The Asian Star February 1 2020 by The Asian Star Newspaper

www.theasianstar.com

Vol 19 - Issue 1

Saturday, February 1, 2020

Tel:604-591-5423

Legal and political battle in Surrey for ride-hailing

Stop political welfare, Canadian Taxpayers Federation demands

anadian Taxpayers Federation started a new campaign to stop taxpayers funding BC politicians. Premier Horgan’s govt had banned corporate and union donations for politicians, but the CTF is saying that the source of money has been switched from the corporation & unions to taxpayers. “B.C. politicians are taking millions of dollars from taxpayers and they’re spending it on lawn signs, junk mail and attack ads for their political campaigns,” said Kris Sims, the CTF’s director for B.C. “This needs to stop. The B.C. government needs to scrap the per-vote politician welfare subsidy.” In a new campaign announced Monday, the CTF is giving away free bumper stickers with the slogan, “STOP politician welfare!”) The NDP campaigned to get corporate and union donations out of politics before the 2017 election, but made no mention of introducing a “temporary” subsidy for major parties calculated at $2.50 per vote received in 2017.

The long-awaited arrival of Uber and Lyft in Metro Vancouver is facing legal challenges less than a week after they began operating as Surrey’s mayor also vows to keep the companies’ drivers off the city’s streets. Premier John Horgan accused Mayor Doug McCallum on Wednesday of putting up unnecessary roadblocks in Surrey as ride-hailing in Metro Vancouver gets off to a contentious start. Horgan, who faced intense pressure last year to speed up the ride-hailing approval process, said competition brings challenges,

Huberman takes Uber Anita Huberman, CEO Surrey Board of Trade takes Uber last Saturday. (Facebook pic).

Continued on page 8

Continued on page 7 25th anniversary

Fruiticana growing stronger by the day Tony Singh, founder of Surrey-based Fruiticana, recently celebrated 25 years in business. During that time, he grew his one small fruits-and-vegetables store in Newton into an 18-store empire, with locations now in Surrey, Richmond, Abbotsford, Port Coquitlam, Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton. So how’d he celebrate the milestone? With cake, or maybe champagne? Nope. “We worked.” Singh opened his first grocery store On Dec. 14, 1994, at 72nd Avenue and 137th

Street. It was a humble size, at 2,000 square feet, and is still there today, though expanded to 5,000 square feet. Part of Fruiticana’s appeal, Singh says, is that the stores are relatively modest in size. “We’re your neighbourhood store,” he says. “It’s a smaller pad, not a big-box store, so it’s made it easier for a customer to go in and out quickly, find the product, get your grocery and go home.” Most Fruiticana stores today are 4,000 to 10,000 square feet, with the

Continued on page 6

Don’t think I would have won Nobel Prize if I were in India, says economist Abhijit Banerjee

Organized break-and-enter gangs arrive as tourists and target Canadian neighbourhoods

Noted economist Abhijit Banerjee on Sunday said that he wouldn’t have won the Nobel Prize had he been based out of India. “I don’t think so,” the 58-year-old Nobel laureate said while responding to a question during his talk at the Jaipur Literature Festival. “I benefited enormously from a place (MIT) where I had the world’s best potential PhD students. And that is important. All this work that I am taking credit for is mostly done by others. “My students, collaborators, and friends and that is what makes it valuable. It is not that there is dearth of talent here, but bringing together of people on a large scale changes it. It is hard to do it alone,” he said. Responding to a question on whether he would accept the post of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor if it was offered to him, Banerjee said, “Absolutely not. Because to be an RBI governor, you better be a macro economist.”

There is a new type of tourist coming to Canada, one that is not interested in seeing the sights this country has to offer, but in burglarizing houses, particularly in affluent neighbourhoods. These break-and-enter artists are part of an international crime wave that police say has roots in South America, has crossed the Atlantic targeting several European countries, and is now making its way to North America. It’s a disturbing trend that international law enforcement agencies reveal is getting bigger and more organized. In the United States, the FBI even has a name for it: “Crime Tourism.” Police agencies in Canada, the U.S. and Europe report that most of these uninvited visitors are Chilean. They do not require a visa to enter Canada as a tourist. W5 contacted police forces across Canada and found examples of crime tourism from coast to coast.

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Vol 19 - Issue 1 With the City of Surrey’s latest integration of its publicly available traffic-camera tool, residents can view up-to-the-minute status of 474 intersections in the city. The city has allowed public access to its traffic cameras since 2011, but the number of cameras and the tool used for sharing the images have

Saturday, February 1, 2020

474 Surrey intersections monitored by live-feed cameras changed over the years. The latest version of the tool was launched late last year, and can be found at tinyurl.com/wosr8ov “These cameras are a critical component of our Intelligent Transportation System allowing Surrey

Passenger with nose ‘running like Niagara Falls’ questions Canada’s airport coronavirus screening A physician who said he developed “a nasty cold with a cough and runny nose” while on a flight from Hong Kong to Toronto is questioning whether there are adequate safeguards to prevent the spread of coronavirus in Canada. Massey Beveridge, a retired general surgeon, said he was “waved”

through Pearson International Airport even after reporting his symptoms to a border services agent. “My nose is running like Niagara Falls, I’m coughing and feeling pretty miserable,” Beveridge said. Continued on page 9

BC tests 114 samples for coronavirus, just one case confirmed The B.C. government said Friday that there were no new cases of the novel coronavirus in the province. As it is now, there is one confirmed case in the Vancouver Coastal Health region, a man in his 40s, who travelled to Wuhan, the disease epicentre. He is said to be recovering at home. B.C.’s Minister of Health Adrian Dix and provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry provided the update at the World Trade Centre Building in downtown Vancouver. Henry said they have tested 114 samples,

but there is still only the one confirmed case. “Nothing has changed,” she said, adding that they have increased their coordination efforts to ensure that B.C. health officials are prepared. She said the man who has the confirmed case in B.C. is doing well and is being actively monitored by health professionals on a daily basis. This is a new virus that has spread to other countries, and does cause very serious illness, said Henry. Continued on page 9

to proactively manage our transportation network through direct connectivity from our Traffic Management Centre to traffic signals throughout the city,” transportation manager Jaime Boan said. Boan said city engineers can respond to traffic conditions by making realtime changes to signal timing. “The cameras also improve our efficiency by allowing us to remotely diagnose any reported issues, analyze

Tel:604-591-5423 the causes of collisions and better understand specific traffic behaviours/characteristics throughout the city. Not only can the tool be a valuable resource for commuters, but it has proved to be a useful investigative resource for both the RCMP and ICBC, he indicated. “We have strict guidelines and practices with respect to this data sharing that has been approved through Privacy Impact Assessment,” Boan wrote. The mapping tool highlights each traffic light camera in the city.

OPINION

Brian Giesbrecht Senior Fellow Frontier Centre for Public Policy

Saturday, February 1, 2020

UNDRIP is the slow drip eroding Canadians’ rights

British Columbia has become the first province to adopt the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). And except for the opposition of a determined group of Conservative senators, the federal government would have adopted UNDRIP as actionable law before last fall’s federal election. Re-elected Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has already announced that his minority government intends to bring the UNDRIP legislation back to Parliament at the first opportunity. Currently, Trudeau’s UNDRIP is an aspirational document only – federal and provincial governments would be expected to aspire to meet its demands but would not be required to do so. But if it is fully implemented as actionable by the federal government, every law in the land would be expected to comply with UNDRIP. And any allegation that a law didn’t comply with UNDRIP could result in court action and even generate a claim to the United Nations. What do Canadians think about UNDRIP? And what do Canadians think about other

ambitious Indigenous-related legislation the prime minister may introduce to move UNDRIP from a goal to law? In fact, Canadians can’t know the risks, not having been involved in UNDRIP in any meaningful way. Even our elected representatives in Parliament seem to have a very poor understanding of what could be profoundly important legislation. And few in the business community have taken the time to understand UNDRIP and what it could mean for commerce. UNDRIP and the proposed Section 35 rights and recognition framework legislation would, if adopted and actionable, have profound implications for this country. But the average Canadian knows practically nothing about what’s being proposed. Even those to be directly affected – those living on reserves – haven’t been brought into the discussions. UNDRIP is the result of decades of advocacy on the part of Indigenous groups to advance their claim that they should have collective rights over and above the human rights belonging to other citizens of a state. There are good reasons why New Zealand, Australia, the United

States and previous Canadian governments have consistently refused to fully implement UNDRIP. Gordon Gibson, who worked under Pierre Trudeau, has argued UNDRIP should not be formally adopted. He offered this advice to Justin Trudeau after his 2015 election win: “UNDRIP – Don’t go there. The 2007 United Nations’ construct is a muddy thing full of problems, without even a definition of Indigenous. Because our Supreme Court has developed a doctrine of incorporating international human-rights documents into our law, ratifying UNDRIP would lead to even more chaos in our painfully constructed law to date. Almost all non-conflicted legal experts agree. We have nothing to learn from a UN body … dominated by the world’s serial humanrights abusers. Do not proceed with the formal adoption of UNDRIP. Keep it aspirational and no one will hate you but the aboriginal bar.” Indigenous businessman and leader John Kim Bell summed it up this way: “Implementing UNDRIP would probably paralyze the entire Canadian economy.” Ontario lawyer and writer Peter Best describes in his book There is No Difference how legislating UNDRIP would inevitably lead to the diminution of Crown sovereignty in the same way that our Supreme Court’s illconceived “duty to consult and accommodate,” as formulated in the Haida Nation line of cases, has already done. Past deputy minister of Indian Affairs Harry Swain provided this stern advice: “UNDRIP is a ringing declaration of rights without a word on responsibilities, or conflict resolution, and is therefore seriously incomplete.” Swain listed a myriad of problems with UNDRIP, including raising intriguing questions about the preservation of culture. Tom Flanagan, Canada’s leading expert on Indigenous law, has a somewhat contrary view about the implementation of UNDRIP in British Columbia, suggesting its adoption would, basically, be “virtue signalling” and would not grant a veto to B.C’s First Nations. But Flanagan holds that federal adoption of UNDRIP would lead to providing a virtual veto by First Nations over resource development.

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Saturday, February 1, 2020

Fruiticana growing stronger by the day From page 1 10,000 square feet. “So it’s very easy to go in and out.” Singh is definitely doing something right. Today, his chain enjoys annual sales surpassing $200 million and soon, he’ll have 20 stores. “We have one coming up in Surrey this year, and one in New West. So in the next three or four months we’ll have two more stores coming up,” Singh explains. “We’re working hard to provide a good product, and people recognize that. We have the best product at the lowest price possible, in the neighbourhood.” Singh lives in Surrey and presently has 10 stores here. Roughly 500 Fruiticana employees also call this city home, with some 60 working out of his 125,000 square foot warehouse at 129th Street and 76th Avenue in Newton. “I would say a majority of our labour force, or our partners who work with us, live in Surrey.” Singh arrived as a new immigrant to Canada in 1975, when he was 10 years old. His family came from Punjab, lived in an apartment in Toronto at the time and didn’t speak a word of English. Following a trip to the Lower Mainland from Montreal in 1992, he saw an opportunity to get into the fruits and vegetables business here, and as they say, the rest is history. Why fruits and vegetables? Singh says he’s all about healthy eating. “My first store we only sold fruit and vegetables. I didn’t even carry a box of salt. After six months, then people said, ‘Well, you know, I need sugar, I need salt.” “I push a lot for healthy eating.” What’s his favourite fruit? “That’s a tough question,” he replies. “It’s what’s in the season. Right now, it’s oranges and citrus, and that’s my favorite. In the summer time, it will be mostly melons, and berries. I always say, what’s in season.” The same goes for vegetables. Over the years Singh has received numerous

honours, as recipient of Surrey Board of Trade’s Businessperson of the Year award, the Premier’s People’s Choice Award for 2014 Business BC Awards, and his business is also a four-time winner of the Now-Leader’s Reader’s Choice Award. Fruiticana has also donated more than $1 million “for sure” over the years, he says, to various charitable causes, “wherever help was needed.” Last year, along with its customers, donated $41,593.52 to the Surrey Hospital Foundation, for the Children’s Health Centre. “I always help the community, I never forget the community who supported me for the last 25 years, and that’s why we’re still here,” Singh says. “We give it back to the community every year, every month, every day.” Singh made local and national headlines in January 2016 when for about two weeks he set about delivering free baskets of food to more than 500 Syrian refugees, inspired by an elderly neighbour’s generosity toward his own family when they first arrived in Canada. “I became a successful businessperson and Canadian because of a simple and powerful message,” he said at the time. “I am sure many of these refugees, especially the children, will go on to make many positive contributions to Canada in the future.” “Our neighbour invited us over for dinner,” he recalled. “The simple gesture had such a profound impact on me and my life. It showed me what it means to be Canadian. I wanted to pass on that same special feeling to these Syrian refugees arriving in Canada.” He’s also thankful, he says today, for all his faithful customers. “I want to thank them from my heart,” Singh says, “and we’ll continue to provide the service we did over 25 years and a lot more to come, and we’ll do better than what we did over those 25 years.”

Saturday, February 1, 2020 From page 1

Stop political welfare, Canadian Taxpayers Federation demands

The money is paid out to eligible parties twice a year by Elections B.C., which also

administers the new rules limiting donations to $1,200 per eligible individual resident each year

ICBC adjuster charged with fraud A claims adjuster who worked at ICBC in North Vancouver has been charged with defrauding and stealing from the Crown corporation.Paul Martin Punter, 30, faces four charges of defrauding and stealing from the insurance company by making cheques drawn on Insurance Corporation of British Columbia accounts over a two-year period, from August 2017 to August 2019. The corporation added it has taken the matter very seriously. “We took immediate action in notifying police as soon as the situation was uncovered and have been actively working with the RCMP as they investigated,” according to a statement

put out by the company. Following a bail hearing in North Vancouver provincial court this week, Punter has been released on bail, with conditions that he must turn over his passport and any other travel documents, must not possess any identification documents, cheques or mail in anyone else’s name, and must not possess any cards that contain someone else’s data. Before seeking employment or volunteering in any capacity that involves dealing with property or money of another person or corporation, Punter must inform them of the charges, under the bail conditions.

8 From page 1 but the government developed a regulatory framework to ensure a level playing field for taxi firms and companies like Uber and Lyft. “When new competition comes in you want to make

Saturday, February 1, 2020

Legal and political battle in Surrey for ride-hailing sure you’re protecting the existing industry, but not protecting it from competition,” the premier said at a news conference in Prince

George. “This is a free market economy, people understand that.” He said B.C.’s independent Passenger Transportation Board balanced the interests of the public and existing taxi industry before granting licence approvals last week to Uber and Lyft. “The way forward for Surrey and for Mr. McCallum is to listen to the citizens in his community who want to see competition, not to destabilize and put people out of business, but to provide a range of options for the travelling public,” said Horgan. Mayor McCallum said in a statement following the board’s approval of licences for Uber and Lyft that he will not support ride hailing in Surrey until he is convinced a fair playing field can be established.

“What continues to be my chief concern is the unfair advantage that has been created without any regard as to how it will impact those who are employed in the taxi industry,” McCallum said. Michael van Hemmen, Uber’s spokesman for Western Canada, said the company filed an injunction application in British Columbia Supreme Court to prevent Surrey from issuing fines to its drivers in the city. He said Surrey has not created a business licence for ride-hailing, compared to Va n c o u v e r ’s decision to update its bylaws to create a clear classification for ride-hailing companies. But Uber drivers in Surrey face the prospect of being fined by bylaw officers, said van Hemmen. The Vancouver Taxi Association has filed petitions in B.C. Supreme Court alleging unfairness towards the taxi industry. The injunction application says the Passenger Transportation Board approved Uber to operate in the Lower Mainland, including Surrey. It also says Uber considers Surrey’s bylaw tickets illegal. “We know that riders and drivers in Surrey want ride-sharing,” he said. “A large number of drivers who drive with Uber are actually from Surrey.” Lyft, Uber waste little time launching in Vancouver But Uber is not the only organization going to court. The Vancouver Taxi Association has filed petitions in B.C. Supreme Court alleging unfairness toward the taxi industry and calling for the quashing of licence approvals for Lyft and Uber. A hearing is set for Feb. 4 in Vancouver. Ride-sharing designated pick-up for Uber and Lyft is now open at Vancouverl airport. “The business model of the international transportation service network companies, specifically Uber and Lyft, is to dominate the passenger transportation market by not having to comply with the rules and regulations that apply to taxis,” says the petition representing nine companies. “They do not want a limit on the number of vehicles they deploy through their apps, and they do not want restriction on the prices they charge to customers.” Taxi association lawyer Peter Gall said the companies argue allowing Uber and Lyft to have no restrictions on vehicle numbers or pricing gives them an unfair advantage.

9 Metro Vancouver taxi companies file legal challenges to stop Uber, Lyft The battle over ride hailing is heating up in Metro Vancouver as a group of local cab companies is taking Uber, Lyft and Passenger Transportation Board to B.C. Supreme Court to try and stop service in the region. Nine Metro Vancouver cab companies have teamed up and filed two legal challenges. They’re seeking an injunction to halt Uber and Lyft’s Services, while a petition to rescind their licences goes before the court. Court documents name Yellow Cab, Black Top Cabs, Maclure’s Cabs, Vancouver Taxi, North Shore Taxi, Richmond Cabs, Bonny’s Taxi, Burnaby Select Metrotown Taxi and Queen City Taxi as the petitioners. They claim the PTB is allowing ride hailing companies to operate on more favourable terms than taxis. “The cornerstone of the regulation of the taxi industry has always been the limit on the number of taxi licences that are granted for a particular geographic area,” reads the petition. “These limits have been imposed to prevent the destructive competition that would occur if there were unlimited entry into this field – which would result in none of the participants being able to make a living,” it goes on to say.

Saturday, February 1, 2020

BC govt extends U-Pass transit program, hikes monthly rates The B.C. government is extending Metro Vancouver’s student transit pass program for another five years. The U-Pass B.C. program, which began in 2010, is a partnership among the province, TransLink, participating public post-secondary institutions and student associations that gives students unlimited access to bus, SeaBus and SkyTrain services within Metro Vancouver, as well as discounts on West Coast Express. In 2019, U-Pass B.C. was an agenda item in referenda held by the student associations at participating institutions. The government says all 10 participating student associations voted in favour of extending the program for a five-year term

and approved its monthly fee increase. The current $41 monthly U-Pass rate will increase to $42.50 on May 1, with further annual increases through to May 2024, when the rate will rise to $46 for the remainder of the five-year agreement. Metro Vancouver post-secondary institutions participating in the U-Pass program include: University of British Columbia, Simon Fraser University, Capilano University, Kwantlen Polytechnic University, Langara College, Douglas College, Vancouver Community College, Emily Carr University of Art and Design, Nicola Valley Institute of Technology and the British Columbia Institute of Technology.

Rainfall warning issued for parts of Lower Mainland A rainfall warning is in effect for the Lower Mainland. Late Thursday afternoon, Environment Canada said heavy rain is expected in the Fraser Valley, Howe Sound, Gibsons and parts of Metro Vancouver into the evening through to Saturday. The latter includes Vancouver, the North Shore, Burnaby, New Westminster, Coquitlam, Maple Ridge, Chilliwack, Abbotsford and Hope.

Forecasters called for a break on Friday afternoon as the incoming warm front moves north toward Squamish, but another round of rain will last til midday Saturday. Total amounts will be 60 to 120 millimetres for the Fraser Valley and up to 100 millimetres for parts of Metro Vancouver. Officials urge residents to watch for possible washouts or flooding near rivers, creeks and culverts.

Surrey, Langley students selected as finalists for $100K Loran Award

A Surrey student and a Langley student, who is a Surrey resident, have been selected as finalists for the Loran Award, valued up to $100,000. Govind Deol, who is a Surrey student, and Anson Yu, who is a Langley student at R.E. Mountain Secondary, will be travelling to Toronto this weekend for the national selections for the Loran Award. Govind and Anson are among 88 students across Canada that were selected as finalists from the 5,194 candidates, “based on evidence of character, commitment to service in the community and leadership potential.” Govind is a Grade 12 student at L.A. Matheson Secondary School. He is the first student from the high school to make it as a finalist, according to the Surrey school district. Heading to Toronto Thursday (Jan. 30), Govind said he was “a little nervous,” but he knows it’s “a great opportunity.”

“It’s a great opportunity. I know that no matter which way it goes it’s an opportunity for me to grow and I’m just optimistic going in,” he said. If he is one of the lucky recipients of a Loran Award, Govind said he would use the scholarship money to go into sciences. n“What I want to do is I want to start off with sciences and then I want to go to med school hopefully to become a physician,” said Govind, adding that he’s looking into UBC, University of Toronto or McGill University. Through this process of becoming a finalist, Govind said he’s been able to “recap” a lot of his experiences and how he got involved in his community, which he said started in his Grade 10 school year. Govind said that year he started a basketball program at his former elementary school, where his younger brother was still attending.

Passenger with nose ‘running like Niagara Falls’ questions Canada’s airport coronavirus screening He says he explained his symptoms to the agent and that he was taken to a screened-off area with face masks and hand wash. “The immigration officer came back a few minutes later and said, ‘Here’s a handout. You can call public health if you like’,” Beveridge added. “I figured there’d be some kind of public health person coming to interview me.” No new cases of coronavirus in Ontario, public health officials say There are currently two confirmed coronavirus cases in Toronto, a husband and wife both in their 50s who recently travelled to Wuhan, China — the epicentre of the outbreak. A third case has also been confirmed in B.C. Ontario public health officials have repeatedly stressed that the risk of coronavirus infection in Canada is low. Evidence suggests transmission of the

virus from person to person requires close contact, like the kind between immediate family members who live together, said Dr. David Williams, the province’s chief medical officer, this week. Dr. Michael Gardam, Chief of Staff at Humber River Hospital, talks about the spread of the virus, the medical and government responses, and says Toronto will continue the work to be one of the best prepared jurisdictions in the world. Beveridge was returning to Canada from Cambodia but changed planes in Hong Kong after flying from Phnom Penh. He said he was anxious, even though he had not been anywhere near Wuhan. Cambodia has so far reported only one case of the coronavirus and it was travel-related.

LOCAL

LOCAL / NATIONAL

Saturday, February 1, 2020

Chinese-Canadians facing hate, racism for coronavirus outbreak — much like the SARS outbreak in 2003

he coronavirus outbreak has stoked fear among many Canadians, but none more intensely than members of the Chinese Canadian community, who fear a repeating history of discrimination. At a press conference on Wednesday, Toronto councillor Kristyn Tam-Wong urged the public to ‘not give into to xenophobia and racism’ against the Chinese-Canadian community, alongside Mayor John Tory. Follow along for live updates on the coronavirus outbreak: Death toll hits 213 while global infections rise to 9,800 “Toronto is home to almost 300,000 residents of visible Chinese descent,” reads her statement, posted on Twitter. “I know that when people are afraid, it can be easy to look for blame.” Now referred to as the 2019 Novel Coronavirus or 2019-nCoV by the World

Health Organization, the mysterious virus causing feverlike symptoms and respiratory troubles has officially recorded two confirmed cases in Toronto, with 23 others under investigation. With potential cases of the virus growing in Canada, the fear and stigma continues to emerge, pointing fingers towards Chinese Canadians. Many in the Chinese community are advising otherwise, but it has not halted the public from directing hate and racist comments towards the community. The post has since been deleted after receiving backlash from countless Twitter users. Akman has

been actively replying to tweets criticizing his actions with the same statement throughout. “My tweet earlier today was insensitive. My barber told me he was offering everyone masks. I apologize for any offence I may have caused,” he said. Justin Kong, the executive director of the Chinese Canadian National Council, says that Akman’s online discrimination is impermissible. “Mainstream Canadian media should speak for all Canadians – diverse Canadians,” he says. “For a reporter to post something that racist is unacceptable.” Toronto resident

Terri Chu also tweeted earlier this week that she feared the “inevitable wave of racism” that follow the coronavirus outbreak and subsequently, received a host of vitriol, according to the Guardian. A video of a young Chinese woman using chopsticks to bite into a whole bat went viral on social media as the news of the coronavirus spread and was picked up by some media outlets. However the woman — a video blogger — said the video had been filmed three years ago in Palau, a Pacific island nation, rather than in China. She released a statement on Monday, listing the number of threats she has received since the video was circulated by an unknown person. “‘You should go to hell. You should be killed in the evening. You’re abnormal. You’re disgusting. Why haven’t you died?’

Investigation launched after convicted murderer on day parole charged in death of Quebec woman The murder of a 22-year-old woman in Quebec City has sparked a federal investigation into how a man on day parole after serving 15 years of a life sentence for killing his girlfriend could have been permitted to meet with women to fulfill his “sexual needs.” Eustachio Gallese, 51, who was convicted in 2006 of killing Chantale Deschenes with a hammer and knife, was charged with second-degree murder last week after police found Marylène Levesque dead in a hotel room. The death of Ms. Levesque, who worked in the sex industry, has reignited calls for

the decriminalization of sex work — which advocates say is the only way to protect such workers. Mr. Gallese was granted day parole in March, 2019. The parole board agreed at a review of his conditions in September that Mr. Gallese – who had a history of violence against women before his murder conviction, according to parole documents – was not ready to have relationships with women. Yet a riskmanagement strategy had been developed by his parole officer and case management team, the documents noted, “so that you can meet women.

Saturday, February 1, 2020

Khalsa Business Centre

128th Street, 84th Ave., Surrey, BC

LOCAL / NATIONAL

Saturday, February 1, 2020

Lawyer of Vancouver couple’s killer claims he thought he was in a video-game A man who has admitted to killing two strangers in their South Vancouver home in 2017 watched Wednesday as one of his defence lawyers played a series of violent video game clips that appeared to mimic elements of the random attack. A day after Rocky Rambo Wei Nam Kam admitted in BC Supreme Court to attacking Richard Jones and Dianna MahJones, the 29-year-old calmly explained the objectives of a first-person game that saw

degree murder in the deaths of, Jones, 68, and Mah-Jones, 64 on Sept. 26, 2017. After initially pleading not guilty, he

Jones, 68 (right) , Mah-Jones, 64

Rocky Rambo Wei Nam Kam is charged with first-degree murder

a principal character break into a home only to relentlessly pursue, kill and then repeatedly strike the corpse of a woman. Kam’s lawyer plans to argue that as a result of immersion into gaming and fantasy comic books, his client was suffering from a mental disorder that left him functioning as though he were inside the fictional world of a computer video game at the time of the killings. “It’s like you’re controlling this person,” Kam said in halting English as he explained the way that ‘RPG’ or role playing games work. Kam is facing two charges of first-

took the stand on Monday and admitted to attacking and stabbing the couple. Originally from Hong Kong, Kam moved to Calgary with his family before arriving in the Lower Mainland months before the killing. During school, he said he spent between 12 and 14 hours a day playing a variety of video games. His lawyer will argue that Kam’s intense involvement in the world of gaming amounts to a mental disorder that left him unable to appreciate the consequences of the real-life acts he undertook as though in a video game. Kam wore a red pre-trial sweatshirt and sweatpants as he was led into court in the morning. He appeared in a light dress shirt in the afternoon. He wore black framed glasses, his hair cut short as a translator sat beside him. Although his first language is Cantonese, Kam responded to questions in English. He started his second day of testimony by describingthehoursanddaysafterthekillings.

New coronavirus an international public health emergency, WHO declares The World Health Organization has declared an outbreak of a new coronavirus from Wuhan, China, to be a public health emergency of international concern. WHO officials made the announcement Thursday following an emergency committee meeting of health experts on the virus. This was the second time the WHO met to discuss the issue. After a two-day meeting on Jan. 22 and 23, the committee declined to declare an emergency. Since then, the number of confirmed cases has exploded to over 8,000, with 170 confirmed deaths, according to data compiled by researchers at Johns Hopkins University. Most cases and all deaths so far have been in China, where the outbreak is suspected to have started around the city of Wuhan. 0:51 WHO declares novel coronavirus outbreak international public health emergency WHO declares novel coronavirus outbreak international public health emergency Cases have been reported in 21 other countries, including Canada, which has three confirmed cases of the virus. WHO director general Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus praised China’s efforts in detecting and containing the virus so far at a press conference Thursday, saying that the country was “setting a new standard” for outbreak response. “We would have seen many more cases outside China by now, and probably deaths, if it were not for the government’s efforts,” he said. However, he said, he was declaring an emergency not because of China’s actions, but because of what could happen if the virus took hold in another country

with a less-developed health-care system. “Our greatest concern is for the virus to spread to other countries with weaker health systems,” he said. “We must all act together now to limit further spread.” In a statement, the WHO emergency committee emphasized the need for international co-operation. “The Committee believes that it is still possible to interrupt virus spread, provided that countries put in place strong measures to detect disease early, isolate and treat cases, trace contacts, and promote social distancing measures commensurate with the risk,” it wrote. Health Minister Patty Hajdu said that despite the emergency declaration, the risk to Canadians remains low. The WHO’s action also won’t change Canada’s current approach to the virus, she said. We are fully in line with the recommendations of the World Health Organization as they stand,” she told reporters on Thursday. Canada is contributing to the global fight to contain the virus by researching testing and assessment, as well as a possible vaccine, she said. Canada is able to detect and respond to cases quickly, she said, and other countries need to be able to do this as well. Canadians are aware of the new coronavirus, but only 30 per cent believe the illness poses a threat to Canada. The virus causes a fever, cough and, in some cases, difficulty breathing. It can be transmitted from person to person, although it is not clear how easily that happens. Most cases so far are in people who have been in Wuhan.

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Saturday, February 1, 2020

Canada will lead the world in fast, affordable wireless networks, says Navdeep Bains In 2020, mobile and wireless access is no longer a luxury, but a necessary part of how we work, socialize and stay connected to the world around us. Many of us would be hard-pressed to imagine day-to-day life without using our devices. We’d have a harder time working, learning, travelling, banking and engaging with modern society. While Canadians have access to reliable

networks in Canada, they still need more affordable plans; that’s why Canadians elected a government that committed to lowering their cellphone bills by 25 per cent. The 2018 Price Comparison Study of Telecommunications Services in Canada and Select Foreign Jurisdictions, prepared by Wall Communications Inc.,

LNG plant and geothermal exploration approved for BC First Nation Two initiatives approved this week could start supplying cleaner energy to northern communities by next year in the form of LNG and, potentially, electricity generated from the earth’s own heat. GasNorth Energy Ltd. announced Jan. 28 it has received approval from the B.C. Oil and Gas Commission to install a natural gas liquefaction facility in an equity partnership with the Fort Nelson First Nation. Fort Nelson First Nation Chief Sharleen Gage said the LNG produced there will ship by tanker truck to northern communities where “people are running on diesel power generators and other things that aren’t very good for the environment. “ ‘Crazy busy’: Boom from $40B LNG plant in northwestern B.C. leaves communities scrambling to keep up On the same day as the LNG approval, the B.C. government announced a permit for a second project by the Fort Nelson First Nation to explore the potential to re-purpose old natural

gas fields for geothermal electricity generation. If geothermal generation can be proven to work in the area, Gale said its uses could extend to using waste energy to improve food security. “We’ll be able to create greenhouses that we’d be able to operate all year round, so we could grow lettuce. We could grow strawberries,” Gale told Daybreak North host Carolina de Ryk in an interview. “Anything that you would particularly see in the grocery store, [we] would be able to grow,” she said. GeothermalenergyproductioninFortNelson, if it works, is not projected to start before 2024. GasNorth Energy Ltd. and equity partner the Fort Nelson First Nation plan to build their natural gas liquefication facility about 15 kilometres from the community near the existing Fort Nelson Gas Plant. However, the LNG plant is expected to start shipping by 2021 with an initial output of 50,000 gallons per day, according to the GasNorth news release.

Canada-wide plastic ban coming in effect in 2021 after report concludes there is evidence of harm A national ban on many single-use plastics is on track for next year, Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson says, after a government report concluded Thursday that there is more than enough evidence proving plastic pollution is harmful. “We will be moving towards a ban on harmful single-use plastics and we will be doing that in 2021,” said Wilkinson. The federal Liberals promised last June they’d seek to ban plastic versions of number of products such as straws, take-out containers and grocery bags. The ban would happen under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, which requires a scientific assessment of the problem first. A draft version of that

assessment was released Thursday. It will be open to public comment until April 1. The report says that in 2016, 29,000 tonnes of plastic garbage, the equivalent of about 2.3 billion single-use plastic water bottles, ended up as litter in Canada - on beaches, in parks, in lakes, and even, says the report, in the air. Some of the litter is easily visible: pieces bigger than 5 mm are called “macroplastics.” But much of it is plastic most of us can’t easily see, known as “microplastics” and “microfibres.” These are tiny remnants of plastic smaller than 5 mm, that come when larger pieces of plastic are broken apart. They are also shed off things like clothes made of

provided a comparative price analysis of telecommunications services within Canada, as well as an international comparison with G7 countries and Australia. The study showed what Canadians already know and feel: they are paying more than their G7 peers for an essential service, one they and their families likely couldn’t get by without.

We spoke to Canadians across the country during the 2019 election, and heard their concerns about cellphone and wireless bills putting too much pressure on their household budgets. To suggest that Canadians are not worried about this is not consistent with expert and independently validated data.

TransLink mayor’s council approves Surrey-Langley SkyTrain business case The Surrey-Langley SkyTrain extension is moving on to the next step. TransLink’s Mayor’s Council or Regional Transportation endorsed the business case for the Surrey-Langley SkyTrain extension Thursday (Jan. 30). It also endorsed the supportive policies agreement and referred the business case to senior government.

Surrey-Langley SkyTrain business case to go to mayor’s council next week, Jan. 24, 2020 TransLink estimates the entire Surrey-Langley SkyTrain route would cost $3.12B, July 19, 2019 TransLink then expects final approval this summer, with construction beginning in roughly two years, sometime in 2022.

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Saturday, February 1, 2020

Police didn’t contribute to Vancouver crash that killed cab driver, says watchdog British Columbia’s police oversight agency says the actions of Vancouver police did not contribute to a crash that killed a cab driver last month. The Independent Investigations Office says police reported that just before 3:30 a.m. on Dec. 29, a Car2Go Smart Car made off from a roadside check on the city’s east side at Hastings Street near Clark Drive. The office says a short time later an officer saw the same car driving at a high speed and the officer turned around to follow the car but lost sight of it and couldn’t find it again. About 10 minutes later, the office says

police received a report of a collision at First Avenue and Renfrew Street between a cab and the same Smart Car. The taxi driver did not survive his injuries. The office says its chief civilian director has reviewed police records and surveillance footage and found that police did attempt to stop the driver at a road check, but no further police contact was made. It says the evidence showed the police were not in the vicinity at the time of the collision and only learned of it after other emergency services arrived at the scene. As a result, it says its investigation has concluded.

Kelly Ellard’s day parole extended for six more months, allowed to leave four nights per week The Parole Board of Canada has extended Kelly Ellard’s day parole for another six months along with extending her leave privileges to allow her to live at home for a maximum of four nights per week. Ellard, who changed her name to Kerry Sim, was convicted of second-degree murder in the 1997 death of 14-year-old Reena Virk and is currently serving a life sentence. Ellard received day parole in November 2017, which the parole board has extended in six-month increments on several occasions. The parole board’s decision states that while Ellard’s institutional behaviour was problematic at times, there have been no reports of violence for over a decade. The decision also noted Ellard remained defiant for years following the murder and stated that it took her a long time to accept responsibility for her actions and admit to the level of violence she committed. Ellard’s leave privileges were also extended so that she “can reside in [her] own home and better provide a normal upbringing [for her] children.” Ellard and her boyfriend rent a home, which she has been able to stay at on weekends under past day parole conditions.

According to Correctional Service Canada (CSC), Ellard intends to apply for full parole in the near future, adding that CSC believes her risk is “manageable in the community” with specific conditions. The parole board stated they were still concerned with the level of violence she demonstrated in the past and the “brutal manner” in which she took Virk’s life. “The Board cannot over-look the enduring negative impact that your actions had on the victims or the community,” reads the decision. Psychological therapy reports state Ellard has benefited from being a parent, despite her partner — who is also an offender and had completed his sentence — being re-incarcerated. Ellard has also had a second child with the same partner while serving her sentence. Conditions imposed on the release include not consuming, purchasing or possessing any drugs other than prescribed or overthe-counter medication; not consuming, purchasing or possessing any alcohol; following a treatment plan or program arranged by a parole supervisor in the areas of substance abuse, emotions management,

2 charged with murder in Surrey shooting in November 2019 30-year-old Andrew Baldwin was killed in November, not long after his younger brother was shot dead. irstdegree murder charges have been laid against two men in the Remembrance Day shooting of Andrew Baldwin in Surrey, B.C. Jordan Bottomley and Jagpal Hothi were arrested on Friday in connection with Baldwin’s homicide, according to the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team. “There was a great deal of coordinated effort by our investigators and many partners this past weekend that has resulted in charge approval,” IHIT Sgt. Frank Jang said in a news release.

“IHIT is greatly appreciative of the support and assistance received from the many units that were involved in reaching this positive outcome.” Baldwin, 30, was shot dead on the afternoon of Nov. 11 at a house in the 10700 block of 124 Street. His death came just weeks after his younger brother, 27-year-old Keith Baldwin, was shot and killed in Chilliwack. Both brothers were known to police, but investigators have not revealed whether they believe the shootings were linked. Bottomley and Hothi are scheduled to make an appearance in provincial court on Monday.

6-month jail to BC man found with 4,000 child porn files A man caught with thousands of pornographic images and videos of children has been sentenced to jail time. White Rock resident Frederick James Bugden, 57, was sentenced last week to six months in jail and two years of probation, court records show. Bugden pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography last May. The former Delta resident was arrested after an investigation that led to the discovery of more than 4,000 child pornography files on his electronic devices, according to Delta Police Insp. Guy Leeson. “Investigations such as these are disturbing to both our officers and the community. We’re satisfied that the accused chose to plead guilty, and that he will be monitored when

he is released,” Leeson said in a press release. He said no local children are believed to have been abused in connection with Bugden’s crimes. As part of his sentence, Bugden will have to report annually as a registered sex offender for the next 10 years, according to police. The terms of his probation bar him from visiting schools, parks and other areas frequented by children, and he’s not allowed any contact or online communication with anyone under the age of 16. Bugden originally faced two additional charges of accessing child porn and distributing child porn, but those were stayed after his guilty plea.

Proposed changes to BC’s farmland laws could see 2nd homes granted more easily Possible changes to one of B.C.’s farmland laws could result in secondary dwellings being permitted more easily. In a policy intentions paper released by the province, the Ministry of Agriculture said it’s considering “residential flexibility in

the Agricultural Land Reserve.” Specifically, the changes could allow farmland owners to build a small, secondary residence on their property,withoutfirsthavingtogetpermission from the Agricultural Land Commission. In 2018, the province introduced Bill 52, which sought to lessen development on farmland. Home sizes were limited, soil removal was restricted and penalties for dumping were increased But Raquel Kolof, a farmer on the Sunshine Coast, said some of the measures introduced in the bill were detrimental to those farming in rural parts of the province. “Bill 52, in my opinion, was a response to Lower Mainland issues that could have been easily resolved with Lower Mainland bylaws,” said Kolof, who raises Berkshire pigs and Icelandic sheep at Hough Heritage Farm in Gibsons. “We appreciate and really approve of the need to remove the possibility of any dumping of industrial waste, we agree that soil should not be removed from farmland – it’s a precious resource – but Bill 52 went too far in punishing the rest of B.C. for Lower Mainland problems that could have been solved on a local, municipal level.” Construction of large homes on farmland is one of those Lower Mainland-specific issues, Kolof said. “We don’t have an issue of mega-mansions here on the Sunshine Coast. Most of B.C. does not have an issue with that,” she said. “Fine if they want to limit the size of housing on ALR land but removing the second dwelling was harsh, it was punitive and it put a lot of farmers in very precarious positions and stopped a lot of new farming opportunities.” Last fall, representatives from the province conducted multiple public consultations to

LOCAL

Saturday, February 1, 2020

BC introduces new complaint process in bid to increase trust in ICBC British Columbia’s attorney general says the province will “supercharge’’ an office that deals with complaints against the Insurance

Corporation of B.C. in an effort to increase public trust in the Crown auto insurer.

During a news conference Wednesday, Eby confirmed a new Fairness Office is being created. “An office that is independent from ICBC’s claims arm, is accountable to government, reports publicly to ICBC’s board, and is simply more accessible to the public when concerns come up.” Eby said the office will be required to report to the public in plain language on the type and number of issues that it’s heard, along with recommendations that it made to ICBC. The Crown corporation, in turn, will be required to report publicly on actions it takes to respond to these recommendations. include pre-litigation payments to crash victims — money given up front without

New survey looks at how BC’s 3 largest cities tackle major issues A new poll suggests B.C.’s three largest cities are getting a passing grade from their residents on several key issues but some are not making the grade when it comes to dealing with homelessness and poverty. The poll, conducted by Research Co., looked at how Vancouver, Surrey and Burnaby are handling several municipal issues, including transportation, public safety, and protecting the environment. The research comes just over a year after the last municipal election that saw three new mayors elected to the province’s largest municipalities. The poll suggests 57 per cent of Surrey residents are happy with the current administration’s approach to transportation. That marks an increase of 33 per cent over the approval rating of the previous government. Residents were not asked specifically

about the cities’ approach to ride-hailing, as Uber and Lyft had not yet been approved to operate when the poll was conducted. The survey also suggests that Surrey residents are happier with the current council’s approach to promoting tourism, which rose from 39 per cent to 64 per cent, and enhancing quality of life, which rose from 36 per cent to 68 per cent. Those surveyed also gave the city high marks for its work on protecting the environment, with 70 per cent of respondents saying the city had done a good job on the issue. “The lowest ranked issue across all three cities is dealing with homelessness and poverty (44 per cent). Satisfaction with this file rises to 52 per cent in Surrey, but is lower in Vancouver (42 per cent) and Burnaby (39 per cent),” said Mario Canseco, president of Research Co., in a news release.

BC drivers paying as much as 42% more than Albertans for insurance - report A report released by the Insurance Bureau of Canada suggests some B.C. drivers pay significantlymorethantheirneighbourstotheeast. The IBC made public Tuesday a report from Calgary-based accounting firm MNP, which suggests it costs more to be a driver on the West Coast than in Alberta. MNP suggests drivers insured through the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia – B.C.’s only auto insurance option – pay up to 42 per cent more. The firm looked at quotes obtained through brokers in both provinces for 14 different drivers, then compared the prices for those drivers, with the same vehicles and same coverage, in what it calls “comparable locations across both provinces.” One example MNP gave was a driver in Surrey, B.C., and in Calgary. The study said the hypothetical driver, a 49-year-old business owner, would pay $573 more for a year of insurance on a 2014 Ford F-150 in Surrey than in Alberta’s largest city. A driver of a 2008 Honda Civic with two years of experience was quoted at $4,319 from ICBC in Surrey. The quote in Calgary was more than $800 lower, according to MNP. The study suggests there isn’t much difference in whatyougetforyourmoneybetweentheprovinces. Plans Alberta and B.C. both have tort-based systems that allow a driver to sue for pain and suffering. There are similar payouts for injury claims, and similar limits on awards. Mandatory coverage is also similar, MNP said. IBC’s vice-president of its Pacific region said the key difference is who’s selling. “This study gives an apples-to-apples

comparison of the price drivers are paying for similar auto insurance coverage in BC and Alberta.

having to hire a lawyer and go to court. B.C. will not appeal court ruling that shot down expert limits in ICBC cases ICBC will also produce a customerfriendly, plain language summary of its annual report so people can see exactly

how their premium dollars are spent. “We’re taking these steps to improve the oversight accountability and transparency of ICBC and to begin the process of rebuilding British Columbians trust and confidence in their public auto insurer,” said Eby.

Saturday, February 1, 2020

Four from BC charged with human trafficking in Saskatchewan A traffic stop for speeding has resulted in human trafficking charges against four people from British Columbia. On Tuesday afternoon, an off-duty RCMP officer spotted three vehicles travelling at a high rate of speed down Highway 1 toward Swift Current, according to an RCMP news release. RCMP said the three vehicles appeared to have been travelling together, as they were in close proximity, travelling in the same direction and at the same high-rate of speed. Swift Current RCMP were able to intercept the vehicles and all three were pulled over for driving 153 kilometres

an hour. Saskatoon mayor says social factors driving crime ‘a wicked problem’ During the traffic stop, officers noted several violations of the Traffic Safety Act. However, as the conversation continued between officers, the passengers and the driver, police became suspicious about their relationship and investigated further. RCMP said two young female passengers were located in separate vehicles, each with tinted windows, sitting in the back seat with no identification. RCMP said in the release that these were some indicators of human trafficking activity. The two young girls, both from B.C.,

are not related to any of the accused. RCMP will not be releasing their names. RCMP arrested three men and one woman on human trafficking related offences. These include receiving financial benefit knowing it was obtained from the commission of an offence, transport of a person under the age of 18 for the purpose of exploiting them, and procuring a person to offer or provide sexual services. 15-year-old with cancer testifies weeks before dying against drug dealer who gave her meth for sex They were also charged with harbouring a person who offers or provides sexual services for consideration, or exercised control, or movement of that person.

17th Annual International Mother Language Day PUNJABI LANGUAGE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION’S (PLEA) In partnership with DEEPAK BINNING FOUNDATION and KWANTLEN POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY (KPU) 17th Annual International Mother Language Day Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020 Time: 1:30 to 4:00 pm Location: Spruce Building Atrium – Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) (12666 72 Avenue, Surrey)

Surrey Board of Trade agrees with Surrey Councillor Locke’s Notice of Motion to Suspend RCMP Transition Surrey Board of Trade Agrees with Surrey Councillor Locke’s Notice of Motion to Suspend RCMP Transition - Local First Nation Groups Need to be Consulted In November 2019, the BC Government unanimously passed legislation on Indigenous human rights. “This historic legislation – passed by all MLAs – will ensure that there is a framework to enhance reconciliation,” said Anita Huberman, CEO, Surrey Board of Trade. “The Surrey Board of Trade, as Surrey’s citybuilding and inclusive business organization

congratulates the BC Government for their leadership on this, in Canada.” Surrey has the highest urban Indigenous population in British Columbia. “Now, the BC Government, in its evaluation of Surrey’s police transition, has an obligation to collaborate and consult with First Nation communities, especially on such a significant public safety infrastructure shift that impacts their economic development and livability in Surrey.” The provincial legislation is designed to ensure that all BC laws are consistent with the 46 articles of the United Nations Declaration

on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). The legislation was developed in collaboration with the First Nations Leadership Council at the direction of First Nations. There is a requirement for all projects on Indigenous territories to receive consent from those communities. ThenoticeofmotiondeliveredbyCityofSurrey Councillor Brenda Locke noted the following: The Semiahmoo and Katzie First Nations advise that there has been no consultation

with them regarding any possible transition to a Surrey Police Force by the Government of Canada, the Province of British Columbia or the City of Surrey; Be it resolved that: The existing process being followed to consider transition from the RCMP to a Surrey Police Force be immediately suspended until a sufficient, respectful and transparent consultation process that meets the federal, provincial and municipal obligations to consult with our First Nations peoples affected by the proposed changes has been adopted.

Surrey man charged with sexual interference Surrey RCMP Special Victim’s Unit is advising the public of a sexual interference investigation which involved a private instructor who allegedly abused two former students. Investigators believe there may be more victims in the community and are encouraging anyone with more information to come forward. This investigation began on July 9, 2019, when Surrey RCMP received a report of sexual interference which involved two victims who were youths when the incidents allegedly took place, between 2010 and 2012. The incidents are alleged to have occurred at a private residence in the Newton area, where the youth

attended studies with a private instructor. Following the report made to police, BC Prosecution Services have approved two charges of Sexual Interference against 78 year-old Nader Abdulaziz. “We understand that reporting sexual interference can be difficult for victims,” says Staff Sergeant Lindsay O’Ruairc, Surrey RCMP Vulnerable Persons Section. “Our officers are compassionate and ready to listen, and we have victim services staff who can help support you throughout the process.” To contact investigators from the Special Victim’s Unit, please call Surrey RCMP: 604-599-0502

Suspect charged following string of robberies in Langley & Surrey Surrey RCMP has arrested a man who was now been charged with multiple

counts of robbery following a series of offences across Surrey and Langley. In early January, Surrey RCMP responded to several reports of robberies to businesses in the Guildford, Newton, and Whalley/ City Centre areas. Noting the sudden rise in the number of business robberies, Surrey RCMP’s Robbery Unit and Crime Analysis Unit were able to identify some linkages between the recent incidents. Further investigation led to the identification of the suspect, Cory Ulmer Brown. On January 22, 2020, the Surrey RCMP Auto Crime Target Team and the Surrey RCMP Robbery Unit located and arrested Cory Ulmer Brown for the robbery offences, as well as for multiple outstanding warrants. Corey Ulmer Brown is now facing eight charges of robbery and four charges of wearing a disguise with the intent to commit an offence. “This investigation is an example of how important it is for the public to report these kinds of offences so police are able to track and analyze crime statistics and trends,” says Constable Brad Kelsey, Surrey RCMP Robbery Unit. “It allows us to quickly identify and address crime increases and, in this case, played a significant role in helping narrow our investigation, leading to the identification and arrest of a suspect.”

Saturday, February 1, 2020

Priyanka ’s 2020 Grammys outfit has the most intense plunging neckline In case you haven’t gotten the memo yet, fringe is having a moment at the 2020 Grammys. Billy Porter

wore a fringed-out unitard and matching hat, and now Priyanka Chopra appeared on the red carpet in

Shah Rukh Khan’s cousin, passes away in Peshawar

Noor Jehan, cousin of Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, passed away in Peshawar, a media report on Tuesday quoted a family member as saying. Jehan’s younger brother, Mansoor Ahmed, confirmed the news of her death to Geo News, saying she had been fighting cancer for some time. Jehan, a paternal cousin of the leading Indian film actor, resided in Mohallah Shah Wali area near Peshawar’s Qissa Khwani Bazaar. Zulfiqar, a former town council member, and Jehan’s neighbour, also confirmed her death, the report said without giving her age. Having previously served as a district and town councilor, Noor Jehan was politically active and even filed nomination papers for the provincial assembly PK-77 seat in the 2018 General Elections before withdrawing at the last moment. She was reported to have visited SRK twice, with her family maintaining close contact with the relatives across the border, the report said. During his childhood, Khan also visited his relatives in Peshawar along with his parents.

an ultra-glam gown with exaggerated fringe detailing on the sleeves. But that’s not the only statement-making element. Taking a page from J.Lo’s 2000 Grammys playbook, Chopra’s dress features a deep V neckline that goes all the way past her belly button. We have to give some serious props to her stylist for finding fashion tape that good. In addition to the plunging neckline, the dress also has an intricately embroidered train that’s just a tad bit bridal.

As for hubby Nick Jonas, he skipped the traditional black tux and opted for a slightly shimmery copper suit and matching loafers. More than a year after throwing their extravagant and starstudded wedding in India, Chopra and Jonas are working on a reality series inspired by their wedding. Last month, Variety announced that the couple is executive producing the unscripted

series for Amazon. The show, which is currently untitled, will follow engaged couples preparing for the Sangeet, an Indian pre-wedding tradition. Priyanka and Jonas previously shared footage of their own Sangeet. At the time, Priyanka described the tradition “as a fierce song and dance competition between the families [that] ended, as always, as a huge celebration of love.”

Bollywood Akshay moves the release date of Bachchan Pandey

Akshay Kumar and Amir Khan have been close friends for decades now. However, this year, there was a clash at

Kriti Sanon. Aamir tweeted, “Sometimes all it takes is one conversation. Thank you to my friends @akshaykumar & Sajid Nadiadwala for

Saturday, February 1, 2020

Phoreographer Ganesh Acharya accused of harassing assistant choreographer Renowned dancer and choreographer Ganesh Acharya might find himself amid troubles as an assistant female choreographer has reportedly filed a case against him at Mumbai’s Amboli police station as well as the Maharashtra W o m e n ’ s Commission, accusing him of causing her harassment. As per the report, the concerned woman alleged that Acharya would force her to watch adult videos, and even tried to deprive her of work. It is reported that Acharya tried to misuse his position of General Secretary of Indian Film & Television Choreographers

Association and tried revoking the accuser’s membership from the association, and also asked her for commission. Apparently, other choreographers in the industry also suggested her to first put her disputes with Acharya to rest before they could give her work. On January 26th, at a gathering of industry choreographers, the accuser reportedly countered Acharya, asking him why he was trying to revoke a membership for which she paid Rs 1 lakh. However, Acharya wasn’t pleased to find her at the gathering and asked her to leave. Reportedly, he also asked other dancers to pay Rs 500 extra out of their share of money, which she did not approve of.

Shah Rukh & Kajol to star in film directed by Rajkumar Hirani? the box office due for the two megastars with Akshay Kumar starrer Bachchan Pandey and Aamir Khan starrer Laal Singh Chaddha. Aamir Khan has already started shooting for his project while Akshay Kumar’s film is yet to go on floors. In a tweet done by Aamir Khan, he is grateful for Akshay Kumar and producer Sajid Nadiadwala for moving the release date of Bachchan Pandey to avoid the box office clash with Laal Singh Chaddha. The duo has apparently had a conversation about it and Akshay Kumar is ready to move the release date of his project with

their warm gesture of moving the release date of their film Bachchan Sometimes all it takes is one conversation. Thank you to my friends @akshaykumar & Sajid Nadiadwala for their warm gesture of moving the release date of their film Bachchan Pandey at my request. I wish them the very best for their film. Looking forward to it. As scheduled, Aamir Khan and Kareena Kapoor starrer Laal Singh Chaddha will release on December 25, 2020. As for Akshay Kumar’s Bachchan Pandey, the new release date is yet to be announced.

Rajkumar Hirani is one of the most talented and commercially successful filmmakers of our times so any new movie of his generates maximum excitement. Everybody is waiting for Shah Rukh Khan to announce his next project. While it has been heard that both are set to do a film together and the announcement is expected soon, we have now heard that Kajol Devgn and Kareena Kapoor Khan have been approached to play the romantic lead opposite SRK. Says a trade source, “While there have been reports that Kareena Kapoor Khan has been signed, the filmmaker is apparently keen to cast the Shah RukhKajol pair together in his next movie after Sanju. It’s an exciting combination and while the director has worked with Kareena before in 3 Idiots, he is keen to cast Kajol as Hirani hasn’t worked with her before. It’s a mature, intense love story of a couple who discovers love again and

both Hirani and SRK are keen for Kajol came on board for this project. Apparently, Shah Rukh has told her about the concept and she has loved it. The script is still being finalised and while it will take some time before a proper narration happens and the modalities are worked out (including dates), Kajol may

do the movie. Shah Rukh and she last worked together in Rohit Shetty’s Dilwale (2015) and both share an excellent box-office track of blockbusters, whereas Kareena’s movies with SRK haven’t done as well. If Kajol and Shah Rukh appear together in a Hirani movie, it will probably be the announcement of the year. The

Saturday, February 1, 2020 The trailer of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Saahoâ&#x20AC;? promised highoctane action, special effects and stylised sequences. Like a stock opening sequence that starts with an extreme close-up and zooms out to reveal a different picture, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Saahoâ&#x20AC;? is a whole other movie than the trailer lets on. The plot, which moves between Mumbai and the fictional city of Waaji, concerns an undercover agent named Ashok (Prabhas) and a crime syndicate run by Roy (Jackie Shroff). Ashok is a top cop, but his demeanour suggests otherwise. He is languid and awkward and would rather make moves on his colleague Amritha (Shraddha Kapoor) than fight crime. She feebly resists his rather demeaning attempts

Movie Review: Saaho to woo her, but succumbs quickly â&#x20AC;&#x201C; giving the film a chance to cut to exotic locations where the two can dance to mediocre music. At 179 minutes, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Saahoâ&#x20AC;? drags on and on. Director and writer Sujeeth throws in countless plot twists,

intent on distracting viewers with action, blood, gore and romance over substance. At one point, when a character says, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve concocted so many false stories, you think I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t come up with one moreâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201C; it is as if he is talking about the script. Sujeeth borrows scenes and tonality

Aries

Akshay Kumar taking care of Mission Mangal director, reveals Dalip Tahil also said Kumar is handling things. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I heard Akshay was among the first to know and got Jagan admitted, taking charge of things,â&#x20AC;? he said. Also commenting on Shaktiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s health was another actor in the film, Sanjay Kapoor. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He is such a fit guy, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m praying for his speedy recovery,â&#x20AC;? the actor stated. Mission Mangal released last year on August 15 on the eve of the Independence Day and went on to become one of the highest grossers of 2019, becoming Kumarâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s maiden 200-crore grosser.

from several Hollywood films, including â&#x20AC;&#x153;Mission Impossibleâ&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;Mad Maxâ&#x20AC;?, but neither he nor his leading man match their quality. Prabhas, fresh off the success of the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Baahubaliâ&#x20AC;? franchise, fails to re-create his brooding action hero persona. Shraddha Kapoorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s character doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have much to do except be rescued by a manly-man, with whom she must occasionally dance. The rest of the cast, including Chunky Pandey and Mahesh Manjrekar, seem to be wondering what on earth is going on. So will viewers.

HOROSCOPE March 21 - April 20

A few days ago, it was reported Mission Mangal director Jagan Shakti has been admitted to the hospital due to a clot in his brain. His family members and cousins are with him and the filmmaker should recover soon. And now, talking about his health, R. Balki, who produced the film, has spoken about his current condition. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Jagan is doing well post the surgery and there is nothing to worry about now,â&#x20AC;? the filmmaker said. Dalip Tahil, who was also an integral part of the film, said he was shocked when he came to know about the news, and would visit him once the hospital staff permits. He

Bollywood

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Anand Kumar on Super 30 and life after the Hrithik Roshan film When educator Anand Kumar introduced his Super 30 program in India a few years ago, he said he hoped it would help make quality education accessible to all. His brainchild, that tutors underprivileged children, in batches of 30, for one of the world’s most competitive exams – the entrance to the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), is today the subject of a mainstream Bollywood

film with the same name. The educator and mathematician spoke to Reuters about how the box office success of “Super 30”, starring popular actor Hrithik Roshan, has changed his life. He also opened up about the lure of IITs and the future of his Super 30 program. Here are excerpts from the Hindi-language interview: Q: When did you watch ‘Super 30’, the film? What did you think of it? A: I watched it a day before it released. I really liked the film

Saturday, February 1, 2020

Suchitra slams Wendell Rodricks over his post about Priyanka’s Grammys dress Priyanka Chopra’s Grammy Awards dress made headlines across the world for its chicness and sexiness. PeeCee looked gorgeous in it and powerful too as the global icon wasn’t afraid to carry off the revealing outfit with elan. Of course, there were some who didn’t appreciate the outfit as much and took to social media to express their thoughts. F a s h i o n d e s i g n e r W e n d e l l Rodricks too shared his thoughts on Instagram. He shared a photo of Priyanka in her Grammys dress and wrote, “@ priyankachopra nailed it at the Grammys 2020. Truly the bold and beautiful in this @ ralphandrusso couture fringed gown where the neckline goes all the way from

LA to Cuba. Love it” Grammys 2020 Round Up: Billie Eilish makes history at awards gala Singer Suchitra Krishnamoorthi was quite upset with Rodricks’ unwarranted comment and shared a lengthy note on how it’s not okay to body shame anyone. She wrote, “Was so upset to see this post on insta by Wendel Rodrigues who’s work I otherwise have a modicum of respect for. I think the fact that Priyanka is not trying to hide her belly with her clutch is what makes this pic so beautiful.” What one wears is fully the concern of the person wearing it. No one can judge someone on their clothes or expect them to dress up a certain way just to safeguard someone’s sensibilities. Suchitra put her point across quite powerfully.

Saturday, February 1, 2020

Bollywood Kajolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mood swings if anyone asks

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Jacqueline Fernandez is happy to tell amazing story â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an amazing story and I am happy to be part of the sequel of a film that catapulted my career,â&#x20AC;? says Jacqueline Fernandez on being part of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Kick 2.â&#x20AC;? Fernandez recently shared some information about her film says, â&#x20AC;&#x153;The film is taking time for the film to go on the floors. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s because the director (Sajid Nadiadwala) really wanted it to be perfect. It is good to be working again with the team.â&#x20AC;?

Salman Khan stars in the film as in the 2014 movie that marked the debut of producer Sajid Nadiadwala as director. It made over Rs 200 crore at the boxoffice. The actress is now venturing into the digital space with â&#x20AC;&#x153;Mrs. Serial Killerâ&#x20AC;? and her film â&#x20AC;&#x153;Driveâ&#x20AC;? starts streaming on Netflix from today. Fernandez featured

in UK magazine Eastern Eyeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;Worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s attractiv Asian Womenâ&#x20AC;? list, ranking twelfth. She was ranked third on The Times of Indiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s listing of the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Most Desirable Womanâ&#x20AC;? in 2013 and 2014, after being ranked eighth, seventh and fourteenth, respectively, in the preceding three years. In 2013, Rediff.com placed her on their list of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Bollywoodâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Best

Dressed Actressesâ&#x20AC;?. The following year, she held the sixty second position in the Indian edition of the Forbesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Celebrity 100, a list based on the income and popularity of Indiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s celebrities. In early 2013, Fernandez became the ambassador for HTC One, which she endorses in India. She was the face of Indian Bridal Fashion Weekâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;IBFW of 2013.[93] Later that

Press release

Saturday, February 1, 2020 PICS Mega Job Fair PICS (Progressive Intercultural Community Society Services) is pleased to announce the PICS Mega Job Fair Vancouver 2020 on February 6, 2020at the Croatian Cultural Centre – 3250 Commercial Drive Vancouver. As a not-for-profit organization, we are proud to provide Employment Services, Settlement, Senior Housing, Community Services and many other programs throughout the Lower Mainland. The PICS Mega Job Fair is the flagship event for our Employment Services Programs. It

gives job seekers the opportunity to meet employers on a one-to –one basis and discover what is available in the Labour Market in a proactive way. As a not-for-profit organization, we would appreciate your assistance by listing our event in your community events profiles. Attached is a poster of our event with all the pertinent information.

ICBC rate increases out of control, time to give B.C. drivers choice BC Liberal Leader Andrew Wilkinson is renewing calls for choice in the auto insurance

sector following the release of a new report that says British Columbians pay up to 42 per cent more for car insurance compared to drivers in Alberta. “British Columbians are fed up with ICBC. We are paying the highest car insurance premiums in the country in the middle of an affordability crisis,” said Wilkinson. “ICBC is no longer working for people and I’m a lot less worried about ICBC and more concerned with British Columbians being able to afford auto insurance.”

The analysis of insurance rates done by MNP, one of the country’s largest accounting firms, concluded that British Columbia and Alberta have similar insurance coverage and systems with the exception of Alberta allowing choice and free-market competition. A young driver commuting less than 15 kilometres to and from university in a 2008 Honda Civic would pay $828 less in Alberta than British Columbia for the same coverage.

Saturday, February 1, 2020

Vol. 11 No. 1

Saturday - February 1, 2020

Home sales in every BC region to recover in 2020 - a forecast. Total home transactions across province expected to rise 11 per cent versus 2019, with average sale prices also predicted to increase in every area.

Although every region in B.C. is expected to see lower home sales in 2019 than in 2018, sales will more than recover in 2020, according to a September 5 forecast by the

Housing market to see modest price growth in 2020 and 2021, predicts CMHC

The Metro Vancouver housing market will remain “balanced” over the next two years with home prices expected to increase in line with population growth, according to the latest housing market outlook report from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. Housing sales and prices have dipped recently as a result of multiple factors — including rising mortgage rates and new taxes — but the CMHC predicts that starting in 2020 and through 2021, there will be a modest increase both in prices and sales volume. Attached homes, condos and apartments priced under $700,000 are expected to generate the strongest demand because “homes in this price range can be accessible to buyers making a purchase based on their income compared with properties requiring substantial equity for a down payment,” says the report. The report says housing starts are expected to remain high, especially multi-family homes, which currently account for 88 per cent of unit starts.

Tel: 604-591-5423

Real estae, housing forecast through 2020 British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA).Overall in 2019, residential transactions across the province are predicted to be five per cent lower, at about 75,000 units, than the 78,505 sales of 2018. Every one of B.C.’s 12 boards is expected to

report a year-over-year decline in total sales across 2019, with drops ranging from one to 14 per cent. However, BCREA forecasted that every board will see considerable sales jumps in 2020, totalling a province-wide increase of nearly 11 per cent to 82,700 homes — which

E-mail: ads@theasianstar.com the association said would be just below the 10-year annual average. “B.C. markets are showing signs of recovery after nearly a year and a half of policy-induced declines,” said Brendon Ogmundson, BCREA’s deputy chief economist. “We expect that recovery to continue into next year, with home sales

Saturday, February 1, 2020

Condo prices are set to put many investors in the red as rents fail to meet carrying costs, experts warn There’s no shortage of people lining up to invest in the city’s burgeoning condo market — many of them mom and pop investors who see rental units as a hedge for their c h i l d r e n against the increasingly unaffordable property market. Others are self-employed individuals without a pension

who view a condo as an appreciating asset to help fund their retirement. But real estate experts are warning that the investment scene will shift in less than five years as the cost of condos continues to climb at the same time Toronto tenants show signs of hitting a wall when it comes to paying for

an apartment. That will have significant cash flow implications for property investors because rent won’t cover the monthly carrying cost of those units, said Shaun Hildebrand, president of market research firm Urbanation. “I’m not sure that condo investors that

have been active recently in buying preconstruction units fully appreciate how much supply is underway in the condo sector and what that will do for their assumptions for returns,” he said. Rents that rose about 10 per cent a year in 2016 to 2018, will likely increase at a more moderate 5 per cent annual for the

Anti-money-laundering course mandatory for real estate agents and property managers Real estate professionals will learn how to recognize red flags and be instructed on their obligations if they’re involved in a suspicious transaction. The regulatory agency for B.C.’s real estate professionals is launching a mandatory anti-money-laundering course to show real estate agents and strata and property managers how to recognize red flags and what steps they’re obligated to take to report suspected cases. The course will provide “the information you need to understand why real estate is attractive to money launderers,” said the course outline on the website of the Real Estate Council of B.C., the self-regulatory body of the province’s 26,000 licensed real estate pros. Members will learn “how to recognize the risk signs and red flags associated with money laundering (and) review your obligations and the steps to take to report suspicious transactions,” it said. The self-paced online course will “empower them (real estate pros) to actively contribute

to preventing criminal activity in B.C. real estate markets” and support them to “comply with their federal reporting obligations,” spokesman Warren Mirko said in an emailed statement. “Real estate professionals work closely with their clients, so they are well positioned to identify suspicious transactions,” he said. The announcement of the course requirement comes two months after the provincial government unveiled plans to create a new regulator for B.C.’s real estate sector by spring 2021. A single regulator for the sector was a key recommendation of recent reports aimed at cracking down on money laundering. The three reports into money laundering since 2018 have revealed billions in proceeds-of-crime, and other questionable sources of income have been laundered for years through the real estate industry, as well as through other luxury purchases and through casinos.

The latest report, by Maureen Maloney in May, estimated up to $5 billion was funnelled through the B.C. property market in 2018

alone, likely increasing housing prices that year by five per cent. Retired B.C. Supreme Court associate chief Justice Austin Cullen is in the middle of a yearlong public inquiry to investigate the causes, scope and impact of money laundering in the province. Registration will open when the course is launched next week and it will be required for licence renewal beginning April 1. “It will become part of the mandatory education that real estate professionals must take in order to maintain their licence to practise in B.C.,” said Mirko. The B.C. Real Estate Association announced this week a new requirement of 18 hours of professional training every two years for its realtors (who make up 90 per cent of all real estate agents), but there was no reference to money laundering

Reasons why Canada’s apartment building owners are happy

ental apartment building market in Canada is trongest it’s ever been, especially from the perspective of apartment building owners. Buildings are practically full across the country, rental rates are at or near 10-year highs in nearly every market, and average national rents have climbed 4.4 per cent annually over the last two years, according to a new report by commercial property brokerage house CBRE. This rapid rise of rental rates is earning more money for building owners. Total annualized returns for the Canadian multifamily sector were 9.8 per cent as of the first quarter of this year, just behind the industrial sector. Canada’s national average rental apartment vacancy rate ended 2018 at 2.4 per cent, below the 10-year average of 2.6, CBRE said in its national multifamily mid-year update. Investors are lining up to get into the market in most cities. Multifamily investment volume reached record levels for four consecutive years, including an alltime high of $8.3 billion in 2018. Apartments are traditionally viewed as stable and defensive assets to own, said CBRE Canada vice-chairman Paul Morassutti. “(The asset class) never displays great amounts of volatility,” he told Postmedia

last week. “Very rarely would you have declines in rental rates or net operating income. Typically, things would go up in a slow and steady fashion and it was always a favoured asset class for all those reasons.” Here are other main drivers that Morassutti and his firm believe will continue to stoke demand for apartment buildings in Canada. Population growth: Canada’s population is expected to grow by nearly one per cent annually over the next four years, surpassing

growth in all other G7 countries, the report said. Much of this momentum is being fuelled by immigration, which accounted for 80.5 per cent of the country’s population growth last year. The government has a plan to welcome one million new immigrants between 2019 and 2021. Much of that new population is settling in the Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver regions, with Toronto and Vancouver experiencing the sharpest annual apartment rental price growth of 5.0 per cent and 7.1 per cent, respectively, over the past four years.

Shortage of new supply Canada’s big cities are not building enough new rental apartments to keep up with demand, when compared to global peers, the report said. The largest rental market in Canada is Montreal with just under 600,000 units. Toronto follows well behind with 313,000 units, and Vancouver trails with just 109,000 units. Units on the secondary market, including privately rented condos, do close the gap, but it’s clear that renters across the country need more options, or else rents will continue to climb. While we are seeing increased construction of rental units more recently, the overall number remains relatively low, Morassutti said. Rising cost of home ownership An expanding proportion of Canada’s big-city dwellers can’t afford to buy a home. This factor, above all others, is probably having the greatest effect on stoking apartment rental prices, while spurring investors to buy buildings, Morassutti said. “In Toronto, if you want to buy a detached house or semi-detached house, you need to have a household income of close to $200,000,” he said. “The average household income in Toronto I believe is something like $100,000.” (According to the last Canadian census, the average household in the Greater Toronto Area earned $87,993 after tax.) That leaves residents with only a couple of choices.

Saturday, February 1, 2020

The mortgage stress test is making housing supply issues worse — and making homes even more unaffordable

anada is experiencing sustained economic and population growth. Millennials and new Canadians are forming households and their desire for home ownership is very strong. Interest rates are low. In this environment, home sales should thrive and supply should rise alongside demand, keeping prices in check. Instead, our housing supply is lagging and prices have risen dramatically in key markets. Governments bear much of the blame for this undesirable market imbalance, as a narrow focus on suppressing household debt has dominated the policy mix while the root causes of undersupply — including excessive red tape, fees, taxes and nimbyism — have gone largely unaddressed. If we want to address housing affordability in Canada, governments need to redesign the policy mix to confront these factors. For its part, the federal government could start by developing a more nuanced mortgage “stress test.” Ottawa’s stress test is demolishing Canadians’ housing dreams. Which party will rebuild them? Why Ottawa’s attempts to help young Canadians afford housing simply won’t work The mortgage ‘stress test’ has started harming Canadians more than it helps

First, consider mortgage debt in the Canadian context. Canadians have some of the highest rates of home ownership and mortgage borrowing in the world. Evidence shows that Canadians use mortgage debt responsibly; in the majority of cases, we make additional payments or otherwise accelerate our repayments. Equifax credit scores for first-time Canadian homebuyers are in the upper half of the range considered “very good,” and they typically continue to improve in the first, second and third years of home ownership. Second, we have the indisputable finding, reproduced in dozens of independent surveys, that Canadians strongly value home ownership. It is overwhelmingly identified as a top priority across the age

spectrum, from millennials to baby boomers. And the opportunity for home ownership here is a key attraction for immigrants, many of whom leave behind societies where it is rare. Unfortunately, despite all the evidence that Canadians are committed and responsible

borrowers, would-be homebuyers are today restricted by a number of government policies that need redesign, most notably the mortgage stress test. To be clear: when applied selectively on mortgagors who are attempting to borrow significantly more than their annual income or who are carrying a heavy load of non-mortgage debt already, the stress test can be a useful tool. But there is reason to be concerned about the scope and duration of the test’s current application in Canada. While the government’s one-size-fits-all approach has helped cool overheated markets, it has also destabilized Prairie housing markets, which were already suffering from that region’s economic slowdown. It has now been 23 months since the stress test was implemented. At that time, policy-makers wanted to ensure borrowers could service their debts when their mortgages came up for renewal — mainly because it was widely presumed rates would rise in the near term. But now, if anything, interest rates are expected to ease amid weakening economic growth, trade tensions and other factors. Given the current environment, we must ask if the marginal improvement in mortgage credit quality created by the stress test is worth the many unintended consequences it causes.

Condos, the ‘future of our communities,’ now cost more per square foot than a detached home Condominiums may be the “future of our communities” but per square foot, they are hardly a bargain. According to a Royal LePage report released today, aside from Vancouver and Calgary, every major city’s condo price per square foot has increased. With the exception of Vancouver, the median price per square foot of a condo is now higher than that of a single family detached home nationwide. Canadian home prices are up — but by the smallest amount in

a decade. Seven reasons Canada’s housing market is stronger than it looks Vancouver’s housing market is dismal — but you still need six-figure income to get your foot in the door “While condo units are smaller, they are the present and future of our communities. With more development opportunities, they can meet both the growing need for housing and lifestyle expectations of homebuyers,” said Phil Soper, the president of Royal LePage in a

press release. The Greater Ottawa condo price per square foot appreciated the fastest among the cities that were measured, rising 17.9 per cent year-over-year to $395, while the Greater Vancouver price actually declined the most by 8.3 per cent to $764. “We are seeing significant interest in Ottawa’s south and west ends from residents working in the nearby military and technology hubs,” said Kent Browne, broker

Over 11% of Vancouver condos have a non-resident owner, says new CMHC report

#106 - 7565 132 St. Surrey, BC 604.572.3005

Over 11 percent of Vancouver condos have at least one non-resident as an owner, a number that jumps to more than 19 per cent when it comes to newer built condos. The information is contained in a Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation housing market insight report which also found that non-residents — defined as someone who

doesn’t have their principal residence in Canada — tend to own more expensive properties than residents, especially in Vancouver. Some of the other findings: 7.2 per cent of all Vancouver properties have at least one non-resident owner. Non-resident ownership is highest in

and owner of Royal LePage TEAM Realty. The city of Vancouver remains the most expensive condo market in the country, with homebuyers paying $1,044 per square foot for a condo and $1,279 per square foot for a single-family detached home. Greater Calgary offers the lowest condo price per square foot, with a fall of 6.7 per cent to $313.“For the fourth consecutive month, condo inventory in the region declined compared to last year.

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Saturday, February 1, 2020

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South Asian Seniors - Bingo On The House January 19th 2020 ( Sunday ) from 2.00 pm to 3.30 pm. Vedic Seniors Parivar Centre of vedic Hindu Cultural Society Surrey invites South Asian Adults/ Senior members and nonmembers also to come and play Bingo for the sake of entertainment and make some new friends, on January 19th 2020( Sunday ) from 2.00 pm to 3.30 pm at Shanti Niketan hall 8321 - 140th street Surrey B.C. Please bring only two dollars with you to play 2 games, do not worry if you do not know how to play, members will explain you the game just for the sake of fun. Tea & light snacks will be served after the game is over. Please contact Surendra Handa Coordinator Tel. 604 - 507 - 9945 for further information.

Group birthday celebrations

Saturday, February 1st, Vedic Seniors Parivar Center will be celebrating group birthday of 16 members born between 25th October to 1st. February. Their names are as follows, 1. Mr. Satish Kumar Goyal, 2. Mr. Suresh Bhayana, 3. Mr. Gurmit Singh Bhatti, 4. Surendra Handa, 5. Mrs. Rita Moudgill, 6. Mrs. Nirmala Jobanputra, 7. Mrs. Surinder Kaur Dial, 8. Mrs. Nirmal Dardi, 9. Mrs. Surinder Kaur Nager, 10. Mrs. Harbahs Kaur Grewal, 11. Mrs. Seneha Malhotra, 12. Mrs. Sarabjit Kaur Kambo, 13. Mrs. Indu Kaushal, 14. Mrs. Rajinder Kaur Kainth, 15. Mrs. Reema Sreedhar, 16. Mrs. Baljit Kaur Virk. The celebration will be held at Shanti Niketan hall of Lakshmi Narayan Temple 8321 - 140th street Surrey BC from 11.00 am to 3.00 pm. The prominent Musicians of the South Asian Community Mrs. Tejaswita Mohan, Mr. Raj Toora and Mr. Swaran Dhaliwal have kindly accepted our request to entertain us all with Melodious old Bollywood Hindi songs. Dr. Birendra Kumar Sahu a member of Vedic Seniors Parivar will also entertain with old Hindi songs. Please donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t miss and register your name for attending this special event. Please contact Surendra Handa Coordinator Tel. 604 - 507 - 9945 for registration.

Saturday, February 1, 2020

Press release

John Horgan and NDP side with ICBC over B.C. drivers VICTORIA (January 29, 2020) – The NDP chose helping ICBC over helping B.C. drivers struggling with skyrocketing car insurance rates today as John Horgan and David Eby’s long-awaited ICBC reforms were announced, which prioritize making ICBC better for the company and not British Columbians. “British Columbians are fed up with paying the highest car insurance premiums in the country and John Horgan and the NDP’s answer is to get ICBC more active on Twitter and open a ‘fairness office’ 18 months from now,” said MLA Andrew Wilkinson, BC Liberal Leader. “It’s starting to sound like David Eby just plans on getting British Columbians to pay for the wood he keeps throwing on his dumpster fire over at ICBC.” The do-nothing ICBC reforms announced today follow on the heels of yesterday’s damning report from accounting firm MNP that showed British Columbians pay up to 42 per cent more for car insurance compared to drivers in Alberta. Unsurprisingly, Eby disagreed with the report, which follows the NDP habit of ignoring reports they don’t like the results of. “There are drivers in B.C. this month getting ICBC bills for $6,000 but John Horgan and David Eby’s response is simply to make the bureaucracy bigger? How is this helping affordability?,” added MLA Jas Johal, BC Liberal Critic for ICBC. “ICBC is no longer working for people and it’s time to allow competition, provide choices, and let British Columbians decide what works best for them — not what makes insurance companies the most money.” B.C. drivers have seen the average ICBC premium go up a staggering 18.2 per cent under the NDP, and ICBC projects a 24 per cent increase in premium prices over the next three years.

For more Updates, Visit our Website

www.theasianstar.com

Saturday, February 1, 2020

Canada’s economy bucks forecasts, posts surprise gain Canada’s economy rebounded to a gain in November, marking a surprise win for a domestic economy that’s been repeatedly hammered during the final quarter of 2019. Real gross domestic product increased by 0.1 per cent in the month, nearly offsetting a 0.1-percent drop in October, Statistics Canada said Friday. Economists had expected a flat reading

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in November, given a spate of weak data of late, along with the impact from a brief Canadian National Railway Co. strike and temporary Keystone XL pipeline closing. But 15 of 20 industrial sectors expanded during the month, more than masking the fallout from those temporary events. In particular, the utilities sector was a strong contributor, increasing 2.1 per cent “as a result of unseasonably cold weather in central Canada,” Statscan said. Construction increased by 0.5 per cent, as did retail trade, helped by car dealerships. House resale activity at the offices of real estate agents increased for the ninth consecutive month, another sign of a fulsome rebound in Canadian homebuying activity. “Overall, the above-consensus reading was surprising given the temporary factors which were expected to restrain growth (pipeline outage, rail strike, weather) and should limit the downside risk to the Bank of Canada’s [fourth-quarter] forecast,” Royce Mendes, senior economist at Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, said in a client note. The Bank of Canada last week revised its estimate for the fourth quarter to 0.3-per-cent annualized growth, down from 1.3 per cent. For the first quarter of 2020, it expects growth of 1.3 per cent, down from a prior 1.7 per cent. The bank expects the economy to accelerate as the year progresses. That may occur during a time of lower rates, however. Governor Stephen Poloz and his colleagues removed the word “appropriate” to describe the bank’s current policy rate of 1.75 per cent, which observers viewed as firmly putting a rate hike on the table

Saturday, February 1, 2020

DREAM CARPET

29 17

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LOCAL / NATIONAL

Saturday, February 1, 2020

Man clings to roof of car driving along busy road in Maple Ridge Police confirmed they are investigating after a man jumped on and clung to a moving vehicle as it travelled along Dewdney Trunk Road in Maple Ridge on Saturday. Ridge Meadows RCMP said they will not be releasing any more information until Monday. A video, taken by Bryan Johns and

Tiffany Yee was fearful for her life when a walk with her dog turned into a scary encounter with a taxi driver. The alleged incident happened Friday before 6 p.m. in a north Burnaby neighbourhood. Yee says she saw a Bonny’s Taxi driver speeding towards a stop sign

posted to Facebook, shows a car turning right onto Dewdney Trunk Road from 210 Street with a man standing on the front windshield appearing to yell at the driver though the passenger-side window. The man, then, jumps from the hood to the top of the car as the vehicle

attempts to make a right-hand-turn. The dark-coloured hatchback makes the turn eastbound onto Dewdney Trunk with the man clinging to the roof of the car and almost rear-ends a white truck that pulls over onto the sidewalk. The car drives around the truck and

continues with the man now dangling from the passenger-side of the vehicle. It is unclear what happened to the man or whether he suffered any injuries. Ridge Meadows RCMP posted a tweet on Saturday that confirmed they are investigating the incident and that all parties have been identified

Cab driver recorded shouting racial slur at pedestrian in Burnaby and said she was worried he wouldn’t stop in time. “He slammed on his brakes and they were screeching. Me and Lucky crossed the street and that’s when I looked at him and asked him to slow down,” she told CTV News.

The cabbie didn’t drive away immediately, Yee said. Instead, he opened his door and began to shout profanities at her. “He took a step out, and I was scared that he was going to come towards me, so I took out my phone in case I needed to call 911. That’s when he started swearing some more and then he yelled a racial slur,” she said. In Yee’s short, seven-second video of the incident, the driver could be heard yelling expletives and a racial epithet. “I just couldn’t believe it, that someone would be that aggressive and say those things to me when all I told him was to slow down,” she said. “I’d say it was traumatizing, when I see a Bonny’s Taxi now, I’m a little fearful.” “I am speechless watching this video,” said Emon Bari in an email. “The driver was taken off the road [Saturday]. His driving privilege is suspended until further investigation.” Yee said the taxi company’s response was appropriate. “I don’t think a person like that should be driving around the public,” she said.

Man died after fall from highrise hotel balcony in Surrey The Surrey RCMP confirmed Monday this was a suicide. Surrey Mounties say a man is dead after a fall from a balcony from one of the higher floors of Whalley’s 3 Civic Plaza at about 2:30 p.m. Friday. Corporal Elenore Sturko said police “received information downstream from (Surrey firefighters) of a person who was on a balcony. We’re not sure if they have jumped, or if they fell, we’re not sure what the circumstances

are but they fell from a great height.” There was a heavy emergency services presence in the plaza at the skyscraper, at 13475 Central Ave. Sturko said she didn’t know from what floor the person fell. “It was a balcony, on one of the upper floors.” “We’re working with the coroner, they’re going to be looking into what activity was taking place leading up to this death,” Sturko said “There were a number of people who may have been witnesses to this incident.

Saturday, February 1, 2020

Man with coronavirus discharged from Toronto hospital Toronto’s Sunnybrook Hospital says a man who was diagnosed with the new coronavirus was discharged on Friday. The man, who is in his 50s, was the first confirmed case of the new coronavirus in Canada. He and his wife, who was later confirmed to have the virus, recently travelled to Wuhan, China, which is the epicentre of the outbreak. On Thursday, Ontario health officials said the man was recovering in hospital while his wife was doing well in isolation at home. “His status continued to improve over the week and he reached the point where he no longer requiring hospitalization,” said Dr. Jerome Leis from Sunnybrook. “He will remain in isolation in his home till at such time that public health confident that there is no risk of transmission.”

Officials also said 27 others were being monitored for the virus in Ontario. Ontario’s associate chief medical officer of health Dr. Barbara Yaffe said that so far, 67 people have been tested for the virus in Ontario. According to Yaffe, 38 tests came back negative and the 27 people who remain under observation are either at home in isolation or in hospital. There have been three confirmed cases of the new coronavirus in the country, with B.C. confirming that a man in his 40s had the virus on Tuesday. Symptoms of the illness, according to Canada’s chief medical officer, Dr. Theresa Tam, may take about two weeks to manifest and are similar to those of the common flu. The symptoms include coughing, a fever and a general feeling of malaise.

Chief public health officer says no vaccine for coronavirus for a year Canada’s chief public health officer says it will likely take at least a year before a vaccine is developed to protect people against the new coronavirus that is spreading around the globe. In the meantime, Dr. Theresa Tam says government and public health authorities should plan on having to manage the outbreak for some time to come. More than 7,700 people in China have been diagnosed with the new coronavirus and 170 of them have died. There are three confirmed cases in Canada.

Ontario public health officials reported Wednesday that a presumptive case of the new deadly strain of coronavirus reported earlier this week has been confirmed by the National Microbiology Lab in Winnipeg, bringing the number of confirmed cases in that province to two. A presumed case in British Columbia was also confirmed by the national lab on Wednesday. Dr. Bonnie Henry, provincial health officer, said officials are in regular contact with the individual who is in isolation at home.

Furstenau flays NDP as she launches BC Green Party leadership bid B.C. Green Party MLA Sonia Furstenau has launched her expected bid to replace Andrew Weaver as leader, taking aim at the NDP energy policies her three-member caucus has supported. Furstenau wasted no time in targeting the B.C. NDP government for carrying on the B.C. Liberal policy of what she called “massive subsidies” to a liquefied natural gas industry, and a third dam on the Peace River that will help to electrify operations in the vast northeast B.C. shale gas fields. With Weaver now sitting as an independent MLA and Saanich North and the Islands MLA Adam Olsen serving as interim leader, Furstenau emerged Monday as the first leadership candidate. Staging her

announcement in a trendy shared-work space in downtown Victoria, her remarks reflected Weaver’s advice that the all-Vancouver Island Green caucus needs a Lower Mainland leader. Urban issues emerged as her central theme, although her knowledge of Metro Vancouver bridges is a work in progress. “We spent $4 million to take the tolls off the Port Mann and Lower Mainland bridges [Golden Ears Bridge], while much needed transit infrastructure that will reduce congestion and emissions goes unbuilt,” Furstenau said. “Instead, for three quarters of that amount, we could build the Broadway subway extension to UBC. For half, we could supply 1,000 electric buses.

LOCAL / NATIONAL

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Air Canada suspends all flights to Beijing & Shanghai amid deadly coronavirus outbreak Airlines around the world have started to cancel more flights to China as coronavirus fears have dragged down demand for air travel in the area. Air Canada normally runs 33 flights a week to China out of Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal but on Wednesday the airline announced it would halt all flights to Beijing and Shanghai until the end of February at least. “Air Canada’s last flights departing Canada will operate today and the return flights will operate from Beijing and Shanghai tomorrow, January 30, 2020,” the airline said. “Affected customers will be notified and offered options, including travel on other carriers where available, or a full refund. Air Canada regrets this situation and apologizes for the serious disruption to our customers’ travel plans,” the airline said in a statement. It isn’t the only airline scaling back. British Airways on Wednesday suspended all direct flights to and from mainland China through to the end of February, although it will maintain limited service to Hong Kong. “We apologize to customers for the inconvenience, but the safety of our customers and crew is always our priority,” the airline said in a statement on Wednesday. “Customers due to travel to or from China in the coming days can find more information on BA.com.” American Airlines said Wednesday it will suspend flights between Los Angeles and both Shanghai and Beijing from Feb. 9 through Mar. 27. The airline cited “the significant decline in demand for travel to and from China.” Hong Kong-based airline Cathay Pacific said Tuesday it has reduced its overall seat capacity

on Chinese routes by half, through to the end of March. Under normal circumstances, Cathay has 240 flights per week that take off or land in China. Air Seoul, a budget airline, became the first South Korean airline to suspend its fights to mainland Chinese destinations apart from Wuhan, stopping its flights to the cities of Zhangjiajie and Linyi. Indonesia’s Lion Air said it has cancelled more than 50 flights to China well into February. The flights are from five international airports in Manado, Surabaya, Jakarta, Batam and from Denpasar, in Bali, to 15 airports in China. The suspension will be phased in gradually and continue until further notice. Air India is suspending DelhiShanghai flights, which operate six times a week, from Friday until Feb. 14. Finland’s Finnair, which has actively promoted its position linking Asian and Western destinations, said it was cancelling three weekly flights to Beijing Daxing International Airport through late March, as well as its twice-weekly flights to Nanjing. Jetstar Asia will temporarily suspend flights to the Chinese cities of Hefei, Guiyang and Xuzhou starting Thursday through the end of March due to a drop in demand. Coronavirus in Canada: What are the next steps to contain the disease here? South Korea’s second-largest carrier, Asiana Airlines, will temporarily suspend flights to the Chinese cities of Guilin, Changsha and Haikou starting next month. Korean Air, South Korea’s biggest airline, said it is also considering grounding some of its flights to mainland China as passenger demand drops.

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National / Finance

Saturday, February 1, 2020

How the North American trade deal will affect autos, digital trade, drugs The US - Mexico - Canada trade agreement (USMCA) signed by President Donald Trump on Wednesday modernizes the 26-year-old North American Free Trade Agreement, which has been blamed for hollowing out the U.S. manufacturing sector. Passed by the U.S. Senate on Jan. 16, the trade deal still needs to be approved by Canada’s Parliament before it takes effect. Mexico has already ratified the pact. The new agreement makes mostly modest changes and will leave more than $1.2 trillion in North American trade flows largely unchanged. While the deal has been forecast to create 176,000 U.S. jobs over 15 years, it is not expected to bring factory jobs lost to Mexico back to the United States in the coming years. Here are some of the key changes to the pact: AUTOS: One of the biggest changes requires increased North American content

in cars and trucks built in the region, to 75% from 62.5% under NAFTA, with new mandates to use North American steel and aluminum. In addition, 40%-45% of a vehicle’s value must come from “high wage” areas paying workers at least $16 an hour, namely the United States and Canada, a provision aimed at slowing the industry’s migration to low-wage Mexico. Vehicles that fail to meet the standard will be subject to U.S. tariffs. The rules put some foreignbrand automakers in the United States at a disadvantage by forcing them to invest in new U.S. or Canadian plants for highvalue components such as engines and transmissions. DAIRY, CHICKEN AND EGGS: Canada will provide U.S. dairy farmers access to about 3.5 percent of its $16 billion annual domestic dairy market.

In exchange, the United States backed off efforts to force Canada to scrap its longstanding “supply management” system, which maintains high dairy tariffs. The United States will be able to increase exports of some milk products like skim milk and milk proteins to Canada. The United States also gets tariff-free access to Canada for 57,000 tonnes of chicken by the sixth year of the deal, and access for 10 million dozen U.S. eggs and egg equivalents. LABOR RIGHTS: To encourage Mexican workers to unionize and to drive up wages, the deal allows the United States and Canada to convene panels of international labor experts to hear complaints if Mexican factories are denying workers the freedom to organize and bargain collectively. If such violations are found and remedial actions are not taken, it allows

the complaining country to rescind tarifffree access for the offending facility’s products, among other penalties. COPYRIGHT, DIGITAL TRADE, E-COMMERCE: Copyright protection will extend for 70 years past an author’s death, in line with current U.S. law. In Canada, copyright generally extends for 50 years past death. Customs and other charges on digital products such as music, games, videos and e-books will be prohibited. The deal protects internet platforms from liability related to thirdparty information they publish. Mexico’s and Canada’s thresholds for imports subject to duty collection and customs declaration will double. The increases will benefit online retailers shipping across the region’s borders and small businesses importing small orders.

Trudeau govt gives a $50 million gift to Mastercard Industry Minister Navdeep Bains announced last week a gift of $50 million to MasterCard to help them set up shop in Vancouver. Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer had the best line as opposition parties pressed the government on the handout, he played off of MasterCard’s classic “Priceless” ad campaign. “Having a wasteful government that believes in corporate welfare isn’t priceless, turns out it’s worth $50 million!” Scheer said in the Commons. The government, which made the announcement at the swanky World Economic Forum, a who’s who of the world elite in Davos, Switzerland, seemed caught off guard with Scheer’s questions. “Why did the prime minister make taxpayers so sad by giving $50 million to a company that made $16 billion last year off the backs of hard-working Canadians who can’t afford

to pay their full balances?” Scheer asked. Trudeau mumbled on about his government being focused on “growing the middle class and those working hard to join it.” Nothing says middle class like giving a profitable multibillion-dollar company $50 million from taxpayers. “Why did the prime minister think that they needed a handout?” Scheer asked again. “Everything this government does is focused on the middle class and those working hard to join it,” Trudeau responded. The NDP wasn’t letting the Conservatives steal their corporate welfare thunder and jumped in on the action. “Why does the Liberal government keep giving money to profitable companies instead of investing in our health care?” NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh asked.

John Horgan calls for end to ‘high-grading’ BC forests Premier Horgan promoted his long-term strategy for the struggling B.C. forest industry in Prince George Wednesday, saying the province has to get out of a “boom and bust economy” that rises and falls with lumber prices. Speaking to more than 1,000 community and industry leaders at the annual B.C. Natural Resources Forum Prince George, Horgan noted his long-term strategy to increase forest jobs began this week with the first of a series of round-table meetings with community and industry representatives in Mackenzie, one of the communities hardest hit by the current downturn. “We’re going to be in other communities, Quesnel, Vanderhoof, wherever we can go

to bring people together to find a way forward in forestry,” Horgan told reporters before his speech to the forum. “Prices are starting to come up. In a boom-and-bust economy, you need to have high prices, but that’s not the beginning and the end. We need to make sure that we’re always preparing for those down times by ensuring that we’re not just harvesting to get the forest down, we’re harvesting to get jobs in communities.” Horgan acknowledged that government stumpage on Crown timber did not keep up with the rapid fall in lumber prices in 2019, but it has been sharply reduced for 2020. He said he is attempting to move away from a long tradition of logging for volume.

How coronavirus could impact Canada’s economy The spread of a new strain of coronavirus from China to at least 16 countries has implications for the global economy, analysts warn. That includes Canada, where one confirmed case and one presumptive case of the new coronavirus have been detected so far. If the current outbreak follows the course of past health scares, it will only be a temporary bump for the Canadian economy, according to an analysis by BMO economist Sal Guatieri. But that stumble would come as domestic growth has already entered a soft patch. Typically, global health-care worries send stock markets into sell-off mode, with prices of airlines, restaurants and hotels hit especially hard, Guatieri said in a note published on Friday. At the same ti

On Monday, Canada’s benchmark S&P/ TSX composite index was down about 0.6 per cent in midday trading, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500 were down around one per cent, erasing a significant portion of their gains for January. Companies that rely on travel and tourism suffered steep losses. Meanwhile, the prices of safe-haven assets like gold and bonds rose. The stock declines follow equity sell-offs in Europe earlier in the day. Most markets in Asia were closed for the Lunar New Year, with Chinese authorities extending the holiday to Feb. 2 in an effort to keep as many people as possible at home to contain the outbreak. As with previous outbreaks, the new, fast-spreading coronavirus is also rattling

I t

Saturday, February 1, 2020

Gov’t wasting billions on ‘failed’ projects through outsourcing, says union Outsourcing of work that could be done by federal government employees is costing taxpayers billions of dollars, and has created an unaccountable shadow public service, says a report from one of the country’s biggest civil service unions. The report released Monday by the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC) says the government spent nearly $12 billion on management consultants, temporary contractors and information technology consultants between 2011 and 2018. “The government is choosing to pay more for lower quality services for Canadians,” PIPSC president Debi Daviau said in a statement. “Instead of relying on the best public service professionals in the world, the government is wasting Canadians’ money on overpriced contractors.”The union pointed to the failed Phoenix pay system as a stark example of

how costs can spiral out of control when an outsourced project goes wrong. That system, which has directly impacted tens of thousands of federal employees by under-paying, overpaying or not paying them at all, was supposed to save taxpayers money after an initial budget of $309 million. Instead, it is forecast to cost Canadians $2.2 billion by 2023 as the government works to fix the problems it created and build its replacement. “Canadians cannot afford one more failed outsourced IT project like Phoenix,” Daviau said. Annual spending on information technology consultants alone more than doubled from $605 million in 2011 to $1.3 billion in 2018, totalling $8.5 billion over the seven-year timeframe, according to the report. While it did not dispute the figures, the Treasury Board Secretariat said outside work resources are often necessary to ensure the delivery of government services.

NDP delays national convention and leadership review NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh is defending his party’s decision to delay its next national convention, where he is slated to face a vote on his leadership, claiming he has “no doubt” that New Democrats support him. Singh said the convention delay — first reported by the Huffington Post in early January — is meant to ensure the NDP is prepared for an election if the Liberal minority government falls in the coming months. “We’re in a minority and we want to make sure that we are able to do a good job as parliamentarians, but also that our party is in good standing and good health,” Singh told reporters Wednesday on Parliament Hill. He added in French that he has “no doubt” members will support him when the time comes for a leadership review at the next convention,

which the party says will be scheduled in early 2021 instead of sometime this year. Anne McGrath, the NDP’s national director, told the Star she would prefer to hold the convention as soon as possible, given what she sees as Singh’s solid personal popularity in the wake of last fall’s election campaign. But McGrath said the party needs to focus on paying down its debts and replenishing its war chest ahead of the next election. Annual fundraising for the NDP dropped from more than $18 million in 2015 to around $5 million in 2018, according to Elections Canada returns. After taking out a $12-million mortgage on its Ottawa headquarters in 2018 and spending $11 million on a national campaign last fall.

Trump signs trade deal with Canada and Mexico US President Trump formally signed new trade pact with Mexico and Canada, bringing his campaign promise to replace the three countries’ existing deal closer to fruition. The US Mexico Canada Agreement (USMCA) is set to replace the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement (Nafta). Trump has described Nafta as America’s “worst” deal and blamed it for a decline in manufacturing jobs. Canada has yet to ratify the pact but is expected to do so. The three countries announced they had reached a deal in 2018 after more than a year of negotiation. The accord has been working its way through the legislatures of the three countries ever since. In the US, Democrats, who control the

House of Representatives, insisted on changes - including stronger labour rules - before voting in support of the measure. Many of the original Nafta provisions will continue under the new accord, which governs more than $1tr in annual trade between the three countries. It also sets new terms for digital trade and increases US access to Canada’s dairy market. The most eye-catching changes concern new rules for car companies, which are aimed at boosting production in the US. The new deal requires a higher percentage of vehicles to be made in North America to qualify for tariff-free treatment. It also requires that a certain percentage of each vehicle be made by workers making at least $16 an hour.

Liberal tax cut will cost $1.2-billion more annually than promised: PBO The federal government’s tax cut will cost about $1.2-billion more per year than estimated during the election campaign, according to a new report from the Parliamentary Budget Officer. The Liberal Party platform said the tax cut would reduce federal revenue by $5.66-billion a year once fully implemented in 2023-24. However, in a new report released Tuesday, Parliamentary Budget Officer Yves Giroux said the estimated cost for that fiscal year is now $6.85-billion. The government is planning to introduce legislation that would make the tax cut effective as of Jan. 1, 2020. The change would raise the basic personal amount – a non-

refundable tax credit that essentially sets the income threshold before owing tax – from the current $12,298 for 2020 to $13,229, then gradually increase it to $15,000 for 2023. The latest PBO report appears to contradict the office’s own costing, given that the Liberal Party platform relied on an independent estimate provided by the PBO. Last year, for the first time, political parties had the option of getting cost estimates from the PBO for specific campaign promises. However, PBO officials say there are two main reasons Tuesday’s estimate is higher. The first is that the Liberal Party asked the PBO to exclude the spousal and dependant benefits from the campaign estimate.

NATIONAL

INDIA

Saturday, February 1, 2020

India, Brazil sign 15 accords to deepen ties across range of sectors India and Brazil have signed 15 accords aimed at forging closer ties between the two emerging market giants across a range of sectors, especially defense, both countries’ leaders tweeted on Saturday. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro took to social media to hail the closer cooperation and agreements struck during Bolsonaro’s official visit to India. “Several agreements signed in infrastructure, justice, science and technology, agriculture, oil exploration, mining, health, culture and tourism,” Bolsonaro tweeted, adding: “The

world’s confidence in Brazil is back!” For his part, Modi tweeted: “India and Brazil are focusing on expanding cooperation in the defence sector,” adding that the two countries share “immense synergies” on several key issues such as the environment and fighting terrorism. Separately, Brazil’s foreign minister Ernesto Araujo tweeted that the 15 accords signed by the two countries represent a move “against the structures of globalist thought”. “Brazil is rising to be a great among the greats,” he tweeted.

What’s behind India’s new-found animosity towards Amazon? When Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO of international retail giant Amazon visit India earlier this month, the company likely expected his three-day trip to be a resounding success.It had arranged for him to meet Bollywood stars, attend photo opportunities and even announce US$1 billion of investment in the country. But just hours before Bezos was supposed to land, an investigation was launched by the country’s antitrust regulator – the competition commission of India (CCI) – amid allegations Amazon and its Indian home-grown rival Flipkart were engaging in anticompetitive behaviour. Upon arrival, the Amazon CEO was greeted by smaller traders who announced plans to protest against the companyin more than 300 different cities for trying to kill competition from bricks-and-mortar retailers. To make matters worse, he was denied a meeting with a single top government official, after Prime Minister Narendra Modiand his ministers

reportedly snubbed him. Traders staged a demonstration demanding the closure of online shopping platforms Amazon and Flipkart in New Delhi on January 15. Midway through the trip, India’s Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal alleged that Amazon was indulging in “predatory prices or some unfair trade practices” and that it “it is not as if they are doing a favour to India when they invest a billion dollars” if that money is used to take business away from Indian companies. Bezos’ trip might have concluded, but the dust it kicked up is yet to settle: his company is under investigation and the Indian government appears increasingly hostile. But why is New Delhi taking such a confrontational approach to the retail giant at a time when the country’s economy could use all the help it can get? The answer lies in a curious mix of opaque workings, improper business dealings and political resistance.

India’s budget likely to raise spending to revive economic growth Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government is expected to raise spending on infrastructure and cut some personal tax in its 2020/2021 budget, to spur consumer demand and investment, government sources and economists said. India is facing its worst economic slowdown in a decade. Growth slipped to 4.5% in the July-September quarter, worsening the job prospects for millions of youth entering the workforce each year. Despite cuts in corporate taxes and monetary easing by the central bank, investments have failed to pick up, adding to Modi’s worries as he tries to quell

public protests over a new citizenship law. Economists and investors say fiscal stimulus in the budget for the year beginning April 1 and an increase in spending on roads, railways and rural welfare could revive growth. The budget will be delivered to parliament on Saturday. A weak economy and the wave of antigovernment protests have increased the chances of a fiscal stimulus in the budget, said Shilan Shah, an economist at Capital Economics in Singapore. “That would provide a small boost to growth over the coming quarters, at the cost of putting upward pressure on bond yields,” he said

No compromise on terror, says new foreign secretary Shringla New Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said his priorities in office would be to build synergies with major powers, connectivity with neighbours and an uncompromising standing on terrorism with Taking office after the retirement of Vijay Gokhale, whom he mentioned as a senior he looked up to besides External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Shringla said he was looking forward to working with India’s numerous partners in the international system to enhance developmental and economic linkages. India, he said, was also looking at

sharing an undifferentiated and unambiguous approach to terrorism and the threat it poses to free societies besides sustaining the gains of a rulesbased multilateral order. India has been urging other countries to sign on a pending convention in the UN against international terrorism that seeks to outlaw, without any distinction, state support to any militant organisation and Shringla’s observations indicate that the Indian endeavour in this regard will continue to be pursued. The Foreign Secretary’s reference to “rule-based multilateral order’’ indicates India’s backing of UN and WTO norms to govern international behaviour.

Police release photos of 70 people involved in anti-CAA protests near Jamia Millia Islamia university in Delhi Delhi Police released photos of 70 people who were involved in violence during the antiCAA protests near Jamia Millia Islamia here last month, officials said. The university had turned into a battlefield on December 15 last year when police entered the campus and used force against students following the violent protest. According to police, two cases were registered in connection with the violence during a protest

against the amended Citizenship Act near the university campus.One case was registered at Jamia Nagar police station under IPC sections for rioting, obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions and assault or criminal force to deter public servant from his duty while another case was registered at New Friends Colony police station under IPC sections for rioting, arson, unlawful assembly and damage to public property.

TVS motors chief Venu Srinivasan wants 10% GST rate cut TVS Motor Company has announced its foray into electric vehicles with the launch of scooter iQube Electric. The scooter can travel up to 75 kilometres in a single charge, reach a top speed of 78 km per hour, and comes equipped with a home charging system. The scooter, which was launched in Bengaluru last week, costs 1.15 lakhs. The company plans to take it to Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai, Mumbai and Pune in phases. TVS has a capacity of making 1,000 electric scooters each month. Srinivasan said that the company has tried to give customers a connected vehicle

which can replace their smartphone. The scooter has been equipped with the TVS SmartXonnect platform and its features include geo-fencing, incoming call and SMS alerts, charge status and navigation assist. Another official said that the company has tried to make an iPhone on wheels. Company officials said that TVS is focused on gaining experience and feedback on electric vehicles and may launch an electric three wheeler in a year’s time. Srinivasan said he expects prices of electric vehicles to come down in five years

BJP recommends tax tweaks to attract foreign investors Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party has recommended adjusting rules on taxing equity market returns in the upcoming budget on Feb. 1, which if accepted, could attract more capital inflows into the stock markets, a senior party leader said. Financial market participants have been lobbying for scrapping long term capital gains tax (LTCG) on investment in equity or equity-oriented funds or extending the holding period from the current one year to two years with nil tax. India charges 15% short-term capital gains tax if equity shares are sold within a year and at 10% if sold after a year. Another demand has been for an amendment to dividend distribution tax (DDT) rules. In pre-budget consultations with the finance

minister and the prime minister’s office, Bharatiya Janata Party leaders have urged the government to consider industry demands and listed measures to revive investments, Gopal Krishna Agarwal, economic affairs spokesman of BJP, told Reuters in an interview. “There is a concern on LTCG and DDT...as a lot of financial transactions are moving out of the country to Singapore, Hong Kong and London,” Agarwal said. The long-term capital gain tax of 10% on the sale of equity shares was re-introduced in 2018 by former finance minister Arun Jaitley after a gap of 14 years, much to the disappointment of market participants and has been a major hindrance to foreign investment.

PUNJAB

Saturday, February 1, 2020

Akali Dal to support BJP in Delhi elections Days after deciding not to contest the upcoming Delhi elections, Akali Dal said it would support BJP candidates in the polls. Of the total 1.46 crore voters in the National Capital, an estimated 12 lakh are Sikhs. BJP president JP Nadda met SAD chief Sukhbir Badal to iron out the recent differences in the long-standing alliance. The Akali Dal had opted out of the poll fray citing differences with the BJP over exclusion of Muslims from getting citizenship under the Citizenship Amendment Act. The SAD was asking for four seats — Rajouri Garden, Hari Nagar, Shahdara

and Kalkaji — of the total 70 in the Delhi Assembly. Since then, the Akali Dal had not come out in support of BJP candidates. With today’s announcement, SAD supporters will work with BJP at the grass-roots. In Delhi, the Sikhs form a vocal and moneyed base in the National Capital. The community has some 350 Singh Sabhas (local congregations), a majority of which vote as per community voice. The cash-rich Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) headed by Manjinder Singh Sirsa is dominated by the Akali Dal.

Police commissioner orders crackdown on modified two-wheelers As the Ludhiana police was going slow against jugaru (modified two-wheelers with cart fitted behind) in the ongoing month, Police Commissioner (CP) Rakesh Agrawal issued fresh orders and asked cops to take action such illegal vehicles. In fresh orders issued, the CP stated that people modified vehicles wherein one part of a bike was fitted with a cart, which was also known as ‘Peter Rehras’. These vehicles often caused traffic jams on road and were the reason behind several road mishaps, the CP added. In December last year, the police had impounded over 150 ‘Peter Rehras’ during a crackdown launched by all police stations in the city. The CP had then strictly told the police station heads to seize all such illegal vehicles, which cannot be plied on road as per the Motor Vehicle Act. In his fresh orders, the CP stated: “Whenever ‘Peter Rehras’ are involved in road mishaps or become cause of accidents, the police find it hard to trace such vehicles.” As per the orders, if anyone is found plying

Over 70% calls to women helpline made by men Of the 10,786 calls received by Women Helpline-181 in Haryana in 12 months, men dialled up more while the relevant calls from women in distress were just 1,216 (11.3%). “About 70-80% calls were by men. The calls were either regarding CM Window, price hike, Swachh Bharat and government schemes while 2,057 calls (19.1%) were wrong numbers,” said helpline manager Preeti Phogat. The relevant calls comprised complaints related to domestic violence, dowry, sexual assault, rape, stalking, abuse, fear of honour killing, human trafficking, kidnapping and theft. From December 3, 2018, to November 30, 2019, there were 1,137 calls (10.5%) related to CM Window complaints alone while 998 (9.3%) were queries related to Kishori Shakti Yojana, Ladli, Indira Gandhi Matritva Yojana and education loan. Men have called up to complain about wife desertion in 76 instances and matrimonial disputes in 41 cases. “We don’t engage aggrieved men at all as it is a helpline for women. We don’t intervene in wife desertion cases. But we have suggested legal recourse to persistent callers in some cases,” said Priya, one of the four call respondents of the helpline. “However, there are instances where men call on behalf of either their aggrieved wives or daughters. In such cases, we make them give the phone to the victims,” she said. There have been instances when men have even abused women call respondents. “In two cases, we have filed police complaints too,” said Phogat. “There are cases where we can do little, for instance, if a girlfriend has stopped talking or a wife is calling up to request her husband to unblock her number.

such vehicle, apart from impounding the vehicle, an FIR will also be registered against its owner. Notably, in December last year when the police acted against ‘Peter Rehras’ most people, who were using such vehicles, had replaced motorcycles attached to rehris (hand-drawn carts) with bicycles.

Congress MPs ask Punjab Chief Minister to review PPAs, rein in transport & sand mafias Joining the chorus on faulty power purchase agreements (PPAs) signed during SAD-BJP’s govt, PPCC chief Sunil Jakhar and party MPs Partap Bajwa, Manish Tewari, Gurjeet Aujla and Shamsher Singh Dullo stressed upon the need to renegotiate the agreements to bring down the power tariff. They asked Chief Minister Amarinder Singh to bring a “white paper” on the issue and take action against the officials who were instrumental in drafting the pacts. Bajwa and Jakhar also sought an explanation from the officials concerned regarding the adverse verdict in the case where private companies had demanded coal washing charges even as the state had “won the case in subordinate courts”. In an apparent reference to the office of Advocate General, Jakhar and Bajwa sought replacement of the lawyers in light of the adverse apex court judgment in coal washing charge case. Tewari, however, spoke in favour of the AG office. The matter came up during a meeting

convened by the Chief Minister to discuss budget proposals for the next fiscal and nearly 34 issues pending with the Centre. For a change, the ongoing war of words between Capt Amarinder and Bajwa was not visible in the meeting that saw discussion on various state issues, followed by lunch hosted by the CM. Six Lok Sabha MPs Dr Amar Singh, Jasbir Singh Gill, Chaudhary Santokh Singh, Preneet Kaur, Manish Tewari, Gurjeet Singh Aujla and Mohd Sadiq and two Rajya Sabha MPs Partap Singh Bajwa and Shamsher Singh Dullo attended the meeting. Though invited, MPs from other parties did not turn up. Jakhar, Bajwa and Tewari questioned the government on rampant illegal sand mining in the state. As Bajwa and Jakhar sought a reply over the unabated mining, Tewari raised the question of ongoing sand mining without environmental clearance. He said it was not only causing loss to the state exchequer, but also harming the environment.

INDIA

Saturday, February 1, 2020

Bidders must absorb $3.3 Billion debt to buy Air India India further reduced -- to $3.3 billion -- the amount of debt bidders for Air India Ltd. will need to absorb and eased some eligibility requirements, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi tries once again to sell the national carrier. Expressions of interest are invited by March 17, according to preliminary terms published Monday. The entire company will be sold but effective control needs to stay with Indian nationals, and bidders would need to accept a little more than a third of Air India’s debt -- down from twothirds the last time around when not a single suitor could be found. “This is a clean exit by the government and the entire non-aircraft related debt has been taken out of the balance sheet,” said Kapil Kaul, chief executive officer for South Asia at the

Sydney-based CAPA-Centre for Aviation. “We expect significant response as the offer structured by the government of India is very attractive.” Air India, which started in 1932 as a mail carrier before winning commercial popularity, saw its fortunes fade with the emergence of cutthroat low-cost competition. The state-run airline has been unprofitable for over a decade and is saddled with more than $8 billion in debt. Other terms of the offer Bidders to accept 232 billion rupees ($3.3 billion) of Air India’s total 600 billion rupees debt; compared with 333 billion rupees when a sale attempt was made in 2018 Minimum net worth of bidders lowered to 35 billion rupees from 50 billion.

Call centres in India face US lawsuit The calls facilitated by the defendants falsely threatened victims with government actions, including termination of social security benefits, imminent arrest for alleged tax fraud and deportation for supposed failure to fill out immigration forms correctly. Each of these claims is a lie, designed to scare the call recipient into paying large sums of money, the justice department said The US has filed lawsuits against five companies and three individuals allegedly responsible for making hundreds of millions of fake robocalls to American consumers from abroad, mostly from India, and causing massive financial losses to the elderly and the vulnerable. Seeking a restraining order against such call centers and robocalls, the Department of Justice in its class action lawsuit alleged that the companies were warned many times not

to place fraudulent robocalls — including government and business-imposter calls — yet they continued to do so and facilitated foreign-based fraud schemes targeting Americans.“The calls, most of which originated in India, led to massive financial losses to elderly and vulnerable victims across the nation,” it said on Tuesday. One case has been filed against Ecommerce National LLC d/b/a TollFreeDeals.com; SIP Retail d/b/a sipretail.com; and their owner/operators, Nicholas Palumbo, 38, and Natasha Palumbo, 33, of Scottsdale, Arizona. The other case has been filed against Global Voicecom Inc, Global Telecommunication Services Inc, KAT Telecom Inc., aka IP Dish, and the owner/ operator Jon Kahen, 45, of Great Neck, New York.

British looted $45 trillion from India in today’s value: Jaishankar External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has asserted India suffered “humiliation” for two centuries under colonial rule and quoted a study stating that the wealth British took from India was close to $45 trillion in today’s monetary value. “India had two centuries of humiliation by the West in its predatory form it came to India in the mid-18th century. An economic study tried to estimate how much British took out of India, it ended up at a number of $45 trillion in today’s value,” Jaishankar stated while delivering an address at noted think tank Atlantic Council in Washington DC on Tuesday. Jaishankar also called for managing Indo-US divergences over India’s approaches to Iran and Russia. “... the task before us, if we are to move in this direction is, one of course, to strengthen our convergences and there are issues today, very obvious issues to work together, issues like counter-terrorism, issues like maritime security, issues like connectivity. But there will also be divergences and I think part of the challenge would be to manage those. Lot of those would arise in third country situations like Russia or Iran.” During his address, Jaishankar shed new light on the constantly evolving and dynamic relationship between India, greater South Asia, and the Western world. The growth of Indian economic influence and emerging multi-polarity of the global economic system underscore a new balance in which

“the West needs India, but India also needs the West.” Earlier, in his opening remarks, Jaishankar asserted that a new, more positive and mutually beneficial compact is forming between what he terms “New India” and the Western world. He argued that a “global rebalancing” of political and economic power is underway, and that Western countries should recognize and accept the growing influence of developing countries such as India. He pointed to the growing importance of the G-20 instead of G-7 meetings is evidence of this broader structural change in global geopolitics and of the rapid emergence of a multipolar geopolitical order. Dr. Irfan Nooruddin, director of the South Asia Center, began the moderated discussion by asking what the implications of seemingly warm relations between US President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi were for the USIndia bilateral relationship in the face of wide-ranging divergences on trade and regulatory approaches. Mark Linscott, senior non-resident Fellow at the South Asia Center, inquired about the prospect of a US-India trade agreement being finalised in the coming weeks. Ambassador Omar Samad asked about Indian participation in the Afghan peace process and how that relates to future India-PakistanAfghanistan relations.

Cabinet eases abortion law for sexual assault victims Radical changes to India’s 49-year-old abortion law are round the corner with the Union Cabinet chaired by PM Narendra Modi today approving landmark amendments to the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act 1971. The MTP Amendment Bill-2020, to be tabled in the Budget Session January 31, significantly relaxes abortion conditions for vulnerable women, including victims of sexual violence who can’t abort unwanted foetuses due to time constraints the current law imposes. Under the 1971 Act, surgical abortion of foetuses beyond 20 weeks is illegal. The amended Bill, however, allows victims of rape and incest; minors; and differently abled and other vulnerable women to abort foetuses with upper gestation age limit of 24 weeks instead of 20 weeks. In another change, the new Bill scraps the upper gestation age limit for abortion in cases of abnormal foetuses that

are incompatible with life and pose a risk to the mother. The amendment Bill says: “Upper gestation limit will not to apply in cases of substantial foetal abnormalities diagnosed by Medical Board. The composition, functions and other details of Medical Board will be prescribed subsequently in Rules under the Act. Also name and other particulars of a woman whose pregnancy has been terminated shall not be revealed except to a person authorises in any law for the time being in force.” The Health Ministry said the relaxation from 20 to 24 weeks was being made for special categories of women to be defined in the amendments to MTP Rules and would include vulnerable women such as survivors of rape, victims of incest, differently-abled women and minors.

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FIJI

Saturday, February 1, 2020

Fiji working to establish a full-time quarantine facility for any individuals suspected of carrying the coronavirus Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama says they are working to establish a full-time quarantine facility in Fiji for any individuals suspected of carrying the Novel Coronavirus. Bainimarama says there are no cases of coronavirus in Fiji. He says Fiji has continued its strengthened

screening at all Asian ports of entry adding that every passenger travelling to Fiji from Hong Kong and Singapore is being met by health officers who are checking health declaration forms. He says these passengers are also being required to undergo thermal screening prior to boarding.

All at-risk travellers on Fiji Airways required to undergo thermal screening prior to boarding - Dr. Waqainabete Minister for Health, Doctor Ifereimi Waqainabete confirms that as part of our state of preparedness for Coronavirus, Fiji Airways is also identifying all at-risk travellers checking-in at overseas airports and these travellers will be required to undergo thermal screenings prior to boarding. Fijivillage News has received

confirmation that thermal screenings are now underway for Fiji Airways passengers boarding flights from Hong Kong, Singapore and Japan. All passengers are also being met by health officers who have reviewed their health declarations and determined if they have recently travelled to the Hubei Province.

State intends to file formal application to consolidate charges against Lateef and Moore State has today advised the Suva Magistrates Court that they intend to file a formal application to consolidate all charges against former Suva Lawyer, Shazran Abdul Lateef and Zoe Maharaj Moore. There are six cases against Lateef where all charges relate to possession of illicit drug which include marijuana, methamphetamine and cocaine and possession of apparatus alleged to be used for smoking as well as

breaching bail conditions. Moore is charged with Lateef in one case where they are both charged with one count each of being found in possession of 7.89 grams of methamphetamine, one count each of being found in possession of 12.49 grams of cocaine and one count each of being found in possession of 2.5 grams of marijuana. Chief Magistrate, Usaia Ratuvili has extended their bail.

4 men from Fiji appear in court in Australia for being part of gang rape Four men with links to Fiji have appeared in the ACT Magistrates Court in Australia for allegedly being part of gang rape in Canberra. It is alleged that Josefa Masivesi, Saimoni Vunilagi, Isimeli Vatanitawake and Ratu Jone Pio Macanawai raped a woman who they met at Mooseheads nightclub. Police say the woman feared that she would be killed or knocked unconscious if she did not let the men attack her. The repeated assaults allegedly took place over a period of more than four hours. The court was told that Masivesi, Vunilagi, Vatanitawake and Macanawai were together at Mooseheads nightclub in Canberra at about 4.30am on November 3rd last year when the woman started speaking to Masivesi. According to documents submitted in court, the woman was drunk, and hugged Vunilagi, Vatanitawake and Macanawai who kissed her

before she turned away. A few minutes later, she kissed Macanawai but held her dress down as he allegedly tried to pull it up. The court was told that the men left Mooseheads nightclub at about 5am after Vunilagi was escorted out by security guards. The woman joined all the men in a taxi after Vunilagi is alleged to have held her wrist. When the group arrived at Masivesiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s house, Masivesi, Vunilagi, Vatanitawake and Macanawai allegedly assaulted and raped the woman. The court documents said the woman decided she would sooner go through it and get out alive. The court was told that music was turned up in the houseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lounge room to cover the sound. According to the documents, the woman had asked Vunilagi, how would he feel if it was his own sisters or his own daughters. She eventually escaped the house and reported the incident to police the same day.

30 retired teachers to be called back to become counselors Minister for Education, Rosy Akbar says they will soon hire 30 retired teachers as counselors who will work with the National Substance Abuse Advisory Council. While speaking at the Prefects Investiture Ceremony at Nasinu Muslims College, Akbar says these counselors will be working to address issues such as drug abuse, bullying,

harassment and teenage pregnancy. Akbar says they will be sending out Expressions of Interest soon. The Minister adds that they need the experience of these teachers. Meanwhile, 101 students have been selected as student leaders for Nasinu Muslim College.

Man who is alleged to have raped a 15-year-old girl granted bail by Justice Riyaz Hamza A 49-year old man who is alleged to have raped a 15-year-old girl in Koro Island has been granted bail by Suva High Court Judge, Justice Riyaz Hamza. The court has ordered for the man to reside in Nausori. The alleged incident happened on the 26th of June last year. It is alleged the girl had

gone to the manâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s house to borrow a mobile phone so that she could call her grandmother. It is alleged that when the girl was talking on the phone, the man asked her to have sex with him and when she refused the man allegedly raped her. The case will be called again on the 2nd of March.

PAKISTAN

Saturday, February 1, 2020

When nurses at the hospital looked like fairies ‘hoors’ to Imran Khan Prime Minister Khan said that nurses at a Lahore hospital, where he was admitted after injuries at stage during election rally in Lahore, looked like ‘hoors’ after doctor

gave him injection that eased pain. Prime Minister Khan was speaking at fundraising event for Shaukat Khanum Cancer Hospital in Karachi when he spoke

NRI Panel calls for cut in salary cap for skilled worker visas to UK An independent expert panel, tasked by the UK Government to assess how a postBrexit immigration system would work, on Tuesday called for a drop in the salary cap imposed on professionals, a majority of them from India, applying for a skilled worker visa. The Migration Advisory Committee called for the current salary threshold of 30,000 pounds on such workers, a large chunk of whom are Indians, to be cut down to 25,600 pounds to bring it in line

with pay levels in specific occupations. “Indian nationals account for 39 per cent alone, with Australia and the United States both accounting for 9 per cent each, Pakistan 7 per cent and South Africa, Nigeria and New Zealand 5 per cent each,” notes the committee report, in reference to workers accessing the Tier 1 (General) high-skilled category of UK visas so far. “The ambition behind programmes like the HSMP (now-defunct highly-skilled migrant programme) is often to recruit

Supreme Court allows Trump plan to deny green cards to those who may need government aid The Supreme Court issued an order Monday allowing the Trump administration to begin enforcing new limits on immigrants who are considered likely to become overly dependent on government benefit programs. The court voted 5-4. Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan said they would have left a lower court ruling

in place that blocked enforcement while a legal challenge works its way through the courts. The Department of Homeland Security announced in August that it would expand the definition of “public charge,” to be applied to people whose immigration to the United States could be denied because of a concern that they would primarily depend on the government for their income.

Body of missing student found in lake on US campus A University of Notre Dame student who was missing since Tuesday was found dead on Friday. Annrose Jerry, 21, had not been seen since 8:45 p.m. Tuesday at Coleman-Morse Hall on the South Bend, Indiana, campus, which is about 150 miles north of Indianapolis, according to a statement from the university. Her body was found in Saint Mary’s Lake around 11:15 a.m. St. Joseph County Coroner Michael J. McGann made a positive identification at the scene, the university said. There were no apparent signs of trauma. The Notre Dame Police Department is seeking the public’s assistance in finding Annrose Jerry who was last seen Jan. 21, 2020. The Notre Dame Police Department is seeking the public’s assistance in finding

Annrose Jerry who was last seen Jan. 21, 2020.Notre Dame Police Department “We’re deeply saddened by the passing of Annrose,” said Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., president of the University of Notre Dame. “We will keep her and her family and friends in our prayers.” University police issued a Silver Alert for her Thursday evening, saying they believed she was “in extreme danger and may require medical assistance.” The Notre Dame Police Department is seeking the public’s assistance in finding Annrose Jerry who was last seen Jan. 21, 2020.Notre Dame Police Department She was a senior and lived on campus, the university said. The University Counseling Center and Campus Ministry are available to offer their support to students and faculty.

about his fall from stage during election rally in Lahore, seven years ago. “It was such an injection that the pain went away entirely,” he said. “My whole world changed. I started seeing the nurses there as hoors,” he said on Tuesday. The Prime Minister said he felt so better after the injection that he even made a speech on TV which he couldn’t remember later. However, he said

that when the injection’s medicine faded, he started to feel the pain again, according to media reports. “I pressed him (Dr Asim) so much. I told him to give me the injection again, for God’s sake,” said the Prime Minister. “I even threatened him by saying I will deal with you later. Give me the injection, however, the doctor refused.” Imran appreciated the doctor’s efforts for saving his life.

Hindu temple vandalised in Sindh A temple near Thar’s Chhachro town was vandalised by a group of men, following which an FIR was registered against four on Monday, a media report said. A Dawn report said unidentified men vandalised Mata Deval Bhittani temple and desecreated the idols installed there on Sunday night.

Chhachro SHO Hussain Bux Rajar said the police were looking for the culprits. Advocate Veerji Kolhi, special assistant to the Sindh chief minister on human rights, said the miscreants wanted to disturb communal peace in the area. The culprits would be taken to task, he added.

Court sentences 2 JuD members in terror financing case An anti-terrorism court in Pakistan on Monday sentenced two members of the outlawed Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD) to 15 days in jail in terror financing case. “The Anti-Terrorism Court Lahore convicted JuD members — Haji Iqbal and Muhammad Haris — in terror financing case registered by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA),” court official said. The court sentenced them to “15 days in jail and imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 on each of them”, the official added. The FIA’s Counter Terrorism Wing had arrested both

JuD members during the crackdown on the banned outfits in connection with the Pakistan government’s commitment towards the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). They were booked under relevant provisions of the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997. “The ATC announced the verdict against both JuD activists after the FIA prosecution witnesses recorded their statements and evidence was produced against the suspects,” the official said.

Political leader critical of Army arrested for sedition Manzoor Pashteen, chief of Pashtun Tahaffuz [Protection] Movement, arrested in Peshawar in latest crackdown by govt. Pashteen, along with nine others sent on judicial remand over sedition charges in an FIR (First Information Report) filed in January in Dera Ismail Khan. KPK has seen rise ofe PTM over past two years, after the movement emanated in the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), which was

merged with KPK. The movement was sparked by the killing of Pashtun youth Naqeebullah Mehsud in a staged gun battle in Karachi in January 2018. The demonstrations to demand justice for Mehsud evolved into a list of demands for the Pashtuns in the former FATA, including curtailing extrajudicial killings, locating missing persons, and clearing the area of landmines.

6 of a family shot dead in ‘honour’ killing Six members of a family, including two women and one child, were gunned down in their sleep in Sindh province, police said. Father and relatives of girl, Nasreen Brohi, belonging to the Brohi tribe, entered the house of Murtaza Rind in night and opened fire on the sleeping family, killing him and five others. Rind’s wife Nasreen Brohi, who had contracted a free will marriage, managed to escape the massacre in the dark, they said. Those killed included Rind’s two brothers, two sisters

and a child. “She (Nasreen) is now in police protection and the search is on for her father Rafiq Brohi and his brothers who are suspected to have carried out the killings in the name of honour,” the police said. Nasreen said that she had eloped with Rind since 2018. She returned home after her husband paid Rs 1.2 million to her father as fine. Her family then sold her off to the Jatoi tribe from where she escaped and reach her husband’s home.

Saturday, February 1, 2020

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Saturday, February 1, 2020