The Asian Star September 21 2019 by The Asian Star Newspaper

www.theasianstar.com

Vol 19 - Issue 34

Saturday, September 21, 2019

Trudeau’s brownface scandal deepens as more damaging images emerge ahead of election Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s brownface photo scandal deepened on Thursday as new damaging images emerged, and the Liberal leader reached out to his candidates in next month’s federal election to apologise. With less than five weeks to go before a national vote, Time magazine published a picture of Trudeau on Wednesday in brownface and wearing a turban during a 2001 “Arabian Nights” party when he was a 29-year-old teacher at a private school in Vancouver. The same day, Trudeau apologised to Canadians for the incident and also admitted to performing Day O, a traditional Jamaican song Continued on page 7

Conservatives pull ahead in two-way race ‘locked in the margin of error’: Nanos The Conservatives have pulled ahead of the pack in the national daily tracking numbers from Nanos Research. The latest numbers, released on Wednesday, put the Conservatives ahead at 37.2 per cent ballot support with the Liberals at 35.5. The NDP came in at 13.6, the Green Party at 7.0, the Bloc Quebecois at 4.0 and the People’s Party of Canada at 1.7. If you take into account Tuesday’s preferred prime minister numbers, it’s a “double-win for the Conservatives,” pollster Nik Nanos said on the Trend Line podcast. Scheer and the Conservatives are the “main gainers over the last few weeks,” said Nanos, noting that the other parties have shown only marginal swings.

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Birth tourism’ rising fast in Canada; up 13 per cent Canada’s reputation as a hotspot for birth tourism is rising fast, with new data reporting a 13 per cent increase in one year. “It’s going up faster than immigration rates, faster than the overall population of Canada,” Andrew Griffith, a fellow at the Environics Institute and the Canadian Global Affairs Institute, said. Birth tourism is the practice by which babies are born in Canada to non-residents so they can receive automatic citizenship without having to go through standard immigration processes. Griffith follows the phenomenon closely as part of his research. Continued on page 7

Sikh preaches love 18 years after his brother killed over turban In a story Sept. 15 about the anniversary of an Indian Sikh immigrant gunned down in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, The Associated Press reported erroneously that he died in 2011. He died in 2001. A corrected version of

the story is below: Sikh preaches love 18 years after brother killed over turban Indian Sikh immigrant Rana Singh Sodhi still preaches love and tolerance 18 years after his brother was gunned down in the aftermath Continued on page 7

Here’s how India became a global clean energy powerhouse The past few years have seen a steady rise in India’s global stature, manifested in its enhanced economic and diplomatic clout. As the world is looking to mitigate the rapidly growing threat of climate change, India figures prominently as a vital cog in the wheel. It is now poised to take up the mantle of climate leadership, contribute actively in setting the agenda for future action and act as a role model

for sustainable growth. Perhaps the first indicator of India’s larger role in this sphere was the setting up of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) on the sidelines of the Paris Climate Conference (COP 21) – a step initiated by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in collaboration with French President Emmanuel Macron.

Former Vice Chancellor of Punjab Agricultural University, Dr Khem Singh Gill passes away Path of the Legend - Saint-Scientist Dr Khem Singh Gill, A Unique Persona,Tireless agricultural legend, Padma Bhushan awardee and former Vice Chancellor, PAU, Dr Khem Singh Gill passed away on September 17 at the age of 89 years. He was born on September 01, 1930 in village Kaleke, distt Moga, Punjab in the family of Sardar Lakha Singh and Sardarni Tej Kaur, he was married

to Bibi Surjit Kaur and had two sons and one daughter. The farmers of Punjab admire him for two reasons – one, for his expertise as an agricultural scientist and two, for his humble and tireless sewa (volunteering) for the cause

Exercising? Dieting? But no results? Just can’t seem to get rid of those stubborn areas of fat?

of uplifting rural education. It is truly difficult, to reckon how many lives have been touched and enriched by Dr Gill’s perseverance and his Midas touch. True to his name – Khem (in Punjabi means kherra, happiness, bliss), one always found him cheerful. He invariably greeted everyone with a beaming smile. An agricultural scientist Continued on page 7

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Darpan Awards 2019

This spectacular red carpet event took place at Aria Convention Centre in Surrey on September 13. With over 700 guests in attendance, this black-tie affair commenced at 6 p.m. in the backdrop of glamour and grandeur. The Preston Cadillac-sponsored red carpet was buzzing with prominent members of the South Asian community, political dignitaries and socialites Ten amazing individuals from the South Asian community were recognized for their extraordinary achievements and for reflecting their heritage in a remarkable way. DARPAN Awards proudly presented this year’s Guest of Honour and Keynote Speaker, Dr. Sakena Yacoobi. She is the founder and executive director of the Afghan Institute of Learning (AIL) and co-founder and Vice-President of Creating Hope International, a Michigan-based non-profit organization. Also spotted at the event were prominent political guests like B.C. Minister of Citizens’ Services Jinny Sims; MLAs Stephanie Cadieux, and Marvin Hunt; and MPs Sukh Dhaliwal and Randeep Sarai, among many others.

BC’s South Coast set for nearly a month’s worth of rain for weekend While September is usually a relatively dry denouement to summer on B.C.’s South Coast, this weekend is set to be an abrupt introduction to the rainy fall season. Environment Canada said the region is set to see about a month’s worth of rain by Sunday. A downpour Thursday dropped 20-30 millimetres, with another 10-15 millimetres expected Friday night. Another 15-25 more millimetres are in the forecast for Saturday. That’s a total of up to 70 millimetres — well over the normal amount of 51 millimetres

for the entire month of September. “I think it’s safe to say that summer is officially over,” said Environment Canada meteorologist Matt MacDonald. “Given these back-to back systems, we will be reaching our normal rainfall for the month in just three or four days.” Environment Canada issued a rainfall warning for Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley. The agency said the soggy weather systems are being churned up in the northeastern Pacific, hitting B.C.’s north and central coasts before sliding down to the South Coast.

Police deny assaulting grocery shopper mistaken for SkyTrain shooting suspect The Vancouver Police Department is denying its officers used excessive force when they arrested the wrong man in February during a days-long, region-wide manhunt for a suspect accused of shooting a transit police officer. The department filed a statement of defence earlier this month in response to a lawsuit from Jason Victor Hernandez, who sued the department and six unnamed officers in B.C. Supreme Court in August. Hernandez claimed he was injured when Vancouver police officers arrested him on Feb. 1, thinking he was their suspect. Officers were looking for Daon Gordon Glasgow, who was later arrested and

charged with the attempted murder of Transit Police Const. Josh Harms at the Scott Road SkyTrain Station in Surrey, B.C. Transit Police Const. Josh Harms was shot in January while on patrol at Scott Road SkyTrain Station. Police across the Lower Mainland took part in the hunt for a suspect. (Transit Police) In its response to Hernandez’s claim, the department said its officers initially believed Hernandez to be Glasgow because of a call from the public, and that they handled the situation by the book. Hernandez, 47, claimed he was unarmed and leaving the Real Canadian Superstore at the Metrotown mall in Burnaby, B.C., when Vancouver police officers took him down.

Gurdas Mann famous Punjabi singer, songwriter and choreographer had a press briefing in Surrey last week. Mann in performing in Abbotsford today. He is considered one of the most notable singers in Punjabi music. He gained national attention in 1980 with his famous songs, such as “Dil Da Mamla Hai”.

Cabinet Minister denies that Surrey Mayor’s friend attended government meeting B.C.’s Solicitor General denies that a Vancouver-based businessman who played a key role in Surrey Mayor Doug McCallum’s election campaign attended an official government meeting alongside the mayor in November. Surrey Councillor Jack Hundial raised the issue in council chambers Monday (Sept. 16), after he learned that online records list Bob Cheema as having attended a meeting with McCallum and Public Safety Minister and Solicitor General Mike Farnworth on Nov. 2, 2018, three days prior to the new Surrey council being sworn in. However, the Solicitor General’s office told the Now-Leader via email Tuesday morning that the minister “did not meet with Bob Cheema.” “Mr. Cheema’s name was referenced in the calendar as he was the one who reached out to book the meeting during the interim period that Mr McCallum was Mayorelect,” the statement read. During Monday night’s council meeting, Hundial introduced a motion asking the mayor and city staff for details surrounding the 2018 meeting. Hundial said he was made aware of the meeting

by members of the public “who directed me to the publicly posted schedule for Mr. (Mike) Farnworth.” “That of course raises concerns,” Hundial told reporters after Monday night’s council meeting. “Why is an unelected official attending on behalf of the mayor? And did he in fact attend or not? That’s another question we need to ask. If he didn’t attend, that’s fine. And there’s nothing wrong with that.” Hundial had asked why the mayor’s personal friend, with no official status with the City of Surrey, would meet with the solicitor general, noting the topic of the meeting was listed as traffic fine revenue sharing. After hearing Farnworth’s statement Tuesday, Hundial said he would “wait for the corporate report and let staff complete their work.” “There is obviously a discrepancy of who attended and what is listed on the schedule,” Hundial added. In an emailed statement Tuesday afternoon, McCallum said the claim that Hundial made is “categorically false.” “Mr. Cheema has never been present at any meetings I’ve had with the minister,” McCallum’s statement added.

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Vol 18 - Issue 34

Saturday, September 21, 2019

Indian scientist found a way to use the cold of night to generate electricity Scientists have discovered a way to power a light by using the cold of outer space, which could eventually be used to create the nighttime counterpart to solar energy. Using an inexpensive thermoelectric device, they’re able to harness the cold of space without an active heat input. The process, called radiative sky cooling, can generate enough electricity to power an LED light. Think of it as similar to solar panels, except using the change in the night temperature for power rather than the sun. “Remarkably, the device is able to generate electricity at night, when solar cells don’t work,” said lead author Aaswath Raman, an assistant professor of materials science and engineering

at the University of California, Los Angeles. “Beyond lighting, we believe this could be a broadly enabling approach to power generation suitable for remote locations, and anywhere where power generation at night is needed.” Details about the project were published on September 12 in the journal Joule. The project is attempting to create something like solar power, except at night when the sun is not available. Yes, solar cells can be outfitted with batteries to store the day’s energy to be used at night, but those batteries ultimately make the technology more expensive — and can’t be charged at night. Raman, along with two scientists from Stanford University, Wei Li and Shanhui Fan, has developed a device that

uses radiative cooling. Essentially, a sky-facing surface passes its heat to the atmosphere as thermal radiation, losing some of its heat to space and reaching a cooler temperature than the surrounding air. An experimental electricitygenerating device that uses radiative sky cooling to harvest energy. Aaswath Raman/UCLA Scientists describe it as similar to how frost forms on the grass during above-freezing nights. That same idea can be used to create electricity and produce renewable energy after the sun has gone down.

Electric car-share company to bring 2,000 vehicles to Surrey/White Rock A South Surrey developer has founded an all-electric car-share company that plans to bring 2,000 shared vehicles to White Rock and Surrey streets. Raghbir Gurm, who’s behind two multiunit development proposals in White Rock (Maple and Russell and the Beachway), contacted Peace Arch News to share the launch of Shared Use Mobility Company Inc. (SUMO). Gurm said it’s the first all-electric car share company in the country, and the

first phase of service is to begin in October 2020. Gurm said the company has paid deposits on 150 Hyundai IONIQ and KONA fully electric vehicles for the launch of the service. He said the plan is to expand to 2,000 all-electric vehicles by 2022. At the outset, the service is to be based on a round-trip model, with shared vehicles stationed at SUMO branded “multi-modal mobility” hubs. By 2022, he said, the plan is to transition the service to a free-float model, allowing customers to pick up a vehicle at one location and drop it

off at another. “We will have one (hub) located in South Surrey/White Rock and we will have an operational hub located in Central Surrey area,” Gurm said. Gurm said that shared mobility only works if there is enough vehicles. The theory, he added, is that a person needs to have a shared vehicle available within a five-minute walk from where they live.

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OPINION

By Doug Firby, Columnist Troy Media

Saturday, September 21, 2019 campaign. Acharlatan resignation now would amount to Racist photos confirm Trudeau is a bare-faced

There is a lot of intense chatter about just how many votes Justin Trudeau’s “brown face” and “black face” photos will cost his Liberal party in the upcoming federal election. Those discussions, while interesting for pundits, seem almost beside the point. The point, actually, is the cost on his stature with Canadians, with the world community, and with him personally and his family. At the very least, his carefully cultivated illusion of a squeaky clean icon of progressive thinking is irrevocably shattered. It is not an exaggeration in the least to describe these images as shocking. The mind needs time to fully digest the underlying messages they convey. They tell a story about this country’s leader that is not only off-side with how we wish our nation to be known to the world, but also deeply troubling in what they say about Trudeau’s judgment. Judgment. We’ve worried about it before. The niggling problem with the SNC Lavalin affair wasn’t so much that he pressured his attorney general – no surprise there, that’s how politics

is done – but that he mucked it up. Somehow, he managed to make Jody Wilson-Raybould feel threatened, and then he bounced her from cabinet in a move that looked like retribution for her failing to come to heel. One can’t help but think back to that tough old veteran Jean Chretien and wonder how he would have handled such a situation. The images raise many other questions, too. Here are a few. Why did he never tell the party those images existed? Parties are supposed to vet their candidates thoroughly, and especially their leaders. How thorough is that vetting if a yearbook photo went unnoticed for 18 years? And why, more importantly, did Trudeau not tell the party about this skeleton in the closet? Did he not think they were noteworthy? Why is he only sorry now? Was he not sorry before the images were discovered? If you’re only sorry when the photos are made public, are you sorry about what you did or sorry that you got caught? Would he seriously consider stepping down? I know, I know. It’s the middle of an election

conceding electoral defeat. Like it or not, the Liberal Party has to stick with its leader until the voters render their verdict. Fair enough. But where is honour in all this? Has the idea of stepping aside even crossed his mind? Or is he determined to hang on to the job, no matter what? How can he possibly regain the trust of visible minorities? As white folks (that’s my real face in the photo byline), a lot of us just can’t imagine the psychological impact of long-term systemic racism. I have read and been told that it undermines self-confidence and makes people feel as though they belong to a lower caste. It is debilitating. And just when you think you have a multicultural hero at the helm, your hopes are dashed. As The Who sang lo those many years ago, Meet the new boss, same as the old boss. Once trust is broken, it will be profoundly difficult to restore it. The images will always there. Trudeau is forever the wolf in sheep’s clothing. There is nothing he can say – no faux sincere facial expression – that can erase those images. OK, just out of idle curiosity, what will he say to the kids? It always comes as a shock to children to learn their parents are less than perfect. How will Trudeau prepare his family for potential school yard ridicule? And, of course, why did these photos come out now? Well, we know the answer to that. These photos were made public during the election campaign for strategic reasons by those who want to bring Trudeau and the Liberals down. The images will be top of mind with voters as they enter the polling booth. Trudeau will be knocked off his script for quite possibly the rest of the campaign. Can we ever trust this guy again? As one anonymous commentator wrote today, “The real issue is not that Trudeau is a racist. The real issue that he’s a charlatan.” You can see it in his haughty grin. There’s a hint of the old man’s arrogance in this Trudeau – as though he tells you what he wants you to know, and nothing more. One message for Quebec, and another for English Canada; one message for the environmentalists, and another for the oil patch. What does he really believe? Continued on page 12

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Saturday, September 21, 2019 Trudeau’s brownface scandal From page 1 famous by Harry Belafonte, in blackface that had already come to light. Answering during a high school talent show years earlier. questions in Winnipeg, Manitoba, on The Canadian Broadcasting Corp then Thursday, Trudeau said that his privilege published a picture from the performance as the white son of former prime minister that a Liberal spokeswoman confirmed as Pierre Trudeau had come with a “blind spot”. authentic. On Thursday, Global News put “I come from a place of privilege and I have out a video showing Trudeau again in dark endeavoured in my life to put the advantages make-up, ripped jeans and a T-shirt, making and opportunities I’ve been given to serve this faces and sticking his tongue out. It was not country, to fight for people’s rights,” he said. Five other times Justin Trudeau made bad immediately clear exactly when that video was from. “We can confirm that it is him and headlines “I’ve let a lot of people down … it’s from the early 1990s,” a Liberal official said. and I stand here today to reflect on that and The prime minister said he was “wary” of to ask forgiveness.” Earlier on Thursday, ruling out the existence of even more such Trudeau held a conference call for all 338 images because he could not remember those Liberal candidates in the coming polls. “The prime minister expressed his apology and regret and said this happened 20 years ago,” From page 1 Birth tourism The 13 per cent increase was found in one Liberal on the call said. “He said this is the data Griffith collected from the Canadian moment for us to continue to work together Institute for Health Information (CIHI), to understand the pain of people who are on which based it on information from hospitals the receiving end of racism and stereotypes.” across the country, excluding Quebec. Their research shows a steady increase in births to non-residents from 2008 to 2017-18, and then a 13 per cent jump after that. According to CIHI, there were 1,354 non-resident births in 2010 and 4,099 in the 12-month period ending March 2019 – representing 1.4 per cent of all births in Canada during that time. While some of the reported births involve international students and non-residents transferred to Canada for work, Griffith said he believes the majority of these cases involve mothers who travelled to Canada for the express purpose of giving birth. “The laws were never intended for people to fly in and fly out,” he said. Under Canadian law, children born in the country are automatically registered as citizens of Canada. This entitles them to Canadian postsecondary tuition rates, which are lower than what non-resident students pay, and allows them to sponsor their parents to come to Canada. Brokers advertise Canada as one of the few developed countries in the world that offers unconditional citizen to babies of parents who are not citizens. Some immigration brokers explicitly note that children born in Canada will be able to enjoy benefits such as free education and other social programs, as well as travel to the country visa-free. According to CIHI, the 10 hospitals where nonresident births make up the biggest proportion of total births are all in Ontario and B.C. The Richmond Hospital in Richmond, B.C., topped the charts in 2018-19, with the 454 births to non-resident mothers there representing 23 per cent of all births at the hospital.

Former Vice Chancellor of Punjab Agricultural University, Dr Khem Singh Gill passes away From page 1

agricultural scientist of international repute, he dressed modestly donning a white turban and supporting a white flowing beard. One could easily take him as a saint. While, none of his ancestors either on the paternal side or the maternal side had ever gone to school, Khem Singh stood first in middle school examination. Sardar Sarwan Singh, Headmaster, Bhupindra High School, Moga, paid ten rupees from his pocket for his college admission. It was he who mentored him to join Khalsa College, Amritsar for pursuing higher studies in agricultural sciences. This snowballed into a huge contribution to the Green Revolution in India. Dr Gill joined Punjab Agricultural University in 1962. He was selected for Rockefeller Foundation fellowship for pursuing doctorate degree from the University of California, Riverside Campus. He was the only Sikh student with unshorn hair and turban at the Campus and always got respect from everyone. A dedicated Plant Breeder, Dr Gill developed more than 30 varieties of different field crops. These include 17 improved varieties of wheat, five high-yielding hybrids and composites of pearl millet, three varieties of linseed, two of sesame, one of barley and two of cluster bean.

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Blackface a symptom of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;deeply embeddedâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; racism: experts

s photos and video have emerged showing Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau in brown- and blackface, experts are pointing to the larger societal issues that give rise to this type of racism. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s important to think about is that he is participating in a much more widespread societal trend of this kind of humour that disparages and ridicules black people,â&#x20AC;? Philip S. S. Howard, a professor in education at McGill University who has researched the history of blackface in Canada, said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I like to be cautious about the ways that these get mobilized as a result of an individual character flaw rather than what they are more accurately, which is deeply embedded racist logic in our society that helped make this

kind of thing be considered funny.â&#x20AC;? Upon seeing the images of Trudeau on Wednesday, Howard said he was not shocked. â&#x20AC;&#x153;When we talk about blackface, Canadians tend to be very smug and say thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the kind of thing that (only) happens in the U.S.,â&#x20AC;? Howard said. As part of his research, Howard has compiled a timeline of incidents of blackface in Canada that stretches back to the racist minstrelsy performances of the 19th century, including a troupe dressed

up as Ethiopian burlesque minstrels in Bridgetown, N.S., in 1853. Contemporary examples often include people dressing up in blackface on postsecondary campuses. One example is a 2014 incident at Brock University in St. Catharines, Ont., in which four students dressed up in blackface as members of the Jamaican bobsled team during a Halloween pub night. In 2013, a Halifax MLA apologized after

he tweeted an image of himself posing with a Christmas character in blackface. On Wednesday, Time magazine first published a 2001 photo of Trudeau in brownface, dressed as the character Aladdin during an end-ofyear dinner at the Vancouver private school where he was a teacher at the time. The event was â&#x20AC;&#x153;Arabian Nightsâ&#x20AC;?-themed, and the photo showed Trudeau with a group of women with his hands and face blackened with racist makeup. Later on Wednesday, another image came to light of Trudeau wearing blackface at a high school talent show that appears to show him in racist makeup and an afro. A Liberal spokesperson confirmed to Global News in an email on Thursday morning that the image is of Trudeau.

Conservatives say Vancouver-area candidate supports LGBTQ rights after anti-Pride Parade tweet resurfaced

Vancouver area Conservative candidate appears to have deleted his Twitter account after a leftwing media organization resurfaced a comment he made against the Pride Parade on the platform in 2011. Shinder Purewal, the Conservative Party of Canada candidate for Fleetwood-Port Kells in Surrey, tweeted his disapproval of Vancouverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Pride Parade in 2011, calling it â&#x20AC;&#x153;vulgarâ&#x20AC;? and saying it should be banned, according to media reports from the time. Earlier that year he had run as the Liberal Party of Canada candidate in the federal election, bringing in about 18 per cent of the vote in the old riding of Surrey North. That year the Kwantlen Polytechnic University instructor defended the comment in media interviews with CBC and the National Post, saying it was the public sexuality associated with the parade that he disapproved of â&#x20AC;&#x201D; not equal rights for

the LGBTQ community. Screenshots of the tweet were circulated Sunday morning in an article by Press Progress, a media organization funded by the left-wing Broadbent Institute. The post was made on the same day Conservative Party of Canada leader Andrew Scheer was in Surrey for an announcement on proposed tax cuts. Purewal has not responded to Star Vancouverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s requests for comment by phone or email. Daniel Schow, press secretary to Conservative Party of Canada leader Andrew Scheer wrote in a statement to Star Vancouver: â&#x20AC;&#x153;In those articles, Mr. Purewal makes it clear

that he supports LGBTQ rights,â&#x20AC;? referring to the media coverage of Purewalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s comments in 2011. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Mr. Scheer has made it clear to all 338 candidates that a Conservative government will stand up for the rights of all Canadians, including members of the LGBT community, and focus on issues that unite rather than divide,â&#x20AC;? Schow wrote. Schow did not respond to questions about whether the party discussed the comment with Purewal prior to approving his nomination as the Conservative candidate for the riding. Several candidates from multiple parties were turfed in the early days of the federal

election campaign after racist or controversial remarks were dredged up from old social media posts. Scheer said Saturday night that if candidates are willing to take responsibility for past offensive remarks and apologize, he does not think they should be disqualified from seeking public office. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think we all have to acknowledge the fact that people can make mistakes and people can own up to that,â&#x20AC;? Scheer told reporters flying with him to British Columbia on Saturday night, adding that the party will make decisions on a case-by-case basis. Mario Canseco, president of Vancouver polling firm Research Co, said the first week of the 2019 election has already shown how vetting candidates is becoming more difficult in the social media age.

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Former assistant to Chilliwack MLA John Martin charged with fraud Fraud charges have been approved against a former constituency assistant to Chilliwack MLA John Martin, following a probe into misappropriated taxpayer dollars. Desmond Michael Devnich has been charged with two counts of fraud over $5,000 and two counts of breach of trust by a public officer, the B.C. Prosecution Service announced Thursday. The charges stem from alleged instances of fraud that took place between June 2013 and February 2017. Devnich will appear in Chilliwack provincial court Oct. 8.

In 2017, Martin revealed tens of thousands of dollars in public funds had gone missing from his constituency office, a discrepancy discovered when the legislature moved to a new accounting system. Police and the clerk’s office were notified and an investigation launched. At the time, Martin said he had confronted an assistant about the money and that the individual was fired. Martin declined to comment on the approved charges Thursday, as the case is now before the courts.

Unionized workers launch walkout at three upscale Vancouver hotels Unionized workers at three high-end Vancouver hotels say they have begun strike action to back demands for safe and stable work. Unite Here Local 40 says workers at the Hyatt Regency, Westin Bayshore and Pinnacle HarbourfronthotelswalkedoutThursdayinwhat the union describes as an “open-ended strike.” A statement from the union says the walkout is an escalation of job action following a lunch-hour strike on Tuesday. Room attendants, chefs, front desk agents and other staff are on the picket line at all three hotels. Unite Here says talks with the hotels have been underway for 14 months without

significant movement on issues related to workload, safety and job security. “Many of the city’s hotel workers are struggling to provide for their families with precarious, on-call shifts caused by the systemic cutting of hours in these hotels,” the union statement says. Safety is also a key issue in the dispute, as the union says many workers have complaints about sexual harassment on the job, as well as understaffing that has led to unsafe and unsustainable workloads. This report by the Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2019

Officers find $1.9M in vehicle after erratic driving complaint on Highway 1 RCMP officers found more than they bargained for when they pulled over a vehicle on Highway 1 east of Revelstoke, B.C., last week. Police tracked down the vehicle, which had licence plates from Eastern Canada, after getting an alert about an erratic driver on Sunday, Sept. 8. They detained the two men in the vehicle under the controlled drugs and substances act, and when they searched it, found $1.9 million Cdn in cash The men were arrested at the roadside for possession of property obtained by crime. RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Mike Halskov said officers have seized tens of thousands of dollars in traffic stops before, but generally not an amount as large as this.

“This is the first time I’ve heard of a $1.9 million seizure in B.C. as a result of a traffic stop. It’s very significant,” Halskov said. Cpl. Mike Halskov handles media relations for E Division Traffic Services in Surrey, B.C. (CBC)

Teens charged with second-degree murder in stabbing death of Surrey mechanic Two teenagers have been charged with seconddegree murder in relation to the stabbing death of Surrey mechanic Delphin Paul Prestbakmo. Prestbakmo, known as Pauly, was fatally stabbed in a parking lot near Semiahmoo Shopping Centre in Surrey, B.C., just after 3 a.m. on Aug. 16. He died on scene. The teenaged boys, aged 15 and 16, cannot be named due to their age. RCMP said the attack was unprovoked but said the three knew each other to some degree. Family of Surrey mechanic killed in ‘unprovoked’stabbingpleadsforwitnessestohelp The two teens have been in custody since late August for breaching court-imposed conditions on a separate matter, according to the Integrated Homicide Investigations Team (IHIT). “It’s troubling news,” Sgt. Frank Jang said Thursday. “It’s very shocking.” Jang said motive for the attack is still under investigation. A ‘senseless’ death

When asked about his death, Prestbakmo’s sister called it senseless, adding her brother didn’t deserve what happened to him. “You ask anyone in this community, he was loved and respected. He was a good person and had a good heart,” said Angela Prestbakmo. She said knowing two people have been charged in relation to her brother’s death doesn’t make the situation any better. Delphin Paul Prestbakmo, known as Pauly, was found dead near Semiahmoo Shopping Centre in South Surrey on Aug. 16, 2019. (IHIT) “Nobody can understand how somebody like that could be targeted,” said Don Armour, who worked with Pretsbakmo for eight years. “He was everybody’s friend.” Ilham Ali, a friend of Prestbakmo for 20 years, said he was more like a brother. Ali added Pretsbakmo was 14 years old when he started working as a mechanic. “Always we know him as a nice guy, excellent guy, always helps people out, and everybody liked him,” Ali said.

LOCAL

LOCAL / NATIONAL

Saturday, September 21, 2019

Trudeau’s blackface and brownface photos a ‘sucker punch,’ Calgary Mayor Nahid Nenshi says Nenshi called the photos “a sucker punch,” adding that young people of colour in Canada might see them and wonder whether “the story of the country I grew up in is a lie.” Trudeau apologized for the photos, including one from a high school talent show and one from a 2001 “Arabian Nights”-themed party when he was a teacher, saying he didn’t think his actions were racist at the time, but he now realizes they were. Nenshi said he and Trudeau are the same age, and he thinks the Liberal leader and those around him should have known Trudeau’s costume was wrong in 2001. But while the actions are “stupid,” Nenshi said he doesn’t think Trudeau realized his actions were racist and decided to go ahead anyway. The mayor said awareness about casual racism has changed over the last two decades, but it still exists. “We have to be able to say, ‘Yes, casual racism is bad.’ We have to fight against it. But you know, people who look like me, every day of your life you encounter it. And

you just learn how to deal with it.” “Every person of colour has jokes” they use to defend themselves, Nenshi said. “We have ways of sloughing this off and saying, ‘Yeah, it’s not a big deal.’” It’s important to address how those actions are harmful, the mayor said, but during this federal election, he worries about what he called “backsliding” in the last 18 months. When Nenshi was elected in 2010, he became the first Muslim mayor of a major North American city. That attracted a lot of media attention at the time, and the mayor said he took those opportunities to talk about Calgary on a bigger platform.

In the city’s most recent 2017 municipal elections, Nenshi said he saw “racism” and “nastiness” come his way that he hadn’t experienced in his past two campaigns. “What bothers me is we have not made the space in this country to have a real conversation about what is happening in terms of our diverse, pluralistic ideal in this nation,” he said. This isn’t the first time the Calgary mayor has called out federal politicians during an election campaign. Nenshi took a vocal stance against

the Conservatives’ proposed niqab ban in 2015, and this year he has condemned Quebec’s Bill 21, which forbids people in public service jobs from wearing religious symbols such as hijabs and turbans. “None of our political leaders have the courage to speak out against Bill 21 in Quebec in a very serious way. They lack the courage because the bill is too popular and they’re worried about losing votes,” Nenshi said. “So let’s ask ourselves the true question: Why is it so popular? And how do we take responsibility for that by making sure that we, those of us who aspire to lead, are leading in a way that enhances the dignity of everyone here?” Nenshi added he wants to see this moment in the election become an opportunity to have a more direct conversation about what kind of country Canadians want.

Revelstoke RCMP find $1.9 million in stop of erratic driver A complaint of an erratic driver on Highway 1 east of Revelstoke, B.C., resulted in a $1.9-million cash seizure by RCMP. Police say they stopped a vehicle from eastern Canada, with two men inside, on Sept. 8. Both men were detained and then arrested for possession of property obtained by crime. Officers say a subsequent search with help from a police-service dog uncovered the $1.9

million in cash. The men, who police say are both from eastern Canada, were released on their own recognizance with a future court date. Police say it’s a reminder to motorists that they all have a role to play, because someone alerted police to the way the vehicle was being driven and RCMP acted on that information. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2019.

Bank of Canada announces appointment of new deputy governor The Bank of Canada announced on Thursday the appointment of Toni Gravelle, who has been managing director of the central bank’s financial markets department, as a new deputy governor, filling the vacancy created by the retirement in July of Lynn Patterson.

Gravelle will join the governing council that makes interest rate decisions and will share responsibility for overseeing the bank’s financial system activities with Deputy Governor Paul Beaudry, a press release said. The appointment will be effective on October 1.

Saturday, September 21, 2019

Khalsa Business Centre

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

LOCAL / NATIONAL

Saturday, September 21, 2019

200th fugitive returned to face justice A violent gang associate wanted in Saskatchewan on firearms and assault charges. A man trafficking underage girls evading several Quebec warrants. A father and son charged with defrauding $50,000 from an elderly Ontario couple with dementia.All were discovered hiding in B.C., and all were arrested and returned to other provinces under the B.C. Fugitive Return Program. Police and government officials held a news conference Thursday to mark the success of the program, which has sent more than 200 out-of-province fugitives home to face justice since it started eight years ago. RCMP Staff Sgt. Sean McGowan, who oversees the program, highlighted some of the cases where the program was used to remove criminals from B.C. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There was a man living in Kelowna who was identified by police as being involved in the

IVNBO USBÄ?DLJOH PG VOEFSBHF HJSMT )F IBE various warrants for his arrest from Montreal,â&#x20AC;? McGowan said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;When it was discovered that he relocated to Vancouver with one of his victims from Montreal, he was arrested.â&#x20AC;? B.C. sheriffs also escorted the father BOE TPO GSBVETUFS EVP CBDL UP )BNJMUPO McGowan said. The gangster was caught after a Vancouver traffic stop. B.C.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s director of police services Brenda Butterworth-Carr, formerly the top RCMP officer in the province, said at least 14 of the fugitives arrested under the program â&#x20AC;&#x153;were identified as being connected to organized crime.â&#x20AC;? The province provides some of the funding. Cash to cover the costs of sheriff escorts also comes from the Director of Civil Forfeiture. And some of the other provincial jurisdictions are cost-sharing or willing to pick up the total bill, Butterworth-Card said.

Racist photos confirm Trudeau is a bare-faced charlatan From page 4 What does he really stand for? right Faith Goldy have nothing on blackface You would think the opposition would make Trudeau. At the very least, the two leading a killing from this opportunity. The polls will tell parties are even on that very low moral score. us that soon enough. But the initial comments And that leaves the Liberal campaign in tatters. from the Conservative leader Andrew Scheer Just this week, I again had several PODF BHBJO EJTBQQPJOUFE )JT EFDMBSBUJPO UIBU conversations with others about why â&#x20AC;&#x153;the right Trudeau is unfit to lead was a nakedly obvious peopleâ&#x20AC;? donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t go into politics. In part, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s because attempt exploit this opportunity, and I predict every misdeed from your past is likely to end he will suffer from his graceless choice of words. up in public view. Some of our best people are I personally was more deeply moved by the just not prepared to endure such scrutiny. But NDPâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Jagmeet Singh, who spoke first about the for those who are willing to enter the vicious impact that these photos would have on people political fray, there can only be one way to do of colour, and his appeal to them to not give up it: full disclosure of your past and complete on Canada. Because, lest we forget, the victim transparency. As Trudeau has learned, keeping of the photos wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Trudeau or the party he dirty little secrets in the closet can end up biting leads; the victims were people of colour. you in the ass at the worse possible moments. Certainly, the Liberals have lost the moral Doug Firby is president of Troy Media Digital high ground that appeared to be the core of Solutions and publisher of Calgaryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Business, their election strategy. Photo ops with ultra- Edmontonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Business and Troy Media.

Two North Delta schools briefly in â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;hold and secureâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; after report of weapon Two North Delta schools were placed in a â&#x20AC;&#x153;hold and secureâ&#x20AC;? this morning after reports of a student with a weapon. According to a letter to parents by Seaquam Secondary principal Rick Mesich, at about 10:15 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 18 it was reported to the school that a student had a weapon. Delta police were then contacted and began an investigation. Both Seaquam and nearby Cougar Canyon Elementary were placed in â&#x20AC;&#x153;hold and secureâ&#x20AC;? at the request of police â&#x20AC;&#x153;in an abundance of caution,â&#x20AC;? Mesich wrote. Students who were outside were brought back into the school while staff and students secured their classrooms, as per Delta School District procedures. In an email Wednesday afternoon, Delta police spokesperson Melissa Granum confirmed police had responded to reports

of a student with a CO2 pistol and that both Seaquam and Cougar Canyon in order for police to properly assess the situation. As a result of the investigation police seized a C02 pistol from a residence and the hold and secure was lifted once investigators were satisfied that there were no risks to the student population. Granum said the DPD is now working with the school district and the studentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s family. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Police would like to remind all families and students that replica weapons â&#x20AC;&#x201D; including BB guns, Airsoft pistols and C02 pistols â&#x20AC;&#x201D; should be handled with care and not brought to school,â&#x20AC;? Granum said in an email. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Replica pistols can easily be mistaken for a real weapon, creating a potentially dangerous situation. Parents should be aware of what replica pistols their children may have access to, and take this opportunity to speak with them about responsible handling.â&#x20AC;?

Future Broadway SkyTrain station locations announced It was two oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;clock and 351 kids from Kindergarten to Grade 7 were being let out early at St. Augustine School on Arbutus Street on Wednesday. They swarmed the playground, waited impatiently for their parents to pick them up out front or left the school grounds with said parents, waiting for the crossing light at West 8th Avenue. None of the adults who were approached by Postmedia News had heard of the B-Line bus loop that is planned for the empty lot kitty-corner from the school and across the street from the Montessori Daycare, once a new SkyTrain station is built. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t need even more traffic around here,â&#x20AC;? one mom said as she held her little boyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hand while waiting to cross the street.

The B.C. government on Wednesday announced the locations of six new underground stations for the future 5.7-kilometre extension of SkyTrainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Millennium Line along Broadway. Ä&#x2021;FZ BSF t (SFBU Northern Way: On the east side of Thornton Street just north of Great Northern Way. The government says this station will create better access to Emily Carr University of Art and Designâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Great Northern Way Campus and the emerging creative economy hub in UIF 'BMTF $SFFL 'MBUT t .PVOU 1MFBTBOU "U the southwest corner of Broadway and Main 4USFFU t #SPBEXBZ $JUZ )BMM Ä&#x2021;JT TUBUJPO XJMM use the existing entrance to the Canada Line at the southeast corner of Broadway and Cambie Street, and will provide an underground

Saturday, September 21, 2019

Chilliwack woman wins right to medically assisted death after three-year court battle A Chilliwack woman who spearheaded a nearly four-year fight to access medically assisted dying in Canada will be able to die in her own way when she requests it. Julia Lamb, (pictured) who has spinal muscular atrophy, announced alongside the BC Civil Liberties Association on Wednesday that thy have requested an adjournment in their legal battle against the federal government after an expert witness supplied by Canada’s counsel said that Lamb, 28, would be able to qualify for an assisted death. “This is an enormous victory for our client and for the many Canadians like her who might find themselves suffering unbearably with no end in sight,” said Grace Pastine, civil liberties association litigation director, during a news conference in Vancouver. Lamb’s plight to gain access to medically assisted dying – or MaiD – first began in 2016, after the federal government Bill C14 – legislation that only allowed assisted dying to be requested by those who were near death or suffering from a terminal illness. The legislation came despite a 2015 Supreme Court ruling, known as Carter v. Canada,

which directed that medical assistance in dying should be available to consenting, competent adults with “grievous and irremediable” medical conditions that are causing enduring suffering that they find intolerable. Under Canada’s law, Lamb as well as others with diseases such as multiple sclerosis, traumatic spinal injury, Parkinson’s disease BOE )VOUJOHUPO T EJTFBTF would not be eligible for medical assistance in dying, the civil liberties association argued, therefore violating the charter by excluding people who could live for years with medical conditions that cause intolerable suffering. Spinal muscular atrophy is a degenerative disease with no cure that Lamb has said will lead to years of unbearable suffering by robbing her of the use of her hands and forcing her to use a ventilator to breathe and a feeding tube to eat. “I feel like a shadow has been lifted now that I don’t have to live in fear of the future,” Lamb told a room full of reporters Wednesday. She added that she’s relieved others won’t feel trapped in intolerable suffering and instead of “fearing their future, it can bring them choice, agency and peace.”

Not many election signs in Surrey If you’re wondering why you’re not seeing forests of election signs at Surrey intersections as federal candidates compete for your vote, it’s intentional. Last May, Surrey city council approved a ban on election signs on all public property and highways after the removal of illegally placed signs cost the city a pretty penny last fall. The city estimates it spent $160,000 removing roughly 1,800 illegally placed signs in the 2018 Surrey civic election. That figure factors in labour, equipment, disposal and administration. Meantime, only $8,600 was collected in fees related to the removal of the signs. “Basically, we’re not allowing any signage within the City of Surrey right-ofway,” explained Rob Costanzo, Surrey’ general manager of corporate services. “So not on medians, boulevards or any city parkland. No public property whatsoever. Signs must be contained to private property only.” Costanzo noted the city will no longer be storing signs that have been removed. Previously, city staff would take signs to a city facility and candidates could retrieve them, for a fee. Now, any signs found in contravention of the city’s new rules will be removed and destroyed, Costanzo explained. “We’re just not going there anymore. It’s an impact and a burden to our taxpayers,” Costanzo told the Now-Leader.

So far, Costanzo said the city has removed “a number” of signs belonging to candidates running in the Oct. 21 federal election. “But compared to previous elections, be it municipal, provincial or federal, it’s been a complete change to what was done before.” In May when council discussed the ban, Councillor Brenda Locke said there are “so many great reasons” to prohibit the signs in this way. “First of all, the cost to Surrey to manage election signs is getting cost prohibitive and it’s actually kind of silly,” she said at the time. “Litter and waste and all the other things that go along with sign games and sign wars that happen in elections. I’m very supportive of this for that reason. The most important, of course, is to get rid of all of the signs that end up littering our streets and in our landfill. They are traffic disruptors.” Mayor Doug McCallum said last May that he, too, was happy to support the changes. “I think during the campaign we indicated that if we did get elected we would bring this sign bylaw into force in Surrey. The criticism that we received during the campaign, or I can say myself anyways, on signs, was horrific. There was many, many complaints,” McCallum said.

LOCAL

Saturday, September 21, 2019

Vancouver parents demand expulsion after studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; racist video Parents at a Vancouver high school concerned about a racist video met with school board representatives Monday, bringing a petition backed by hundreds of people. The meeting was requested by the BC Community Alliance, a parent group formed after a white teen at Lord Byng Secondary School made a racist video targeting black people and posted it to Facebook in November 2018. Marie Tate, a member of of the alliance, said they called the meeting because they were concerned the school was not keeping them informed since the video circulated 10 months ago. Their petition â&#x20AC;&#x201D; signed by 815 people at press time â&#x20AC;&#x201D; targeted a â&#x20AC;&#x153;lack of actionâ&#x20AC;? from the school board and Vancouver Police Department, and called for the incident to be handled â&#x20AC;&#x153;with the level of concern that is warranted.â&#x20AC;? Tate said representatives from the police

department, city, provincial government and human rights commission also attended, and heard impact statements from parents. Two of those parents were Suzanne Daley and Rita Baboth, whose daughters have both left Lord Byng since the racist video appeared. Babothâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s daughter is the one who reported the video to administrators. The first parent who came forward said she felt unsupported by the school board. â&#x20AC;&#x153;She has felt largely ignored and even seen as a problem because she keeps asking for answers and support,â&#x20AC;? Tate said. i)FS DIJME CSPVHIU UIJT UP UIF BUUFOUJPO of the school and still had other acts of racism enacted toward her â&#x20AC;Ś She feels the school did not act properly at all and it put her and her family in a lot of inconvenience, and in a very stressful situation.â&#x20AC;?

Drug dealers arrested after traffic stop near Banff turns into helicopter pursuit Two Chilliwack drug dealers were busted in Banff National Park on Monday after they attempted to flee a traffic stop. Antonio Nolasco-Padia, 23, and Dina Anthony, 55, are both well-known to RCMP in the Fraser Valley, but this week were in Alberta when they were stopped PO )JHIXBZ XJUIJO UIF OBUJPOBM QBSL Nolasco-Padia and Anthony fled the scene, travelled south on )JHIXBZ JOUP UIF ,BOOBOBTLJT area before heading west to Canmore. Alberta RCMP report that members from Banff, Canmore and Kannanaskis RCMP were involved attempting to stop the vehicle using a spike belt. Calgary Police Service )FMJDPQUFS "JS 8BUDI GPS $PNNVOJUZ 4BGFUZ and RCMP Police Dog Services also responded. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Police were successful in deploying a spike belt west of Dead Manâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Flats,â&#x20AC;? according to

an RCMP press release. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The male suspect then drove the disabled vehicle into oncoming traffic, where he attempted to steal another vehicle by force. Moments later, the suspect was apprehended by RCMP Police Dog Services. The female passenger in the suspect vehicle was arrested without further incident.â&#x20AC;? During the subsequent search of the vehicle, police seized approximately 50 tablets of suspected fentanyl, 30 grams of methamphetamine, five grams of cocaine along with a loaded, prohibited handgun. The two face a total of 20 charges including possession of a prohibited firearm, possession of methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaine for the purposes of trafficking as well as robbery of a motor vehicle with violence. Nolasco-Padia appeared in Canmore Provincial Court on Sept. 18 and was remanded JOUP DVTUPEZ )F JT TFU UP BQQFBS BHBJO 0DU

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Tent cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; disputes spark call for local government autonomy Orchestrated â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;tent cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; protest camps demanding transition housing have plagued Abbotsford, Victoria, Nanaimo, Vernon and other B.C. communities, none more bitterly opposed than the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Anita Placeâ&#x20AC;? camp in Maple Ridge. The camp was finally dismantled this month after explosions, fires, citizen protests and legal action by the city carried on for more than two years. Its organizer, Ivan Drury, also backed a long-running camp beside the Victoria courthouse, and squats in Vancouver and Burnaby. The Union of B.C. Municipalities executive has backed a resolution from Maple Ridge council, calling on the province to respect municipal

authority for land use, after the province overruled the city and imposed social housing facilities in an effort to get rid of the camp. The resolution will be debated at next weekâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s UBCM convention in Vancouver. It states â&#x20AC;&#x153;B.C. has shown a willingness to overrule municipal land use regulations, dispense with public consultation functions mandated by the Local Government Act, and forego collaboration with local government.â&#x20AC;? The resolution prompted pre-convention discussions between UBCM officials and .VOJDJQBM "Ä&#x152;BJST BOE )PVTJOH .JOJTUFS 4FMJOB Robinson, who described the use of provincial veto power to impose interim modular housing at two Maple Ridge sites a last resort.

Chilliwack school board approves rainbow crosswalk in parking lot Chilliwackâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s board of education voted Tuesday evening to paint a rainbow crosswalk in the school district parking lot. The decision follows city councilâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rejection of a petition to install a rainbow walkway in the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s downtown on Sept. 3. )PXFWFS UIF TDIPPM CPBSE T WPUF XBTO U

unanimous and came after heated debate. â&#x20AC;&#x153;You canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t claim that you are inclusive and do nothing. That is just paying lip service,â&#x20AC;? said board chair Dan Coulter, who introduced the motion. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If we truly believe in what we say, we need to take action.â&#x20AC;? Chilliwack council rejects petition to install rainbow crosswalk )F TBJE QBJOUJOH B SBJOCPX DSPTTXBML JO front of the board office would show that the board cares about all members of the DPNNVOJUZ )PXFWFS TFWFSBM USVTUFFT SBJTFE concerns, including Barry Neufeld, who worried about the message it would send to their colleagues in city hall. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s almost as if weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re giving a finger and basically overruling what they decided,â&#x20AC;? said Neufeld, adding the crosswalk would strain relations. Trustee Jared Mumford countered Neufeld, saying it would be absurd for the board to worry about what city staff thinks over decisions made in the best interest of the district. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t care what the city thinks about our decisions,â&#x20AC;? said Mumford. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We care about our staff and our students.â&#x20AC;? Chilliwackâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s board of education, from left: 5SVTUFF %BWJE 4XBOLFZ USVTUFF )FBUIFS Maahs, trustee Darrell Furgason, board chair Dan Coulter, board vice-chair Willow Reichelt, trustee Jared Mumford and trustee Barry Neufeld. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know where this is going to stopâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; The debateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most passionate NPNFOUT BSPTF CFUXFFO USVTUFF )FBUIFS Maahs and board vice-chair Willow Reichelt. Maahs argued a rainbow crosswalk would highlight the concerns of one group over others. She said it would be an insult to other marginalized groups like autistic, dyslexic and refugee students. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m greatly troubled by where this is going and I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know where this is going to stop,â&#x20AC;? said Maahs.

LOCAL

Saturday, September 21, 2019

Tolko lumber mills to reduce operations at Soda Creek and Armstrong BC lumber workers are bracing for reduced shifts at two Tolko mills â&#x20AC;&#x201D; at Soda Creek and Armstrong â&#x20AC;&#x201D; after the company announced it is curtailing production, citing high log costs in B.C., and weak market conditions. The reduced operations will affect mills in Soda Creek, north of Williams Lake and Armstrong, north of Vernon. The operations will move to a four-day work week.

. JO BJE DPNJOH UP CFMFBHVFSFE forestry workers in B.C.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Interior Troy Connolly, Tolkoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s vice president of solid wood, said itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a tumultuous time for the company and the forest industry, which has seen curtailments in lumber towns around the province affecting about 6,000 workers. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Reducing capacity and changing our footprint is the best way to keep people

employed and mills operating,â&#x20AC;? Connolly said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It also gives us the flexibility to immediately react and adjust our schedule should conditions improve.â&#x20AC;? Last week, Tolko Industries announced the shutdown of its Kelowna sawmill, which put 127 people out of work. Dwindling supply, high fees blamed

for downturn in B.C.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s forestry industry The company said the shift reductions at the Soda Creek and Armstrong mills involve cutting down â&#x20AC;&#x153;operating stud capacity by 20 per cent.â&#x20AC;? Tolkoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Armstrong division includes a lumber mill, a plywood plant, and a co-generation plant, which employ 400 people in total. (Tolko Industries)

Two arrested as RCMP seize drugs & gun from vehicle in Chilliwack RCMP have charged two people from Chilliwack, B.C., in connection with a drug and handgun seizure. On Monday, RCMP stopped a vehicle USBWFMMJOH BMPOH )JHIXBZ JO #BOÄ&#x152; /BUJPOBM Park for traffic offences around 5 p.m. During the stop, the officer had grounds to believe that two people inside the vehicle, a man and a woman, were in possession of drugs, according to RCMP. But the suspects then drove away, fleeing UIF USBÄ?D TUPQ FBTUCPVOE PO )JHIXBZ BOE DPOUJOVJOH TPVUI PO )JHIXBZ 40 into the Kananaskis area before returning westbound toward Canmore.

Mounties from Banff, Canmore and Kananaskis attempted to stop the vehicle using a spike belt, with assistance from Calgary police by air and RCMP Police Dog Services. Police successfully deployed a spike belt west of Dead Manâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Flats. The male suspect then drove the disabled vehicle into oncoming traffic, where he tried to steal another vehicle by force, according to RCMP. Moments later, he was arrested after being stopped by an RCMP dog. The female passenger in the vehicle was also arrested without further incident. RCMP searched the vehicle and seized about 50 tablets of suspected fentanyl, 30

BC says it wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t use court ruling as tactic in battle against Trans Mountain pipeline expansion &OWJSPONFOU .JOJTUFS (FPSHF )FZNBO says British Columbia canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t stop the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project but will use a court-ordered review of its environmental assessment certificates to protect the environment and coastal economies. In a decision released Tuesday, the B.C. Court of Appeal ordered the provincial government to reconsider the certificates because they were granted on the basis of assessments by the National Energy Board that have since been overturned and completed again with new conditions. )FZNBO UPME SFQPSUFST JO 7BODPVWFS UIBU the province is working on a plan to conduct the review and consult with Indigenous communities. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not our goal to use this court decision as a tactic,â&#x20AC;? he said, adding that any power to stop the project lies with the federal courts and government. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We believe this is a wrongheaded project, we believe itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bad for

BC considers toughening laws in response to teen vaping, says health minister B.C.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s health minister says the government is working on a comprehensive response to teens illegally vaping, amid a surge in the reported number of vaping-related lung diseases across North America. Adrian Dix said on Wednesday the province will look at toughening laws, boosting enforcement and educating teens and parents about the risks surrounding vaping, although he did not offer specifics. Dixâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s remarks came the same day Ontario announced the first reported case of illness linked to vaping in Canada. An Ontario teenager was put on life support after using a vaping device, but is now recovering. In the U.S., there have been hundreds of severe respiratory illnesses linked to vaping. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a strong reason for concern,â&#x20AC;? Dix told reporters. Ontario teen was on lifesupport after respiratory illness linked to vaping â&#x20AC;&#x153;We need regulatory action. We need education action and resources in the hands of people so they understand the risks.â&#x20AC;?

British Columbia, but that decision was taken by the federal government. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re exercising every jurisdiction we can to defend British Columbiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s environment, our coast, our jobs with regulations and with environmental assessment conditions as appropriate.â&#x20AC;? )FZNBO TBJE UIF QSPKFDU EPFT OPU MFHBMMZ require the certificate from B.C. in order to proceed. A former B.C. Liberal government relied on a full environmental review by the National Energy Board when it approved the pipeline expansion with 37 conditions. Since then, the Federal Appeal Court set aside the energy boardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s original report, citing inadequate consultation with Indigenous communities among its reasons. A new review was ordered, new conditions were added and the federal government approved the pipeline expansion for a second time.

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Saturday, September 21, 2019

A question for my ICBC car accident lawyer: is it better if my ICBC trial is heard by a jury or a judge? Stephen Ferguson, Associate Lawyer at Simpson, Thomas & Associates f you have retained an ICBC car CFGPSF B KVSZ )PXFWFS JG UIF DMBJN JT UPP accident lawyer to represent you in your complex, it may unjust to have the claim ICBC claim and you find yourself going to decided by a jury. In such a case, if ICBC trial: is it better to have your claim heard insists on a jury, it may be appropriate to by a jury or by a judge? When possible we bring an application to seek a Court Order try to settle our clients ICBC claims before that the claim be heard by a judge alone. they go to trial. In British Columbia, our This was a problem recently faced by Supreme Court Civil Rules allow any party one of our clients. ICBC had filed a notice to the action to take out a jury notice and requesting a trial by jury. Expert reports have the trial proceed before a jury. were obtained by all parties. ICBCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s had Each individual ICBC injury claim is retained doctors who provided opinions that different and there will be different factors injuries identified on the Plaintiff â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s brain that your lawyer considers, when deciding MRI, were not connected to the car accident. whether it is preferable or not to have the We obtained doctors reports which rebutted case heard by a judge alone or by a jury. these opinions and stated that the injuries More often than not, it is ICBCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s preference shown on the brain MRI were a result of the on complex claims, to have the claim heard car accident.

It was our submission that this evidence was too complex for members of a jury to comprehend and that it was in the interest of justice that ICBCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s jury notice be struck and the claim be heard by judge alone. Accordingly, we brought an application to have the jury notice struck. Master Cameron of the Supreme Court of British Columbia heard the application and agreed with our position, that the claim was too complex for a jury. Master Cameron stated in his decision that: â&#x20AC;&#x153;These conflicting opinions are the central issue on damages in this case and by virtue of their nature and content are fairly described in my view as â&#x20AC;&#x153;complex, multifaceted, and not easily or lightly considered or understoodâ&#x20AC;?â&#x20AC;Ś.Even

with the guidance and assistance of the trial judge, it will be a difficult task for a jury to retain a clear understanding of this technical medical and scientific evidence through this 15 day trailâ&#x20AC;ŚI find it would not be convenient for the jury to do soâ&#x20AC;ŚI direct that the trial of this action be with a judge without a jury.â&#x20AC;? Our success on this application was significant and shortly after winning this application, we were able to obtain our client a settlement far in excess of what ICBC was offering, when the claim was scheduled to be heard by a jury. If you have any questions about your ICBC claim please contact one of our experienced lawyers. We offer free consultations. Call us on: 604-689-8888.

Majara Raja Sahib Sangat Akhand Paath at Gurdwara Nanak Niwas, Richmond Service to your fellow human beings and the humanity in general is one of the noblest acts. Simran and service was the guiding principle of two very kindly gentlemen â&#x20AC;&#x201C;Baba Nihal Singh BOE #BCB )BSOBN 4JOHI PG 5BMIBO WJMMBHF JO UIF Punjab. Talhan, near Jalandhar in the Punjab, is very well- known village not only in the Punjab but also overseas. Its Gurdwara named after two noble and kind souls â&#x20AC;&#x201C;Baba Nihal Singh and #BCB )BSOBN 4JOHI JT B WFSZ QPQVMBS QMBDF PG worship for people from all around and a large OVNCFS PG /3*T )FSF JO UIF .FUSP 7BODPVWFS area, families belonging to village Talhan and

area, their relatives and friends have been organizing Akhand Paath Sahib at India Cultural Centre of Canada Gurdwara Nanak Niwas TJUVBUFE PO 3JDINPOE T )JHIXBZ UP )FBWFO BLB #5 Road) for the past 27 years. This year again, all of them came to-gether from September 6 to 8 for the 27th Akhand Paath Sahib. The annual Akhand Paath Sahib was commenced on Friday, September 6. On Saturday, September 7, the devotees, along with members of the Gurdwara Management Committee, changed the Chola of Nishan Sahib. On Sunday, September 8, there

was Bhog of Shri Akhand Paath Sahib. During these three days, Metro Vancouver residents of Talhan and area, their friends and relatives attended the Gurdwara in large numbers to pay their obeisance. On all of these three days, the ladies, with their helpers, worked hard in the kitchen to ensure that each one of the attendees enjoyed a very delicious vegetarian langar. On this special occasion, a number of their fellow villagers/area residents from various cities and countries including U.K,

U.S.A and Spain had come to join them. Sarwan Singh Randhawa, one of the main organizers of this event, mentioned that the Gurdwara in Talhan brings in very large donations from devotees. Most of this money is used for worthwhile causes and in helping the needy. It was mentioned that the Gurdwara provides a lot of money to the nearby hospital to give free medicines to the needy. Randhawa told the congregation that after paying for the expenses related to the Akhand Paath Sahib here, any leftover funds are donated UP # $ $IJMESFO T )PTQJUBM Cancer Foundation BOE )FBSU BOE 4USPLF 'PVOEBUJPO )F BMTP HBWF B brief talk about the Simran and Service mission of Baba /JIBM 4JOHI BOE #BCB )BSOBN 4JOHI Ä&#x2021;F Talhan Sangat must be commended for carrying on this tradition for twenty seven years. It provides them with a great opportunity to stay in touch with each other. The involvement of young people in this process is also commendable. Events and functions like this, act as great bridge builders between generations. Also, it encourages young people with same heritage and background to strengthen their mutual bonds. Often, in our community there are complaints that our youth is becoming BMJFOBUFE )PXFWFS BU GVODUJPOT MJLF UIJT UIFZ feel more valued and appreciated. The Talhan Sangat and the organizers must be commended for carrying on this noble task over the years. Another notable positive development in this case is that over these years, the Talhan Sangat has stayed fully united. The way they work together in a very cordial environment, offers an excellent example and model for others in our community. Management Committee of India Cultural Centre Gurdwara Nanak Niwas is very thankful to the entire Talhan Sangat and the organizers for setting a great example for others in our community. Balwant Sanghera (Balwant Sanghera is a retired School Psychologist and Community Activist. He is a member of the India Cultural Centre of Canada Gurdwara Nanak Niwas, Richmond, BC Management Committee)

Radhika Apte gets nominated for ‘Best Performance by an Actress

adhika Apte who is currently enjoying the fact that both her films Andhadhun and Padman have been bestowed by back to back

National Awards has found another reason to celebrate with this nomination Its celebration time for actress Radhika Apte as she has got nominated by the International Emmy Awards for Best Performance By An Actress for her character in Lust Stories. The actress who is currently enjoying the fact that both her films Andhadhun

and Padman have been bestowed by back to back National Awards has found another reason to celebrate with this nomination. Radhika was born on September 7, 1985 in Vellore, Tamil Nadu, brought up in Pune, Apte began acting in theatre She made her feature film debut with a brief role in the Hindi fantasy Vaah! Life Ho Toh

Aisi! (2005). Apte has since worked in Hindi,Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Bengali, and Englishlanguage films. Apte’s first starring role was in the 2009 Bengali social drama Antaheen. She got widespread praise for her supporting work in three of her 2015 Bollywood productions including the thriller Badlapur.

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Sunny Leone gets taste of her own ‘fake hand’ prank & her reaction is priceless!

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bounced back on her. In between the ongoing shoot, the actress threw a fake bloody red hand in the middle to scare her friends but instead they all began to laugh at the sight of it. Later, the actress’ manager Sunny Rajani deployed the same hand to scare the diva by creepily crawling behind her and she loudly screamed in fright, leaving her companions laughing out loud

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Bollywood Stunning Sunny Leone

unny Leone has been doing it all from her films to TV shows, and even promoting her makeup business. When not neck deep in work commitments, the star makes it a point to jet out on relaxing holidays with her hubby Daniel Weber and their three kids. This time around, the beauty headed over to Jaipur for a short break and surprised fans with a stunning photo to assure all that she is having a swell time there. Posting a mirror selfie in a floral bikini, the star not only showed off her curves but also gave everyone a good look at her sculpted abs. “Pulled this bikini after a long time! Time for a swim in my private villa pool here in Jaipur! Gorgeous resort!” she captioned the photo. While shooting for her TV show, Sunny also ventured South and starred in ‘Madhuraja’ featuring superstar Mammootty in the lead. known by the name Sunny Leone a Canadian-born Indian-American star and actress, model, currently in Indian film industry, Bollywood. She has American citizenship. She has also used the stage name Karen Malhotra.[8][9] She was

named Penthouse Pet of the Year in 2003, was a contract performer for Vivid Entertainment, and was named by Maxim as one of the 12 top porn stars in 2010. She has played roles in independent mainstream events, films and television series. Her first mainstream appearance was in 2005, when she worked as a red carpet reporter for the MTV Video Music Awards on MTV India. In 2011, she participated in the Indian reality television series Bigg Boss. She also has hosted the Indian reality show Splitsvilla. In 2012, she made her Bollywood debut in Pooja Bhatt’s erotic thriller Jism 2 (2012) and shifted her focus to mainstream acting which was followed up with Jackpot (2013), Ragini MMS 2 (2014), Ek Paheli Leela (2015) and Tera Intezaar (2017). Apart from her acting career she has been part of activism campaigns including the Rock ‘n’ Roll Los Angeles Half-Marathon to raise money for the American Cancer Society and has also posed for a People

Saturday, September 21, 2019

IIFA 2019: Saiee Manjrekar makes first public appearance with Salman Khan Saiee Manjrekar will be seen playing Salman Khan’s love-interest in Dabangg 3. She walked the IIFA 2019 green carpet with the superstar. Salman Khan & Saiee Manjrekar on the green carpet of IIFA Awards 2019. Saiee, Mahesh M a n j r e k a r ’s daughter, is all set to enter showbiz. The budding actress made her firstever appearance at the prestigious IIFA [International Academy Film Awards] 2019. Saiee walked in with her first film’s costar, Salman Khan. The award ceremony was held at a renowned stadium in Worli, south Mumbai. Saiee Manjrekar opted for a grey lehenga with pastel embroidery. She stunned on the green carpet alongside superstar Salman Khan. The awards night witnessed the who’s who of the industry and it was certainly one of the best platforms for the actress to make her first public appearance. Manjrekar was born on 29th August 1998 Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. She

is the daughter of famous filmmaker Mahesh Manjrekar. Her mother Deepa Mehta(Biological Mother), she is a Custom Designer. Medha

Manjrekar is also an actress. Saiee is one of the three siblings in her family. Her sister name Ashwami Manjrekar, who is also an actress. Her brother Satya Manjrekar also belongs to the same Industry. She completed her schooling from Dhirubhai Ambani International School, Mumbai. And after that, she did her graduation. She loves to dance from the teenage age. ike her family members, she also would like to make her career in the Indian show business. In this July, it was announced that she will make her big-screen

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Saturday, September 21, 2019

Deepika Padukone Deepika Padukone mobbed at a Ganpati pandal. Deepika was visiting Mumbaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s famous Lalbaugcha Raja Ganpati pandal to seek blessings of the God. As soon as the crowd got to know that the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Pikuâ&#x20AC;? star was in the pandal, they rushed to catch a glimpse of the actress. She was spotted in a heavy golden embroidered sari and big earrings. She completed the look with her hair tied into a sleek bun and minimum makeup. According to reports, Padukoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bodyguards had a tough time escorting the 33-year-old star for a darshan. On the work front, Padukone will next be seen in Meghna Gulzarâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;Chhapaak,â&#x20AC;? a film based

Bollywood HOROSCOPE

on acid attack survivor, Laxmi Agarwal. She will also be seen in Kabir Khanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;83.â&#x20AC;?Padukone formed her own production company KA Entertainment in 2019. She is the chairperson of the Mumbai Academy of the Moving Image and is the founder of the Live Love Laugh Foundation, which creates awareness on mental health in India. Vocal about issues such as feminism and depression, she also participates in stage shows, has written columns for a newspaper, designed her own line of clothing for women, and is a prominent celebrity

Aries March 21 - April 20 If you have noticed delays to your ambitions and career plans, things can begin to ease from this week as cautious Saturn turns direct in a more prominent zone. It may not happen right away, but gradually youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll begin to notice positive change. However, you could feel quite strongly about one goal, especially around Thursday when feisty Mars aligns with potent Pluto. You may be determined to make it happen,

Taurus April 21 - May 20 Cautious Saturn turns direct in your sector of travel and far horizons this week. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve postponed a trip for whatever reason, the coming weeks could see you back on track in this regard. And if there have been any issues around studying or working toward resolve, too. At the same time, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a certain intensity around that could be hard to ignore. This peaks on Thursday with a very focused Mars-Pluto transit. If thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s something you have your mind set on accomplishing,

Gemini May 20 - June 21 your mind, with one matter proving quite intense. This could involve a domestic issue or perhaps another problem that youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re eager to resolve. With dynamic Mars angling toward volcanic Pluto, you could be focused in your determination to overcome this or get the outcome you desire. This is a chance to make changes to your environment that may be long overdue.

Cancer June 22 - July 23

If certain relationships have been trying for whatever reason, there could be light at the end of the tunnel. As prudent Saturn turns direct in your sector of relating on Wednesday, your interactions could become more productive. It seems that rather than treading water, you are now making progress. There is also the potential for a collaboration or perhaps an intense encounter as dynamic Mars links with radical Pluto. Someone you meet this week could

Leo June 24 - August 23 Finances continue to be on your mind, and a delightful focus on your sector of communication encourages you to network and connect with people who may be helpful to you. At the same time, with prudent Saturn turning direct in your lifestyle zone on Wednesday, becomes easier. Perhaps there isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t as much pressure on you. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve spent some of the past months restructuring your workload,

Virgo There is still a focus on your sign that could see you being proactive and eager to get ahead. With this in mind, sobering Saturnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s forward motion from Wednesday can assist you in your plans. Although it may take a while to get back on track, obstacles can begin to melt away and progress become more possible. A very dynamic and intense aspect involving your creative and romance zone peaks on Thursday. Your feelings for someone could be very strong, but should you let them know?

Libra Sept. 24 - Oct 22 With luscious Venus and chatty Mercury in your sign, you may begin to feel more in control and eager to get socializing. Over this week and coming weeks, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be in your element and feeling much more vital. For now, though, you still have the chance

issues that may be draining your energy. And if family responsibilities have been keeping you very busy, the coming weeks can see you delegating some of them.

Scorpio Oct 23 - Nov 22 If doubts have held you back, sobering Saturnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s !

mindset begins to shift. And if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve spent the past few months working on your self-talk or perhaps taking charge of key issues, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll begin

Still, with dynamic Mars and potent Pluto forging a strong alliance that peaks on Thursday, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be in a very determined frame of mind.

Sagitarius Nov 23 - Dec 22 There is still a powerful focus on your sector of goals and ambitions, and this is certainly the week to make the most of them. As determined Mars aligns with volcanic " opportunity that can take you far. It might demand a lot of you, though, so be sure that itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s right for you before you commit. If this something youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d enjoy, it could be quite lucrative. In addition, with taskmaster Saturn turning direct in your money zone.

Capricorn Dec 23 - Jan 20 Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s good news this week as prudent Saturn in your sign turns direct after its retrograde phase of many months. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve # all begin to change. And if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve made changes to your plans during its retrograde phase and restructured key areas of your life, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll soon

Aquarius Jan 21 - Feb 19 As karmic Saturn turns direct in a secluded and spiritual zone midweek, you can begin to feel more at ease with yourself. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been busy sorting through issues, perhaps with a life coach or counselor, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll begin to see progress over the coming weeks. And while you may not be completely out of the woods, This week could be particularly intense, though, as a potent aspect across subtle sectors of your chart could see you eager to

you have more control and freedom in your life.

Pisces Feb 20 - March 20 If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve had issues with a certain friend over the past months, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a chance these can ease somewhat as prudent Saturn turns direct in your social zone midweek. And if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve pruned your contact list and let go of socalled friends who just seem to take and never give, you should already be feeling lighter and brighter. Things can only get better. A dynamic and potent aspect hints at a collaboration between you and a group or someone who shares your love of an interest or cause.

Bollywood

Saturday, September 21, 2019

Canadian Womenswear Brand, Nonie Premieres at New York Fashion Week Together with Telus with a call to #endbullying New York and online through the brandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

Canadian contemporary womenswear brand, NONIE, presented its Spring/Summer 2020 collection at the New York Fashion Week (NYFW) on Tuesday, September 10 at 1 P.M. at the NoMad Hotel (1170 Broadway St). It was here that NONIEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s South Asian founder and designer Nina Kharey also unveiled her new partnership with TELUS, a world-leading Canadian communications and information technology company and launched the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Love Gives Freedomâ&#x20AC;? t- shirt, in support of the fight against cyberbullying. In 2005, Nina lost her brother to a violent crime. Her passion for honoring his legacy and bringing positivity to the world as a result of his death, along with the quote, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Love does not claim possession, but gives freedomâ&#x20AC;? by Rabindranath Tagore, inspired the design. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The SS20 collection is heavily inspired by my roots in India, as a celebration of the empowering, vibrant and bold culture that it thrives upon,â&#x20AC;? states Nina Kharey, Founder and Designer of NONIE. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This shirt and campaign with TELUS is very close to my heart as Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been personally effected by a form of bullying and lost someone I deeply love because of it. I hope this shirt reminds people to always lead with love; there is no downside to expressing love and compassion.â&#x20AC;? This partnership is the latest in TELUSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; #EndBullying campaign, building on itsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; long-term commitment to making the digital world a safer and friendlier place. As a worldleading technology company and one of the most giving companies in the world, the TELUS team believes it has a responsibility to contribute to solving the crucial issue

of cyberbullying. Before launching the #EndBullying campaign in May 2018, TELUS already had a history of supporting the cause to end cyberbullying. Through the TELUS Wise program, TELUS provides free digital literacy education program that offers informative workshops and resources to help Canadians of all ages have a positive experience as digital citizens. To date, TELUS has invested more than $205M Nimtaz Kanji, Director, TELUS Wise Denise Bombier, Director, Brand & in educational Marketing Communications at TELUS Nina Kharey, Founder and Designer, programs to promote NONIE Jil Schnarr, Vice President, Corporate Citizenship & Communications safe and kind at TELUS and TELUSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; #EndBullying message behavior online. benefiting the TELUS Friendly Future â&#x20AC;&#x153;TELUS is pleased to partner with Foundation, together, we can make a the wonderfully talented designer Nina meaningful difference in our efforts to Kharey from NONIE as we strive to combat the heartbreaking practice of create a safer, more compassionate cyberbullying and help youth realize world for our young peopleâ&#x20AC;? said Darren their full potential.â&#x20AC;? Entwistle, President and CEO of TELUS. Proceeds from the sale of the shirts â&#x20AC;&#x153;Indeed, through Ninaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s inspired designs will be given to the TELUS Friendly Future Foundation to support #EndBullying programs across Canada. Alongside the launch of the new designs, world-renowned poet Rupi Kaur spoke as guest of honour on a panel along with Komal Minhas and Seema Bhansal Chadha, founder of Venus Et Fleur in company with NONIEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Nina Kharey celebrating Indian Women in entertainment, fashion and lifestyle, discussing issues prevalent to todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s youth, the digital community and achieving success. The SS20 collection and the TELUS shirt is now available for pre-order worldwide through http://www.houseofnonie. com/. NONIEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Autumn/Winter 2019 collection is available at FIVESTORY in

e-commerce platform, as well as leading luxury boutiques across North America. @TELUS #EndBullying #LoveGivesFreedom | @NONIE. OFFICIAL | #NONIE | WWW. HOUSEOFNONIE.COM MORE ABOUT NONIE The NONIE brand creates modern womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ready-to-wear pieces conceived and developed in Canada. The collections are made with a tailored and refined aesthetic, with accents of Eastern European and Indian inspiration, from the heart of the founder, Nina Khareyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s creative vision. The collection introduces new directional styles to embrace and represent Ninaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own heritage and love of minimalistic lines inspired by her Indian roots with new wrapping and tying techniques. Featuring new colourways of earthy greens, creams and incorporating bright yellows and bold blues, the collectionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s notable pieces include silk bodysuits and relaxed silhouettes, true to NONIE â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a sophisticated collection for the modern woman. MORE ABOUT THE #ENDBULLYING ] The #EndBullying campaign builds on TELUSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; long-term commitment to making the digital world a friendlier place for Canadian youth. As a world-leading technology company and one of the most giving companies in the world, the TELUS team believes it has a responsibility to contribute to solving the crucial issue of cyberbullying in Canada. TELUS Wise, a free educational program established in 2013, offers workshops and materials related to digital safety and cyberbullying in partnership with organizations like PREVNet, MediaSmarts and WE. Further demonstrating their leadership in this space, TELUS has invested more than $200M in educational programs to promote safe and kind behaviour online. To learn more about TELUSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; commitment to #EndBullying visit telus.com/endbullying In October 2018, TELUS launched The Future Friendly Foundation, an independent charitable organization mandated to address the social and economic challenges facing Canadaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s disadvantaged youth. #EndBullying is one of many social-purpose initiatives supported by the Foundation to help youth reach their full potential.

Saturday, September 21, 2019

Tolko shrinks forest operations one day after the launch of botched NDP forestry plan One day after John Horgan and the NDP announced a late and sadly lacking response to the crisis in the forest industry, Tolko Industries announced today that it will be reducing its stud capacity by 20 per cent at its Soda Creek and Armstrong lumber mills. Tolko Vice President Troy Connolly stated today’s announcement is due to continued and increased costs which have eroded competitiveness. “Yesterday’s forestry announcement does nothing to drive down costs and help existing producers stay competitive,” says BC Liberal Forestry Critic and Nechako Lakes MLA John Rustad. “This is nothing new from John Horgan and the NDP as they continue to ignore the plight of forestry-dependent families while the industry struggles. As workers and contractors also fight to stay afloat, the industry continues to drown due to NDP policies.” “Williams Lake and the Cariboo Region have been hardest hit by the forest industry crisis

and we can’t afford any further reductions,” says Rural Development Critic and Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA Donna Barnett. “It’s important to have a plan for early retirement for older workers, but yesterday’s announcement contained nothing that will help current forestry workers stay in the industry and make it competitive once again.” “The NDP’s assistance program for forestry is too little too late to prevent further layoffs and mill reductions,” says Shuswap MLA Greg Kyllo. “Job losses will continue and communities will suffer more unless this NDP government comes up with a plan to make our forest industry competitive once again. We aren’t seeing mill closures in Alberta or other neighbouring jurisdictions. This government’s current policies and increased taxes are killing the global competitiveness of B.C.’s world-class facilities.”

Bollywood

Press release

Second Surrey hospital put on the back burner by John Horgan and the NDP Surrey’s BC Liberal MLAs are again calling on John Horgan to provide a firm commitment to a second hospital for Surrey residents – a project they say is desperately needed but has fallen by the wayside under the NDP government. “It’s been more than two years since John Horgan promised Surrey voters a second hospital – but Surrey seems to have been forgotten after election time,” says Stephanie Cadieux, MLA for Surrey South. “Surrey residents have been left in the dark with no timeline, no details, and no assurances. As far as they know, this has fallen completely off John Horgan’s radar.” The renewed calls follow the announcement of a new hospital project in Burnaby. When making the announcement, John Horgan’s health minister said this would be the last major hospital announcement for the time being – finally confirming the fears of Surrey residents. “Many parts of the Lower Mainland are growing, placing pressure on existing healthcare facilities,” says Tracy

Redies, MLA for Surrey-White Rock. “A new hospital is good news for the people of Burnaby. But John Horgan and the NDP simply can’t ignore the fact that Surrey is growing too – and growing more rapidly than any other city in British Columbia. Quite frankly, investment under John Horgan and the NDP hasn’t kept up.” Surrey is one of the fastest-growing cities in Canada and is poised to overtake Vancouver as British Columbia’s largest city. While Vancouver has six hospitals, Surrey still has only one. “John Horgan’s health minister seems more interested in avoiding responsibility and playing blame games than actually making concrete progress on this project,” says Marvin Hunt, MLA for Surrey-Cloverdale. “The citizens of Surrey were promised a new hospital, new schools, and better transit – promises that haven’t been kept by John Horgan and the NDP. Surrey residents deserve a government that will act on its promises. Surrey deserves better.”

BC Liberal statement on the B.C. Court of Appeal Trans Mountain decision

Press release

Peter Milobar, Environment and Climate Change Critic and Kamloops-North Thompson MLA, released the following statement on today’s B.C. Court of Appeal ruling: “The Trans Mountain Pipeline is federally approved and we hope that the NDP will not use today’s news as a chance to obstruct and delay this vital national project. Constructing this pipeline will provide significant benefits to B.C., helping to alleviate gas prices while creating new jobs and investment in the province. Until now, the NDP government has tried to obstruct the

project at every turn, with the Environment Minister even going so far as to create a halfbaked regulatory scheme that sparked a trade war with Alberta before it was rightly rejected by the courts. “When John Horgan and the NDP try to delay this project, it is British Columbians who end up paying the price. It is high time for the government to get out of the way and allow the project to continue. John Horgan must re-approve the environmental assessment certificate and allow British Columbians to get to work building this much-needed pipeline.”

Vol. 10 No. 34

Saturday, September 21, 2019

Saturday - September 21, 2019

Tel: 604-591-5423

E-mail: ads@theasianstar.com

Vancouver approves more market rental housing after contentious public hearing Several councillors have regularly said no to divisive rental projects — but they’re from different parties Justin McElroy · CBC News · Posted: Sep 18, 2019 8:08 PM PT | Last Updated: September 18 A model of the 35unit rental building that Vancouver council approved on Grant Street between Woodland The latest Canadian house price forecast from Moody’s Analytics really has no good news for anyone. If you’re a homeowner hoping to make big equity gains, forget it. And if you’re an aspiring homebuyer hoping for a reprieve from astronomical urban house prices, forget

and Cotton Drive, which will displace seven rental units in four houses currently on the property. (City of Vancouver) Vancouver city council approved rezoning for a new rental apartment in the heart of the city’s eastside on Tuesday, but it didn’t come without considerable

debate. By a 6-3 vote, council voted in favour of a proposed five-storey, 35-unit apartment on Grant Street, just a block west of Commercial Drive. It will replace four homes that have been purchased by the developer, and the proposal met the guidelines for the GrandviewW o o d l a n d community plan passed earlier this

decade. “The choice here is not to leave these homes. It’s either for a four-storey condo building, or what’s in front of us,” said Mayor Kennedy Stewart, who voted in favour of the apartment building, along with councillors Christine Boyle, Melissa De Genova, Lisa Dominato, Sarah Kirby-Yung and Michael Wiebe.

Canadian house price forecast: What the next 5 years will look like in 33 cities that too. The forecast calls for house prices nationwide to grow by an average of 2.2 per cent per year over the next five years. Given that the Bank of Canada is predicting inflation at 2 per cent in the coming years, this means that inflation-adjusted house prices will likely

see no net growth. With Canada’s economy bouncing back from a slowdown at the start of the year, Moody’s expects mortgage rates to rise by a full percentage point over the next two years. That increase in monthly housing costs, combined with high prices and high debt levels,

will keep prices in check, the research firm predicts. “House price appreciation will slow down in 2020, turn briefly negative in 2021, and only recover in the following years,” wrote Andres Carbacho-Burgos, a director and head housing economist at Moody’s Analytics.

Saturday, September 21, 2019

Reasons why Canada’s apartment building owners are happy

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

Here are other main drivers that Morassutti and his firm believe will continue to stoke demand for apartment buildings in Canada. Population growth: Canada’s population is expected to grow by nearly one per cent annually over the next four years, surpassing growth in all other G7 countries, the report said. Much of this momentum is being fuelled by immigration, which accounted for 80.5 per cent of the country’s population growth last year. The government has a plan to welcome one million new immigrants between 2019 and 2021. Much of that new population is settling in the Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver regions, with Toronto and Vancouver experiencing the sharpest annual apartment rental price growth of 5.0 per cent and 7.1 per cent, respectively, over the past four years. Shortage of new supply Canada’s big cities

are not building enough new rental apartments to keep up with demand, when compared to global peers, the report said. The largest rental market in Canada is Montreal with just under 600,000 units. Toronto follows well behind with 313,000 units, and Vancouver trails with just 109,000 units. Units on the secondary market,

including privately rented condos, do close the gap, but it’s clear that renters across the country need more options, or else rents will continue to climb. While we are seeing increased construction of rental units more recently, the overall number remains relatively low, Morassutti said. Rising cost of home ownership An expanding proportion of Canada’s big-city dwellers can’t afford to buy a home. This factor, above all others, is probably having the greatest effect on stoking apartment rental prices, while spurring investors to buy buildings, Morassutti said. “In Toronto, if you want to buy a detached house or semi-detached house, you need to have a household income of close to $200,000,” he said. “The average household income in Toronto I believe is something like $100,000.” (According to the last Canadian census, the average household in the Greater Toronto Area earned $87,993 after tax.) That leaves residents with only a couple of choices. They can buy a condo, or they can rent. “As affordability has become more of an issue, and it’s an issue that I don’t believe is going to go away in (Vancouver and Toronto), that will continue to underpin strong rental growth — especially when we really don’t have a lot of supply in purpose-built housing coming on stream,” Morassutti said.

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

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

Royal LePage in a press release. The Greater Ottawa condo price per square foot appreciated the fastest among the cities that were measured, rising 17.9 per cent yearover-year to $395, while the Greater Vancouver price actually declined the most by 8.3 per cent to $764. “We are seeing significant interest in Ottawa’s south and west ends from residents working

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

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

in the nearby military and technology hubs,” said Kent Browne, broker and owner of Royal LePage TEAM Realty. The city of Vancouver remains the most expensive condo market in the country, with homebuyers paying $1,044 per square foot for a condo and $1,279 per square foot for a single-family detached home. Greater Calgary offers the lowest condo price per square foot, with a fall of 6.7 per cent to $313.“For the

Classifieds / Jobs Looking for work? Cleaning company wanted workers for clean up job in Coquitlam For more details please call 604-902-2858

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Help wanted Clean-up workers wanted Tsawassen Mills area mall, only sub-contracters, bring your own ride, experienced workers only please phone:

Phone: 778-240-0101 / 604-902-2858 South Asian Seniors - Evaluation Workshop on Advanced Care Planning, 22nd September 2019 (Sunday) from 2.00 pm to 3.30 pm at Shanti Niketan hall. Vedic Seniors Parivar Center of Vedic Hindu Cultural Society Surrey invites South Asian Senior members and nonmembers also those who have attended the previous workshop on Advance Care Planning, to attend Evaluation Workshop to be held on 22nd September 2019 (Sunday) from 2.00 pm to 3.30 pm at Shanti Niketan hall of Lakshmi Narayan Hindu Temple 8321 - 140th street Surrey BC V3W 5K9. The workshop will be conducted by Savitri Singh Carlson from San Diego USA, Jas Cheema Surrey BC & R. Carter from B C Centre for Pallative Care. All information collected will be kept strictly confidential. Tea and light snacks will be served after the workshop. Please contact Surendra Handa Coordinator Tel. 604 - 507 - 9945 for further information

Child care provider required at a private home Location Surrey, BC - Salary $14.50 to $14.75 / Hour (To be negotiated) Permanent, Full time 40 Hours / Week Start date As soon as possible Job requirements Languages English Education College, CEGEP or other non-university certificate or diploma from a program of 1 year to 2 years Experience 1 year to less than 2 years Additional Skills Assume full responsibility for household in absence of parents, Perform light housekeeping and cleaning duties, Shop for food and household supplies, Travel with family on trips and assist with child supervision and housekeeping duties, Wash, iron and press clothing and household linens Children’s Ages School age (6 - 12 years), and 2 - 3 years Specific Skills Bathe,

dress and feed infants and children, Discipline children according to the methods requested by the parents, Prepare infants and children for rest periods, Keep records of daily activities and health information regarding children, Sterilize bottles, prepare formulas and change diapers for infants, Maintain a safe and healthy environment in the home, Take children to and from school and to appointments, Tend to emotional well-being of children, Instruct children in personal hygiene and social development, Organize, activities such as games and outings for children, Prepare and serve nutritious meals, Supervise and care for children, Help children with homework Work Setting Employer’s home How to apply By email: umendrasingh@hotmail.com By phone: 604-537-3551

Saturday, September 21, 2019

Housing market forecast through 2020 Home sales in every BC region to recover in 2020 - a forecast. Total home transactions across province expected to rise 11 per cent versus 2019, with average sale prices also predicted to increase in every area. Although every region in B.C. is expected to see lower home sales in 2019 than in 2018, sales will more than recover in 2020, according to a September 5 forecast by the British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA). Overall in 2019, residential transactions across the province are predicted to be five per cent lower, at about 75,000 units, than the 78,505 sales of 2018. Every one of B.C.’s 12 boards is expected to report a year-overyear decline in total sales across 2019, with drops ranging from one to 14 per cent. However, BCREA forecasted that every board will see considerable sales jumps in 2020, totalling a province-wide increase of

nearly 11 per cent to 82,700 homes — which the association said would be just below the 10-year annual average. “B.C. markets are showing signs of recovery after nearly a year and a half of policy-induced declines,” said Brendon Ogmundson, BCREA’s deputy chief economist. “We expect that recovery to continue into next year, with home sales normalizing around long-term averages.” BCREA BC home sales forecast Sept 2019 Having seen the steepest annual sales declines in 2018, and a forecast drop of 2.2 per cent in 2019, Greater Vancouver is expected to see the biggest recovery in 2020, said BCREA. Home resales in the Greater Vancouver region are predicted to rise 16.3 per cent to 28,500 units — still a far cry from 42,000 sales of 2015, but a marked improvement over both 2018 and 2019.

The optimistic Metro Vancouver forecast follows a September 4 report by the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver that the region’s home sales in August rose nearly 16 per cent year over year, following a 23.5 per cent annual jump in July. BCREA said the Fraser Valley is also expected to outperform the previous two years of home resales, with a forecast rise in 2020 of 12.4 per cent year over year. Victoria and Vancouver Island, having not seen declines as steep as the Lower Mainland, are expected to see 2020 sales improve by less than the provincial average, at 7.5 and 5.5 per cent respectively. Average home prices in 2020 are also expected to improve on those achieved in 2019, in every B.C. real estate board jurisdiction — albeit

by modest amounts. The overall B.C. average sale price is forecast to rise by 3.3 per cent, with predicted rises ranging from 0.2 per cent in Victoria to four per cent in the B.C. Northern region. Greater Vancouver sale prices are predicted to be down 5.6 per cent in 2019 to $990K, but are forecast to increase two per cent in 2020 to an average of $1.01 million. Auto sales climb 0.6 per cent in August for first rise in 17 months. New condo building proposed under Grandview-Woodland Community Plan New condo building proposed under Grandview-Woodland Community.

GVRD real estate sales return to ‘more typical levels’ in August: REBGV Metro Vancouver’s summer real estate bump continued in August, with sales returning to “more typical levels” according to the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV). The board’s latest report says the region saw 2,231 sales last month, up 15.7 per cent from August 2018, though down 12.7 per cent from July 2019. Greater Vancouver home sales jump in July, but prices continue steady slide It’s the second month in a row with year-overyear sales growth, after more than a year of slumping sales in what many analysts have called a correction to the region’s previously whitehot market. Mortgage stress test contributes to a decline in BC home sales August’s growth was led by a large boost in sales of detached homes, which jumped 24.5 per cent over August 2018, while condo sales

climbed by 8.9 per cent year-over-year. However, August’s sales total remained more than nine per cent below the 10-year sales average for the month. Metro Vancouver’s June home sales lowest since Y2K, benchmark price drops below $1M Despite the boost in sales, inventory remains high in the region, with 12,296 homes on the market – up 13.3 per cent over August last year, though down 5.9 per cent from July. “With more demand from home buyers, the supply of homes listed for sale isn’t accumulating like earlier in the year. These changes are creating more balanced market conditions,” said REBGV president Ashley Smith in a media release. Despite the stronger sales figures, prices in the region continued to slide. Greater Vancouver home prices 1977-present.

Greater Vancouver home prices 1977-present. Real Estate Board of Greater Vancovuer The benchmark price for detached houses across the region was $1.4 million, according to the board, down 9.8 per cent from August last year, and down 0.7 per cent from July. The dip in prices from August 2018 was led by Richmond (12.6 per cent), Vancouver’s west side (12 per cent), Vancouver’s east side and Coquitlam (11.4 per cent) and West Vancouver (11 per cent). Metro Vancouver home sales up ‘modestly’ in May: Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver Whistler and Squamish were the only

municipalities in the region to see yearover-year price growth, at 7.9 per cent and 5.6 per cent respectively. The benchmark price of a condo across the region was $771,000, down 7.4 year-over-year, and up 0.1 per cent from July.The drop in prices from August 2018 was led by West Vancouver (11.3 per cent), east Burnaby (10.5 per cent), south Burnaby (9.6 per cent) and New Westminster (9 per cent). As with detached homes, just Whistler (3.4 per cent) and Squamish (1.1 per cent) saw apartment price growth year over year.

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John Horgan and the NDP raise the white flag over B.C.’s forest industry

Press release

Forestry workers wishing to continue working in the industry can take little comfort in today’s announcement by John Horgan and the NDP, who remain absent on this file with no plan to help the industry succeed through this crisis. “The vast majority of people in forest-dependent communities want and need to work, but there was nothing announced today to help the industry return to a healthy and competitive position,” says BC Liberal Forestry Critic and Nechako Lakes MLA John Rustad. “Clearly, the NDP does not see its own role in the crisis by making B.C. the least competitive jurisdiction in North America to do business. High taxes and a refusal to make stumpage fees more consistent with current market values is pricing B.C. out of reach. It appears John Horgan and the NDP would rather focus on early retirement and getting people out of the forestry sector than taking meaningful action to help them succeed

today.” Despite the BC Liberals presenting a comprehensive five-point recovery plan in June, the NDP waited until the country was in the middle of a federal election before finally deciding to act. Today’s announcement only references communities in the Interior, ignoring coastal communities like Surrey, Maple Ridge and others on Vancouver Island that have also been hard hit by mill closures and indefinite curtailments. “It appears the NDP is throwing in the towel and conceding that B.C. has too many mills and the industry needs to be downsized,” says Prince GeorgeMackenzie MLA Mike Morris. “I know for a fact that there are plenty of people in communities like Mackenzie who would rather have long-term job stability rather than simply being shown the exit. Today’s announcement does nothing to drive down costs to help existing producers stay competitive and keep workers working.”

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Press release

BC Liberals blame others for their inaction on second Surrey hospital After actively blocking every effort to get a second hospital built in Surrey while in government, the BC Liberals are now blaming others for their refusal to provide families critical improvements to health services. While in government, the BC Liberals did not just stall on addressing this critical project for the people of Surrey, they actively opposed it. They decided not to proceed with a second hospital and sold off land that could have been potential sites of the

hospital to private developers. Unlike the BC Liberals, the BC NDP government announced the launch of planning for a second hospital in 2017, less than six months after being sworn in. That process is now well underway and an announcement on next steps is expected by the end of the year. The hospital will help complement other new health services provided in Surrey including the Surrey Urgent Primary Care Centre, the addition of new MRIs in Surrey and the surrounding

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NDP continues to ignore Lower Mainland forestry workers in ongoing crisis

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region, and the first-of-its-kind new urgent care for mental health and addictions that opened in August 2019. Since opening in 2018, there have been over 10,000 patient visits to the Surrey Urgent Primary Care Centre, and 65,300 more MRI exams delivered in the region – an increase of 17 per cent from the previous year. “For too long, the people of Surrey were ignored by the BC Liberal government. The BC NDP government is committed to

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BC Ferries wants input on concepts for a Horseshoe Bay terminal re-design Anyone who travels to and from the Lower Mainland via Horseshoe Bay can have their say about what they would like to see in a new ferry terminal. B.C. Ferries wants customers and communities to share their feedback on draft concepts for its Horseshoe Bay terminal re-development plan. The corporation is taking public input online until Oct. 13 and will host a community engagement event in West Vancouver. The Horseshoe Bay terminal development plan is a 25-year plan for the future of the terminal, which is at capacity, making it difficult and sometimes challenging for customers to travel, according to a B.C. Ferries press release. Also, some of the terminal’s infrastructure will soon need to be replaced, making it a good

time to explore possible terminal improvements. B.C. Ferries completed the third phase of its engagement program last year when it heard from more than 1,500 people about what is important to them in a future terminal at Horseshoe Bay. Major themes that emerged related to efficiency, ensuring accessibility for all transportation modes and creating benefit for and integration with the village of Horseshoe Bay. A summary of feedback received is available at this link.

The ferry corporation said it has paid particular attention to improving loading and unloading efficiency and fare affordability and, in later phases of its planning, will explore the potential of a community transportation hub. “We’ve developed these draft concepts with what we heard, and now we want to further define them with more input from the community,” said Mark Wilson, B.C. Ferries’ vice-president of strategy and community

engagement, in the release. “The Horseshoe Bay terminal plays a significant role in connecting communities and customers. This makes it a good time to get more detailed input on how we improve the terminal to meet the community’s future growth and emerging needs.” B.C. Ferries will put together and release a summary report based on feedback on the draft concepts, and expects to present the preferred design in 2020. The first phase of terminal construction could start in the middle of the next decade. The community engagement session happens Oct. 7, 4-8 p.m., at the Gleneagles Golf Course in West Vancouver. For more information, visit http:// bcferries.com/about/hsbterminal.

Alberta soldier charged with attempted murder of her three children A soldier who works at Canadian Forces Base Edmonton has been charged with the attempted murder of her three children. Cpl. Chantal Jadwiga Condie, 41, also faces arson charges after a fire at their home on the base on July 20, 2015, according to court records. She has been out on bail and was set to enter a plea Thursday at the courthouse in St. Albert, Alta. In a separate civil lawsuit, her exhusband, Drew Condie, alleges the children were in their mother’s care when the fire broke out in the basement. He alleges the fire was initially ruled an accident by military police, but the investigation was later reopened. No one from the Canadian Armed Forces has commented on the investigation. Condie’s lawsuit alleges that Chantal Condie gave the children a sleeping aid that night and that a letter “in the nature of a suicide note” was found a month after the fire. She denies both in her statement of defence. The lawsuit says that she took the children to West Edmonton Mall’s Fantasyland Hotel and Galaxyland amusement park before the fire. “The defendant treated them to the following: nice and expensive restaurants, to a day in Galaxyland and to about two movies,” says the statement of claim. “This behaviour was out of the ordinary. “The minor plaintiffs claim that this ‘great’ weekend was in preparation for the defendant’s ultimate plan of killing them and herself through fire.”

Mediation to begin in contact talks between BC’s E-Comm, emergency dispatchers A mediator has been appointed as emergency dispatchers try to reach a new contract with their employer, E-Comm Emergency Communications for British Columbia. More than 500 emergency dispatchers, call takers and support staff are members of Cupe Local 873-02. A release from the union says the workers are the first point of contact for 911 callers in 25 regional districts, 40 fire departments and 33 police agencies, handling almost every 911 call placed in B.C. They have been without a contract since Dec. 31, 2018, when CUPE says their last three-year agreement expired. Mediator Trevor Sones has been appointed by the BC Labour Relations Board. CUPE says the first round of mediated talks begins Sept. 27 in Vancouver. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 18, 2019.

Saturday, September 21, 2019

Canada’s inflation falls to 1.9% in August Canada’s annual inflation rate fell slightly to 1.9 per cent in August on lower gasoline prices, Statistics Canada said on Wednesday in its first major data release since Canadian politicians formally hit the campaign trail. Analysts in a Reuters poll had forecast an inflation rate of 2.0 per cent. Canada’s annual inflation rate in July was 2.0 per cent. After the data release, the Canadian dollar held steady near $1.3250, or 75.47 U.S. cents. Canada is in the midst of a national election with polls showing the governing Liberals are in a tight bid for reelection against the opposition Conservatives, who have focused their campaign on issues related to the cost of living and affordability. Canadians vote on Oct. 21. Consumer prices for gasoline, Statistics Canada said, fell 10.2 per cent in the 12 months to August following a 6.9 per cent decline in July. Global oil prices also declined

slightly in August, due to higher production and softer international demand. Meanwhile, the price of fresh vegetables dropped 6.5 per cent in August from July — the largest month-over-month decline seen in five years — as temporary pressures because of inclement weather in agricultural regions eased. Fresh and frozen pork were also cheaper, dropping 2.7 per cent from July due to trade restrictions on Canadian pork exports. Despite the weaker pork prices, Statscan said the overall year-over-year cost for meat rose 4.8 per cent in August. Earlier this month, the Bank of Canada held interest rates steady and made no mention of future cuts. The central bank, which has sat on the sidelines since last October, has said Canada’s economy is showing a “welcome degree of resilience” to negative shocks.

Lamborghini driver pulled over for allegedly going 210 km/h says he was ‘showing off’ An Ohio driver gave a uniquely blunt answer after being confronted by police for allegedly speeding – he “was just showing off.” Body cam footage released by the Newburgh Heights Police Department on Sept. 12 shows an officer speaking to a man allegedly pulled over for driving more than 131 miles per hour (210 km/h) . “You know how fast you were going,” the officer says. “Everyone was honking their horn as they’re going by.” But when asked what the hurry was, the driver simply said he “was just showing off.” His blunt honesty did him no favours with local law enforcement, who said he could have caused a very serious crash.

The accused is facing charges for speeding and reckless operation of a motor vehicle. He will appear in court later this month.

RCMP commissioner says info in FBI probe led to arrest of intelligence director An RCMP employee charged with trying to disclose secret information was discovered after a joint probe with the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation pointed to a mole in the force, top Mountie Brenda Lucki said Tuesday. The RCMP commissioner, addressing the arrest of Cameron Jay Ortis in person for the first time, also said there is a lot of conjecture, speculation and false information swirling about the case. Lucki told a news conference that investigators came across documents during the probe with the FBI that led the Mounties to believe there could be some kind of “internal corruption.” A sensitive-investigations team looked for months into possible leaks before the arrest

last week of the 47-year-old Ortis, who faces charges under the Security of Information Act as well as two Criminal Code provisions for allegedly trying to disclose classified material to a foreign entity or terrorist group. Lucki would not comment on a possible motive, what foreign entity is involved, or what information Ortis had access to in his role as director general of the RCMP’s national intelligence co-ordination centre. The RCMP commissioner didn’t directly address media reports that Ortis’s arrest stemmed from the dismantling of a Canadian firm, Phantom Secure, that sold phones allowing uncrackable communication.

LOCAL / NATIONAL

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Report finds immigrant wage gap costing Canada $50 billion a year in GDP The growing wage gap between immigrants and Canadian-born workers has hit a new high, with new Canadians earning 10 per cent less on average, says a new report. The gulf, which spans age, gender, region and occupation, is costing the country $50 billion each year, according to an RBC Economics study set for release Wednesday. The problem stems from a failure to adequately recognize credentials and work experience abroad, said Dawn Desjardins, deputy chief economist at RBC Economics. About 38 per cent of university-educated immigrants aged 25 to 54 work at a job that fits their education level, compared with more than half of their Canadian-born counterparts. “That means we’re not really maximizing that education, but as well we’re not necessarily maximizing the experience that some of these workers have,” Desjardins said in a phone interview. “We’re not really correctly valuing their contribution to Canada’s economy, to the labour market. And therefore we’re leaving on the table, I would say, some of this excess return we could be accruing to the economy overall.” More than half of the earnings gap — the shortfall is 18 per cent for immigrants aged 45 to 54 with a bachelor’s degree or higher — can be attributed to employers discounting work experience gained in other countries, she said. The gap in median earnings is nothing new but has risen over the past three decades, climbing to 10.3 per cent in 2016 from 3.8 per cent in 1986. The report notes that Canada remains popular among — and reliant upon — immigrants. A recent Gallup poll found that the country came

second only to the U.S. as a desired destination. “Pretty good for a country of 37 million with a long winter,” the RBC study states. With so many Irish immigrants, B.C. now home to 2nd Irish consulate Excluding non-permanent families from Canada Child Benefit unfair: report Immigrants make up one-fifth of Canada’s population, a number that’s expected to rise to 28 per cent by 2036, according to the report, titled “Untapped Potential.” “Canada needs to close its immigrant wage gap,” it states, arguing that doing so would boost the country’s annual GDP by as much as 2.5 per cent, or about $50 billion. Desjardins said the federal government should upgrade its credentials assessments — a “longstanding problem” — to help employers recognize foreign work experience and devote more resources to aiding immigrants’ transition into the workforce. The report gives a nod to government efforts to fill labour gaps with skilled immigrant workers, including the Express Entry program introduced by the federal Conservatives in 2015, expanded Provincial Nominee programs and beefed-up pre- and post-settlement services. The earnings gap is particularly stark in manufacturing — about 23 per cent— and agriculture — roughly 16 per cent — and sits at between 10 and 15 per cent in education, law and trades. The divide is greatest in the Prairies, with hourly wages hovering at about 20 per cent less for immigrants. It is narrowest in the Atlantic provinces, possibly due to efforts to attract a younger workforce, the report says.

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LOCAL / NATIONAL

Saturday, September 21, 2019

Canadians’ average net worth shrinks for first time in almost a decade amid Bank of Canada rate hikes The net worth of the average Canadian household fell for the first time in almost a decade as growing debts, shrinking pensions and declining liquid assets took their toll, according to a new report by Environics Analytics. The average Canadian net worth dropped by $7,594 or 1.1 per cent to $678,792 last year as increases in the housing market were more than offset by the late 2018 stock market correction, higher debt levels and a downward tick in pension plan values, Toronto-based Environics reported. The average home gained $6,336 in equity or 1.6 per cent while the stock market downturn erased an average $10,045 and debt It’s been a little more than a decade since the former federal Conservative government introduced the tax-free savings account (TFSA)

levels increased by an average of $3,309 or 2.3 per cent, the marketing and analysis company said. Pension plans lost an average of $576 or 0.4 per cent, it said. “Canadian households felt the effects of a significant decline in equity market valuations over the fourth quarter of the year,” Peter Miron, senior vice president of Environics Analytics’ research and development, said in a statement. Canadian inflation falls to 1.9% in August

on lower gas prices Ottawa runs deficit bigger than $10 billion three years in a row Canadians less indebted as rebounding equity, property prices bolster net wealth The Bank of Canada hiked the benchmark interest rate five times from 2017 to last October, contributing to higher debt levels. A report on average net worth this year might show an improved

picture as the stock market has recovered, housing prices are rebounding in most areas from the introduction of mortgagecurbing rules and the central bank has kept interest rates at 1.75 per cent. “Canadians are actively taking steps to rein in their debts and build up their savings,” Miron said, for instance by converting their variable-rate, nonmortgage debt into locked-in loans. He said Canadians were “relatively prudent in terms of their debt acquisition and repayment in 2018” as “four provinces saw the average debt per household decline.”

Canadians should be making better use of TFSAs as a financial planning tool to help Canadians increase their net worth. However, recent

research shows the TFSA has been used more as a piggy bank than a tax-efficient investment vehicle – and financial advisors believe this is a missed opportunity for investors. A recent Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) survey reveals that 43 per cent of Canadians believe TFSAs are for savings and not for growing investments, although about twothirds (65 per cent) of TFSA holders said they haven’t withdrawn money from these accounts. The survey also shows the top five holdings in a TFSA are cash, at 42 per cent, followed by mutual funds (28 per cent), stocks (19 per cent), guaranteed investment certificates or term deposits (15 per cent) and exchange-traded funds (ETFs; 7 per cent). Many advisors blame the misleading word “savings” in the TFSA and believe it’s up to them and the investment industry to outline the benefits of tax-free returns to

help investors reach their financial goals. “It’s probably the worst-named product in the investment world. They should’ve called it a tax-free investment account or something along those lines,” says Stuart Gray, director of RBC’s Financial Planning Centre of Expertise. (A Department of Finance Canada spokesperson would only say that the “government of the day made the decision” when asked why the vehicle was named the TFSA.) Although some Canadians are drawn to the flexibility of having cash in their TFSAs, Mr. Gray says they’re missing out on the advantage of using the account to invest in a variety of products and to benefit from compounding, tax-free returns. “Advisors have a role in helping clients understand the benefits of a TFSA and how they align to their broader goals,” he says. “It really comes down to the flexibility of the TFSA.”

Parts shortage leads GM to lay off 1,200 temporarily in Canada

The strike against General Motors Co’s (GM.N) U.S. operations has led to a parts shortage, the automaker said on Wednesday, and as a result it announced the temporary lay-offs of 1,200 workers at its Oshawa assembly plant in Canada. The plant, which makes the Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra pickup trucks, ran out of parts on Tuesday. The lay-off announcement came three days after about 48,000 hourly workers went on strike across GM facilities in the United States. Contract talks began early on Wednesday and were continuing into

the evening aimed at reaching a deal, but no agreement was expected immediately. “We anticipated there would be an impact because of the strike,” David Paterson, a spokesman for General Motors in Canada, told Reuters. The Oshawa plant will continue to make sedans. Separately, Democrats in the U.S. Congress ramped up criticism of GM over its decision to shift health insurance costs for its striking workers to the union and urged the company reach a deal.

Canadian home prices rise for fourth straight month in August Canadian home prices rose for the fourth consecutive month in August, while the annual increase in prices picked up for the first time in nine months, data on Thursday showed. The TeranetNational Bank Composite House Price Index, which measures changes for repeat sales of single-family homes, showed that prices rose 0.4% last month from July. The index was also higher when seasonally adjusted, which was not so in May, June and July, said Marc Pinsonneault, a senior economist at National Bank of Canada. The Bank of Canada said earlier this month that activity in Canada’s housing market has recovered more quickly than

expected, helped by lower mortgage rates. Activity had been restrained by the introduction of tighter mortgage rules at the start of 2018. Still, the A u g u s t increase was below the average for the month seen over 21 years covered by the index. Compared to the same m o n t h one-year ago, the index gained 0.6%. It was led by a 6.4% advance for the capital region of Ottawa-Gatineau. For Toronto, Canada’s most populous city, the year-over-year increase was 3.8%. Meanwhile, some markets in western Canada were a drag on the index, including Vancouver which was down 6.6%.

Saturday, September 21, 2019

Trudeau talks old age security, CPP benefits during New Burnswick campaign stop Justin Trudeau is promising to do more to boost incomes for seniors, widows and widowers, one of a number of big ticket election promises he’s made in the first week of the campaign. But so far, independent costings of Liberal platform pledges by the parliamentary budget officer have not been released -- nor will they be until after they have all been publicly announced, the Liberal leader said. A re-elected Liberal government would increase old age security by 10 per cent once a senior turns 75, and boost the Canada Pension Plan survivor benefit by 25 per cent, Trudeau pledged Wednesday morning at a lawn-bowling club in Fredericton -- a riding the Liberals picked up in 2015 as part of their sweep of the Atlantic provinces.dnesday, Sept. 18, 2019. “Our parents have worked so hard and sacrificed so much to give us a good life,” Trudeau said. “Once they get to retirement, they shouldn’t have to worry about their savings running out.” Survivor benefits would see an increase of up to $2,080 under the Liberal proposal, which would need provincial approval. Increases to OAS would mean $729 more each year for eligible seniors, with changes to take effect in July 2020 and indexed to keep up with inflation. The Liberals say the increase to OAS, which is

paid out of current government funds, would cost $1.63 billion in 2020-21, rising to $2.56 billion in 2023-24. So far, using the Liberals’ figures, Trudeau has made more than $4 billion in election promises since the campaign began one week ago, counting pledges to increase spending or reduce taxes. Nearly five weeks remain until voting day on Oct. 21. The party is working with the parliamentary budget office (PBO) on costing elements of its platform, but those details will not be released until all campaign announcements have been made, the Liberals say. This despite the fact the Parliament of Canada Act says all cost estimates prepared by the budget office on election promises are supposed to be published “as they are announced by parties,” according to the PBO website. The Liberal campaign team says they are holding back their PBO numbers because each spending measure can affect others, which could lead to confusion. They point to a tweet from parliamentary budget officer Yves Giroux saying his office had to prepare new estimates of the effects of Conservative pledges on maternity-leave and public-transit tax credits after the Tories made a subsequent broader promise to reduce income taxes.

Wilson-Raybould pledges non-partisan approach on issues that affect Canadians Political trailblazer Jody Wilson-Raybould committed to pursue truth and meaningful change through non-partisan co-operation at a campaign rally in Vancouver on Wednesday — a message that was backed by a guest appearance by Green Leader Elizabeth May. Wilson-Raybould is running as an Independent in one of the most-watched ridings of Vancouver – Granville after leaving the Liberal party over the SNC Lavalin affair. She was also joined by former cabinet ally Jane Philpott, who left the Liberal party and is running as an Independent in Markham – Stouffville. “All us being here tonight demonstrates we all want a different way of doing politics where people actually work together to face complicated challenges, the complicated challenges we face,” Wilson-Raybould said. She said addressing issues that affect all Canadians, such as climate change, require working together, even though the solutions are difficult. “It requires all of us to colour

outside the party lines,” she said. May told the rally that she is alarmed by trends of transnational corporations holding sway over Ottawa and major political parties making decisions behind closed doors, adding that WilsonRaybould and Philpott were caught in the crossfire. “If this isn’t doing politics differently, I don’t know what is,” May said, in taking the stage. May told reporters after the rally that Louise Boutin, a real estate agent who is running for the Greens in the riding, was aware of her plan to support Wilson-Raybould. Wilson-Raybould is hoping to hold the seat against Liberal party challenger, Taleeb Noormohamed, a 42–year-old tech entrepreneur. Also running in the riding is climate activist Yvonne Hanson for the NDP, former Ottawa political staffer Zach Segal for the Conservatives, and Naomi Chocyk, a one-time constituency staffer for WilsonRaybould, for the People’s Party of Canada.

Trudeau says he is ‘deeply sorry’ he appeared in brownface at school gala in 2001 Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau says he knows now that his decision to dress up in brownface and a turban for a gala at a private school where he worked 18 years ago was a racist thing to do and he is now “deeply sorry.” Trudeau also admitted there was a second instance of racist behaviour. “When I was in high school I dressed up at a talent show and sang Day O with makeup on,” he said. Speaking to reporters on his campaign plane, Trudeau apologized for his actions, saying that he now recognizes his actions were racist. “In 2001, when I was a teacher in Vancouver, I attended a gala. The theme was Arabian Nights. I dressed up in an Aladdin costume and put makeup on. I shouldn’t have done that. I should have known better, but I didn’t and I’m really sorry. “I take responsibility for my decision to do that. I shouldn’t have done it. I should have known better. It was something that I didn’t think was racist at the time, but now I recognize it was something racist to do and I am deeply sorry.” The 2001 incident was brought to light

Wednesday evening by an article in Time Magazine. The article details how the picture of Trudeau appears in the 2000-01 yearbook of the West Point Grey Academy, a private school in Vancouver. Time Magazine said Vancouver businessman Michael Adamson, who was a part of the West Point Grey Academy community, brought the photograph to the magazine’s attention because he said he thought it should be made public. Another image that appears to be Trudeau at the same school gala was posted in an April 2001 newsletter for the Vancouver school. The additional image, which is available in an online archive, surfaced after Trudeau first addressed his use of brownface and apologized for it. Asked if he should resign his position as Liberal leader based on both incidents, Trudeau made the case that incidents like this should be treated on a “caseby-case” basis. “There are people who make mistakes in this life and you make decisions based on what they actually do, what they did and on a case-by-case basis. I deeply regret that I did that. I should have known better but I didn’t,” he said.

NATIONAL

INDIA

Saturday, September 21, 2019

Help ‘genuine Indians’ left out of NRC, Mamata Banerjee to Shah West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today met Union Home Minister Amit Shah and discussed with him issues relating to NRC in Assam and sought his intervention to ameliorate miseries of genuine Indians belonging to Bengali, Bihari, Gorkha and Assamese communities, as they have been excluded from the final list. This was the CM’s first meeting with Shah as Home Minister of the country. “I have come to meet the home minister to discuss about the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam and told him that many genuine Indians were excluded from the list. I have requested him to do the needful so that they can be included in the

NRC as they are in distress,” the CM said after the meeting. Banerjee said among those who were excluded from the NRC include many Bengali, Bihari, Gorkhas and even Assamese. “I have requested him to examine their cases and resolve the issues,” she added. The final NRC, a list of Assam’s residents, was published on August 31, which excluded the names of 19 lakh people. “The Home Minister has assured that he would look into it,” the CM said. Asked whether there was any discussion on the implementation of the NRC in West Bengal, Banerjee said no such discussion has taken place but it was her stated position that such an initiative was not required in her state.

PM Modi promises to make Kashmir valley a new paradise Prime Minister Narendra Modi today called for reaching out to the people of Kashmir. Kicking off the BJP campaign for the Assembly poll in Maharashtra, he blamed the Congress for lack of development in Jammu and Kashmir since Independence. “We have to embrace each Kashmiri. We have to create a new paradise,” Modi said during his rally in Nashik. “Till now, we used to say ‘Kashmir hamara hai’. Now we should say ‘Kashmir ko phir se swarg banana hai’.... ‘Har Kashmiri ko gale lagana hai’,” Modi said. Justifying abrogation of Article 370, Modi

said it was necessary to keep India united. “This decision will help fulfil aspirations of the people of J&K,” he said. Blaming Pakistan for creating trouble in the Valley, Modi said attempts were being made to stir up unrest in the state. “The youth, mothers and sisters have made up their mind to put behind violence. They want development and jobs,” Modi said. He asked political leaders not to make loose statements on Ram Temple. “Many people are making loose statements. The SC is hearing the matter. It should be respected. We trust the top court,” he said.

UP’s Rajni won’t come down to earth unless ISRO ‘recovers’ Vikram! The UP man climbed on a pillar on the New Yamuna Bridge with the Indian flag and refused to get down unless ISRO manages to ‘recover’ the Vikram lander. Vikram is still believed to be out there, somewhere on the lunar surface. It’s been 11 days now that ISRO’s prestigious moon mission went awry, when the space research organisation lost contact with Vikram lander. UP’s Rajni won’t come down to earth unless ISRO ‘recovers’ Vikram! A video doing rounds on social media since Tuesday shows a man standing on a pillar of New Yamuna Bridge in Prayagraj. He climbed with the Indian flag

and refused to get down unless ISRO manages to ‘recover’ the Vikram lander. The man has been identified as Rajnikant. Although he claims to be a namesake of the Tamil superstar, his action-packed drama did not quite manage to achieve the impossible. Vikram is still believed to be out there, somewhere on the lunar surface. The man has been identified as a native of Manda in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, according to an “indiatoday.in” report. He climbed up on Monday night. It’s been 11 days now that ISRO’s prestigious moon mission went awry, when the space research organisation lost contact with Vikram lander of Chandrayaan

Court extends PC’s judicial custody till October 3 in INX case Former Finance Minister P Chidambaram will remain in jail till October 3 as a Delhi court on Thursday extended his judicial custody in connection with the INX Media corruption case, saying that the investigation is still in progress. Special judge Ajay Kumar Kuhar said there was no change in the circumstances and noted that Chidambaram has already moved a bail plea before the Delhi High Court. “This court has considered the grounds for police custody and thereafter for judicial custody and granted remand accordingly. There is no change in the circumstances as such. It is not a case where no case is made out against the accused. The investigation is still in progress. The accused has already applied for the bail before the Delhi High Court. Therefore as per understanding of this court, the judicial remand of the accused has to be extended. Accordingly,

the judicial remand of the accused is extended till October 3,” the court said. Chidambaram, lodged in Tihar Jail, was produced before the court after his 14day judicial custody ended on Thursday. The court extended the judicial custody of Chidambaram after the CBI sought its extension. It also allowed medical examination of Chidambaram after his lawyers told the court that he is suffering from various ailments. The CBI had registered an FIR on May 15, 2017, alleging irregularities in the clearance granted to the INX Media for receiving overseas funds of Rs 305 crore in 2007. — Special judge Ajay Kumar Kuhar directed the Tihar jail superintendent to consider the request of former Union Minister P Chidambaram to provide chair and pillow considering the issue of back pain as complained by him

PUNJAB

Saturday, September 21, 2019

Chief Minister calls $20 tax on pilgrims jaziya Breaking convention and time-honoured traditions, Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Thursday presided over the Cabinet meeting in a makeshift tent, barely 900 m away from the International Border (IB), and lambasted Pakistan for imposing $20 service tax on devotees entering the country through the corridor to pay obeisance at the Kartarpur shrine. He also sanctioned Rs 75.23 crore for the widening and recarpeting of all major roads leading to the corridor and Rs 3.70 crore for developing heritage and food streets in Dera Baba Nanak, thus fulfilling a long-pending demand of the residents. Local MLA Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa ensured that the meeting, organised so close to the IB, was held without any untoward incident. Security was raised to unprecedented levels with personnel of two police districts — Gurdaspur and Batala — on duty. Satisfied with the arrangements, the CM announced to hold

Hight Court stops recovery of penalty on farmers for violating ban Taking up the smoldering issue of stubble-burning, the Punjab and Haryana High Court today stayed the recovery of fine imposed on farmers for violating the ban. Justice Rajiv Narain Raina also issued notice before directing the secretaries of both Punjab and Haryana to discuss the issue with different instrumentalities of the state to come out with a solution. Justice Raina also issued notice to the agriculture universities of both states to come out with a solution. The Union Health Secretary was put on notice before being asked to file an affidavit on steps initiated by the Central Government to douse the problem. Justice Raina also made it clear that only the recovery of fine under environment compensation had been stayed. But the state may continue with punitive action. Justice Raina, at the same time, observed in the open court that stubble could be stored at shamlat or forest land, instead of being set on fire. The case will now be treated as petition in public interest. The directions came on a petition filed by Bharti Kissan Union counsel Charanpal Singh Bagri. As the case came up for resumed hearing, Bagri told the Bench.

State seeks papers on Bargari from CBI The Punjab Government today moved a fresh application in a special court here, seeking directions to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to clarify certain ‘material facts’ and produce some documents in connection with its revision petition in the Bargari sacrilege case. According to sources, the government sought certain documents, including a copy of an affidavit which the investigating agency had filed in Punjab and Haryana High Court in connection with the case. “The state government also sought copy of a communique through which the CBI was informed about withdrawal of the government’s consent for further probe by the agency,” said the sources. Pertinently, after being denied a copy of the CBI closure report in the case by the court of special judicial magistrate, the state government had challenged the decision through a revision petition in the CBI special court.

the next Cabinet meeting in the border town of Batala. After landing at the BSF ground in Shikhar Masiahan, 7 km from the meeting venue, the CM and his colleagues went to the corridor site. Capt Amarinder met the officials of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), responsible for the construction of the road leading from the town to the IB, and the Land Ports Authority of India (LPAI), which has been entrusted upon with the task of building a multi-storeyed Integrated Check Post (ICP) on 50 acres, coming up adjacent to the venue of today’s meeting. The CM also visited a BSF picket and interacted with jawans. He also used binoculars to view the progress of work being made by Pakistan on its side of the border. “I’ve been told that a lot of progress has been made in the last few days. I assure that the deadline (October 30) to complete the passage will be not be extended,” said the CM.

Punjab govt to fill 19,000 vacancies, including teachers The Punjab cabinet on Monday decided to fill around 19,000 vacancies in various departments. The vacancies to be filled on a priority basis included around 5,000 in the Police Department and 5,300 in the Electricity Department, a official release said. Around 2,500 teachers and 5,000 paramedic and specialised employees, including doctors and specialists, would be recruited besides filling 1,300 posts in the Revenue Department, the release said. Chief Minister Amarinder Singh asked other departments to submit their list of vacancies without delay so that the recruitment process could be initiated. The move would generate additional employment in the state, which had witnessed the creation of significant job opportunities through a series of job ‘melas’ (fairs) and other initiatives in the past two years, said the release.The council of ministers also decided to ease recruitment rules for qualified civil services personnel in the state through amendments

to various relevant legislations, thus paving the way for filling posts that remained vacant due to non-availability of suitable candidates. The decision would help resolve issues related to the allocation of services on the basis of the Punjab State Civil Services Combined Examination, the release said. The council of ministers also approved proposals mooted by the Personnel Department to bring necessary amendments to the draft notifications of the Punjab Recruitment of Ex-Servicemen Rules, 1982; Punjab Recruitment of Sportsman Rules, 1988; and the Punjab State Civil Services (Appointment by Combined Competitive Examination) Rules, 2009.The cabinet also authorised the CM to approve the final draft of the rules, the release said. In pursuant to the conduct of the Punjab Civil Services Combined Competitive Examination, 2018, the Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC) had forwarded the merit list of 72 candidates to the government for the allocation of services.

INDIA

Saturday, September 21, 2019

Supreme Court raps UP over illegal settlers in forest The Uttar Pradesh Government on Thursday requested the Supreme Court to cancel all illegal claims settled in RenukootMirzapur reserved forest after July 18, 1994 cut-off date, saying Forest Officers and District Judges were allowing filing of claims even after court’s order to the contrary. By its July 18, 1994 order the top court had said no person or industry can be allowed to encroach on reserved forest land and no such claim can be entertained. A three-judge Bench headed by Justice Arun Mishra wondered if the Uttar Pradesh Government was “sleeping” for the past 26 years on the illegal settlement of claims in favour of industries and third parties in the reserved forest areas of Mirzapur district.

The Bench – which also included Justice MR Shah and Justice BR Gavai — refused to pass any ex-parte (without hearing the other side) orders on quashing of such claims, saying there might be thousands of crores of rupees invested by industries in these areas. “This has been going on since 1994 and now after 26 years you have come. You were sleeping for 26 years and now you are asking us to remove everyone. What were you doing all these years? Do you not have any disciplinary control over these forest officers?” asked the Bench which had converted a letter written by Banwasi Sewa Ashram into a writ petition with regard to tribals’ claim to land and their related rights.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister’s nephew sent to judicial custody till October 1 A Delhi court on Thursday sent Ratul Puri, nephew of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath, to judicial custody till October 1 in a money laundering case related to the AgustaWestland chopper scam. Special judge Arvind Kumar also allowed Puri to take medicines long with him to jail subject to the opinion of the jail doctor. The judge also asked the jail superintendent to consider the request of Puri to provide orthopaedic mattress as per prison rules. The court also asked the lock up in-charge to ensure security and safety of Puri while taking him to Tihar jail. The money laundering case was lodged following alleged irregularities in purchase of 12 VVIP choppers from Italy-based Finmeccanica’s

British subsidiary, AgustaWestland. Puri was earlier arrested in another case under the laundering Act for alleged bank fraud — PTI All readers are invited to post comments responsibly. Any messages with foul language or inciting hatred will be deleted. Comments with all capital letters will also be deleted. Readers are encouraged to flag the comments they feel are inappropriate. The views expressed in the Comments section are of the individuals writing the post. The Tribune does not endorse or support the views in these posts in any manner. Charges against Chinmayanand watered down; booked for ‘misusing authority’ Charges against Chinmayanand watered down; booked for ‘misusing authority’

UK court extends fugitive Nirav Modi’s custody till October 17 Fugitive diamond merchant Nirav Modi, wanted in India in connection with the nearly $2-billion PNB fraud and money laundering case, was on Thursday further remanded in judicial custody until October 17 by a UK court which said it was working towards his extradition trial hearing in May next year. The 48-year-old appeared via videolink

before Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London from his prison for a routine “call-over” hearing. Judge David Robinson told Nirav Modi, who is fighting extradition to India, that there was nothing “substantial” to deal with and that the court was working towards a fiveday extradition trial hearing for May 11-15, 2020. A team of ED and CBI officials was present in the court for the hearing. —

Halfway into term, Yogi boasts of strengthening law & order Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath Thursday said “strengthening” law and order in the state has helped changing its image, a claim that opposition parties sought to quickly puncture. Addressing a press conference to mark the halfway point in his five-year term, Adityanath claimed Uttar Pradesh has set a record in implementation of central schemes. “In the past two and a half years, Uttar Pradesh has been pulled out from a state of identity crisis as we converted

challenges to opportunities,” he said. “The biggest achievement of my team has been changing the perception of Uttar Pradesh and restoring its identity,” the BJP leader said. “Strengthening law and order in the state has played an important role in changing its perception. There has not been a single incident of ‘danga’ (riot) in the state in the past two-and-half years,” he said, apparently referring to large-scale clashes.

NASA analysing images of Chandrayaan-2’s landing site’ As the deadline to re-establish communication with Chandrayaan 2’s Vikram lander nears, NASA’s moon orbiter has captured images of the lunar region where the Indian mission made an unsuccessful attempt to soft-land, a senior official with the U.S. space agency confirmed on September 19. NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) spacecraft has snapped a series of images during its flyby on September 17 of Vikram’s attempted landing site near the

moon’s uncharted south pole. “The LRO images are still being processed,” Grey Hautaluoma, Senior Communications Team Lead at NASA, said. Almost two weeks after it lost signal contact with its moon lander Vikram, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has formally put out a six-line statement to imply a closure of sorts on the lander and that it was moving on.

Union Minister Supriyo ‘heckled’ at Kolkata University Union Minister Babul Supriyo was on Thursday shown black flags and heckled by a section of students at Jadavpur University, who also stopped him from leaving the campus, prompting West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar to rush to the university along with a large police force. The Governor, who is the chancellor of the university, too faced demonstrations by the students belonging to SFI, Left leaning AFSU and FETSU and AISA, and a few members of the TMC. Dhankhar and Babul Supriyo finally left the campus late in the evening hours after university

teachers stepped in and persuaded the agitating students to lift their blockade. The trouble began when Babul Supriyo went to JU at around 2.30 pm to address the seminar by ABVP, the students wing of the RSS, inside the campus. AFSU leader Debraj Debnath, who participated in the protest, asserted that “fascist forces” will not be allowed on the campus. “I am saddened at the absolutely deplorable behaviour of some of the students of the university — the way they have heckled me... They pulled my hair and also pushed me,” Supriyo sai

Saturday, September 21, 2019

SOUTH ASIA

Saturday, September 21, 2019

US lays down line with China on next Dalai Lama

Pak woman activist escapes to USA, seeks political asylum: Gulalai Ismail, a prominent Pakistani women activist accused of treason for her alleged anti-state activities, has escaped to the US where she has applied for political asylum, according to a media report. The 32-year-old activist, whose name was recommended to be put on the Exit Control List by the Pakistan’s spy agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) for her anti-state activities abroad, escaped

Pakistan last month and is currently residing with her sister in Brooklyn, the New York Times reported on Thursday. Ismail, who remained fugitive since late May this year, has not disclosed how she managed to leave the country. “I didn’t fly out of any airport. I can’t tell you any more. My exit story will put many lives at risk,” the report quoted her as saying during an interview.

Sri Lanka to hold presidential election on November 16 Sri Lanka will hold presidential elections on November 16, the Election Commission announced on Wednesday. Nominations would be called on October 7, according to the Election Secretariat. The coming election has been drawing much interest locally and internationally, with Leader of Opposition and former President Mahinda Rajapaksa naming his brother Gotabaya Rajapaksa, a controversial former

hat is South Asia? Despite the subregion in Asia being the most populous on earth, many people aren’t sure about the location of South Asia or exactly which countries are considered “South Asian.” South Asia can loosely be described as the eight nations around the Indian subcontinent, including the island nations of Sri Lanka and the Maldives that are situated south of India. Although South Asia (also referred to as Southern Asia) only occupies approximately 3 percent of the world’s land area, the region is home to over 24 percent of the world’s population (nearly 1.9 billion), making it the most densely populated place on earth. Lumping the eight countries of South Asia together under a common label almost seems

Defence Secretary accused of war-crimes, as the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna candidate. A 2015 legislation puts a two-term cap on presidency, preventing Mahinda Rajapaksa from contesting for the highest office, but the popular leader has spoken about possibly returning to power through Parliament, as Prime Minister. Sri Lanka’s general elections are due next year.

As Tibetans start grappling with the onceunthinkable prospect of the octogenarian Dalai Lama’s passing, the United States is looking to lay down a red line against China handpicking his successor. Through a warning from a senior official and legislation under consideration in Congress, the United States is hoping to make clear in advance that Beijing would face international opprobrium if it tries to take over the reincarnation process. The Dalai Lama. File photo: Christopher Michel, via Flickr. At 84, the 14th Dalai Lama has slowed his once incessant travel down a notch and earlier this year was hospitalized for a chest infection, although there is no indication he faces serious health issues. Nonetheless, both Tibetan activists and Beijing are keenly aware that his death will mark a major setback in his push for more autonomy for the Himalayan region, depriving the cause of a Nobel Prize winner

SOUTH ASIA unfair; the cultural diversity of the region is astounding. The label “South Asian” applies more to the geographical location than any religious or cultural similarities. For instance, not only is South Asia home to the largest Hindu population (unsurprising, given the size of India), it’s also home to over 510 million Muslims. South Asia is often mistakenly confused with Southeast Asia, however,

the two are completely dif ferent subregions in Asia. The Countries in South AsiaAside from the Indian sub cont inent, there aren’t any hard geological boundaries with which to define South Asia. Differences of opinion sometimes exist because cultural borders don’t always mesh with political delineations.

whose moral teachings and idiosyncratic humor have made him one of the world’s most popular religious leaders. China has not held talks with the Dalai Lama’s representatives for nine years and has increasingly hinted it may identify his successor — who, Beijing would presume, would back its iron-fisted rule of Tibet. A bill recently introduced in the US Congress would call for sanctions on any Chinese official who interferes with Tibetan Buddhist succession practices. Testifying Wednesday before Congress, David Stilwell, the top State Department official for East Asia, vowed that the United States would keep pressing for “meaningful autonomy” for Tibetans. “Disturbingly — and ironically — the party continues to assert its role in the Dalai Lama’s reincarnation process, even as President Xi has urged party members to remain ‘unyielding Marxist atheists,’” he said. Tibet, claimed by China as an autonomous region, would ordinarily be considered a part of South Asia. Per most modern definitions, eight countries officially belong to the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC): Afghanistan: Bangladesh, Bhutan India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan: Sri Lanka. India has the highest nominal GDP in South Asia (US $1,939 per capita as of April 2019), meanwhile Afghanistan’s per capita nominal GDP is only US $585. The Maldives, a popular honeymoon destination in Asia, is the smallest country in Asia — both by land size and population. All islands combined provide only 115 square miles for the 444,259 inhabitants. The Maldives is under threat by rising sea levels caused by climate change.

FIJI

Saturday, September 21, 2019

Electricity rates go up, but fuel & internet cost goes down Electricity tarrifs are to increase from next month. The new tarrifs will come into effect on October 1st, 2019. The electricity tariff rate will now be reviewed every four years by the Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission. FCCC Chief Executive Joel Abraham confirmed this while announcing the 2.74 percent tariff rate increase. Abraham says this is a minor increase as affordable electricity is essential for all Fijians. “The last tariff review was conducted about ten years ago and moving forward, FCCC will conduct reviews every four years and will strictly monitor EFL’s capital and infrastructural structure

investment as provided in their submission.” Energy Fiji Limited had proposed an increase of 17.27 percent but this was not approved after the FCCC scrutinized EFL’s financial performance for the last 10 years.

USP has new policy on sexual harassment, bullying and child protection after student alleged she was sexually harassed The University of the South Pacific now has a new policy on sexual harassment, bullying and child protection and it has to go through the staff policy to be approved after a student alleged that she was sexually harassed by a university member a year ago. The student raised her concern in the Vice Chancellor’s Students Forum that it has been one year since the complaint was lodged but there has been no official update given to her. USP’s Dean of Faculty of Arts, Law and Education, Dr. Akanisi Kedrayate says the university wants to educate the community and there is a lot of awareness that needs to be done about sexual harassment as cultural values and sensitivity sometimes contradicts with the very thing they are trying to protect. While responding to the question,

Professor Pal Ahluwalia says the university is looking into the appeals committee and will make some recommendations about that, the whistleblowing policy and the hotline is being set up where students can raise their questions. Ahluwalia says he and his colleagues at the university do not condone any of the practices relating to sexual harassment. Dean of Faculty of Science, Technology and Environment, Dr. Anjeela Jokhan suggested that the Vice Chancellor needs to get involved and the matter needs to be addressed. The student says its one thing to say that the university does not condone cases of sexual harassment in the campus and it’s totally another thing when institutions do not know how to deal with cases of such nature. Vice Chancellor Ahluwalia says he will look into this issue.

Mohammed Ramzan charged with unlawful possession of illicit drugs has bail extended Mohammed Ramzan who is charged with one count of unlawful possession of illicit drugs has had his bail extended by the Suva High Court. It is alleged that 5.5kg marijuana was found in his car on the 27th of November, 2017. The prosecution informed the court today that Ramzan was driving to Nadi from Suva and was stopped at the Police checkpoint in Korolevu and after a search was conducted,

the marijuana was allegedly discovered in the car. The prosecution also said that Ramzan is disputing ownership of the bags as he claims he was given the bags to drop it off in Namaka, Nadi. The prosecution says they will be calling 7 witnesses in the case. The case has been adjourned to the 4th of November.

Parents urged to lodge complaints in cases where children have been denied registration in schools The Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission is urging parents to lodge a complaint with the commission in cases where their children have been denied registration in schools because they do not profess to the same religious values as that of the school. The Director of the Commission, Ashwin Raj says the preclusion of children from enjoying their constitutional right to education on the basis of their religious orientation is discriminatory. This comes after some parents raised concerns that their children who are to start Year 1 next year are not getting enrolled into some Catholic schools because they do not have siblings in the same school and they do not follow the same religion. A parent was asked by a Catholic school if her son had a sibling in the school or whether the child was Catholic. She says her son was short-listed to be enrolled into the school however he did not get a place in the school. Fijivillage contacted the Director of Catholic Education, Nemani Drova who says the Church will not comment on the subject until the parents discuss the issue with the Church. We also reached out to various other religious organisations and enquired

about their policies. President of the Arya Pratinidhi Sabha of Fiji, Arun Padarath says the school is open to all students and it does not discriminate on the basis of religion. President of the Sanatan Pratinidhi Sabha of Fiji, Sarju Prasad says education has no religion but it is a religion of humanity. He says education is for everyone and the schools will take in students until all the places are filled. President of the Fiji Muslim League, Hafiz Khan says religious schools have been set up by the community to cater for students of that particular faith but according to the constitutional requirements, the schools cannot turn away any child if they happen to be in that zone and are seeking a position in the school. He says schools run by the league accept children if there is a spot available and if they have the capacity to take in the student. Meanwhile, the Secretary of Communications of the Methodist Church of Fiji, Reverend Wilfred Regunamada says the church does not discriminate in terms of religion and accepts students of all religions. We have sent questions and are yet to get a response from the Ministry of Education.

Less than a month in and speeding already an issue on new 4-lane section of Kings Road Just less than a month after the new fourlane section of the Kings Highway was opened, speeding has already become a major concern between Nakasi and Rewa. Land Transport Authority CEO, Samuel Simpson says the Nakasi to Rewa section of the highway has quickly become a speeding hotspot as irresponsible and dangerous motorists ignore the 50 kilometres per hour speed limit. Over the past week, Police have booked 55 drivers for speeding, 5 drivers for careless

driving, 1 for using a mobile phone and 14 cases of miscellaneous driving offences. Simpson says the LTA applauds the Fiji Police Force who has been proactively monitoring drivers’ behaviour along this section of the new highway. He says he fully supports this Police initiative which will be on-going and LTA will work with Police to call drivers who have an adverse driving record to “show cause” meetings where a licence can be suspended, cancelled or revoked.

Criminals from Suva who have served their time move to the West to re-offend - Fiji Corrections Service The Fiji Corrections Service says they have noticed that people from Suva who have served their time move to the Western Division looking for opportunities to re-offend there. Deputy Commissioner of Corrections, Senior Superintendent Apimeleki Taukei says this has resulted in the increase in the number of people convicted in the first nine months of this year in the west which stands at 404 new admissions.

Taukei says this is the new trend that they have noticed and it can be from the high number of police patrols in Suva now. Taukei says that out of the 404 people that were convicted this year, 310 were sentenced to 12 months and below. Based on this, the Fiji Corrections Service will have it’s Yellow Ribbon Walk on October 12th in Lautoka.

PAKISTAN

Saturday, September 21, 2019

Pakistan Prime Minister will urge President Trump to resume talks with Taliban Prime Minister Imran Khan says he will urge U.S. President Donald Trump to resume talks with the Taliban to help bring peace to Afghanistan when he meets with him next week on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly. Khan told reporters Wednesday his country had played a central role in arranging the yearlong U.S.-Taliban dialogue before Trump declared the process as “dead” nearly two weeks ago.

The Pakistani prime minister said he was surprised when he learned through the media that the talks broke down. “The tragedy is that the [peace] deal between the Taliban and the U.S. was about to be signed,” Khan noted. He explained that Islamabad had arranged the

Don’t go to Kashmir for jihad, Imran Khan urges Pakistanis Prime Minister Imran Khan warned citizens Wednesday that anyone who goes to fight jihad in Kashmir will hurt the territory’s cause, as anger simmers between Islamabad and New Delhi over the disputed region. Indian authorities are waiting for “any excuse” to crack down in the Himalayan region, he warned, promising again to raise the issue at

the United Nations General Assembly next week. Tensions have spiked over Kashmir, parts of which are administered by both India and Pakistan, since Delhi moved on August 5 to revoke the autonomy of the portion it controls. Since then, leaders in both countries have engaged in an escalating war of words, with each other.

PM Khan says Ghotki violence a ‘sabotage’ ahead of his speech at UN Speaking at a press conference in Peshawar, Prime Minister Imran Khan attempted to trivialize attack on minority Hindus in Sindh by calling ‘the Ghotki attack a conspiracy to sabotage his UN visit’. Though he outwardly condemned the attack, he curiously stated ‘whoever did the attack’ knew when he was going to be at the UNGA. He further alleged that during Pakistan’s struggle for Kashmir, such attacks would only make India blame

them. “The incident I have seen in Ghotki village, whoever did it, I condemn the attack on our Hindu community strongly. This was done to sabotage my appearance at the UN. Our constitution treats everyone equally. So, whoever is doing this is against our religion and Constitution. Now when we are fighting for Kashmir, India will now see this attack and say such attacks happen within Pakistan also,” he said in the press conferenc

Authorities order judicial probe into Hindu girl student’s death after family claims murder A female Hindu medical student was found dead in the hostel room in Sindh’s Benazir Bhutto Medical University), Larkana, media reports said. Nimrita Kumari (pictured), a student of the SMBBMU’s Bibi Aseefa Dental College, was found dead on Monday in her hostel room, the university administration confirmed. The body found lying on a charpoy with a rope tied to

her neck while her room was locked from inside, The Express Tribune reported. Nimrita’s friends grew worried when she did not respond to their knocks on the door for several minutes. “She was neither responding to the knocking at the door nor to our shouts,” one of her friends told the police.

Lawmakers take up Hindus’ safety issue in the Parliament The security of Hindus and anti-HIndu riots in Ghotki and Umerkot districts of Sindh echoed in the Parliament in Islamabad Pakistan’s National Assembly during which some of the members expressed deep concern over the safety of the minorities. A member of PML-N party Khwaja Asif said, “The Hindu community has a lot of concerns over the Ghotki incidents. It is our duty to provide security to the minorities against harassment. They are loyal Pakistanis.” Violence had erupted in Ghotki town on Saturday after an FIR was filed against a Hindu teacher alleging that he committed blasphemy.

The minister of Parliamentary Affairs Muhammad Khan said during the discussion on Tuesday that the issue falls under the jurisdiction of the Sindh government. The Federal Government is ready to provide any help they need. Speaking on the issue, minority members strongly condemned the ransacking of temples during violence in Ghotki. Jai Parkash, Ramesh Kumar, Darshan and Lal Chand said Pakistan is their motherland and they will not leave it. “The teacher who was alleged to have committed blasphemy has been teaching there for 20 years.

peace process by helping Taliban leaders reach Qatar, which hosted the dialogue. “I believe it would be a massive tragedy if these talks could not move forward. I have a meeting with President Trump on

Monday in New York where we will insist … and we will make maximum efforts to help restart the talks because they are important for ending 40 years of sufferings of the people in Afghanistan,” Khan said.

Pakistan blames India for Lt Col’s disappearance in Nepal The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on Wednesday, said that the PTI-led government is undertaking extensive efforts to locate retired Lt Col Habib Zahir, who has been missing since April 2017. The Foreign Office maintained that the involvement of “hostile agencies” is also being investigated. Addressing the press on Indian media reports and tweets that the former officer of the Pakistan Army is in Indian custody, and New Delhi plans to swap him with

Kulbhushan Jadhav, the FO spokesperson Dr. Mohammad Faisal said that the role of hostile agencies cannot be ignored. Mr. Zahir was a retired officer of the Pakistan army who went missing in Nepal, after arriving in the country for a job interview in April 2017. Dr. Mohammad Faisal, official spokesperson of the Foreign Office said, “Pakistan maintains that the involvement of hostile agencies cannot be ruled out.”

NRI

Saturday, September 21, 2019

17.5 million strong Indian diaspora remains largest in world India was the leading country of origin of international migrants in 2019 with a 17.5 million strong diaspora, according to new estimates released by the United Nations, which said the number of migrants globally reached an estimated 272 million. The International Migrant Stock 2019, a dataset released by the Population Division of the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) on September 18, provides the latest estimates of the number of international migrants by age, sex and origin for all countries and areas of the world. The estimates are based on official national statistics on the foreign-born or the foreign population obtained from population censuses, population registers or nationally representative surveys. The report said that the top 10 countries of origin account for onethird of all international migrants. In 2019, with 17.5 million persons living abroad, India was the leading country of origin of international migrants. Migrants from Mexico constituted the second largest diaspora (11.8 million), followed by China (10.7 million), Russia (10.5 million), Syria (8.2 million), Bangladesh (7.8 million), Pakistan (6.3 million), Ukraine (5.9 million), the Philippines (5.4 million) and Afghanistan (5.1 million). India hosted 5.1 million international migrants in 2019, less than the 5.2 million in 2015. International migrants as a share of total population in India was steady at 0.4% from 2010 to 2019. The country hosted 207,000 refugees, the report said, adding that refugees as a share of international migrants in the country was four per cent. Among the international migrants in the country, the female population was 48.8% and the median age of international migrants was 47.1 years. In India, the highest number of international migrants came from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Nepal. In 2019, regionally, Europe hosted the largest number

of international migrants (82 million), followed by Northern America (59 million) and Northern Africa and Western Asia (49 million). At the country level, about half of all international migrants reside in just 10 countries, with the United States of America hosting the largest number of international migrants (51 million), equal to about 19% of the world’s total. Germany and Saudi Arabia host the second and third largest numbers of migrants (13 million each), followed by Russia (12 million), the United Kingdom (10 million), the United Arab Emirates (9 million), France, Canada and Australia (around 8 million each) and Italy (6 million). The share of international migrants in total population varies considerably across geographic regions with the highest proportions recorded in Oceania (including Australia and New Zealand) (21.2%) and Northern America (16.0%) and the lowest in Latin America and the Caribbean (1.8%), Central and Southern Asia (1.0%) and Eastern and South-Eastern Asia (0.8%). A majority of international migrants in sub-Saharan Africa (89%), Eastern and SouthEastern Asia (83%), Latin America and the Caribbean (73%), and Central and Southern Asia (63%) originated from the region in which they reside. By contrast, most of the international migrants that lived in Northern America (98%), Oceania (88%) and Northern Africa and Western Asia (59%) were born outside their region of residence. UN Under-Secretary-General for DESA Liu Zhenmin said that these data are critical for understanding the important role of migrants and migration in the development of both countries of origin and destination.

Walmart Foundation Announces Two New $4.8 Million Grants Benefitting Indian Farmers Walmart Foundation Aug. 27 announced that it has provided $4.8 million in grants to Digital Green and TechnoServe in India as a way to help deepen its commitment to improving farmer livelihoods in the country. The grants will enable programs that help smallholder farmers have access to agriculture technology, training on sustainable farmer methods, enhanced access to formal markets, and skill and capacity building for farmer producer organizations, the organization said in a news release. The Walmart Foundation’s grant of $1.3 million to Digital Green will help develop “Farmstack,” a digital data platform designed to provide better services for and enhance the livelihoods of Andhra Pradesh farmers, specifically targeting lower-income communities in farmer producer organizations. “The Walmart Foundation’s support furthers our mission of using digital tools to amplify the impact for smallholder farmers, who are the backbone of India’s agri-economy. We’re grateful for the opportunity to work with smallholder farmers in improving their own livelihoods and those of others in their community, in a manner that’s nutritionsensitive, climate-resilient, and inclusive,” Vinay Kumar, managing director of Asia at Digital Green, said. TechnoServe will use its $3.5 million grant to help develop and train up to 20 FPOs

and facilitate market linkages by setting up procurement and aggregation systems. The program will also focus on training women smallholders to help expand their market options, as well as extend support to smallholder farmers on sustainable agriculture practices. With this funding, TechnoServe aims to boost incomes for 25,000 farmers, 50 percent of whom will be women. “Increasing farmer incomes is a powerful call to action. Sustainable agricultural

practices, market linkages, and effective management at the FPO level can boost smallholder farmers’ inclusion, incomes, and livelihoods across India. With the support of the Walmart Foundation, we look forward to building on our decade-long experience creating lasting change in the country’s agricultural sector,” said William Warshauer, CEO of TechnoServe. These grants are a part of the Walmart Foundation’s commitment made in September 2018 to contribute $25 million over the next five years to improve farmer livelihoods in India.

US Lawyers’ Association obtains documents to explain H-1B denials and RFEs The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) has publicly released documents that were produced by the United

States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in response to two Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests.

‘Howdy, Modi’ brings together Indian-Americans, Hindu Americans: Tulsi Gabbard Democratic Presidential aspirant and Member of the United States Congress, Tulsi Gabbard has said that Howdy Modi event is bringing together Indian-Americans from across the US. Extending her warm welcome to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his upcoming US visit beginning today, Ms Gabbard said, India is the world’s oldest and largest democracy and one of the most important allies of the United States. Ms Gabarrd said, the United States and India must work closely together to address the pressing issues that impact both the nations and the entire world such as combating climate change, preventing nuclear war and nuclear proliferation and improving the economic well-being of the people. Ms Gabbard said, US and India have a strong and lasting partnership which is based on shared values and objectives. She called upon for usher in the 21st century of aloha-respect and love for others, no matter the race, religion, ethnicity, caste, economic status or political affiliations. The fourth-term lawmaker Gabbard was part of a select group of Members of Congress to greet and escort Mr Modi to the podium when he addressed a Joint Session

of Congress in June 2016. Prime Minister Modi will attend a large gathering with an audience of over 50,000 at the NRG Stadium in Houston on Sunday, September 22. US President Donald Trump along with a number of high-ranking US government officials, including Governors, Members of Congress and Mayors will attend the “Howdy Modi!” event. “India is the world’s oldest and largest democracy, and one of the United States most important allies,” Gabbard said. “The Unites States and India must work closely together if we are to address the pressing issues that impact our nations, our countries, and the entire world such as combating climate change, preventing nuclear war and nuclear proliferation, and improving the economic well-being of our people,” she said. Gabbard described the wonderful opportunity the US and India has for “... a strong and lasting partnership between our two great nations, a partnership based on shared values and objectives”.

Saturday, September 21, 2019

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Saturday, September 21, 2019