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VOL 23 - ISSUE 32

www.theasianstar.com SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2024

Jagmeet Singh should think of Canadians and not about his pension - Poilievre

By Umendra Singh: Federal Opposition Leader and leader of the Conservative Party, Pierre Poilievre, says it is very disheartening to see how the lives of Canadians have been shattered by the policies of what he called the federal “NDP-Liberal” coalition over the past 9 years.

“Heartbreaking to se how life has become so horrible for Canadians,” he said.

“Housing market in BC is the most expensive in the world,” he said, again blaming the federal Liberal Government and the Federal NDP for keeping the Liberals in power. Cost of food is so high in Canada that 2 million people line up at

food bank and 25 percent of kids go to school hungry every day.

“We just learned from a food professor that 43 million Canadians are consuming less food today than 38 million Canadians consumed in 2019. Even though our population increased, we are eating less due to the high food costs, he said. Tent cities and encampments in every city in Canada – which wasn’t there before NDP+Liberals .

“Crime has increased by 50 percent and gun crime has increased by 120 percent under the NDP-Liberal Coalition’s catch and release policies.

Continued on Page 4...

RCMP see hallmarks of extortion in Surrey gunfire and arson attempt RCMP say gunfire and an apparent arson attempt at a Surrey, B.C., home bear the hallmarks of recent extortion attempts in the community. Police were called to a home near 88 Avenue and 192 Street in the Port Kells neighbourhood shortly after 3 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 10. Officers found signs of a shooting along with evidence of an attempted arson, police said in a Tuesday media release. Someone associated with the home then received a demand for money on Sunday, leading police to believe the incident is linked to ongoing extortion attempts across the Lower Mainland. “Thankfully no one was injured during this incident,” Surrey RCMP

Sgt. Tammy Lobb said.

“The Surrey RCMP continues to take reports of extortions very seriously, we do have a dedicated team of investigators who are working on those investigations, and we encourage anyone who becomes the victim of an extortion to call the Surrey RCMP immediately, to not give in to those demands and to stop communicating with the people communicating with them asking for money.”

Anyone with information about the vehicle or who saw it near 88 Avenue and 192 Street on Aug. 10 between 3 and 4 a.m. is asked to call Surrey RCMP at 604-599-0502

Indian migrants drive surge in US border crossings A group of immigrants from India pile out of a taxi minivan beside the Clinton County, New York, government building in this small

upstate city half an hour from the Canadian border.

They are quickly swarmed by a half a dozen fellow Indian immigrants who’ve waited hours for this business opportunity.

This fleet of jitney taxis offering migrants rides south to New York City is one clear example of the informal economy that’s sprung up following a significant increase in unauthorized crossings across the usually sleepy northern border over the last year and a half.

Continued on Page 10...

TEL: 604-591-5423

Sikh man was shaved without consent at Brampton hospital

The family of a Sikh man being treated in Brampton Civic Hospital say staff shaved his beard without their permission, violating his religious beliefs as he lay unconscious.

Joginder Singh Kaler maintains Sikh articles of faith so his family says they told hospital staff not to shave his beard. But when they went to visit the 85-year-old, who is being treated for a serious fall, they were shocked by what they saw.

Continued on Page 7...

BC signs national pharmacare deal with Ottawa

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British Columbia has become the first province in Canada to sign a pharmacare agreement with the federal government that would help the province fund hormone replacement therapy and diabetes expenses.

Federal Health Minister Mark Holland said B.C.'s portion of the $1.5-billion national plan is estimated to be $195 million, and under the memorandum of understanding, funding could begin by April once the legislation makes it through the Senate.

Continued on Page 10...

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BC purchases property near Surrey Langley SkyTrain for at least 700 homes At least 700 homes will be built near the Surrey Langley SkyTrain project, the B.C. government said Thursday, after confirming it is purchasing 14 properties in the area.

Transportation Minister Rob Fleming announced the move, explaining it’s the first time the province has made a purchase like this. “This project is going to be tremendous for Surrey and Langley, and this project, for once, is going to align the development of our number one need in this community and across British Columbia — affordable housing with a worldclass SkyTrain system,” Fleming said.

The development will be completed over the next decade, Fleming explained. While historically barred from buying land for the purpose of building housing, the minister shared that the ability to do this changed with the introduction of Bill 16.

“For one reason or another, [we have] never integrated the planning and development and investment in transportation infrastructure with the number one need and priority of our citizens,

Surrey city council approves first step in obtaining own Charter

which is to have more housing choices,” Fleming said. “And now we are doing that. The Surrey Langley SkyTrain is the first such project where British Columbia has intentionally done that.”

The four acres of land will also eventually be home to child-care facilities, job centres, public plazas, and green spaces, Fleming added. “The days of ‘build it and they will come’ are over, the days of build it together are here.”

The Surrey Langley SkyTrain Project is slated to extend the Expo Line 16 kilometres from King George Station to Langley City Centre along the Fraser Highway. It will include eight new stations and three new bus exchanges.

Surrey North Liberal MP Randeep Sarai (left), PM Justin Trudeau (middle) and Surrey Newton Liberal MP Sukh Dhaliwal (right)

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was the chief guest at a barbecue at Surrey’s Bear Creek Park last Saturday. The event was organized by the Liberal MP for Surrey Newton, Sukh Dhaliwal.

The Surrey city council has decided to move forward with obtaining its own charter Monday.

During a council meeting, councillors discussed how its own Charter would help reshape how the city manages growth and development as it is set to become B.C.’s largest city. Councillor Linda Annis says it’s time to start “thinking like a big city.”

“We’ve got between twelve and fifteen hundred people moving to Surrey each and every month,” she said.

Mayor Brenda Locke says she’s “very convinced” this is something Surrey needs not only because Surrey is going to be the largest

city in B.C. “We are going to be the economic engine… We are going to be the first city to hit a million people, and we need every tool we can get,” she said.

The mayor says this move is not meant to take the province’s power away, but rather to work more closely with the province.

“For the province and for the city of Surrey, and I see this as a very progressive move for Surrey, and I know that it will deliver for us in spades, moving into the future,” Locke said.

The city’s request to have its own charter will now go to the province. Vancouver is the only municipality in B.C. that has its own Charter.

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Man suspected of setting Surrey business owner on fire wanted on assault charges in Alberta

Two more witnesses who jumped into action to help save a Surrey man who was set on fire inside his business earlier this month are sharing their accounts of the terrifying incident.

Suspect in what RCMP said was an attempted murder, was wanted in Alberta at the time of the alleged attack.

“We saw an episode that usually you can’t see in movies,” Qasim Khanzada said Monday. “It’s very sad,” Khanzada said.

On August 2, the pair, along with Zeeshan Wahla, were waiting inside Whalley’s SNS Currency Exchange when owner Rahat Rao went into a back room with a man who appeared to be a

client. Seconds later, the trio sensed something was wrong when Khanzada saw fire through the door’s hinges.

“It’s very scary, he (Rao) was screaming inside,” said Chohan, who serves as president of the Pakistani-Canadian Community Association.

“After a few seconds, the door opened and we saw Rahat Rao in flames,” added Khanzada.

The currency exchange owner ran outside, followed by the three men, who did what they could to put out the fire.

“It was, like, literally a foot above his head,” recalled Khanzada. “He was on fire from head to toe.”

Well known community member and notary public, Tarlok Sablok (middle), was honored recently by the Canadian government.

On Saturday September 7, Sablok was awarded the King Charles III coronation medal by Her Excellency, the Right Honorable Mary Simon, the Governor General of Canada, Sablok was bestowed this honor for his significant contributions to community and country.

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Jagmeet Singh should think of Canadians and not about his pension - Poilievre

Without phone distractions, school makes more sense.

Keeping phones out of school can help support students’ mental health, social connections and ideally their understanding of algebra.

Learn more at gov.bc.ca/PhonesAndSchools

Continued from Page 1... “ We have lost over 45,000 of our friends, neighbors, brother, sisters and relatives to drug overdose and BC has highest drug overdoses in Canada and possibly in all North America.

In BC drug overdoes are up again due to these wild, woke, weird experiments with drug decriminalisation and with taxpayer funded opioid machines that are killing our kids,” he said.

“Life was not like this before the NDP-Liberal coalition and life will not be like this after the NDP-Liberal government is gone,” he said.

He promised to bring crime under control, ensure safe streets and fix the budget and bring down the price of food.

“And we will axe the carbon tax. This will be the defining issue of the carbon tax election,” he said. Poilievre said that NDP-Liberals, if elected, will continue increasing price of carbon tax to 61 cents a litre from the current 17 cents a litre, which would grind the economy to a halt.

“It will be a nuclear winter for our economy,” he said. But his party will axe the carbon tax if elected and this axing of the carbon tax will reduce the price of food, gas, heating and reduce the overall cost of living in Canada.

“We will cut income tax so people can get more money home,” Poilievre promised.

“We will cut government waste and spending and reduce government debt,” he said.

The Opposition leader said that Prime Minister Trudeau and his NDP buddies have doubled the national debt, and they have compiled a debt that is much higher than all previous governments combined. Poilievre promised to streamline bureaucracy so that government permits are issued faster cheaper. He said more money in the cost of a new home goes to governments in permits and licences and fees than towards actual material, land and labor. $1.3 million of governmental costs goes into building a new home in Vancouver. More money in building a new home goes to government than to tradesperson. He said that Canada has the fewest homes per capita in G7 countries even though Canada has the most land.

He promised that every federal funded transit station will be surrounded by high-rises to provide housing.

Talking about crime, Poilievre said that a recent machete murder by a released repeat offender was just a repeat story for major urban centres in Canada because of the NDP-Liberal policies.

He said in Vancouver, Police officers arrested the same 40 repeat offenders 6,000 times in one year – this means each offender was arrested every two days. These are rampant career criminals and repeat offenders on the streets.

In Penticton, whenever a career repeat offender named Levi is out of jail, the crime rate for the whole city goes up – by actions of just one person.

“I will pass a law that any career criminal or repeat offender will not be allowed bail, parole or house arrest - it will be jail not bail for chronic repeat offenders,” he said.

Poilievre said that the NDP-Liberals have told prosecutors not to prosecute drug dealers and repeat offenders and that is why they are out on the streets.”

“We will stop the drugs. Trudeau and the NDP decriminalized crack and heroin and they are not stopping drug dealers.”

“We will stop that and provide treatment for our kids and friends, who need it,” He said he will protect the borders by putting high powered scanners to check all containers coming into our country.

Talking of immigrants, he will bring in a scheme to allow immigrants to work in their chosen professions.

“We have 20,000 immigrant doctors and 32,000 nurses who can’t work as doctors and nurses because they can’t e licensed.”

Poilievre promised a national “blue seal” qualifying exam to provide Canadian standard qualifying exams for foreign professionals to take and pass and be licensed here.

He blamed Justin Trudeau and NDP for the current problem with the foreign student program.

“Trudeau and Jagmeet Singh removed all safeguards for foreign student application. Now we have rampant fraud, abuse and even criminal behavior that exploits foreign students.

“They have 26 foreign students living in one basement suite in Brampton; we have foreign students sold in sex slavery, are addicted and some have gone home in body bags, he said.

Polyvore promised that to prevent this kind of abuse and chaos, all foreign students must prove they have accommodation, prove they money to pay bills here without having to work 60 hours a week and must have international level credentials to be admitted to a university here.

Answering question about high number of refugee claims, Poilievre said he will have a system whereby refugee claims will be dealt within 18 months of a claim being filed – not let cases dragged on for years and years. He also said

that there are false or bogus claims, mostly form countries like Mexico - Trudeau allowed visa free travel from Mexico and most of the visitors filed for refugee claims once they reached here. This will stop, he said of abuse of the refugee system must stop and these kinds of false claims should be dealt with rapidly.

Poilievre said he will move a motion of no confidence in the minority Liberal; government to force an early election but he said federal NDP leader Jagmeet Singh can’t be trusted as he voted with the Liberals to increase carbon tax to up to 61cents a litre. He further said he does not trust Jagmeet Singh to vote for an early election because Singh will w ait until his pension kicks in next year., “I ask Jagmeet Singh to think of the people and not think of his $2 million pension,” he said.

Talking about BC Conservatives, he said he would prefer to work with provincial partners who think like him. He said he does not want to decrease taxes on national level just so that a provincial NDP government to increase taxes here.

“We need a commonsense partner here in BC who will join with us to axe the tax, build homes and cut crime,” he said.

Poilievre accused Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of refusing to act tough against China because the Chinese Communist government helped him win election in 2019 and 2021 by interfering in Canadian politics.

“Trudeau knew about this interference but did not act to stop it because it helped him,” Poilievre claimed.

He said he will shut down illegal Chinese police stations set up in Canada intimidate Chinese Canadians.

OPINION

Trudeau loses NDP support but Bloc Quebecois ready to strike a deal Could the Trudeau government go from being propped up by the NDP to being kept afloat by the Bloc Quebecois?

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By Michael Taube: Think Canadian politics is dull? Take a closer look at recent events in Ottawa, and you might just change your mind.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Liberals have just lost the strategic support of Jagmeet Singh and the NDP. This creates the possibility that the minority Liberal government may now shift from being propped up by the centre-left, social democratic NDP to relying on the centreleft, sovereigntist, and social democratic Bloc Quebecois to remain in power.

Let’s go back a few years.

On Mar. 23, 2022, the Liberals and NDP crafted a working arrangement called “Delivering for Canadians Now, A Supply and Confidence Agreement.” The deal identified “key policy areas where there is a desire for a similar medium-term outcome,” such as national dental care and pharmacare. In return, the NDP agreed not to trigger a parliamentary vote of non-confidence against Trudeau’s government. The national dental care plan for low-income Canadians received the most attention.

Originally proposed by the NDP during the 2019 and 2021 elections, the plan aimed to cover around 6.5 million uninsured Canadians with household incomes below $90,000. According to an Oct. 7, 2020 report by the Parliamentary Budget Officer, implementing the program would have cost $1.4 billion in the 2020-21 fiscal year. The cost was projected to rise to $4.6 billion in 2021-22 and then average $1.7 billion annually between 2022-23 and 2024-25.

Despite this, Trudeau introduced the Canadian Dental Care Plan on Dec. 1, 2022. The Liberal plan also focused on Canadian families earning less than $90,000 a year and without private insurance. It offered up to $1,300 over two years for any child under 12 in the household. According to a CBC report on Dec. 12, 2023, the program was labelled a “$13-billion insurance program,” and in “its current form, the plan is expected to cost the federal treasury about $4.4 billion per year.”

The plan has encountered numerous issues and delays since its launch. Health Minister Mark Holland ludicrously suggested that Pierre Poilievre and the Conservatives attempted to “sabotage” the plan through “bullying” dental associations.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2024

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No Frills® and MaxiMD Join the Cricket Canada Family as the Official Grocery Partner No Frills® and MaxiMD, Canada’s popular hard discount grocery retailers, are thrilled to announce an exciting new partnership with Cricket Canada as its Official Grocery Partner.

“As Canada’s fastest-growing sport, cricket has captured the hearts of many and brings communities together through the power of teamwork, passion and a shared love for the game,” said Melanie Singh, President of Hard Discount, Loblaw Companies. “We look forward to working closely with Cricket Canada to bring customers and fans closer to the sport they love and ensuring our contributions make a meaningful and lasting impact.”

This partnership establishes No Frills® as a key sponsor for select international

matches organized by Cricket Canada on Canadian soil. The inaugural event under this new partnership will be the No Frills® T20 Cup, an international tri-nation T20 cricket series featuring Canada, Nepal, and Oman. Set to take place later this month at the Maple Leaf Cricket Ground in King City, Ontario; this series promises to deliver thrilling cricket action to fans across Canada and further elevate the sport's profile in North America.

Through this partnership, No Frills® and MaxiMD will support and invest in the growth of cricket in Canada. This includes a range of experiential activations in-store and at Cricket Canada events, as well as National Team matches.

Amjad Bajwa, President of Cricket

Canada, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership: “Cricket Canada is thrilled to partner with iconic Canadian grocery brands that are so entrenched in the daily life of so many Canadians. No Frills® and MaxiMD share our commitment to community and accessibility. This exciting new partnership represents a significant step in our mission to not only enhance our National Teams and programs but also to grow the sport and help make cricket more accessible to Canadians from all walks of life.”

For more information on the No Frills® T20 Cup and to stay updated on ticket availability and match schedules, please visit Cricket Canada's official digital channels.

Canada is getting poorer when compared to its wealthy peers, data shows Canada is among the richest countries in the world — but when compared to peer countries like Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom, it isn't as rich as it once was.

And the wealth gap between Canada and the U.S. has only grown wider, according to figures published by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

Canada's relatively weak economic growth, combined with a population boom, has hit its standing among wealthy countries.

It's one reason why Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has turned to former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney to give him and his cabinet advice on how to juice economic growth.

Treasury Board President Anita Anand is also launching what she calls a "working group" to study the country's lacklustre productivity and find ways to boost economic output.

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The Bank of Canada is also seized with the issue. In March, Deputy Governor Carolyn Rogers sounded the alarm about the need to boost Canada's productivity. "You've seen those signs that say, 'In emergency, break glass.' Well, it's time to break the glass," she said in a speech.

Recent Statistics Canada data shows why: Canada's economy is growing overall but at a disappointing rate relative to population growth.

The country added nearly 1.3 million people last year — a 3.2 per cent increase — while the economy grew by just 1.1 per cent in the same time period. That means more people taking slices out of an economic pie that hasn't grown much bigger.

The news isn't all bad. Data shows real weekly earnings — a person's take home pay — has actually increased in Canada, even when accounting for inflation. The household savings rate is also up.

BC suspends harm-reduction vending machines pending review Automated kiosks that dispense harmreduction supplies on Vancouver Island have been suspended or removed while the Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions conducts a review.

The kiosks, which had been placed at hospitals in Nanaimo, Campbell River and Victoria in the fall of 2023, offered free access to supplies like naloxone, drugtesting strips and safe-sex kits alongside drug paraphernalia like bubble pipes and snorting utensils.

At least one kiosk on hospital grounds in

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Premier David Eby ordered a review of the program in late August after Gwen O'Mahony, the B.C. Conservative candidate for the Nanaimo-Lantzville riding, posted a video to social media highlighting her concerns about the vending machines.

The ministry told that while its review is underway, health authorities are suspending "harm reduction measures that do not offer an opportunity for an in-person connection with a peer or health care worker who can provide a connection to the system of care."

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CANADA NEWS

$3.2 million in investments promised to help Chinese students in Canada ruled a fraud A woman who claimed she was raising funds to help Chinese students and tourists was conducting a “predatory” multi-million-dollar fraud, B.C.’s financial regulator has ruled.

Meiyun Zhang solicited approximately $3.2 million from three B.C. investors, promising them their money would generate a risk-free return of six to 10 per cent a month between 2014 and 2016. To the investors, who were all born in China but lived in Vancouver or Richmond, Zhang varied her pitch “to find a message which would work for each of them,” according to a decision by a panel of the B.C. Securities Commission.

In the ruling published Wednesday, the panel found Zhang’s business proposals included using investors’ money to exchange foreign currency for Chinese students or tourists visiting Canada, providing loans for students to obtain visas, or

helping them immigrate to the country to study.

“Zhang did not spend the Investors’ money as promised,” the ruling states.

Instead, Zhang used the funds for gambling at casinos, retail shopping sprees, utility bills and covering her debts, including making returns to investors and paying back a loan from a Calgary realtor.

She was also found to have spent some of the funds on an immigration lawyer to dispute her removal order from Canada.

“Zhang’s actions were calculated and even predatory,” states the decision. Zhang’s con had similarities to both a Ponzi scheme, as she used new investments to pay back old returns, and affinity fraud, given that she targeted “a particular section of the population, exploiting trust and friendship within a group that (has) things in common.”

BC to provide 'bridge financing' for tree-fruit growers after sudden co-op closure

B.C. tree-fruit growers reeling from the sudden closure of the B.C. Tree Fruits Co-operative will be getting additional financial aid from the province.

The agriculture ministry said an estimated $4 million will be available as bridge financing for co-op members to ensure they receive money owed to them for past harvests without having to wait until co-operative’s credit protection process plays out. The funds will come from the

Investment Agriculture Foundation of B.C., an industry-led non-profit which will assume the coop members’ position as creditor and pay growers in the coming weeks. The foundation will then recoup funds at the end of the court process.

“These are very challenging times for B.C.’s tree-fruit growers and we are continuing to support them in getting their fruit to market as well as with cash in their pockets now,” said Agriculture Minister Pam Alexis.

Family calls treatment of loved one at Brampton Civic Hospital ‘distressing’ Continued from Page 1...

“He was clean-shaven. That was quite the sight …we were so hurt,” Jasjit Dhaliwal, Kaler’s son-in-law, tells adding they have yet to receive an apology.

The World Sikh Organization of Canada (WSO) says practicing Sikhs don’t cut or remove their hair or their beards and for someone to do so without consent is a violation.

“It’s an attack on someone’s dignity and to appear this way, it’s actually very troublesome,” Balpreet Singh Boparai, legal counsel for the WSO tells CityNews. “The family has courageously agreed to take this story forward and to allow pictures of their father to be published.”

Dhaliwal says the family hopes that by publicizing the story the same thing won’t happen to someone else.

“Even the fact that the family still doesn’t know how or why this happened and it’s now been two weeks, that just shows that the

hospital doesn’t understand the significance of these articles of faith and they don’t know how deeply hurtful their actions are,” said Boparai.

William Osler Health System, which operates the hospital, says it is investigating the situation.

“Osler strives to deliver safe and compassionate care for every patient we serve, and we are sorry and deeply concerned when we do not meet the standard our patients and their families expect and deserve,” the hospital said in a statement to CityNews. “Osler respects the religious rights and freedoms of all Canadians, and supports a positive, inclusive, and safe environment while caring for our community and each other with kindness, empathy and understanding.”

The WSO says they want better education for hospital staff, particularly because Brampton has the highest Sikh population in Canada, adding they’ve offered to provide assistance or training but the offer has never been accepted.

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CANADA NEWS

2 men charged after 2023 investigation into Lower Mainland drug trafficking operation Two men have been charged in connection to a drug trafficking operation with locations in Richmond, Burnaby, and Surrey.

The Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of British Columbia (CFSEU-BC)

announced Wednesday that a 22-year-old Surrey man and a 40-year-old Burnaby man have been arrested and charged after an investigation last

year. The June 2023 investigation into an alleged drug trafficking network led to police executing three search warrants around the Lower Mainland in August that year.

Police say the warrants resulted in the seizures, including: 12.7 kilograms of methamphetamine, 4.7 kilograms of fentanyl, 1.6 kilograms of cocaine, 1.6 kilograms of ketamine, and 1 kilogram of cutting agents; 9 kilograms of cocaine from a hidden aftermarket compartment found in a vehicle; $79,050 in Canadian currency; Drug paraphernalia consistent with drug trafficking In late August this year, the BC Prosecution Service approved charges of one count of possession for the purposes of trafficking against both men. CFSEU-BC says the men have been released with conditions while they await the judicial process.

Surrey stabbing sends two people to hospital: RCMP Police say two men were the victims of a double stabbing in Surrey on Wednesday.

The Surrey RCMP say around 4:30 p.m. they responded to a report of a fight at the intersection of 60 Avenue and 130A Street.

When police arrived at the scene they found two men who had been stabbed. Both men were taken to the hospital with injuries Mounties say they are actively looking for the stabbing suspects who fled in a vehicle.

The stabbing is believed to be targeted because “the victims were meeting with the suspects to conduct a transaction,” according to police.

The Surrey RCMP says if anyone has

information about the stabbing or any dashcam footage, please call them at 604-599-0502.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2024

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BC files legal demand for owners to explain source of $7 million in homes and cash The provincial government is seeking a court order to compel the owners of three homes and nearly $1.5 million in cash to prove they were obtained legally. It is the fourth time that B.C. has used so-called unexplained wealth orders to prosecute a civil forfeiture case.

The unexplained wealth orders were part of a package of new laws introduced in 2023 by the B.C. NDP government to combat money laundering and other financial crimes.

According to the province’s forfeiture claim first filed in court in 2023, the two homes in

Vancouver and another in Abbotsford assessed at $5.6 million in total, as well as the cash, are the proceeds of crime.

The province added the unexplained wealth order application in a court filing this week. “Through this court application, we are seeking a court order that will require the defendants to produce evidence to prove these items were received and purchased through legal means, and the source of the cash is legitimate,” B.C. Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth said in a statement.

2nd man arrested, facing nearly 100 charges in Toronto auto-fraud investigation A second man has been arrested and is facing nearly 100 criminal charges in connection with an auto-fraud investigation in Toronto. Toronto police said investigators first received information back in July about “fraudulent” vehicle transfers happening at ServiceOntario locations. Police said ServiceOntario assisted investigators, and it was found that a suspect was allegedly responsible for numerous vehicle-related frauds dating back to November 2023. A search warrant was executed on Aug. 9 and Winkle Lejarde, 43, of Toronto, was arrested as a result, police said Lejarde is facing 101 charges, including 15 counts of uttering forged documents, nine counts of fraud over $5,000, and nine counts of altering or removing a vehicle identification number. On Wednesday, police said they’d arrested a second man in connection with the alleged frauds.

As a result, Toronto resident Kris Kattick, 34, is

facing 95 charges, including 17 counts of uttering a forged document and eight counts of fraud over $5,000. Kattick made his first court appearance on Sunday. The allegations against both of the accused have not been tested in court. “In order to protect against purchasing a stolen/re-vinned vehicle, it is recommended to always purchase and review a vehicle history report,” police said in a news release.

Re-vinning is defined by Toronto police as changing a vehicle's identification number to a fabricated one for the purpose of concealing that a vehicle is stolen.

When buying a vehicle, police said a car may have been re-vinned if there are “sudden” colour changes to the car itself on the vehicle history report. Other red flags include if the odometer mileage went down between owners or if there are indications that the vehicle was previously exported with no import certificate back to Canada.

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BC is not in the list of the 10 best places to live in Canada A new report shows this year’s best places to live in Canada based on liveability factors.

Re/Max partnered with Montreal-based data analytics firm Local Logic1 to determine the top neighbourhoods in major, growing real estate markets. “Livability refers to the qualities that give each homeowner the true satisfaction of living in their neighbourhood, such as access to affordable homes, green space, restaurants, entertainment or other amenities,” Re/Max explained in a recently published report. “Livability is largely related to lifestyle preferences and is entirely Downtown West End, subjective.”

Calgary, Alberta

Calgary’s downtown west end has seen more foot traffic in recent years. The ease of getting to the city’s core makes it an ideal spot. Getting there via bike, car, or transit doesn’t take long.

Daniel McIntyre, Winnipeg, Manitoba

Re/Max describes this western downtown

Winnipeg neighbourhood as “relaxed and family-friendly,” with lots of single-family homes.

The area is quite walkable, and access to schools and parks is easy, making it a dreamy location for parents with young kids.

“Public transit is available via a number of nearby bus routes, and those who prefer driving enjoy easy highway access,” the report reads.

Oliver/Wîhkwêntôwin, Alberta

Edmonton,

The name of this old Edmonton neighbourhood will soon change from Oliver to Wîhkwêntôwin, meaning “circle of friends.” It’s one of the more populated areas in the city, which likely contributes to its vibrant and welcoming vibe. There are tons of condo options for those who don’t want to live in a house.

Heritage, Regina, Saskatchewan

Heritage does justice to its name, with lots of history to take in. It’s located east of Downtown

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Regina. “Historic homes still line the streets, lending a distinct character,” experts at Re/ Max said. “While the neighbourhood started to decline post-war, it is brimming with potential.”

Sandy Hill, Ottawa, Ontario

Close to the University of Ottawa, the Sandy Hill area is trendy and great for anyone who loves to go out. You can shop at Rideau Centre and take walks, and the public transit is “well-serviced,” according to Re/Max. The neighbourhood is just minutes from Parliament Hill, too.

Quinpool Area, Halifax, Nova Scotia

This neighbourhood has some significant landmarks, including the Atlantica Hotel and the Oxford Theatre. Re/Max said the area also has an eclectic mix of restaurants and more than 120 businesses. “While it’s primarily a commercial stretch, this neighbourhood connects the working-class north end and the wealthier south end of the city,” the report reads.

Westmount, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

In this inner-city neighbourhood close to the city core, you’ll see lots of single-family homes. “Many [of these homes were] built before 1960 that harken back to its early days as a homesteading community,” said experts at Re/ Max. Now, decades after its homesteading prime, Westmount is an affordable, family-friendly area ideal for raising kids in Canada. There are more

homeowners than renters.

Le Sud-Ouest, Montreal, Quebec

Most of Montreal’s neighbourhoods have a historic European charm, and this one’s no exception. Le Sud-Ouest is made up of many smaller communities with their histories. “This trendy urban pocket comes with an affordable price tag and offers good walkability with easy access to everything downtown has to offer, alongside proximity to parks and recreational pursuits,” said Re/Max. “Historic architecture and industrial conversions pay homage to the neighbourhood’s past with a modern-day twist.”

Old Town, Toronto, Ontario From the famous Berczy Park dog fountain to the trendy St. Lawrence market patios, Old Toronto is a paradise for city folks. It has landmarks like the Flatiron Building, St. James Cathedral, and the Distillery District, and it is very walkable, with access to many public transit lines. “Given its central downtown location, the majority of homes here come in condo and apartment form,” reads the report.

Corktown, Hamilton, Ontario

A community-focused neighbourhood, Corktown is one of Hamilton’s most vibrant.

Access to schools and nature is easy, with lots of walking and biking trails and “a blend of older and newer homes.”

Indian migrants drive surge in US border crossings Continued from Page 1...

“I rent a car, I come here,” Says Shivam, a 20-year-old driver from India who goes by only a surname. “So people coming, I’m just helping them.”

But make no mistake, this is business, and business is booming.

Whether you have a variable rate mortgage or are looking to buy your first home, British Columbians can expect a bit of a break in the cost of borrowing aftere said.

So far this year, U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents have had nearly 20,000 encounters with migrants between ports of entry on the northern border.

That’s a 95% increase from last year.

It’s not entirely clear what’s driving this increase, but nearly 60% of those encounters were with Indian nationals.

Shivam and other drivers charge anywhere from $150 to up to $300 per person for the sixhour drive to the Big Apple. There migrants will search for work or head to other cities across America. Crossing the northern border is not free of dangers or easy.

Migrants can face freezing winter temperatures. They can also be denied asylum quicker, on the spot, as part of an agreement between the U.S. and Canada.

Still, many perceive this route safer than traveling to the U.S. through the dangerous parts of Central America, or the Mexican desert.

BC signs national pharmacare deal with Ottawa Continued from Page 1...

"My objective remains, and I am confident that we can achieve it, to sign an agreement with every jurisdiction in the country, every province, every territory, prior to April 1 of next year, and to get drugs flowing in every jurisdiction in that timeline," Holland said at a joint news conference in Vancouver on Thursday. The coverage was to be for birth control and diabetes drugs and supplies, but B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix said oral contraceptives are already covered under a

provincial program so that share will be used to cover hormone therapy for women.

"We are taking that money, the between $30 and $40 million in B.C., that will come from the federal government for contraception, and applying it to something else, to make something else free at point-of-purchase, free for British Columbia women," Dix said. B.C. Women's Hospital medical director Dr. Stephanie Rhone says the announcement is fundamental in improving health care for women.

FIJI NEWS

RFMF Commander Ro Jone Kalouniwai: Army still relevant

The Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) is still a relevant institution in Fiji and has a lot to do for the country.

Commander Major-General Ro Jone Kalouniwai says the army is more than “uniforms and guns”.

During an interview on The Lens@177, Ro Kalouniwai says there has been a lot of discussion on what the productivity of the RFMF was.

He said the military played a crucial role in peacekeeping, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

“So, productivity is something people look at in terms of dollar value. The RFMF has a different

way of doing things,” he said.

He also said if given the option, he would look at recruiting more officers.

Safeguard our language today and for future generations - Vasu Fijians have been urged to safeguard their language today and for future generations, with emphasis placed on preserving the country's diverse communalects through modern technology. Minister for iTaukei Affairs Ifreimi Vasu stated this during the launch of the WebBased GIS Map of Fijian Communalects and Symposium, held at the University of the South

Pacific in partnership with Japan today.

The launch of the web-based Geographic Information System (GIS) map highlights the diversity of Fijian communalects which is a significant step toward preserving the nation's linguistic heritage. Vasu says GIS map will offer an innovative platform for researchers and the public to explore and preserve these communalects digitally. He says the project will be pivotal in ensuring our linguistic diversity is not lost.

He further says the initiative is a collaborative effort between USP and Japan with Japanese support playing a crucial role in the technological development of the GIS platform.

Vasu says the goal is to document and safeguard the communalects, bringing Fiji’s cultural and linguistic heritage into the digital era.

Police arrest suspect in Raiwaqa murder case after manhunt Police have caught and arrested the man suspected to be involved in causing the death of a woman on Albert Lee Road, off Nailuva Road in Raiwaqa earlier this week. Police say a team from the Southern Division was formed following the incident and had been pursuing the suspect, and managed to make an arrest last night. They say the suspect was taken into custody and is currently being questioned, as investigations continue. Police say following the

post mortem conducted yesterday, the case has been classified as murder.

FCCC welcomes review of laws on fraud and scam The Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission has welcomed the Cabinet's recent approval for the review of Fiji's laws on fraud and scam protection. The FCCC says the aim of the review, which will be undertaken with the support of the United Nations Capital Development Fund, is to help ensure that there are adequate protections in place to address the growing threats of cybercrime and fraud, which continue to have an impact on consumers, businesses, and the Fijian economy as a whole.

FCCC Chief Executive Officer Joel Abraham highlighted the need for stronger legal frameworks in the fight against scams and fraud. He says this review represents a crucial step forward in their work of keeping Fijians safe. He says they have been pushing for stronger scam and fraud protection laws for quite some time. Abraham says as scams grow more complex in nature and become more frequent, there is a need for laws that are flexible and responsive and are able to adapt

to these new threats. He adds in addition to their awareness efforts, where they encourage a proactive stance by the public in terms of being vigilant and avoiding scams in the first place, they see the need for more detailed and stricter laws so that we have severe punishment that can serve as a deterrent to offenders.

The CEO says some areas of focus that FCCC would like to see include legal mandates for telecommunication and digital platforms to stop scammers from contacting consumers and integration of consumer education into school curriculums. He says establishing legal mechanisms for the recovery of payments in cases where service providers are proven negligent is also very important to them. He further says they are also looking into reassessing the legal obligations of banks, telecommunications providers, and eWallet platforms to enhance protections, especially in light of recent scams like the eBay shop Online scam.

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PAKISTAN NEWS

Pakistan's defence minister says evidence against Imran Khan points towards military trial Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said that the evidence against jailed former prime minister Imran Khan points towards a military trial in the cases concerning the violence on May 9 last year, a media report said on Sunday.

Speaking to a private news channel on Saturday, Asif said that military trials had taken place before and will continue to do so in future as well, Geo News reported. “Evidence against founder Pakistan Tehreeke-Insaf party founder (Imran Khan) points towards military trial,” Asif said. His remarks come after 71-year-old Khan - fearing a military trial over his alleged involvement in the May 9 riots filed a petition in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) to stop his potential trial in military courts. However, the IHC registrar's office raised objections over Khan's plea, saying that neither it mentioned any specific first information report (FIR) nor any documentation or order was attached to the petition and how a petition be filed in a high court while the matter of military trials is sub judice in the Supreme Court. It is not the first time that the ruling Pakistan Muslim LeagueNawaz (PML-N) expressed such a possibility.

Several leaders of the party have accused Khan of

orchestrating the May 9, 2023 violence.

On September 2, Asif had said that a military trial of Khan was “possible”.He had said that during the Khan-led government, military trials of the civilians were held and he “remembers cases of 24 civilians” who went through the process of facing military court.

On May 9 last year, violent protests erupted after the arrest of the PTI founder by paramilitary Rangers from the premises of the Islamabad High Court in connection with an alleged corruption case. His party workers allegedly vandalised a dozen military installations, including the Jinnah House (Lahore Corps Commander House), the Mianwali airbase and the ISI building in Faisalabad. A mob also attacked the Army headquarters in Rawalpindi.

The Supreme Court in December 2023 suspended its October 23, 2023, order wherein it declared civilians' trials in military courts null and void in connection with the May 9 riots. The verdict was announced on intra-court appeals filed by the federal and provincial governments and the defence ministry against the top court's verdict. Khan's party has ruled out the possibility of him being subjected to a military trial.

Several leaders of Imran Khan’s party arrested Pakistani police arrested several lawmakers and leaders of ex-Prime Minister Imran Khan’s party in midnight raids a day after it held a major rally in the capital to demand his release, the party and police said on Tuesday.

A police spokesman confirmed the detention

of four individuals but gave no details of charges.

Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf said nearly a dozen of its parliamentarians had been picked up in Islamabad. Others had sought refuge in parliament, it said. Its lawmakers protested in a session of the National Assembly on Tuesday

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INDIA NEWS

After Putin, Meloni says India can resolve Russia-Ukraine conflict Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Saturday said countries like India and China could play a role in resolving the conflict in Ukraine. Meloni’s remarks, made at the Ambrosetti Forum in northern Italy’s Cernobbio city on Saturday — where she also held a meeting with the visiting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy — came less than 48 hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin also highlighted India’s efforts in solving the ongoing crisis in the region.

“It is obvious that if the rules of international law are broken, we will get a multiplication of chaos and crisis, but it is also obvious that with the multiplication of crisis, we will have a

natural fragmentation of the geoeconomic space, that is, in the long run, economic globalisation and questioning of the rules of international law will not walk together. This is what I also said to my Chinese counterparts, we must choose, because the two things do not go together. It is also the reason why I think that in the end nations such as China and India can play a role and must play a role in resolving the conflict in Ukraine,” said Meloni. On Thursday, while addressing the 9th Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Russian President Vladimir Putin had also mentioned India’s role in providing a “helping hand” in resolving the issue.

India needs to focus on manufacturing: Rahul Gandhi

India, the US and other countries in the West are facing the problem of unemployment while China isn’t as it is dominating global production, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi said, underscoring the need to focus on manufacturing in India. During an interaction with students at the University of Texas in Dallas on Sunday, Rahul said there was no shortage of skills in India and the country could compete with China if it starts aligning itself for production.

He also stressed the need to encourage vocational training to bridge the gap between the business system and the education system

and flagged the “ideological capture” of the latter. Rahul is on a four-day unofficial trip to the US during which he will interact with members of the Indian diaspora and youths with stops in Dallas, Texas and Washington DC. He also plans to meet lawmakers and senior officials of the US government during his visit to Washington DC beginning Monday. He arrived in Dallas on Saturday night and was welcomed by several members of the Indian-American community led by senior Congress leader Sam Pitroda and president of Indian National Overseas Congress, USA, Mohinder Gilzian.

Kerala-born Charls picked minister in Oz

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among the two India-born politicians elected to the regional assembly last month. Their Country Liberal Party secured a landslide victory in elections on August 24. Charls worked as a registered nurse and in health leadership roles.

Ready to resign, Mamata says amid standoff with docs Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday said she is ready to resign amid the standoff with doctors. As the doctors persisted on their demand for live-streaming of their meeting with the CM, Mamata said, “We waited for two hours for meeting with junior doctors, but they didn't enter the venue.”

As the RG Kar case is subjudice, meeting with junior doctors cannot be live-streamed as demanded by them, Mamata said. “We had arrangements to video-record meeting with junior doctors, we could have shared that with them with SC's

permission,” she said.

“I tried thrice to hold talks with junior doctors to end the RG Kar stalemate,” the CM said, adding that 27 people had died and 7 lakh patients were suffering because of junior doctors' ‘cease work'.

“I will still not take any action against the agitating junior doctors, will forgive them since we are elders,” she said. “I apologise to the Bengal people who expected an end to the RG Kar impasse today,” she said, adding, “For people's sake, I am ready to resign; I also want justice for the murdered RG Kar hospital doctor.”

Apple starts iPhone 16 production in India, diversifying supply chain away from China

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The move reflects a broader trend of companies moving production away from China, with India emerging as a key beneficiary Apple's decision to produce its newly launched iPhone 16 series in India marks a significant shift in the tech giant's strategy as it looks to diversify its supply chains amid geopolitical challenges, analysts say.

Historically, the California-based company has relied on China to manufacture and produce all of its high-end smartphone models, while Indian suppliers primarily handled low-end and older

versions of the iPhone. However, new reports indicate that Apple is mass-producing its latest iPhone line-up, including the high-end Pro series, on a large scale in India alongside production in China.

Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge, our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our award-winning team.

PUNJAB NEWS

Punjab transfers 10 DCs, 4 MC commissioners In a major administrative reshuffle in Punjab on Thursday, deputy commissioners of 10 districts and four commissioners of Municipal Corporations were transferred.

As many as 38 IAS and one PCS officer have been transferred and given a new posting.

Showkat Ahmad Parray has been posted to Bathinda as DC (from Patiala). Sakshi Sahney is the new DC of Amritsar. Ropar DC Preeti Yadav has been posted to Patiala and Jitendra Jorwal to Ludhiana as DC. Rajesh Dhiman has been transferred as DC of Nawanshahr from Ferozepur, where he is replaced by Deepshika Sharma. Amarpreet Kaur Sandhu is the new DC of Fazilka, while Himanshu Jain goes as DC of Ropar and Sona Thind is the new DC

of Fatehgarh Sahib. Sandeep Rishi has been posted as the new DC of Sangrur. Patiala has also got a new Commissioner of Municipal Corporation in Rajat Oberoi, who is also the president of PCS Officers Association. T Benith is the new Commissioner of MC Mohali, Aaditya Dachalwal is the new MC Commissioner of Ludhiana, while Gulpreet Singh Aulakh is the new MC Commissioner of Amritsar.

Krishan Kumar has got the additional charge of Taxation department, which was earlier with Vikas Pratap.

Alok Shekhar has got the additional charge of Justice department, while the administrative charge of PWD has been given to Special Principal Secretary to CM, Ravi Bhagat.

Partap Bajwa accuses AAP of turning Punjab into debt-ridden state The Leader of Opposition in the Punjab Assembly, Partap Singh Bajwa, on Thursday accused the Aam Aadmi Party government of turning Punjab into a miserable debt-ridden state in just 2.5 years of its regime. “The AAP has left no financial institution without seeking a heavy loan. Meanwhile, the Punjab State Agricultural Marketing Board also known as the Punjab Mandi Board has been running from pillar to post to raise loans from various banks.

Some banks have already shown reluctance to provide loans,” Bajwa said. He said the Mandi Board has now opted for a loan from

the National Bank for Agricultural and Rural Development (NABARD) at 8.3 per cent interest to repair rural roads. “The Punjab government has been in a knee-deep financial crisis only because of the mismanagement, inefficiency, and insincerity of the AAP cabinet,” he added. The Congress leader said that the debt burden on the state exchequer is actually the burden on the people of Punjab.

It is the people of Punjab, who will have to repay the debt eventually with heavy taxes. The AAP has already hiked Motor Vehicle Tax, VAT of petrol and diesel, and collector rates, he added.

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