goni, Jasmin Bhasin, Gurmeet Choudhary, Gauahar Khan, Maniesh Paul, Rashami Desai, Prince Narula, Yuvika Choudhary, Shehbaz Gill and others reached at Sidharth’s Andheri residence to pay their last respects.

Star & Style

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LOCAL / NATIONAL Mandatory vaccines for all BC health care workers

Details are coming on a provincewide vaccine mandate for health care workers, according to the province.

In Tuesday’s COVID-19 briefing, B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix and Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry say they are working on a plan to ensure all health care workers are vaccinated.

“We know that there are some settings where it is incredibly important to prevent transmission of this virus,” Henry said when asked if this is on her radar. “Mandating any medical procedure is something that we don’t do lightly. We look at the risk and we do it proportional to risk. Long-term care is a setting where if the virus gets into that setting from somebody who is non vaccinated… it can have a tremendous effect on the health of

the people, on residents particularly and we know how serious that can be,” Henry said.

The province announced in early August all long-term care workers would have to be vaccinated by Oct. 12. The order also includes volunteers and personal service providers, but did not extend to nurses or other health care workers.

Now, the province say it is taking steps to make that required.

“From acute care to long-term care we know it’s most dangerous,” Henry said about the risk of transmitting the disease to those who are most vulnerable.

Few people in B.C. actually medically exempt from COVID-19 vaccine India flight ban creates costly challenges for international students coming to Canada ‘This will get enforced’: Dix

Saturday, September 4, 2021

Dr. Bonnie Henry’s views on Covid-19 vaccine booster shots for BC residents B.C.’s top doctor says some British Columbians will be prioritized for coronavirus vaccine booster shots this fall.

Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry told reporters Tuesday (Aug. 31) that there’s data that “increasingly shows” that people who have certain immune compromising conditions may not necessarily develop a response after two doses of a vaccine.

People who would qualify for the booster

dose may include those who have hematologic malignancies (blood cancers) and those who’ve had a solid organ transplant and are on immune suppressant drugs or stem cell transplants.

“There’s data that increasingly shows that they don’t necessarily develop a response after two doses of vaccine and that a third dose may actually increase the ability, the probability, that they’ll have a good immune response,” she said.

Liberal candidate buys and sells 21 homes since 2005 that would be subject to Trudeau’s proposed flipping tax Taleeb Noormohamed insists that making housing more affordable will be one of his priorities if he becomes the MP for Vancouver Granville. The federal New Democrats are drawing attention to dozens of real-estate transactions involving a Liberal candidate in Vancouver Granville.

In a news release, the NDP said that 21

of those deals by Taleeb Noormohamed— involving the purchase and sale of homes— would be subject to the Liberal Party of Canada’s proposed flipping tax. The party also cited B.C. Assessment records showing that Noormohamed bought and sold 41 properties in total since 2005, generating a $4.9-milllion return.

More than 1,000 people have died in BC from suspected drug toxicity in first half of 2021 Drug toxicity is now the leading cause of death for young people in British Columbia, according to the B.C. Coroners Service, which has recorded at least 1,011 overdose deaths in the first six months of 2021 — the worst first six months of a year ever.

B.C.’s chief coroner Lisa Lapointe said this is a tragic reminder that the tainted drug supply remains a significant ongoing threat to public health and safety, and called the lack of a swift, co-ordinated response to stop these preventable deaths “heartbreaking.”

Here’s a look at the U.S. weaponry and military equipment left in the hands of the Taliban The provincial government announced in July that it would become first province in Canada to permanently provide access to a safe drug supply, but it has been criticized for taking so long to achieve and not going far enough.

“The data released today highlights the immensity of this public health emergency and the need for a wide-scale response,” she said.

LOCAL / NATIONAL

Saturday, September 4, 2021

Conservatives push for Trudeau ethics probe, claim ‘troubling’ ties between PM and foundation The Conservatives are asking the federal Ethics Commissioner to investigate “troubling” ties between Liberal leader Justin Trudeau and the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation, including the fact he was still a member of one of the organization’s governing bodies while prime minister.

“I urge you to open investigations into whether Justin Trudeau may have breached (ethics laws) in respect of his relationship to the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation as one of its powerful ‘family members’,” Conservative candidate Michael Barrett wrote in a letter to Ethics Commissioner Mario Dion on September 1 and obtained by the National Post.

Did vulgar protests help Trudeau and will Bernierbenefitfromtheuglymood|Ivison:Ep19 The question at the heart of the issue: Could Trudeau continue to sit on one of the foundation’s governing bodies — a non-partisan charity created in 2001 thanks to a $125 million contribution from the federal government to fund and promote academic research — as a “succession member” while he was an MP and then prime minister?

No, according to both the Conservatives and Democracy Watch, a democratic accountability watchdog, who point to the foundation’s monetary ties with the federal government and the “powerful” position that PM Trudeau holds.

Anti-Covid-19 vaccine protesters shut down traffic near Vancouver City Hall & VGH Thousands of people marched against vaccine requirements and COVID-19 restrictions in Vancouver and several other Canadian cities Wednesday.

A large crowd gathered outside Vancouver General Hospital at 1 p.m., then made its way to Vancouver City Hall and across the Cambie Bridge to Downtown Vancouver, causing traffic and transit delays.

The demonstrators, some carrying upsidedown Canadian flags symbolic of a country in distress, were protesting vaccine requirements for health-care workers in long-term care homes, and vaccine passports needed to enter bars, restaurants, theatres, exercise classes and a range of other non-essential services.

This week, provincial government health officials said vaccine requirements could be extended to acute health-care workers as well. Several thousand protesters converge on Vancouver General Hospital and city hall as part of the World Wide Walkout for Health Freedom on Wednesday, Sept. 1.

The measures have been introduced as COVID-19 cases began an exponential surge in August, with hospitalizations also on the rise. The majority of cases and hospitalizations — nearly 90 per cent — have been in unvaccinated people or those with one dose, according to information released by provincial health officials this week.

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Federal leaders squared off in first televised debate of federal election campaign Four leaders faced off on Thursday, first televised debate of the federal election campaign.

The French debate on TVA, one of Quebec’s most-watched networks, comes at the mid-point of the campaign and could prove crucial to the outcome on Sept. 20.

Only four leaders -- the Liberals’ Justin Trudeau, the Conservatives’ Erin O’Toole, the Bloc Quebecois’ Yves-Francois Blanchet and the NDP’s Jagmeet Singh -- will take part.

The Green party’s Annamie Paul and the Peoples’ party’s Maxime Bernier were not invited to participate.

The TVA debate was seen as pivotal in the 2019 campaign.

Then-Conservative leader Andrew Scheer’s evasiveness on the issues of abortion and medical assistance in dying was widely seen as halting early Conservative momentum, ultimately enabling Trudeau’s

Liberals to eke out a minority win.

The performance of Blanchet, a newcomer to federal politics at the time, was also credited with giving new life to the Bloc Quebecois, which helped rob Trudeau of a second majority mandate.

The TVA debate is in addition to two official debates organized by the Leaders’ Debates Commission. The official debates are scheduled to take place next week -- in French on Sept. 8 and in English on Sept. 9.

Paul will participate in those debates, but Bernier, who didn’t meet the independent commission’s criteria for participation, will not.

The TVA debate involves a series of face-to-face encounters between two leaders at a time, allowing for sharper and longer exchanges.

Tonight’s two-hour debate begins at 8 p.m. ET.

Ontario vaccine bookings up after passport announcement Ontario sees 865 new COVID-19 cases.

Ontario’s Health Minister said on Thursday the province is already seeing more people booking COVID-19 vaccine appointments one day after the government announced a vaccine passport system is coming later this month. Christine Elliott said bookings “more than doubled” on Wednesday and thousands more lined up shots on Thursday. “We’re already seeing thousands more Ontarians roll up their sleeves, nearly half of whom are receiving their first dose,” Elliott tweeted. =At Humber River Hospital in Toronto, officials told CBC News that 48 per cent of vaccines administered on Wednesday

were to people receiving their first dose — a marked increase from the recent average.

The development comes as Ontario reported 865 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, with cases now having risen by almost 200 from the same day last week. Of the 801 cases today with a known vaccination status: 540, or 67 per cent, were in unvaccinated people. 88, or 11 per cent, had a single dose. 173, or 22 per cent, had two doses. The province’s raw data on the vaccination status of cases does not include breakdowns by age. That, and the fact that the populations of vaccinated and unvaccinated people in Ontario differ greatly by both size and demographics, are important caveats to note when examining cases by vaccination status.

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Truly delightful fully renovated 6 bedroom basement entry home sits on rectangular 7920 sf flat lot in most demanding area Aldergrove Langley.Main floor features 3 bed ,2 bath with new kitchen /island ,new flooring,new tiles , new woodwork,new fixtures,splash back,granite counters,new tiles,new cabinet, new windows,new zebra drapes,4 new washrooms & much more .Newly built 3 bedroom unauthorized basement suite with rear separate entry.Excellent renovated covered 333 sf Patio & deck.Landscape front & fully fenced back yard. Storage shed.Walking distance to both schools,shopping,community center with pools,water Park,ice arena,playing fields& to all major routes.

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Absolutely gorgeous family-home with TWO mortgage helper suites and plenty of room on the main floor with 4 large bedrooms, master bedroom with a walk-in closet and ensuite bathroom, multiple living areas with 2 fireplaces, and a spacious kitchen. Kitchen lets out to a large covered sun-deck to enjoy a cup of coffee in the summer or host a BBQ. Large backyard with a brand new fully-surrounded fence with plenty of room for children or pets. Entire property is beautifully landscaped with a large decorative palm tree and multiple fruit trees including fig, apple, pear and cherry trees.

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This well-maintained family home w/3-beds up, suite-potential down and a detached workshop/garage has everything you and your family needs, all located centrally. It's a 5 -10min drive to Guildford Town Centre & Hwy 1; only a 3min drive to Gateway Skytrain Station. The 2level home has a brand-new furnace, dishwasher & washing machine +plenty of other extras including a mobile accessible alarm system and a cozy living room gas fireplace for winter nights. The back deck located off the dining room is perfect for summer barbecues! In addition to the carport and the driveway that fits up to 4-5 vehicles, the 10,200sf lot (60x170) has a massive 1100sf detached workshop that will hold 3 cars, an RV or boat, and meet all of your storage needs.

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Saturday, September 4, 2021

LOCAL

Saturday, September 4, 2021 Harvinder Sandhu

Kerry-Lynn Findlay is the incumbent Conservative MP for South Surrey/White Rock.

The Asian Star reached out to her for information on the platform the Conservatives are proposing if they are elected to govern the country.

The Asian Star is asking the same questions we asked candidates from the NDP and Liberal parties. We strive to provide our readers with information on issues most important to them and how these are being handled by each party.

The Asian Star: Both the Liberal and NDP candidate were asked about the housing crisis.

They have presented a plan on how this crisis is going to be handled going forward. What is the Conservative plan in tackling this issue?

MP Kerry-Lynn Findlay: “Liberal candidate from Vancouver/Granville has done exactly what the liberals are saying they will stop Canadians from doing, flipping houses. He flipped over 21 houses and made millions according to latest news on him. That’s obviously how he is making money.”

She agreed housing and affordability are huge issues, particularly here in Metro Vancouver.

“We have just seen prices of houses rise and rise and not just to own a home, but also to rent. It’s very difficult. We have some very specific plans.

We intend to build a million homes in the next three years, because it is a supply and demand thing. So, to see that happen, the federal government, and most people don’t know this, the federal government is the largest landowner in the country. I believe the government owns about 30,000 buildings across Canada. So, one of the things we want to do is release about 15% of that to be repurposed for housing. In other words, we want to be part of the solution.

Then we want to incentivize other levels of government, to build homes near public transit because people have to move, so they can either live near where they work, or be able to get to work.

The other thing we are going to do is make it easier for families to get a mortgage. The Liberals brought in two mortgage stress tests. The first one, maybe you can kind of see, but the second one went too far because all it did was make the ability a home that much harder for the firsttime home buyers.”

She also talked about the housing scheme that the Liberals came up with before, where they proposed help to first-time buyers with down payment, but then the homeowner had to give up part of the equity. This scheme was not successful as only a very small number of people took part in it.

“It was a bad deal. All the third-party analysts who looked at it said this is not a good deal.

Don’t do it. So, people said, ‘No thanks’.

Our whole point is that we got get more supply. Most people don’t realize out of the G7 countries, we have the least numbers of housing units per-capita. We got a great big country, all this land and compared to other comparable countries we simply don’t have enough housing.

If there are not enough units out there to own or rent, then of course prices keep going up. The pressure is always for higher and higher prices if we don’t have enough supply. The other thing

Kerry-Lynn Findlay, for South Surrey / White Rock is we are going to do is bring in a moratorium on foreign ownership for two years if they have no intention of living here. In other words, you cannot come here and buy a home with no intention of living in it as that is artificially

driving up prices. On the other hand, we are prepared to encourage foreign builders to come in if they are committing to creating affordable rental housing. If they are going to do that then we want them to bring their money and invest

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here. To incentivize developers to build rental housing, we are proposing to defer related capital gains taxes if they re-invest their profits back into rental housing. This proposal will make it cheaper for developers and investors to build new rental housing.” Continued on page 20

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Saturday, September 4, 2021

Press release

Jagmeet targets big-money flippers to fight Trudeau’s housing crisis

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh announced another part of his strategy to fight Trudeau’s housing crisis today. Jagmeet would end the free ride Justin Trudeau has given the ultrarich and crack down on the big-money house flippers who are making big profits, taking advantage of tax loopholes and driving up house prices beyond the reach of everyday families.

“While everyday families are playing by the rules and trying to afford a decent home, Justin Trudeau is letting the ultra-rich use Canada’s housing market like a stock market to drive prices up, turn huge profits and use capital gains loopholes to avoid paying their fair share,” said Jagmeet.

Jagmeet’s plan would target wealthy speculators who buy affordable homes, renovate them quickly and re-sell for huge profits, while using capital gains loopholes to not pay their fair share. Jagmeet committed to increase the taxable amount of their capital gains profits from 50% to 75%.

Everyday families who sell their homes, small businesses or even registered

John Horgan must finally prioritize overdose crisis as it continues to worsen

Press release

savings – like an RRSP – will not pay more or be penalized in any way by this commitment.

“Justin Trudeau has refused to fix the capital gains tax loophole, even though it has a billion-dollar price tag and 88% of it goes to the richest 1%,” said Jagmeet.

“By ending this free ride for the ultra-rich, we can fight Trudeau’s housing crisis and help pay for the things Canadians need and make life more affordable.”

Far from solving the Trudeau housing crisis, this week it was reported that one of Trudeau’s own candidates has made millions by flipping dozens of homes and driving up housing prices.

BC Assessment records show he’s sold 42 properties since 2005 and made nearly $5 million.

“This is Trudeau’s housing crisis,” said Jagmeet.

“While Trudeau’s been talking about housing, his team has been getting very rich by driving up housing prices and making it even harder for everyday people to buy a home.” Since 2015, housing prices across Canada have skyrocketed $300,000.

For more information, please contact: NDP Media Centre: 613-222-2351 or media@ndp.ca

SURREY (August 31, 2021) – Today’s delayed updated illicit drug overdose report by the Coroners Service reveals the deepening overdose crisis in B.C., reporting another staggering month of overdose deaths which have sadly become the norm. “Today on International Overdose Awareness Day, we pause and reflect on the 1,011 overdose deaths recorded so far in 2021 – and tragically the highest ever recorded in the first six months of the year,” said Trevor Halford, BC Liberal Critic for Mental Health and Addictions.

“What is clear is that the overdose crisis continues to worsen while no substantive action is taken by John Horgan and the NDP to prevent further tragedy. In fact, we are only finally seeing this June report now because of the NDP’s mishandling of the heatwave in B.C., which created a backlog for the

coroner’s office and pushed the overdose crisis to the backburner for government once again.” On May 14, 2021, the Official Opposition wrote to the Premier asking for the Select Standing Committee on Health to be activated, so all parties could work on immediate actions to prevent further tragedy. The Premier has yet to respond to the request. “While the Premier spent the summer ‘giddy’ with excitement, his NDP government failed to take meaningful action to help end the cycle of addiction and save lives,” said Halford. “People in our province need access to a full continuum of care, where affordable treatment and recovery options are available. How many years will British Columbians have to wait for John Horgan to finally act?”

In June 2021, B.C. recorded 159 suspected illicit drug toxicity deaths, with 5.3 people lost to overdose every day.

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Saturday, September 4, 2021

We will not interfere in Kashmir: Top Taliban leader After the United States withdrew its troops from Afghanistan bringing to an end its longest war in history, Anas Haqqani, the Taliban leader and scion of Afghanistan’s feared Haqqani Network has called for an amicable relationship with India and pledged not to interfere in the Kashmir issue.

In an exclusive interview to CNN News18, Haqqani, 28, rejected accusations of terrorism against the guerrilla group controlled by his family and promised to provide complete

security to all Afghan Sikhs and Hindus.

“Kashmir is not part of our jurisdiction and interference is against the policy,” Haqqani, who styles himself a poet, said.

“How can we do against our policy? This is clear, we will not interfere,” he added.

Anas is the youngest son of the military commander Jalaluddin Haqqani, who fought both the Soviets and the Americans, and brother of Sirajuddin Haqqani, the head of the Haqqani Network.

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Baliku Vadhu ctor & ‘Bigg Boss’ winner Sidharth Shukla dies From page 1

Shukla, who is survived by his mother and two sisters, was dead when he was taken to the Cooper Hospital in Juhu around 10.20 am, authorities at the hospital said.

Though some reports suggested a heart attack, the cause of his sudden death, which sent shockwaves through the industry and TV fandom and ignited fresh debate on the pulls and pressures of showbiz, is not immediately clear.

“He was brought dead to the hospital. The cause of the death will be known after the post-

mortem is conducted, it will take some time,” Cooper Hospital Dean Dr Shailesh Mohite said.

The hospital’s Dr Jitten Bhavsar said Shukla—who won “Bigg Boss 13” in 2020 and joins the ranks of actors on the cusp of fame who went too early—was declared dead by the principal medical officer when he was taken to the hospital around 10.20 am.

“We are now waiting for the police ‘panchnama’, then a postmortem will happen,” Bhavsar said.

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Ladakh declares Snow Leopard as new state animal The Ladakh administration has declared snow leopard its state animal and blacknecked crane state bird. A notification in this regard was issued on Tuesday

by Pawan Kotwal, Principal Secretary, Forest, Ecology and Environment.

The Ladakh Union Territory administration on Wednesday, 1 September announced snow leopard as its state animal and black-necked crane as its state bird.

Meanwhile, a notification has been issued by the Principal Secretary of the Union Territory’s Forest, Ecology, and Environment Department on behalf of Lieutenant Governor, Pawan Kotwal.

“The Lieutenant Governor of Union Territory of Ladakh is pleased to declare snow leopard (Panther unica) and blacknecked crane (Grus nicricollis) as state animal and state bird, respectively.

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INDIA

Saturday, September 4, 2021

Over 1 lakh cr GST collected for second month Gross Goods and Services Tax (GST) revenue collections in August (for sales in July) remained over the Rs 1 lakh-croremark for the second consecutive month but fell marginally as compared to July.

GST revenue stood at Rs 1.12 lakh crore, 3.7% lower than the Rs 1.16 lakh crore collected for July (for sales in June) but was a healthy 29.5% higher than a year earlier

when only Rs 86,449 crore was collected.

The sustenance above Rs 1 lakh-crore indicates a pickup in economic activity after a series of localised lockdowns during the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Out of the Rs 1.12 lakh crore collected, CGST is Rs 20,522 crore, SGST is Rs 26,605 crore, IGST is Rs 56,247 crore (including Rs 26,884 crore from imports) and cess is Rs 8,646 crore (including Rs 646 crore collected on imports).

Actor Naseeruddin Shah warns Indian Muslims ‘celebrating Taliban’s return’ Actor Naseeruddin Shah has called out “sections of Indian Muslims who are celebrating Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan”. In a recent video message, Shah compared ‘Hindustani Islam’ and what is practiced in other parts of the world.

The video, shared on social media, has Naseeruddin Shah saying, “The Taliban’s return to power in

Afghanistan is a cause of concern for the whole world. However, celebration of the barbarians by some sections of Indian Muslims is no less dangerous”.

Shah added that those rejoicing Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan should question themselves “if they want a reformed, modern Islam (jiddat pasandi

Haqqani Network leader says group won’t interfere in Kashmir, seeks friendship with India The outreach by Haqqani is the latest conciliatory signal from the new masters of Afghanistan, who appear keen to build friendly ties with India, which has poured money into rebuilding Afghan infrastructure .

The scion of Afghanistan’s feared Haqqani network has called for an amicable relationship with India and pledged not to interfere in the Kashmir issue. In an

exclusive interview to CNN-News18, Anas Haqqani, 28, rejected accusations of terrorism against the guerrilla group controlled by his family and promised to provide complete security to all Afghan Sikhs and Hindus.

“Kashmir is not part of our jurisdiction and interference is against the policy,” Haqqani said. “How can we go against our

Sugar export to Afghanistan almost at halt Sugar export to Afghanistan has almost come to a halt with Indian merchants reporting cancellation of orders in the wake of the current situation there, a senior government official said on Wednesday.

The Taliban ousted the government in

LOCAL

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The Asian Star: There are many stories of floors condos in high rise buildings in Vancouver downtown that are left empty by foreign owners. This impacts negatively on renting has it takes housing supply out of the market. How will the Conservative government tackle this problem?

MP Findlay: “In regard to the Liberal platform on a stop to foreign ownership, well the Conservatives purposed this first. Then the Liberal stook it up as their agenda. This has happened on a few other issues that the Conservatives have brought up first and the Liberals followed. We first announced funding of skytrain in Surrey, and a day later the Liberals announced the same. Then we announced

Yogi Adityanath calls for inquiry, action against guilty officials in Supertech twin tower case Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath called for an inquiry and strict action against guilty officers in Noida in the Supertech illegal twin tower case, according to officials.

The chief minister also directed the officers to register criminal case against guilty persons, if need be, as he reviewed the matter in Lucknow, an official spokesperson said.

The Supreme Court had on Tuesday ordered demolition of the twin towers that

had come up in violation of the building bye-laws in Supertech’s Emerald Court housing project in Noida’s Sector 93.

The top court ordered that the towers be razed within three months for violation of building norms in “collusion” with district officials, holding that illegal construction had to be dealt with strictly to ensure compliance with the rule of law

Catastrophic economic failure as in 1990s, new vision needed: Rahul As oil marketing companies raised the prices of non-subsidised LPG cylinder by Rs 25, a second hike in 15 days, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said the Indian economy was faltering as it did in the 1990s and the country needed a new economic vision.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi addresses a

press conference at AICC Headquarters in New Delhi on Wednesday.

Tribune photo: Manas Ranjan Bhui “Catastrophic failures happened in the 1990s and the Congress gave the country the economy a new direction. Today again we need structural failures that warrant a new economic vision. The symptom of this catastrophic failure is the declining GDP.

Actress Saira Banu admitted to ICU ward at Mumbai hospital Actress Saira Banu, wife of late actor Dilip Kumar, was admitted to Hinduja Hospital in Khar, Mumbai after she complained of issues related to blood pressure three days ago.

She was shifted to the ICU ward, media reports said.

Actor Dilip Kumar

passed away in July this year.

The 77-year-old actor, who made her debut in 1961 with the film ‘Junglee’, is known for her roles in popular films like ‘Padosan’, ‘Bairag’ and ‘Purab Aur Paschim’ among others.

‘Faisla’ was the last movie that she was seen in 1988.

More details yet to come.

Kashmiri separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani dies at 92

Afghanistan and took over the control of the Kashmiri separatist leader Syed Ali country after capturing Kabul last month.

Afghanistan is one of the top three Shah Geelani died here on Wednesday destinations for Indian sugar exports. after a prolonged illness, officials said.

Govt of Pakistan annouce national flag to About 6,00,000-7,00,000 tonne of the sweetener is exported annually. fly at half mast in mourning of Geelani’s death Ali Geelani, was a member of banned About 6,50,000 tonne of sugar has already

Jamaat-e-Islami and chairman of hardline Hurriyat Conference, had been suffering from various ailments for nearly last two decades.

He was a former MLA. A veteran campaigner against Indian rule, he had been under house arrest for much of the past 11 years.

Kerry-Lynn Findlay, for South Surrey / White Rock funding for the Massey Tunnel, a week ago when Trudeau was here, he said ‘we have not made up our mind yet’ when talking about funding for the Massey Tunnel.

This is where you have to put people before politics. People have to be able to move around, live near where they work or near transit so they can get to work or if there are driving, be able to get through to where they are going. This is what we want to do. So, we can put in a prohibition against foreign ownership, we can follow up on it, and we can enforce it, and that’s we are going to do.

The other thing that is really important to

people that I get asked a lot is on principal residence equity tax. We are not going to tax the equity on your principal residence. That is the law now, but when the Liberals were pressed on it, they said we are not either, but they have commissioned two studies on it. Including one that the CMHC did where they hired UBC researchers, whom they paid just over $250,000.00 dollars, to research how to go about taxing your principal residence. The report they came up with for the government called people who have realized a profit on the sale of their home as “Lottery winners” that is the Liberals

attitude. They are saying no but their actions say something else.” On helping small businesses, MP Findlay informed how she has fought in parliament for the small business owner. She stressed how small business owners have put in a lot of money starting a business, like the many small businesses here in South Surrey / White Rock. These businesses are just hanging on since Covid started. None of the federal programs that are supposed to help small businesses help new small businesses, it left them out.

“If you have someone who has a home and has a small business, they are suffering as they are self-employed. They need ways to become a homeowner, they need to be able to hold on to that home, that’s what we are trying to do here.”

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Saturday, September 4, 2021

Punjab Farmers lathicharged by police to prevent protest against Sukhbir Badal The Moga police on Thursday used water cannons and cane-charged the farmers who were protesting on the national highway outside the new grain market where SAD president Sukhbir

Singh Badal was to address a public meeting.

Five farmers and some policemen were injured as the farmers clashed with the police after they used the force to disperse them. The turbans of both the farmers and some cops were tossed in the scuffle.

Harish Rawat meets CM Amarinder Singh AICC general secretary Harish Rawat on Wednesday asked Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh to provide relief to people by reducing power tariffs, one of the major demands of state Congress president Navjot Singh Sidhu.

He also told reporters that power purchase rates with private power companies should be renegotiated and the benefit of reduced prices should be passed on to consumers.

Rawat, who is the incharge of party Punjab affairs at the AICC, had arrived in Chandigarh on Tuesday amid the ongoing tussle in the camps of Amarinder Singh and Sidhu.

Rawat on Wednesday met the CM at his residence in Mohali’s Siswan. The meeting lasted for about three hours.

Rawat told the CM that the state government should provide some relief to power consumers.

20-year-old son killed his father, mother, sister & grandmother: Police It was the 20-year-old son of the Rohtakbased property dealer who had shot dead his father, mother, sister and maternal grandmother at Vijay Nagar here recently.

SP Rahul Sharma said this while addressing a press conference here on Wednesday.

Abhishek, the son of Pradeep, had killed the family members on August 27.

Sharma said Abhishek’s personal conduct, and financial and other issues could be the possible reasons, but the exact reason was yet to be known.

“Abhishek was arrested on Tuesday night.

He will be produced before a local court and his police remand will be sought to reconstruct the scene of crime, recover the

weapon(s) used in the crime and ascertain the reason behind the murders,” the SP said.

He said the involvement of other persons, including Abhishek’s friends and family, in the murders could not be ruled out.

“Certain people are being questioned to get to the bottom of the matter. Things will be clear in due course,” he said.

The SP said the CCTV footage collected from the neighbourhood and sustained questioning of Abhishek helped them crack the case.

“Abhishek was changing his statements frequently. He was found to have visited a hotel before and after the murders. The role of his friend who was staying at the hotel is also being examined,” he added.

Pakistan Flag to fly at half mast to mourn Geelani’s death Tehreek-e-Hurriyat founder Syed Ali Shah Geelani died in Srinagar on Wednesday aged 92.

A Kashmir separatist leader and former Hurriyat Conference Chairman, Geelani developed serious complications on Wednesday afternoon and breathed his last at his Srinagar residence in the evening, he was 92.

Many political leaders in Pakistan offered condolences over his death.

Prime Minister Imran Khan announced that

Pakistan’s flag will fly at half-mast and a day of official mourning will be observed across the country. He said that Geelani suffered “incarceration and torture” but remained resolute.

Taking to his official Twitter account, the Pakistan PM said on Wednesday, “Deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Kashmiri freedom fighter Syed Ali Geelani who struggled all his life for his people & their right to self-determination.”

Cricketer Afridi faces bouncers as he bats for ‘positive mind’ Taliban; watch funny reactions The “positive mind” statement of former cricket player Shahid Afridi over Taliban militant group, which has taken over Afghanistan, has flooded the twitter with funny reactions.

“Taliban is allowing ladies to work. And I believe the group likes cricket a lot,” Afridi said.

“Taliban is...supporting cricket and the cricket

series against Pakistan as well. Taliban is very positive towards cricket,” Afridi told the media in Pakistan on Monday. “Taliban is giving jobs to ladies, supporting cricket and the cricket series against Pakistan as well. Taliban is very positive towards cricket,” Afridi added.

Check internet for video and the reactions to Shahid Afridi’s statement:

2 teenage girls gang-raped by 7 men in Lahore Two teenage girls gang-raped by seven men in Lahore, sparking outrage over increase in sexual assault cases in Pakistan.

According to police FIR (first information report), two femalesaged 18 and 16 gone from their residence in Shahdara to Fazal Park in the city on rickshaw on Tuesday evening to pick clothes from the house of a customer for sewing.

“On their way, some men abducted the girls at gunpoint and took them to a nearby

area of a factory and drugged them. The culprits raped the girls throughout the night and fled in the morning,” the FIR says.

The girls called on police emergency number and narrated their ordeal.

On the statements of the victims, Lahore police claim to have arrested all seven suspected rapists including the factory owner. They were arrested under sections of Pakistan Penal Code.

Imran Khan-led government ‘illegitimate, incompetent’ says Maryam, daughter of former PM Nawaz Sharif Former PM Nawaz’s daughter, Maryam Nawaz on Wednesday lashed out at present govt led by Prime Minister Imran Khan, saying the performance of the “illegitimate and incompetent” dispensation in the country was a “story of destruction”.

Maryam, is the daughter of former Prime

Minister Nawaz Sharif, she made the comments to the media following her appearance before High Court in notorious corruption case. The hearing of the case has been adjourned till September 8.

An “illegitimate and incompetent” government had been imposed on the people, she was quoted as saying by the meda.

FIJI 25 new Covid-19 cases in Kadavu, eight more deaths The Health Ministry has recorded 25 new COVID-19 infections in Kadavu, bringing the total number of active cases to 257 on the island.

Eight more people have succumbed to the virus from August 27th to the 1st of this month, out of which seven are from the Western Division and one death was recorded in the Central Division.

Permanent Secretary for Health, Doctor James Fong, says the first COVID-19 death is

of an 87-year-old man from Suva.

Article continues after advertisement A 56-year-old man from Tavua also died.

The third death is of a 71-yearold woman from Lautoka who died 11 days after admission while a 67-year-old man from Tavua died.

A 76-year-old woman and a 65-year-old man both from Nadi died at their homes.

The seventh COVID-19 death is a 78-year-old man from Ba who died at home two days ago.

Struggling businesses need urgent cash The Fiji Chamber of Commerce and Employers Federation is advising members struggling to stay afloat to use the government’s $200m capital support for businesses.

Chief Executive, Kameli Batiweti says members in the Western Division are

barely surviving and the Federation is helping fast track their applications to ensure they receive immediate relief.

“Many businesses are barely surviving and are doing a lot more to try and remain afloat while the borders remain closed.

COVID-19 may become endemic in Fiji The Health Ministry believes that we are heading towards a scenario where COVID-19 will become endemic to Fiji, meaning it will continue to circulate or exist at a lower scale.

Chief Medical Advisor, Doctor Jemesa Tudravu says COVID-19 is here to stay at least for the near future, making it even more crucial for every Fijian to get the jab.

Doctor Tudravu says it is likely to take

years to fight the virus and may become similar to dealing with the common flu.

“We are not going back to a COVIDcontained or COVID-free country, instead we are going ahead to a Fiji where the disease will be endemic. What that means is there will be a low number of disease cases right throughout the year with a small number of hospitalizations and severe diseases.

Public restricted from Nabouwalu wharf The Nabouwalu wharf in Bua, Vanua Levu is now a restricted area from the public during operating hours. This means that no one, apart from boat passengers, freight truck drivers, and frontline workers are allowed in

the wharf area when loading or offloading of cargo ships is happening. This is part of the Ministry of Health’s efforts to strengthen border control measures after two wharf workers tested positive to COVID-19 just a week apart.

22 Harvinder Sandhu

MP Jagmeet Singh held a roundtable press conference this week in Burnaby. He opened the session with this statement, “We have a choice this election, and I bring that choice to Canadians, that Canadians can’t afford another 4 years of Justin Trudeau as a Prime Minister. He has made the crisis people are dealing in their lives worse, the climate crisis has gotten worse, the housing crisis has gotten worse, and the super wealthy, the billionaires have gotten a free ride.

The choice between that and the New Democrat Party. Really, that’s the choice, between Justin Trudeau and the New Democratic Party that’s going to make the billionaires to pay their fair share, and invest that to deal with the housing crisis, helping with health care, making sure we build a better for our kids. That’s my focus, that’s my commitment and that’s a choice in front of the voters.” MP Jagmeet Singh also stated he is running this time with the intention to be the next Prime Minister of Canada.

The Asian Star: Re Housing Crisis in Canada.

The Liberals are proposing 3 initiatives to reign in the housing prices. What will you and the NDP in response to the soaring housing prices? Jagmeet Singh: “I really appreciate this

Saturday, September 4, 2021

Jagmeet Singh, Federal NDP Leader question and I want all to know that this answer applies to all the Liberal promises. I’m less concerned of what the Liberals are promising they would do; I’m more concerned about they actually do. Because what you have seen for 6 years, the situation has gotten worse. How can people believe now all of a sudden, the Liberals are going are going to face a problem that in the past 6 years has gotten worse? That does not make any sense.

The Liberals were in power for 6 years, Justin Trudeau has been Prime Minister for 6 years, what happened with housing while he was Prime Minister? Did he make it better? Did he make it more affordable? Can our kids afford homes? No. So, what makes us believe now he is somehow going to wake up and make things better? That is my big concern. He could have done something if he wanted to. Why didn’t he do it before? Why is he promising it now when he didn’t do it for 6 years? He had 6 years, he had a chance, and he didn’t do it.

What we, the NDP, are proposing that when it comes to housing, people should be able to

buy a home that is in their budget, young people should be able to buy a home that is in their budget. We don’t want the housing market to be used like a stock market where people try to make profit off flipping homes. Someone who buys a home, lives in it and wants to sell it that is different, but someone who is trying to make this into a way of making money, buy and flip homes as a profitmaking scheme, to me that is a problem because that means young people can’t afford homes. We want the housing prices to not go out of control – we want to change the capital gains tax for those who are trying to use housing as a stock market. We are going to stop that, we are going to stop foreign investments which are making it harder to afford our home, we are going tackle the money laundering, the criminal activity, which is also affecting our housing affordability, and finally we want to build more homes that are affordable. We want to build 500,000 new homes that are affordable.”

MP Jagmeet also shared how the CERB came about. “When lockdown first happened, in the beginning we felt Canadians needed financial help. At first the government was not keen to provide any financial help. We, the NDP, put a lot of pressure on the Liberal government that we must help Canadians during the lockdown.

When the Liberal government agreed to help Canadians, they wanted to only offer $1000.00 per month. The NDP felt that was not enough money to help Canadians, so we pressured the government and had it increased to $2000.00 a month. That helped about 8 million Canadians to survive during lockdown. It was the NDP that got that help for Canadians during the

lockdown.” He then continued to share how the NDP fought for wage subsidy during lockdown.

“We knew there would be challenges for people regarding the stability of their jobs. When the Liberals proposed 10% of wage subsidy to help people keep their jobs, we the NDP again pressured the government. We, the NDP, were adamant that amount is not enough, and we brought it to 75%. This helped save millions of Canadians jobs. We also assisted university and college students who lost the ability to work during summers, which they did before, to supplement their finances while in university.

Students did not initially qualify for assistance, but we the NDP, pressured the government to include the students in the CERB as well.

The NDP will keep helping the average Canadian. MP Singh also touched on seniors’ ability to afford medicines they need. “We are a party of helping all Canadians, we are the party that started universal health plan. Regardless if you have medical coverage, we want to make sure every Canadian can afford the medicine they need not just see the doctor and not be able to buy medicine the doctor prescribed.”

On his popularity in polls with younger Canadians, but not with older Canadians, MP Jagmeet said this, “Sometimes the younger generation is the first to accept something new, with the older generation following later.

The younger generation also have hope that things can change, and they want change.

As we get older, we can get disillusioned, we think nothing is going change so what’s the point, and we do the same thing we did before. But the younger generation is saying No, they are saying we can do better, that we are not stuck in this, that we can do more.

We the NDP is not stuck, we want to do better for Canada and Canadians, we don’t buy into the thinking ‘as it has been as it will be’. I want to implore everyone, young and old alike, that if you want change, you want better services, then we are ready to fight for you, for the regular Canadian.

We feel you deserve better. We want to show you what we can do. We will tackle the housing crisis and other challenges that Canadians are facing.”

Saturday, September 4, 2021

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Saturday, September 4, 2021