The Asian Star June 27 2015

www.theasianstar.com Vol 14

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Magna urges steps to keep auto assembly in Canada

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Bollywood section

Prime Minister Harper hosts Ramadan dinner for Muslim leaders

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All the news you need and more...

Issue 22 Saturday, June 27, 2015

M Stephen Harper may have made Canadian history Monday night, inviting Muslim leaders to 24 Sussex to break the Ramadan fast. During the holy month of Ramadan, Muslims fast daily between dawn and sunset and the break-the-fast dinner, called the iftar, is traditionally a festive and spiritual event. U.S. President Barack Obama hosts an iftar annually at the White House. But Harper’s office says Monday is the first time one has been held at 24 Sussex. In his speech to the dinner, Harper says his house ultimately belongs to all Canadians and hopes everyone can share in the blessings of the month. He also notes tradition is that those who host an iftar bring goodness upon themselves.

The Conservative government’s relationship with the Muslim community has been tense, with Continued on page 7

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Air India bombing victims remembered

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amilies and friends still mourn for victims of bombing 30 years ago. Friends and families went to a memorial held for victims of the Air India Flight 182 bombing in Vancouver’s Stanley Park on Tuesday night. The attack, which was planned by a group of B.C. Sikh separatFamily members of Air India vicitims gathered at the Air India ists, killed 329 people off the Memorial in Stanley Park on June 23 to remember those who died in coast of Ireland 30 years ago. the terrorist attack. In the picture are Major Singh Sidhu, who lost his sister, and the widow of Sam Madon, one of the victims.

Naveen Girn, the organizer Photo: Chandra Bodalia of the Vancouver memoOthers, such as Saffrin Granby and rial, said the tragedy is still fresh in people’s Chris Slatter, who weren’t alive at the minds and that it’s important to remember time, went to honour the victims. A the victims. “This is the largest terrorist act small group of B.C. Sikh separatists ever committed against Canadians,” Girn plotted to bomb two Air India planes in said. “Remembering it as something that their campaign against the Indian govaffects all of us is important.” Milan Singh ernment. Some of those in attendance read the names of all the lives lost on the called for action to bring the Air India flight. Those names are also on the memo- bombers to justice despite the passage rial in Ceperley Park. Harjit Sajjan brought of time. Others said they are resigned to his two young children to see the name of the fact most of those in B.C. who plothis friend’s dad, the captain of Air India, on ted the June 23, 1985 bombing that killed the memorial. Honouring the victims Continued on page 6

Punjab’s Satnam Singh becomes 1st Indianborn basketball player picked in NBA draft

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aking it big in basketball had long been a dearly held dream for Satnam Singh. Making it happen was another matter. Growing up in a remote village in India’s Punjab province, he was

What do Punjab and the Po Valley have in common?

Satnam Singh at the NBA draft

destined to become a farmer -- like his father and his father’s father.

But that’s the thing about dreams. With hard work -- and, in Singh’s case, a ginormous frame -they sometimes come Continued on page 9

Cab driver stabbed

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hortly before 6 a.m. Sunday, Satnam Bahia was sitting in his taxi outside the 7 Eleven at the intersection of 144th Street and 108th Avenue in Surrey and reading a newspaper.

A young man smoking a cigarette rapped on his window to see whether he was available for a cab ride. He indicated he was, and the man gestured to his cigarette, indicating that he would get in when he finished smoking. Less than 10 minutes later, Bahia was bleeding from three stab wounds. The young man had stolen everything Bahia had on his person, incthe keys Continued on page 7

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Local

Black bear caught cooling off in swimming pool

summer heat to it. “I got quite wave hitting a surprise,” he B.C. proved said. “I had just to be unbearable for a finished doing black bear that decided all the cleaning to take a dip in a Vanand putting in the chemicals, couver Island man’s and I was all set swimming pool Monday. for a swim. But The incident hapthen I thought, pened just after 7 a.m. well, I’ll just when surveillance camA surveillance footage showing a black bear go wait until that for a swim in a Nanaimo man’s swimming clears out a little eras on the rural proppool on Monday. bit.” While he’s erty south of Nanaimo captured a bear wandering into the swim- used to seeing wildlife on the property, ming pool and sitting on the steps for a Irwin said Monday’s incident was the first few seconds. Brian Irwin, who owns the time an animal has gone for a swim in the home, said he was getting ready to go for a pool. A few years ago, another black bear swim himself when he saw the surveillance pulled back his pool cover to take a drink. video and realized the bear had beat him

UN International Day of Yoga celebrations

Swami Dr Satya Prakash leads the gathering in Yoga at the Guildford recreation centre during the UN International Day of Yoga last Sunday. Hundreds attended.

Heat wave approaches Vancouver as the city struggles with water conservation

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ancouver mayor to speak on greenest city goals at France’s National Assembly Who left the lights on? Earth Hour fizzles in B.C. Vancouver wants to shift to 100% renewable energy use Record-breaking heat is in the forecast for the Lower Mainland this weekend, adding to conditions that could lead to a drought in a city where residents aren’t being very careful with their water consumption.

Temperatures are expected to gradually climb and peak on Sunday with tempera-

tures of 29 C on the coast, which would not only break daily records but could lead to the warmest June since the late 1800s, Environment Canada meteorologist Matt MacDonald said Tuesday. It could be as hot as 33 C inland and up to 40 C in Kamloops and Lytton.

On top that, Vancouver had its driest May on record with just 4.2 millimetres of rain compared to an average of 65 and an abnormally warm winter that didn’t add to the snow pack, MacDonald said.

“It’s kind of the perfect ingredients for a drought,” he said. “It feels like we’re in August already looking at the vegetation, the grass is brown, plants are dry.”

Dry, dry Western Canada braces for hot and hard-growing summer

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here’s a crunch under Kent Erickson’s shoes as he walks onto his canola fields in Irma, Alta., 175 kilometres southeast of Edmonton. You can practically hear the dry with every footstep.

He stops and kicks the dirt to demonstrate how little rain has fallen this month. “We’re at roughly an inch of moisture when we’re normally at five to six inches of moisture,” he says.

He picks one of the tiniest canola plants out of the dusty earth. Thin roots and tiny leaves tell the story.

“We want that crop really bushy and with as much vegetation as possible,” Erickson, a farmer who serves on the

board of the Alberta Wheat Commission told CBC News. “You look around today, and there’s not a lot of vegetation.”

Only a scattered few plants are leafy and beginning to flower. As far as the eye can see, there is brown between the rows of undergrown canola crops. Erickson’s wheat crop across a dusty gravel road may not be faring much better.

‘They can’t deal with these kind of weird, wild, and wacky kind of changes.’Climatologist David Phillips The stressed, failing crops are falling victim to the driest spring on the Prairies in the 68 years of national record-keeping.

Continued on page 15

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n unelected and scandal plagued Senate full of those who have been looting the public for years have no right to stop or amend a Bill passed by the elected members of the Parliament of Canada. And yet, this is exactly what the Senate is proposing to do (see letter below). For

EDITORIAL

Harper & Trudeau must ensure that the Senate passes Bill C-518 whatever reason, the Senate wants to keep publicly funded pensions for those politicians who are convicted of criminal offences – such as illegally claiming hosusing and transportation expenses.

Bill C-518 would bring into force a the law that

would revoke taxpayer-funded pensions from criminal politicians. This Bill was passed overwhelmingly by the Parliament in a vote of 25713 wonder which 13 MPs did not like this Bill?).

Now some Senators are trying to amend this Bill.

This is just a trick to kill the Bill altogether. Any amendments will require the Bill to be sent back to Parliament for approval. And there will be no more Parliament sitting until after the next election in Fall – which means the Bill will die.

Senators have no right to amend or kill Bill C-518. PM Stephen Harper and Liberal leader lead parties whose Senators are trying to kill this bill and they can stop them.

E-mail: editor@theasianstar.com

Letter to the Editor

Editor:

Dear Editor,

On Tuesday morning, a Senate committee brought forward amendments to Bill C-518 (the law that would revoke taxpayer-funded pensions from criminal politicians). If adopted by the Senate, these amendments would mean the bill would have to go back to the House of Commons. Since the House is adjourned until after the election, adopting these amendments would kill the bill.

This is a bill that was already passed by a vote of 257-13 in the House of Commons. If the Senate would pass it unamended it could come into force before the criminal trial of Senator Mac Harb – and possibly other current and former Senators recently referred to the RCMP. This is a bill that we desperately need to ensure crooked politicians are held accountable for their actions. We believe that at this stage, only a public call by Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau for their Senators to reject the amendments and pass the bill unamended can help salvage this law.

We’ve already publicly called for the Senate to keep sitting until their work is done. Can you take a few moments to send them an email to urge them to ask publicly ask Senators to pass C-518 without any amendments? Prime Minister Stephen Harper: pm@pm.gc.ca Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau: Justin.trudeau@parl.gc. ca We’ll be sure to keep you updated on this bill as is progresses. As always we appreciate your help!

- Canadian Taxpayers Federation

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LOCAL

Liberal Party’s Finance Critic Scott Brison meets SABA members Liberal Finance critic Scott Brison was in Vancouver this week and met with members of South Asian Business Association (SABA) over a cup of tea at Grand Taj Ban-

that the Liberal Party of Canada’s policies were more for middle class hard working people of Canada as opposed to the Conservative Party agenda which only catered to a few rich. He said that it was indeed unfor-

Participants at a yoga session at the Hindu Temple in Burnaby last Sunday to opbserve the UN International Day of Yoga. Photo: Chandra Bodalia

Liberal Party’s Finance Critic Scott Brison (middle) with members of South Asian Business Association in Surrey last week.

Dozens of people turned out for yoga at the Plaza of Nations in Vancouver last Sunday to observe the UN International Day of Yoga. Photo: Chandra Bodalia

quet hall in Surrey. Leader of the Federal Liberal Party of Canada has assigned key members of his caucus to travel the country far and wide speaking to Canadians and explaining to them the key points of the Liberal Party’s policies prior to elections in October this year. Joining Brison in the answer and question session at Grand Taj were several Liberal Party of Canada’s candidates including Sukh Dhaliwal (Surrey-Newton) , Joy Davies (South Surrey-White Rock), John Aldag (Cloverdale-Langley City) and Carla Qualtrough (Delta). Brison talked about Trudeau’s vision for Canada saying

tunate that the philosophy behind Canada’s immigration system which was strengthening of family ties and reunification has been carelessly eroded by the present Harper government. “If we are elected to govern this year we will bring back the family reunification category immediately,” said Brison. To further explain his policies to the people of Metro Vancouver, Liberal Party Leader Justin Trudeau will be in Surrey once again on June 29, 2015. “I urge everyone to come out to Taj Park Banquet Hall on 132nd street and 85 Avenue at 5;30 PM to listen to him speak,” said Sukh Dhaliwal.

Air India bombing victims remembered

Continued from Page 1...

329 will never be brought to justice. on the Air India investigation. Former MLA Vancouver resident Major Sidhu lost his Dave Hayer spoke about his late journalist fasister Sukhwinder, her daughter Parminder, ther Tara Singh Hayer, who had agreed to be a 10, and son Kuldip, 9, when Air India Flight Crown witness in the Air India case before he 182 blew up off the coast. “This is the worst was assassinated in Surrey in 1998. No one has tragedy in Canadian history,” he said Tuesday. ever been charged in his death. “I think we all “I would like to request all the communities have to work together to condemn the bombto please come forward to help the justice ing,” Hayer said. He also referenced the fact system to punish the criminals.” Perviz Ma- that Talwinder Singh Parmar, the bombing don, whose 41-year-old husband Sam also mastermind, is depicted as a martyr in a pordied, said after all these years, she doesn’t ex- trait hanging outside a Surrey temple. Parmar pect more charges. Two B.C. men linked to was killed by Punjab police in 1992. “We have the Sikh separatist movement were charged in 2000 and acquitted in 2005. A third, Inderjit Singh Reyat, pleaded guilty to manslaughter for helping to build the bomb. “Basically I don’t think [anyone else will be charged] unless some miracle happens and something just falls from the sky,” Madon said. “I don’t think those guys will ever be behind bars. At least we have one of them.” She said it surprised her how emotional she felt Tuesday morning as she thought about that terrible day in 1985 that left her a widow with two small children.

“It has really hit me somehow. I didn’t think it would hit me so badly,” Madon said. “My kids being so far away from me have been texting to make sure that anyone who was involved in and making sure I’m alright. And I’ve been the Air India bombing - especially who have making sure they’re alright.” Son Eddie now been shown in court as the mastermind, their has two children and lives in Australia. Daugh- picture should not be used as a hero or as a ter Natasha just finished a PhD in criminology martyr anywhere,” Hayer said. He said his fain Toronto. Madon said she is finally at peace ther gave up his life to bring justice to those now and ready to put the pain behind her. “I who perished in the bombing. just hope that something like this will never “As long as I am alive I will still continue happen again. We live in a very tumultuous talking about those Air India victims,” Hayer world. There is so much violence and killings said. Two suitcase bombs were checked in at and wars. My hope is that some day we find Vancouver airport on flights connecting to Air peace amongst us human beings.” Many at India planes. One of the flights blew up off the service cried as the names of all 329 vic- the coast of Ireland on June 22, 1985, and the tims etched on the memorial wall were read second suitcase exploded at Tokyo’s Narita aloud. Afterwards candles were lit and placed Airport, killing two baggage handlers. on the wall. Victims’ relatives were joined at A lengthy trial ended in 2005 with the acthe service by community leaders, politicians quittals of two suspects and a public inquiry and some of the RCMP officers still working into the investigation.

LOCAL

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Cab driver stabbed in Surrey

Continued from Page 1... taxi, which he was still sitting in, though now at the intersection of 132nd Street and 105A Avenue. Bahia, a driver for Surrey Metro Taxi, said he became somewhat suspicious of his passenger at the beginning of the trip, when the young man sat in the passenger’s seat and pulled down the sun visor. “I had a bit of a suspicion about that, right?

Why’s he putting that down?� Bahia said. “I realized after all this happened that he pulled it down to cover the camera.� Bahia told CTV News he think the passenger was planning to stab him all along, but the two had actually been having a fairly normal conversation for most of the trip. “He started out pretty friendly,� the driver said of his passenger. “He asked me to go to a certain destination and I

took him and when we got to the stop there I thought he was going into his pants to get some payment, right? But he kind of turned -he was sitting right beside me -- and he lunged at me with a knife.� Bahia put up his arms to defend himself. He ended up with wounds from the 3-inch blade in his hand, his arm, and in his side, just above the belt. After a brief trip to the hospital, Bahia is going to be fine.

The assailant fled. “I didn’t even know where he disappeared to,� Bahia said. He said there’s really nothing that could have been done to prevent the attack. Taxis, as a business, rely on trust in one’s fellow human beings, he said.

The vast majority of passengers are good, but there are a handful out there who would hurt their drivers, and there’s no way to know if one of them is getting into your cab, he said.

Prime Minister Harper hosts Ramadan dinner Continued from Page 1... for Muslim leaders m a j o r flare-ups over issues such as a new bill banning face veils during citizenship ceremonies.

Harper has also been criticized for focusing Prime Minister Harper (middle) hosts Ramadan dinner for Muslims more on radFederal Minister Jason Kenny and MP Tim Uppal were also present. ical elements he said, according to a prepared text of his rewithin Islam than on reaching out to main- marks. Among those at the dinner was Sen. stream Muslims in the aftermath of terror- Salma Ataullahjan, who is a Sunni Muslim. ist attacks linked to radicalization. But in his The prime minister’s office didn’t immespeech Monday, he paid tribute to the contri- diately release a list of those who attended. butions of the community. “This house belongs ultimately to all Canadi“Like so many others, the followers of Is- ans,� Harper said. “And I hope all Canadians, lam have, overwhelmingly, come to Canada, especially our Muslim friends and neighbours, seeking freedom, opportunity and tolerance,� share in these blessings tonight.�

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Provincial Minister Amrik Virk strikes a yoga pose at Yoga event at UBC last weekend to mark the UN International Day of Yoga.

PERSONS OF THE WEEK

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The Sikhs who saved Parmesan

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hat do Punjab and the Po Valley have in common? More than you might imagine, which explains why immigrant Sikhs from the Indian state became the backbone of Italy’s most famous cheese-making industry.

On the flat planes of the Po Valley is the small town of Novellara, in the province of Reggio Emilia. It’s not far from the city of Parma - and from Parma and Reggio Emilia comes the name of one of the world’s most famous cheeses, Parmigiano Reggiano... in English, Parmesan. Under EU rules, it has to be made exclusively from milk produced and transformed into cheese in this area of northern Italy. The large number of Sikhs who have settled here were not attracted by the territory’s famous product but rather by the territory itself, explains Novellara’s mayor, Elena Carletti: “They say, ‘We live here and we feel like we’re still in Punjab because it’s flat, there are no mountains, it’s hot, it’s humid, and the kind of agriculture is more or less the same.’” According to the mayor, Sikhs feel comfortable in their Italian home from home.

“Punjab, which means ‘the land of five rivers’, is an agricultural land,” confirms Amritpal Singh, whose family moved to Italy when he was five years old. “At home we have fields and cows, and our relationship with the land and

animals is very particular. So, when we came here and didn’t know the language, this was something in our favour.” With the first major wave of immigration in the 1980s, some went to work for the circus, others in factories, but the majority chose dairy farming. Aside from not needing to speak Italian to milk and take care of cows, Amritpal says they were not afraid of hard work or the unsociable hours. “We wake up very early to pray so that’s why it works for us,” he says. A typical day involves two shifts - approximately 4am-8am then 2.30pm to 6.30pm. It’s common for people to work seven days a week with no holidays, as cows need to be milked every day. Local dairy farmers were impressed by the respect and skill with which the Indians handled their animals. The immigrant workers were impressed by the handsome wages and free housing their employers offered.

The economy was booming back then and many Italians were turning their backs on what was considered menial, unskilled work. “If you go to almost any dairy farm round here, you’ll

find Sikhs working in the cow sheds,” says dairy farmer Maurizio Novelli, though he emphasises that they don’t actually make the cheese.

Novelli, whose father and grandfather were dairy farmers, has had the same Sikh husbandand-wife team working for him for 15 years and recently took on their brother-in-law too. Unusually, they get a day off, holidays and seasonal bonuses. “They really want to work. We have a good relationship with mutual respect,” he says.

According to mayor Elena Carletti, the immigrant labour force has been fundamental to maintaining and preserving traditional cheese production: “It would be impossible to think of this industry without the support of people from India,” she says. But the story of Novellara’s Sikh community is about much more than cheese. If they are still here it is largely thanks to the welcome they received from the local community. Keen to listen to the needs of immigrant communities, the municipality was the first in Italy to grant permission to build a Gurdwara (Sikh temple) by allowing an industrial plot to be used for religious purposes. Opened in 2000 by Romano Prodi, the former Italian prime minister and European Commission president, the Gurdwara is considered among the most important in Europe. The oldest and one of the largest, it is soon to expand further, says Carletti, whose office recently approved the plans.

When the area was hit by earthquakes in 2012, the Sikh community cooked and took food to the victims twice a day. Earlier this year, they donated a car for blood transportation to the Red Cross. “Some of them volunteer for Civil Protection,” says Carletti. “They are part of our community. They are Italians.” At the Gurdwara, Sikhs like Sukhwinder - who came to Italy seven years ago - say they notice a difference in attitudes toward them in this part of the country. “Those who see us for the first time think we’re terrorists or Taliban. That’s really hard for us. Here people know us. They are really nice.”

Amritpal remembers how effortlessly he explained his long hair and turban to curious school friends, and says they have come a long way since his grandfather’s generation removed their turbans and cut their hair short to fit in.

He sees himself as Indo-Italian “because you can’t cut your roots so I keep them alive inside me, but the rest is Italian.” Even from a culinary perspective, he enjoys both cultures. “Obviously I don’t eat meat but at home we eat both Indian and Italian, and we often go out to eat.”

And their meals, of course, include Parmigiano Reggiano. But successful integration may, in the

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long term, put the local cheese industry at risk again. At the town hall, located inside Novellara’s mediaeval fortress, Elena Carletti is about to perform a civil marriage service for a young Sikh couple. Raman and Maninder admit they are less nervous than they were for their religious ceremony last week, when they had 300 guests. Today they have just two witnesses, Raman’s parents, but consider their civil union important too. “Having been born and brought up here, we feel Italian,” says Raman, “If we go abroad, we compare other cultures to Italy, not India.” The mayor confesses she imagined they would honeymoon in India. Instead they are going to California, Hawaii and Las Vegas.

This is the new generation of Sikhs in Novellara, who speak with the local accent and have the same aspirations as their Italian peers. Raman has an office job at an international transport company. Maninder works for a chem-

ical lab. They are among the majority that doesn’t want to milk cows for a living. Indians (there is a much smaller Hindu community) currently make up about 60% of the

Parmesan-producing workforce, although there are workers from other countries too.

The economic recession has already had a serious impact on business and most farmers can no longer afford to offer free housing to their workers. If the grassroots support of the Sikh community diminishes, what will become of this celebrated cheese industry?

Elena Carletti is philosophical. After every wedding she presents a gift bottle of traditional balsamic vinegar to the happy couple - another prized local product, and one that once seemed destined to disappear. But several of her friends, finding themselves jobless in recent years, have rediscovered their grandparents’ old barrels and are returning to production. “We Italians are thinking about the origins and the importance of food and nature,” she says. “Many young people are trying to go back to agriculture.” In other words, Parmigiano Reggiano’s next saviours may not come from Punjab but from the Po Valley itself.

Continued from Page 1...

Punjab’s Satnam Singh becomes 1st Indian-born basketball player picked in NBA draft

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ometimes come true. On Thursday, he became the first basketball player from India to be drafted by an NBA team. The Dallas Mavericks selected the 7-foot-2-inch, 19-year-old with the 52nd pick in the draft. He’s not expected to make the team right away, but rather will put in time at the Development League level. But his arrival is a big moment for India. For the moment, Singh is little known in his homeland, where cricket is by far the biggest sport and few follow the American National Basketball Association. But success in the United States could change that -- in the same way China’s Yao Ming galvanized interest in basketball in his country.

That’s certainly what the Mavs are counting

on. “We certainly created a legend,” owner Mark Cuban said. “There’s a billion new Mavs fans out there right now.” The village of Billoke is a tiny one in the proud state of Punjab, home of turbaned Sikh men and Bhangra music. Singh’s father, Balbir Singh, works the flour mills and raises dairy cows, just like many of the men in the village of 3,000. But one thing set Balbir Singh apart: In a land where the average man is 5 feet 4 inches, he towered over others by a full two feet. It’s a genetic trait that even Satnam Singh, even at a young age, was exhibiting. An eagle-eyed sports enthusiast recognized the potential in his friend’s 9 -year-old son, who was already 5 feet 9 inches by then. “I can make out from his height that he could become a good player,” Rajinder

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10 i Saturday, June 27, 2015

LOCAL

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MP Dean Del Mastro sentenced to month in jail, 4 months house arrest for election overspending

ormer parliamentary secretary to the prime minister and Conservative MP Dean Del Mastro will spend the night in a Lindsay, Ont., jail after being sentenced to one month in prison, followed by four months of house arrest, for breaking the law by overspending during the 2008 federal election.

A judge in Peterborough, Ont., handed down the sentence Thursday.

The former MP had previously been found guilty of violating the Canada Elections Act. The judge found that Del Mastro had: Exceeded spending limits. Failed to report a personal contribution of $21,000 to his campaign. Knowingly submitted a falsified document. The offences are an “affront” to the principles of Canada’s democratic system and the very “antithesis” of democracy, said Justice Lisa Cameron. “This type of cheating and lying will result in serious sanctions. … Custody is required to reflect the need for de-

nunciation and deterrence,” Cameron said.

The former MP for Peterborough will have to pay $10,000 to the Peterborough Electoral District Association and serve a further 18 months on probation. He is also barred from running for office for five years. Del Mastro has filed an appeal of his October conviction and Thursday’s sentence. He’s expected to ask for bail pending the outcome of that appeal at a hearing on Friday. Cameron said his co-accused, Richard McCarthy, could have helped prevent this from happening if he had done his job better. McCarthy was the Conservatives’ official agent for the Peterborough riding campaign, and was also found guilty of exceeding the federally mandated spending limit.

However, the judge said McCarthy was less culpable on the scale of moral culpability than Del Mastro and sentenced him to two months of house arrest, followed by one year of probation.

Saturday, June 27 2015 i 11

Surrey man guilty in fatal 2010 hit-and-run

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man has been convicted in a hitand-run that killed another man in Surrey more than four years ago.

Jagjit Singh Basra was charged with failing to stop his vehicle or offer assistance in a crash that resulted in the death of Shamus Travis William MacKay. According to a May 29 Supreme Court judgment posted online this week, Basra and his girlfriend Parveen Bains had been on a date on Sept. 4, 2010 and were driving home through Surrey when they heard a loud thud and saw a large hole in the windshield.

Basra was driving and it was Bains’ car.

They both testified at trial that they did not see what hit the car, but speculated someone had thrown a rock.

In actuality, MacKay had been hit while walking and his body had been thrown into a ditch. He was spotted by a passenger in a passing vehicle, who pulled MacKay’s body out of the ditch and called 911. He died of blunt force trauma to the head.

Basra and Bains kept driving down Fraser Highway, stopping shortly after the collision to switch seats. Basra, court documents reveal, had a suspended licence at the time, but was not

speeding or impaired. The couple continued driving before stopping again, first calling a relative and then an emergency windshield repair service. They arranged to meet a repairman in the morning and went to Basra’s home for the night. Basra testified that in the morning, he awoke to news on his clock radio that a pedestrian had been killed near Fraser Highway and 168 Street. He met the repairman and at some point, called a lawyer, who contacted police to report the collision on Basra’s behalf.

Crown prosecutors alleged Basra was “wilfully blind” to the fact the vehicle he drove was in an accident with MacKay. In his decision, Justice Frits Verhoeven said he didn’t buy Basra’s testimony that he had no idea what he had hit.

“I find that Mr. Basra was well-aware of the possibility that the accident had involved a collision with a person, but chose not to investigate or inquire, in order to avoid finding out what he did not want to find out,” Verhoeven said, adding the circumstances required Basra to “at least” determine what he had hit. “He did not do so because he did not want to learn the truth.” Basra has yet to be sentenced. His next court date is Sept. 11.

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LOCAL

12 i Saturday, June 27, 2015

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Second Vancouver affordable housing rally demands data

iserable Vancouverites fed up with housing costs, want to move away: survey Vancouver’s #donthave1million campaign reaches Parliament Don’t have $1 million: Hundreds attend affordable housing rally in Vancouver Vancouverites fed up with skyrocketing housing costs rallied for affordable housing for a second time on Wednesday, this time demanding the provincial government collect data on the real estate market. Hosted by Eveline Xia, the organizer of the #donthave1million affordable housing campaign that struck a chord among cash-strapped Vancouverites disheartened by real estate prices, the rally asked the government to get the facts so it can take action.

Xia called on Premier Christy Clark for data on the percentage of homes bought

Eveline Xia, founder of the #donthave1million campaign, speaks at a rally in Vancouver. by non-residents, citizens, non-citizens and permanent residents, how much of an impact money laundering from China has on the real estate market (the Chinese government estimates this in the billions), how fast homes are being flipped, and how many homes are left vacant.

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Kwantlen students blast KPU deal for pipeline cash

tudent leaders have condemned Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s decision to accept a $300,000 contribution over 20 years from Kinder Morgan if its Trans Mountain pipeline twinning proceeds.

The Kwantlen Student Association said it opposes the agreement that would see the pipeline company give about $15,000 a year in scholarships for trades and technology students.

“KPU’s acceptance of this money amounts to a tacit endorsement of the pipeline project,” said KSA vice-president Alex McGowan, adding the pipeline poses “unacceptable risks” and would contribute to the accleration of climate change.

Students say they weren’t consulted and the move makes a mockery of the university’s commitment to sustainability and the

aboriginal group for which it is named.

“KPU students want nothing to do with this project,” added KSA president Allison Gonzalez. “We are shocked at this agreement.”

KPU academic vice-president Salvador Ferreras said Tuesday the money would aid students pursuing jobs in industry and said he had no ethical qualms about the agreement, insisting KPU wasn’t taking a position on the pipeline.

Alumni are also speaking out.

“I have never been so embarrassed to be a Kwantlen grad,” said Justine Nelson.

“Many consider this type of ‘generosity’ to be a bribe,” she said. “While the university states it has no stance on the pipeline, it has a duty to consider the effects this expansion will have, and not succumb to Kinder Morgan’s attempts to buy support of local communities.”

The Kwantlen First Nation, KPU’s namesake, is an intervenor before the National Energy Board opposing the pipeline expansion. Spokesman Brandon Gabriel Kwelexwecten said the deal “flies in the face” of KPU pledges to closely collaborate with the first nation.

Trans Mountain is pursuing benefits agreements with various municipalities and post-secondary institutions. So far Thompson Rivers University is the only other school to have accepted one.

All the benefits agreements are contingent on the pipeline being approved.

LOCAL

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Yet another shooting in Surrey sends 2 people to hospital

wo people were taken to hospital, after a shooting in Surrey early Friday morning.

Neighbour Monica Narula said around 1 a.m. , she heard four gunshots on Iona Place, near 123A Street. She said about two minutes later, police arrived.

“We heard a loud scream of a man, you know, screaming in agony,” said Narula. “It’s really scary. You’re just relaxing in your living room, and then you hear something like that, of course it’s really scary. It’s very scary.”

Inspector Anick Pasqua with Surrey RCMP said officers were responding to a mischief call on Iona Place, when another call came in about somebody being shot. “Upon arrival we found there were two victims.

Both victims have been taken to hospital,” said Pasqua. “The one victim was in the cul-de-sac, and the other victim — that I would have to verify — I’m not sure where they were.”

Police confirmed one victim was taken to hospital in serious condition, while the other was in stable condition. They don’t have any suspects in custody.

“Right now we don’t have anybody, we’re trying to locate a suspect. We don’t know if there’s one, or two, or how many suspects. They’re outstanding at this point,” said Pasqua. “Surrey RCMP is investigating this matter thoroughly with the Serious Crime Unit and Forensic Identification Services still on scene,” said Cpl. Scotty Schumann.

“Officers will be combing the area to identify more witnesses and any evidence. This appears to have been a targeted shooting and police don’t believe there is any further risk to the public.”

It is Surrey’s 38th shooting in the last 109 days. About half of those are believed to be the result of a drug turf war over a dial-a-dope operation.

Police say that there has been nothing so far to link this shooting with the others.

Plastics plant catches fire

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he Mansonville Plastics plant caught fire, sending a huge plume of thick black smoke into the air at around 1:45 p.m. on Thursday.

Langley City fire rescue crews, along with Surrey firefighters, arrived quickly to the plant located at 19402 56 Avenue. A number of people at the scene said the plant manufactures Styrofoam.The smoke could

be seen as far as Delta. By 2:30 p.m., fire crews had managed to get the fire well under control. The flames spread to the building’s roof line, so crews expect to be on scene for much of the day. On May 28, an egg carton fire erupted at the CKF factory. While it took 17 hours to finally extinguish the fire, minimal damage was done to the premises because of the building’s working sprinkler system.

Escaped N.Y. prisoners may be heading for Canada, police major says

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wo escapees from an upstate New York prison are believed to be headed for Canada, New York State Police Maj. Charles Guess said on Friday.

Guess said police have a “high degree of confidence” that the convicted killers who

fled nearly three weeks ago from Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora, N.Y., about 32 kilometres from Canada, are moving north to the border.

The conclusions were based on items found and being tested for DNA, Guess said, but he declined to give further details

Saturday, June 27 2015 i 13

Dry, dry Western Canada braces for hot and hard-growing summer From page 2 “June is typically the wet month, the month led to damaging floods in Alberta in 2013.

The wild swings in weather have even where crops are growing feverishly, and it inspired a new term in climate circles just hasn’t happened,” said David Phillips, called “weather whipEnvironment Canada’s lash,” Phillips said. senior climatologist, in “It has been one exBarrie, Ont. “So people treme to another, and are using the D-words: it has been a tremendryness, drought, no dous challenge for question about it.” farmers, ranchers and Compounding the growers.

They can’t problem is that the dry deal with these kind spring came on the heels of weird, wild, and of one of the warmest, Farmer Kent Erickson shows a tiny wacky kind of changes.” driest winters, particucanola plant that has failed to grow But it’s the longlarly in parts of British in extreme dry conditions term forecast that is Columbia and Alberta. even more worrying for the immediate fuThese dry conditions are a stark contrast to a wet spring last year and the ture. It predicts more dry conditions couheavy rains and run-off from melting pled with heat waves through to September.

‘It would be lovely to wake up in snow pack in the Rocky Mountains that the morning to a nice soaking rain.’-

LOCAL

14 i Saturday, June 27, 2015

Three Abbotsford teens overdose on GHB

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uffle bag full of rifles, ammunition found in Abbotsford Three pedestrians struck in alleged hit-and-run in Abbotsford Abbotsford man targeted in immigration scam Abbotsford police are warning the public about the dangers of street drugs after three teens overdosed on a common date rape drug on Sunday evening.

Police and B.C. Ambulance were called to Mill Lake Park around 6:45 p.m. after a caller reported three friends were vomiting and convulsing after taking GHB (Gamma Hydroxybutyrate), according to a statement from Abbotsford police Const. Ian MacDonald.

A 19-year-old male and 15-yearold female were found unrespon-

sive and a 17-year-old female was found semi-conscious. All three were rushed to hospital in serious condition. The teens are expected to survive although the extent of the damage is unknown. The police department offered thoughts and support for the teens and their families during their recovery, but also reminded people street drugs are inherently dangerous.

GHB is often cut with unknown additives and ingredients that can have unknown effects and serious consequences, including death, MacDonald said in the statement.

GHB – a clear, tasteless liquid used at raves and clubs – is widely known as a date rape drug due to its sedative effects.

Duffle bag full of rifles, ammunition found in Abbotsford

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ourtesy Abbotsf o r d Police A duffle bag full of guns and ammunition was found in Abbotsford on Sunday.

Related: Three Abbotsford teens overdose on GHB Three pedestrians struck in alleged hit-and-run in Abbotsford Abbotsford man targeted in immigration scam

Police are investigating after a duffle bag full of firearms and a box of ammunition and gun accessories were found in Abbotsford on Sunday.

Officers were called to a rural location in the 7,800-block of Lefeuvre Road after a caller reported finding weapons and ammunition in an outbuilding on the property.

Police seized eight SKS semi-automatic rifles with magazines in a black duffle bag, as well as 34 boxes of .762 ammunition and 10 additional magazines in a cardboard box.

Anyone with information about the weapons is asked to call Abbotsford Police at 604-859-5225.

Ontario police identified suspect in teenager’s death

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ntario police have identified one suspect in the shooting death of Jeremy Cook, the teenager who died trying to track down his lost cellphone.

Muhab Sultanaly Sultan, 23, of Calgary is wanted for second-degree murder in connection with the shooting and remains at large as of Friday evening Police released Sultan’s picture and warned anyone who Muhab Sultanaly sees him to call Sultan, 23, of Calgary 911 right away and not approach the man.

London police are also looking for a second suspect, described as a black male with very short hair who was wearing a black jacket or shirt and a fitted hat.

A third man, who exited the vehicle just before the shooting, is being asked to contact police and identify himself.

Cook, 18, was gunned down at about 5:15 a.m. ET on Sunday, police said. The Brampton, Ont., teen’s body was found behind a strip mall near Huron Street and Highbury Avenue in the city’s north end. He had multiple gunshot wounds.

Cook had left his smartphone in a taxi and traced it electronically to an address on Highbury Avenue, police say.

When Cook and a relative went to the address, he was confronted by three men in a car. Police said that when Cook tried to retrieve his phone, the vehicle began to drive away, prompting him to grab on to the driver’s side door. That’s when the fatal gunshots were fired, police said.

LOCAL

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Marijuana dispensary regulations approved in Vancouver

ancouver city council has voted to regulate and license the roughly 100 medical marijuana retailers in the city, making it the first city in Canada to do so and drawing fire from Health Minister Rona Ambrose. The bylaw was supported by Mayor Gregor Robertson, the dominant Vision Vancouver councillors, and Green Party Coun. Adriane Carr. Opposed were the city’s three Non-Partisan Association councillors.

Coun. Kerry Jang called the controversial bylaw “a common-sense approach to dealing with the explosion of medical marijuana shops in our city.”

The bylaw will charge retail dealers a $30,000 licence fee — the city’s highest permit cost — and prevent shops from operating within 300 metres of community centres, schools and other pot shops.

Federal Health Minister unhappy with decision Under the rules, dozens are expected to be forced to close because they fall within those limits.

The B.C. Compassion Club Society’s dispensary on Commercial Drive is one of the outlets that may need to move.

Jamie Shaw, the society’s spokeswoman, said it could be difficult to find a new location.

“We’ve had dispensaries or potential dispensary operators looking for every available space in this city for the last two years... available space is now severely diminished,” she said.

The non-profit society is Canada’s oldest and

Medical pot unproven to help most illnesses, researchers say

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Saturday, June 27 2015 i 15

edical marijuana has not been proven to work for many illnesses that state laws have approved it for, according to the first comprehensive analysis of research on its potential benefits.

The strongest evidence is for chronic pain and for muscle stiffness in multiple sclerosis, according to the review, which evaluated 79 studies involving more than 6,000 patients. Evidence was weak for many other conditions, including anxiety, sleep disorders, and Tourette’s syndrome and the authors recommend more research.

The analysis is among several medical marijuana articles published Tuesday in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

They include a small study suggesting that many brand labels for edible marijuana products list inaccurate amounts of active ingredients.

More than half of brands tested had much lower amounts than labeled, meaning users might get no effect.

Highlights from the journal: THE ANALYSIS The researchers pooled results from studies that tested marijuana against placebos, usual care or no treatment. That’s the most rigorous kind of research but many studies found no conclusive evidence of any benefit. Side effects were common and included dizziness, dry mouth and sleepiness. A less extensive research review in the journal found similar results.

It’s possible medical marijuana could have widespread benefits, but strong evidence from high-quality studies is lacking, authors of both articles say.

“It’s not a wonder drug but it certainly has some potential,” said Dr. Robert Wolff, a co-author and researcher with Kleijnen Systematic Reviews Ltd., a research company in York, England.

EDIBLE PRODUCTS Researchers evaluated 47 brands of medical marijuana products, including candy, baked goods and drinks, bought at dispensaries in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle.

Independent laboratory testing for THC, marijuana’s leading active ingredient, found accurate amounts listed on labels for just 13 of 75 products.

Almost 1 in 4 had higher amounts than labeled, which could cause ill effects. Most had lower-than-listed amounts. There were similar findings for another active ingredi-

largest medical cannabis dispensary and says it helps more than 10,000 members with a wide range of illnesses.

Shaw said she’s glad the compassion club designation should mean the group only has to pay a $1,000 licence fee, but she thinks they should be able to sell edibles.

The bylaw does not allow the sale of edible products like pot brownies, with the exception of edible oils, which would include tinctures and capsules.

The city held four nights of public hearings on the proposed bylaws, with dozens of speakers for and against the new regulations.

“We’re not regulating the product, we’re simply regulating the business itself,” said Jang.

Federal Health Minister Rona Ambrose opposed the bylaw, sending letters to Vancouver’s mayor and city councillors telling them

marijuana is illegal and the bylaw will increase marijuana use and addiction, and she issued a strongly worded statement after today’s vote.

Federal Health Minister Rona Ambrose opposes the City of Vancouver’s bylaw on medical marijuana dispensaries.

“I am deeply disappointed by the City of Vancouver’s decision to ‘regulate’ illegal marijuana storefronts across the city,” wrote Ambrose in a statement Wednesday.

“Storefronts selling marijuana are illegal and under this Conservative government will remain illegal. We expect the police to enforce the law.”

In city council Wednesday, Coun. Geoff Meggs called that position “backward and destructive.”

He repeated the city’s position that it’s taking action because the federal government has not.

“Wake up, you are completely out of touch with the realities on the ground,” said Meggs, aiming his comments at Ambrose.

Meggs also called the remarks in public hearings from some marijuana dispensary owners “tone deaf,” and said that the city is acting because of evidence the retailers have not been good neighbours and have marketed pot sales toward children.

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LOCAL

16 i Saturday, June 27, 2015

60-year-old man found dead in Whalley home

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Surrey home is behind police tape Tuesday after a 60-yearold man was found dead inside..

The man’s body was found on Tuesday afternoon inside a home in the 14100 block of 110th Avenue. The cause of death is unknown.

Surrey RCMP’s Serious Crime Unit is on

the scene, along with the BC Coroners Service, for “a thorough investigation as is the usual protocol for any out-of-hospital deaths,” according to the release.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Surrey RCMP at 604-599-0502 or Crime Stoppers.

Alleged mail thieves sought in Langley

Trio of men in hats and glasses allegedly stole mail from a Langley apartment building last week, and Langley RCMP wants help finding them. On the afternoon of June 16, the three men in the above picture allegedly entered an apartment complex in the 5600 block of 201A St. in Langley and stole mail from the bank of mailboxes in the lobby, said police in a release.

One suspect appeared to have difficulty walking and was dragging his foot behind him, Cpl. Holly Largy wrote. Anyone with information on the theft is asked to call Langley RCMP at 604-532-3200 or contact Crime Stoppers anonymously.

An open house was held at the Centre for Child Development at 9460-140th Street last Tuesday for Surrey residents to view the facilities at the Centre, meet the tsaffand learn about services and programs offered for children and youth woth special needs and assistance needed with the Phase 2 renovation and expansion campaign.

Langley RCMP allege these three men stole mail from from an apartment building on 201A Street last week.

Apartment buildings in the same block were the scene of a violent home invasion last September and a robbery last November where the victim was tied to a chair and threatened with a knife.

S

Surrey school board balances budget for upcoming year

urrey school board has balanced its budget for the upcoming school year thanks to a surplus projected for the end of this month.

Trustees expect to come out $8.7 million

ahead at the close of the current school year, which will help fill the gaps in the $618-million budget for 2015-2016, according to a press release from the board.

“This budget does not come without challenges, which include finding savings to fund contractual obligations, and infrastructure costs associated with a new provincial learning network,” board chairman Terry Allen said in the release.

“We also continue to have to find funding for BC Hydro increases and increased benefit costs, and of course, one-time surplus funds cannot be relied upon to support ongoing programs.”

The Surrey school district has slashed $3.5 million in administrative costs in response to a Ministry of Education mandate, and will receive $593 million in provincial operating grants. Another $19 million will come from sources like international education and facility rentals.

An additional 200 children are expected in the Surrey public school system this September, bringing the total number of fulltime students to 69,500. In response, the district plans to add eight new staff positions.

The board had faced an $8-million shortfall for the 2014-2015 school year, a hole that trustees managed to fill by cutting support staff hours and budgets for department supplies.

Meanwhile, the Vancouver school board is grappling with the recommendations of a special adviser appointed by the province after trustees announced a $14.77-million shortfall for the upcoming year.

Alleged senior ‘856’ gang members, charged Drug charges have been laid against two Langley, B.C., men who are alleged senior members of the so-called 856 gang. Leonard Pelletier, 48 and Jason Wallace, 26, were among three men who were arrested last July, said the province’s anti-gang unit in a release.

Pelletier has been charged with five counts of drug trafficking and one count of resisting or obstructing a peace officer.

Wallace has been charged with six counts of possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking.

Following the arrests, the agency said drugs totalling nearly $400,000 had been seized from an apartment in a 10,000 sq. ft. home in Langley.

Pelletier and Wallace are scheduled to make a court appearance in Surrey on July 15.

The gang, named after a telephone prefix for Aldergrove, an area of Langley, first came to police attention in 2007.

LOCAL

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High-risk offender release prompts Calgary police public warning

algary police are warning the public after a man with a history violent offences was released into the area.

Kevin Ronald Brooks, 28, is being monitored by the Calgary Police Service High Risk Offender Program after serving a seven-year federal sentence for manslaughter.

Brooks is described as white, 160 lbs and 6-foot tall with brown hair and brown eyes. He has multiple tattoos, one visible on his neck, and tear drops by his right eye.

His previous offences were in Edmonton,

Drumheller and Saint John, NB. Police said Brooks has been violent against strangers, people he knows and peace officers.

Calgary Police Services wrote in a release they are “issuing this information and warning after careful deliberation and consideration of all related issues, including privacy concerns.” CPS added that members of the public are advised the intent of their process is to take precautionary measures and to not embark on vigilante action.

California Bhuddist monk charged in knifing of fellow monk

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uthorities say a Buddhist monk has been charged with attempted murder in the stabbing of another monk in a San Francisco Bay Area monastery. The Oakland Tribune reported (http://bayareane.ws/1Hd73fg) Tuesday that authorities say 30-year-old Sokphanna Phen acknowledged stabbing 66-yearold Mahamonirath Pinn in the face and head with two kitchen knives at an East Oakland monastery on June 16. Pinn was being treated at an Oakland hospital. Officer Bradley Miller says Phen told police he was angry with the head monk for his disciplinary tactics. Police say Phen has also been identified by the victim. Phen was being held without bail.

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Oakland police were not immediately available for comment on whether Phen has an attorney. The Alameda County Public Defender’s Office says it’s representing Phen and declined further comment.

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Saturday, June 27 2015 i 17

Fresh BC blueberries for China

anada and China have entered into a deal to provide sustained market access for fresh B.C. blueberries, Abbotsford MP Ed Fast announced.

Fast, who is the minister of international trade, made the announcement today at Westberry Farms in Abbotsford, owned by Parm and Satwinder Bains. Chinese inspectors are expected to visit Canada this summer to carry out a pre-shipment inspection and to authorize the first shipments of blueberries to China. Fast said they expect that will then open the market to permanent access for Canadian blueberries.

Fast said the announcement marked a “big day” for Abbotsford and B.C., as once the deal is fully implemented, the Canadian blueberry industry estimates new access to this market to be worth $65 million annually. “The importance

of blueberries to this region of the country cannot be overstated,” said Fast. He said the government has been working on opening up the Chinese market to Canadian blueberries for years. “It means significantly more opportunities, not only to grow blueberries, but to process blueberries.”

In 2014, B.C. produced about 65,500 tonnes of high bush blueberries, worth more than $110 million.

Blueberries are Canada’s largest fruit export, both in terms of value and volume.

BC Agriculture Minister Norm Letnick said the deal is important because fresh berries fetch a higher price than the frozen variety, and there’s potential for more trade with China, as one of the world’s fastest growing economies.

“It’s important for us to be in the right market and the right time,” Letnick said.

LOCAL

18 i Saturday, June 27, 2015

B.C. health authority wants festivals to cover medical costs

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etro’s guide to Vancouver 2015 summer festivals Live music to be incorporated into 31st instalment of Dances for a Small Stage Italian Day returns to Commercial As summer festival season gets underway, a local health authority is calling for organizers of events along the sea-to-sky corridor to cover extra medical costs associated with the large-scale gatherings.

Anna Marie D’Angelo, spokeswoman for Vancouver Coastal Health, said the health authority spent more than $125,000 on healthcare costs relating to six festivals and sporting events in Squamish, Whistler and Pemberton last summer.

“It’s not a large amount but it is adding up,” D’Angelo told Metro. “When you do a festival, you have to do increased sewage, increased water and all those kinds of things. We just feel that health care should be a consideration as well.”

The call comes after Vancouver Coastal Health tracked for the first time medical costs associated with six major events last summer.

The events included the Pemberton Music Festival, the Squamish Valley Music Festival, and sporting events like the Tough Mudder, Crankworx, GranFondo and the Iron Man triathlon.

D’Angelo said the events, which draw tens of thousands of people, put immense pressure on the health care resources of small communities, with costs ranging from $3,000 to $15,000 for each event.

While the amount is not significant considering the large numbers of people that attend each event, D’Angelo said, “it does add up.”

“It’s something that the budgets for these small communities does not con-

sider,” she said. “When you’ve got these tiny communities and there’s just a surge of people in the thousands and thousands of people, you do have a financial draw on your healthcare resources.”

While some events and festivals hire their own medical teams to provide first aid on-site, D’Angelo said it’s not enough.

If a festival-goer requires treatment at a clinic or hospital, Vancouver Coastal Health is responsible for the cost, she said.

“We do have to staff up as well because we know that there’s a lot more people, and it’s a huge draw on resources,” she said. “A lot of people assume it’s free, but it’s not free. We all pay for it.”

On Monday, organizers of the Squamish Valley Music Festival released a statement that the festival hires more than 175 physicians, nurses and paramedics that offer medical care on-site, and that the cost is covered entirely by organizers and does not draw on public healthcare funding.

A request for comment from organizers of the Pemberton Music Festival, where festival-goer Nick Phongsavath was found dead in his tent last year, was not immediately returned.

As festivals become more popular, D’Angelo said Vancouver Coastal Health is hoping to work with festival organizers and local municipalities in the future to come up with a cost-sharing plan.

“Nothing can be done for this year, but in the future, as these events get more popular, we don’t want to get to a point where they’re really taxing the resources,” she said. “We do support these festivals and competitions because they’re very popular, but there is a consideration to do with health care costs and we have to look at that.”

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Premier Christy Clark’s approval rating drops again

remier Christy Clark calls out ‘yoga haters’ on Twitter ‘It’s nuts’: B.C. plans to spend $150,000 on Burrard Bridge yoga event Only in B.C.: Raffi calls out premier over Burrard Bridge yoga event Between the escalating health researcher firings scandal and Vancouverites getting bent out of shape over her plan for yoga on the bridge, June wasn’t a great month for B.C. Premier Christy Clark, a new poll appears to confirm.

Clark’s approval rating slipped yet again to 30 per cent from 33 per cent in March, according to the Angus Reid Institute’s quarterly public opinion poll released Monday.

Clark’s approval has declined steadily since its peak of 45 per cent in June 2013, shortly after the provincial election where she led the B.C. Liberals to a strong majority, according to the survey.

Her new rating makes her the third least popular premier in the country, edging out New Brunswick Premier Brian Gallant at 27 per cent and Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger at 23 per cent.

The most popular premier remains Saskatchewan’s Brad Wall, who enjoys 61 per cent support. In second place is newly appointed NDP Alberta Premier Rachel Notley with 53 per cent approval, but the poll was taken before her first throne speech where she indicated she intends to raise personal and corporate taxes.

The poll of more than 6,200 Canadians was taken between May 27 and June 7, before the peak outrage against Clark’s plan to shut the Burrard Bridge for a massive yoga event. The premier eventually cancelled the scheme after persistent social media backlash to her Twitter post calling out “yoga haters.”

Senate reluctantly passes the Reform Act for “free vote” for MPs in Parliament

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Conservative backbencher’s controversial effort to rebalance power between MPs and party leaders is on its way to becoming law after surviving a stiff challenge in the Senate. Michael Chong’s Reform Act passed in the upper house late Monday by a vote of 38-14, with four abstentions.

Chong sat in the gallery to watch the nerve-wracking finale to his 19-month crusade to empower MPs and dilute the power of party leaders.

“It was surreal, I couldn’t believe that it was actually taking place,” he said in an interview moments after the final vote.

“We weren’t sure when the vote was going to take place … or if at all. There was a real risk that the bill was going to be filibus-

tered out and that didn’t happen.”

Chong was “thrilled” with the outcome and predicted it will mean MPs will be able to do a better job representing their constituents.

“It will lead to freer votes in the House of Commons, where members of Parliament can, on occasion, break ranks with their party to represent their constituents views and that is a significant change from the status quo.”

Among other things, the act is designed to give MPs in a party caucus the power to trigger a leadership review, and to subsequently vote to oust their leader.

Two Conservative senators, David Wells backed by Denise Batters, introduced an amendment last week that would have neutered that specific part of the private member’s bill.

Passing the amendment would have effectively killed the bill, since it would have forced it back to the House of Commons, which adjourned last week in advance of an anticipated October election.

Wells’ amendment was rejected Monday by a vote of 46-14. But about a dozen Conservative senators who strenuously opposed the bill continued to try several more procedural manoeuvres to block it.

Sen. Yonah Martin moved to adjourn final debate on the bill until Tuesday. That motion was defeated by a vote of 47-7.

Then Batters moved another amendment. After brief, acrimonious debate, that amendment was also defeated by a vote of 39-12. Finally, opponents allowed the bill to be put to a vote.

In addition to giving MPs control over their leader’s fate, Chong’s bill will give them the power to expel and reinstate colleagues from their caucus, currently the preserve of party leaders. It will also give them the power to select their caucus chairperson. In a bid to win all-party support in the House of Commons, Chong watered down some elements of his original bill. He agreed, for instance, to drop a proposal to strip leaders of their power to determine who can run as a candidate for their parties. Instead, the bill now requires each party to designate a person or entity to approve nominations, leaving the possibility that the leader will continue to call the shots. He also agreed to subject all elements of the bill to a vote by each party’s caucus after each election. \

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Vancouver real estate prices not the fault of foreign buyers, says new report

new report by the B.C. Real Estate Association says concerns over foreign buyers inflating house prices in Metro Vancouver are overblown and the real culprits are densification and geography.

“When we look at this idea that foreign investors are such a dominant force in the housing market that they’re driving up housing prices and eroding affordability for first-time buyers, we find that there’s no evidence of that,” said Cameron Muir, chief economist with the BCREA. Muir acknowledges data on foreign investment in the region is scarce. However, he says the information that is available suggests the level of foreign investment is not enough to have a major impact on the housing market.

“Foreign investment is less than five per cent of the market in Metro Vancouver, and through our collection of available data and analyses, we haven’t found one data point or one piece of analysis that points to foreign investment as outside of five per cent of overall sales activity in the region.” The report says these numbers are not that far off from other cities across Canada. Detached homes a ‘luxury product’ The BCREA says the reason the benchmark

price for a detached home in Metro Vancouver is more than $1.1 million is because geography constrains the region on all sides, thereby limiting the amount of developable land. “Single, detached homes — whether you’re living in Surrey or the City of Vancouver — are facing much more upward pressure than the multi-family stock, because multi-family housing is being replicated in the landscape,” said Muir.

“We see over 80 per cent of new housing starts are multi-family. That’s adding the supply that’s needed for the growing population in a region with a constrained land supply. “Let me put it this way, single, detached homes throughout Metro Vancouver now are increasingly becoming a luxury product.” The good news, Muir says, is prices for apartments and other multi-family housing have remained relative-

ly stable over the past five years — climbing only about seven per cent across the entire region.

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Housing affordability improves, but not in Vancouver and Toronto, RBC says

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report by RBC Economics says housing affordability continued to decline in Toronto and Vancouver, while conditions for homebuyers improved in Alberta during the first quarter of the year as lower oil prices caused the real estate market to soften. RBC says mortgage rate cuts improved the affordability of homes in many Canadian housing markets where prices didn’t accelerate too rapidly. That offset rapid price growth in Toronto and Vancouver, leaving national affordability levels relatively flat.

RBC says demand in softer markets such as Montreal and Ottawa began to pick up.

The RBC Housing Affordability study

measures the proportion of household income that is needed to service the costs of owning a home at current market values. On a national level, RBC says affordability edged 0.3 percentage points lower for condos to 27.1 per cent, while for detached homes it declined 0.2 percentage points to 47.9 per cent. The bank predicts that rate hikes from the central bank, which is expected to raise its trendsetting overnight interest rate next year, are likely to erode affordability. “Exceptionally low interest rates have been a key factor keeping housing affordability levels in a largely manageable state in recent years,” Craig Wright, RBC’s senior vicepresident and chief economist, said in a statement. “The knock-on effect of the anticipated rise in rates would be most visible in high-priced markets.”

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real estate / finance

Track homes bought by foreigners, says MP Kennedy Stewart

urnaby MP Kennedy Stewart the federal government is there to do is calling for Statistics Canada things, and I think at the very least, it and the Canada Mortgage and should be providing information to muHousing Corporation (CMHC) to dig nicipalities and provinces on this issue.” into the numbers on foreign ownership.

Stewart, the “This is something the federal Frustration from New Democrat government can do, is to change how those being priced representative for either home purchases are recorded, out of British CoBurnaby-Douglas, right up to charging more tax if you lumbia’s housing tabled a motion in own more than one property. But the market recently the House of Comkey is to make sure you have the right came to the foreinformation to what’s happening within mons last Novemfront, with a Vaneach municipality,” Stewart said. ber, proposing the couver woman ventfederal governing her angst on Twitter with the hashtag ment come up with an affordable hous#donthave1million, and an online petiing strategy that includes examining tion calling on Premier Christy Clark to the impact of investor speculation and tax foreigners who purchased B.C. homes. housing vacancies on the high price of real estate in Metro Vancouver.

If high levels of foreign ownership are “It’s simply that the federal governindeed driving up real estate ment really withdrew from the prices, Stewart says there housing market in the 1990s are a variety of tools and have really left it that can be used to to municipalities regulate international and provinces to speculators. However, sort it on their own, data on whether it is but of course no one’s actually happening in a better position must first be colto get us an acculected before the govrate look at housing ernment can take action. speculation — whether it’s domestic or foreign — than [the CMHC] and “This is something the federal govStatistics Canada,” Stewart told The ernment can do, is to change how eiEarly Edition’s Rick Cluff on Tuesday. ther home purchases are recorded, right up to charging more tax if you “We have over 4,000 local governown more than one property. But the ments in Canada and to leave it just to, key is to make sure you have the right say, small municipalities to figure this information to what’s happening without on their own is a big problem, and in each municipality,” Stewart said.

BOLLYWOOD / FILM

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Saturday, June 27, 2015 i 3

Shah Rukh Khan in ‘Raees’ - a never seen before

ahul Dholakia has re-worked Shah Rukh’s look and accent in Raees. “He plays a man from the slum. He will dress and speak in a particular manner.” The idea for the film started on the issue of Prohibition.

“We wanted to make a film on the issue.

And since Gujarat is the only state that has Prohibition, we decided to locate our plot in Gujarat.”

The buzz is that Shah Rukh Khan plays a true-life character in Raees. Says Rahul, “His character started off as a real-life person. But as we wrote and rewrote several drafts of the script, Shah Rukh’s character become more and more fictional.”

Raees, the film about Prohibition in Gujarat, will be largely shot by its fine director Rahul Dholakia on a sprawling set in Mumbai representing the slums of Ahmedabad.

The last time Rahul was in Gujarat was to shoot Parzania that hard-hitting National-award winning film on the 2002 communal carnage in the State.

But no, Raees and Shah Rukh Khan are not staying away from Gujarat because

of the bitter aftermath of Parzania.

Explains Rahul, “It’s very practical and logical to not take Shah Rukh Khan into the crowds. He is a star with a mammoth

following. And he has a massive following in Gujarat. To shoot with him on the streets in Ahmedabad is not only impractical it’s probably suicidal. I remem-

ber when we were shooting with Sanjay Dutt in Kashmir for Lamha. Huge crowds would gather and obstruct the shooting.”

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Recipe

Dal Dal tadka tadka

Ingredients: (measuring cup used, 1 cup = 250 ml) •½ cup arhar dal/tuvar dal/ split pigeon pea lentils + ½ cup masoor dal/split pink lentils or 1 cup arhar dal/tuvar dal/ split pigeon pea lentils •1 or 2 green chilies, chopped or slit lengthwise •1 medium sized onion, chopped •2 medium sized tomato, chopped •½ inch ginger, finely chopped or grated, about to ½ tsp of grated or chopped ginger (optional) •1 tsp turmeric powder/haldi •a pinch or two of garam masala powder •a pinch of asafoetida/hing •2.5 cups water for pressure cooking •1 tsp kasuri methi/ dry fenugreek leaves, crushed •1 or 2 tbsp cream (optional) •1 tbsp chopped coriander leaves •salt as required Tadka: •2 tbsp oil or 1.5 tbsp ghee or butter •1 tsp cumin seeds/ jeera •5 to 6 garlic cloves/lahsun, finely chopped •2 to 3 red chilies •a generous pinch of asafoetida/hing •½ tsp red chili powder Garnish: •1 tbsp chopped coriander leaves/dhania patta Method: Preparing the lentils: 1.rinse the lentils and add them to the pressure cooker. the below pic shows only tuvar or arhar dal. you can also cook the lentils in a pot. just soak the lentils for an hour or two before you cook them in a pot. cooking the lentils in a pot, will take more time than cooking in the pressure cooker. method on how to cook lentils in a pot is mentioned

in the notes section of recipe details below 2.to the lentils, add chopped onions, tomato, green chilies, ginger.

3.pour 2.5 cups water. if cooking in a pot, then about 4 to 4.5 cups water can be added. 4.add turmeric powder and asafoetida. stir well. 5.pressure cook the lentils for about 7 to 8 whistles or more till they become soft and creamy. mash the dal with a wired whisk or with a spoon and keep aside. if the dal looks thick, then add some water to get a medium consistency. simmer the dal for 3 to 4 minutes. pic of the consistency of the lentils in step 6 6.once the desired consistency is reached, add cream (optional), garam masala powder, crushed kasuri methi, chopped coriander leaves and salt. switch off the fire. please note crushed kasuri methi can also be added in the tempering later and skipped at this step.

7.once the desired consistency is reached, add cream (optional), garam masala powder, crushed kasuri methi, chopped coriander leaves and salt. switch off the fire. please note crushed kasuri methi can also be added in the tempering later and skipped at this step. 8.mix well so that everything combines uniformly. check salt before you add the tempering. if less than add more salt.

Saturday, June 27, 2015 i 5

What you smell.

What your guests smell.

Has your nose gone curryblind?

Febreze eliminates the smells of kal ka khana and leaves a light,fresh smell.

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BOLLYWOOD / FILM

and directKnow less popular members of the Kapoor khandaan editing ing. “Direction, in

unal K a poor, who was last seen onscreen in 1985, as Kapitan Ribeiro Governor in Shyam Benegal’s Trikal, has been cajoled by Ashvini Yardi to face the camera again, in her upcoming Akshay Kumar-starrer, Singh Is Bling. He will play Amy Jackson’s dad in the film. Ashvini succeeded where

Salman Khan had failed. While they were shooting Jai Ho! in Romania last year, Salman had tried to convince Kunal, who was line-producing the film in Europe for him, to return to acting but Kunal had laughed it off. However, Ashvini who’s an old friend and has done a commercial with him earlier, refused

to take ‘no’ for an answer. In a Mumbai Mirror report, Kunal has been quoted as saying that, “She convinced me by using her charm and twisting my arm,” he guffaws. Kunal admits that while there have been plenty of offers earlier too, it was easy for him to shrug them off because he was always more interested in

particular, I did not miss acting at all.”

While Kunal Kapoor is now earing up to direct his own film, his children, too, are inclined towards films. The Kapoors have always been very supportive of each other in the clan. Read on to find out what Kareena had to say about Ranbir’s Bombay Velvet debacle.

Salman gifts the ‘Bajrangi’ painting to Kareena

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alman Khan is all heart. When Kareena told Salman that she loved the ‘Bajrangi Bhaijaan’ painting that he had painted, he immediately told her, ‘It’s yours.’ When we confirmed

Salman

Kareena

with Salman whether he would be giving the same to her, he answered with one of his iconic lines from his film Wanted — “Ek baar jo maine commitment kardi, uske baad toh main khud ki bhi nahin sunta.”

BOLLYWOOD / FILM

Saturday, June 27, 2015 i 7

The titans to clash on Eid day

Salman’s ‘‘Sultan’’ and Shahrukh’s “Raees” are set to release on Eid 2016

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fter a decade the industry will witness two superstars Salman Khan and SRK clashing with the release of their films. The due will come face to face at the box office s their films ‘Raees’ staring SRK and ‘Sultan’ staring Salman are set to the screen for Eid 2016, and it has become the talk of

the town amongst the fans and the industry. A couple of days ago YashRaj films announced the

Salman Khan

release date of their next ‘Sultan’ with leading Salman Khan the news attracted many eyeballs. Now as ‘Raees’ also set to release on same day next year, it will be interesting to see what happens when SRK and Salman meet face to face at the box office window.

In the past, the duo came face to face when ‘Jaan-e-Man and ‘Don’ both were released during Diwali 2006.

Now it seems the history is going to be repeated and the titans are all set to clash once again? The question also arises whether this will affect the business of each other’s films as many cinemagoers wait to the entire year for the Superstars’ clash.

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Saturday, June 27 2015 i 19

NATIONAL

20 i Saturday, June 27, 2015

How much did Senators loot from the public?

30 senators found by the auditor general to have ineligible expenses Rod Zimmer, Manitoba Named by Paul Martin $176,014, Repaid: $0 ----------------------------------Marie Charette-Poulin Ontario Named by Jean Chrétien $131,434 Repaid: $5,606 --------------------------------------Rose-Marie Losier-Cool New Brunswick Named by Jean Chrétien $110,051 Repaid: $0 ----------------------------------------Sandra Lovelace Nicholas New Brunswick Named

by Paul Martin $75,227 Repaid: $0 -----------------------------------------Gerry St. Germain British Columbia Named by Brian Mulroney $67,588 Repaid: $0

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-------------------------------------------Pierre-Hughes Boisvenu Quebec Named by Stephen Harper $61,076 Repaid: $0 -------------------------------------------Nick Sibbeston Northwest Territories Named by Jean Chrétien $50,102 Repaid: $0 -------------------------------------------Don Oliver Nova Scotia Named by Brian Mulroney $48,088 Repaid: $1,442 -------------------------------------------Colin Kenny Ontario Named by Pierre Elliot Trudeau $35,549 Repaid: $0 -------------------------------------------Terry Mercer Nova Scotia Named by Jean Chrétien $29,338 Repaid: $0 --------------------------------------------

Dennis Patterson Nunavut Named by Stephen Harper $22,985 Repaid: $6,200 -------------------------------------------Janis Johnson Manitoba Named by Brian Mulroney $22,706 Repaid: $0 -------------------------------------------Joseph Day New Brunswick Named by Jean Chrétien $19,634 Repaid: $0 -------------------------------------------Bill Rompkey Newfoundland and Labrador Named by Jean Chrétien $17,292 Repaid: $0 -------------------------------------------Lowell Murray Ontario Named by Joe Clark $16,300 Repaid: $0 -------------------------------------------Vivienne Poy Ontario Named by Jean Chrétien $15,317 Repaid: $0 -------------------------------------------Robert Peterson Saskatchewan Named by Paul Martin $11,493 Repaid: $0 -------------------------------------------James Cowan Nova Scotia Named by Paul Martin $10,397 Repaid: $10,397 -------------------------------------------Elaine McCoy Alberta Named by Paul Martin $10,298 Repaid: $0 -------------------------------------------Noel Kinsella New Brunswick Named by Brian Mulroney $9,386 Repaid: $262 --------------------------------------------

Leo Housakos Quebec Named by Stephen Harper $8,319 Repaid: $8,319 -------------------------------------------Sharon Carstairs Manitoba Named by Jean Chrétien $7,528 Repaid: $0 -------------------------------------------David Tkachuk Saskatchewan Named by Brian Mulroney $7,391 Repaid: $3,900 -------------------------------------------Pana Merchant Saskatchewan Named by Jean Chrétien $5,500 Repaid: $511 -------------------------------------------Terry Stratton Manitoba Named by Brian Mulroney $5,466 Repaid: $0 -------------------------------------------Don Plett Manitoba Named by Stephen Harper $4,095 Repaid: $2,975 -------------------------------------------Jean-Guy Dagenais Quebec Named by Stephen Harper $3,538 Repaid: $0 -------------------------------------------Claude Carignan Quebec Named by Stephen Harper $3,516 Repaid: $3,516 -------------------------------------------Nicole Eaton Ontario Named by Stephen Harper $3,489 Repaid: $3,489 -------------------------------------------Nancy Greene Raine British Columbia Named by Stephen Harper $2,800 Repaid: $2,386 --------------------------------------------

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Justin Trudeau promises to end ISIS combat mission, restore relations with Iran

f the Liberal Party claims victory in the next federal election, Justin Trudeau says, his government would end Canada’s bombing mission against ISIS in Iraq and Syria and restore diplomatic relations with Iran, in a dramatic departure from the path taken by the Harper government on foreign policy. “We’d move away from the CF-18 [bombing] mission,” Trudeau said in an interview with Terry Milewski on CBC’s Power & Politics. “This government has failed miserably to demonstrate why the best mission for Canada is to participate in a bombing mission,” Trudeau said.

And while Trudeau pledged to pull Canadian fighter jets from the Middle East, he doubled down on his commitment to send more military personnel to help train Iraqi security forces — beyond the 70 or so Canadian special operations personnel who are currently embedded with the Kurdish Peshmerga. “We would engage Canada’s military in something we’ve demonstrated tremendous ability at in Afghanistan and elsewhere: training up local troops doing the fighting on the ground.” Trudeau refused to say how many more trainers should be deployed. U.S. President Barack Obama announced earlier this month that he’d send an additional 450 American troops to advise and assist local Iraqi forces in the fight against ISIS.

Trudeau ruled out committing combat troops to Iraq, even as the security situation there deteriorates. ISIS now controls more than a quarter of Iraq including Mosul, the country’s second largest city. ISIS fighters recently took Ramadi, a city about 100 kilometres away from the capital of Baghdad. “I think 10 years ago we learnt through the first Iraq war what happens when Western troops get involved in combat. They don’t necessarily, whether it’s Libya, whether it’s Iraq, it doesn’t lead to the outcomes that people would responsibly like to see,” Trudeau said.

Trudeau also said he’d move to normalize relations with Iran. The Harper government abruptly closed the Canadian Embassy in Tehran in 2012 and expelled Iranian diplomats from Ottawa. “I would hope that Canada would be able to reopen its mission, as I understand it, there were security concerns that led to the closing of the mission, but I’m fairly certain that there are ways to re-engage,” Trudeau said. The comments come as negotiators from the so-called P5+1 — the U.S., the U.K., France, China, Russia and Germany — seek to hammer out a deal to limit Iran’s nuclear program. Trudeau said he was cautiously optimistic that the two sides could come to an agreement before the June 30 deadline.

19 senators to challenge auditor general’s findings on expenses, others repay

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enators repay almost $125,000 of the nearly $1 million flagged

by Michael Ferguson Nineteen senators flagged with problematic expenses by the auditor general have opted to challenge the findings before a special arbitrator. Six of those senators are among a group of nine being referred to the RCMP for a criminal review. Friday marked the end of a 10-day grace period for senators named in the auditor general’s report to decide whether to repay their questioned claims, or seek to have them quashed by former Supreme Court justice Ian Binnie. In all Binnie, will handle at least 19 cases that combined are worth more than $541,000, according to data posted to the Senate’s website.

So far, senators named by auditor

general Michael Ferguson have repaid almost $125,000 of the nearly $1 million flagged in a critical audit of Senate spending last month.

The updated figures on Friday showed that retired Liberal senator Vivienne Poy repaid $15,317 for travel claims that included trips for her work as a board member for a charitable organization and taking her staff to Toronto for the launch of a book she co-edited.

Four of the most influential senators -- Speaker Leo Housakos, his deputy Nicole Eaton, government leader Claude Carignan and Liberal leader James Cowan -- have already

repaid about $24,000 in questionable claims.

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Retiring Senator glad she triggered Senate changes

s she prepares to retire from the Senate after 22 years, Conservative Senator Marjory LeBreton says the wrenching controversy over expenses has brought the upper chamber to a turning point. “The whole thing is laid bare and there’s no place to go but up.” In an interview Tuesday with CBC News’ Susan Lunn, LeBreton expressed regret that changes she made around transparency and accountability ultimately hurt the Harper government — but, as painful as the fallout has been, it was “the right thing to do.” LeBreton said the Conservative majority in the Senate had set out to clean up what some thought of as a “closed club,” by deciding in 2010 to release senators’ expenses on a quarterly basis. That, LeBreton said, is what triggered the media and public interest that eventually culminated in the Senate expense scandal. “Unfortunately for [those senators], we changed the rules. It was a very difficult process for all of us, painful for some, but it was the right thing to do.” ‘Blindsided’ by extent of scandal It was LeBreton, as the government leader in the Senate at the time, who invited the federal auditor general in June 2013 to audit senators’ expenses, following months of controversy over the expenses of now-suspended senators Mike Duffy and Patrick Brazeau, and now-retired former

Liberal senator Mac Harb. But LeBreton said that despite her attempts to promote accountability, she at times felt “blindsided,” and did not anticipate how far-reaching the Senate expense scandal would be. “I didn’t know how many people the auditor general was ultimately going to find there was problems with. Actually I was quite surprised, I thought there would be fewer than that.” LeBreton also expressed dismay and disappointment that some had abused their office. Pointing out that fewer than a thousand Canadians have served in the Senate since Confederation, she said “to blow an opportunity like that is just mind boggling to me. “I cannot understand how people wouldn’t take the opportunity that they’re given and do good things. It’s just something I don’t understand.” LeBreton, who was named to the Senate to represent Ontario by former prime minister Brian Mulroney in 1993, defended the Senate appointments under Prime Minister Stephen Harper, saying that a vetting process can’t single out people whose intentions are not honourable. LeBreton stepped down as government leader in the Senate shortly after her decision to call in the auditor general, announcing in July 2013 that she would serve out her term as senator but no longer serve in Harper’s cabinet.

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Saturday, June 27, 2015

C JOBS “Balwinder Singhmaar, resident of 15095 92 Ave, Surrey, BC V3R 5V8 has a vacancy for In-home Child caregiver for infant child and 9 years old son. Full Time, 40 hrs/week. Applicant must have high school with minimum of 1 year of related experience within last 3 years or 6 months of full time training in caregiving.

Job Duties includes supervise and care for children, prepare formulas and change diaper of infant, feeding, bathing, dressing, prepare children for rest period, escort child to school, prepare and serve nutritious meal and snacks, accompany to and from activities & appointments, light housekeeping, laundry, maintain safe environment at home, keep record of day-to-day activities, health and progress of children. Optional accommodation is available at no charge but this is not a condition of employment. Please send resume at balwinderssinghmaar@gmail.com” ------------------------------Jun13_15 5 Long Haul Truck Drivers Reqd.

Sal:$23.00/hr, 40hr/wk, +1yr exp. & Class A 0r 1 license reqd., FT/ PT Duties: Operate, drive straight or articulated trucks to transport goods & materials on local routes or over long distances.Plan trip logistics & obtain required documentation to transport goods.

Perform pre-trip & post-trip in-

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JOBS spection of vehicle systems.Record cargo information, hours of service, distance travelled & fuel consumption.May perform emergency roadside repairs.

Lang: English. Work at various location in Canada & USA. Contact: Balwinder from Metro Transport ltd.12772 82nd Ave, Surrey, V3W 3G1 E-mail your resume at metro_transport@yahoo.ca.

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1 Optical Frame Fitter Reqd.

Sal: $22.00/hr, 40hr/wk, +1yrs exp. or certification reqd., FT/ PT Duties: Obtain specifications for eyeglasses or contact lenses from a prescription. Assist clients in selecting eyeglasses. Grinding & polishing of lenses. Cut & edge lenses & fit lenses into frames.

May supervise or manage activities of other opticians. Lang: English. Location: 12841 96 Avenue, Surrey, BC, V3V 6V9 Contact: Imran from Eye See 2020 Optical at opt_eyesee@yahoo.ca.

------------------------------Jun 06_15 Dosa Corner Restaurant Ltd in Vancouver Looking to hire an authentic south indian chef .

This is a full time permanent position. $18.50/hr. 40hrs/week.

Must have at least 3-5yrs experience in south indian cuisine & specialized knowledge in Dosas.

Duties include Prepare & cook meals.kitchen

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management. Plan menus & quality. Orders food supplies. Mail your resume to selvamm164@ gmail.com or apply by person at DosaCorner Vancouver. 110-8248 Fraser Street.

Vancouver. B.C.. V5X 3X6 Ph: 604-324-3672.

-----------------------------------Seamstress required Seamstress (Tailor) needed Foam & Décor is looking for Full Time or Part Time Seamstress ( tailor) for drapery in Surrey.

Salary will be provided @ 12 per hour. Please call 604-594-1882 Mayuri Indian foods inc is looking to hire an Ethnic Food Cook in Surrey BC. F/T & Perm.$17/hr.

Must have at least 2-3 yrs experience in South Indian cuisine & specialized knowledge in Indian spicing. Duties: Prepare & Cook meals; Supervise Kitchen helpers; Plan menus; Ensure quality & determine food proportions; Monitor & order food supplies; Set up & oversee buffets; Manage kitchen operation. Mail resume or apply by person Mayuri indian cuisine , Unit 102A,12677 80th Ave., Surrey BC V3W 3A6 Fax: 604-572-3281 ------------------------------------English Classes for Adults Register for classes September 2-8 For more information,Visit: www. victoryesl.com Call: 604.755.7976 E-mail: victoryesl1@gmail.com ----------------------------

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Cook Require Curry junction Restaurant in White Rock need cook immediately, This is a full time permanent position for a experienced person, Depending on experience salary will be upto $21 per hr. with other benefits. Call:604-729-6741 or 604-385-1558 ---------------------------Transworld Security located at 2nd Floor, 5050, Kingsway, Burnaby BC V5H 4H2 is looking for a Static Guard, Static Guard Supervisor, Mobile Supervisor and Field Manager.

These are permanent full-time positions. Static Guard pay rate is $13.00 per hour plus vacation pay. You would be required to patrol industrial and commercial premises to prevent and detect signs of intrusion and ensure security of doors, windows and gates. Answer alarms and investigate disturbances. Monitor and authorize entrance and departure of employees, visitors and guests. Call police or fire departments in cases of emergency.

Circulate among visitors, patrons and employees to preserve order and protect property.

Static Guard Supervisor pay rate is $14.00 per hour plus vacation pay. You would be required to oversee and supervise Static Guards. You will need to ensure the duties of the Static Guards you supervise are being completed and the client’s needs are be-

S Matrimonial Seeking a suitable match for Ravidasia Sikh Boy, 30 / 5’10”, Living in Canada, B.Tech.

Please send your biodata and pics at aman.shine@gmail. com or contact +1 306 461 3131. ing met. Field Manager pay rate is $18.00 per hour plus vacation pay. You would be required to report to the Director of Operations and you are responsible for supporting, mentoring and supervising the security officers in the field. You will be required to manage the company’s field operations and resources after business hours. Mobile Supervisor pay rate is $18.00 per hour.

You would be required to provide ongoing leadership, direction and training. You need to ensure all standing orders and scheduled daily activities are carried out for each shift. You will be required to discipline staff when necessary

To PLACE YOUR AD IN THE ASIAN STAR CLASSIFIEDS Section Please

Call: 604-591-5423

Hair Stylists Required 2 Hair Stylists reqd. Sal:$13.00/hr, 40hr/wk, +1yr exp. or certification reqd., FT/PT Duties: Suggest hair style compatible with client’s physical features. Determine style from client’s instructions. Cut, trim, taper, curl, wave, perm & style hair. Apply bleach, tints, dyes or rinses to color, frost or streak hair. Analyze hair & scalp condition to advise & provide basic or beauty care treatment. Clean & style wigs & hair pieces. Lang: English.

Location: #11- 8430 128th Street Surrey, BC V3W 4G3.

Contact: Sandeep from Basra Hair & Beauty Salon at basra_ salon@yahoo.ca or fax at (604)365-8861

COMMUNITY Newton community festival The tradition continues with the 20th annual Newton Community Festival put on in partnership with the Newton Community Festival Committee. This funfilled event put on by the community for the community has been hailed as an inspiring celebration that the entire family can enjoy. With over 6,000 community members in attendance last year, the Newton Community Festival is expected to draw over 8,000 people this year.

The Festivities will begin at 11:00am and run until 4:00pm on Saturday June 27, 2015 in conjunction with Doors Open.

-----------------------------------------Vedic Seniors Parivar Centre of Vedic Hindu Cultural Society Surrey invites South Asian Adults/ Senior members and non members to attend a presentation on Elder Abuse Awareness by Kam Sandhu from Creative Spirits Yoga and Van City Team on June 28th 2015 from 2.00 pm to 3.30 pm at Shanti Niketan hall of Lakshmi Narayan Hindu Temple 8321 - 140th street Surrey BC. There will be question and answer session, Kam Sandhu and Van City team will answer all the questions, tea and light snacks will be served in the end.

Please call Surendra Handa Coordinator Tel. 604 - 507 - 9945 for further information.

--------------------------------------The inaugural United Nations (UN) International Day of Yoga, to be held all day this Saturday June 21, at Guildford Recreation Centre in Surrey BC. his free festival event is organized by the UN International Day of Yoga - Planning Committee, with the supportive participation of the City of Surrey, Ecobear Productions, VISHWA (Varad Ashram Inter-cultural Service and Humanitarian World Association) and over thirty Yoga and Holistic Health communities in Surrey and the Lower Mainland. The mission is to celebrate this historic and sacred day, and pay homage to the great Rishis (sages) and Yogis of India. Indeed, it is their reverent and unwavering tenacity, discipline and humility that safeguarded the traditional teachings of the ancient science of Yoga for the benefit of the world. The festival will share the ancient tradition teachings of Yoga with the diverse cultures and general public. The all day program will share a traditional yoga program, laughter, dancing, music and sattvic (yogic) vegetarian meals. There will be a charming retail market displaying yoga wear and accessories for fundraising purposes.

You can register and RSVP on the UN International Day of Yogawebsite for Canada: http://www.unidycanada.com/surrey EVENT SCHEDULE 900am: Registration 1000am: Opening Ceremony - Swami Dr. Satya Prakash and two dignitaries will be invited to light the ceremonial lamp with Vedic Chanting 2) Prime Minister Modi’s Message 3) United Nation’s Message 4) Consulate General of India and Government dignitaries of BC and Surrey 1030am - 1100am: History and Knowledge of Yoga (Swami Dr. Satya Prakash) 1100am - 1200pm: Yoga Asanas (Swami Dr. Satya Prakash will demonstrate and will take attendees through the UN Common Protocol for Yoga Program) 1200pm 100pm: Lunch break | Afternoon Meal 100pm - 230pm: Demonstration and Reflection on Traditional Yoga and Yoga History of Vancouver - Jnana Yoga (Swami Dr. Satya Prakash, Dr. Preeti Misra, Sivakumar Varma and other known yoga practitioners of BC) 230pm - 330pm: Laughter Yoga; Kids Yoga: Yoga Games; Yoga Dance 330pm 400pm: Meditation (Swami Dr. Satya Prakash)

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400pm - 600pm: Bhakti Yoga (Musical celebration and closing) 600pm 700pm: Dinner break | Evening Meal 700pm - 800pm: Karmic Seva - cleanup -----------------------------------------“Being Original and Spontaneous”an evening talk and Q&A with Swami Chaitanya Keerti. There is no cost to attend this special event. Date : Friday June26,2015 Time :7 pm to 9 pm Location: 15437 Fraser Highway, Surrey, British Columbia V3R 3P Join us on meetup for all upcoming events :http://www.meetup.com/OshoVancouver/ Like us on Facebook:http:// www.facebook.com/pages/Osho-Vancouver/ Youtube Channel:http://www. youtube.com/channel/UC8HK35QCaNCS_7XH0fyYjvw?feature=mhee -----------------------------------------Vedic Seniors Parivar Centre of Vedic Hindu Cultural Society Surrey requests all South Asian Senior members and non members to attend International Day Of Yoga organized by Temple’s Manage-

ment on June 21st 2015 ( Sunday ) at 8.30 am. The program will start at 8.30 am with yoga exercise by expert yogis on the Temple grounds up to 10.00 am, from 10.00 am to 11.00 am, healthy refreshment of fruits, milk shake and tea will be served, from 11.00 am to 12.00 am, a Yoga Forum ( Healthy Discussion ) will be held by expert Yogis inside main hall, and from 12.00 pm to 1.00 pm, Therapeutic yoga demonstration will be shown by expert yogis inside main hall focusing on specific problems like Back Ache, Pain in the Knees and Migraines etc. After Aarti in the Temple, pure vegetarian lunch will be served in the dining hall. Please contact Surendra Handa Coordinator Tel. 604 - 507 - 9945 for further details.

--------------------------------------Vedic Seniors Parivar Centre of Vedic Hindu Cultural Society Surrey invites South Asian Adults/ Senior members and non members to come and play Bingo for the sake of fun and make some new friends, on June 14th 2015 from 2.00 pm

Saturday, June 27, 2015

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to 3.30 pm at Shanti Niketan hall 8321 140th street Surrey B.C. Please bring only two dollars with you to play 2 games, do not worry if you do not know how to play, members will explain you the game just for the sake of fun. Tea & light snacks will be served after the game is over. Please contact Surendra Handa Coordinator at 604 - 507 - 9945 for further details.

----------------------------------------Vedic Seniors Parivar Centre of Vedic Hindu Cultural Society Surrey invites South Asian Adults/ Senior members and non members also to attend a Presentation on Alzheimer Disease - Symptoms, Causes and Treatment by Dr. Nimesh Patel MBBS, on June 7th 2015 from 2.00 pm to 3.30 pm at Shanti Niketan hall of Lakshmi Narayan Hindu Temple 8321 - 140th street Surrey BC. You can ask questions related to Alzheimer Disease, Dr. Patel will answer your questions after the presentation. Tea and light snacks will be served in the end. Please contact Surendra Handa Coordinator Tel. 604-507-9945

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Saturday, June 27, 2015

Business / Finance

U.S. real estate hot again as homes sell at fastest pace since 2007

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eal estate has gotten hot again.

Home sales are on pace for their best year since 2007.

First-time buyers are streaming back into the market. Prices are skyrocketing, aided by a stronger job market and tantalizingly low mortgage rates that are creating pressure for buyers to act fast.

The resurgence is a sign that the U.S. economy — after muddling through a sluggish, six-year recovery — has re-discovered another source of growth. Buyers are more confident about their own prospects. But many also appear ready to close sales quickly because of concerns of being potentially priced out of the market by rising mortgage rates and home values.

“What we’ve seen is that demand is off the charts in 2015 — and that is really boosting sales,” said Nela Richardson, chief economist at the brokerage Redfin.

“Last year, buyers were dipping their toes in their water. Now, they’re diving in.”

The National Association of Realtors said Monday that sales of existing homes climbed 5.1 per cent last month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.35 million. May was the third consecutive month of the sales rate exceeding 5 million homes.Yet listings have failed to match the greater demand, fuelling large price gains.

Median home prices climbed 7.9 per cent over the past 12 months to US$228,700, about US$1,700 shy of the July 2006 peak.

Canadians not saving enough due to bad spending habits they can’t let go of

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anadians want to save but more than 30 per cent of respondents in a new poll seem to want to do this without changing their spending habits.

BMO’s 2015 Psychology of Savings Report shows a majority of Canadians, or 88 per cent of respondents polled, said they are willing to improve their current financial status. However, more than a third, 38 per cent, also admitted that they have developed bad spending and savings habits and 31 per cent said they’re not willing to let go of them.

One-third (34 per cent) said they regret losing self-control in spending while 36 per cent said they have made impulse purchases.

One in five (20 per cent) said they regretted some purchases they have made, knowing these purchases could have gone to savings.

But some have acknowledged regrets, with 37 per cent of respondents saying that spending outside their means is their top financial regret.

Some 36 per cent said they regret their past financial decisions and 17 per cent said they are ashamed of their financial situation. Thirteen per cent have even avoided looking at their bills altogether. Twenty-seven per cent

of respondents said they don’t know how to start saving.BMO said there is still a way out of these unhealthy spending habits.

“Start by taking small, deliberate steps to reverse bad spending or savings habits to begin building positive momentum. Then, put strategies in place to help you stick to the program,” said Christine Canning, head, everyday banking, BMO Bank of Montreal.

An earlier report by BMO Bank of Montreal noted that some Canadians have developed a savings habit by setting aside some fixed monthly contributions.

One in three Canadians (31 per cent) said they have this fixed savings plan, according to the BMO Household Savings Report released last April.

“It’s important that Canadians set financial goals for themselves and establish behaviours that will help achieve them,” Canning added.

An online sample of 1,003 Canadians were polled by Pollara between June 12 and June 16, 2015 for the savings psychology report.

The April savings report involved 1,002 online respondents polled between March 13 and March 16, 2015. The polls are accurate to +/-3.1 per cent, 19 times out of 20.

TransCanada Corp cuts 185 jobs after restructuring major projects department

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ipeline builder TransCanada Corp. has confirmed it laid off 185 people from its major projects department on Tuesday morning.

Large-scale layoffs have become common among exploration and production and oilfield services companies in Calgary as capital budgets are squeezed by low oil and gas prices but midstream companies have been immune until now. “This morning 185 workers within the major projects department were advised that their positions have been eliminated,” noted TransCanada spokesman Mark Cooper in an e-mail reply to a Herald inquiry.

“This includes approximately 100 fulltime employees (the remainder are contractors) who have been advised that their positions have been eliminated.”

Cooper said the positions scattered throughout North American operations were eliminated following a restructuring of the department “designed to ensure we

move forward with our $46-billion capital growth plan in a way that meets the needs of our customers, while allowing TransCanada to remain competitive and deliver incremental value for our shareholders.” He said the company is treating its former employees and contractors “fairly and respectfully.” On its website, TransCanada says it has more than 4,800 employees in three countries, seven provinces and 32 states, and employs about 550 in-house contractors. The largest of Calgary-based TransCanada’s major projects is the proposed $12-billion Energy East oil pipeline. It would be North America’s largest crude pipeline, stretching 4,600 kilometres from Alberta’s oilsands to New Brunswick and carrying as much as 1.1 million barrels of crude a day to be shipped to foreign markets.

Business / Finance

2-income families nearly doubled from 1976 to 2014

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amilies with both parents working are a substantial majority in Canada, with 69 per cent of couples with a child under 16 years of age having two incomes, according to Statistics Canada.That contrasts sharply with 36 per cent of couples with a child under 16 having two working parents in 1976 and represents a 92 per cent increase.

In Quebec, the proportion of families with a stay-at-home parent declined faster than anywhere in the country, from 59 per cent of families in 1976 to 13 per cent in 2014.

The Statistics Canada study based on data from the Labour Force Survey shows the changes undergone by Canadian families in the past 38 years.

The survey gathered data on 2.8 million families in both 2014 and 1976, as the number of Canadian families with children remained constant.

Living on 1 income The influx of women into the workforce in the 1970s and 1980s is credited with boosting the prosperity of middle-class households.

However, it is also true that few Canadian families can afford to live on one income as many did in 1976. That makes the cost of daycare a perennial issue for many families and means legislation such as the income-splitting tax break pushed through earlier this year may be tailored for the kind of Canadian family that is no longer in the majority.

U.S. GDP growth in Q1 revised upward to 0.2%

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he U.S. economy shrank in the first three months of the year, but not as much as previously estimated, just 0.2 per cent according to estimates from the Commerce Department. The U.S. makes three estimates of its quarterly growth, with this third estimate incorporating new data.

The previous estimate was that U.S. gross domestic profit fell 0.7 per cent in the period from January to March. The Commerce Department says the weakness was largely temporary, caused by harsh winter weather that slowed consumer spending. Exports fell and imports rose, an effect of the rising U.S. dollar and port disruptions along the West Coast.

But there was rebound in the AprilJune quarter, with consumers stepping up their spending and home sales climbing.

The slowing in consumer spending looks more like a pause that refreshes after the strongest spurt in nearly a decade rather than the start of a weakening trend,” BMO senior economist Sal Guatieri said in a note to clients. “Thursday’s May personal spending report is expected to show a strong rebound, led by decade-high auto sales, which should anchor a 3 per cent gain in both personal consumption and real GDP in Q2,” he predicted.

Rogers will sell spectrum to Wind after $440M Mobilicity takeover

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obilicity has accepted a $440-million takeover offer from larger rival Rogers Communications Inc., which will sell off Mobilicity’s wireless airwaves to secure the permission of various regulatory bodies for the deal.

A court monitor overseeing Mobilicity’s restructuring plan since 2013 has given its approval to the deal, under which Vaughan, Ont.-based Mobilicity will be purchased by Rogers for a total price of $465 million — $440 million for the company’s assets plus “certain adjustments” to make up the remaining $25 million.

Cash-strapped Mobilicity has about 157,000 customers clustered in Ottawa, Toronto, Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver, and it owns valuable spectrum purchased in a government auction in 2008, one that gave birth to the com-

pany and many others, including Wind.

Mobilicity twice before attempted a sale to Telus before the federal government quashed those deals, saying it would have consolidated too much wireless infrastructure in the hands of too few players.

This deal is different, however, in that Rogers has agreed to sell off Mobilicity’s spectrum to other smaller rivals to keep regulators happy.

Industry Canada gives approval In a press release Wednesday, Rogers said it will sell Mobilicity’s AWS-1 spectrum to Wind in exchange for some of Wind’s own spectrum being transferred to Rogers.

That appears to be enough to keep concerns about reduced competition at bay.

“The approval of these spectrum licence transfers is a win for Canadian consumers,” Industry Minister James Moore said in a release.

Cheap loonie has cottage market booming, especially among foreigners, ReMax says The weak Canadian dollar has caused Canada’s recreational property and cottage market to heat up, one of Canada’s biggest sellers of real estate says.

In its annual report on Canada’s recreational property market on Wednesday, ReMax said the low Canadian dollar is attracting foreign buyers to well-established recreational property markets across the country, but especially in the areas of Whistler, Tofino, Muskoka, Shediac and P.E.I. In many cases, it’s not foreign buyers, but rather Canadians repatriating their own foreign gains and putting their money back into Canadian property.

“We are seeing Canadians who took advantage of the downturn in the U.S. property market in 2008 selling their US recreation-

al properties, which have increased in value over recent years, and taking advantage of the low Canadian dollar to purchase their dream cottage or cabin in Canada,” ReMax vice-president Gurinder Sandhu said.

But interestingly, ReMax suggests that not all cottage markets are equal. In places where incomes are heavily tied to the oil and gas industry, such as Alberta and Newfoundland, sales and prices are sluggish.

Cottage lifestyle in demand In a poll commissioned by the realtor group commissioned by research firm Leger of 1,538 Canadians between June 8 and June 11, more than one in five Canadians said they would consider downsiz-

ing their main residence in order to find the cash to fund a recreational property.

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PUNJAB

Saturday, June 27, 2015

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Punjab English teachers ‘flunk’ Education Minister’s test

n Punjab, 80,278 of the 3,78,628 Class-10 government school students flunked English exam this year. Reason: they were taught by those who themselves struggle to write a simple correct sentence in the language.

Sample this: “English language are international language”, “Our school has situated in remote area”, “Students parents are not educational so that time table should be fresh before ressess”, “It class was very weak class from 6th by chance”, “The main reason is the English level of study for the backward area students”. These were a few sentences written by nearly 200 English teachers when questioned on reasons behind the students’ poor performance and suggestions to improve them. Punjab Education Minister Daljeet Singh Cheema, who had summoned the teachers whose students performed the worst, was shocked. “You don’t even know correct spellings of several words then how

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can we expect students to perform well. All of you have failed in my class,” Cheema said.

The minister was agitated to the extent that he asked his staff to display the teachers’ errors on a projector. A teacher from Ropar spelled vacant as “vacent” and should as “shoud”, while another from Fazilka wrote lack of interest as “lake of interest”.

When Cheema asked them to explain reasons for their glaring errors, a teacher from Ludhiana said: “I have forgotten my spectacles at home.” Another from Fazilka said: “I got confused while explaining the students’ poor performance.” The Minister said on an average, each teacher committed at least 60 errors in around 150 words. To improve teachers’ language skills, Cheema said he would soon launch a special training program. On an average, each teacher committed at least 60 errors in around 150-word report they wrote on students’ performance.

Some of the errors they made were:

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mir and also Madhya ided by multiple Pradesh, Rajasthan and weather systems Gujarat. across the country, Heavy rains have the southwest monsoon made been predicted for Gugood progress over the past jarat. Heavy rains are two days, today covering most also expected over hill parts of Himachal Pradesh and states of North India.

Uttarakhand, the entire JamIn Himachal Pradesh, mu and Kashmir, some parts they could be particuof Punjab and east Rajasthan. larly heavy, warns priThe northern limit of monsoon vate forecaster Skymet.

(NLM) is currently passing Thereafter the intenthrough Deesa, Guna, Siddhi, sity will weaken, shift Ballia, Bahraich, Pantnagar, east and concentrate Dehradun, Una and Amritsar. around Uttarakhand According to the IMD, conWelcome showers! and east UP. There ditions are favourable for its may be a lull in the rain activity over the further advance into the remaining parts plains for the next two to three days after of the Arabian Sea and the entire counwhich the monsoon system will again gain try during the next 48 hours. Good rains strength, resulting in above normal rains are expected tomorrow over the northin June, says Skymet’s Mahesh Palawat. west — Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kash-

Students’ team from USA study the concept of ‘langar sewa’

etting up as early as 3.30 am, bathing and then heading to participate in ‘sewa’ at the Golden Temple, the 16 undergrad students from Michigan University, USA, are trying to study one of the most efficient and largest community-kitchen programmes of the world. For them, this has become a ‘routine’ for the past 20 days of their Amritsar tour. Getting involved in all aspects of ‘langar sewa’ at the holiest of Sikh shrines, they participate in cooking, cleaning, going to the farmers’ market to get produce and all this while, studying the essence of the community service. The team of students headed by Jasprit Singh, professor at the College of Engineering, Michigan University, is on a study tour in the city, understanding

the concept of ‘langar’ and sustainable nourishment. “We have a programme in the university on the impact of food on ecology and economy and food systems around the world. These studnets are here to learn and understand how different American students learn bhangra at Pankaj n Preeti Dance communities work Academy in Amritsar on Wednesday. and what motivates most zero wastage even when food is being them to perform ‘sewa’, how we can transfer prepared with fresh produce for over 50,000 these values in our social system. Most of people every day,” informs Jasprit. Overcoming these students have noticed how there is al-

the language barriers and initial discomfort to the city’s lifestyle, the students have now found their ‘zone’ and are exploring every nook and corner of Amritsar. “When we first arrived, the city was overwhelming. But now we can just hop on to a rickshaw and move about, finding the hidden treasures in Amritsar,” says Zoe Kanterman, one of the students. They are also highly impressed by the dedication with which the ‘sewa’ is carried out. “It’s just amazing how people from different backgrounds find a common sense of belonging and follow tradition with langar sewa. It’s more like a heritage for them,” shares Lucy Zhao. With all work and more fun, the students are also trying to understand another cultural heritage; this one comes with lots of ‘dhol’ beats.

Ludhiana and Amritsar will be among the 100 cities to be developed as smart cities by the Union Government. The announcement regarding this will be made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi tomorrow. The Centre has allotted three cities in Punjab to be developed as smart cities while another 17 cities/districts in the state will get funds under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation. While two cities have been finalised for the smart city project, the third could either be Mohali, including New Chandigarh,

or Jalandhar. Officials told The Tribune that in case there was a population criterion for selection of smart cities (over 10 lakh), the third city would be Jalandhar. But if there was no such criterion, the government would develop Mohali and New Chandigarh as the third smart city. The government is already promoting New Chandigarh and Mohali as an important investment destination.

The state had sent a list of six cities — Amritsar, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Patiala, Bathinda and Mohali — for the smart city project.

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Centre allots 3 smart cities to state

AirCare

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Sikh man’s hand nearly severed in racist attack in UK

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n an alleged racially-motivated attack, an Indian-origin Sikh dentist in the UK nearly had his hand severed in a brutal machete attack while he was out shopping at a supermarket in Wales. Sarandev Bhambra, a trainee dentist, was -shopping during with this coupon lunchtime in the city of Mold, southwest BritDec. 31 ain, when theexpires attacker Zack Davies attacked him with a machete and hammer in an “unprovoked” racially-motivated attack, Mold Crown court was told during an ongoing trial this week. During the attack on January 14, Davies was laughing and shouting “white supremacy”, “this is revenge” and “this is for Lee Rigby”, making a reference to the British soldier who was hacked to death on the streets of London in May 2013. Bhambra’s hand was almost severed from his arm and he thought he was going to die, the court was told.

Bhambra desperately tried to get away from

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Davies and threw items from the shelves to try and trip him as he chased him with the weapons. Prosecuting barrister Sion Mihangel said 26-year-old Davies had gone out looking for his mother’s boyfriend to attack him, but he could not find him. He followed Bhambra into a Tesco store because of his Asian appearance and attacked him within minutes with the machete and claw hammer, which he had in a rucksack. A jury of six men and six women at Mold Crown Court heard that Davies admits wounding Bhambra with intent to cause grievous bodily, but denies an attempted murder charge. The attacker’s home was later searched and items of white supremacy and Nazism were found.

The prosecutor said that Davies accepted being responsible for the injuries and had followed and attacked Bhambra because of his “ethnic appearance”.

INDIA

Emergency was darkest period and vibrant democracy is key to progress: PM

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n the 40th anniversary of the Emergency, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said a vibrant liberal democracy is the key to progress and that everything should be done to strengthen democratic ideals and ethos. “We mark 40 years of one of India’s darkest periods - the Emergency, when the then political leadership trampled over our democracy,” he tweeted.“A vibrant liberal democracy is the key to progress. Let us do everything possible to further strengthen our democratic ideals & ethos,” he said. The Prime Minister recalled that lakhs of people had resisted the Emergency declared by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on this day in 1975.“We are very proud of the lakhs of people, who resisted the Emergency & whose efforts ensured

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that our democratic fabric is preserved,” he said.“Inspired by the call of JP, several men & women across India selflessly immersed themselves in the movement to safeguard our democracy,” Modi said, referring to Jaiprakash Narain. The Prime Minister said the Emergency brings back many memories and that youngsters had learnt a lot during the anti-Emergency movement.

“Personally, the Emergency brings back many memories. As youngsters, we learnt a lot during the anti-Emergency movement.

“The Emergency was a great opportunity to work with a wide spectrum of leaders and organisations fighting for the same goal — return of democracy,” he said. The Emergency was lifted only after two years in the wake of widespread mass movement.

BJP backs its Rajasthan CM despite new allegations of corruption

rouble seems to be mounting for the BJP and its Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhra Raje. On a day when the Cabinet recommended a three-week monsoon session beginning July 21 and Home Minister Rajnath Singh categorically ruled out the resignation of BJP’s two top leaders Raje and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj despite the Opposition threat to disrupt it on the issue, the Congress called a press conference to release what it called “clinching evidence” that the Rajasthan CM had “lied”. “Our ministers do not have to resign. This is not their (Congress) government, this is NDA government,” the Home Minister said in response to the Congress demand for their resignation

for lending support to Lalit Modi. Soon thereafter, the Congress released the seven-page signed version of Raje’s secret affidavit to court on August 18, 2011, supporting former IPL chief ’s Lalit Modi’s immigration application to the UK. Demanding her immediate resignation, senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said: “She has been lying all along. The Prime Minister has no choice but to sack her”. Speaking in San Francisco Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today said the government would “play by the rule book” and make sure that absolute standards of probity are maintained, a PTI report said.

Jaitley said there is “no question at all” about the government going on the back foot on

Saturday, June 27, 2015

i 27

Another BJP minister in trouble over role in Rs 206-crore scam

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aharashtra’s Women and Child Development Minister Pankaja Munde (pictured) is facing allegations of violating rules in placing orders for material worth Rs 206 crore. Pankaja, daughter of late BJP leader Gopinath Munde, cleared the purchases through 24 government resolutions (GRs) on a single day. All GRs were passed on February 13 this year. Contracts worth Rs 80 crore were issued for the purchase of snacks (chikki) for anganwadis and schoolchildren from NGOs that were blacklisted by the UPA government in the state. Munde also cleared tenders pertaining to the purchase of books and medicines for children.

As per rules, orders above Rs 3 lakh are to be placed through e-tendering.

Following the revelation, the Congress is demanding Munde’s resignation. “Pankaja Munde should step down and an inquiry needs to be conducted. If Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is guilty, he too should step down,” Congress party spokesperson Sachin Sawant told reporters today. A defensive BJP, however, insisted that it was too early to call for Munde’s resignation. Party spokesperson Shaina NC said the Congress should first submit evidence against Munde. “If there is

any proof of wrongdoing, it will be proved, but first let the Congress come out with whatever evidence they have against Pankaja Munde,” Shaina said. Pankaja Munde, who is in the US, rubbished all allegations and denied any wrongdoing. Former chief minister and Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan demanded a CBI inquiry saying the scam exposed the “true colours” of the government. Asked if he would demand Munde’s resignation, Chavan said “Be it Pankaja Munde or Vinod Tawade (education minister caught in a row over educational qualification), this government would not remove anyone. After all, this the policy of the Modi government to brazen out all allegations.” The scam first came to light on June 15 when the office of Pankaja Munde received a letter from Ahmednagar zila parishad president Manjushree Gund complaining about the quality of chikki (a popular snack) distributed among tribal students under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS). Gund said the chikki was contaminated with clay. This is the first time that an alleged scam of this magnitude has come to light after the BJP-Shiv Sena

this issue, as it has done “nothing wrong”.

The BJP had given her a clean chit saying that documents released by Lalit Modi were unsigned and, therefore, unverified. So far as Raje was concerned, she said she was not aware of the documents furnished by Modi to the UK court when she was the Leader of the Opposition in Rajasthan and his passport

had been cancelled in India. Despite the “new evidence” piling against Raje, the BJP seems to have adopted a “wait and watch” policy.

Party sources say the top leadership is waiting to see how the situation unfolds. However, there is a huge crisis facing the party, a fact that is now worrying the RSS.

28 i

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Saturday, June 27, 2015 Ingredients

Disc jockey shot dead for not playing Bullett Raja song

disc jockey at a party in northern India was shot dead by a guest, apparently for not playing a song. The guest has been jailed, Brajesh Srivastava, additional superintendent of police in Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh state, said.Police said the gun owned by the guest was illegal and had been confiscated. The song the guest is said to have wanted played is called Tamanche pe disco, which translates from Hindi as “dancing with an illegal firearm”. The victim, identified

i 29

as Arun Valmiki, had been hired as a disc jockey for a private party organised at the residence of a local businessman, one of his relatives said.

The man who shot Valmiki is a relative of the host and, armed with a revolver, fired in the air several times while on the dance floor, the victim’s relative added. In the video for the song, which is from a film called Bullett Raja, the hero is seen flaunting a revolver while dancing in a discotheque. Valmiki had been taken to a government hospital but was declared dead on arrival.

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• 250gto boneless chicken Fake degree controversy returns haunt BJP’s • 2tbsp rapeseed oil Education Minister Minister Smriti Irani • 1 medium red onion

• 3 large battlestomatoes against Congress, espelready reeling under the • ½cially cup cashew nuts Rahul Gandhi. embarrassment of the help • 100gThe tomato puree metropolitan magist their foreign minister and Rajas• 1 tbsp dried out fenugreek leaves rate ruled technical objecthan CM had extended to contro• 100ml low fat cream tions like delay in filing of the versial cricket entrepreneur Lalit • 1tsp garam masala complaint and said it was filed Modi, the Narendra Modi govern• 1tsp red chilli powder within the period of limitation ment and the BJP suffered a fresh • 1tbsp gingergarlic as stipulated underpaste the CrPC. blow on Wednesday when a Delhi • 2tbsp thick low yoghurt He noted the fat issue of delay in trial court took cognizance of the • salt to taste allegation that HRD minister Smriti Irani launching a criminal prosecution may be Mumbai toxic alcohol ‘supplier’ arrested in Delhi considered later when the court arrives at gave conflicting information about her eduolice in Delhi say they have arrested a risen to 102, and 40 others, suffering from sympa final decision.

The charge against Iran cational qualifications in different affidavits Procedure: man who supplied the toxic alcohol which toms of poisoning, are being treated in hospitals. is that she made contrasting claims abou filedinwith Election “The the onions and tomatoes.

Sevenpaste people, two women, have soak been the she Marinate the chicken with the ginger andincluding the yoghurt for 20 min. cashew warm water Commission. for 15 minutes.chop Heat 1 tbsp has killed more than 100 people in Mumbai.

The garlic her education in affidavits filed with the arguments madethe by the complainant regardalready arrested Mumbai connection oil toman a pan. sear thethe chicken hot oil for 1 in minute onin each side to awith golden colour. remove chicken pieces. in the same pan, add 1tbsp oil and the chopped 26-year-old smuggled alcoholpieces fromin the EC. A gleeful opposition pounced on the maintainability of medium the plea flame hold merit, ” tomatoes thethe incident.

Policered saidchili Mohammed Khan, neighbouring Gujarat delivered it pink. to lo- Add onions. sautestate till and a translucent tomatoes, powder,Latif garam masalaing powder and cook on till the are tender (approx. 4-5 court order that comes in the immediate Jainand saidadd in an supplier, Mumbai after the in- a metropolitan cal dealers in Mumbai, the police said.

The and liquor minutes). remove from flame run the in amain blender withhad thefled soaked cashews to make smooth paste.magistrate return toAkash the pan the tomato puree. Bring to a boil and add aftermath of the arrest of Jitender Tomar, cidenttill and had been staying at a friend’s place in fat cream order and which essentially theBroil complaint was thenthe sold from illegal liquor vends for in Mumchicken pieces. simmer 4-5 minutes the chicken is cooked.

Add the low simmer for 2meant minutes. the fenugreek leaves on a pan. crush the Delhi.“During questioning, we got to know that of freelance writer Ahmer Khan against Irani former law minister in the Arvind Kejriwbai. Toxic alcohol deaths areover a regular occurrence fenugreek leaves the curry and remove from fire. serve hot. the suspect used to source the illicit liquor from in India, where people often drink cheap bootleg was serious in nature, and could spell trouble al government, for forging his educational liquor. The death toll in the latest incident has Gujarat’s Ahmedabad [city],” a police official for the minister who has spearheaded many degrees. said.

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India to provide $1 billion for quake-hit Nepal’s reconstruction

E

SOUTH ASIA

Saturday, June 27, 2015

xternal affairs minister Sushma Swaraj on Thursday announced that India would provide an assistance of $1 billion for quake-hit Nepal’s reconstruction. The external affairs minister announced India’s assistance package in Kathmandu during the international conference on Nepal’s reconstruction being organised by the Nepalese government to raise funds for carrying out rebuilding of areas devastated by the massive earthquake of April 25 that left nearly 9,000 people dead. India’s total assistance to Nepal over the next five years now stands at $2 billion, Swaraj said. “Let us take inspiration from ancient philosophy of Yoga and join hands to create a more resilient Nepal,” Sushma Swaraj said. Sushma Swaraj is on a twoday visit to Nepal. On Wednesday, Swaraj called on Nepal Prime Minister Sushil Koirala and conveyed to him that India will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the quake-battered country in its massive reconstruction efforts and ensure “quickest” recovery.

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Afghan president honours parliament attack hero

fghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani on Tuesday honoured Sergeant Eessa Khan of afghan army for singlehandedly killing six terrorists who attacked the parliament building in Kabul on Monday morning. The president gifted him an apartment in appreciation of his valour. He was also given a medal and will be promoted.

Sgt Eessa Khan being felicitated by Afghan President Ashraf Afghanistan’s Chief Ghani in Kabul, on June 23, 2015.

Executive Dr Abdullah TOLOnews.com, Khan said, “I am very hapAbdullah and a number of high-ranking government officials were py to be alive and proud I could defend my also present in the ceremony at the presi- country.” He said:”I killed 6 Pakistani slaves dent’s office. Ghani tweeted saying he was - Taliban” today in Kabul. “I was prepared to proud of Khan’s “resolve and heroism”. In defend my country with every drop of blood an interview given to Afghan news website in me,” he added.

Many Bangladeshis suspect Pak’s hand behind attacks on secular bloggers

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ith the recent killings of three secular bloggers in Bangladesh by fundamentalists, the country’s intellectuals here are suspecting Pakistan’s hand behind the brutal attacks and feel that an international intervention is required to ensure their safety.

“These attacks may be executed by radical elements here but the brain behind those attack is Pakistani establishment who have been vehemently opposing trials and sentences of war criminals,” said Imran H Sarkar, a leading blogger of the country, and one of the main architects behind the 2013 Shahbag protests.

Bloggers, who have been constantly living under the threat of being killed by the fundamentalists, feel that Bangladesh government should be more proactive in stopping the attacks on bloggers and intellectuals of Bangladesh.

“Those attacks on bloggers and threats to liberal-minded intellectuals are a handiwork of Jamaat-e-Islami and other radical fundamentalist elements,” Sarkar said.

NRI Bobby Jindal to run for US President

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obby Jindal (pictured) this week announced that he would run for the US presidency in 2016, giving himself a mountain to climb from the bottom of a full pack of Republican candidates.

“My name is Bobby Jindal and I am running for President of the United States of America,” Jindal, who became the first person of Indian-American heritage to run for US president, said on his website.

Jindal, 44, appeared later on Wednesday in the New Orleans suburb of Kenner to formally announce his decision. His website featured videos of Jindal and his wife, Supriya, telling their three children that he was going to be a candidate and promising his daughter they would get a puppy if they moved to the White House.

Once seen as a rising Republican star, Jindal has struggled with a fiscal crisis and a slump in popularity in his home state and usually ranks near the bottom in polls of Republicans seeking the nomination for the November 2016 presidential election. Jindal, a two-term governor who also represented Louisiana in the US House of Representatives, joins 12 other Republicans in the race.

3 years jail for passport fraud

SINGAPORE: A 36-year-old Indian-origin Singaporean, who was an accomplice of notorious football match-fixer Wilson Raj, has been jailed for nearly three years for passport fraud and harbouring a criminal. Raja Morgan Chelliah admitted last month to providing false information to the Immigration and Checkpoint Authority (ICA) to procure a Singapore biometric passport bearing the match-fixer Raj’s photograph but issued under the name of another accomplice, Subramaniam Sellapah. Chelliah also pleaded guilty to selling the fraudulent passport for Singapore dollars 5,000 to a middleman, of which he paid Singapore dollars 2,000 to Subramaniam, and for harbouring Raj by pro-

viding him with that passport and another one earlier in the name of Raja Morgan.

FIJI

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Ba businessman jailed for 8 years in $3 million road scam

a businessman TF Jan BulldozFiroz Jan Moing Company Ltd hammed was director Firoz Jan jailed for eight years jail Mohammed, was in a bribery scam and found guilty of a former civil servants count of bribery Iliesa Turagacati and of public officials, Navitalai Tamanitoakuone count of obla received six years and taining financial Firoz Jan Mohammed is escorted by a police fours years respectively. advantage and one officer out of the High Court in Suva The fourth convicted count of pervertperson, Aisea Liwaiono was handed a susing the course of justice. Former civil serpended sentence by Justice Paul Madigan. vant Iliesa Turagacati is guilty of one count The High Court in Suva has convicted four of receiving a bribe and one count of causing men of scamming $3.13million from the a loss; Navitalai Tamanitoakula, also a forState with judge Justice Paul Madigan saymer civil servant, Aisea Liwaiono and Vijay ing some defence witnesses were “coached” Prasad each faced a charge of causing a loss. during the 28 day trial.

Prasad was found not guilty.

The men swindled the funds intended for a (then) Department of National Roads project in the Nausori Highlands.

Good News!

New local film launched

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eonidas the locally-produced movie being shot in the North has been launched with new songs. Producer Mukesh Prasad said a trip to India was also planned for talks on the possibility of featuring some Bollywood actors. He said the movie would portray the arrival of the first Indians in 1869. “I’m trying to get the story done on the film of how the Indians came, how they struggled in this country and where they are now in terms of their achievements,” Mr Prasad said. “The movie will show all the Fijians of Indian descent in different businesses, the integration and relation we have with the country, including places where the first indentured labourers stayed.

Corruption claims will not be ignored by PAC

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o allegations of corruption raised in the Auditor-General’s report will be considered out-of-date by the Public Accounts Committee.

Without mincing its words in its consolidated report on the Auditor-General’s 2007-2009 reports, the committee said it would address corruption claims against civil servants, regardless of whether the official was no longer employed in the public sector. Expressing “grave” concern on cases alleging gross maladministration or corruption made in the three Auditor-General’s reports, the PAC said each allegation was a threat to good governance.

“By consensus of the Public Accounts Committee, all references by the Auditor-General involving allegations of gross maladministration or corruption is being compiled and will be referred to FICAC. Due to the public nature of all the allegations raised by the Auditor-General, there is an expectation that FICAC, has, in some way, at least made initial investigations with some of the matters already,” the committee said in its report.

Saturday, June 27, 2015 i 31

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Strike halts cane crushing at Rarawai mill

rushing at the Rarawai mill in Ba was brought to an immature halt from Tuesday this week after more than 100 cane lorry operators went on strike.

The issue arose when Fiji Sugar Corporation workers informed the drivers that dumper trucks ferrying mechanically-harvested cane would be given first preference at the mill yard.

Farmers and lorry operators said they informed the FSC that all trucks had to follow the queue and when their concerns were not given consideration, lorry operators refused to dump their cane at the mill.

Pushp Ram Sharma, a grower and lorry owner, said the preference given to mechanically-harvested cane was unfair on all canegrowers.

“They have to follow the queue,

Good News!

it’s as simple as that,” Sharma said.

“We want them to follow the rules and processes that are in place simply by letting trucks in according to when they arrive at the mill.”

Sharma said 25 trucks unloaded cane on Monday, seven on Tuesday and none yesterday after lorry operators stood down.

“We are seeking legal advice before considering what type of action we could take to address this issue. We have chosen not to take our concerns to the Sugar Industry Tribunal or the Sugar Cane Growers Council because they do not represent our interests any longer.”

However, in an earlier interview, he said it was up to the Sugar Industry Tribunal to make a ruling should a problem arise.

Good News!

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China blocks India’s move in UN seeking action

65 mercy pleas rejected

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resident Mumnoon Husain has rejected the mercy petitions of 65 condemned prisoners since the moratorium on death sentence was lifted following the Peshawar Army School tragedy last year, media reported on Tuesday.

According to official reports, Pakistan has executed approximately 150 “criminals” over the past six months, Dawn online reported.

The only woman whose mercy petition had been rejected is Kaneezan Bibi of Lahore, a convict in a murder case. All these 65 condemned prisoners will be executed after Ramadan as their pleas have been rejected by the apex court, the report said. Kaneezan Bibi, who is mentally unstable, will be the ninth woman to be hanged in Pakistan.

According to official documents, pleas of 47 other women on death row were pending in different courts. The government on June 13 suspended execution of all black warrants during Ramadan. The executions will be resumed after Eidul Fitr. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif partially lifted the moratorium on executions linked to terrorism following the December 2014 Taliban attack on Peshawar’s Army Public School, which left over 140 students and staff dead. The moratorium was lifted completely on March 10.

UNITED NATIONS: China has blocked India’s move in the UN demanding action against Pakistan over release of Mumbai attack mastermind and LeT commander Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi in violation of a resolution of the world body as it contended that India provided insufficient information. As the UN sanctions committee met here at India’s request, a clarification was to be sought from Pakistan over Lakhvi’s release in the 26/11 trial but the Chinese representatives blocked the move on grounds that India did not provide sufficient information, official

sources said. In a letter to the current chair of the UN sanctions committee Jim McLay, India’s permanent representative to the UN Asoke Mukherjee last month had said Lakhvi’s release by a Pakistani court was in violation of the 1267 UN resolution dealing with designated entities and individuals.

The sanctions measures apply to designated individuals and entities associated with terror groups including al-Qaeda and LeT, wherever located. The sanctions’ committee has five permanent and 10 non-permanent UN member states in it. The release of Lakhvi had also raised concerns in the US, UK, Rus-

Army chief vows to make nation “terror free” hief of Army staff general

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Raheel Sharif has vowed to apprehend all terrorists, their facilitators and financiers in order to achieve the objective of a ‘terror-free’ Pakistan. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), general Sharif, who returned from a three-day visit to Moscow on Friday night, spent the entire day with troops in the Khyber Agency to review the progress of a military operation against terrorists, which is in its concluding phase.

Sharif first visited Jawaro near the Pa-

kistan and Afghanistan border where terrorist strongholds have been greatly reduced, and “now fight in progress in last few pockets,” DG ISPR, major-general Asim Saleem Bajwa tweeted.

Addressing the troops, Sharif said the area in which the operation was carried out was heavily infested with IEDs, mostly foreign-made, and after North Waziristan, terrorists in Khyber Agency were using the most rugged terrain as their strongholds.

Heatwave death toll at 1,200

Over 1,200 persons have died in Pakistan’s Sindh province due to a heatwave described as the worst in decades, as major hospitals in the country’s largest city struggled to cope with the unprecedented influx of patients seeking treatment for heatstroke-related illness. The death toll in worst-hit Karachi, Sindh’s provincial capital, has reached 1,000, with more than 200 people reported dead in other parts of the province. Anwar Kazmi of Edhi Foundation, which runs the largest

ambulance service in the region, told PTI that death toll in Karachi, a metropolis of over 18 million people, has reached 1,000.

“At least 1,000 have been killed in Karachi only. I do not have data of rest of Sindh province but there are reports of deaths,” he said. Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah said that more than 200 have died in the interior areas of Sindh due to the intense heatwave. The Sindh government has declared public holiday today

Patients suffering from heat at a hospital in Karachi on Wednesday.

sia, France and Germany with Washington calling for him to be re-arrested. Lakhvi and six others — Abdul Wajid, Mazhar Iqbal, Hamad Amin Sadiq, Shahid Jameel Riaz, Jamil Ahmed and Younis Anjum — have been charged with planning and executing the Mumbai attack in November, 2008 that left 166 people dead. Lakhvi, 55, a close relative of LeT founder and Jamaat—Ud Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed, was arrested in December 2008 and was indicted along with the six others on November 25, 2009 in connection with the 26/11 attack case. The trial has been underway since 2009.

Claims India funded MQM party not verified by UK Pakistan says it will pursue more information from the British government over claims that the MQM party was funded by Indian’s government. MQM officials told UK investigators they had received money from the Indian government, according to an unconfirmed media report.

Indian authorities say the claims made to the BBC are “completely baseless”. The MQM also denies them. Party spokesman Saif Muhammad Ali told BBC Urdu that the MQM had never received any funding or training from India. He said authorities in Pakistan were running a campaign against the party.

Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Pakistan’s interior minister, said on Thursday he would write to the British government on Friday.

He said they had a duty to “extend as much help as possible” to Pakistan on the investigation.

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Magna CEO Don Walker urges steps to keep auto assembly in Canada

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agna CEO Don Walker says Canada should make it a priority to set policies that will keep auto assembly and the spinoff jobs connected with it in the country.

The autoparts maker operates in lowcost jurisdictions such as Mexico, but Walker says he believes Canada can remain competitive.

“I think it should be a high priority for Canada to keep the auto assemblers here and keep them growing and if we can attract new ones that’s great as well,” he said in an interview.

“But I think there’s a good chance we can keep the people that are here if we have the right policies and if we make sure we are competitive with energy prices and make sure that anything else we are going is not going to put an added burden to companies that make them say ‘well I’d be better off somewhere else,’ because it’s a global industry.” Free trade with Europe is an important priority to keep the auto sector healthy, he said, in part because the U.S. is behind Canada in negotiating a deal. Walker said labour costs in Canada aren’t the biggest hurdle.

“I don’t think we have to give up the shop floor because the assembly plant, there’s a lot of labour there but it’s probably only 8 to 10 per cent of the total cost of the car. So a much bigger part of their cost comes from parts makers, companies like Magna... and they can shop that around the world,” he said. The auto sector continues to grow and auto assemblers are healthy five years after the financial crisis, he said. But the real key is continu-

ous innovation here to boost productivity, Walker said. “My philosophy is if you can’t improve your efficiency and productivity by a minimum of three per cent a year then you might as well get out of the business,” he said.

Magna has an estimated 47 autoparts plants in Canada and plans to invest further, about $250 million a year, he said. That means more jobs here, but not more plants, he added. Instead the bulk of Magna’s investment will be in markets like Mexico, China and eastern Europe. Walker anticipates the world will be building 100 million cars a year by the end of the decade. “We’re going to be launching $5 billion US dollars of additional work between 2015 and 2017 and the only reason we get that work is because we are competitive,” he said.

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Saturday, June 27, 2015 i 33

Alberta Motor Vehicle Industry Council sued for negligence

$5-million class-action lawsuit alleges the Alberta Motor Vehicle Industry Council’s negligence caused numerous car owners to lose thousands of dollars to a failed auto-consignment company.

The lawsuit, recently filed in Calgary, claims the Alberta Motor Vehicle Industry Council (AMVIC) failed to effectively regulate the business practices within the auto industry, and alleges Service Alberta failed to properly oversee AMVIC. The allegations relate to the failure of Treadz, a Red Deer-based, auto-consignment company. The lawsuit claims Treadz, owned

by Sean Patrick O’Brien, failed to pay owners after their vehicles were sold and failed, as promised, to remove liens from the vehicles.

But the lawsuit makes the broader claim that Service Alberta failed to properly oversee AMVIC by not ensuring AMVIC acted to correct serious deficiencies in its policies and operational conduct identified in two reviews.

As reported by CBC News in April, an internal Service Alberta draft review of AMVIC, conducted in the fall of 2014, found so

many serious problems it recommended immediate action to maintain public and industry confidence in the arm’s length regulator.

The review also found AMVIC executive director John Bachinski acted “as a tyrant and dictator who interprets any question of decision, direction or process as disobedience and responds with intimidation, veiled threats of firing, or general bullying and belittling.”

The council licenses and regulates both auto dealers and repair shops. It also investigates consumer complaints.

It is supposed to serve as the self-regulating watchdog over the industry on behalf of the public. AMVIC operates under the purview of Service Alberta, which appoints a board to oversee it.

The lawsuit claims that despite the scathing review, AMVIC “failed to fully implement the recommendations” made by Service Alberta in March 2009, February 2013 and August 2014, and “to date, Service Alberta has failed to sanction AMVIC for its failure to implement these recommendations.”

Samsung’s ‘see-through’ trucks aim to reduce risk of passing on highway

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avigating busy two-lane highways can mean drivers often can’t see the road for the cars and take a risk that can prove fatal when they attempt to overtake large vehicles like transport trucks.

The Korean technology giant Samsung wants to reduce that risk with the help of

technology that allows drivers to virtually see “through” the vehicles ahead of them.

Using monitors mounted on the back of a truck or other large vehicle and connected wirelessly to a camera in front, Samsung’s Safety Truck technology shows drivers what’s ahead of the 18-wheeled obstruction they’re driving behind — day or night.

Samsung believes it could save lives and limit accidents caused by overtaking and sudden braking. It built a prototype that was tested on the roads in Argentina, where two-lane roads are common and traffic accidents are among the leading causes of death, according to healthdata.org.

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Chana Daal

15LB

Coupon for Vancouver Location Only. Expires June29TH

Try something new - your taste buds will thank you

NOW AVAILABLE Pakistani Hafshi Halva

.98

3

10LB

Almas

Indian Basmati

Swarna Atta 20lb PureCane Sugar Crispy Naan

.98

4

8LB

4LB

Rozana Basmati Swarna Sooji

VISIT OUR IN-HOUSE BAKERY

.88

2

After Limit 3.89

LIMIT 5

Chana Flour 4lb

.89

4

¢

2 FOR

(400 g)

2 FOR

500 g

2 FOR

Pastaville Spaghetti

Heer 8lb Campagna Chick Peas Brown Sugar

Spinach

Sale from June 26th– 29h while supplies last. We reserve the right to limit QTY. Prices for Vancouver Only

Your One-Stop Desi Shop 34 i Saturday, June 27, 2015

Saturday, June 27, 2015 i 35

$0

36 i Saturday, June 27, 2015