www.theasianstar.com Vol 15 Issue 10 Saturday, April 9, 2016
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www.theasianstar.com Vol 15
Issue 10 Saturday, April 9, 2016
Tel: 604-591-5423
Mercedes-Benz S400 launched at Rs 1.31 crore
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Words of wisdom with Dr. Rajwant Singh Chilana
Flying Sikh Milkha Singh in Surrey
Soccer coach sentenced to 7 years for luring ‘girl’
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Surrey soccer coach who thought he was travelling to the U.S. to have sex with a 12-year-old girl has been sentenced to seven years in jail. Kuldip (Kelly) Mahal, 47, was arrested in February 2015 in Burlington, Wash., where he was expecting to meet a young girl who he believed he had enticed into having sexual contact with him. In fact, Mahal had been sending sexually explicit messages and photos to an undercover agent with U.S. Immigration and Customs
Enforcement. At Mahal’s sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Robert Lasnik said: “We have so many child victims, and if we can stop abuse of real children by doing these sting operations, then it is a good use of government resources.” Three weeks before his arrest, Mahal had responded to a Vancouver Craigslist ad titled: “Crazy and very young, Continued on page 9
President of Newton-Surrey Rotary Club Sarabjit Romana (left) with legendary Olympic runner Milkha Singh in Surrey. See story on page 6
Surrey Mayor & Councilors show their ineptness in dealing with shootings
S Mayor Hepner ‘angry’ Umendra Singh
ing place mainly in North Surrey? As Mayor urrey Mayor Linda Hepner is anHepner said when gry. Premier Christie Clark says it Surrey was plagued is “sad and frightening”. Opposiwith another round tion NDP MLA Bruce Ralston wants Surof gang violence and rey RCMP to look at Abbotsford’s example. shootings shortly after And the gangsters don’t give a hoot to she put on the Mayor these fast talking politicians. And to show chain “I am not the their disdain and lack of fear of the poliSherriff.” Yeah, she can ticians and RCMP, the gangsters shot up deal with rezoning apthe Newton Community Police Station. plications and cutting There RCMP!! You can’t do anydown dozens of trees to build houses to make thing to protect residents of Surrey and developers wealthy! What does she know now you can’t even protect yourselves. about everyday fear of ordinary citizens?? There have been 33 shootings all over Surrey in past few weeks – and neither the provincial government nor the useless Mayor and Council of Surrey have been able to do anything. And you can’t really blame Mayor Hepner and her Surrey First Councilors. They are on the Council to represent the interests of land developers and the wealthy living in South Surrey – so how can they be expected to deal with shootings, which are mainly takRCMP investigating third shooting in 3 days Continued on page 4
about recent violence in ot ves RC he ti M r s ga P ho te ot an in g
ce g n in le
iov n Gu omc be , d a s “
HAPPY VAISAKHI
Huge paycheque for Vancouver city councillors
V
ancouver city council is set to amend by-laws that will allow for generous pay increases and one time payments for council and park board members. Vancouver city councillors vote themselves a 12.6 % pay raise The suite of changes includes close to a quarter million dollars in one-time bulk pay-outs scheduled to be distributed May 1. Councillor and acting mayor Raymond Louie will receive the largest pay-out of more than $28,000. Louie is set to collect about $16,650 for acting mayor duties performed over the last 16 months. As well, he will receive close to $9000 — the same amount that will be given to all city councillors as a 2015 salary top up — and an additional 2015 health care subsidy of $3,048. Councillors appointed acting mayor or deputy mayor receive boContinued on page 9
to all our Clients, Friends & Family
EDITORIAL
4 i Saturday, April 9, 2016
HAPPY VAISAKHI to all of you
Surrey Mayor & Councilors show their ineptness in dealing with shootings From page 1
Wish you all a very Happy Vaisakhi
HAPPY VAISAKHI
Meanwhile, Mayor Hepner claims arrests have been made in a string of more than 30 shootings which have plagued the community in recent months. However, no details were given. Hepner was joined by B.C.’s Minister of Public Safety and RCMP leaders at a news conference called on Friday to announce new measures to address the ongoing violence. “This is not just a police problem; this is a community problem,” said Public Safety Minister Mike Morris.” If you know anything that’s going on out there, you have a duty to step forward.” Hepner said she has authorized full access for the police to the city’s network of traffic cameras, which will be brought to more than 400 in coming months. Asst. RCMP Commissioner Dan Malo said RCMP will draw on resources from across the region to tackle what he said is a battle sparked by a fight over drugs. Malo said those resources would include the gang unit, monitor rooms, criminal and open source analysts, as well as increased community and educational support. He said officers would also call on increased air support as well as the force’s behavioral scientists to identify and deal with the people involved. The RCMP’s dog handling team has also been provided photographs of perpetrators and will spend their time focusing on those individuals. “We’re going to make it very uncomfortable,” Malo said. “You’re going to change your behavior, or we’re going to change it for you.”
www.theasianstar.com # 202 - 7028, 120th Street, Surrey, BC V3W 3M8 Ph: 604-591-5423 Fax: 604-591-8615 E-mail: editor@theasianstar.com Editor: Umendra Singh Associate Editor: Shruti Prakash Joshi Marketing and Sales: Ravinder S. Cheema..604-715-3847 Shamir Doshi..............604-649-7827 Harminder Kaur..........778-708-0481 Parminder Dhillon.......778-859-9234 Pre-Press: Iftikhar Ahmed Contributing writers: Akash Sablok, Kamila Singh, Jay Bains Photographer: Chandra Bodalia Publication Mail Agreement No 428336012 Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to Circulation Dept.
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to all our Clients, Friends & Family
Saturday, April 9, 2016
Happy Vaisakhi
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6 i Saturday, April 9, 2016
Wish you all a very Happy Vaisakhi
Local
Legendary Milkha Singh in Surrey
Legendary Olympic runner, Flying Sikh Mikha Singh (third from right) had a brief visit to the Asian Star offices in Surrey on Firday. Pictured above (from right) Shamir Doshi, Jasbir Romana of Radio Shar-e-Punjab, Umendra Singh, Milkha Singh, Ravinder S. Cheema and Iftkhar Ahmed. Umendra Singh a Commonwealth Games until Vikas Gowda egendary Olympic runner, Flying Sikh won the discus gold medal at the 2014 ComMikha Singh, is in Surrey this week- monwealth Games. He also won gold medals end. He is here to attend a fundraiser in the 1958 and 1962 Asian Games. He reporganized by the Surrey Newton Rotary resented India in the 1956 Summer Olympics Club in Surrey tonight (Saturday). In an ex- in Melbourne, the 1960 Summer Olympics clusive interview with The Asian Star, Singh in Rome and the 1964 Summer Olympics said this is his first visit to Canada and he is in Tokyo. He was awarded the Padma Shri, very happy to be here. “This is such a beau- India’s fourth-highest civilian honour, in tiful place – Surrey and Vancouver,� he said recognition of his sporting achievements. while being accompanied by Sarabjit Ro- The race for which Singh is best remembered mana, the president of the Surrey New ton is his fourth-place finish in the 400 metres Rotary Club. “I am here because of their in- final at the 1960 Olympic Games, which he vitation and Iam happy to be here,� he said. had entered as one of the favourites. He led Singh also met with The Asian star staff. the race till the 200m mark before easing off, He will be visiting the track at Surrey’s Bear allowing others to pass him. Various records Creek Park this weekend to check it out. De- were broken in the race, which required a phospite his age, Singh still looks very fit. He is to-finish and saw American Otis Davis being said to have been born sometime between declared the winner by one-hundredth of a 1925 and 1935. Singh was immortalized in second over German Carl Kaufmann. Singh’s the 2014 Bollywood movie, “Bhaag Milka fourth-place time of 45.73 became the Indian Bhaag� Singh was introduced to track and national record and held for almost 41 years. field as a sprinter while serving in the Indian From beginnings that saw him orphaned and Army. He was the only Indian male athlete displaced during the partition of India, Singh to win an individual athletics gold medal at has become a sporting icon in his country.
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PERSON OF THE WEEK
Saturday, April 9, 2016
Words of wisdom with Dr. Rajwant Singh Chilana Chhavi Disawar “If you are passionate about something, you will achieve your goal despite of any challenge coming along.” Dr. Rajwant Singh Chilana is an example who has proved this statement to be true. Based out of Jaipur in India, Rajwant is a post-graduate in Zoology. He has done research work in fisheries as well. Out of mere curiosity, he shifted his field to Library & Information Science and after completing his post-graduation in the same, he did PhD from the University of Rajasthan. Rajwant joined Delhi University as a librarian. After serving as a librarian for twoyears, he became an Assistant Professor in Library Information Science department and worked there for around 16-years. In 1991, he immigrated to Vancouver (Canada). Sharing his memoirs of initial days in Canada, Rajwant told The Asian Star that he joined Fraser Valley Regional Library as Library Manager, and then worked for three years at the University of British Columbia Dr. Chilana was offered the position of Professorship at the University of Illinois, Chicago where he served as a Professor for 10-years. “I was offered promotion by the University of Illinois and it was a great opportunity for me. I bagged it and enjoyed being there”, told Rajwant. Talking about his reason to leave Chicago Rajwant adds, “My wife and children were in Vancouver, Canada, and it was very difficult for me and my family to be apart so I decided to take early retirement and come back.” Keeping his love for books and libraries alive, Rajwant started his own book store in Surrey with the name of India Bookworld that provides books on several topics in various languages. “We primarily supply these books to libraries in the city but to our surprise there are so many people who come to our store and like purchasing books in this time as well when information technology has taken over the print world”, told Dr. Chilana. Talking about India Bookworld, it is a one stop shop for any book addict to find books on his/ her favorite topic in any language. From literature to film studies, from astrology to yoga, all kinds of books can be purchased here. Also the area has a separate space for children books where a special reading zone is created so that any child can sit there and read. Talking about the idea of this store, Rajwant said,” While working in library, I realised that there was a need of a bookstore where one can find books in various languages. Even now, India Bookworld is the only store where you can get books ranging from English, Punjabi, Hindi, Urdu, Gujarati, Marathi, and Bengali to other popular languages.” As of the book supply is concerned, Rajwant supplies books to the libraries throughout the country and even to USA. According to Rajwant, there is a huge need for generating awareness about libraries amongst our South Asian Community. “If we look at the numbers there are 10,000 Chinese people and 1, 25,000 South Asians in Surrey but the circulation of our books is less than that of ours. There are so many books in Indian languages in Public Libraries but there are not much people who take interest in reading them.” In this era of electronic media, Rajwant’s love and passion for books is tremendous and he believes that no matter how vast the technology grows, books will always have their special place. Praising the Public Library System in Canada he said that “Without any fee, you can get so much knowledge around different subjects that too without involving any money and in so many languages.” He emphasised that people should become members to this library facilities and take full advantage of the system. Apart from having a collection of various books on numerous subjects, Rajwant promotes the local authors too. “We should be proud that there are so many young Indians in the community who are creating their own novels, short stories and poems books and are liked by readers throughout
Canada. Some of these books come in bilingual languages as well. Alone in Surrey, there are around 100 Indian authors”, added Rajwant. Rajwant has created a 400-page directory related to South Asian Writers in Canada, and also a 250-page directory related to South Asian Media in Canada. Dr. Chilana has authored other eight books that are available in various libraries around the globe. Rjawant has been honored with many international awards and fellowships for his significant contributions to information science and promoting books in Indian languages. The kind of work that Rajwant is doing for the community is worth appreciating and we wish him all the luck in his initiative. For details and queries on your favorite book, please contact his at Phone: (604)-593-5967, (604)-595-2923, or E-mail: info@indiabookworld. ca, and visit website: http://indiabookworld.ca
Dr. Rajwant Singh Chilana
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Happy Vaisakhi To all our valued customers, from
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Saturday, April 9, 2016
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Family and friends of the late Jack Uppal holding the street sign in his name last Tuesday at the Vancouver City Hall after Council formarlly agreed to name a street in honor of Uppal. Photo: Chandra Bodalia
Huge paycheque for Vancouver city councillors
From page 1
nus pay in recognition of increased workload and responsibilities. The new scheme — which includes hiring two new positions to help councillors — will
increase ongoing costs to the city by another half million dollars annually. Council approved the suite of one-time payments, pay raises and discretionary fund increases Feb. 24. The by-law amendments go before council today.
Happy Vaisakhi to all of you
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Open a CST RESP today! Surjit S. Madhopuri Branch Manager C.S.T. Consultants Inc. Branch 888 (604) 377- 4171 / (604) 594 - 7200 surjit.madhopuri@cstresp.com http://www.cstresp.com/6117 1 The Canada Education Savings Grant matches 20% of the first $2,500 you contribute to your child’s RESP each year up to a lifetime maximum of $7,200. BC Training and Education Savings Grant (BCTESG) is a one-time $1,200 grant available to BC resident children born on or after January 1st, 2007. Children are eligible for the BCTESG on their sixth birthday. You have until the day before your child’s ninth birthday to apply for the BCTESG. Conditions apply. The CST Plan is only sold by Prospectus. You can get copies of the prospectus from www.cst.org or by calling 1.877.333.RESP(7377).
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10 i Saturday, April 9, 2016
HAPPY VAISAKHI TO ALL OF YOU
5-time Grammy nominated sitarist takes on the refugee crisis with her new album
Anoushka Shankar on stage in Vancouver
Renowned sitarist Anoushka Shankar wason stage Friday night at Vancouver’s Chan Centre to perform from her new album, ‘Land of Gold’. The album, which she describes as her strongest to date, is dedicated to the plight of refugees worldwide. “What I was seeing was what I was writing about,” said Shankar Friday during an interview The daughter of the late sitar virtuoso and composer Ravi Shankar says every song on the album was influenced by the heartbreak she felt from the crisis. “Every song is about some aspect of what I was
either imagining people were going through or it was my response to what people were going through,” she said. The album features prominent female artists including M.I.A., Alev Lenz and actress and activist Vanessa Redgrave. Shankar takes the stage tonight with her main collaborator on the album, Manu Delago on percussion, Tom Farmer on acoustic bass and piano, and her father’s disciple, Sanjeev Shankar, on the shehnai.
Overcrowding challenges Surrey schools
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etro Vancouver’s school districts are wrestling with enrolment issues.
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In neighbourhoods where new, dense, family-friendly developments are being built, schools are bursting, while in more mature, stable neighbourhoods, schools are emptying out. In Vancouver and Richmond, the population shift means as many as 25 schools could be closed, while in places like Surrey and Coquitlam, demand is unrelenting as young families move out to the suburbs and more affordable, smaller homes. In certain Surrey neighbourhoods — where there has been significant new development — elementary schools are overflowing. One of those areas, South
Newton, includes six elementary schools that feed into Sullivan Heights secondary school. Projections by the Surrey school district show by 2021, the group of schools in the neighbourhood near 64th Avenue between 136th and 152nd streets will be short 1,431 spaces. One of those elementary schools, Woodward Hill, has both French Immersion and English students. Today, it’s two-thirds French and one-third English, a ratio that district staff would like to reverse over the next eight or nine years to make room for students living close to the school. To do that, they propose having just one French kindergarten in 2017, instead of the usual two.
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Surrey finds $4-million to make up for school budget deficit
he Surrey School District has managed to cover an expected $4-million operating budget shortfall for the upcoming school year, but officials say the district wouldn’t be short the money if it didn’t have to spend millions on portables each year. Rapid enrollment growth for more than 20 years has resulted in many schools being over-capacity, especially in the Clayton, South Newton and South Surrey neighbourhoods, leaving students learning in portable classrooms – outside regular school buildings – until extensions or new schools are funded and built. About 300 portables are currently in use at local elementary and high schools, which the district must pay about $4 million annually to run. The province provides no special funding for portables and the dollars are diverted from Surrey’s operating budget, which pays for school programs and services. “We are
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Hazelgrove Elementary School, parents walk with their children Thursday June 12, 2014. forever playing catch-up with enrollment and approximately $4 million is effectively skimmed off the top from a very tight budget every year to support our portables and this isn’t recognized in provincial funding,” said Surrey Board of Education chair Shawn Wilson.
Metro Vancouver wants regulations for Uber: poll
f ride-sharing companies like Uber and Lyft are allowed to operate in B.C., they should be required to meet the same regulations as taxis, a new Ipsos Reid poll shows. The poll, commissioned by Vancouver Taxi Association, showed a broad public expectation that drivers of ridesharing companies pass criminal records checks and that their vehicles be properly inspected, licensed and insured. The online survey of 800 people looked at 17 questions that would apply to both taxis and ride-sharing operations like Uber, which has been trying to gain access to the Vancouver market, so far without success.
In every category but one, respondents overwhelmingly indicated they want a level playing field between the two types of services. One question not asked during the survey, which was conducted March 22-28, was whether respondents preferred one service over another. Instead, the poll was formed around the concept that ridesharing will inevitably be permitted in B.C. “Assuming these kinds of services are coming, what do you want government and your municipality to do about them?” said Kyle Braid, senior vicepresident of Ipsos Reid Public Affairs. Braid said the results showed that people are concerned about safety and security in the vehicle-for-hire industry.
Wish you all a very Happy Vaisakhi
Happy Vaisakhi
Happy Vaisakhi to all of you
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NDP and Liberals spar over campaign financing reform
C’s Opposition NDP leader pledged Wednesday to overhaul political donations, but admitted his party will continue to use all the same dubious fundraising methods it has been criticizing until the law actually changes. John Horgan said all parties look bad for holding private fundraisers and soliciting donations from corporations and unions. He introduced a private member’s bill to ban big money from politics, before defending the solicitation of such donations as necessary to defeat the governing Liberal party in the 2017 provincial election. “I think the optics are terrible,” he said when asked about criticism that private fundraisers allow the wealthy to buy access to politicians. “But the rules of British Columbia are the rules.” Horgan said he
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won’t change his party’s fundraising tactics until Premier Christy Clark’s Liberals agree to do so as well. Horgan accused Clark of the “suggestion of influence peddling” by holding private fundraisers of up to $10,000 per ticket. But he was also asked by reporters what he would do if offered $50,000 from a big donor for a meeting. “I’d take the money and run an effective campaign,” he said. “Until such time as we change the rules, I’m not going to unilaterally disarm. I think it would be irresponsible to do that. I get calls from little old ladies who say, ‘Gee you keep sending me emails, John, is it really that dire?’ I say, ‘Yeah, if you can spend another $5 that would be great.’ So if someone wants to give me $50,000 so I can leave granny alone for a month, I’m going to take it.”
Langley students tackle youth homelessness in the city
group of Langley students have created a task force to fight youth homelessness. Youth homelessness worldwide often driven by poverty, not delinquency New report shows an increase in homeless deaths in B.C. “Our community is not aware of the situation,” said Jordyn Laird, one of the organizers of the task force. “You don’t normally see young people pushing shopping carts around or sleeping on park benches. The students are holding an open house Wednesday night to talk about the prob-
lem and the resources that are needed. Officials with the Langley School District estimate 150 to 200 students face homelessness, but the city has no youth shelter or beds. The closest youth shelters are in Abbotsford and Surrey. “They are unfortunately having to go to another community” said Gordon Stewart, assistant superintendent with the district. He says others are couch surfing
Wish you all a very HAPPY VAISAKHI
LOCAL
Even Surrey RCMP isn’t immune from recent gun violence
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bullet hole was found in the exterior of the RCMP’s Guildford Community Police Station at 10395 148th St. early Tuesday. Even Surrey RCMP isn’t immune from recent gun violence. A bullet hole was found in the exterior of the RCMP’s Guildford Community Police Station at 10395 148th St. early Tuesday. “This morning a maintenance worker located a hole in a window,” Cpl. Scotty Schumann said in a news release. “Police are currently examining the area and
Saturday, April 9, 2016
HAPPY VAISAKHI
have found evidence coinsistent with a bullet causing the damage. The hole is about the size of a quarter.” He said the damage does not appear recent and it is not known when this incident occurred. “There are no witnesses or suspects at this point,” Schumann said. Anyone with more information is asked to contact the Surrey RCMP at 604-599-0502. There have been at least 31 shootings in Surrey so far in 2016. Seven people have been wounded and one man killed.
Group ‘mad as hell’ over massive tent city in Victoria Irked by a crime-ridden tent city that refuses to pack up — and assailed by threats when they try to stage meetings — a new Victoria community group says the picturesque B.C. capital has been taken over by “criminals and thugs.” “It’s lawlessness in Lotusland,” said Stephen Hammond, founder of Mad As Hell, a group campaigning against a massive tent city that has been allowed to flourish next to the city’s courthouse. “What kind of city have we got in sleepy little Victoria in which all the attention is about the thieves and the thugs occupying that land — not the real homeless or real homeless issues — and there’s nothing being said or done for the taxpayers of Victoria,” he said. The group, which takes their name from a line in the 1976 movie Network — “I’m mad as hell and I’m not
going to take it anymore!” — planned to hold its inaugural meeting Thursday at Victoria’s Harbour Towers Hotel. However, the hotel’s owners cancelled, saying they had received a number of unspecified threats, and Hammond has been unable to find a replacement venue. Started last spring on provincially owned grounds next to the Victoria courthouse, the tent city now includes up to 100 people living in tents, yurts and semi-permanent shanties. Locals say the camp has become a hub for crime, with a drug overdose death late last year, at least three stabbings, and a wave of thefts, break-ins and vandalism. In response, British Columbia bought a $3.65-million building to use as a “low barrier” shelter that would admit newcomers without the normal restrictions on alcohol or drug use
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HAPPY VAISAKHI TO ALL OF YOU
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LOCAL
Guilty pleas in Surrey sex-assaults case
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The woman, who was a man charged in sex-trade worker, told connection with a the officer that she had series of sexual and been assaulted by a male physical assaults on women she had met nearby on that took place in Surrey King George Boulevard. has entered guilty pleas. Police, with assisOn Monday, which was tance from police dog supposed to be the first day services, searched the of his trial in B.C. Supreme area but were unable Court in New Westminster, to locate the suspect. court records show that Two days later, another James Henry Reddemann sex-trade worker reJames Henry Reddemann admitted to two counts ported a similar assault of sexual assault with a that had taken place about one month weapon, uttering threats and attemptearlier. She described a similar suspect. ing to choke to overcome resistance. On Oct. 20, 2014, police issued a warnA sentencing hearing has ing to sex-trade workers and appealed to been scheduled for December. the public for information. A third comOn October 12, 2014, a distraught plainant came forward following the apwoman flagged down a patrol officer in peal and the Surrey RCMP’s general inthe area of 144 Street and 64 Avenue. vestigation unit received a number of tips.
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‘Abbotsforward’ plan to curb urban sprawl and improve walkability
he city of Abbotsford released a proposal “We’ve had a lot of today that it says will sprawl in this commake the town more walkable munity. We want to and livable even as its populamake this a more tion continues to grow — all walkable, livable, in an effort to curb urban walking city. That’s sprawl and encourage people what the public to work in the city they live in. has told us,” said The draft plan, called ‘Ab- The proposed city plan, dubbbed ‘Abbotsforward’, Henry Braun, maybotsforward,’ includes a says 75 percent of new city growth will happen in or of Abbotsford. existing urban areas. downtown core with plenty About 65 of public spaces where people percent of Abbotsford residents work in the can meet, as well as more bicycle lanes and city they live in, according to Braun. He says sidewalks to encourage people to drive less. that’s a big change, and a good one, from The plan is meant to guide urban plan- the commuter-town Abbotsford used to be. ners on developing the city until its popu- Abbotsford mayor Henry Braun lation reaches 200,000. Abbotsford is curMayor Henry Braun says the city wants rently home to about 140,000 people. to support a larger population without enCity staff are also suggesting that 75 per cent of couraging urban sprawl. “We are trying new city growth happen in existing urban areas. to be good stewards of what we have and The mayor calls the plan is a “game changer.” try to create a city that our young people want to live in — that will attract technology type companies. We’re looking at incubator hubs and a couple of other things.” The city is now looking to “gain final input from residents” on the plan before it puts the proposal to a vote from council.
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Distracted driver banned from getting behind the wheel
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woman who gained notoriety for her extensive record of distracted driving convictions across the Lower Mainland has been prohibited from operating a motor vehicle in B.C. Richmond RCMP tweeted an update Tuesday afternoon, sharing the news that the driver had been taken off the road this week. Richmond RCMP first encountered the driver in early March, when she was pulled over for nearly colliding with a police cruiser. The officer who checked the driver’s record was shocked to find she had 12 convictions for — yes, you guessed it — distracted driving. The same driver was pulled over the following week by Vancouver police — again for distracted driving. “As a result of our interaction with the driver, a subsequent interaction with another police agency, and our concern for public safety, we forwarded a detailed report to Road Safety BC (previously known as the Superintendent of Motor Vehicles),” said Cpl. Dennis Hwang of the Richmond RCMP. “The driver in question is now prohibited from driving in B.C.” Hwang said Richmond RCMP issued 148 violation tickets for distracted driving in Richmond in March, 2015. During the same month this year, Richmond RCMP issued 347, as a result of a crackdown on distracted driving. “Distracted driving is an inherent safety risk to everyone that uses the roadways,” Hwang said. “Our message to everyone is to #LeaveYourPhoneAlone.” “One simple phone call, text message, or checking social media can mean a momentary lapse of attention — that loss of attention can have serious or lifelong repercussions,” said Hwang.
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B.C. nurses’ college warns about helping in assisted-dying cases
Saturday, April 9, 2016
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6 or later,� Johansen said. C Supreme Court ruling The college needs to allowing a terminallychange its views on the isill woman a medicallysue, Wiebe said. “I have assisted death has not opened nurses who are willing the door to participation by to help but are being told nurses, the College of Registered they could be sanctioned.� Nurses of B.C. said Monday. Health authorities also Instead, college registrar and appear to be punishing CEO Cynthia Johansen said nurses if they offer informathe ruling, which allows two tion to people seeking to nurses to help a doctor in an end their lives, Wiebe said. assisted death, applies only She cited a case of a home to two unnamed nurses. As Dr. Ellen Wiebe care nurse on Vancouver well, the ruling offers no imIsland who was suspended munity from disciplinary action should the college receive a com- with pay last week by the Vancouver Isplaint about their professional conduct. land Health Authority after she looked up Ellen Wiebe, a B.C. physician who has information for a terminally-ill woman. been outspoken about her willingness to help terminally-ill people die, said the college is intimidating nurses who want to help. On Friday, the court granted an injunction allowing for a medically-assisted death to a patient with advanced multiple sclerosis. Chief Justice Christopher Hinkson banned the identification of the patient, as well as two nurses and two pharmacists who offered to help Wiebe perform the procedure. The publication ban doesn’t include Wiebe, who became the public face of physician-assisted dying in February when she was given legal permission in Alberta to help a Calgary woman die. Johansen said the B.C. court ruling helped confirm “the courts are open to recognizing the critical role of nurses.� But she said the college has not changed its advice to nurses to seek legal advice when approached to help with a medically-assisted death. Until the federal government clarifies the role of medical practitioners around assisted dying, nurses could be exposed to liability and professional sanctions, she said. The Supreme Court of Canada has given OB BIND AR RVAR CHO OOL the Justin Trudeau government until June 6 to craft a law regulating assisted dying. “It is extremely helpful to have this current (B.C.) court order. Even if we don’t OB BIND AR RVAR CHO OOL know the two nurses involved, it provides some degree of understanding for the regulator about how things may proceed on June
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B.C. Nurses’ Union reaches tentative five-year agreement
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he B.C. Nurses’ Union has reached a tentative five-year collective agreement with the Health Employers’ of B.C. that is expected to improve working conditions across the province. BCNU president Gayle Duteil said BCNU president the proposed agreeGayle Duteil ment will improve conditions for nurses and patients. The deal still has to be ratified the more than 40,000 licensed practical nurses, registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses for discussion. Duteil said the agreement would address major issues of staffing and workload. “That’s a key factor for us because, for a long time now, we’ve been speaking out about shortages and the failure to replace and educate the necessary nurses as needed,� she said in a news release. BCNU’s governing council and bargaining committee will recommend the agreement to members before nurses vote on the package. Results will be available after May 10.
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Twenty Five Future Entrepreneurs Graduate from PICS BEST Program
wenty Five future entrepreneurs were handed out their certificates at the Business Entrepreneurial Start-up Training Programs (BEST) graduation ceremony at PICS Head Office on Thursday April 7, 2016. The ceremony was attended by MP Ken Hardie (Surrey-Port Kells), representatives from MP John Aldag (Cloverdale-Langley City) and Minister Peter Fassbender’s (Community, Sport and Cultural Development and Minister Responsible for TransLink) office; and Work BC Centre case managers. The graduates were given a certificate marking the successful completion of 10 weeks of the training phase of the BEST program and were asked to make an elevated pitch of their business to the audi-
ence. BC Minister of Jobs, Tourism, and Skills Training and Minister Responsible for Labour, Shirley Bond congratulated PICS graduates in a special video message saying skills training such as the one provided by PICS will be critical for the Province to grow in the future. PICS CEO Charan Gill urged the graduates to be steadfast in their belief. “Never give up. If you believe in your dream with sincerity, work hard and it will come true,” he said. PICS Director of Employment Programs, Satbir Cheema thanked the provincial government for providing the funding to run the BEST programs. “The entrepreneurship programs at PICS are designed specifically to align with BC’s Job Plan to keep the economy diverse and strong.
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Finance Minister disagrees with PBO report that budget was not ‘fully transparent’
F
inance Minister Bill Morneau says he disagrees with the federal budget watchdog’s analysis that the Liberals were not as transparent as they should have been with their first budget, making it more difficult for parliamentarians to scrutinize government spending. The Parliamentary Budget Office said in a report on Wednesday that the Liberal government’s fiscal plan was less transparent than those of previous governments — a surprising assessment given that a dispute over fiscal secrecy between the former budget watchdog and the Conservative government landed in court in 2013. Panama Papers: Finance Minister Bill Morneau won’t
rule out changing tax law Federal budget 2016: Highlights of Bill Morneau’s first budget “I don’t see it that way at all,” Morneau said on Thursday during an interview with CBC Radio’s Metro Morning. “We believe that we’ve given Canadians a clear and transparent understanding of the current state of Canada’s finances and putting forth in our budget the kind of measures that can make a real difference.” Bill Morneau on the Panama Papers Bill Morneau on the Panama Papers 13:43 Among the watchdog’s concerns is the Liberal government’s decision to provide detailed cost estimates for only two years of its five-year fiscal plan, as well as a $40-billion risk adjustment which the budget watchdog said is “excessive.”
More Surrey shootings
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urrey Mounties showed off a drug haul worth more than $4.5 million Friday as they revealed that shootings are on the rise again this year. Since Jan. 1, there have been 28 confirmed incidents of shots fired, with five people being injured and one killed so far. The shootings spiked in March, Supt. Manny Mann told reporters at a news conference. “Over the last few weeks the Surrey RCMP has seen an increase in shots fired calls, which is understandably causing concern for both the public and the police,” he said. “I can tell you that a majority of these incidents are targeted, which leads us to believe there is not a significant threat to public safety.” Mann said the suspects linked to the recent violence are not associated to the warring drug gangs involved in the 2015 conflict.
Judge slashes Toronto lawyer’s ‘excessive’ fee
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judge has taken the dramatic step of slashing a Toronto lawyer’s payout in a medical-malpractice lawsuit by almost $500,000 and denying the plaintiffs’ request for $1.5 million to buy a new house, saying more of the award should go to the injured child at the heart of the case. A hospital had agreed to pay $6.6 million to the family of Aaron Batalla, born severely brain damaged and needing lifelong personal care because of alleged negligence. Justice Darla Wilson’s decision this month to rewrite how that money was divvied up adds to a little-known series of such rulings across Canada, and raises questions about one of the most emotional, hard-fought areas of civil law, namely, what does a lawyer deserve for the gamble of handling a malpractice case on a contingency basis? And when should a court overrule the wishes of parents in such cases?
18 i Saturday, March 26, 2016
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Moody’s affirms British Columbia’s AAA rating and stable outlook
oody’s Investors Service has affirmed British Columbia’s Aaa credit rating and stable outlook, thanks to the province’s diverse economy and strong fiscal management, Finance Minister Michael de Jong announced today. “B.C.’s continued highest rating shows that this province is on the right path,” said de Jong. “We are controlling spending, attracting investment and diversifying markets for B.C.’s goods. Those elements will continue to bring the opportunities that create jobs and the continued economic growth that pays for health, education and social programs for British Columbians.” In affirming the Aaa-stable rating – the highest possible – Moody’s writes: “The Aaa issuer and debt ratings assigned to British Columbia reflect the diverse and relatively
strong provincial economy, track record of prudent fiscal management and a high degree of flexibility to accommodate revenue and expenditure pressures. These positive elements helped the province return to balanced budgets faster than most other Canadian provinces following the 2009 recession and the province has posted a plan of continued balanced budgets across its rating horizon.” The agency highlights British Columbia’s plan for continued balanced budgets and says B.C.’s debt affordability remains manageable. Moody’s also says that: “the large and diverse economy of British Columbia, along with a level of taxation that is at the lower end of Canadian provinces, represents an important credit positive for the Aaa rating.” While Canada typically sees over threequarters of its exports flow to the U.S., it ac-
International Society of Youth Abbotsford celebrates Vaisakhi
venkyshanky23@yahoo.com
Mark D. Evered Vice Chancellor, Jati Sidhu MP, Gian Singh Kotli, Rupinder Chahal, Kuldip Kaur Chahal Councilor, Andy Sidhu at Vaisakhi celebration at Abbotsford Banquet Hall.
Gian Singh Kotli
Abbotsford- An absorbing multi-faith Vaisakhi celebration was observed at a grand scale by the Sikh Sewa Interna-
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tional Society of Youth Abbotsford on April 6, 2016 at the prestigious Abbotsford Banquet Hall. The Keynote Speaker was Gian Singh Kotli who nicely explained that though Vaisakhi is also celebrated by other communities for various reasons but for the Sikhs it has far more great significant and revolutionary importance as it was on this day that Guru Gobind Singh created the Khalsa in 1699.
Premiers’ exclusive fundraisers violate conflict of interest rules, says Democracy Watch
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rovincial ethics commissioners need to clamp down on political fundraising events that give wealthy donors exclusive access to premiers and cabinet ministers, according to a democracy watchdog. Earlier this week, the Globe and Mail revealed that 10 people paid $10,000 each to attend a dinner with B.C. Premier Christy Clark at a recent B.C. Liberal fundraiser at the home of Simon Fraser University chancellor Anne Giardini. The Toronto Star also revealed that Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne was charging up donors up to $18,000 to attend a private cocktail reception. That’s raised concerns with Democracy Watch co-founder Duff Conacher, who says the practice is not allowed under existing conflict-of-interest rules. “Big donations made at private fundraising events where the politician is essentially selling access to themselves are a clear violation of conflict-of-interest laws that prohibit politicians across Canada from accepting gifts connected with their positions,”said Conacher. “The federal, provincial and territorial conflict-of-interest laws all have the same provision that says politicians cannot accept any gift or benefit ‘directly or indirectly’ connected to their position or ‘that might reasonably be seen to be given to influence’ them,” said Conacher. That’s why he is calling on provincial ethics commissioners across Canada to ban the practice. Only Quebec has effectively stopped these events with its ban on corporate and union donations and its $100 annual individual donation limit, according to the group. “At the federal level, and in every province and territories, politicians, the lack of donation limits or high limits allows politicians to sell access to themselves at exclusive events,” said Conacher.
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www.theasianstar.com Vol 15 Issue 10 Saturday, April 9, 2016
Vaisakhi Special
Tel: 604-591-5423
Significance of Vaisakhi
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aisakhi or Vaisakhi Festival is celebrated as the Sikh New Year and the founding of the Khalsa Panth. History of Baisakhi traces its origin from the Baisakhi Day celebrations of 1699 organized by the Tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh to form Khalsa - Brotherhood of Saint Soldiers to fight against tyranny and oppression. Story of Baisakhi The story of Baisakhi Festival began with the martyrdom of Guru Teg Bahadur, the ninth Sikh Guru who was publicly beheaded by the Aurungzeb, the Mughal ruler. Aurungzeb wanted to spread Islam in India and Guru Tegh Bahadur stood up for the rights of Hindus and Sikhs and the Mughals therefore saw him as a threat. After the death of Guru Teg Bahadur, his son, Guru Gobind Singh became the next Guru of the Sikhs. Guru Gobind Singh wished to instill courage and strength to sacrifice among his fellow men. To fulfil his dream, Guru Gobind Singh called on the historic Baisakhi Day congregation of Sikhs at Keshgarh Sahib near Anandpur on March 30, 1699. When thousands of people assembled for Guru’s blessing, Guru Gobind Singh came out of the tent carrying an unsheathed sword. He gave a powerful speech to infuse courage amongst fellowmen. At the end of the speech he said that every great deed was preceded by equally great sacrifice and demanded that anyone prepared to give his life come forward. On the Guru’s third call, a young man offered himself. The Guru took the man inside a tent and reappeared alone with a bloodied sword. Guru Gobind Singh asked for another volunteer. This was repeated another four times until a total of five Sikhs had gone into the tent with the Guru. Everyone present was worried and though that Guru Gobind Singh has killed five Sikhs. At this point Guru presented all the five men before the people. Every one present was surprised to see all five men alive and wearing turbans and saffron-coloured garments. These five men were called Panj Piara or ‘Beloved Five’ by the Guru. The Guru blessed them with a Pahul ceremony. In an iron vessel, the Guru stirred with a sword called Khanda Sahib, the batasha that his wife, Mata Sundari Ji had put into water. The congregation recited verses from scriptures as the Guru performed the sacred ceremony. The water was now considered the sacred nectar of immortality called amrit.
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16 i Saturday, April 9, 2016 • Vaisakhi Special •
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to all our Clients, Friends & Family
POLITICS
Harjit Sajjan names blue-ribbon panel to review Canada’s defence policy
N
ational Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan has tapped four eminent Canadians to help him craft a comprehensive plan for the military’s size and scope in the future. The blue-ribbon panel that will review Canada’s defence policy includes a former Supreme Court justice, a former top soldier, a retired cabinet minister and former top bureaucrat.The ministerial advisory panel members are: ■Louise Arbour, a former Supreme Court justice, member of the advisory board of the Coalition for the International Criminal Court and former UN high commissioner
for human rights. ■Bill Graham, former Liberal minister of foreign affairs and national defence. ■Ray Henault, former chief of the defence staff and past chair of the NATO military committee. ■Margaret Purdy, former associate deputy minister of national defence. Sajjan said an online portal will also allow Canadians to engage in the defence policy review, as well as a series of public roundtables. The Senate and House of Commons defence committees will also play a “critical role” in the process, he said. Last review in 1994
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Housing starts down in March, CMHC says
slowdown in the construction of multi-unit buildings helped push the overall trend for housing starts in Canada lower last month, according to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. The federal housing agency said Friday that the seasonally-adjusted annual rate of starts for all areas the country was 204,251 units in March, down from 219,077 units in February. Despite the slowdown, starts still exceeded the expectations of economists.
Thomson Reuters said economists had been projecting an annual pace of 190,000 for March. CMHC said the six-month moving average — which smoothes out monthly blips — for starts was 196,783 units in March compared to 201,618 in February. “Homebuilding activity is holding at a firm level nationally, but the major disparities persist at the regional level,” said Robert Kavcic, Senior Economist BMO Capital Markets.
‘It’s a humbling thing’: Brad Wall’s Saskatchewan Party cruises to historic third straight majority
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hough Brad Saskatchewan Wall and the Party assumed Saskatchewan government, Party have made hisrepresented a tory with their overdrastic change whelming victory in in the province. the 2016 provincial Since Tommy election, the threeDouglas and the term premier insists C o-Op erative he won’t take anyCommonwealth thing for granted. Federation took By virtue of Moncontrol in the day’s decisive win Brad Wall and his wife Tami arrive at the 1944 election, over the Cam BroSaskatchewan Party victory celebrations social demten-led NDP, Wall ocratic govhas become the longest-serving non-social ernments were in control of the provdemocrat premier in the province’s his- ince for 47 of the 62 years before Wall. tory. The Saskatchewan Party also beThe Saskatchewan Party claimed 38 came the first non-social party to win seats in 2007 compared to 20 for the NDP, three consecutive elections since 1925. and 50.9 per cent of the popular vote “Every time I drive around my home- compared to 37.2 per cent for the NDP. town and see my name on someone’s The 2011 election was a rout, with sign they put up, my name to indicate the Sask. Party taking 49 seats while they’re supporting me, that is a hum- the NDP was reduced to just nine. bling thing,” Wall said Monday after The Saskatchewan Party took a voting in his home riding of Swift Cur- whopping 64.3 per cent of the vote, rent, in which he was easily reelected. while the NDP received just 32 per Hours later, in front of family and jubilant cent. As of 10:15 p.m. local time, supporters, Wall said he was grateful he the Saskatchewan Party had won and his party received another four years. or was leading in 50 of 61 ridings. “We have been given an opportunity to Wall said the main issue during the serve, an opportunity to serve the peo- campaign was the economy. Everything ple we love,” said Wall during his accep- else – health, education, addressing tance speech in front of the party faithful. poverty – stems from there, he said. The 2007 election, when Wall and the
HAPPY VAISAKHI
Ontario and B.C. lead the pack TD Economics said the annual rate of
Business / Finance
20 i Saturday, April 9, 2016
Federal justice minister to raise money for Liberal Party at $500 a head law firm event
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n the same day Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne announced she would end her involvement in private fundraisers, CBC News has learned the federal justice minister will be the main attraction at a $500-a-head reception hosted by a prominent Bay Street law firm. The event featuring Minister of Justice and Attorney General Jody Wilson-Raybould is being hosted by Torys LLP, an international business law firm with offices in Toronto, Montreal, New York, Calgary and Halifax. Money raised at the event will go into the
coffers of the Liberal Party of Canada. And if you didn’t know about it already — you’re not invited. Kathleen Wynne cancels private fundraisers, tells ministers to do the same Kathleen Wynne admits cabinet ministers have fundraising quotas Wynne agrees to meet opposition leaders on fundraising reform Criticism about chummy events such as these, where the well-heeled can buy time with the well-connected are what led Wynne to announce the cancellation of her own fundraising events earlier today.
HAPPY VAISAKHI TO ALL OF YOU
Ex-Aveos workers launch class-action lawsuit against Air Canada, governments
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class-action lawsuit seeking up to $1 billion has been filed on behalf of former employees of shuttered aircraft maintenance company Aveos against Air Canada and the governments of Quebec and Canada. The request for court certification was filed in Quebec Superior Court by lawyer Jean-Francois Bertrand on behalf of former An employee of Aveos Fleet Performance Inc. plugs his employee Gilbert McMullen. ears as he demonstrates at the National Assembly in It alleges that the governQuebec City, March 21, 2012 ments are responsible for harming former Aveos workers by with punitive and non-punitive damages. their “flagrant and deliberate violation” Under the 1988 Air Canada Public Particiof the federal law governing Air Canada. pation Act that permitted the airline’s privaAfter the closure of Aveos Fleet Perfortization, Air Canada (TSX:AC) was required mance in 2012 -- which had 2,600 employto perform heavy maintenance on its fleet in ees, including 1,800 in Montreal -- McMulMontreal, Winnipeg and Mississauga, Ont. len was unable to find work for a year and The 38-page document blamed the Quebec a half, according to the statement of claim. government for withdrawing its successful It says he had to borrow money to suplawsuit against Air Canada after reaching port his family and was later hired by AJ a “secret agreement” with the company Walter Technique in 2013 at lower wages. in exchange for its promise to purchase The claim is seeking compensation for up to 75 Bombardier CSeries aircraft. lost income excluding benefits, along
Panama leaks: Document leak exposes global corruption, secrets of the rich
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he financial secrets of heads of state, athletes, billionaires and drug lords have been exposed in the latest — and biggest ever — leak of records from an offshore tax haven. The leak includes 11.5 million confidential documents shedding light on the assets and murky fiscal dealings of everyone from the prime ministers of Iceland and Pakistan to soccer player Leo Messi, movie star Jackie Chan and associates of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Iceland PM says he won’t resign amid Panama Papers offshore tax scandal The records, dating as far back as 1977, come from a little-known but highly influential Panama-based law firm called Mossack Fonseca, which has 500 staff working in 40-plus countries. The firm is one of the world’s top creators of shell companies — corporate structures that can be used to hide ownership of assets. German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung obtained
the files from a source and shared them with global media partners, including CBC News and the Toronto Star, through the Washington-based International Consortium of Investigative Journalists. “These findings show how deeply ingrained harmful practices and criminality are in the offshore world,” said Gabriel Zucman, an economist at the University of California at Berkeley and author of The Hidden Wealth of Nations: The Scourge of Tax Havens. Zucman, who was briefed on the media partners’ investigation, said the release of the leaked documents should prompt governments to seek “concrete sanctions” against jurisdictions and institutions that peddle offshore secrecy. A huge data leak from a Panamabased law firm has exposed $2 billion US in secret, offshore transactions involving people or companies close to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Business / Finance
Canadian economy adds 41,000 jobs in March
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anada’s economy cranked out an impressive 41,000 jobs last month, more than four times what economists were expecting. Statistics Canada’s Labour Force Survey showed there were more people employed in Alberta, Manitoba, Nova Scotia and Saskatchewan. At the same time, employment declined in Prince Edward Island and was little changed in the other provinces. Alberta added almost 19,000 jobs during the month, a reversal of a recent trend, and enough to drag the jobless rate down eight points to the national average again. The province still, however, has fewer
people employed today than it did a year ago. By sector, health care was a real winner, with 25,000 new jobs. Manufacturing, which has been showing some encouraging economic signs in recent months, lost 32,000 positions. “This sector had been a rare bright spot until March, and raises some doubts on just how much this sector is truly turning around,” BMO economist Doug Porter noted. The natural resources sector, which includes mining, oil and gas, lost about 2,100 jobs. Economists polled by Bloomberg had been expecting the Canadian economy to add about 10,000 jobs in March.
Condo ownership by foreign buyers most prominent in newer buildings: CMHC
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oreign ownership of condominiums tends to be higher in buildings built since 2010 in the cities of Toronto and Vancouver, the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation says in a report released Thursday. CMHC said the rate of foreign ownership in the Toronto census metropolitan area is less than two per cent for buildings completed before 1990, rising to seven per cent for newer structures completed since 2010. Foreign ownership of condos goes up to about 10 per cent in the core of the city, although CMHC urged caution in the reliability of that estimate. In Vancouver CMA, foreign buyers’ share rises from less than two per
cent for properties built prior to 1990 to about six per cent for those completed since 2010. The national housing agency said there is currently no existing tool that can give a definitive measure of the level of foreign investment in Canada’s housing markets. Bob Dugan, chief economist at CMHC, said researching foreign ownership of homes in Canada remains a top priority for the organization. Foreign ownership has been a topic of interest in Toronto and Vancouver, two of the country’s hottest housing markets, amid discussion that an influx of buyers from outside Canada is contributing to the rise in home prices in the two cities.
B.C. getting $460 million in transit funding from Ottawa — but you already knew that
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he federal government “officially” announced today that B.C. will get $460 million in transit funding over the next three years to push ahead with promises made during the Liberal election campaign. The Liberal government already pledged the transit money last month when they tabled the federal budget. But today was the official, official announcement. North Vancouver MP Jonathan Wilkinson wouldn’t specify where that money would go, saying it would be up to the province and municipalities to make those decisions. Both rapid transit line extensions in Sur-
rey and Vancouver were pledged by the Liberal government in the campaign. The federal government will fund up to 50 per cent of all projects. In the past, the federal and provincial governments had provides one-third each of the costs while municipalities fronted the rest. “The specific projects are under discussion now,” he said, adding he expects decisions to be made in the next couple of months. The funding, which is part of a $120 billion pot slated for infrastructure projects, is earmarked to keep the transit system in good repair, which means it could also be used to buy more buses or improve SkyTrain stations and bus loops.
Rogers to offer $9.99 internet to low-income housing organization tenants
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ogers Communications Inc. is expanding a program it already offers in Toronto to tenants in non-profit housing developments across the country to give them basic internet access in their home for $9.99 a month. The telecommunications conglomerate made the announcement at an event in Ottawa on Thursday. In 2013, Rogers launched a program called Connected for Success that brought high-speed internet service to residents in Toronto Community Housing developments. Those developments subsidize low-income individuals and families for their rent and other basic living costs. Qualified applicants would receive up to 10 megabits per second download speeds, and up to one megabit per second for uploads. The service is capped at 30 gigabytes of data per month. More than 10,000 people have signed up for the program. Thursday’s announcement expands the program to other areas where
Rogers offers home internet services by including 533 non-profit housing agencies in Ontario, New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador. “From kids connecting after the school day is done to seniors staying in touch with their friends and using banking or government services, internet access isn’t a nice to have — it’s a necessity in our digital world,” Rogers chief customer officer Deepak Khandelwal said. Rogers will announce the program’s expansion at the Centretown Citizens Ottawa Corporation in downtown Ottawa on Thursday. “We’re really excited that our tenants will be able to take advantage of this offer,” facility manager Debbie Barton said. “It’s especially important that kids will be able to access the internet from an early age so they can learn and not fall behind.”
Saturday, April 9, 2016
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PUNJAB
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Jats may resume stir after wheat harvest, hints Malik
at leader Yashpal Malik today hinted at the community resuming its agitation in Haryana after the harvesting of wheat, adding that it would this time launch “Jail bharo” with their cattle. He called upon members of the Jat community to keep ready for the struggle and said this time the ‘battle’ would be fought by four teams of Jats at four levels by assigning ‘specific’ roles to those below 40 years, those above 40, women and domestic animals. Malik, who was addressing an indefinite dharna by Jats from Dhani Bhojraj, Sanchla, Bhuna, Gorakhpur and some other neighbouring villages against the arrest of six youths in connection with arson and road blockades during the recent Jat agitation, alleged that the state government had not kept its promises made at the time of agreement. Demanding the release of those arrested for arson, AIJASS president Yashpal Malik made sarcastic comments Fatehabad SP OP Narwal’s caste, saying the community did not need sons like him.
Potato centre opened in Karnal village
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o boost research in potato production, Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh inaugurated Potato Technology Centre at Shamgarh village in Nilokheri block today. The Rs1.27-crore centre set up under the state plan in spread over 45 acres. “I am glad to inaugurate the first Potato Technology Centre in the county, which will open new era of research in potato production. Farmers will have new varieties of potato,” Radha Mohan said. Potato production stood at 48 million tonnes from 20.8 million hectares in 2014-15, thus making India the world’s second largest producer AII-India Jat Aarakashan Sangharsh Samiti leader after China, he said. “The saplings of potato Yashpal Malik during a dharna against the arrest would be produced through the tissue culture of Jat youths in Fatehabad technique in bottles at the centre. Later, the Talking to mediapersons after meeting dis- saplings will be planted in a net house,” said trict officials, Malik said those arrested were Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said. He was accompanied by Haryana Agriculagitators and not ‘terrorists’ and alleged that the police had wrongly put them behind bars. ture Minister Om Prakash Dhankar, Minister Malik said during his meeting with of State (Agriculture) Bikram Singh Yadav, the Chief Secretary and the DGP, he Hafed chairperson Harvinder Kalyan and was assured that 2,087 cases regis-
HAPPY VAISAKHI to all of you
Nilokheri MLA Bhagwan Dass Kabirpanthi. Varinder Singh Kundu, Addition Chief Secretary, said 40 varieties of potato would be produced in the centre, including Kufri Badshah, Kufri Pukhraj, Kufri Khyati and Kufri Chipsona. “The centre will train farmers to produce better quality potato,” he informed the Union Minister and Chief Minister.
UT opposes Beant assassin’s plea to argue in High Court
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ubbing Jagtar Singh Tara as a “high security prisoner”, the Chandigarh Administration today opposed his plea to argue before the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Its counsel Gautam Dutt claimed that taking out former Chief Minister Beant Singh’s assassin from Burail Model Jail was barred. In his reply submitted before the High Court, Dutt asserted his removal was debarred by the UT Administration vide notification dated September 29, 1995, and he could not be removed till the disposal of the case against him. The Chandigarh Administration had earlier moved the High Court for quashing orders allowing certain facilities to Tara. He, in turn, had expressed his wish to personally argue the matter. Facilities allowed to Tara included permission to call home. Taking up the matter, the High Court had earlier stayed the operation of the impugned order. As the case came up for resumed hearing, a letter written by Tara to the jail authorities before being forwarded to the High Court registrar was placed before the Bench. Tara claimed that he had neither engaged, nor intended to engage a counsel for arguing the matter and made it clear that he personally wanted to appear before the Bench for defending his stand.
Every seventh Punjabi is a diabetic, several more at risk
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very seventh Punjabi is a diabetic and around half of the state’s population is at risk of getting diabetes. Clearly, the state is not in the pink of health when it comes to diabetes. According to a recent report prepared by four medical colleges of the state in collaboration with the PGI, Chandigarh, it was found that diabetes prevalence was much higher in the state as compared with the country at large. The institutions involved in the survey included three government medical colleges at Amritsar, Patiala, Faridkot and the CMC, Ludhiana. The survey was conducted on a sample size of more than 5,000. It was one of the biggest studies ever conducted on non-communicable diseases in the state. It was found that diabetes prevalence in Punjab stood at 14 per cent, while the national figure rate was 9 per cent. Around 23.2 per cent of the surveyed persons accepted that they had a family history of diabetes. “More than 50 per cent of the state’s population is suffering from abdominal obesity, overweight, high cholesterol etc. They run the risk of getting diabetes. It is alarming,” said Dr JS Thakur, professor, community medicine at the PGI. The number could spiral over the next 10 years, if preventive steps were not initiated, Dr Thakur said. It was found that 74.4 per cent diabetics were taking oral hypoglycaemic, while 10.3 per cent were taking insulin. Around 6 per cent diabetics had visited a traditional healer and 7.4 per cent were taking herbal or traditional treatment. According to the WHO, the epidemic has a major health and socio-economic impact especially in developing countries. In 2012 alone, diabetes claimed 15 lakh lives globally.
INDIA
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Amitabh Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai, Jackie Chan in spotlight after Panama leak reveals hidden offshore assets
EW DELHI - Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan and martial arts film star Jackie Chan are among celebrities who feature in a massive leak of documents, some of which reveal hidden offshore assets. Bollywood legend Bachchan, simply known as the “Big B” in India, was appointed director of at least four shipping companies registered in offshore tax havens and set up 23 years ago. The authorised capital of these companies ranged from just $5,000 to $50,000 but they traded in ships worth millions of dollars, according to the Indian Express newspaper. The Express is among more than 100 media groups which have investigated a massive leak of 11.5 million documents from Mossack Fonseca, a Panamabased law firm with offices in 35 countries. Bachchan, who has long since resigned from the companies and has not commented on the documents, is not the only member of his famous family named in the leaks. His daughter-in-law, actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, was also director and shareholder of an offshore company, along with members of her family, before it was thought to have been
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Bachchan finally breaks his silence on Panama leaks tax evasion case
Panama based law firm with offices in 35 countries, reported that Amitabh Bachchan was the appointed director of four shipping companies registered in offshore tax havens and set up 23 years ago. However, the superstar has finally broken his silence and issued a statement clarifying his stance in the controversy. Big B’s official statement reads, “I do not know any of the companies referred to by Indian Express - Sea Bulk Shipping Company Ltd,
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wound up in 2008, according to the newspaper. The media adviser of the former Miss World winner has rejected the documents as “totally untrue and false”. As with many of Fonseca’s clients, there is no evidence that the Bollywood A-listers used their companies for imAmitabh Bachchan proper purposes and having an offshore entity is not illegal. But the documents, naming more than 500 Indians including real estate tycoons in Fonseca’s list of offshore companies, foundations and trusts, come at a sensitive time in India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government has vowed to crack down on the “menace” of so-called black money -- vast sums stashed abroad to keep them secret from Indian tax authorities.
Lady Shipping Ltd, Treasure Shipping Ltd, and Tramp Shipping Ltd. I have never been a director of any of the above stated companies. It is possible that my name has been misused. I have paid all my taxes including on monies spent by me overseas. Monies that I have remitted overseas have been in compliance with law, including remittances through LRS, after paying Indian taxes. In any event the news report in Indian Express does not even suggest any illegality on my part.” Hope this clears the matter once and for all.
Alcohol banned in IBihar state
he sale of absolutely any type of alcohol, including Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) - not just country liquor - will now be completely banned in Bihar immediately, the state government said on Tuesday. The decision on the ban on any type of alcohol was taken this afternoon by the Bihar cabinet, four days after a ban began on the production and sale of country liquor, or desi liquor. Bihar is now the fourth dry state after Gujarat, Kerala and Nagaland. “A notification is being issued by the excise and prohibition department,” Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar said Tuesday as he came out of a cabinet meeting. The Bihar government gets revenue of nearly Rs 2,000 crores from the sale of
IMFL and revenue of around Rs 4,000 crores from country liquor sales in 2015-16. Kumar has repeatedly said his government would do everything to discourage the drinking habit as it severely hits the poorest of the poor. The poor consume liquor, leading to family problems including domestic violence, affecting their children’s education. “Women are suffering more than anyone else due to increasing liquor consumption,” he said. In a first for Bihar, all members of the Bihar assembly and the legislative council recently adopted a resolution that they would not consume liquor. During assembly elections, Nitish had promised that he will start a people’s movement against liquor in the state and ensure that the ban on liquor is effectively implemented.
Saturday, April 9, 2016
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Air India pilot demands his favourite woman co-pilot, keeps 110 passengers waiting for over two hours
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s many as 110 passengers aboard an Air India aircraft were forced to sit on the plane for two and half hours on Wednesday after its commander insisted for a “particular woman” co-pilot to operate the flight. The incident happened at Air India’s flight to Male from Chennai via Thirunanthapuram, sources said. In between, the commander also complained of high blood pressure and was treated for the same, they said. Interestingly, the commander quit Air India last week and is serving a six-month notice period, the sources said. According to the sources, the commander insisted roster section on Tuesday to schedule the woman flight officer along with
him on flight AI 263/264 for Wednesday. “Roster section, however, informed him that his demand can’t be met as she was already scheduled for a Delhi flight,” a source said. Later the commander called up roster section and threatened to report sick, if the particular woman pilot was not assigned the duty with him. “When the roster section did not oblige, he reported sick on Tuesday. But this morning when he turned up to operate the flight he again insisted for the same co-pilot, forcing the airline to arrange his favourite co-pilot,” one of the sources alleged. But in the process, the flight was delayed as it departed at 9.13am against its schedule time of 7am, the sources said.
HAPPY VAISAKHI
24 i Saturday, April 9, 2016
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Supreme Court raps govt for delaying funds to drought-hit areas
he Supreme Court today rapped the Centre for delayed release of funds to the states for providing 100/150 days of employment to the rural poor every year, particularly in drought-hit areas. A Bench comprising Justices MB Lokur and NV Ramana said the government could not tell the beneficiaries: “You first do the work. We will pay you one year later if you are alive.” Any relief meant for the poor hit by drought or other calamities should be given immediately, not one or two years later, the Bench said while hearing a PIL plea for proper implementation of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) in 12 states that received scanty rainfall in the past two years.
The affected states are Haryana, UP, MP, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Odisha, Jharkahand, Bihar and Chhattisgarh. The Bench made the remark after noticing that the Centre was yet to release about Rs 8,000 crore to various states for making payments to the beneficiaries for work done by them in 2015-16. The outstanding amount accounted for as much as 20 per cent of the revised Budget estimate for MGNREGA, the Bench noted. Further, the states’ status reports showed that employment was being provided only for 30 days, instead of 100 days in unaffected states and 150 days in drought-hit areas. The Bench directed the Centre to clear the dues within a week.
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Non-locals’ threatened with rape as protests rage on at NIT in Srinagar
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round 2,000 non-Kashmiri boys and girls continued to boycott classes at NIT, Srinagar for the seventh day on Thursday, demanding that they be ‘evacuated’ from the campus and the institute be relocated to a ‘safer’ place outside Jammu & Kashmir. A student from Bihar alleged that she was threatened by Kashmiri girls with rape if non-locals continued with their agitation. “I was threatened by Kashmiri girls of my class to attend classes, otherwise we will be raped and molested by the locals,” she said. “Though we are getting food and facilities in the hostel, we feel insecure inside the campus,” a student told TOI.
Leaked photos showed several non-Kashmiri girls protesting with their faces covered, holding a tricolor and placards with slogans like ‘Nothing is normal here’ and ‘It’s all about our security’. The campus has been on the boil ever since two groups of Kashmiris and non-locals fought last week over India’s defeat to West Indies in the T20 World Cup semis. A teacher admitted only local students were attending classes. Non-local student accused NIT director Rajat Gupta of threatening them. “These HRD officials are here for three hours, but we will be here to deal with you in future,” one of non-local students quoted Gupta as saying while referring to the three-member HRD team’s visit.
Saturday, April 9, 2016
Real Canadian Superstore速 location is the convenient one-stop shopping solution for everyday needs and for special occasions. You'll find variety, value, and a wide range of South Asian specialities -- at great price! 350 SE Marine Drive, Vancouver T: (604) 322-3727
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6 i Saturday - April 4, 2015
fOOD
26 i Saturday, April 9, 2016
NRI
BCCI faces criticism from Supreme Court for resisting reforms
BCCI faced scathing criticism for maintaining that any judicial interference in its functioning would compromise its autonomy, with the Supreme Court saying the cash-rich sports body was resisting recommendations to reform and make its working “transparent and visible”. Won’t allow delaying tactics: SC to BCCI The apex court also expressed its displeasure over BCCI’s stand that being
a private and autonomous body, it cannot accommodate a nominee of CAG in it as suggested by the Justice R M Lodha Panel on the ground that it would be derecognised from the International Cricket Council (ICC). BCCI questions SC’s power to introduce big changes “You are discharging public function... how best your functioning can be improved?
With eye on China and Pakistan, India in talks to buy US Predator drones
intelligence as well as boost its firepower along the vast land borders with Pakistan and China. It also wants a closer eye on the Indian Ocean. New Delhi has already acquired surveillance drones from Israel to monitor the mountains of Kashmir. As defence ties deepen with the United States, which sees India as a counterweight to China in the region, New Delhi has asked Washington for the Predator series of unmanned planes built by privately-held General Atomics, military officials said. “We are aware of Predator interest from the Indian Navy. However, it is a government-to-government discussion,” Ingredients Vivek• Lall, chief executive of 250g boneless chickenUS and International Strategic Development at • 2tbsp rapeseed oil San Diego-based Atomics, told • 1 mediumGeneral red onion Reuters. UStomatoes government late last year • 3The large cleared General Atomics’ • ½ cup cashew nutsproposal to market the unarmed Predator XP in India. • 100g tomato puree It was• not clear when the delivery of the 1 tbsp dried fenugreek leaves drones would take place. The navy wants • 100ml low fat cream them for surveillance in the Indian Ocean, • 1tsp garam masala where the pilotless aircraft can remain • 1tsp red chilli powder airborne for 35 hours at a stretch, at a time • 1tbsp ginger- garlic paste when the Chinese navy is expanding ship • 2tbsp thick low fat yoghurt and submarine patrols in the region. • salt to taste Moves by India to enhance its defence capabilities have in the past provoked sharp reactions from Islamabad, where Procedure: government and military worried Marinate the chicken with the ginger garlic paste and the yoghurt for 20 min. soak the cashew in warm water for 15 minutes.chop thethe onions and tomatoes. Heat 1are tbsp about falling further behind their bigger oil to a pan. sear the chicken pieces in the hot oil for 1 minute on each side to a golden colour. remove the chicken pieces. in the same pan, add 1tbsp oil and the chopped rival in the arms race. onions. saute till a translucent pink. Add the tomatoes, red chili powder, garam masala powder and cook on medium flame till the tomatoes are tender (approx. 4-5 Pakistan’s foreign not be minutes). remove from flame and run in a blender with the soaked cashews to make a smooth paste. return to the pan and add the tomato puree. Bringministry to a boilcould and add reached for comment on Friday, the the chicken pieces. simmer for 4-5 minutes till the chicken is cooked. Add the low fat cream and simmer for 2 minutes. Broil the fenugreek leaves on a pan. crush the start of the weekend there, while the military fenugreek leaves over the curry and remove from fire. serve hot. had no immediate comment. India is in talks with the United States to purchase 40 Predator surveillance drones, officials said, a possible first step towards acquiring the armed version of the aircraft and a development likely to annoy Pakistan. India is trying to equip the military with more unmanned technologies to gather
chicken (no butter) Masala Your favourite butter chicken but without the butter and added calories!
FIJI
New floods create havoc and distress As residents still recovering from Cyclone Winston
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he impact of flooding on local and international fruit and vegetable supply will be a huge challenge for the agriculture sector over the next few months. Those whose livelihoods depend on growing produce and the exporters who depend on these growers have both been seriously affected. The Ministry of Agriculture has conceded that the sector was badly affected by the recent flooding. However, principal agricultural officer West Vinesh Kumar said they would be able to comment further after assessing the extent of damage to farmlands. Farmers in the Sigatoka Floods in Nadi Valley area are presently supplying produce they have managed to salvage from their saturated farms. Manasa Exports, a key player in the industry, says exports to its main markets in Auckland, New Zealand, and Vancouver, Canada, hang in the balance. “We were closed for two weeks after Tropical Cyclone Winston and things had started to normalise, but now we are expecting supply to decrease in the coming weeks,” said director Surendra Kumar. The company normally exported about seven tonnes
Disasters traumatise farming communities
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he Rarawai Penang Cane Producers Association, an organisation that caters to 7000 farmers in Ba, Tavua and Rakiraki, has been inundated with pleas for help. President Girish Kumar said temporary shelters were blown down as strong winds associated with TD15F swept through parts of the Western Division on Tuesday. In addition, newly-planted sugar cane and vegetable farms were washed away by floodwaters. He said the experience had traumatised communities, especially women and children who were still trying to overcome the horror of Severe Tropical Cyclone Winston. The scope of issues being faced by people living in the three cane-producing areas was too big for the association to handle, he added. “We need help on all fronts, from financial to psychological,” he said. “People are scared, they had lost their homes and livelihoods during Severe TC Winston. “The situation here is very dire, farmers who had planted new cane and new vegetable farms located near riverbanks have lost everything yet again. “We need help and we need assurance because people here have lost all hope.”
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3-month wait for electricity
hile the Fiji Electricity Authority has restored power to 90 per cent of Viti Levu, rural areas in Ba, Rakiraki and Naitasiri will not have power for another two to three months. FEA chief executive officer Hasmukh Patel said their infrastructure in these areas had suffered extensive damage and would take time to bring back online. “As I speak right now it pretty much looks like we might be able to get into early June before we are able to wrap it up or probably the end of June right to the last customer,” Mr Patel said. “Because the damage especially in the rural deep areas of Ba, Koronubu and all those areas, Valevuto inside all those areas, and then especially Rakiraki all those areas and the tear-offs from the main road to Nadarivatu inwards up the hills, Monasavu coming down to Nadarivatu — all those lines were actually very badly damaged as a result of Cyclone Winston.
of produce to New Zealand and 1.3 tonnes to Canada on a weekly basis. This figure is expected to drop significantly in the coming weeks. “We export any and all fresh produce we can get from farmers, including bele, coconuts, curry leaves and okra. “We employ about 60 people here and many of them have been affected by the floods as well. We know many farmers have been affected and because supply is down, we will have to look for other suppliers for the time being and that will be a costly exercise.”
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Residents use floodwater for laundry
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a residents who have been scraping by without water and electricity since Severe Tropical Cyclone Winston are now resorting to floodwaters to do their laundry. A team from this newspaper yesterday found some residents of Navatu, Votua, Natutu and Nawaqarua — with a population of more than 1000 — out in flooded areas, washing their clothes. Floodwaters had damaged water mains. Navatu resident Pundit Sarwan Prasad said they had been without water since Wednesday. “We don’t know if water will be carted to us or not but at the moment, this is what we have to do,” he said. Another resident Vivek Nand said
some families had collected rainwater to use while others were using water from areas that were still flooded. Ba provincial administrator Laitia Yabakivou said most settlements in Ba depended on boreholes that needed power to supply water. “Before the flooding, water supply was very little because they did not have any power,” he said. “We were helping them with the water supply with either water carting and also by transporting generators to the settlements so they could pump water from their various boreholes. “We could not reach them over the past few days because of the floodwaters and that has been the problem.”
28 i Saturday, April 9, 2016
SOUTH ASIA
Secular activist who criticized militant Islam hacked, shot to death in Bangladesh
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hree motorcycle-riding assailants hacked and shot a student activist to death as he was walking with a friend in Bangladesh’s capital, police said Thursday. The killing on Wednesday night follows a string of similar attacks last year, when at least five secular bloggers and publishers were killed, allegedly by radical Islamists. Police suspect 28-year-old Nazimuddin Samad was targeted for his outspoken atheism in the Muslim-majority country and for supporting a 2013 movement to demand capital punishment for war crimes involving the country’s independence war against Pakistan in 1971, according to Dhaka Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Nurul Amin.
No group immediately claimed responsibility. The assailants, who had been riding a single motorcycle, escaped after the assault while shouting, “Allahu Akbar,” or “Allah is great.” Fellow students and friends of Samad rallied Thursday at the state-run Jagannath University, where Samad was studying law and had attended class the evening of the attack. “This is very sad for us. We are trying whatever we can do to support the family during such difficult time,” university proctor Nur Mohammad said. Associated PressBangladeshi students protest seeking arrest of three motorcycle-riding assailants who hacked student activist Nazimuddin Samad to death as he walked with a friend, in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
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Obama calls for reduction in nuclear arsenal of India and Pakistan
ndia and Pakistan need to make progress in reducing their nuclear arsenal and ensure they do not “continually move in the wrong direction” while developing military doctrines, US President Barack Obama said on Friday. “One of the challenges that we’re going to have here is that it is very difficult to see huge reductions in our nuclear arsenal unless the United States and Russia, as the two largest possessors of nuclear weapons, are prepared to lead the way,” Obama said. “The other area where I think we need to see progress is Pakistan and India, that subcontinent, making sure that as they develop military doctrines, that they are not con-
tinually moving in the wrong direction,” he told a press conference at the end of the two-day Nuclear Security Summit here. The US President also said that North Korea poses the “most immediate set of concerns for all of us”. “We have to take a look at the Korean Peninsula because North Korea is in a whole different category and poses the most immediate set of concerns for all of us, one that we are working internationally to focus on,” he said. Obama said this was one of the reasons he had a trilateral meeting with Japan and Korea, adding that it was a major topic of discussion with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping as well.
Myanmar’s Aung San Suu Kyi gets new role as special adviser
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yanmar’s president signed a bill giving Aung San Suu Kyi a new role of state adviser, shoring up her influence across all branches of government despite vehement opposition from the still-powerful military. Suu Kyi is determined to rule the former junta-run nation regardless of an army-scripted constitution that bars her from becoming president, as she strives to meet the aspirations of millions of voters who gave her pro-democracy party a landslide election victory last November. She is already foreign minister and met her Chinese counterpart for talks yesterday, prioritising Beijing in her first foray into international diplomacy since her National League for Democracy officially took power last week.
Indian among 14 arrested in drug bust in Sri Lanka
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n Indian was among 14 foreigners detained by Sri Lankan police in connection with the country’s biggest drug bust in nearly three years, after 110 kilograms of heroin worth USD 7.5 million was seized from the sea. The police has detained 14 foreigners - 10 Iranians, two Pakistanis, an Indian and a Singaporean in connection with the incident. Police Narcotics Bureau along with the Lanka Navy in a combined operation seized 101 kilograms of heroin worth USD 7.5 million on March 30. Later the police arrested three more local suspects in Negombo. A multi-day trawler owned by the smugglers was seized during the operation. The consignment was said to be the largest haul ever apprehended out at sea in three years. While the Pakistani and the Iranians were arrested on board, the rest were arrested later in their lodgings, police said. The police said this was part of a joint operation by Pakistani and Afghan drug dealers. Police are on the look out for local agents now.
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Peace process with India suspended : envoy Abdul Basit
he peace process between India and Pakistan has been “suspended” and there are no talks scheduled between the two countries, Pakistan high commissioner Abdul Basit said here on Thursday. Asked at the Foreign Correspondents Club about a meeting between the foreign secretaries of the two countries, Basit said: “There is no meeting scheduled for now. I think at present the peace process is suspended.” “India is not ready as yet,” Basit said, but quickly added that “we can only resolve issues through dialogue”. This is the first official word from Pakistan about the latest breakdown in the now-on-now-off peace process with India. He was speaking in the background of the January 2 Pathankot terror attack by Pakistani terrorists of the Jaish-e-Mohamed,
Pakistan
which killed seven security personnel. The attack has stalled the resumption of dialogue between the two sides. Evading a direct comment on the possibility of NIA team visiting Pakistan for Pathankot terror probe, Abdul Basit said, “It is not about reciprocity but co-operation of our two countries.” On India’s request for consular access to Kulbhushan Yadav, the alleged spy arrested by Islamabad, Basit said, “The request is under consideration, but can’t say when they would be given consular access.” We have to deal with the cockroaches, who are already in the Home .... and then later these external pigs .....sridhar Earlier, reading out a prepared statement, Basit referred to the arrest of alleged Indian spy Jadhav in Balochistan last month and said that it “irrefutably corroborates what Pakistan has been saying all along”.
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Saturday, April 9, 2016
Hafiz Saeed running own ‘Sharia court’ in Lahore to dispense swift justice
n the lines of the Taliban, Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed-led Jamaat-ud-Dawah has set up a ‘Sharia court’ here to hand out “easy and swift justice”, the first such parallel judicial system in Pakistan’s Punjab province. The JuD has set up the ‘Sharia court’ with its headquarters at Jamia Qadsia, Chauburji, under a Qazi (judge) who is assisted by Khadmins (court associates) to decide complaints. Darul Qaza Sharia — a parallel private judicial system — has been set up by the group in Lahore to provide “easy and swift justice” to the people and deals mostly in civil cases relating to property and monetary disputes. The complaints are addressed to Saeed who later refers them to the Qazi for further proceedings. According to a copy of one of
the ‘JuD summons’, it has been dispensing private justice through the court for the last couple of months. The ‘summon’, bearing monograms of Darul Qaza Sharia, Jamatud-Dawah, Pakistan, and ‘Saalsi Sharai Adalat-i-Aalia’ (Arbitration Court of Sharia), orders a man named Khalid to appear before the ‘court’ at the Jamia Qadsia Chauburji to ‘record his statement’ in a complaint against him. He is warned of strict action under the Sharia laws in case of no response from his side. The organisation’s ‘Arbitration Court of Sharia’ has been taking up complaints of citizens approaching it for justice and summoning the ‘defendants’ in person or through a legal counsel with warnings of strict action under the Sharia laws in case of no response.
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30 i Saturday, April 9, 2016
Happy Vaisakhi Brar Sher desi style durum flour
rapini
9.07 kg
product of U.S.A.
20657367
20048070001
LIMIT 2 13.79
9
OR 2.98 EACH
5
AFTER LIMIT
97
Quality basmati rice
Rooster Brand sweetened condensed milk
20787290
20126907
3.63 kg
LIMIT 4 AFTER LIMIT 9.99
8
98
ea
Surati snacks
300 mL
LIMIT 8 AFTER LIMIT 2.67
1
88
ea
selected varieties 341 g
no name® canola oil
20322576003
20028656
LIMIT 6 3.17
2
AFTER LIMIT
28
ea
Nanak desi ghee 400 g
20157906
LIMIT 2 8.48
6
AFTER LIMIT
48
ea
Sun Exotic juice drink
selected varieties 1L
3L
LIMIT 4 5.47
4
AFTER LIMIT
88
1
88
ea
ea
Suraj beans or pulses
selected varieties 1.8 kg LIMIT 4 5.28
3
AFTER LIMIT
98
ea
Tata orange pekoe tea
5
98
ea
20283439002
20160022001
LIMIT 6 2.49
1
68
ea
20162840001
.96
ea
selected varieties 50-100 g LIMIT 6 1.49
1
AFTER LIMIT
18
ea
Rooster Brand garlic
product of China 1 kg 20433866
3
96
ea
Methi leaf product of U.S.A. or Mexico
or bunch mint
ginger root
product of U.S.A.
20179038001
20159689001 20159689002
product of China
.97
lb
.96
ea
2.14 /kg
Britannia punjabi cookies
Suraj roti
20855546
20884340
620 g
LIMIT 4 5.99
4
48
5
2/ 00
ea
Crispy vegetarian cookies 800 g
t Available in select stores 20012495
OR 4.48 EACH
8
2/ 00
t
Maggi hot & sweet sauce 340 mL
20687724
LIMIT 4 3.48
2
AFTER LIMIT
98
original
OR 2.99 EACH
AFTER LIMIT
20565449
LIMIT 4 AFTER LIMIT 7.99
Shan seasoning or spice mix
AFTER LIMIT
product of U.S.A.
216’s
Shana paratha original, frozen 400 g
bunch spinach
20558756
20115169
LIMIT 8 AFTER LIMIT 2.28
2/ 00
ea
ea
KFI sauces
selected varieties 375 mL 20419490001
LIMIT 4 AFTER LIMIT 4.99
3
98
ea
Suraj original naan 1 kg
4
20342261
48
ea
Prices effective from Friday, April 8th to Thursday, April 14th, 2016 unless otherwise stated. Most stores open 7am-11pm, 7 days a week. Please see in-store or online for your particular store’s hours. Quantities and/or selection of items may be limited and may not be available in all stores. No rainchecks. No substitutions on clearance items or where quantities are advertised as limited. Advertised pricing and product selection (flavour, colour, patterns, style) may vary by store location. We reserve the right to limit quantities to reasonable family requirements. We are not obligated to sell items based on errors or misprints in typography or photography. Coupons must be presented and redeemed at time of purchase. Applicable taxes, deposits, or environmental surcharges are extra. No sales to retail outlets. Some items may have “plus deposit and environmental charge” where applicable. ®/™ The trademarks, service marks and logos displayed in this flyer are trademarks of Loblaws Inc. and others. All rights reserved. © 2016 Loblaws Inc. *we match prices! Applies only to our major supermarket competitors’ flyer items. Major supermarket competitors are determined solely by us based on a number of factors which can vary by store location. We will match the competitor’s advertised price only during the effective date of the competitor’s flyer advertisement. WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO LIMIT QUANTITIES (note that our major supermarket competitors may not). Due to the fact that product is ordered prior to the time of our Ad Match checks, quantities may be limited. We match identical items (defined as same brand, size, and attributes) and in the case of fresh produce, meat, seafood and bakery, we match a comparable item (as determined solely by us). We will not match competitors’ “multi-buys” (eg. 2 for $4), “spend x get x”, “Free”, “clearance”, discounts obtained through loyalty programs, or offers related to our third party operations (post office, gas bars, dry cleaners etc.). We reserve the right to cancel or change the terms of this program at any time. Look Every week, we check our major competitors’ flyers for the ad match message in store for items we’ve matched. and match the price on hundreds of items*. Customer Relations: 1-866-999-9890. superstore.ca
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Saturday, April 9, 2016
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32 i Saturday, April 9, 2016