The Asian Star December 14 2019 by The Asian Star Newspaper

www.theasianstar.com

Vol 19 - Issue 50

Saturday, December 14, 2019

India’s finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman among world’s 100 most powerful women: Forbes Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, HCL Corporation CEO and Executive Director Roshni Nadar Malhotra and Biocon Founder Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw have been named among the world’s 100 most powerful women by Forbes. The Forbes 2019 list of The World’s 100 Most Powerful Women’ has been topped by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, followed by President of the European Central Bank Christine Lagarde in the second spot and Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi, ranked third. Also on the list is Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina (29). In 2019, women around the globe took action, claiming leadership positions in government, business, philanthropy and media. These trailblazers are not to be messed with, Forbes said.

Ever-growing Surrey, BC, will get a second hospital as health-care needs boom The fast-growing city of Surrey is getting a second hospital. Premier John Horgan and Health Minister Adrian Dix made the announcement near the location of the new hospital in the community of Cloverdale. Dix says the hospital is a key commitment to help meet the health care needs of Surrey’s rapidly growing community. The government says the hospital will have inpatient beds, an emergency department, operating rooms, outpatient services, and lab and diagnostic services. It says the business plan phase of the project will now get underway to finalize details of the project’s scope and budget.

Tel:604-591-5423

Another South Asian young woman found dead in murder suicide Police say a woman killed in a murder-suicide in Brampton was reported missing by a friend in Toronto the day before her body was discovered. The bodies of a 35-year-old Navdeep Singh and a 27-year-old Sharanjeet Kaur were found by police inside a home on Bighorn Crescent, near Torbram Road and Bovaird Drive East, at around 2 p.m. on Monday. Investigators told reporters Tuesday that they believe Kaur was murdered by Singh, who subsequently took his own life. Police have not released the cause of death for the victim or the suspect. Continued on page 7

Abhijit Banerjee, Esther Duflo turn up in dhoti & saree to receive Nobel Prize Indian American economist Abhijit Banerjee and his French-American wife Esther Duflo along with their colleague Michael Kremer received the 2019 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences on Tuesday for their work to alleviate global poverty that has helped millions of

children in an experimental approach that favours practical steps over theory. The US-based economists looked dapper with Banerjee turning up in a kurta that he teamed with a white gold-bordered dhoti and closed neck black vest,

Continued on page 7

Opposition parties vote to create China committee, handing Liberals first defeat of minority Parliament Parliament will set up a special committee to review all aspects of Canada’s strained relationship with China amid a prolonged diplomatic and trade dispute with its secondlargest trading partner. The Liberals opposed such a committee but suffered their first defeat as a minority government, with the opposition

parties voting overwhelmingly in favour of the Conservative motion on Tuesday. The Liberals were out-voted 171 to 148. Conservative foreign affairs critic Erin O’Toole tabled a motion to “appoint a special committee with the mandate to conduct hearings to examine and review all aspects of the Canada-China

2 people found dead in Surrey home had recently married, says father Prabhleen Kaur Matharu’s father says the international student married Pieter Biermann in August. The father of a 21-yearold international student found dead in Surrey, says the other deceased was her husband, whom she had married a few months earlier. Prabhleen Kaur Matharu’s body was one of two people found dead inside a home on 102A Avenue near 140 Street on Nov. 21. Her father, Gurdial Singh Matharu, says his daughter was found with her husband, Pieter Biermann. Police at the time said one person

was the victim of a homicide, but they didn’t specify how the other person died. Investigators did say the two people knew each other, and they’re not seeking any further suspects.

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

Matharu, currently in Vancouver to bring his daughter’s body back to India, says Prabhleen had married Biermann, 18, in August at a court in Alberta. The father says he didn’t mention this in an earlier interview media because he wanted to confirm that the couple were married. Prabhleen Kaur Matharu’s father says his son-in-law often sent him photos and chatted with him by text and video call in Punjabi. (Submitted by Gurdial Singh Matharu) Continued on page 7

ACHIEVE A SLIMMER, NATURAL LOOK WITHOUT SURGERY OR DOWNTIME WITH

SCULPSURE.

SLIM, Natural Look & No Surgery

Live Well Medical Centre

CALL TODAY TO RECEIVE A LIMITED SPECIAL OFFER.

* Customizable Treatment Plans * Over 90% Patient Satisfaction Rate * FDA Cleared

BEFORE

AFTER

604.498.1900 Dr. Mandeep Sidhu M.D., C.C.F.P. Family Physician

9839 138 Street Surrey BC livewellsculpsure@gmail.com

BEFORE

AFTER

Start today, call for permanent fat loss consultation with a certified professional a t

25 Minutes Non Surg ical Permanent Fat Reduc tion No Scars. No Incisions . No Pain. No Downtime .

Saturday, December 14, 2019

Standard ffeatures include:

ECON Mode Honda Sensing™ Apple CarPlay™ & Eco Assist™ Safety Technologies & Android Auto™

JJUST UST ARRIVED ARRIVED

2020 PILOT

GET A

4000

CASH REBATE¥

#1 Car Dealer in Surrey Timings: Mon - Thu: 8:30am - 8:00pm Fri - Sat: 8:30am - 6:00pm Sun: 12:00pm - 5:00pm

604.583.7421 15291 Fraser Hwy, Surrey, BC V3R3P3

HARINDER DAIL3

Saturday, November 10, 2018

NOTARY CORPORATION

Honesty - Integrity - Trust

Professional Services Provided • Estate Planning • Will Preparation • Legal Documents • Power of Attorney • Affidavits • Notarization • Real Estate Purchase or Sale of Property • Travel Documents

#104 – 7110 120th Street Surrey, BC V3W 3M8

www.theasianstar.com

Vol 18 - Issue 50

Saturday, December 14, 2019

Metro Vancouver home values are 9 times higher than incomes: StatsCan Metro Vancouver property prices are 9.1 times higher than homeowners’ median incomes, the highest gap in Canada and an illustration that home prices in Vancouver continue to bear little relation to local wages. Data from the same Statistics Canada series, which offers a closer look at housing in Canada, also shows that Metro Vancouver has the highest rate of “forced” moves –

that is, evictions and foreclosures. When it comes to the gap between property values and incomes, Toronto has the secondhighest gap: home prices in that city are 5.7 times as much as what average homeowners earn. In some specific Vancouver geographies, the gap was even wider: in

West Vancouver, home prices were 20 times higher than median incomes, and in Electoral District A – which includes the UBC Endowment Lands – properties were worth 17.7 times more than the median income for homeowners. Statistics Canada says that in West Vancouver’s case, the gap is due to the very high price of homes in that municipality (the median home value is $2.7 million). But in Electoral District A, the reason for the wide gap is the low median income for homeowners. At $68,800, it’s the lowest in the Metro Vancouver area. Toronto also had some areas where the difference between home values and incomes was greater: in Markham and Richmond Hill, homes were valued at around eight times homeowners’ incomes. Statistics Canada also surveyed Canadians on whether they had moved within the past five years, and why they had moved. In British Columbia, 10 per cent of respondents said they had moved because of eviction or foreclosure, the highest rate of all provinces and nearly double the national rate of 6.3 per cent.

Ph: 604-503-3853

HARINDER DAIL Notary Public, M.A. (ALS) M.B.A. B.Sc

Fx:604-503-3854 Tel:604-591-5423

OPINION

Saturday, December 14, 2019

More money won’t necessarily solve health care problems By Bacchus Barua and Ben Eisen The Fraser Institute Despite their differences, it seems Canada’s premiers are united in one thing: demanding more federal health-care dollars. But nobody talked about the price the premiers must pay for the money from Ottawa: the freedom to design and implement policies that could actually improve care.At the recent meeting of the Council of the Federation, the 13 premiers “reiterated their call for the federal government to increase funding by an annual escalator of 5.2 per cent to the Canada Health Transfer.” The federal government provides a $40.4 billion to provinces via the Canada Health Transfer. The growth of these transfers is tied to a three-year moving average of nominal economic growth, with a minimum three per cent annual increase guaranteed regardless of the state of the economy. The demand for an increased growth of the transfer to 5.2 per cent per year harkens back to the funding guarantee from the 2004 health accord between the federal government

and the provinces. Back then, the federal government agreed to increase the transfer by six per cent every year, with the goal of helping fund provincial efforts to improve their health systems and, specifically, reduce wait times. Unfortunately, that’s not how things turned out. Instead, wait times persisted as a major problem across the country. In fact, the Health Council of Canada (which was created to monitor progress) determined that “overall, the accords didn’t lead to the major changes that were expected.” The Conservative government of Stephen Harper decided that maintaining such a rapid increase in the pace of federal transfers wasn’t fiscally sustainable. So it shifted the formula to peg increases to economic growth – a rule that the current Liberal government of Justin Trudeau has kept in place. The lesson of the 2004 health accord and subsequent boom in transfer funding is that the federal government writing ever-larger cheques to the provinces won’t fix the problems or wait times that plague provincial health care. There are other reasons the premiers should be wary of relying heavily on the federal government to fund their health services. The premiers seem to

ignore the fact their continued reliance on federal health-care funding comes at a cost – the inability to experiment with and design policy that could actually improve health care (lest they run afoul of federal guidelines). To understand why, look at the transfers and how they’re intended to support the principles of the Canada Health Act, which outlines the conditions that provinces must meet to receive a full cash contribution from Ottawa. Perceived deviation from the rules could cause the federal government to withhold funds. This isn’t hypothetical. Previous federal health minister Jane Philpott repeatedly threatened to withhold transfers for specific provinces (including British Columbia and Quebec) for perceived violations of the act. If provincial ministers succeed in increasing the amount of transfer payments, the revenue at stake for such threats will be proportionally increased, too. So what should the provinces do? Instead of asking for more money and all the strings that come attached, the provinces could ask for more freedom. They should seek the ability to experiment and implement the policies of more successful universal health-care systems in countries such as Australia, Switzerland, the Netherlands and Germany. Unlike Canada, these countries embrace the private sector as either a partner or an alternative for the insurance and delivery of medical services. Further, they all expect patients to share the cost of treatment (with limits on total payments and exemptions for vulnerable populations) to encourage them to make more informed decisions about the use of scarce (and costly) medical resources. All of these countries have shorter wait times for medically necessary treatment than Canada. Despite this, both policies (certainly requiring patients to share in the cost of treatment) could serve as grounds for withholding federal payments. It’s not surprising the premiers are asking Ottawa for more money but they should be careful what they wish for. Evidence from our recent past suggests the money might not do much to help reduce wait times and it will certainly come with strings attached. That will continue to make it difficult to innovate and experiment with new models to Bacchus Barua and Ben Eisen are analysts at the Fraser Institute.

www.theasianstar.com # 202 - 8388, 128 St., Surrey, BC V3W 4G2 Ph: 604-591-5423 Fax: 604-591-8615 E-mail: editor@theasianstar.com Editor: Umendra Singh Associate Editor: Chhavi Disawar Marketing and Sales: Ravi Cheema........604-715-3847 Shamir Doshi....................604-649-7827 Harminder Kaur...............778-708-0481 Parminder Dhillon..........604-902-2858 Pre-Press: Iftikhar Ahmed Design: Avee J Waseer Contributing writers: Jag Dhatt, Akash Sablok, Kamila Singh, Jay Bains

Publication Mail Agreement No 428336012 Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to Circulation Dept.

New address: # 202 - 8388, 128 St., Surrey, BC V3W 4G2 All advertising in The Asian Star is subject to the publishers’ approval and the advertiser agrees to indemnify the publishers against claims arising from publication of any advertisement submitted by the advertiser.

Saturday, December 14, 2019

! "

organization with a common vision and mission to build a healthy and just society which values and respects all cultures and to promote harmony and intercultural understanding for the purpose of building a more inclusive and mutually respectful society. To learn more about the various $ % & ' &&& ' (

please contact 604-596-7722.

Saturday, December 14, 2019

Saturday, December 14, 2019 Another South Asian young woman found dead in murder suicide Sharanjeet Kaur Speaking at a news conference on Tuesday morning, Insp. Marty Ottaway confirmed that on Sunday, one day before Kaur’s body was discovered, the Toronto Police Service received a missing persons report from a friend of the victim. “She did have some concern for her friend,” Ottaway said. An investigation into her disappearance was launched, which led investigators to Brampton on Monday. Ottaway added that a separate call sent officers to the home on Bighorn Crescent, where the victim was found dead. Brampton, homicide, He told reporters that Kaur and Singh had been in an intimate relationship in the past but investigators do not believe they were still romantically involved. He said no prior incidents of domestic violence were reported

From page 1

to police. “In this case, there is absolutely nothing documented at all. There were no warning signs,” Ottaway said. “This is the first we became aware of obviously issues between them.” He noted that while investigators are not sure how the victim ended up at the home in Brampton, police have no evidence to suggest that Kaur was abducted. Ottaway said there have been 13 domestic homicides in Peel Region this year, however not all of them relate to intimate partners. “I think my message to women, or for that matter any family member that’s involved in domestic issues, is there is help out there for them and to use those resources, contact police. Contact other family and friends,” Ottaway said.

2 people found dead in Surrey home had recently married From page 1 The pair met three years ago while they were working at a Tim Hortons, Matharu said. They recently had paid a deposit to rent a house together, and had bought furniture and a car. Biermann had recently acquired a licence to operate a forklift, he says, and his daughter had experience working as a security guard. Matharu says he and his wife had met Biermann, who spoke and wrote some Punjabi, over video chat and by text message. His daughter had applied for permanent residency, he says, and the couple were planning to travel to India in January.

Gurdial Matharu, 64, holds a photo of his slain daughter Prabhleen Kaur Matharu with his son and wife Manjit. (Gurdial Matharu) “Prabhleen loved him very much, and he loved her very much,” Matharu said. “He was very loving toward us.” The father says he has asked police to provide more details and evidence of how his daughter died. Media reached out to Pieter Biermann’s family, but they declined to speak. The RCMP’s Integrated Homicide Investigation Team said it’s not commenting further on the case, which it says is “essentially concluded.”

Abhijit Banerjee, Esther Duflo turn up in dhoti & saree to receive Nobel Prize

a nod to his Bengali origins. Duflo also chose to wear Indian attire in a saree and red blouse and the quintessential red bindi for the award ceremony that was held at the Stockholm Concert Hall here. French American economist Esther Duflo receives her Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel from King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden (R) during the Award ceremony on December 10, 2019 at the Concert Hall in Stockholm, Sweden. French American economist Esther Duflo receives her Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel from King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden (R) during the Award ceremony on December 10, 2019 at the Concert Hall in Stockholm, Sweden. In a tweet, the Nobel Prize committee shared a small video of Banerjee, Duflo and Kremer receiving the award. “Watch Abhijit Banerjee, Esther Duflo and Michael

Kremer receive their medals and diplomas at the #NobelPrize award ceremony today. Congratulations! They were awarded the 2019 Prize in Economic Sciences for their experimental approach to alleviating global poverty,” Nobel Prize tweeted. “The research conducted by this year’s Laureates has considerably improved our ability to fight global poverty. In just two decades, their new, experiment-based approach has transformed development economics, which is now a flourishing field of research,” the organisation said on its website. With this, Banerjee becomes second Indian to receive Nobel Prize in Economics. In 1998, Amartya Sen was awarded the Nobel Prize “for his contributions to welfare economics”. Banerjee completed his MA in Economics at the Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi in 1983. Later, he went on to obtain a PhD in Economics at Harvard University in 1988.

Saturday, December 14, 2019

Finland has world’s youngest PM at 32 - and is governed by 5 parites led by young women

hirty-four-year-old Sanna Marin took office in Finland on Tuesday as the world’s youngest Prime Minister, heading a coalition with four other parties led by women, all but one of them under 35. Marin won the confidence of parliament with 99 votes in favor and 70 against. She replaced Antti Rinne, who resigned last week after the Centre Party, one of the members of governing center-left coalition, said it had lost confidence in him over his handling of a postal strike. “I want to build a society in which every child can become anything and in which every human being can live and grow old with dignity,” Marin wrote on Twitter. The new cabinet takes over in the middle of labor unrest and a wave of strikes

which have halted production at some of Finland’s largest companies for three days.

“It is my great pleasure to congratulate the new Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin. Finland has truly taken the gender issues to the next level: all coalition parties are now led by women!” tweeted new European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen. Twelve ministers in the new cabinet are women and just seven are men. The head of the Centre Party, Katri Kulmuni, 32, becomes finance minister, Green Party leader Maria Ohisalo, 34, continues as interior minister and the Left Alliance’s chairwoman Li Andersson, 32, remains education minister. The Swedish People’s Party’s Anna-Maja Henriksson, 55, remains justice minister, the only coalition leader to finish school before the 21st century. Despite outward shows of harmony, divisions remain between the main coalition partners, Marin’s Social Democrats and the Centre Party. Marin will struggle to defend her leftist views against the Centre

Party, which wants action to boost Finnish employment to pay for the costly welfare state. Center Party chairwoman Kulmuni defended her decision to force out Rinne, accusing him of having taken the employees’ side in recent labor market disputes when he should have remained neutral. Before his resignation, Rinne defended the publicly-owned postal service’s employees in their labor dispute by saying their employment conditions would not be trampled while his government was in office. “It became sort of a habit to flag in advance in favor of one side, in matters which should be dealt with cool impartiality,” Kulmuni wrote in a long post on Facebook. Marin said recreating trust between the coalition partners was one of her first tasks. “It demands discussion, a direct one,” she said. Meanwhile Marin said she would keep using social media — but with care.

Climate activist Greta Thunberg is Time’s 2019 person of the year

Greta Thunberg, the Swedish teenager who became the voice of conscience for a generation facing the climate change emergency, was announced on Wednesday as Time magazine’s 2019 Person of the Year. The 16-year-old first hit the headlines for her solo strike against global warming outside Sweden’s parliament last year. “We can’t just continue living as if there was no tomorrow, because there is a tomorrow. That is all we are saying,” Thunberg told Time. The magazine interviewed Thunberg aboard the sailboat that took her from the United States to Europe after a hectic 11-week North American trip to several US cities and Canada. Thunberg has taken her disarmingly straightforward message—“listen to the scientists”—to global decision-makers, accusing them of inaction. The Swedish activist was in Madrid as the award was announced, at a UN climate forum tasked with saving the world from runaway global warming. “The politics of climate action are as entrenched and complex as the phenomenon itself, and Thunberg has no magic solution,” Time wrote in the interview. “But she has succeeded in creating a global attitudinal shift, transforming millions of vague, middle-of-the-night anxieties into a worldwide movement calling for urgent change. “She has offered a moral clarion call to those who are willing to act, and hurled shame on those who are not.” —

Saturday, December 14, 2019

‘British Columbians are paying too much’ - Aattorney General freezes ICBC’s rate application Citing years of mismanagement, the B.C. government has put the brakes on the insurance rate application ICBC makes every year to the B.C. Utilities Commission (BCUC). B.C. Attorney General David Eby has directed a delay to the public auto insurer’s application until February, in order to allow time for two sets of planned reforms, according to a statement issued Thursday. “We will not ask ICBC to put forward a 2020 rate application based on an incomplete financial picture,” said Eby. “Instead, we will wait until that work is complete to ensure any rate changes are based on the actual costs anticipated in the year ahead.”BC drivers can pay up to 60 per cent more than Albertans for comparable vehicle insurance, according to the Insurance Bureau of Canada. In

February 2018, the province tried to stem ICBC’s financial bleeding, in part, by introducing caps on the number of expert witnesses testifying in injury lawsuits. A recent court decision struck down the caps. But instead of appealing the decision, the B.C. government opted instead to legislate the changes. Those changes made to B.C.’s Evidence Act limit the number of expert reports but also include a window of discretion that will allow judges to decide whether additional experts are needed in some cases. Eby said the province is also working on reforms in the tort system that it believes will help reduce costs and have a positive impact on rate changes. “British Columbians are paying too much for car insurance, [and] ... we have much work ahead to get these costs

Former councillor helping organize ‘Speak Up Surrey’ rally against Surrey budget A rally is being planned outside Surrey City Hall on Monday night before council is set to vote on officially adopting its controversial budget. “It’s not a protest,” said Mike Starchuk, a former firefighter and former Surrey councillor who is helping organize the event and will serve as emcee. “It’s definitely a rally.” The controversial fiveyear financial plan – which budgets $45.2 million for Surrey’s new police department transition, and another $84.4 million in “additional” operating costs – has faced fierce criticism for its hiring freeze on firefighters and Surrey RCMP officers next year. Equally controversial has been what some see as

under investment in civic amenity projects, such as rec centres and ice rinks. Mayor Doug McCallum and his Safe Surrey team on Dec. 2 passed the plan in a 5-4 vote following dozens of people voicing strong opposition to the budget – and the proposed policing transition – during a midday hearing earlier that day. Surrey Council is now set to vote on its final adoption Monday (Dec. 16), in a meeting that starts at 7 p.m. The rally against the budget is to begin just after 6 p.m. and is being referred to as “Speak Up Surrey,” said Starchuk. “These people are speaking up and wanting council to speak up. What came out of the last council meeting is that the mayor and his team did not speak up in chambers,”

Death threat related to unsolved Surrey murder posted at major city intersection A handwritten sign posted high on a telephone pole at the corner of a major Surrey intersection contains a death threat related to an ongoing murder investigation in this city. Surrey RCMP Constable Richard Wright said police are looking into it. “We’re just waiting to hear what the officers have to say and we’ll investigate from there,” he said. Sergeant Frank Jang, spokesman for the Integrated Homicide Investigative Team, told the Now-Leader on Wednesday that the Surrey RCMP “will be dealing with this. Some veiled threats, I suppose. “We’re not investigating threats, we investigate murder,” he said. “We’re looking for witnesses obviously to come forward on the Bradley Kline murder.”

The sign, at the southwest corner of 152nd Street and Highway 10, concerns the Dec. 7, 2018 murder of Bradley Kline, 26, in Newton. Motorists turning right onto 152nd have seen the sign for a couple of days now. The sign, in black felt pen, reads: “ON DEC 2018 BRAD KLINE WAS MURDERED NOW THE KILLERS AND ANY INVOLVED R BEING HUNTED DOWN NOW AND WILL BE KILLED ANY ONE WITH YOU TOO! Homicide police on Tuesday held a presser during which it was revealed they have suspects and are “aggressively pursuing” several people in the Lower Mainland and Edmonton area who they say have “key information” concerning Kline’s murder.

LOCAL

LOCAL / NATIONAL

Saturday, December 14, 2019

Harbour Air completes world’s first electric aircraft test flight As Greg McDougall prepared to fly the world’s first all-electric commercial aircraft Tuesday morning, he said “nervous” wasn’t quite the word to describe how he was feeling. The fact that the Harbour Air CEO would be the first person to take the modified de Havilland Beaver on a full test flight didn’t faze him, nor did knowledge of a charging glitch the night before. McDougall had gone for a dinner break Monday evening while a crew of designers and engineers stared at their computers with furrowed brows, and he returned later to find them smiling and laughing, crisis averted. “The emotion isn’t necessarily excitement, it’s more sort of anticipation and focus,” he said. With the sun hanging low over the Fraser River in Richmond, B.C., McDougall shifted the throttle into gear and took off. After landing, he said it felt just like flying any other plane, only with more kick.

“For me, that flight was just like flying a Beaver but it was a Beaver on electric steroids,” he said, adding he had to throttle back in order to delay the takeoff to be in line with about a dozen cameras. “It wanted to fly. With the tail wind it was going to leap off the water.” The brief but successful test flight marked a significant win for Harbour Air and partner magniX, which designed the electric motor, in the race to electrify commercial aviation fleets. Dozens of companies are working on electric planes, including Boeing and Airbus. Israeli company Eviation unveiled a nineseat, all-electric plane named “Alice” at the Paris Air Show in June, which also happens to be a magniX project. Roei Ganzarski, CEO of Seattle-based engineering firm magniX, described the test flight as the beginning of a revolution in aviation. In 1903, the Wright brothers made history with the first successful flight and in 1939, the Heinkel jet launched

the jet age, he said. “Since 1939, we’ve pretty much stayed stable. Today that team made history,” Ganzarski said, gesturing toward the design team.

Harbour Air announced in March that it had partnered with magniX with the goal of becoming the world’s first all-electric airline.

Poll finds most Canadians want Huawei barred from the country’s 5G networks A new survey says Canadian public opinion is solidly against allowing Huawei as a supplier for the new generation of ultra-fast wireless networks that are being built by the country’s telecommunications companies. An Angus Reid online poll published Wednesday says 69 per cent of respondents were against the federal government allowing the Chinese telecom equipment maker from being involved in Canada’s fifth-generation wireless networks.The survey also found that

66 per cent of respondents had a negative view of China, up from 51 per cent in 2018. The poll comes as the United States continues long-standing efforts to convince its allies such as Canada to bar Huawei as a threat to national security because of the Chinese government’s influence. The U.S. warns China could require the company to gather sensitive information flowing through its equipment, an allegation that Huawei says is unproven and against the company’s business interests.

British Columbia makes regulatory change in battle against money laundering The B.C. government is giving the province’s gambling regulator greater independence to set and enforce regulatory policy in the fight against money laundering. The government says it is transitioning the gaming control and enforcement branch to a new independent gambling control office (IGCO), which will focus exclusively on regulatory policy related to gambling, horse racing and responsible gambling programs. Until this change, the branch has set and enforced policy while also providing advice to the province on business matters involving the B.C. Lottery Corp. Attorney General David Eby says the

change addresses concerns raised by former RCMP officer Peter German in a report done for the provincial government. He warned that dual responsibility could create conflicts of interest and impede antimoney laundering measures. Eby says he expects the change to be effective. “The IGCO will have the mandate, authority and independence to ensure the overall integrity of gambling in B.C.,’’ he said in a statement on Wednesday. “This change will make it far easier to keep dirty money out of our province.’’

Saturday, December 14, 2019

Khalsa Business Centre

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

LOCAL / NATIONAL

Saturday, December 14, 2019

Pilot killed in Gabriola island plane crash identified as former Transport Safety Board examiner The pilot killed in a twin-engine plane crash in Gabriola island on Tuesday night has been identified as flying instructor and former examiner with the Transportation Safety Board of Canada. Alex Bahlsen was flying his own Piper Aerostar, twin-engine propeller aircraft, over Gabriola Island when it crashed into the island’s northwest corner around 6:10pm. Several friends confirmed his death on Wednesday. The BC Coroners Service and RCMP both said there were no survivors from the crash, though it hasn’t yet been confirmed how many people were aboard the small plane.

The coroner said there were “multiple” fatalities, but gave no numbers and no further details about the plane or its flight path.

2 arrested from Vancouver house full of stolen clothing & liquor Vancouver police have busted a shoplifting and fencing operation being run out of a South Vancouver house that was set up like a store, with rooms full of stolen clothing and booze laid out on racks and tables. Sgt. Aaron Roed said an anonymous tip led VPD to the location where two people were taken into custody on Nov. 27. The pair is known to police. “We were able to determine these two people were committing the thefts and then reselling the items through the house,” he said. “This is what these people are doing for a living —

shoplifting in Metro Vancouver, hitting retail stores and then selling it to make a profit.” Calculating the value of the goods — $90,000 in clothing and $40,000 in alcohol — was simple becausemostitemsstillhadthepricetagsattached. Police estimate the value of the goods to be approximately $130,000. “It’s everything from Lululemon to Kate Spade bags to American Eagle,” he said. “There’s probably 25 different stores [represented].”

Court sides with bank staffer who says he was denied promotion because he’s not gay The Canadian Human Rights Commission was ordered to properly assess a discrimination complaint by a former employee of a major bank who claims his boss told him he had “no hope” for promotion unless he joined their “group” of gay and bisexual men. He was told only males who were gay or bisexual were promoted in the office, he claims. The commission had improperly dismissed the employee’s discrimination complaint based on sexual orientation, in this case for being

straight, the Federal Court of Canada ruled. Aaren Jagadeesh worked as a financial services representative for the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce in Toronto. He was repeatedly turned down for promotions. At a one-on-one meeting with his manager on Sept. 15, 2015, Jagadeesh said he was told that every male manager in the office was gay or bisexual, and, unless he joined this “group” there was “no hope” for him, court heard.

Surrey’s new top cop doesn’t believe residents have lost faith in the RCMP Surrey’s new officer in charge of the Surrey RCMP,BrianEdwards,willtakeoverthereinsof Canada’s largest RCMP detachment on Jan. 6. Replacing Assistant Commissioner Dwayne McDonald, who is taking on a new role as the RCMP’s criminal operations officer in charge of federal, investigative services and organized crime for B.C., Edwards will be promoted to the rank of assistant commissioner from chief superintendent. “It’s an absolute honour to have been selected by the RCMP and the City of Surrey to be the next officer in charge of Surrey RCMP,” Edwards said Thursday, considering it a “feather” in his cap.

“The Surrey RCMP is known to push the envelope on things, to lead best practices,” he said. “I understand this is a particularly challenging time, given Surrey’s expressed desire to move to a municipal police service, and that creates uncertainty with the public and it creates uncertainty for the rank-and-file members of Surrey detachment. With that in mind, I will say and assure the citizens of Surrey that we will continue to provide a topnotch, excellent police service moving forward focused on crime reduction. Brian Edwards will take over the reins of Canada’s largest RCMP detachment on January 6

Prolific offender nabbed at SkyTrain station after police say he skipped paying the fare ransit Police say a prolific offender skipped paying his fare at a Surrey SkyTrain station on Dec. 11 and “obviously didn’t consider the repercussions of his actions.” It all began when officers spotted a man follow another through a fare gate without tapping his own at approximately 12:15 a.m. Wednesday. “While speaking with officers the man became nervous and evasive when asked questions,” a Transit Police release indicates. “He then jumped on his bike in an attempt to get away. Officers were able to quickly catch up and place the man under arrest.” Officers later discovered Reginald Simon, 36, had 11 outstanding warrants with over 20 charges. Simon, of no fixed address, was

also wanted on eight out-of-province warrants, according to the release. Transit Police Sergeant Clint Hampton said the offences ranged from break-and-enters to assault with a weapon to breach of recognizance to possession of a controlled s u b s t an c e . The release notes that “following someone through a fare gate without tapping fare media can result in a $173 fine,” however “when you have 11 outstanding warrants, the consequences are much greater and jail is inevitable.”

LOCAL

Saturday, December 14, 2019

Vancouver council delays budget approval, seeking cuts Vancouver council has punted a decision on the 2020 budget until next week, directing staff to look for options to trim a proposed budget that would hit homeowners with the largest property tax increase in at least 20 years. NPA Coun. Lisa Dominato, who introduced the referral motion, said the move was in response to “floods and floods” of public concern over the proposed tax and fee increases

to fund the proposed $1.6-billion operating budget. Vancouver’s draft 2020 budget, released late last month, included a proposed 8.2 per cent property tax hike, more than double the 10year average annual increase. Council spent a full day last

Laptops, drones, gift cards stolen from Surrey Christmas Bureau The Surrey Christmas Bureau is looking for last-minute donations after thousands of dollars worth of gifts for low-income families were stolen in a break-in Wednesday morning. The break-in happened at the back door of the charity’s rented space at 10240 City Parkway just before 6:30 a.m. An alarm went off and when Surrey RCMP arrived, three laptops and $6,000 worth of gift cards were missing. Two drones were later also identified as missing, said executive director Lisa Werring. “It is absolutely Grinch-like. It’s

unbelievable,” Werring said. “This is definitely the Grinch that stole Christmas.” Surrey Christmas Bureau serves 2,000 families each year The Surrey Christmas Bureau is a volunteer-run, not-for-profit organization that provides items like toys, stocking stuffers and grocery cards to lowincome families during the holiday season. It serves more than 2,000 families each year, including 4,500 kids, Werring said.

Save-On-Foods donations fill shelves at children’s care home Save-On-Foods grocery stores are helping a Victoria children’s home save on their food bills this Christmas by donating $1,000 in food and another $600 in grocery gift cards. Jeneece Place is a home where children and their families can stay while receiving medical care in Victoria. The facility opened in 2012 and is located on the grounds of Victoria General Hospital. The 10-bedroom home has a dining room, living room, play areas and a large kitchen where parents can make meals for their families. canadian press

The managers of eight local SaveOn-Foods stores delivered all the bags of groceries themselves. “It feels really good, you actually feel like you are making a difference,” said Roger Junker, manager of the Pandora Avenue Save-On-Foods. It’s the fifth year in a row the grocery chain has donated to Jeneece Place. Junker says all the managers get together and look around the community to see where the food and funds are needed.

Police bust alleged $1.6M car theft ring that exported high-end vehicles out of Canada Four people have been charged after police busted an alleged $1.6-million car theft ring that spanned across southern Ontario, exporting high-end stolen vehicles out of Canada. Police in Hamilton, Ont. began their investigation, dubbed Project Seagull, in August 2019 after authorities became aware of the thefts. The auto theft ring, which operated out of the city of Hamilton, targeted mainly rental cars, police allege. Seven of the 39 vehicles stolen were found on a shipping container bound for Iraq, police said. Investigators believe other vehicles that have not yet been recovered have been shipped around the world. On Dec. 5, police executed search warrants on six Hamilton businesses and three residences. While conducting their searches, officers seized 12 more stolen

vehicles, numerous vehicle parts, cash, gold jewelry and other suspected stolen items. Police said they also recovered fraudulent vehicle identification numbers, shipping documents and stolen Mexican passports. The majority of the auto thefts carried out by the accused targeted rental car companies, police allege. Police said the suspects would use fraudulent documentstorentvehiclesandneverreturnthem. In some cases, the suspects would allegedly rent vehicles and clone the keys before returning them. Police said the suspects would then go back and steal the cars with the cloned keys. “These four accused have a network going on,” Det. Sgt. Andrea Torrie said on Monday. “We have evidence they have probably been doing this for a couple of years.”

week and most of Tuesday’s meeting discussing the budget. The 2020 budget is the first one that really reflects the priorities of the new council from their first full year in office, and the high number of motions they’ve passed during that time. Six months ago, city staff sent a budget outlook

report to council stating next year’s property tax increase “could be as high at 10 per cent to implement all of the various council motions.” On Tuesday, council approved a series of smaller reports connected to the budgeting process, including engineering, water and sewer fees. But council voted to defer a decision on what Mayor Kennedy Stewart called “the giant budget decision,” which includes spending on police, fire, parks,

Squamish Nation approves $3B Senákw development in Kitsilano The Squamish Nation has voted overwhelmingly in favour of building a massive housing project in Vancouver’s Kitsilano neighbourhood.

The project consists of 11 towers and 6,000 units of mostly rental housing, and is said to represent the single largest development of First Nations lands in Canada.

Members voted to approve the $3-billion Senákw project Tuesday night, agreeing to a 50-50 partnership with developer Westbank, which will be providing the funding for construction.

The size of the Sen ák w project has raised concerns among some in the area, including the West Kitsilano Residents Association, which noted there will be thousands more cars moving around in what’s already a busy access point to Vancouver’s downtown core. Vancouver Mayor Kennedy Stewart supports the project, however, and the Squamish Nation has said it’s considering a plan that would only provide parking for 10 per cent of units.

The Squamish Nation is contributing an 11.7-acre parcel of reserve land located at the south end of the Burrard Street Bridge. “This is truly a landmark moment in our nation’s history,” nation councillor and spokesperson Khelsilem said in a statement. “The Sen ák w Project will transform the Squamish Nation by providing immense social, cultural, and economic benefits to Squamish Nation members for generations to come.”

Construction is expected to begin in 2021.

LOCAL

Saturday, December 14, 2019

SkyTrain strike averted as last-minute deal reached A â&#x20AC;&#x153;marathonâ&#x20AC;? bargaining session and lastminute tentative contract may have prevented a three-day SkyTrain shutdown this week, but Metro Vancouverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s transit system isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t out of the woods yet when it comes to labour talks. The deal between the 900 people who operate and maintain the Expo and Millennium lines and their employer, the B.C. Rapid Transit Company, was reached shortly before 5 a.m. on Tuesday, when workers had planned to go on strike and stop the trains that carry about 150,000 people each day. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Both parties worked long and hard throughout the weekend, Monday, and into Tuesday morning to get this deal done,â&#x20AC;? CUPE 7000 president Tony Rebelo said in a statement. Negotiations had been underway since before the last collective agreement expired Aug. 31 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; including four days of mediation with Grant McArthur â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and came to a head Dec. 6 when the workers issued a 72-hour strike notice. Rebelo said the 11th-hour deal goes a long way to address many of the unionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s concerns going into this latest round of bargaining. Wages, staffing levels for the operations department, forced overtime and sick leave were the major issues. Michel Ladrak, president of the transit company, issued a statement saying he was pleased both sides had reached a negotiated, tentative deal. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is great news for our customers who depend on our services â&#x20AC;Ś I thank all

of our customers and staff for their patience through this uncertain time,â&#x20AC;? said Ladrak. Neither side released details of the tentative agreement, which must still be ratified by members of CUPE 7000, including attendants, control operators, administration, maintenance and technical staff. A date for a ratification vote hasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t been set. The tentative SkyTrain contract came less than a week after bus drivers, mechanics and SeaBus staff at the Coast Mountain Bus Company ratified a deal that barely averted a full, threeday bus and SeaBus strike. Before that, there had been 27 days of escalating strike action, which included uniform and overtime bans. The agreement was ratified Dec. 5, and included wage increases for drivers and other workers, as well as skilled trades, guaranteed minimum rest and recovery time of 45 minutes for bus drivers, and stronger language designed to improve washroom-breaks access and facilities. Meanwhile, the union representing operational, scheduling and administrative workers at Coast Mountain Bus Company completed their 11th day of bargaining â&#x20AC;&#x201D; with four more dates scheduled â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and office workers at TransLink, including clerks, assistants, administrators, co-ordinators, technicians and analysts, have not yet started bargaining. Both contracts expired on March 31.

Amazon to take over entire former Canada Post building in downtown Vancouver Amazonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lease of the entire former Canada Post building in downtown Vancouver is large enough to reduce the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s projected office vacancy by two per cent, commercial property insiders say. Last week, the it was reported that Amazon had agreed to lease all of the 1.13 million square feet of QuadRealâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s twotower building called The Post, the former Canada Post site on Georgia Street that is now undergoing a major redevelopment. Currently, Vancouverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s downtown office vacancy rate sits at 2.4 per cent, which is at or

near the lowest in North America, said Jamil Jamani, a senior market analyst in Vancouver with CoStar Group, an international property data company. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In downtown Vancouver, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got 4.2 million square feet of (office) construction activity under way,â&#x20AC;? he said. Construction at the former Canada Post Building on West Georgia street in Vancouver, BC, December 9, 2019. Arlen Redekop / PNG CoStar had forecasted that with the new inventory the downtown vacancy rate would climb to roughly 6.5 per cent by the end of 2023.

50k reward offered for ex-Burnaby man wanted for money laundering A $50,000 reward has been offered to catch a former Burnaby man wanted for money laundering as part of a Vietnamese organized crime group operating in Canada and the United States. Cong Dinh, 32, is believed to have fled to Vietnam before charges were laid against him and an associate in 2013. On Tuesday, RCMP Chief Supt. Keith Finn, who is in charge of federal policing in B.C., said police have partnered with the BOLO program to launch a campaign that will hopefully lead to the arrest of Dinh. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Dinh and the Vietnamese Organized

Crime group he belonged to is alleged to have laundered millions of dollars from drugs trafficked onto Canadian streets,â&#x20AC;? Finn said. He said the criminal organization was â&#x20AC;&#x153;allegedly moving ecstasy and marijuana south to the U.S. and cocaine north to Canadaâ&#x20AC;? and had affiliates in California, Mexico, Australia, Vietnam and across Canada. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are committed to continued collaboration with our domestic and International partners and are hopeful this new relationship with the BOLO Program will be the key in locating Dinh so he can be returned to Canada to answer to these charges.â&#x20AC;?

IHIT seeks help solving Bradley Kline homicide in Surrey Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been more than a year since the body of Bradley Kline was found in Surrey, and homicide detectives are asking for help solving the case. Investigators with the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) said Tuesday they have identified suspects in the 26-yearold manâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s homicide, but they need some information from certain individuals. On Dec. 7, 2018, emergency crews were called out shortly after 1:30 a.m. to a residence at 7055144A Street. They found Klineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s body inside the home with injuries consistent with foul play. IHIT spokesman Sgt. Frank Jang said

investigators have been following an evidence trail that has resulted in â&#x20AC;&#x153;the identification of suspectsâ&#x20AC;? in the murder case. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We know there are individuals who have key information but are choosing not to co-operate. We are appealing to them today,â&#x20AC;? said Jang in a statement Tuesday. Anyone with information is asked to call the IHIT information line at 1-877551-IHIT (4448) or by email at ihitinfo@ rcmp-grc.gc.ca. Those who want to remain anonymous can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

Mechanic knew he was fixing vehicles for ISIS, judge says in rejecting asylum appeal A Lebanese mechanic who says he unknowingly workedforISISandwasthenapproachedbyHezbollah to become a spy has been denied asylum in Canada. Boutros Massroua, 54, is from Zahleh, a Christian town in the Beqaa Valley, near Lebanonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s border with Syria. He made a refugee claim saying he fears retaliation from both ISIS â&#x20AC;&#x201D; also known as Daâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;esh â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and from Hezbollah, a militant group that has fought on different sides of the Syrian conflict, if he returns to Lebanon.

C.S.T. Consultants Inc.

BC Helps Parents Boost their Education Savings! Start saving for your childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s future education in a Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) and receive up to $8,400 in government grants.1 Open a CST RESP now and youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll start receiving the Canada Education Savings grant (CESG). The CESG can add up to $7,200 to your childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s RESP. When your child turns six, they can receive an additional $1,200 from the B.C. Government. SURJIT S. MADHOPURI Sales Representative C.S.T. Consultants Inc., Branch 789 Tel: 604.594.7200 / Cell: 604.377.4171 Email: surjit.madhopuri@cstresp.com http://www.cstresp.com/6117

1 ! " # $ % ! & ' ( ) *) + , - ! ! ) ! . -st, 2006. ! ! ! ) & ( 4 ! ! " %%! ) ( apply. â&#x201E;˘ The Canadian Scholarship Trust Plan is a registered trademark of the Canadian Scholarship Trust Foundation. The CST Plan is only sold by Prospectus. You can get copies of the prospectus from www.cst.org or by calling 1.877.333.RESP(7377). 57-- * -', 8+

But in a decision handed down by Federal Court in Vancouver on Tuesday, Justice Shirzad Ahmed wrote that it was â&#x20AC;&#x153;implausibleâ&#x20AC;? that Massroua didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t realize who he was working for, and that he was â&#x20AC;&#x153;reckless for the purposes of economic gain by fattening his pockets.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;As a result of his wilful ignorance and greed â&#x20AC;&#x201D; which manifested in the form of very well functioning vehicles for Daâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;esh â&#x20AC;&#x201D; the cruel objectives of Daâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;esh were furthered and innocent lives were most likely lost,â&#x20AC;? Ahmed wrote. According to federal court documents, Massroua was approached by a new client, who called himself Abu Mohamed, in December 2014. Mohamed brought Massroua several cars to repair, eventually telling him he would pay him more than his standard rate if he worked outside of his regular hours. Massroua accepted the job. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;I felt that I was dreamingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;: After 2 year struggle, cross-continent kindness brings Syrian man to Vancouver Several months later Massroua says he was taken to a different location operated by a man named Abu Arafat, a place he referred to as a â&#x20AC;&#x153;hangar.â&#x20AC;? He said the men had long-beards and spoke in Arabic in an accent that didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t sound Lebanese. They were installing heavy metal on the floor of trucks to strengthen them, and some of the vehicles were dotted with bullet holes. He said the the metal bars and casing had â&#x20AC;&#x153;no other use than for military purposes.â&#x20AC;? Massroua said he only visited the welllit hangar at night. When he would visit he was patted down, and his cellphone and a cross that he wore were confiscated. On one occasion, he said he was repairing a vehicle at the hangar when he realized the inside was wet with blood. He said he became afraid and tried to make excuses to not go back, but armed men came to his home and took him back there. Boutros Massroua, 54, is from the town of Zahleh, a Christian town in the Beqaa Valley, near Lebanonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s border with Syria. The decision said ISIS is known to have penetrated the area. At one point, he said three men came to his home and put a Chinese visa in his passport, telling him he should be prepared to travel there to buy something for them. He was also taken into Syria on three occasions to do repairs at a location from which he could see shelling, he said â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and it was at that point he became convinced that the group he had been working for was ISIS.

LOCAL

Saturday, December 14, 2019

BCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s speculation tax increasing from 0.5% to 2% The B.C. government has announced it is raising the Speculation and Vacancy Tax on Dec. 31 from 0.5 per cent to two per cent for foreign owners and for satellite families, the majority of whose income is not reported on a Canadian tax return. Some new exemptions to the tax will be brought in while others currently in place will be phased out. â&#x20AC;&#x153;When we introduced the Speculation and Vacancy Tax, our province was at the peak of a real estate crisis and moderation in the market was long overdue,â&#x20AC;? said Finance Minister Carole James. Based on the data collected from

the first year, the government says the tax is working as it was designed to â&#x20AC;&#x201D; capturing speculators, foreign owners and people who own vacant homes. The next phase of the tax brings: An exemption for property owners who are members of the Canadian Armed Forces while in active service and their spouses. An exemption for people who own properties which are only accessible by water. An end on Dec. 31, 2019, to the exemption for foreign owners of vacant land. The exemption for empty strata properties in buildings where rentals are banned will be phased out by Dec. 31, 2021.

Arrests made after attempted thefts with weapons at Lululemon, BC Liquor Store: Vancouver police Multiple attempted daytime thefts are under investigation, after weapons were used at two separate Vancouver stores. Just after noon on Dec. 6, Vancouver police say a man was spotted stealing alcohol at a BC Liquor Store on Commercial Drive at Grant Street. At the time, the suspect was arrested by a loss prevention officer. But while he was being arrested, police say he pulled out a knife and fled. Vancouver police arrived, found the man and arrested him. Since then, charges have been laid against 20-year-old Tyler Fitzpatrick in connection to the incident. Fitzpatrick was also wanted on other warrants across the province. Just two days later on Dec. 8, a man was caught allegedly trying to steal hundreds of dollarsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; worth of clothing from the Lululemon on West 4th. He was also stopped by a loss prevention officer, but police say he threatened to use a can of bear spray against the officer and fled. Not long after, a women who police believe was the manâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s accomplice went to the store and allegedly tried to steal clothing.

She was deterred by the loss prevention officer and Vancouver police soon found the two suspects and arrested them both. Vancouver residents Andrew Goudrea, 40, and Patricia Dove, 41, were both charged with

alleges B.C.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s housing speculation tax unfairly targets women and seniors Introduced Dec. 31, 2018, the tax targets homes in the most populated areas of B.C. that are not declared as a primary residence or are not rented out for at least three months a year. More than 99 per cent of British Columbians are exempt.

# $ + ' * - . '* % 3 4 '(

# $ % &' ( )* + , ** - . ) several offences and are still in police custody. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Loss prevention officers sometimes have a tough job,â&#x20AC;? said Sgt. Aaron Roed with the Vancouver Police Department in a news release. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thieves can be unpredictable, and we never want someone to get hurt over stolen property.â&#x20AC;? Vancouver police remind residents to call 911 if they witness a robbery in progress.

Vancouverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s NPA party grapples with fallout from â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;far-rightâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; direction A Vancouver political party is continuing SOGI stands for sexual orientation to grapple with the fallout of a sitting city and gender identity, and it refers to a B.C. councillorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s resignation from the party over what she calls a new â&#x20AC;&#x153;far-rightâ&#x20AC;? direction. On Friday, Rebecca Bligh announced she would be leaving the party and sitting as an independent councillor. Bligh said that as a queer woman, she was especially concerned that that some members of

the newly-elected NPA board executive had â&#x20AC;&#x153;affiliation with anti-SOGIâ&#x20AC;? groups. Now one of the board members who was identified in two media stories as having ties to anti-SOGI groups is speaking out. Ray Goldenchild, who recently became the NPA board secretary, was misidentified in a photograph published by News1130 after Blighâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s resignation that showed a number of people attending a reportedly anti-SOGI meeting in November 2018. The radio station has since corrected the story on their website and apologized. But in a statement on Monday, Goldenchild, who is Black, said the misidentification was â&#x20AC;&#x153;a form of institutional racism.â&#x20AC;?

A strata title allows individual ownership of part of a property â&#x20AC;&#x201D; generally either an apartment or townhouse â&#x20AC;&#x201D; with shared ownership in the remainder of the building. Under the new rules announced Tuesday, if the strata lot remains unoccupied, even if the buildingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bylaws prohibit rentals, the tax will be levied. Proposed class action lawsuit

* - . ' ). $ - . ' % & /0. ' ' 1 2

! ""

Saturday, December 14, 2019

Mel Chaudhary

Simpson, Thomas & Associates know the law and procedures that must be followed to bring an ICBC claim. When dealing with ICBC, there are important deadlines that must be met at several points throughout the ICBC claims process. This article will explain some of the important deadlines involved when starting an ICBC claim. It is important to note that there may be other deadlines not covered in this article â&#x20AC;&#x201C; to discuss the time limitations for bringing your ICBC claim consult an experienced ICBC claims lawyer. Time limit for filing an ICBC claim There are several time limits that arise soon

When should I file my ICBC claim? after a car accident occurs, including the following deadlines that must be met to file an ICBC injury claim: t i1SPNQUMZw SFQPSU UIF BDDJEFOU UP ICBC (ideally this would be within 24 hours of the accident, but serious injuries or catastrophic injuries may prevent you from doing this); t 1SPWJEF B XSJUUFO TUBUFNFOU EFTDSJCJOH UIF accident to ICBC within 30 days of the accident; and t 'JMF B QSPPG PG DMBJN GPSN B CL-22 Insurance Claim Application) with ICBC within 90 days of the accident. If deadlines are not met, your ICBC claim may be denied â&#x20AC;&#x201C; contact us if your claim has been denied as exceptions may apply in your case. Note as well that there may be other applicable deadlines or different deadlines depending on the type of ICBC claim (for example, if you were injured in a hit and run car accident). Two-year time limit for starting a lawsuit

23-year-old with life-threatening injuries after Burnaby crash Commuters travelling through Burnaby Tuesday morning were warned to avoid a long stretch of 10th Avenue after a crash left a 23-year-old woman with life-threatening injuries and led to road closures. Burnaby RCMP posted on Twitter shortly before 8 a.m. that the road was closed in both directions between McBride Boulevard and 6th Street because of a â&#x20AC;&#x153;serious motor vehicle collision.â&#x20AC;? Plan your route using our live updating traffic page. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Expect lengthy delays. Avoid the area, if possible reroute to avoid traffic congestion,â&#x20AC;? the post says. The crash happened at about 4:30 a.m. and by 11:30 a.m., police said they were still on

scene investigating. The 23-year-old woman was taken to hospital with serious injuries. The two people in the other car were taken to hospital and have since been released. Footage from the scene shows a silver Hyundai that appears to have crashed into the driverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s side of a black Volkswagen. The Volkswagen was also pinned against a utility pole. In another area nearby, a dark minivan appears to have gone off the road and into a bush. Police are calling for witnesses to submit information or dash cam footage from the area by calling Burnaby Mounties at 604646-9999. Tips can be sent in anonymously to Crime Stoppers.

In BC, the basic limitation period for starting a personal injury lawsuit is two years from the date of loss. The general rule is that you must either settle your ICBC claim or file a court action within two years from the date of the car accident. If you do not file a court action against the other driver in your ICBC claim within the two-year limitation period, your claim will be â&#x20AC;&#x153;statute barredâ&#x20AC;? unless exceptional circumstances exist. Exceptions to the two-year time limit for starting a lawsuit Depending on the circumstances of the accident and the accident victim, the limitation period may be extended or shortened. For example: t Ä&#x2021;F UXP ZFBS MJNJUBUJPO QFSJPE EPFT not apply to claims by infants (i.e., persons under the age of majority (19) at the time of the accident) or persons under mental disability. t *G ZPV BSF CSJOHJOH B MBXTVJU BHBJOTU

a city or town, it must be commenced within six months of the date of loss (and there are even shorter deadlines for giving written notice to the municipality). t *G UIF BDDJEFOU PDDVSSFE PVUTJEF of BC, the time limitations for bringing an insurance claim or lawsuit may be different in the jurisdiction where the accident occurred. Questions about ICBC deadlines? If you have been injured in a car accident, it is advisable to consult with an ICBC claims lawyer as soon as possible after the accident. That being said, even if some time has passed since the accident and you are worried that you may be out of time, give us a call. The lawyers at Simpson Thomas & Associates are ready to discuss your situation and help you file your ICBC claim. To book a free initial consultation call (604) 689-8888.

Man acquitted in Air India bombing travels to India Ripudaman Singh Malik acquitted in Air India bombing has finally been allowed to travel to India after decades of being on a no-fly list. Ripudaman Singh Malikâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s visit to his birth country has been featured in the Indian media in recent days. In March 2005, Malik, along with Ajaib Singh Bagri, was acquitted in the Ripudaman Singh June 23, 1985 terrorism attack Malik was on a black list against Indiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s national airline for decades, but has now that left 331 dead. Two bomb- been allowed to travel laden suitcases were checked in at to India. Vancouver Airport and tagged for

Air India flights heading in opposite directions around the globe. One exploded at Tokyoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Narita Airport killing two baggage handlers. The second blew up aboard Air India Flight 182, killing all 329 aboard. Evidence at Malik and Bagriâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s trial pointed to a conspiracy by B.C. Sikh separatists to retaliate for the Indian governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s attack in June 1984 on the Golden Temple, Sikhismâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s holiest shrine.

Punjabi Language Education Association (PLEA) inviting young poets & writerts to participate in Motehr Language Day PLEA is inviting original poems and / or short stories (in Punjabi) from young people aged 21 and under. Stories and poems can be submitted via e-mail to Balwant Sanghera , e-mail: b_sanghera @yahoo.com or Sadhu Binning ,e-mail:sadhu.binning @ gmail.com, on or before February7,2020. A panel of experts will select the top six stories /poems . The writers of these works will be invited to share them with the

audience on February 22, at the International Mother Language Day Celebration to be held at Kwantlen Polytechnic University , Surrey .Each participant will receive a a Certificate of Participation. Selected top six writers will receive Certificates of Participation and other prizes including cash. For further information please contact Balwant Sanghera @ 604-8368976 or Sadhu Binning @ 778-773-1886.

Christmas Bureau break and enter Surrey RCMP is currently investigating a break and enter incident from early this morning at the Christmas Bureau,

a charitable organization that supports families in-need during the holiday season. On December 11, 2019, at 6:20 am, Surrey RCMP frontline officers responded to an alarm at the Christmas Bureau, located at 10240 City Parkway. Evidence at the scene has led investigators to believe a break and enter had occurred with three laptops and $6000 in gift cards stolen. This investigation is in its early stages and the Surrey RCMP Community Response Unit are engaged and will be following up with staff. â&#x20AC;&#x153;To have an incident like this occur against a charity that works hard to support families during the holiday season is deplorable,â&#x20AC;? says Inspector Gurmakh Parmar, Surrey RCMP, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I encourage anyone with information about this incident to contact police and help ensure we can support those that support the vulnerable in our community.â&#x20AC;? Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the Surrey RCMP at 604-599-0502, or Crime Stoppers, if they wish to remain anonymous, at 1-800-222-8477 or www.solvecrime.ca, quoting file number 2019-191430.

Saturday, December 14, 2019

“How much we focus on our physical strength, our mental strength and mental endurance are equally important,” said Deepika Padukone on Nerolac Cricket Live, exclusively on Star Sports. With the series set in balance and the third T20 set to be the decider, cricket fans are set to experience a bundle of entertainment and cricketing action. Star Sports experts were seen discussing the much-awaited T20 game with Padukone before India faced the West Indies.

Vidya Balan with different cuts With her very first film, “Parineeta,” Vidya Balan showed that there was space in the industry for a homely girl whose forte was acting and not glamour. Fourteen years later, after playing roles as varied as a housewife, a ruthless femme fatale, a brothel-owner, sister to a murder victim, lady detective and an RJ, she has shown that she is a star with a difference. Admittedly, she has floundered in many a case, notably in fairly recent

films like “Kahaani 2” and “Begum Jaan,” but the triumphs have outclassed these failures – people still remember her path-breaking turns in movies like “The Dirty Picture” and “Kahaani” among others. We begin our conversation on this note as we meet up on the eve of the release of “Mission Mangal,” in which she essays a scientist. Q: You have been the forerunner of the trend of substance-heavy films, especially the female-oriented ones. In the 2010-2011 phase, you acted in “Ishqiya” and “No One Killed Jessica” for starters. A (Laughs): I just think that I was there at the right place at the right time, and it is kind of people to give me credit! A change was underway, waiting to happen, Ekta Kapoor and Milan Luthria for “The Dirty Picture” and Sujoy Ghosh for “Kahaani”.

game, but how they have conducted themselves outside – for me he is somebody I have admired and looked up to, and he is from Bangalore, my hometown.” About watching cricket with her husband Ranveer Singh, Padukone remarked, “Ranveer and I watch matches together, he is a very big football fan, which everyone knows – but he is also a big cricket fan. We don’t watch every single match. , but yes, when there are im

Deepika says, physical & mental strength all equally important Speaking on the importance of sports in life, Padukone added, “At times you feel your body is not keeping up with the mind. I think sometimes it’s the mind that takes over – and nurturing that is very important. A young athlete will figure that along the way, but they should pay attention

to that – the grit, courage, determination and spirit is important.” Asked who her favorite cricketer was, Padukone said, “My all-time favorite cricketer is Rahul Dravid, but a lot of my idols are not because of what they have done in the sport and the

Bollywood

Saturday, December 14, 2019

Amitabh Bachchan, Sachin Tendulkar Tweet Greetings as UNICEF India Turns 70 UNICEF in India is celebrating 70 years of service for children in the country and Bollywood veteran Amitabh Bachchan has tweeted that he is proud to be a part of the organization. Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar also sent his wishes on the occasion of UNICEF India’s 70th birthday. Big B took to Twitter and wrote: “Happy birthday @UNICEFIndia proud to be part of #70withYou. Over the course of 70 years @UNICEF in India has made remarkable progress and together we can do more. The best gift we can give is to ensure #ForEveryChild, every right.” Tendulkar tweeted: “Happy

70th birthday @unicefindia!Your work for the rights and development of children in the past decades has been inspiring in India and all over the world. It is a

pleasure for me to be a part of this mission. Good luck for the future. #70withYou.”

‘Women need to channelize the inner Durga within them’ Rani began with a humble film, “Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat,” in 1996. At the preview of her first film and a screening of some songs, no one gave her more than a second glance as Rani Mukerji stood outside the preview theatre in a simple salwar-kameez. After watching the songs and scenes, this reporter went to meet her and said, very honestly, that she would make it big. She was shaken and smiled and thanked me. Twenty three years later, when her contemporaries and even some juniors have called it a day or have stopped connecting with the audience, Rani Mukerji has, despite m ar r i a ge (to Aditya Chopra) and motherhood, remained someone who can pull in audiences even without the top heroes she usually worked with, the Khans downwards. What’s more, she is the only heroine who has a solo and titular franchise to her name—after “Mardaani” in 2016, she is now set to release “Mardaani 2” with her now popular cop act as Shivani Shivaji Roy. Last year, “Hichki” was a hit and made Rs. 250 crore worldwide. I consciously try and choose films and roles of varied kinds, so that people are not bored of watching me on screen. There should always be something new from me and I have worked towards that. At every stage the way I have reacted to characters is because of my headspace at the time. So “Mardaani” came soon after marriage and “Hichki” soon after I became a mother. With the former, it was my response as an actor, and that of the team’s— writer Gopi Puthran, who has also directed “Mardaani 2,” my husband and producer Aditya Chopra and director Pradeep Sarkar— to the Nirbhaya rape case. We felt severe rage, and we wanted to channelize that in the way we knew best—through a film. In “Mardaani 2” as well, we tackle criminals who are juveniles and their crimes against women. Women too need to be told to channelize the inner Durga within them, rather than shirk away from such realities that exist around them. Rapes do not happen only from strangers. A woman can be abused by someone within her circle of family and friends. Rather than switch channels when such things are being reported or turn the page of a newspaper because it disturbs her, a woman should increase her acceptance.

Saturday, December 14, 2019

HOROSCOPE

Sidharth Shukla hospitalized Aries

March 21 - April 20 Life may have been intense lately, but as chatty Mercury enters Sagittarius, you can feel lighter and brighter. It joins the sun getting away from it all boosts your energy and allows you to recharge. Even so, with a full moon in your sector of communication midweek, feelings could run high, so beware of making any promises you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t keep. And it would be just as well to steer clear of gossip, because it certainly wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t help.

Taurus April 21 - May 20

Actor Sidharth Shukla, who is one of the contestants of the ongoing reality TV show â&#x20AC;&#x153;Bigg Boss 13,â&#x20AC;? is seeking treatment for typhoid at a hospital here. Last week, Sidharth was diagnosed with typhoid and he continued staying inside the house under proper supervision. He then shifted to a secret room from

where he along with Paras Chhabra were keeping a close eye on the other contestants. But now according to a source, Sidharth was taken to the hospital due to worsening health. Meanwhile, Google has named Sidharth as the most searched Indian TV actor of 2019. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Bigg Boss 13â&#x20AC;? airs on Colors TV.

Bollywood

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Bigg Boss 13â&#x20AC;&#x2122;

Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re still very much in the mindset to reach for new opportunities and work hard to do so. As lively Mercury moves into Sagittarius and a more intense zone, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an opportunity to look at what may be holding you back. What do you need to do to clear away blocks to progress? Talking things over can help. There is a full moon in your money zone on Wednesday, and this could encourage a desire to splurge. Investing in a massage or other

though.

Gemini

May 20 - June 21 If life seems intense, that might be because deep soul bonds, and powerful emotions. Even so, as lively Mercury moves into Sagittarius and your sector of relating, getting out and about can recharge you. Time spent in good company can uplift you so youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re ready to face any challenges. The full moon in your sign midweek can heighten feelings around a key bond, and this could bring an opportunity to clear the air. Are you ready for romance

Cancer

June 22 - July 23

Relationships may have been an issue for some while now, and tensions could be ratcheting up in one bond as luscious Venus moves between sobering Saturn and powerful Pluto this week. If you have a choice to make, it could be easier to put your feelings to one side and see things more objectively. This would be a wise thing to do. Chatty Mercury moving into your lifestyle sector on Monday means getting organized can be a priority and an aid to progress. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re ready to jettison any bad habits.

Leo

June 24 - August 23 Your leisure zone becomes more buoyant this week as lively Mercury moves in and joins the sun. There is no doubt that you may have a lot of work to do, especially as this holiday season gets underway. Nevertheless, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s important to get out, enjoy life, do those things The midweek full moon in your leisure zone could coincide with a celebration, get-together, or seasonal event thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a lot of fun. Even so, spirits may be running high.

Virgo August 24 - Sept 24 Convivial energies in your home zone can get

been busy getting your place shipshape in recent weeks, this can be the start of a more sociable phase. Still, there is a strong emphasis on your sector of creativity, enterprise, and leisure, and if you have a lot of work to do, it could override other plans. The midweek full moon in your sector of goals and career can be an opportunity to make something public. Do you have a message youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re eager to share? This is the time to do so because it could go viral.

Libra Sept. 24 - Oct 22 Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a lot going on in an intensely personal sector of your chart, with four planets in Capricorn and your home zone. However, since upbeat Jupiter moved in last

facing. As this expansive planet links with energizing Uranus, with the aspect peaking over the weekend, this is an excellent opportunity to get advice, because it can bring valuable insights. You could experience a major shift

Scorpio Oct 23 - Nov 22 As lively Mercury moves into your money zone early in the week, it can encourage you to get organized, and this could be the best way to avoid overspending, especially around the time of the midweek full moon. Try not to micromanage everything. Just allow life " #

$ aligns with dreamy Neptune in your sector of leisure. You might prefer to relax with a movie or get involved in hobbies or other pleasures rather than get down to work.

Sagitarius Nov 23 - Dec 22 As Mercury glides into your sign early in the week, its presence here can encourage you to enjoy the chance to socialize and connect. If there are people you havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t linked up with in a while, this might be a good time to do so. The full moon in your sector of relating could bring feelings out into the open, though, and this could make for some volatile conversations. However, if you have feelings for someone and

lunar phase.

Capricorn Dec 23 - Jan 20

The emphasis on your sign could put you under pressure, and you might be doing it to yourself. While upbeat Jupiterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s presence in %

success, it pays to understand your motives for taking on certain goals. The full moon in your lifestyle sector midweek can be a call to lighten your schedule and enjoy some pampering. Self-care and a break can leave you feeling relaxed and recharged.

Aquarius Jan 21 - Feb 19 The focus on your inner life continues for & you change inside, you may notice that your outer life begins to shift, too, and this can be a revelation. Your social life is active, and you feel more grounded, which can be important at this time. And with chatty Mercury moving into Sagittarius, this is very much a time to be adventurous and move in new circles. The full moon in your leisure and romance zone on Wednesday could coincide with an event that turns out to be a lot of fun.

Pisces Feb 20 - March 20 Your social life is very busy, and you seem to have a lot of commitments and responsibilities associated with it. This week, as sweet Venus aligns with prudent Saturn and radical Pluto, you

the line concerning your part in key activities. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been doing too much, it might be time to encourage others to do their share. The full moon in your social zone on Wednesday could bring domestic drama to the fore if it has been bubbling away. This is your opportunity to clear the air and '

Saturday, December 14, 2019

Bollywood

Helping Youth program

Participants who successfully completed eight sessions of the program were presented with Certificates of Excellence and prizes by Inspector Baltej Singh Dhillon, along with organizer Bhupinder Singh. Both inspector Dhillon and Bhupinder Singh gave very inspiring talk to the participants and their parents.

Saturday, December 14, 2019 Balwant Sanghera. Chairperson South Asian Community Coalition Against Youth Violence (SACCAYV)

The issue of drugs and violence in the South Asian Community can be traced back to early 1990s when a number of disaffiliated youth started getting into trouble. So far we have lost a lot of our young to this menace. The community has been very concerned about this issue all along. Our community efforts are focused on prevention leaving the intervention and enforcement to police and the courts. It has been trying

Press release

Helping Youth very hard to address the issue of youth violence, drugs and gangs. A number of Gurdwaras and community organizations have been running excellent programs in this regard. There is no doubt that these efforts have made a big difference . However, still a lot more needs to be done in this regard. The current conflict between various groups going on in Metro Vancouver and Abbotsford is very unfortunate. Both of these communities have a very large percentage of

Indo-Canadians. The community and police are doing everything within their means to tackle it. It appears the temptation for easy money; false sense of security and power as well as low self-esteem is too much for some youth to overcome. It is our sincere hope that eventually they will realize that this kind of dangerous life style is no way to make ones mark in life. Our community, along with police and other stakeholders, is fully determined to put a stop to it. In this context, it was very encouraging

to see Kwantlen Polytechnic University team led by Dr. Gira Bhatt and Dr. Roger Tweed successfully apply for a grant from the Civil Forfeiture Award from the BC Ministry of Public Safety. It is a Strength based gang prevention programming for youth and families . It aims to empower youth and parents by focusing on their strengths, their positive traits and their leadership skills. . This project is a collaborative effort by the community, police and academia. All of the 8 interactive sessions were held at Gurdwara Dukh Nivaran Sahib .

Ooma World Plan $1428mo*

Ooma World Plus Plan $1999mo**

Includes unlimited international calling to over 60 countries, including India and the UK.

Includes unlimited international calling to over 70 countries, including Pakistan and Bangladesh.

* Plus taxes & fees for one year. After year one, price will be $1999/mo + taxes & fees.

** Plus taxes & fees for one year. After year one, price will be $2999/mo + taxes & fees.

' '&,* , 0 ' * !, # 0 ' * )-!* Unlimited calling to

60+ countries

Subscribe to the Ooma home phone World or World Plus plan and enjoy crystal clear connections to more than 60 countries from just $1428/month! Plus, as our thank you for signing up, we will send you these two gifts:* FREE! Your choice of any one Saregama Carvaan Mini bluetooth speaker

FREE! Motorola Cordless Phone

(Comes with 251 songs preloaded. Includes hi-speed USB port)

Get Ooma and slash your home phone bills forever! PLUS: Receive two amazing FREE gifts!

Legends Gurbani

Bhakti

* Available to new Ooma Telo activations only. Service should remain active for at least four monthsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;if cancelled prior to that, a $50 chargeback will be applied. Ooma service requires a hi-speed internet connection. No activation fee. Choose a new number at no charge or port your existing number for a one-time fee of $39.99. Free gifts are a limited time offer and subject to availability. Shipping included. Other conditions may apply.

Call now for details or to sign up today!

1.866.268.1726

. info@mediashack.ca

Saturday, December 14, 2019

Press release

Making health care better, one community at a time By John Horgan, Premier of British Columbia

22-24K Gold and Silver Jewellery Custom Made Jewellery Repairs

Appraisals

Dharminder kanda

604.502.8823 #102 - 8166, 128th St Surrey BC

(P Pa ayal Business Centre)

One thousand people doesn’t sound like much until you put it in context. One thousand people at a rock concert is a small crowd by today’s standards. One thousand people moving to your community every month, like in Surrey, can have a big impact. Surrey is B.C.’s secondlargest city and is growing fast; it’s on pace to overtake Vancouver’s population by 2041. For people like Jodi George, a health-care worker and lifetime Surrey resident, the city has changed quickly. And with more people

VOTED BEST HEARING CLINIC IN SURREY Call or visit us to get your FREE HEARING SCREENING Extended Health Care cards are accepted and the clinic is DVA, Indian Affairs and BlueCross approved

HOW CAN I DETECT

Early Signs of

HEARING LOSS

( Your loved ones complain you have the television too loud ( You have difﬁculty hearing in groups and crowded places ( You ﬁnd yourself confusing words or misunderstanding conversations

995

( You have difﬁculty hearing higher pitched voices such as young children ( You have difﬁculty hearing birds chirping or wind blowing + People around you feel that you have a hearing loss

FREE remote included. PER $1395 control * With the purchase 2 hearing aids. EAR EACH Promotion valid untilof supply lasts. REG.

www.surreyhearingcare.com Surrey Hearing Care Inc. 101-15957 84 Avenue Surrey, BC V4N 0W7

Surrey Hearing Central 2151-10153 King George Blvd. Surrey, BC V3T 2W3

Surrey Hearing Guildford 105-15277-100 Avenue Surrey, BC V3R 8X2

Surrey Hearing Delta 102-8035-120 St. Delta, BC V4X 6P8

Tel: 778-565-4327 Fax: 778-565-4329

Tel: 778-394-4327 Fax: 778-394-4329

Tel: 604-496-3338 Fax: 604-496-3339

Tel: 604-593-5284 Fax: 778-438-2722

comes the need for more services, like public health care. Jodi has worked in Fraser Health since 1988. She knows how overcrowding at Surrey Memorial has affected both her as a health-care worker and as a patient. Jodi never wants any of her seven grandchildren to spend the night in a bed in a hallway, like she did during a recent visit to the emergency room. Health-care services are important to all British Columbians, but the pressures facing growing communities like Surrey, are unique. The unfortunate reality is that our hospitals are aging and were not maintained, upgraded or replaced by the previous government. Our choice as a government is clear: we are investing in better, faster health care so that people in Surrey can get the care they need closer to home. This week, we took another step forward in providing better health care to people in Surrey by announcing that we’ve approved the concept plan for a brand, new hospital, at a site next to Kwantlen Polytechnic University. People in the community can look forward to improved emergency services, more surgeries, and faster access to scans and tests. We want to make sure your loved ones are taken care of when they are at their most vulnerable. Surrey was the first place we announced an urgent primary care centre (UPCC) for B.C. and it has already seen about 21,000 visits since opening in 2018. The Surrey UPCC is now one of 14 centres announced around the province, helping to take pressure off our hospital emergency rooms and connecting people to the health-care services they need. We also added a second MRI machine for the Fraser region and made sure existing MRI machines are running 24/7. In the Fraser Health region, more than 65,300 MRI exams were performed this year, a 17% increase from last year. But health care isn’t just about new equipment and wait times; it’s about people like Jodi George and her family. It’s about caregivers, medical professionals, patients and support staff working together to improve the lives of those in their community. It’s about making sure our communities have the services they need as they grow. It will take time to fix the problems, but we are working hard to deliver better, faster health care for everyone.

Saturday, December 14, 2019

3.0 UP TO

8plus8 Bright Term Cashable at 8 months

Next step or ďŹ rst step... #LifeGoals Step closer to your goals in just 30 minutes!

604-419-8888 gffg.com/8plus8

Raman Takhar

Investment Specialist Nordel 604-549-5384

Meet with a G&F expert for a quick Smart Money Check or a more meaningful Smart Money PlanTM and your next coffee is on us when you receive a $20* Starbucks card. *Terms and conditions apply, rate subject to change, limited time offer.

Vol. 10 No. 50

Saturday, December 14, 2019

Saturday - December 14, 2019

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

Tel: 604-591-5423

Housing market forecast through 2020 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-over-year decline in total sales across 2019, with drops ranging from one to 14 per cent. However, BCREA forecasted that every board will see considerable sales jumps in 2020, totalling a province-wide increase of nearly 11 per cent to 82,700 homes — which the association said would be just below the

E-mail: ads@theasianstar.com 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

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

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

Saturday, December 14, 2019

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

#106 - 7565 132 St. Surrey, BC 604.572.3005

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

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

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

Saturday, December 14, 2019

Hardarshan Memorial International Trust celebrated Giani Nahar Singh Gujjarwal’s 127th birthday The 127th birthday of Giani Nahar Singh Gujjarwal, the renowned scholar, historian, researcher and journalist of the country’s independence, by the Hardarshan Memorial International Trust Canada, at Bombay banquet hall Surrey. The event was chaired by Trust’s Founder Jaiteg Singh Anant, Iqbal Kaur (Granddaughter of Giani Nahar Singh) especially from the United States, and Gian Singh Sandhu, Founder of the World Sikh Organization. The event started with the words “Deh Shiva Bar Moh Yehye…”. Giani Nahar Singh’s granddaughter Iqbal Kaur, his great grandson Jasnam Singh and Dr. Jaswant Singh were first greeted by a bouquet of flowers. Jaiteg Singh Anant welcomed everyone and spoke of Giani Nahar Singh Gujjarwal’s personality and said that Giani Nahar Singh had enlightened the Ghadar movement, Ghadars and patriots with his writings. He has been a patriot, top scholar, writer, journalist and editor of five newspapers. He published forty historical letters in 1936 as “Jail Chithian”, which were written by Bhai Randhir Singh from the prison corridors. He contributed more than 20 books on Sikh philosophy, Sikh history, Gurmat Marg topics. Iqbal Kaur recalled the days she

spent with his grandfather and gave information about his writing and writing skills. Gyan Singh Sandhu, the founder president of the World Sikh Organization, described Giani Nahar Singh as a precious diamond in Sikh history. Surinder Singh Jabal (President, Gurdwara Sahib Brookside Surrey) said Giani Nahar Singh had a great contribution to the Gadar movement. Member of Parliament Sukh Dhaliwal said that the Hardarshan Memorial

Trust is doing very well and admirably to commemorate such a tremendous upheaval of history and freedom and to propagate their thinking to the present generation. Former president of the Khalsa Diwan Society Vancouver Daljit Singh Sandhu recalled Giani

Nahar Singh’s patriotism and his contribution to Sikh history. Giani Kulwinder Singh praised Giani Nahar Singh’s dedication and said that such programs are urgently needed to make the present generation aware of the sacrifices of such patriots. On this occasion, Jaitegg Singh Anant, through a resolution, demanded from the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee that the portrait of the great scholar and Sikh historian Giani Nahar Singh be brought to the Sikh Museum, Sri Amritsar. The resolution was endorsed by former Khalsa Diwan Society Vancouver president Daljit Singh Sandhu and Gurdwara Sahib Brookside president Surinder Singh Jabal. Sahib thind, convener of the Mohan Singh Memorial Foundation, also proposed the painting of

Giani Nahar Singh at the Sikh Museum Sri Amritsar. Punjabi poet Mohan Gill recalled Giani Nahar Singh through the poetry of Bhai Harbhajan Singh Chaminda, Surjit Madhopuri and Harchand Singh Bagdi presented songs about martyr Kartar Singh Sarabha. During the second phase of the program, CEO of Chardi Kala Time TV, Harpreet Singh Dardi was awarded the “Kaumi Dard Memorial Award”, Lakhvir Singh Khangura, editor of the Punjabi Heritage newspaper “Vancouver” awarded with “Punjabi Ratan Memorial Award” and Giani Kulwinder Singh of Khalsa School Surrey awarded with “Rozana Sikh sewak Memorial Award”. The daily newspaper “Chadhi Kala” Patiala also released a special supplement dedicated to Giani Nahar Singh ji. The first session of the program was conducted by Lakhbir Singh Khangura and the second session was conducted by Bikkar Singh Khosa. Famous Writer Jarnail Singh Sekha, Angrez Singh Brar, Surinder Singh Gauri, Paramjit Singh Randhawa, Charanjit Singh Marwaha, Dr. Gurnam Singh Sanghera, Gian Singh Namdhari, Gurmej Singh Purewal, Dharam Singh Panesar, Banta Sangh Sabharwal, Bhai Harveen Singh, Gurmeet Singh Bobbi, Tejwant Singh Delhi, Davinder Singh, Sukhjinder Singh, Amarjit Singh and Jarnail Singh given their presence in the program.

Classifieds / Jobs

Vedic Seniors Parivar Center of Vedic Hindu Cultural Society Surrey is going to celebrate the Christmas with Bollywood Music- A social get together on December 28th 2019 (Saturday) at Shanti Niketan hall of Lakshmi Narayan Temple 8321 - 140th street Surrey BC from 11.00 am to 3.00 pm. There will be live entertainment program with hilarious jokes and Bollywood music. Appetizers will be served in the beginning, Vegetarian Pizza and dessert will be served for lunch. We have invited well known Musician of South Asian community, Dr. Sunil Bhatt, who has kindly accepted our request to entertain all of us with his melodious old Bollywood Hindi songs. Please be an important guest of the celebration, Your presence will be very much appreciated by all seniors. Please contact Surendra Handa Coordinator / Organizer 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, December 14, 2019

Are homebuyers benefiting from Supreme Court decision on open housing data? When Chris Pollard wanted to list his Toronto condo, he decided to try a private sale in his neighbourhood first. And thanks to a Supreme Court decision last year against the Toronto Real Estate Board, he and his wife were able to look up how much similar units had sold for in the area to better price the home themselves. Private listings and other alternative sales models are still outliers in Canada’s real estate market, despite an opening up of data on sale prices and listing history. Still, last year’s ruling has ushered more information for consumers into the market and spurred innovation opportunities, said Anthony Durocher, deputy commissioner for the Competition Promotion Branch of the bureau. “For the average consumer, they’re able to benefit from greater choice of online tools to enable them to make an informed decision,” he said of the change, which came after seven years of “hard-fought” litigation. “That’s really a great outcome for competition and innovation.” The additions to the online real estate landscape have taken a variety of forms, including international companies like Redfin that promise low commissions. Meanwhile, Canadian players like Zoocasa and HouseSigma are expanding their datadriven models, regional startups like Fisherly are emerging as other boards change rules and realtors are setting up their own data sites. Stephen Glaysher, who’s worked as a downtown Toronto realtor for 18 years, set up a site called MLS Sold Data as a resource for current and potential clients to boost

transparency and trust. He said he’s long been an advocate of more disclosure on sale prices, in part to keep his own industry in check. “I see a lot of unethical business practices with real estate agents,” said Glaysher. He said it’s been too easy in the past for realtors to fudge numbers when determining bid and sale prices, where they could manipulate comparables up or down by as much as $200,000 to make sure they win a bidding war. “You can doctor it to make it look how you want it to look.” He said clients can double-check data themselves now that sale prices can be made available online, though he worries some people could make wrong decisions by not analyzing the data properly. TREB, which fought the release of data largely over privacy concerns, said the ruling has started to dilute the MLS system, because some consumers aren’t providing information or not even listing on the system over privacy concerns. John DiMichele, president of TREB, said in a statement that he’s concerned how people both in and outside of the industry are using the data. He said the board, which has restrictions including no scraping, mining, or monetizing of the data, is looking to protect its intellectual property and defend personal information. “We are currently in the process of auditing and protecting confidential information in TREB’s database, which is what our members and consumers expect and what the law demands.”

Press release

Premier John Horgan recognizes PICS Board Chair Progressive Intercultural Community Services Society’s (PICS) welcomed Premier John Horgan at the PICS Assisted Living Facility on December 9, 2019. After making the big announcement to build a Second Hospital in Surrey, Premier John Horgan visited PICS Seniors Housing facility to honour PICS Board Chair, Resham (Paul) Dosanjh for his exceptional contributions to British Columbia through volunteering twenty-five thousand hours with PICS. “It’s our honour and privilege to have a selfless leader and exemplary role model as our Board Chair,” said PICS CEO Mr. Satbir Singh Cheema. Honorable Premier also joined our seniors for a game of cards and promised to visit again. Premier Horgan is not new to PICS and the PICS Seniors Housing, he has supported PICS tremendously over the past few years and was the Guest of Honor at the Friends

of PICS Gala in 2018. B o a r d members Dave Hans, Arvinder Bubber and Paul Dosanjh were there to welcome the Premier along with PICS management team and staff. For more information or for interviews please call D o r o t hy Poudel at 604-596-7722 ext. 115 or email dorothy.poudel@pics.bc.ca For Immediate Release

Thanks for Voting us your BEST EYEWEAR STORE IN SURREY!

WE CARRY ALL THE TOP BRANDS OF EYEGLASSES, SUNGLASSES & HEARING AIDS

Direct Billing Available to most Insurance Companies

Open 7 Days a Week

Saturday, December 14, 2019

Press release

Struggling forestry workers snubbed by John Horgan and the NDP The BC Liberals are once again calling on John Horgan and the NDP to provide relief to struggling coastal forestry workers after hundreds of workers, contractors and their families rallied outside the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia earlier today calling on government to intervene in the strike that has dragged on for over five months. “Hundreds of coastal forestry workers who have been out of work for months came here to the BC Legislature to demand action from John Horgan and the NDP so they can get back to work,” said BC Liberal Leader Andrew Wilkinson. “These people are losing their homes, vehicles, and ability to feed their families, all while John Horgan once again turns a blind eye to this crisis. In September, forestry workers brought over 250 logging trucks into Vancouver to get the Premier’s

attention, now hundreds have gathered outside of his office in Victoria and he still won’t even do so much as open the curtains to his office and face them.” While Andrew Wilkinson and his BC Liberal colleagues greeted and addressed the crowd, Premier Horgan, his Forestry Minister Doug Donaldson, and NDP North Island MLA Claire Trevena were behind closed doors and shuttered curtains just meters away in the NDP cabinet office. “All these workers came down to Victoria on their own pockets, despite many struggling to put food on their tables this holiday season, because they believed John Horgan would take the time to hear their concerns. Instead, they were snubbed by an out-of-touch NDP government,” added John Rustad, MLA for Nechako Lakes. “The NDP government’s response is absolutely unacceptable.

www.armadascooters.com

Financing Option Available

5% OFF on all models and FREE HELMET

All sides frustrated with NDP rental housing performance BC Liberal Critic for Housing Todd Stone is once again raising concerns about the NDP’s rental housing plan after multiple reports have drawn attention to John Horgan and his government’s continued failure to deliver on their promises. “What we are now seeing is a widespread consensus from people on all sides of the political spectrum that this government is failing to live up to its promises on rental housing,” says Stone. “The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives is now reporting that the government is missing the mark on affordable housing to the tune of 10,000 rental homes per year. With every day that goes by, we are seeing the NDP fall further behind on housing.” Two recent reports — one from the Canadian Centre for Policy

Alternatives and another from Partners for Rental Housing, a coalition of organizations supporting the growth of rental housing in B.C. — have stated that there is a growing deficit of rental units in B.C. and that the NDP plan is failing to achieve its objectives. It is evident that this government is breaking its promise to build 114,000 homes, delivering nowhere near the needed units to keep up with population growth. “John Horgan and his government have repeatedly spoken about an urgent need to address the housing affordability crisis throughout B.C, and yet these new reports show that they are actually doing very little to improve the situation,” concludes Stone. “If John Horgan and the NDP truly want to take real action on affordability they need to get serious about increasing housing supply.”

Retaliator 72V

Predator 72V 32AH

Nemesis 72V

Invader 72V

Combatant 72V

Commander III 72V 32AH .99

.99

1899

Recon 72V

1699

Avenger 60V

.99

1499

Portable Battery

Battalion III 60V

"No Gas, License or Registration Required"

Larry Mah 604.765.3589 armadascooters@gmail.com

14333 - 104th Ave., Surrey, BC

Saturday, December 14, 2019

DREAM CARPET

29 17

30 18

LOCAL / NATIONAL

Saturday, December 14, 2019

Vancouver is not Canada’s best city for biking - or even the best in BC Residents of a city that praises its bikeability may be surprised to find a recent ranking does not put Vancouver in the top spot. Real estate listings site Redfin used Bike Score to rank Canadian cities based on which are the most cycling-friendly. Similar to Walk Score, the site says Bike Score is a tool that provides a zero-to-100 rating based on bike infrastructure, hilliness, destinations and road connectivity and the number of commuters who use their bikes to get to work. Vancouver often boasts about its network of bike lanes, but according to Redfin, it’s not the best city in Canada. The site ranked Victoria as the top in the country with a score of 80 out of 100.

“Victoria has a network of hundreds of kilometers of bike lanes and bike paths, including the Galloping Goose Regional Trail, which bikers use both for commuting and recreation,” the site said. Vancouver was just shy of the title at 79, scoring points for its 300-plus kilometres of bike paths, including those recently installed on retrofitted bridges. A Redfin agent based in the city said homeowners are increasingly interested in being close to transit and bike lanes, and that the number of people who commute in the city has gone up “noticeably” other the last few years.

Redfin said more than seven per cent of trips taken in Vancouver last year were by bike. And the city plans to expand the network even further as part of its long-term transportation plan. The municipal government says cycling is the fastest growing method of transportation in Vancouver. A third B.C. city also made the top 10 list: Richmond was ranked in the final spot with a score of 61.

Other bike-friendly spots include Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto. Here’s the full list: Victoria (80) Vancouver (79) Montreal (73) Longueuil, Que. (70) Brossard, Que. (68) Ottawa (64) Waterloo, Ont. (64 Toronto (61) Winnipeg (61) Richmond (61) Best U.S. cities for cyclists Redfin also ranked cities south of the border based on how bike-friendly the infrastructure is. Victoria’s and Vancouver’s scores are comparable to that of Portland, Ore., the city ranked second by the site. Here’s the top 10 list for the U.S.:

Richmond-based company on probation for importing bad fish to U.S. The Seven Seas Fish Company Ltd. of Richmond, B.C., and its owner have been fined and placed on probation with increased scrutiny for fish imports to the United States. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Washington state says the company was fined $150,000, while owner John Heras was handed a $2,000 fine in a district court in Seattle on Friday. In October, the company and Heras pleaded guilty to illegally importing food that had been previously refused entry to the United States. Both admitted to importing more than 4,000 kilograms of potentially spoiled fish and Judge Mary Alice Theiler noted at the sentencing hearing that such activity leads consumers to be concerned about food safety. On top of the fines, the company will be on probation for three years with increased surveillance of its imports into the United States, while Heras will be under the same scrutiny for one year.

Refunds coming as B.C. government backs off on controversial aspects of speculation tax Once again, the B.C. government has tweaked the Speculation and Vacancy Tax after homeowners and advocates insisted it was unfairly targeting family cabins. Changes introduced Tuesday provide an exemption for homeowners whose properties are accessible only by water. Those who paid the tax for 2018 and are now exempt will get a refund. Belcarra Mayor Neil Belenkie described the shift as “bittersweet.” He estimated 57 properties would no longer be hit by the tax. “Those 57 will be positively impacted by this exemption, but there are another five or ten that have owned their cottages, built them by hand 50- or 60-plus years ago, who are obviously not speculators and they still haven’t been exempted by the tax,” said Belenkie. The mayor vowed to continue to advocate for changes. Finance Minister Carole James said she listened to feedback before announcing the latest changes.

Saturday, December 14, 2019

Missing woman’s friends, family gather on second anniversary of disappearance Family and friends of Nadia Atwi gathered near Rundle Park Sunday evening on the second anniversary of the Edmonton woman’s disappearance from the area. Then 32 years old, Atwi was last seen in the early morning of Dec. 8, 2017, in the area of 48 Street and 146 Avenue. Her vehicle was later found at the park, as well as a cell phone and single shoe. “It’s the hardest thing that could happen to anyone,” mother Salwa Atwi said. “You wouldn’t wish it on your enemy because the pain of the fear is so hard, it hits you physically.” Edmonton Police Service are treating Atwi’s case as a missing persons investigation. “We don’t know for sure what has happened to Nadia, and we have to remain open to any possibility,” Sgt. Kevin Harrison said.

Last year, Atwi’s family listed a $50,000 reward for tips that helped solve the case. On Sunday, they said the reward wasn’t given out for any of the information received. Those with information related to Atwi’s disappearance are asked to call either 780472-9300 or 780-423-4567.

Two Surrey men wanted on human trafficking-related charges in Ontario Police have issued Ontario-wide warrants for the arrest of two Surrey men who are facing human trafficking-related charges. The two men are Elkan Vyizigiro (also known as ‘Lavish’), 22, and Meaz Nour-Eldin (also known as ‘Streets’), 22, (pictured) both of Surrey. A 24-yearold woman has also been charged and arrested in the case. Her name isn’t being released by police as it could identify the victim. London Police Service say they were contacted on Oct. 20 by a woman in her 20s who reported being trafficked by two men she met through a female. “As a result of the investigation, a 24-year-old London woman, was arrested

and charged with trafficking in a persons by recruiting and procuring/recruit a person to provide sexual services for consideration,” a press release notes. She has been released on bail and is scheduled to reappear in London court on Dec. 19. Police say Vyizigiro and NourEldin are jointly charged by warrant of arrest with the following Criminal Code offences: Tr af f i ck ing in persons by recruiting; Procuring/recruit a person to provide sexual services for consideration; Financial/material benefit/trafficking person over 18;

Outbreak of salmonella in six Canadian provinces linked to snakes & rodents The Public Health Agency of Canada says it is partnering with agencies in six provinces to investigate an outbreak of salmonella infections across the country. The suspected source of the infections: exposure to snakes and rodents, according to the federal agency. As of Tuesday, Dec. 10, the agency says 92 Canadians have confirmed cases of salmonella typhimurium illness: The provincial breakdown is as follows:

Quebec (52) Ontario (16) New Brunswick (9) Newfoundland and Labrador (6 Nova Scotia (5) British Columbia (4) People who have reported coming down with the salmonella infections all say they had been in recent direct or indirect contact with snakes, pet rats or “feeder rodents” - which are used as reptile food before they got sick. Six of the people who were infected were hospitalized; no deaths have been reported, the agency said.

LOCAL / NATIONAL

31 19

After meeting with PM Trudeau, Kenney says next few weeks critical for Alberta-Ottawa relations Alberta Premier Jason Kenney left a meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Tuesday with no firm commitments on the five demands he put on the table but with an air of accomplishment nonetheless, saying he felt their long-awaited face-to-face meeting was frank and realistic. Kenney said the next few weeks will be a critical time for Trudeau to prove the Liberals are serious about addressing critical issues for the province. Next week, federal and provincial finance ministers are to meet. On the table are proposed reforms to a federal “fiscal stabilization” program that tops up provincial revenues

in the face of sudden shocks, a program all the premiers say needs to be amended. Kenney said he wants action on that and a decision from the federal cabinet on the development of a proposed oilsands mine in northern Alberta known as the Frontier project. The deadline for a decision on whether it can proceed is the end February. Kenney said it would bring thousands of jobs and billions in revenue if it gets a green light. “The next few weeks will be critical in determining the seriousness of this

Kitchener mom whose toddler overdosed on ‘astronomical’ amount of carfentanil sentenced A Kitchener woman who fell asleep with opioids in her pocket and woke up to find her daughter limp has been sentenced to four years in prison. Nicole Eidt’s 20-monthold daughter died from an “astronomical” amount of the deadly drug carfentanil in her system in February of this year. The mother was sentenced on Wednesday morning after pleading guilty last week. According to an agreed statement of facts read out in court last week, Eidt was heard admitting guilt when police responded to the overdose. “Oh my god, I killed my baby. I should have known better. She can open zippers,” she said, according to the agreed statement of facts During a police interview, Eidt admitted

to using drugs the morning of her daughter’s death,according to the agreed statement of facts. The mother had smoked in the bathroom and placed a baggie in her sweater vest with a zippered pocket. The court documents went on to state a timeline of what happened after Eidt consumed drugs that morning and how the 28-year-old awoke to find her daughter limp. The Crown says the carfentanil amount found in Amelia was way higher than a fatal dose. A toxicology report was completed on March 12. The report found 8.4 ng/mgl in Amelia’s body. The average postmortem blood concentrations that prove to be fatal range from 0.0233 to 0.5ng/ml.

20 32

LOCAL / NATIONAL

Saturday, December 14, 2019

Banking watchdog cranks up capital buffer for Canada’s big six, citing risks of household debt and trade tensions The federal banking regulator has again hiked the amount of capital Canada’s six biggest banks must hold, saying that “key vulnerabilities” to the lenders remain high and that some risks show signs of growing. Canada’s Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions said Tuesday that, effective April 30, the “Domestic Stability Buffer” for the country’s major banks will be set at 2.25 per cent, increasing the cushion from its current level of two per cent.

OSFI reviews and announces any adjustments to its domestic stability buffer semi-annually, in June and December. The regulator has now increased the buffer by a quarter percentage point three announcements in a row. “This reflects OSFI’s view that key vulnerabilities to Canada’s Domestic Systemically Important Banks (D-SIBs) remain elevated, and in some cases show signs of increasing,” the regulator said in a press release. “The key vulnerabilities include

Canadian household indebtedness, asset imbalances and institutional indebtedness. In addition, global vulnerabilities related to ongoing trade tensions and rising leverage are growing, which could increase the chance of a spillover of external risks into the Canadian financial system.” The mortgage stress test is making housing supply issues worse — and making homes even more unaffordable Lower profits, higher loan-loss provisions

could be ‘new normal’ for Canada’s big banks Bank of Montreal slashes workforce in deepest cuts the industry has seen in years Banks in Canada are required to hold a certain level of high-quality capital, known as Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1), to pair with risk-weighted assets such as mortgages. CET1 capital can be made up of common shares and retained earnings, among other things.

Federal gov’t proposes tax breaks for all but top Canadian earners A tax break could be coming to Canadians, save for top earners, after Christmas, as long as the proposal gets opposition support. Making good on a campaign promise, which was also mentioned in last week’s throne speech, Finance Minister Bill

Morneau and Mona Fortier, minister of middle mlass prosperity, announced Monday, Dec. 9 plans to raise the basic personal amount (BPA) to $15,000 by 2023. The BPA is the total amount people can deduct so they don’t have to pay

taxes until they hit that amount. The department says this would mean close to 20 million Canadians will pay no federal taxes on the first $15,000 they earn. The basic personal amount would be raised gradually over four years, starting on Jan. 1, 2020, when the Liberals are proposing to raise it from where it sits currently at $12,290 — to $13,229. According to the department, when fully implemented in 2023, single individuals would save close to $300 in taxes every year, and families, including those led by a single parent, would save nearly $600 every year, and the changes would mean

almost 1.1 million more Canadians would no longer pay any federal income tax. The government is also proposing to increase two related amounts in tandem with the BPA to $15,000 by 2023: the spouse or common-law partner amount and the eligible dependent credit. Minister of Middle Class Prosperity Mona Fortier, along with Liberal MPs Steve Mackinnon and Anita Vandenbeld on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Aug. 21, 2019. - Reuters Minister of Middle Class Prosperity Mona Fortier, along with Liberal MPs Steve Mackinnon and Anita

Key differences between NAFTA and Trump’s USMCA deal After reaching a deal on the final version of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, President Donald Trump tweeted that it “will be the best and most important trade deal ever made by the USA” -- and called its predecessor, the North American Free Trade Agreement, “our Country’s worst Trade Deal.” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi echoed that view, saying in her announcement that “there is no question of course that this trade agreement is much better than NAFTA.” 1) Auto manufacturing boost The USMCA requires 75% of a vehicle’s parts to be made in one of the three countries -- up from the current 62.5% rule -- in order to remain free from tariffs when moving between the three signatory countries. 2) Labor laws strengthened Manufacturing workers have long blamed NAFTA for sending jobs to Mexico, where wages are lower, and it was a priority for Democrats that the USMCA strengthen the enforcement of labor rules, creating a more level playing field for American workers. 3) Dairy farmers get more market access The original NAFTA eliminated tariffs

on most agricultural products traded among the three countries. Canada and Mexico are already the two biggest export markets for US farmers and ranchers. The USMCA will keep those tariffs at zero, while also further opening up the Canadian market to US dairy, poultry and eggs. In return, the United States will allow more Canadian dairy, peanuts and peanut products, as well as a limited amount of sugar, to cross the border. 4) Updating NAFTA for the digital era The USMCA includes sweeping new benefits for the technology sector, in a chapter on digital trade that wasn’t a part of the original NAFTA. The new provisions aren’t expected to directly create new jobs, but could provide a boost to US businesses in other ways. 5) Congress keeps control over biologic drugs Democrats negotiated the removal of what would have been new, controversial protections for biologic drugs. They argue it would have hamstrung Congress from being able to legislate on drug pricing issues. The provision that was removed from the trade deal would have required the three countries to provide at least

Wealth of Canadians divided along racial lines, says report on income inequality Canadians who identify as visible minorities do not have the same access to investments and other sources of wealth as non-racialized people, suggests a new report on income inequality that looks at the financial impact of racism beyond jobs and wages. “Employment income is the sole or main source of income for most Canadians, and labour market policies play a major role in improving or worsening income inequality,” says the newly published report by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, which looks at income inequality along racial lines. “But labour markets are part of a broader political-economic context, where past and current policies have favoured some population groups over others,” says the report. “This history of wealth accumulation for some but not others is a crucial contributor to racialized economic inequality today.” There is little

Canadian data examining wealth according to race, but Statistics Canada did include some details on income linked to net wealth -- specifically, capital gains and income from investments -broken down by visible minority status in the 2016 census. The analysis in the report suggests a discrepancy between racialized Canadians, which is how the co-authors refer to those who identified as visible minorities in the 2016 census, and non-racialized, or white, Canadians. The data on visible minorities does not include Indigenous Peoples. Eight per cent of racialized Canadians over the age of 15 reported some capital gains in 2015, compared to about 12 per cent of non-racialized people. There was also a gap in the amounts, with racialized Canadians receiving, on average, $10,828 -- 29 per cent below the average for white Canadians.

Saturday, December 14, 2019

Canada signs new NAFTA deal with USA and Mexico Signed, sealed, and almost delivered. The governments of Canada, Mexico and the United States have signed off on changes to the new North American free trade pact that now open the door to its ratification by all three nations. However in Canada, where Justin Trudeau’s Liberals hold only a minority of seats in Parliament and need other parties for support, there were early signs from the Bloc Québécois that it would oppose ratification. More than 15 months after negotiations were initially declared complete, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland travelled to Mexico City and took part in a signing ceremony Tuesday with U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Mexico’s foreign affairs

undersecretary, Jesús Seade, at the Palacio Nacional, as Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador looked on. After agreeing to modifications demanded by Democrats in the U.S. Congress, all three country representatives declared the trade pact is a deal that would protect workers, industries and North American competitiveness in a globalized economy. Canadian officials had not detailed the revisions. However, Democrats in Washington said they included the dispute resolution process, tighter monitoring of environmental regulations, changes to the pharmaceutical drug protections and stronger enforcement of labour standards in Mexico.

Andrew Scheer stepping down as Conservative Party leader After weeks of mounting criticism of his election performance, Andrew Scheer announced today he is stepping down as Conservative Party leader. Scheer told his caucus the news earlier today. After he made the formal announcement in the House of Commons, he received a standing ovation on both sides of the aisle. The leader of the Official Opposition said he did not come to the decision lightly, but only after long conversations with people close to him following the Oct. 21 election. Scheer steps down as Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer informs Parliament that he will be stepping down as

Conservative leader, but will stay on until a new leader is chosen. “In order to chart the course ahead, this party, this movement, needs someone who can give 100 per cent to the efforts, and after some conversations with my kids, my loved ones, I felt it was time to put my family first,” Scheer said, as his wife Jill looked on from the House of Commons gallery “Our Conservative team is always stronger when we are united.” The Saskatchewan MP said it has been an “incredible challenge” for his family to keep up with the pace required for him to lead the caucus and party through the election.

PM Trudeau’s minority Liberal gov’t survives first confidence vote Justin Trudeau’s Liberals survived Tuesday their first test of confidence in the House of Commons but got a pointed reminder of how opposition parties can still make life complicated for a minority government. Conservatives mustered the support of other opposition parties to pass a motion calling for the creation of a special parliamentary committee to examine Canada’s fraught relationship with China. The motion authorizes the committee to order the prime minister, Foreign Affairs Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne, Public Safety

Minister Bill Blair and Canada’s ambassador to China, Dominic Barton, to appear as witnesses “from time to time as the committee sees fit.” But while that could tie up Trudeau and his ministers and dwell on sensitive diplomatic and trade conflicts with China that the Liberals would prefer to deal with outside the public spotlight, they will at least get to continue governing. The Liberals, with the support of all opposition MPs but the Conservatives and one Green MP, passed a series of votes on supplementary spending estimates. The estimates passed on a vote of 205-116, ensuring that previously planned

Nikki Haley suggests Canada made ‘deal with the devil’ by backing anti-Israel UN resolution Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley suggested this week that Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government had made a “deal with the devil” in a recent decision to back an anti-Israel resolution at the U.N. “I speak from experience when I say the United Nations presents many such opportunities to strike a deal with the devil,” she said at a U.N. Watch gala in New York on Thursday. She was telling the audience about how it is often “easier not to rock the boat” instead of standing up to “the mob” and cited the Canadian vote as an example of “this cultural corruption playing out in real time.” “Canada has been, for a long time, balanced and fair-minded towards Israel at the United Nations. It has opposed the pull of the anti-

Israel culture,” she said. But that changed last month when the Trudeau government chose to vote for a resolution called “The right of the Palestinian people to self-determination” -sponsored by North Korea, Egypt, Nicaragua, Zimbabwe and the “State of Palestine.” That resolution calls for an end “to the Israeli occupation” and refers to the U.S. ally as “the occupying Power.” Haley noted that Canada had voted against the resolution for years, and said the resolution “challenges the legitimacy of Israel.” She said the move had “surprised Israel’s friends.” The former South Carolina governor suggested the Canadian stance had shifted now it was seeking one of the rotating two-year seats on the Security Council -

Senate committee wants to strip Don Meredith of his ‘honourable’ title The Senate’s ethics committee wants to strip disgraced former senator Don Meredith of his “honourable” title to protect the “dignity and reputation” of the upper house. Under the table of titles used in Canada, senators are to be styled “honourable” for life — even after they resign or retire from the Upper House. Meredith resigned from the Senate in 2017 as his former colleagues were preparing to expel him over a Senate ethics officer (SEO) report that detailed his inappropriate relationship with a teenage girl. Since then, another SEO report found Meredith also engaged in behaviour that

constituted harassment and sexual harassment in the workplace. The ethics committee, under the leadership of Progressive Sen. Serge Joyal, will study the matter in the coming weeks. Joyal said the committee would invite Meredith to appear before it to make his case for keeping the title. Joyal proposed Tuesday that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau recommend the Governor General strip Meredith of the title “honourable” and that the former senator no longer receive any precedence or status normally accorded to a senator. Joyal said the committee will make final decision on the matter no later than Jan. 31, 2020.

NATIONAL

INDIA

Saturday, December 14, 2019

100 pilgrims to visit historic Katas Raj temple in Pakistan After a break of one year, some 100 Hindu pilgrims from India were due to arrive at the Katas Raj temple in Pakistan’s Punjab province on Saturday, the media reported. “Hindu pilgrims will cross the Wagah Border on Friday and will reach Katas Raj the next day,” Deputy Secretary Evacuee Property Trust Board (ETPB) Syed Faraz Abbas told Dawn news on Wednesday, adding that the state government has made arrangements for 200 pilgrims.

Indian pilgrims normally visit Katas Raj twice a year, once in November or December and once in February. The previous Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government had launched a project of building a 36-room hostel for pilgrims but it is yet to be completed. Chakwal Deputy Commissioner retired Capt Abdul Sattar Esani chaired a meeting on Tuesday to review arrangements being made for the Indian pilgrims.

SC dismisses pleas seeking review of November 9 Ayodhya case verdict The Supreme Court Thursday dismissed a batch of petitions seeking review of its November 9 Ayodhya land dispute case verdict which cleared the way for construction of a Ram Temple at the disputed site. The top court, which took these review pleas for consideration in-chamber, rejected them after finding no merit. A five-judge Bench headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde and comprising Justices D Y Chandrachud, Ashok Bhushan, S A Nazeer and Sanjeev Khanna considered the review pleas of only those who were parties to the four lawsuits filed initially in the vexatious dispute. There were 18 review petitions, out of

which nine have been filed by parties who were part of the earlier litigation and the other nine were filed by “third parties”. The apex court refused to entertain nine review pleas filed by those who were not party to the original litigation. Among the nine “third parties” were 40 rights activists who had jointly moved the top court seeking review of its verdict. With the rejection of these review petitions, the consequential request of parties for an open court hearing on these pleas also get dismissed. A 5-judge Bench, headed by the then Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi, had in a unanimous verdict on November 9 decreed

New supplies bring down onion prices Wholesale prices of onions, which touched Rs 80 per kg for some varieties earlier this month, have begun to soften following a surge in new arrivals. According to information available from the Lasalgaon market in Nashik district, the country’s main hub for the trade in the bulb, prices for average quality onion fell to Rs 38 per kilogramme this morning. “We have received nearly 900 tonnes of onions till Wednesday afternoon,” Ashok

Shetye, a trader from the Lasalgoan mandi told this reporter. The supply was less than half till last weekend. Traders at the Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee market at Navi Mumbai said farmers were harvesting their crop prematurely in order to benefit from the rise in onion prices. “Prices were showing signs of coming down as large quantities of premature onions began coming into the market for the past few days,” Samadhan Sanap.

B SE EST RV IC E

‘Citizenship amendment bill won’t harm minorities including Muslims’: says Home Minister Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday said that India can never be ‘Muslim-mukt’ (free from Muslims) while replying to a debate on the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill in the Rajya Sabha. “Javed Ali Khan (Samajwadi Party leader) said that we will become ‘Muslim-mukt’. Javed Ali Sahab, this country will not be free from Muslims even if you want it to be,” said Shah. Replying to a statement of Congress MP Kapil Sibal, Shah said that Muslims should not fear the Bill as it does not strip them of their citizenship. “Kapil Sibalji said that Muslims are not scared of us. They should not be scared and you do not make them scared. No one is going to snatch Indian Muslims’ citizenship,” he said, adding that the Bill is for giving citizenship and for not taking it away. The Home Minister further said that the proposed legislation is not against the interest of Muslims. “How can the CAB be anti-Muslim? In this Bill, there is no proposal to touch the citizenship

of any Muslim,” he said. He said that the Bill has been brought to rectify a historic blunder -- the partition -- and give a dignified life to non-Muslims of Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, who fled religious persecution and settled in India before December 31, 2014. Shah said that the need to bring the Bill goes back to the partition and Pakistan’s failure to protect its minorities. “Despite Kapil Sibal and Anand Sharma’s insistence, I would once again say that the partition happened on the basis of religion. It was a blunder, which forced me to introduce this Bill,” he said. Shah said: “There would have been no need to introduce this Bill. This Bill is to address the problem created by the partition. Also, if any government would have solved the problem, there would have been no need for this Bill.” Shah also said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi led BJP government is not there to only run the country but also to set things right.

It’s a dark day in history of Constitution, says Sonia The Congress today termed the passage of the Citizenship Amendment Bill as a dark day in the constitutional history of India noting that the development marks the victory of bigoted forces over India’s pluralism. Congress president Sonia Gandhi while reacting to the final stamp of Parliament on the Bill today said, “

Today marks a dark day in the constitutional history of India. The passage of the Citizenship Amendment Bill marks the victory of narrowminded and bigoted forces over India’s pluralism. The Bill fundamentally challenges the idea of India that our forefathers fought for and, in its place, creates a disturbed, distorted and divided India where religion will become a determinant of nationhood.”

School principal arrested after faces of students ‘blackened’ The principal of a private school in Hisar was arrested after faces of six Class 4 students, including two girls, were allegedly blackened and they were paraded in its premises for securing less marks in a test, police said. A spokesman of the police department said that the principal was arrested in connection with a case registered against her and three teachers under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act and SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The case was registered on a complaint lodged by the parents of a 9-year-old Dalit girls, he added. The incident had taken place on Friday and the girl had informed her parents about it. Her parents told reporters on Tuesday that the family members went to the school to complain about the treatment meted

out to the children, but the authorities failed to take action against the staff responsible. On Monday, the girl’s family was joined by some other parents and they held a protest outside the old vegetable market police post here, demanding that the police take immediate action in the matter. Members of some Dalit outfits also reached there after receiving information about the incident. On Tuesday, Education Minister Kanwar Pal, when asked by reporters to comment on the incident, said that in Chandigarh that such things would not be tolerated. “Whatever action is required to be taken in the matter is being taken and a FIR has already been registered,” the minister had said.

India beat West Indies by 67 runs to win T20 series 2-1 ndia beat West Indies by 67 runs to win the third T20 International and also the threematch series by 2-1 margin. Batting first, India scored 240 for 3 riding on KL Rahul’s 56-ball-91, Rohit Sharma’s 71 off 34 balls and skipper Virat Kohli’s unbeaten 70 off 29 balls. In reply, West Indies managed 173 for

8 in 20 overs with Kieron Pollard scoring 68 off 39 balls. Scores: India 240/3 (KL Rahul 91 off 56 balls, Rohit Sharma 71 off 34 balls, Virat Kohli 70 not out off 29 balls). West Indies 173/8 (Kieron Pollard 68 off 39 balls, Mohammed Shami 2/25 in 4 overs, Deepak Chahar 2/20 in 4 overs).

Angry brides finds another husband after the groom arrived late Arriving late for the wedding proved costly for a groom in Uttar Pradesh’s Bijnor as the bride cancelled the match and got married to another man from her neighbourhood instead. Instead of reaching at the scheduled time of 2pm, the groom and the baraat reached the wedding venue late in the night, much to the anger of the bride’s family. According to a report in Times of India, trouble had already been brewing over the constant dowry demands being made by the groom’s family, and their late arrival proved to be the last straw. Police said the couple got married at a community wedding in the village of Nangaljat six weeks ago but the girl did not

go to her in-laws’ house as both the bride and groom first wanted a formal ceremony to take place. The bride’s family accused the groom and his father of demanding a bicycle and cash, which they were not in a position to give. The groom’s family, on its part, claimed that they were beaten up by the bride’s relatives, taken captive in a room on reaching the wedding venue. The police was finally called in to intervene in the matter. “Both the families approached the police. After initial arguments, both sides reached a compromise. However, the girl no longer wanted to go with the groom.

PUNJAB

Saturday, December 14, 2019

Farmers demand withdrawl of farm fire cases Demanding the cancellation of FIRs registered against them for burning paddy stubble, farmers from across district today protested in front of the office of chief agriculture officer. Besides, they alleged that Armyworm and pink stem borer infestation had affected around 2,500 acres of wheat crop in the district, but the authorities were not helping the farmers. “The authorities had registered FIRs against farmers without providing any alternative to stubble burning. Even those farmers who had sown wheat without burning have suffered losses due to the attack of Armyworm and pink stem borer infestation. If

the state government failed to cancel the FIRs immediately and help affected farmers, we will intensify our agitation,” said Joginder Singh Ugrahan, president, BKU Ugrahan.

Role of Sikh soldiers in World War I, II exemplary: British Army Brigadier The role of Sikh soldiers during the World War I and II was exemplary and the European countries owe their freedom to the brave soldiers from Punjab, British Army Brigadier Celia Jane Harvey said here on Wednesday. Speaking at a seminar on the ‘epic battle of Saragarhi’ at Khalsa College Public School here, Harvey showered praises on Sikhs and said the community is respected around the world for its bravery and immense sacrifices. Harvey arrived here as head of the British Army delegation. “Sikhs have sacrificed their lives for the protection of the oppressed, the helpless and other religions,” she said citing the example of ‘Saragarhi’ battle -- a historic event in world history. “Just 21 brave Sikh soldiers faced 10,000 Afghans tribal men and fought till the last breath,” said Colonel Johan Kendall, who was also part of the delegation. Col Kendall said Punjabis living abroad have made a significant contribution to the prosperity of countries like UK, Canada and the US. Earlier, Kuldeep Singh Kahlon, president of the Saragarhi Foundation, gave a detailed account of the Saragarhi battle. He

Gangster Jaggu approaches court, says he may be killed in ‘fake encounter’ Claiming that he was being made a scapegoat following political rivalry between former Akali Minister Bikram Singh Majithia and Punjab Jails Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, gangsters Jaggu Bhagwanpuria on Wednesday moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court maintaining he was nobody’s man and expressed apprehension of being killed in a fake encounter or in the prison. Lodged in Patiala Central Jail, Bhagwanpuria is seeking his transfer to Amritsar jail, where a majority of cases lodged against him are pending. As his petition filed through counsel Pradeep Virk came up for hearing before Justice Harnaresh Singh Gill, the State counsel appeared before the Bench with assurance of filing a reply to the contentions raised in the plea. Virk contented on Bhagwanpuria’s behalf that the petitioner was not linked to any political party and was merely being used for the “realisation of political motives of certain individuals”. Elaborating, Virk submitted that Majithia was trying to get an FIR registered against Randhawa in the murder case of Gurdaspur district Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) vice-president Dalbir Singh Dhilwan. In the process, the petitioner was being portrayed Randhawa’s henchman. The petitioner has also been accused of issuing death threats to Majithia as a part of the “malicious propaganda”.

said in all the wars with Pakistan, the role of the Sikhs was unique and their service to the motherland is recorded in history. —

Gov’t to install CCTV cameras at the revenue offices to stop property fraud Just about a fortnight after Chief Secretary was asked to explain why high definition video cameras should not be installed inside and outside every registration office to prevent property registration frauds, the state government has decided to go ahead with the process. High resolution cameras will be installed by March 31, 2020, inside and outside the office of the sub registrars across the state. In all, 12 cameras will be installed by March 12, and the remaining by September 30 As the case came up for resumed hearing, the Punjab and Haryana High Court was told that a centralised digital video recorder would also be made available with coloured printers. Appearing before Justice Amol Rattan Singh, the state counsel produced a communication addressed to Punjab Director (Land Records), Director (Directorate of Government Reforms), the State Information Officer and National Informatics Centre. It stated that high resolution cameras would be

installed by March 31, 2020, inside and outside the office of the sub registrars across the state. It, at the same time, added that 12 would to be installed by March 12, and the remaining by September 30. “Whereas efforts made by the Chief Secretary to take the decision are to be appreciated, the timeline with regard to the installation of other than 12 cameras ‘preferably by September 30, 2020’, is not acceptable. A genuine timeline at the earliest must be adhered to…” Justice Amol Rattan Singh asserted. Before parting with the order, Justice Amol Rattan Singh directed that the Chief Secretary would go into the matter and file his affidavit giving a “genuinely acceptable” timeframe by which all cameras, DVR and printers would be installed. The Bench, on the previous date of hearing, had made it clear that it wanted the buyers, sellers and even the witnesses to come up with concrete identity proof such as passport or PAN, while taking judicial notice of the fact.

INDIA

Saturday, December 14, 2019

Meet this space enthusiast who discovered Vikram’s debris on moon Ninjacart, the Bengaluruheadquartered B2B agritech startup, has received a big boost with global retail giant Walmart and India’s leading ecommerce marketplace Flipkart announcing an undisclosed joint investment into the firm. This latest investment into Ninjacart comes after this agritech startup received a $100 million fund infusion from Tiger Global in April this year. Founded in 2015 by Thirukumaran Nagarajan, Kartheeswaran K K, Ashutosh Vikram, Sharath Loganathan and Vasudevan Chinnathambi, Ninjacart delivers over 1,400 tonnes of fruits and vegetables sourced from more than 44,000 farmers to 60,000 kirana stores and restaurants across seven cities. On the investment made into Ninjacart, Kalyan Krishnamurthy, CEO, Flipkart

Group, said, A space enthusiast from Chennai who worked independently, found the debris from the Vikram moonlander that scientists had been looking for and helped guide them to the spot where it had crashed. Shanmuga Subramanian, who made the discovery, told IANS on Tuesday: “It was something challenging as even NASA can’t find out so why can’t we try out? And that’s the thought that led me to search for Vikram lander.” He looked for it on the images from NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbital (LRO) Camera that the US space agency had released to the public. LRO Project Scientist Noah Petro told IANS: “The story of this really amasing individual (who) found it, helped us find it, is really awesome.”

Supreme Court proposes retired judge for probe into Hyderabad encounter The Supreme Court on Wednesday proposed to appoint a retired judge of the top court to conduct an independent probe into the alleged fake encounter of four men accused of raping and murdering a woman in Hyderabad. A Bench headed by CJI SA Bobde asked the Telangana government and others to suggest a former judge’s name and posted the matter for further hearing on Thursday.

The four men arrested in connection with the rape and murder of a woman veterinarian were killed in an encounter with the police last Friday. The police had said that the accused had snatched weapons from the police, fired at them and tried to escape. Officials maintained that the accussed were killed in retaliatory firing by the police.

Rajya Sabha passes Citizenship Amendment Bill amid violent protests in N-E The Rajya Sabha passed the Citizenship Amendment Bill on Wednesday, choosing not to send the contentious Bill to a select panel for review. The Bill was passed with 125 votes in favour and 105 against it. Besides BJP, its allies such as JD-U and SAD, the legislation was supported by AIADMK, BJD, TDP and YSR-Congress. The Shiv Sena, a former ally of the Bharatiya Janata Party, walked out before the vote. The Bill was passed by Lok Sabha on Monday. It

will now go to the President for his assent. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the passage of Citizenship (Amendment) Bill by Parliament as a “landmark day” for India and its ethos of compassion and brotherhood. In a tweet, Modi said the Bill will “alleviate sufferings of many who faced persecution for years”. Earlier the House rejected a motion to have the Bill sent to a select committee of the House

Flipkart and Walmart jointly invest in Ninjacart Ninjacart, the Bengaluru-headquartered B2B agritech startup, has received a big boost with global retail giant Walmart and India’s leading ecommerce marketplace Flipkart announcing an undisclosed joint investment into the firm. This latest investment into Ninjacart comes after this agritech startup received a $100 million fund infusion from Tiger Global in April this year. Founded in 2015 by Thirukumaran Nagarajan, Kartheeswaran K K, Ashutosh Vikram, Sharath Loganathan and Vasudevan Chinnathambi, Ninjacart delivers over 1,400

tonnes of fruits and vegetables sourced from more than 44,000 farmers to 60,000 kirana stores and restaurants across seven cities. On the investment made into Ninjacart, Kalyan Krishnamurthy, CEO, Flipkart Group, said, Leveraging in-house built supply chain technology, Ninjacart has created a network of more than 200 collection and 1,200 warehouses. Along with this, the startup has also ensured that there is almost negligible error in the entire transaction process from the farmers to the retail stores.

India firm on climate promises: Javadekar India is “walking the talk” in its climate change commitments and has reduced emission intensity by 21 per cent of its GDP while also being on track to achieve the goal of 35 per cent emission reduction as promised in the Paris summit in 2015, Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said today. Speaking at a high-level meeting at the ongoing UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) COP 25 in the Spanish capital, the minister presented India’s stand. “Let us concentrate on the

implementation of the Paris Agreement and not digress. India has reduced emission intensity of GDP (gross domestic product) by 21 per cent and is on track to achieve the goal of 35 per cent emission reduction as promised in Paris,” he said. The 25th Conference of Parties (COP 25), which commenced on December 2 in the Spanish capital and is likely to go on till December 13, is being attended by over 190 countries. The minister said only six countries are on track to meet their target and India is leading the list.

2,307 from Pak given citizenship since 2016 In total, 391 Afghani and 1,595 Pakistani migrants were granted Indian nationality from 2016 to 2018, Union Minister Nityanand Rai said in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday. The minister said in 2019, 40 Afghani and 712 Pakistani migrants were given citizenship till December 6. The minister said provision for making online the citizenship data of

migrants from minority communities namely Sikhs, Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians hailing from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh was introduced in 2018. “As per data, 391 Afghani and 1,595 Pakistani migrants, have been granted Indian Citizenship during the last three years,” Rai said.

Assam burns over Citizenship Bill; Guwahati under indefinite curfew Guwahati, the epicentre of anti-CAB protests, was placed under indefinite curfew while Army was asked to be on standby in Assam and Assam Rifles personnel were deployed in Tripura on Wednesday as the two northeastern states plunged into chaos over the hugely emotive Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, officials said. A Defence spokesman had earlier said in a statement in Shillong that two columns of the Army were deployed in Tripura. In a late evening

clarification, it said that troops of the Assam Rifles, a paramilitary force commanded by Army officials, were pressed into service in

Saturday, December 14, 2019

WE PAY HALF OF YOUR MORTGAGE FOR 2 YEARS | EASY DEPOSIT PLAN Purchase one of the featured Concord Projects in Richmond, Surrey or Burnaby before December 31st, and Concord Pacific will cover half of your mortgage for the first 2 years!* Whether you are a First Time Home Buyer or not, Concord is here to help with purchasing your dream home.

For limited time only

Visit us to learn more

Richmond

Surrey

Burnaby

8511 Capstan Way 604-233-7748 ConcordGardens.ca

9908 King George Boulevard 604-583-9866 ParkGeorge.com

4750 Kingsway 604-435-1383 ConcordBrentwood.com

* 2 -YEAR HOME OWNERSHIP MORTGAGE HELPER INCENTIVE program is a limited offer based on a set of parameters determined at the sole discretion of the developer. Check with sales staff for applicable details and conditions. Offer valids until December 31st, 2019. This is not an offering for sale. Any such offer will only be made with the applicable disclosure statement and agreement of purchase and sales. Concord Gardens Limited Partnership, Concord Park George Limited Partnership, Concord Shokai Brentwood Phase 1b Limited Partnership E. & O.E.

Saturday, December 14, 2019

SOUTH ASIA

Pakistan among America’s worst allies of all time Alliances in international politics are at best a necessary evil, somewhat analogous to government in liberal political philosophy. For a regional hegemon with global interests, like the United States, allies are particularly indispensable, given Washington’s need to project power globally.

Truth be told, America’s relationship with Pakistan long predated the 9/11 terrorist attacks. In fact, the United States was one of the first countries to formally recognize and establish ties with Pakistan in the late 1940s, and Washington made Islamabad an integral part of both its Central and Southeast Asia Treaty Organizations the following decade. This longevity should not obscure the fact that the bilateral relationship has at best been a dysfunctional marriage.

Pakistan amongh America’s worst allies of all time. T o defeat Hitler in WWII, FDR was willing to hold hands with the devil. To combat Al Qaeda after 9/11, the United States literally partnered with the “ally from hell.”

Even in the brief moments when Pakistan has been valuable to the United States, it has

undercut its case with serious transgressions. For example, during the 1970s, Pakistan helped facilitate America’s rapprochement with China while simultaneously committing genocide against the Bengalis in what was then Eastern Pakistan. Similarly, during the 1980s, Pakistan was instrumental in helping the United States and its allies funnel aid to the Afghan Mujahideen resisting the Soviet occupation of their country. At the same time, Islamabad used this support to force Washington to tacitly accept Pakistan’s burgeoning nuclear-weapons program.

Army man is Lanka spy chief

Biggest Selection, Unbeatable Prices. Shop Paragon for all your Restaurant Equipment and Supplies at the Lowest Prices — Guaranteed!*

Banquet Season Savings! VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR SEASONAL DEALS

For the first time in Sri Lanka’s history, a military officer has been appointed as the chief of the country’s top intelligence agency. Brigadier Suresh Sallay, the former

director of the Military Intelligence, has been appointed as the chief of the State Intelligence Service (SIS) — the country’s premier spy agency, according to the media reports.

US veterans join anti-Pak protest in Washington Protesting against Pakistan’s support to terrorist groups, a group of US veterans joined a demonstration outside the Pakistani Embassy here on Sunday, organised by the Kashmiri Diaspora and Indian-Americans. Raising slogans, like “Pakistan is Taliban, Pakistan a terror state, and Where was (Osama) Bin Laden,” the protesters demanded Pakistan be declared a state sponsor of terrorism. “Pakistan is killing American sons and daughters through their support of the Taliban. Most of this is done with American taxpayers’ dollars,” said veteran David Dienstag, now publisher of Jezail.Org blog.

“Pakistan is responsible for the genocide of more than 25,000 Kashmiri Hindus,” alleged Manga Anantatmula, who is running for Congress from the Democratic party from the 11th Congressional District of Virginia. Aliscia Andrews, who is running for Congress from the 10th Congressional District of Virginia, said that it is important to “stand behind” people who have been constantly victimised by terrorist groups. Protesters gathered to voice their anguish against Pakistan for harbouring terrorists, said Mohan Sapru, the rally organiser and Washington coordinator of the Global Kashmiri Pandit Diaspora.

Afghan war can end in a few weeks if Pak denies safe haven to Taliban: US Senator

*See website for Price Match terms and conditions.

Prices in effect until January 3, 2020, while quantities last.

Visit us online for more great deals!

paragondirect.ca (604) 255-9991 760 East Hastings Street, Vancouver

The war in Afghanistan would end in a few weeks if Pakistan denied the Taliban safe haven, a top US Senator has said, urging the Trump administration that it should start negotiations with Islamabad rather than the Afghan insurgents to stop the deadly conflict. The comments by Republican Senator Lindsay Graham came amid reports that the US has resumed talks with the Taliban in Qatar on Saturday, three months after President Donald Trump abruptly halted diplomatic efforts that could end America’s longest war. Pakistan is said to be assisting the US in reopening the talks with the Taliban.

“As to negotiating with the Taliban, I think we got this wrong. I think what we should do is start negotiating with Pakistan. If Pakistan denied the Taliban safe haven in Pakistan, the war in Afghanistan would end in a matter of weeks,” Graham, the senior Senator from South Carolina said in an interview to Fox Channel on Monday. In September, President Trump called the year-long negotiation efforts “dead” and withdrew an invitation to the insurgents to join secret talks at his retreat at Camp David after the killing of an American soldier in Kabul.

CABINET REFINISHING PROVEN RESULTS FOR OVER 30 YEARS We have been in business for 30 years! Let us make a perfect improvement on your cabinets.

BEFORE GOT GREASE?

WE’LL FIX THAT!

AFTER BEFORE

AFTER

“Night and day! Wow, what a difference! We so needed this process to our cabinets!” - Ema Burns, Abbotsford, BC

Call or Text

604-218-7470

www.gleamguard.com

BEFORE

AFTER

GOT PEELING?

WE’LL FIX THAT!

Get $50 off a kitchen refinish

SOUTH ASIA

Saturday, December 14, 2019

Suu Kyi rejects Royingya genocide charge, defends military at UN court

Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi rejected accusations of genocide committed against her country’s Muslim Rohingya minority as “incomplete and misleading”, and said the case should not be heard by the UN’s highest court. The Nobel Peace laureate, speaking during three days of hearings at the International Court of Justice, challenged allegations in a lawsuit brought by Gambia last month accusing Myanmar of violating the 1948 Genocide

Convention. Suu Kyi, once feted in the West as a heroine of democracy, spoke for about 30 minutes at the courtroom in The Hague in defence of the actions of the Myanmar military that for years had kept her under house arrest.She said a military-led “clearance Rohingya refugees

US blacklists Pak’s ‘encounter specialist’ police officer for human rights violations USA has blacklisted a retired police officer of Pakistan Police, known as “encounter specialist”, for committing serious human rights violations by staging fake police encounters and killing innocents in Sindh province. Accused of extrajudicial killings, Rao Anwar served as Superintendent Police in Malir District of Karachi in Sindh province. Rao Anwar,

operation” in western Rakhine State in August 2017 was a counterterrorism response to coordinated Rohingya militant attacks against dozens of police stations. “Gambia has placed an incomplete and misleading picture of the factual situation in Rakhine state in Myanmar,” she said as she opened Myanmar’s defence. While Suu Kyi conceded that disproportionate military force may have been used.

designated for being responsible for or complicit in, or having directly or indirectly engaged in, serious human rights abuses, the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) said.

Delta to strengthen manufacturing to tap India’s EV charging market With more and more automobile manufacturers launching electric vehicles in the country, Taiwan and Gurugram-based power and energy management company Delta Electronics, optimistic about the EV market in India, believes that the electric vehicle charging industry will grow at 50% per annum in the next three years. Akshaye Barbuddhe, the business head for EV charging solutions at Delta Electronics in India, told ET that the company has supplied

over 700 EV chargers of different capacities and specifications across the country. Currently, Delta Electronics has two manufacturing facilities located at Rudrapur and Hosur. The company has the capacity of producing 100 EV chargers per month. In the next three months time, Delta Electronics is expected to ramp up its facility to manufacture 500 EV chargers per month. By 2026, Delta Electronics will be investing $500 Mn in the Indian market.

FIJI

Saturday, December 14, 2019

Rabuka calls on government to rebuild the GCC meeting house and also cautioned the nation to remain calm Opposition Leader Sitiveni Rabuka has called on the government to rebuild the Great Council of Chiefs Meeting House and he has also cautioned the nation to remain calm. Rabuka says he is gravely shocked and disappointed by the destruction of the magnificent meeting house originally intended for the Great Council of Chiefs. In a statement, Rabuka says the Vale ni Bose is only 10 years old yet has been destroyed by fire yesterday. The Opposition Leader says the government must carry out a thorough investigation to determine the cause of the fire. Rabuka says the Bainimarama Government must also inform the public on its plans and whether the meeting house will be rebuilt. He also said in the statement that he also cautions the nation to remain calm despite the

shock, offence and upset the fire has caused. Rabuka says the chiefs’ vision was that the Vale ni Bose and the Complex would be a powerful symbol of the independence of iTaukei Institutions which would all be housed in the one complex. He says as Chairman of the Great Council of Chiefs in 2001, he initiated negotiations for the land in Draiba, on which the complex is situated to be transferred from the iTaukei Affairs Board to the Trust Fund in order for the GCC Complex to be constructed in Draiba. Rabuka has urged the iTaukei Affairs Fund and the Government to consider rebuilding the Vale ni Bose with urgency given the important function it served. He says the land in Draiba should not be used for any other purpose. Rabuka says questions remain unanswered on when

$25,231 donation for St. Christopher’s Home for Children The St. Christopher’s Home for Children in Suva today received a cheque of $25,231 from the Fiji Hotels and Tourism Association which will be used for the construction of a new Moana Boys Home for young male orphans. The Funds were raised at the FHTA Charity Golf Day which was held at the Denarau Racquet Club following FHTA’s HOTEC Tradeshow on the 9th of last month. The Home will be the first of its kind in Suva and will cater for 12 boys until they are 18 years of age. Currently, boys are required to

move to the orphanage in Ba after they are 12 years old as the Social Services Policy dictates boys and girls cannot live in the same after they are 12 years old. This often leads to some boys being separated from their sisters and the chances of seeing them again is very low. FHTA CEO Fantasha Lockington says this means that they lose critical support from their siblings which can adversely impact their development, education, social and mental health needs. The new Home will cost around $1 million dollars to build and a little more than $325,000 has been collected so far.

Man who allegedly tried to strangle his former wife appeared in court A man who allegedly tried to strangle his former wife and also stabbed her with an iron rod in Muanikoso, Nasinu appeared in the Suva High Court today. Dinesh Chand is charged with one count of attempted murder.

The alleged incident occurred on 22nd August this year. The case has been adjourned to 7th February next year to fix the trial date. State has indicated that it will call three witnesses.

Justin Ho denied bail by Suva High Court Fiji’s economic growth will pick up next year - IMF The Fijian economy will recover next year where growth will be faster because the tourism sector will have a better year as New Zealand and Australia are expected to get stronger, and the Fijian government is also making public debt reduction a priority in the current budget. This has been highlighted by International Monetary Fund’s Mission Chief, Pablo Lopez Murphy at the Global Developments and Prospects: Implications for Fiji Seminar at the Reserve Bank last night. Murphy says economic growth in Fiji has been about 1% this year but that is estimated to increase to about 1.8% next year.

He says for further improvements the government should try to improve the business environment for private sector which simply means trying to promote private investment. Murphy says the government has provided significant support to the economy particularly after Tropical Cyclone Winston but the focus should be more on the private sector and for that to happen an improvement in the business environment will be helpful. He says the government has made it clear in the budget that reducing public debt is a priority. Murphy says he is confident that the government will go in that direction.

Nausori Highlands murderer denied bail Mohammed Raheesh Isoof who allegedly murdered five people in the Nausori Highlands in Nadi in August this year has been denied bail by High Court Judge Justice Daniel Goundar. The 62-year-old is facing five counts of murder and one count of attempted murder. He holds permanent residency in New Zealand. The bodies were of a 63-yearold carpenter, Nirmal Kumar, his 54-year-old wife, Usha Devi, their 34-year-old daughter, Nileshni Kajal and Kajal’s two daughters aged 11 and 8 years. A 1-year-old child was also found crawling nearby. Justice Goundar delivered his bail ruling for the Lautoka High court through Skype in the Suva High Court today. In his bail ruling, Justice Goundar said that according to the Prosecution the five people died of poisoning after consuming some form of pesticide. The Prosecution is

yet to establish the pesticide that caused the deaths of the five. Justice Goundar said the toxicology report said pesticide residue was found on the victims. The Judge also said in his caution interview, Isoof said he dropped off the victims but denied any responsibility for their deaths. Justice Goundar said Isoof had also said that he was having an affair with one of the daughters. The Judge said the Prosecution’s case is that Isoof had a financial motive. Justice Goundar also said that in the bail hearing the investigating officer said Isoof entered New Zealand after changing his name following deportation from Australia. Justice Goundar says there is a real possibility that Isoof is not going to show up for his trial. The case will be called again on the 22nd of January next year.

Justin Ho who is charged with drug related offences has again been denied bail by Suva High Court Judge Justice Daniel Goundar. He had applied for bail more than twice previously. Ho is charged with one count of unlawful importation and exportation and one count of unlawful possession,

manufacture, cultivation and supply contrary to the Illicit Drugs Control Act 2004. It is alleged that on the 23rd of December last year, without lawful authority Ho facilitated in the exportation of two parcels weighing to the total of 2.015 kilograms of cocaine and other illicit drugs.

Save the Children Fiji commends judiciary on imposing harsh penalty on Werelagi Save the Children Fiji has commended the judiciary for imposing harsher penalties for those who commit crimes against children particularly trafficking of children for servitude and sex trafficking. This, after the sentencing of child trafficker Josevata Werelagi to 14 years imprisonment with a non-parole period of 10 years. Werelagi has been convicted of three counts of domestic trafficking in children and one count of aggravated sexual servitude.

Between 18th to 22nd July 2015, Werelagi threatened or forced a 15-year-old girl to enter into or remain in sexual servitude. He also facilitated the transportation of a 15-year-old girl from Nausori to Rewa Street in Suva, with the intent that the girl will be used to provide sexual services. Chief Executive Officer says child trafficking is a crime that needs to be dealt with swiftly and offences such as these call for just sentencing that protect the dignity.

Police await forensic test results regarding case of missing 3 year old Talei Raikadroka Police are now waiting for forensic test results before it decides on its next course of action regarding the case of 3 year old Talei Raikadroka who is missing from her home in Kalekana, Lami. The forensic tests are being conducted on evidence gathered by investigators from the man who is a relative of the family. The man has been questioned and released and no details have been given by police as to how these forensic tests will connect

them to the whereabouts of Raikadroka. When questioned if other relatives have also been questioned, Police say only this man has been questioned. Police Spokesperson, Ana Naisoro had earlier revealed that they have received reports from neighbours and other individuals about Talei seen in some locations, and checks have been conducted in all these areas.

PAKISTAN

Saturday, December 14, 2019

Hafiz Saeed indicted on terror financing charges Hafiz Saeed, the Mumbai terror attack mastermind and chief of the banned JuD, was indicted on Wednesday by a Pakistani antiterrorism court here along with three of his close aides on terror financing charges. The anti-terrorism court (ATC) Lahore indicted Saeed, Hafiz Abdul Salam bin Muhammad, Muhammad Ashraf and Zafar Iqbal in the presence of the accused. ATC Judge Arshad

Hussain Bhutta directed the prosecution to produce witnesses and adjourned the hearing till Thursday. “Saeed and his aides’ lawyers made their arguments requesting the court not to indict their clients,” a court official told PTI after the hearing Hafiz Saeed which was held amid tight security. “Deputy Prosecutor General Punjab Abdur Rauf, pleading for framing the charges

Former PM Sharif to travel USA for medical treatment Pakistan’s ailing former prime minister health ailments, including an immune system Nawaz Sharif, who is currently undergoing disorder causing low platelet count. treatment in London, may be shifted to the “Nawaz Sharif is likely to fly to the US US next week for better medical care on December 16 for medical for his multiple diseases, a media treatment of his ailment there,” report said on Monday. Sharif, 69, the Dawn quoted Sharif ’s family left for London from Pakistan on sources as saying. November 19 in an air ambulance for The medical tests conducted medical treatment after the Lahore in London revealed that blood High Court allowed him to travel supply to a part of Sharif ’s brain abroad for four weeks. The four-week was obstructed, causing low duration can be extended further on platelet count issue and the surgical his doctors’ recommendations. procedure facility required to treat The three-time prime minister and it was available only in Boston, Nawaz Sharif the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) USA, the report said. A group of PML-N supremo is suffering from multiple senior PML-N leaders is in London.

Musharraf treason case ruling on Dec 17 The verdict in the high treason case against former Pakistan dictator General (retd) Pervez Musharraf would be pronounced on December 17, a special court announced on Thursday. Last week, the special court ordered 76-year-old Musharraf to record statement by December 5 in the treason case after the Islamabad High Court (IHC), after hearing the

petitions filed by Dubai-based Musharraf and the Pakistan government, stopped the special court from issuing the verdict on November 28. The statement was made by a three-member bench of the special court, headed by Peshawar High Court Chief Justice Waqar Ahmed Seth, which was conducting a hearing of the case against the former president on Thursday, Geo News reported.

Rare Lord Buddha statue installed in museum The Islamabad Museum has put on display a rare statue of Lord Buddha after retrieving it from its reserves where it was locked for decades, according to a media reports. The sculpture from the period between the 3rd and the 4th century AD was discovered in Pakistan, by Italian archaeological mission by Giuseppe Tucci in northof Pakistan’s Swat Valley. The artefact was

excavated in the 60s and it was last displayed in museum in 1997. “It is extremely rare to find Lord Buddha’s statues made of stucco from Swat valley. The Swat Valley is predominantly home to stone sculptures,” Islamabad Museum Director Dr Abdul Ghafoor Lone said. He said ‘‘stucco sculptures of Lord Buddha are also found in Taxila (Pakistan) and Afghanistan.

Former president Pervez Musharraf admitted to hospital in Dubai “He has some serious health Former president General Pervez Musharraf (retd) was admitted to a issues and lately had been hospital on Monday in Dubai after complaining of pain in the he developed “heart- and blood chest, and anxiety,” said the party’s spokesman. “The doctors pressure-related” complications, according to media reports. visited him at his place of stay and recommended immediate The 76-year-old former president, who is living in Dubai in self-exile, admission to avoid any further Musharraf was admitted to the Dubai American complications. The former Hospital on a stretcher, citing “emergency president has undergone a few tests which will treatment requirement”, which was later help determine the state of his health,” he said. confirmed by sources in his All Pakistan Dr Muhammad Amjad, Musharraf ’s close Muslim League (APML) party, Dawn News aide and the ex-chairperson of APML, said reported.

against the accused, said Saeed and others are involved in terror financing case and the Counter Terrorism Department of Punjab police has presented evidence for it,” the official said. The official said the accused were also provided the copies of the chargesheet. Like the previous hearings, journalists were not

allowed to enter the court premises to cover the proceedings. On December 7, the ATC could not indict Saeed, 69, and others as one of the coaccused, Zafar Iqbal, was not produced before the court. The Counter Terrorism Department of Punjab Police on July 17 registered 23 FIRs against Saeed.

Patients die as lawyers ransack Lahore hospital

Three patients died when hundreds of lawyers attacked a hospital in Lahore during furious dispute with doctors. Video showed the lawyers ransacking wards at the cardiac hospital, beating up staff and smashing equipment. As panic spread, doctors and paramedics hid, leaving patients unattended, including those in a critical state. Riot police fired tear gas to disperse the lawyers and more than 20 arrests were made. It took more than two hours to restore order, officials said. The lawyers had been protesting over the alleged mistreatment of some of their colleagues by hospital staff last month. But the final trigger for the violence appears to have been a video posted on social media by

a doctor on Tuesday night in which he poked fun at the lawyers. How did the attack unfold? According to hospital administrators, more than 200 lawyers wielding sticks stormed Lahore’s Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC) at midday on Wednesday. Hospital officials said the lawyers forced their way past security and split into groups, attacking various departments and wards. Video footage shared on social media showed lawyers - in suits and ties smashing medical equipment and windows, and beating up staff and officials including Punjab information minister Fayazul Hasan Chauhan who had arrived on the scene to try to restore calm.

NRI

Saturday, December 14, 2019

Bill in US to name post office after Sikh cop

Brexit Party banks on Indian candidates Britain’s Brexit Party, led by Nigel Farage as the far-right outfit pitching for a so-called hard exit from the European Union (EU), has managed to attract a large number of Indianorigin candidates to contest the General Election on Thursday. Prominent Faces: Punjab-born Surjit Singh Duhre, Dr Kulvinder Singh Manik, Alka Sehgal Cuthbert, Sachin Sehgal, Parag Shah, Kailash Trivedi, Munish Sharma, Sudhir Sharma, Raj Singh Chaggar, Viral Parikh and Vishal Dilip Khatri are among the Indian-origin candidates who are holding the Brexit Party’s flag high in the impending general election They are all contesting Labour strongholds with a slim chance of victory but are fighting to attract the pro-Brexit vote The key platform of the party, formed in January this year, is for a “clean break” from the 28-member economic bloc to trade on World Trade Organisation (WTO) norms and have been opposed to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s deal as

“unacceptable”. This message is being amplified by many of its nearly a dozen Indian-origin candidates, including a UK-born doctor whose family originally hails from India before migrating to Kenya and then the UK. “The UK has become the Jewel in the Crown of the European Raj,” says Dr Kulvinder Singh Manik, who is contesting from Bradford South in northern England - a Labour Party stronghold. The 47-year-old had voted to remain in the EU in the 2016 Referendum but has since changed his mind and says his family is fully behind his anti-Brexit stance.Punjab-born Surjit Singh Duhre, contesting a similar Labour stronghold of Doncaster Central, claimed receiving death threats on the campaign trail and had to be convinced by party leader Farage not to quit the race. “I’ve been told I’m a racist, a traitor and a Judas just because I’m standing for the Brexit Party,” says 64-year-old Duhre, a former Labour Party member. Ironically, despite being perceived as a party

Sikh Uber driver racially abused and strangulated by passenger in Bellingham A Sikh Uber driver in the US was racially abused and strangulated by a passenger, a media report said. The incident took place in the coastal city of Bellingham, Washington on December 5 when the Sikh driver picked Grifin Levi Sayers, The American Bazaar reported on Monday citing The Bellingham Herald as saying in a report. The same day, the Bellingham Police received a 911 call from the driver that he had been attacked by his passenger, The police then arrested and booked 22-year-old Sayers on suspicion of second-degree assault and a failure-to-appear warrant for fourth-degree assault. According to police records, he was released on $13,000 bail the next day. The driver told the police that Sayers took the cab to make some purchases and then returned to the pick-up

location. It was at this point that the passenger became abusive and grabbed the driver by his throat and squeezed it violently. He also made racial comments about the driver’s ethnicity. The driver somehow managed to get out of the cab and made a 911 call. When the police arrived, they were able to locate Sayers nearby and arrested him. Hate crimes against Sikhs in the US have always been on the radar for civil rights and minority groups, The American Bazaar said. A report released just last month, identified Sikhs as the third largest most targeted groups in the country after Jews and Muslims. Anti-Sikh hate crimes rose by a whopping 200 per cent since 2017, according to an FBI report. Even as Sikh groups and minority organizations continue to make attempts to educate Americans.

A legislation has been introduced in the US Congress to name a post office in Houston after slain Indian-American Sikh police officer Sandeep Singh Dhaliwal, who was shot dead on duty during a traffic stop in Texas in September, to recognise his ultimate sacrifice. Dhaliwal, 42, was the first Sikh sheriff ’s deputy in Harris county with a population of over 10,000 Sikhs. He made headlines when he was allowed to grow a beard and wear a turban on the job. He was gunned down on September 27 while conducting a routine mid-day traffic stop in northwest of Houston. “Deputy Dhaliwal represented the very

best of our community... he worked for equality, connection, and community through his life of service to others,” Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher said as she introduced the legislation that calls for naming the post office located at 315 Addicks Howell Road as the ‘Deputy Sandeep Singh Dhaliwal Post Office’. “The Deputy Sandeep Singh Dhaliwal Post Office will serve as a permanent reminder of his service, his sacrifice, and his example for us all. I am honoured to be able to recognise Deputy Dhaliwal in this way, and look forward to working with all of my Texas colleagues to pass this legislation quickly,” Fletcher said.

10 thousand Indians detained in USA Nearly 10,000 Indians were detained in the US in 2018 by law enforcement agencies as part of their operations to identify and remove aliens who present a danger to national security or are a risk to public safety, according to a government report. Of these, 831 were removed from the US, the report said on Tuesday. According to the report titled “Immigration Enforcement: Arrests, Detentions, and Removals, and Issues Related

to Selected Populations” by Government Accountability Office, the number of Indians detained by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement or the ICE has more than doubled between 2015 and 2018. According to the report, the number of enforcement and removal operations by the ICE varied from calendar years 2015 through 2018 but increased overall from 1,12,870 in 2015 to 1,51,497 in 2018.

UAE-based NRI to set up Rs 5-bn fund BR Shetty, a UAE-based NRI who was here to attend the meet, talking to The Tribune, said he had planned to set up the Atal BRS Tricolour Vision Fund worth Rs 5 billion as his contribution to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi vision to make India a $5 trillion economy by 2015. He said many UAE and Dubai businessmen had shown interest in the fund. Shetty, who was among the privileged guests, said he was committed to bringing

up a multi-superspeciality hospital in Solan district. Setting up a hospital in Kangra district was not viable due to infrastructure problems. The government should expand the Gaggal airport so that big planes could land here. It would help in attracting investments. Shetty is an Indian-born billionaire and the founder of a number of companies based in the UAE. He is founder, chairman of Abu Dhabi-based NMC Healthcare

Come Check Out our Famous Trees and Shop under cover for the best selection as all trees are hanging for an easy 360° view.

SATURDAY AND SUNDAY DECEMBER 14 - DECEMBER 15

CHECK YOUR EMAIL OR OUR FACEBOOK OR INSTAGRAM THIS FRIDAY AFTER 6 PM FOR THIS WEEKENDS SURPRISE SALES!

Someone on your Christmas List you’re not sure of? Art Knapp’s has One cloth is equivalent to 15 rolls of paper towel!! It can be cleaned in the washing machine or on the top rack of the dishwasher... up to 200 times!

available for purchase in store only.

While quantities last

BRING THE KIDS DOWN TO TAKE A RIDE ON OUR HOLIDAY TRAIN!

ole 18 H olf G Mini se! u Co r

Art Knapp Surrey

4391 King George Blvd., Surrey

604-596-9201

www.artknappsurrey.com

Celebrating

77 Years 1942 - 2019

EXTENDED CHRISTMAS HOURS Dec 1 to 23 - Weekdays 9am to 8pm, Weekends - 9am to 5:30pm Dec 24 - 9am to 3pm Dec 25 - Closed • Dec 26 - 10am - 5pm Dec 27 to 30 - 9am - 5:30pm • Dec 31 - 9am to 3pm • Jan 1 – Closed

Saturday, December 14, 2019

OVER 250 NEW MAZDAS IN STOCK FOR IMMEDIATE DELIVERY

WOLFEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S LANGLEY MAZDA YEAR

UP TO

$4,000

2019

Mazda cx-5

CASH PRICE from LEASE from

END

IN CASH DISCOUNTS

CASH PRICE from LEASE from

BI-WEEKLY BI I-WEEKLY PA AYMENT

BONUS

Still Have Payments Left? Over Your Mileage? Damage?

BI-WEEKLY B BI WEEKLY PAYMENT P

$34,720 $199

$1,500

ON SELECT NEW MODELS

$27,870 $176 $

WEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;LL PAY YOU

to terminate your lease here! Any make! Any Model!

2019

UP TO

YEAR END EVENT

39 MPG

35 M

Mazda cx-9

0%PURCHASE FINANCING +

EVENT

CASH PRICE from LEASE from

2019

Mazda3 SPORT

49 M

$22,120 $139

CASH PRICE from LEASE from

2019

Mazda3

BI-WEEKLY BI I-WEEKLY PA AYMENT

$19,820 $119

UNLIMITED

BI-WEEKLY BI I-WEEKLY PA AYMENT

https://www.langleymazda.com/

SHOP 24 HOURS AT

604-534-0181 19265 LANGLEY BYPASS, SURREY/LANGLEY â&#x2013;źYear End Bonus offer is available to qualifying retail customers who cash purchase/finance/lease a select new and previously unregistered, in-stock 2019 Mazda model between November 1 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 31, 2019. Amounts vary ( ) * + / /0/0 by model â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Some exceptions apply. Bonus applied before taxes and cannot be combined with Winter Tire Credit offer - See dealer for complete details. â&#x20AC; Offer available on retail leases of new 2019 Mazda3 GX/2019 Mazda 3 Sport with a lease APR of 2.7% and 130 bi-weekly payments of $119/$139 for 60 months, the total lease obligation is $16,220/$19,020, including down payment (or equivalent trade-in) of $750/$900. New 2019 Mazda CX-5/CX-9 with a lease APR of 3.3/1.95% and 130 bi-weekly payments of $176/$199 for 60 months, the total lease obligation is $22,800/$26,260, including down payment (or equivalent trade-in) of $0/$0. All rebates, lease bonuses and current incentive applied. First monthly payment is due at lease inception. 20,000 km per year mileage allowance applies; All prices include environmental taxes, freight & PDI. They do not include licence, insurance or taxes. Lease and Finance on approved credit for qualified customers only. Prices and rates subject to change without notice. Visit mazda.ca or see your dealer for complete details.

MORE THAN JUST BUYING A CAR, WE TAKE CARE OF YOU FOR LIFE!

DL#8451

#1 Sellin Plug In Electrical SUV In Canada

Now with 10 years peace of mind

PAYMENTS FROM

INTEREST FROM

268 0

% $

37,898

UP TO SHOP 24 HOURS AT

NET OF ALL REBATES

www.wolfemitsubishi.ca WolfeMitsubishi.ca

604-575-0275 19360 LANGLEY BYPASS, SURREY/LANGLEY *All vehicle prices include freight and PDI, taxes, insurance and dealer fees are extraâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;Manufacturer Manufacturer rebates havebeen been applied. 2018 *All vehicle prices include freight and PDI, taxes, insurance and dealer fees are rebates 2018 *All vehicle prices include freight and PDI, taxes, insurance and dealer fees are extra. 2018 Eclipse Cross GTextra S-AWC/2018 Outlander GT S-AWC modelhave shown has an applied. MSRP of $35,998/$37,998. Total amounts paidshown on 84 month term including down paymentor and factory rebates applied; Eclipseof Cross ES TP $29,627 Total Interest $0, RVR SE TP cost Outlander PHEV-AWC model shown has retailprice price $44,698 or 208 finance payments of $235@4.99%.Total paid $49,380 cost Outlander PHEVAWC model has a aretail ofof $44,698 208 ďŹ nance payments $235 @ 4.99%. Total paid $49,380 Total Interest $0, Outlander AWC TP $30,827 Totalapproval, Interest $0, $0 Outlander TP $44,828**10 Total Interest $0 See dealer or visit mitsubishi-motors.ca for complete details. borrowing $4,682 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Offer OfferESsubject subject to credit credit approval, $0 due duePHEV on delivery. delivery. **10 Year/160 km warranty, whichever comes comes first.Regular Regular ofof$23,888 borrowing $4,682 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; to on Year/160 km warranty, whichever ďŹ rst. ** 10 Year/160 km warrant, whichever comes Regular maintenance not included. See dealer or mitsubishi-motors.ca for warranty terms, restrictions and details. Some conditions maintenance not included. See dealer or 3mitsubishi-motors.ca for warranty terms, restrictions and details. Some conditions apply. https://www.mitsubishi-motors.ca/en/ maintenance not See dealer or mitsubishi-motors.ca fortowarranty terms, restrictions apply. Offers apply to included. vehicles delivered between January - 31, 2019 and are subject change or cancellation without notice.and details. Some conditions apply. Offers Offers to vehicles delivered November 1 - 30, 2019 and areto subject toor change or cancellation without notice. apply toapply vehicles delivered betweenbetween September 1-30, 2019 and are subject change cancellation without notice.

MORE THAN JUST BUYING A CAR, WE TAKE CARE OF YOU FOR LIFE!

DL#30306

2019 MODEL CLEARANCE ON NOW at WOLFE SUBARU

E SAPV TO $

# ( ) * + / /0/0

00E 5,0 R E B AT

STARTING AT

CA$H

E & FINANC om Fr LEASE

0.5%

O.A.C.

WOLFE

OFFER BONUS E RECEIV OLIDAY

500

H CASH

in r shopp time fo Just in

SUBARU STANDARD FEATURES INCLUDE: Symmetrical full-time AWD Power group & cruise

STARTING AT

SILVER

29,240

MENTS NO PAY TIL UN SPRING

2019 CROSSTREK

2019

2019 FORESTER

2019 IMPREZA (SEDAN AND HATCHBACK)

STARTING AT

2019 LEGACY STARTING AT

2019 OUTBACK STARTING AT

2019 WRX

STARTING AT

27,540

29,995

24,995

19,640

25,420

www.LangleySubaru.com

SHOP 24 HOURS AT

604-534-2660 19372 LANGLEY BYPASS, SURREY/LANGLEY Prices do not include taxes, license, insurance or doc fee of $395. Vehicles may not be exactly as illustrated - Offers valid while supplies last. Finance and Lease offered on approved credit status â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Offer acceptance conditions apply (OAC). $5,000 rebate applies to 2019 Outback. 0.5% Lease & finance available for 24 months on certain models. See Subaru.ca for details of ALG and IIHS awards. Offers end November 30, 2019 # ( ) * + / /0/0

2019 ASCENT STARTING AT

37,795

Apple car play & android

Rearview camera 6.5â&#x20AC;? Touchscreen Bluetooth connectivity Air conditioning Efficient boxer engine

ACCESSORY PACKAGE INCLUDED WITH EVERY NEW WOLFE SUBARU: All Weather Mats Rear Cargo Tray Splash Guards

Wheel Locks Rear Step Pad

Saturday, December 14, 2019