The Asian Star - April 06, 2024

Thanks to Trudeau, Metro Vancouver gas price rises to $2.12 in five-cent jump overnight

Gas prices have continued to rise in the Metro Vancouver area, much to the chagrin of drivers. Drivers woke up Thursday morning to see gas jumped up five cents overnight, with prices at most gas stations hovering between $2.04 and $2.12 a litre.

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Vancouver is in a ‘full-blown crisis’ for housing affordability

A new report from the Royal Bank of Canada is painting a bleak picture of just how unaffordable and unattainable buying a home in Vancouver is.

The report, which looks at housing trends across the country, found that it has never been as expensive to own a home anytime, anywhere in Canada as it was in Vancouver in the last quarter of 2023.

The report stated that Vancouver is in a “full-blown crisis.”

“At a staggering 106.4 per cent, the share of a median income needed to cover ownership costs means that only a select few highincome earners can afford to buy—or that considerable wealth must be amassed (or received) to put down towards a purchase,” the report states. “This significantly narrows the potential pool of buyers in the market,

From April 1, Canadian MPs will earn world’s second-highest salary for elected officials

On the same day Canadians will see an increase in the federal carbon tax, MPs will also see a little extra on their pay stubs.

And with that April Fool’s Day pay increase, Canadian parliamentarians will become the second-best paid elected officials in the world after Americans. According to numbers provided to National Post by the office of the Speaker of the House of Commons, Canadian members of Parliament will get their customary pay raise on April 1 — resulting in increases of anywhere between $8,500 and $17,000 this year. Right now, members of Parliament earn a base salary of $194,600 per year — but that’s due to rise to $203,100 on April 1.

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keeping activity soft and prices flat recently. We see little change from this in the months ahead.” A one-bedroom open-plan apartment in Yaletown is currently listed for sale at just under $600,000.

“It is becoming more and more difficult with first-time homebuyers as prices rise here in Vancouver,” realtor Mike Stewart told. With the minimum five per cent down, a mortgage and strata fees the Yaletown apartment used as an example would cost someone just under $4,000 a month to own.

“I’m seeing personally a lot of parents helping out with the downpayment to meet that 20 per cent threshold so that the payments are a little bit more palatable, a little more affordable for, you know, the first-time homebuyers,” mortgage broker Sherlock Yam said.

Hindu temple donation box stolen, Surrey RCMP looking for suspects

March 12, it received reports of a breakand-enter at the Hindu temple on 123 Street near 80 Avenue.

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Mounties in Surrey are looking for the public’s help to identify two suspects who they believe stole a donation box from a Mandir in that city. The Surrey RCMP says on

We have helped thousands of our clients.

Surrey man convicted in international child exploitation investigation

A Surrey, B.C., man has been convicted of child pornography offences as a part of an international investigation that cracked a child exploitation network and led to the rescue of eight kids.

Joey Andy Daigle, 34, was handed an 18-month conditional sentence last month for possession of and for making child pornography available. He has also been placed on the sex offender registry.

Police began investigating Daigle in 2018, acting on information from federal policing officials about a joint investigation by the Boone Police Department in North Carolina, and U.S.

Homeland Security Investigations. A detective with the Boone department, pretending to be a teen girl, had infiltrated an online group trafficking sexually abusive images of children, the RCMP said in a Wednesday media release.

The detective was then able to gain access to other groups, and the investigation grew nationally and internationally. British Columbia’s Integrated Child Exploitation Unit was one of multiple agencies alerted to 38 leads in the case, and police searched Daigle’s home in April 2019. He was charged the following year.

Police have since made 23 arrests around

the world. The online group’s administrator, Dustin Haynes, was sentenced to 65 months in prison in North Carolina. The U.S. District Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of North Carolina said the investigation also led to the rescue of eight children from “sexually abusive situations.”

“As an example, an Ohio man was quickly arrested and his 14 year-old daughter was rescued. He had been sexually abusing her for ten years,” the office said in a media release.

“Another individual was arrested on an oil rig in the North Sea and his 5 year-old daughter was rescued.”

Daigle’s conditional sentence comes with multiple conditions including restrictions on contact with children under the age of 16.

Police warning ‘dangerous’ sex offender living in Surrey

Mounties in Surrey, B.C., have issued a “public interest notification” that a “dangerous” sex offender is now residing in the community.

Michal Popek has received a “One Chance Statutory Release” ahead of his sentence’s completion date of December 2025.

He will be subject to a 10-year supervision order. In 2020, Popek was found guilty of sexually assaulting four women in 2015 and 2016, attacking two of his victims on Burnaby walking trails during the day.

“(He) poses a risk to adolescent girls and adult women, including strangers,” Cpl. James Mason said in a release. As part of his release, Popek cannot consume, purchase or possess alcohol and illicit drugs.

He cannot attend any business whose primary source of income is the sale of alcohol or cannabis.

Popek is barred from being in the company of any sex workers or escorts and must adhere to a curfew.

“Further, the Surrey RCMP will be working in partnership with the Correctional Service of Canada, Community Corrections and other stakeholders to monitor Michal Popek

Metro

via traditional police methods as well as electronic monitoring,” Mason said.

Police describe Popek as 44 years old, around five feet five inches tall, and weighing 150 pounds with brown eyes and short brown hair.

Anyone who sees Popek violating his conditions is asked to call 911 immediately.

Vancouver gas price rises to $2.12 in five-cent jump overnight

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Prices are expected to rise again by Friday morning, most likely by another two cents. Gas expert Dan McTeague of Canadians for Affordable Energy said that despite the Parkland Refinery in Burnaby being back in operation, the price per barrel continues to climb globally, leading to the price increases.

“The price per litre for a barrel of oil has moved up about 12 cents a litre. That, on top of the tightness and supply in the Pacific

Northwest and the switch over to summer blends of gasoline, is really at the heart of why we’re seeing these prices move up as dramatically as they are,” he told. “Of course, it doesn’t help, as we saw on Monday, the increase in carbon taxes of 3.5 cents a litre only compounds the problem.”

McTeague predicts that prices will continue to rise into the summer months and could be as high as $2.30 a litre by late spring.

B.C. cracking down on ‘unfair’ evictions in Tenancy Act amendments

The B.C. government is proposing amendments to the Residential Tenancy Act, which it hopes will better protect renters from “bad-faith evictions.”

Premier David Eby says that while most landlords and tenants “play by the rules” and have respectful relationships, “too many people in B.C. are still facing unfair rent hikes and evictions under false pretenses.”

“At the same time, many people who have chosen to rent part of their home are struggling to end problematic tenancies. That’s why we’re taking action to protect both renters and landlords with stronger rules designed to ensure the law is respected by everyone — and bring more fairness for everyone in the rental market,” he added.

Along with changes to eviction eligibility, the Ministry of Housing shared Tuesday that the changes will “protect growing families” by prohibiting rent increases when a child under 19 enters the household. “No rent increases above the annual allowable rent increase will be permitted even if there is a term in the tenancy agreement that states rent will increase with new occupants,” the ministry explained.

The province says it is also working to resolve rental disputes faster.

“We have taken steps to address long wait times at the Residential Tenancy Branch, reducing those by more than 50 per cent, and adding new guidelines and flexibility around problem tenants and increasing the ability to remove them quickly and effectively at the Residential Tenancy Branch,” said Eby Tuesday. According to the ministry, the

amendments will also include:

Allowing more flexibility in addressing cases where there is a “problematic tenancy” and prescribing more clear guidelines for ending tenancy with justified cause;

Increasing the amount of notice a landlord must give a tenant when ending a tenancy for personal occupancy;

Increasing the amount of time a landlord must occupy a rental unit after ending a tenancy for personal occupancy from six months to 12 months;

Increasing the amount of time a tenant has to dispute a notice to end tenancy from 15 days to 30 days;

Prohibiting evictions for personal use in purpose-built rental buildings with five or more units; and

Prohibiting eviction for the conversion of rental units to specific non-residential uses.“These changes are critical to protect good renters and landlords from those who try and cheat the system for profit,” said Vancouver-West End MLA Spencer Chandra Herbert.

“We know of too many people who act in good faith that are facing the consequences of those who take advantage of the system, and this legislation is crucial to put an end to that,” Herbert added.

But one landlord says the proposed changes will only benefit tenants, and he would like to see more protections for landlords when dealing with bad renters.

“The tenant has full right to live in your house free of rent for three, four, five months and the government can’t do anything,” said Baldeep Jhand, a member of the Landlord Rights Association of B.C.

Phone: 604.543.8484

Fax: 604.543.8584

BC Nurses’ Union concerned with rise of illicit drugs, weapons inside hospitals

Hospital staff, including nurses, are concerned with a perceived rise in illicit drug use and weapons inside hospitals, according to a memo obtained by Global News.

The Northern Health memo directs nurses and staff on how to deal with illicit drugs in hospital settings. They are told not to measure, weigh, or test the substance.

Nurses also have no responsibility to monitor substances or quantities for legal purposes and should avoid contact with unknown substances.

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The BC Nurses’ Union told Global News very few health authorities are making their employees feel safe, and if concerns are raised, they’re not taken seriously.

“Decriminalization doesn’t mean that consumption should take place in a hospital setting. I think that just needs to be considered and needs to be addressed,” Adriane Gear said, with BC Nurses’ Union. “Ultimately, from our perspective for our members, this is becoming a health and safety issue.” The safety of nurses and patients in B.C. hospitals was a hot topic at the legislature, as well. “The BC NDP has created a free-for-all for open drug use, shockingly, even within our hospitals,” Shirley Bond said, BC United Health Critic.

life in this province,” B.C. Mental Health and Addictions Minister Jennifer Whiteside responded.

Nurses have also reported they’re seeing a surge in weapons making their way into hospitals along with the increase in drugs.

The memo also directed staff to not confiscate weapons if they are found. Global News spoke with B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix on Thursday, and asked for his reaction to the union and opposition’s comments.

“With respect to weapons … not allowed. Period,” Dix said.

The opposition has highlighted their perceived downside to B.C.’s drug decriminalization and has alleged patients are using hard drugs, including smoking fentanyl and meth inside hospital treatment rooms.

One example, they said, someone was smoking meth just hours after the birth of a newborn baby exposing hospital staff and other patients.

“How many more nurses have to be put at risk and infants exposed to illicit hard drugs in our hospitals before the premier puts an end to the reckless decriminalization experiment?” Bond questioned.

“Ending this program won’t save a single

“And with respect to smoking (in hospitals), it’s not allowed at all. That doesn’t mean that these rules are never violated but what it does mean is that they are clear. The direction is clear (and) the rules are straightforward.”

Dix said the province has “dramatically” increased security at hospitals at the request of health-worker unions, and he doesn’t expect hospital staff to put themselves in harms way enforcing policies.

“They’re very significant challenges. Not everybody follows the rules and that presents real difficulties,” he said.

“The rules are straightforward and that doesn’t mean there easy to enforce.

“We take every step to ensure that our nurses and health-care professionals are not peace officers, they are health-care workers.”

Hindu temple donation box stolen, Surrey RCMP looking for suspects

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“Police were able to obtain CCTV footage of two suspects who are believed to be involved in the break and enter to the building. A donation box was targeted and the suspects stole an unknown amount of money,” Corp. Sarbjit K. Sangha shared in an update Wednesday. Mounties say both of the suspects were wearing dark clothing at the time of the incident, and had their faces “disguised with masks.”

“Photos are not of great quality; however, police are hoping someone in the community may recognize these individuals,” Sangha added.

The first suspect is described as being between 20 and 30 years old and was wearing an army green coloured toque, with a white shirt under his black jacket. The second suspect is also described as being between 20 and 30 years old and was wearing skinny cargo pants

with a black jacket that had a small white maple lead on the hood.

Surrey police are asking anyone with information to call the RCMP at 604-599-0502 and quote file: 2024-34876.

Puneet P.K. Sandhar B.A.,LL.B. (GND) B.Comm.,LL.B. (UBC) bss@slglawyers.com psandhar@slglawyers.com

Barinder S. Sanghera

Foreign interference cost Conservative Party up to 9 seats in 2021, O’Toole tells inquiry

Former Conservative leader Erin O’Toole told the Foreign Interference Commission inquiry Wednesday that he believes his party lost five to nine seats because of a foreign misinformation campaign aimed at Conservative candidates in B.C. and Ontario, and at his party more generally.

O’Toole also told the commission he might have continued as leader after losing the 2021 federal election had it not been for Beijing’s misinformation efforts targeting his party’s campaign.

“The small number of seats would not have impacted the minority government that Canada has right now, but the difference of two, three, five seats may have allowed me more of a moral justification to remain as leader,” he said.

O’Toole told the commission that winning two fewer seats than the party did in the 2019 election made it very difficult for him to make that case.

Speaking in Toronto on Wednesday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau dismissed O’Toole’s suggestion that foreign interference cost the Conservatives seats as something coming from “someone who lost an election … trying to look for reasons other than themselves.”

Commission counsel cited policy promises in the 2021 Conservative platform explaining how it would approach China and asked O’Toole if those pledges might explain why his party lost those five to nine seats.

The platform promised to recognize the Uyghur genocide, ban imports manufactured with forced and enslaved Uyghur labour and ban Chinese mobile giant Huawei from Canada’s 5G infrastructure.

‘I don’t know what to do,’ Richmond business

A Richmond supermarket owner said she is frustrated with regular theft from her store and feels there are no efficient measures to stop it.

Cindy Zhang and her husband opened New Empire Supermarket on No. 3 Road in 2017 and it has become popular among locals. However, the store is often also visited by shoplifters.

“They come in and fill the shopping basket with expensive groceries, such as high-quality beef and fish packs, and run out of the door when they see a chance,” said Zhang.

She said some of her stolen goods have been spotted for sale in the underground market.

“We lose a couple hundred (dollars) of goods in one basket and every month, products that are worth thousands of dollars are stolen from our supermarket.”

Zhang said some thieves have clever tactics, such as hiding more valuable products at the bottom of their shopping bags and only paying for the cheaper items on the top.

Others are more aggressive, running away with the goods even after being caught by staff.

She has tried different measures to curb shoplifting, including having only one exit in the store, installing surveillance cameras and following those who were caught stealing

owner frustrated with shoplifting

before. But these measures have not deterred shoplifters.

“Some even said to me, ‘because you are following me, I can’t steal your stuff.’ They have no fear,” said Zhang.

“I don’t know what to do.”

Feeling a lack of police support

Zhang believes one of the reasons shoplifters show no fear and keep coming back is that there appears to be minimal consequences when they get caught.

“We have called the police so many times, but it doesn’t seem to make a difference,” said Zhang.

She has called police a few times when someone was caught at the scene or found stealing on the security camera.

But when police arrived, the person was often let go on the spot or soon thereafter, and she said she was told by the police there wasn’t enough evidence.

A few days or months later, Zhang would see the shoplifter in her store once again trying to shoplift.

“I don’t understand why thieves are not being punished. I think it has sent them a very wrong message that there is no consequence for stealing stuff and it even encourages them to keep doing so,” said Zhang.

“I’m a hard-working taxpayer who works 13 hours a day, but I feel that my rights are not protected. We now doubt if we should still bother to call the police when it happens.”

Zhang said she has considered hiring security guards but has to take into account the cost-effectiveness of a small supermarket like hers with a low profit margin.

be investigated and ultimately wind up in the courts, a number of things must be satisfied,” said Hwang.

He said since the police did not witness the crime, they relied on evidence from other sources including the staff member who witnessed it, possible video surveillance footage, a loss prevention officer, a thirdparty witness and others.

Many retailers have video security which is helpful, but video quality varies and if the suspect cannot be identified on the video due to technical issues, then police “are at a potential impasse,” he added.

“[Some] retailers …contact the police, but do not follow through. This drives up the retail theft statistics for police but does not assist in keeping those responsible from recommitting the crime,” said Hwang.

“In order to bring the matter to court, the staff member must provide a detailed account and become a witness in court... In many cases, the retailer simply wishes the return of their merchandise without any further formal action. This is problematic because the criminal is not held to account.”

Richmond city councillor Andy Hobbs, a retired Vancouver police superintendent with more than 35 years of service, encourages shop owners to report an incident to police whenever they encounter shoplifters.

“Even though I totally understand their frustration…you have to keep calling the police and give the police every opportunity to get the evidence they need to make an arrest. Even if they happen to get away that day, eventually the police will catch them,” said Hobbs.

“I’m not the only one. I know many other small business owners who face the same challenge and frustration over shoplifting as I do.”

There have been 260 retail theft incidents reported in Richmond since the beginning of 2024, according to Richmond RCMP.

Always report crime and follow through it: RCMP and councillor

Richmond RCMP said retail theft is a large-scale problem in the city and it hurts retailers of all sizes. Businesses should continue to report them and follow through with the cases so they can eventually hold criminals accountable.

Dennis Hwang, spokesperson for the Richmond RCMP, said the incidents Zhang has reported are still open and under investigation.

“If the police make an arrest on someone for shoplifting, for example, for the case to

“The more evidence, the more calls, the more likely it is that the police are going to catch somebody. But business owners have to be part of that solution and they can’t let the frustration deter them from reporting things to the police.”

Hwang said there are retailers that have banned chronic shoplifters from their stores and they “have the right to refuse business to someone.”

Former Conservative leader alleges Chinese interference may have played a part in his ouster

Former Conservative leader Erin O’Toole believes foreign interference may have led to his removal as party leader, according to documents tabled before the foreign interference inquiry.

In a document containing notes from an interview between O’Toole and lawyers acting for the Foreign Interference Commission earlier this year, O’Toole is quoted as saying he was suspicious about the motives of the person behind the petition that called for a leadership review following the 2021 election.

“Mr. O’Toole also believes foreign interference played a role in his ouster as party leader,” says the document. “In the immediate aftermath of the election loss, a petition and public relations campaign against Mr. O’Toole was initiated within 48 hours by a high-profile CPC party member who had served on the national council of the party.”

That Conservative Party member was Bert Chen, who was suspended from the party’s national council after launching the petition to recall O’Toole as leader.

Foreign interference cost Conservative Party up to 9 seats in 2021, O’Toole tells inquiry

Han Dong tells foreign interference inquiry he tried to help Spavor and Kovrig, wants to be a Liberal again

Canada’s elections watchdog struggles to investigate foreign interference allegations, inquiry hears“A trusted source in a diaspora group and a journalist have advised Mr. O’Toole in confidence that this specific party member had unusual ties to the [People’s Republic of China] government. Mr. O’Toole has no information to corroborate these claims, but he trusts the sources,” the document says.

“This information was brought to his attention after he had already lost the party leadership.”

O’Toole’s Conservative Party lost the 2021 election, winning 119 of 338 seats, despite winning the popular vote.

Chen’s petition did not lead to O’Toole stepping down as party leader. He was forced to leave the job in February 2022 following an internal caucus revolt.

“Certain things in my report were told to me by people,” O’Toole told Power & Politics host David Cochrane on Wednesday. “I have no verifiable evidence with respect to Mr. Chen or anyone else. But I do think sunlight is the great disinfectant, and we

need to have more transparency.”

Chen denies ties to Chinese government

In an email sent to CBC News, Chen said he launched the petition to elect a new Conservative leader “on the basis that Mr. O’Toole was not fit to lead our country or our party.”

“As a Canadian born in Taiwan whose family fought in the Chinese Civil War against the Chinese Communist Party, I can unreservedly assure all Canadians that I have no ties to the PRC regime,” he said.

“My motivation for the petition to recall Mr. O’Toole’s leadership was due to his flip-flop from his leadership campaign promise to never institute a carbon tax. The fact that he does not mention this is a testimony to the credibility of him and his sources.” Conservative Party spokesperson Sarah Fischer called O’Toole’s reported allegations “ridiculous.”

“It was the Conservative Party of Canada caucus that voted to remove the thenleader, not a National Council member,” she said in an email to CBC News.

In O’Toole’s testimony before the inquiry on Wednesday, he said Chinese foreign interference may have led to the defeat of up to nine CPC candidates — a claim he has made in the past.

He said his party was a victim of misinformation claims on the social media platform WeChat, used by many ChineseCanadians.

O’Toole said he believed his party was targeted by the Chinese government in part because of its push to probe Chinese interference in Canada’s National Microbiology Laboratory, in addition to a private members bill supporting a foreign agent registry. He also said he does not believe Chinese meddling changed the actual outcome of the election.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau dismissed claims of foreign interference affecting riding results.

“I can understand where someone who lost an election is trying to look for reasons other than themselves for why they lost the election,” he said speaking in Toronto.

“The reality is, we put in place a panel formed by top independent public servants, a task force staffed by security officials throughout our intelligence and security services to ensure the integrity of the 2019 and 2021 elections. And the conclusion of all those mechanisms is unequivocally that the election’s integrity held.”

Three of four Brampton road-rage suspects in handcuffs

Three down and one to go. But make no mistake: The fourth suspect wanted for a recent Brampton road rage incident is very much Peel Regional Police’s priority. Police alleged he’s the one seen on video who tried to get into a car and then used his fist to smash the vehicle’s windshield.

Three others wanted by police turned themselves in on Tuesday. There is one arrest warrant that remains in play — for a man shown in video wearing a Michael Jordan jacket, who appeared to be the most violent.

Police on Tuesday night said officers were interviewing the suspects and that charges were pending against Akashdeep Singh, 28, Sourav Sourav, 28, and Ramanpreet Massih, 23.

A man in the back seat, who allegedly smashed the windshield, is now the lone suspect and remains at large.

If he was wise, he would do what the other three did and turn himself in.

“It’s a serious crime,” said Deputy Chief Marc Andrews.

But as the deputy chief told The Toronto Sun, it does not have to become more serious. No one was hurt. It would be great if it stayed that way. The best move for this outstanding suspect is to realize the game is over and there is no point in ending up in a

standoff with police. Going down to a police station with a lawyer is the best option. Caught on cellphone and dashcam videos were four men getting out of a car, in the Torbram Rd.-Eagleridge Dr. area, around 7:20 p.m. last Wednesday. Once they got out of the car, two terrified women could be heard.

And thanks to more video offered by Brampton journalist Gaurav Chhabra, it appears there was some sort of disagreement between the occupants of two cars — not an accident. Footage shows the car carrying the men throwing items out of the vehicle towards the victims – one a pregnant woman. “Are we really safe here?” asked Chhabra.

Fair question.

This whole thing feels senseless. Nitin Chopra, of Prime Asia TV, said this incident serves as a reminder for people not lose their tempers, respect other people and to never partake in acts of road rage.

Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown said it was all outrageous and called for the “idiots” to turn themselves in.

One suspect is still on the run — for now. But with police getting an indication that this may not happen, they will work with partners to try to make an arrest and put him before the courts.

On April 1, Canadian MPs will earn world’s secondhighest salary for elected officials

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The prime minister’s salary will see an increase of $17,000 to $406,200.

Eighty per cent of Canadians oppose the automatic April 1 MP pay increase, according to a Leger poll commissioned by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation.

In the online survey of 1,541 Canadians of voting age conducted between March 15 and 18, 62 per cent of respondents strongly oppose the pay raise and 18 per cent somewhat oppose.

Those who hold more senior roles or cabinet positions are entitled to additional remuneration — roles such as House Speaker,

opposition leader or cabinet minister will be entitled to an additional $96,800 annually, plus car allowances.

That increase was $92,800 before April 1.

Other positions, such as House leaders, whips and committee chairs, are also entitled to a bump. Chief government and opposition whips, for example, will earn an additional $36,000 on top of their regular salaries, while chairs of House committees — as well as rankand-file members of the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians (NSICOP) — earn an extra $13,800.

More people left B.C. for other provinces in 2023 — mostly Alberta

It is another sign that the cost of living in B.C. is getting to be too much for many people as a new report from Statistics Canada says almost 70,000 people left the province last year.

More than half of those people went to Alberta. B.C. resident Paula Spurr is soon to be an Alberta resident. “It’s partly a family thing for my partner, but we wouldn’t have gone if it wasn’t also a financial thing,” she said.

“We can’t afford to live the life that we love here in Vancouver, so it’s time to up sticks.”

Spurr said they have had some issues with housing insecurities over the past couple of years. “We were sort of illegally evicted from the place we were living, (and) had to take the first place we could find,” she said.

“It was right when the rent started to skyrocket, and we ended up in a place that was 60 per cent more than we had been paying. And it was 60 per cent worse. Like, the building has rats and mold and an angry landlord.”

B.C.’s neighbouring province launched its Alberta is Calling campaign in 2022 to entice people to move to that province, promising bigger paycheques and a lower cost of living. “What kind of life can people build in British Columbia, and it’s not only now, but it’s always been a challenge to ensure that British Columbia can offer people not only the ability to have a home, but to also build their lives,” Andy Yan, city program director with Simon Fraser University, told Global News.

DMJ Painting Ltd.

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Colorado official recorded trying to send illegal migrants to Canada

In the latest indication of the increasingly porous and chaotic Canada-U.S. border, a Colorado official was recently allegedly recorded attempting to empty out a homeless shelter by offering to send residents “to the Canadian border.”

City of Denver said that it wasn’t their policy to send migrants directly to Canadian cities, but they will distribute free bus tickets to U.S. stops that are close to the Canadian border, if that’s what migrants want.

“You don’t have to walk anywhere, we can buy you a free ticket. You can go to any city. We can take you up to the Canadian border, wherever,” Andres Carrera, a “newcomer communications liaison” with the City of Denver, was recorded telling arrivals at a migrant shelter.

After explaining that Denver already has “too many migrants” and that resources are sapped, Carrera ends his speech by asking, “Okay, who wants to travel to different cities where there is more work?”

In comments to a local NBC affiliate, the

It’s not the first time that a U.S. city has been caught attempting to alleviate shelter space by exporting migrants to Canada. And it also occurs amid a record-breaking surge of illegal migrants going the other direction.

Last month, U.S. border agents in New York, New Hampshire and Vermont all reported arresting record numbers of migrants entering illegally from Canada.

In 2023, 7,000 migrants were arrested attempting to illegally enter those states via Quebec, Ontario and New Brunswick — a number that was higher than the last 12 years combined.

“I have never seen anything like it,” Erik Lavallee, a Vermont-based U.S. Border Patrol Agent, told CBS last month. Just last week, a social media post by the United States Border Patrol reported apprehending an SUV packed with nine U.K. nationals that was attempting to enter from Quebec by smashing its way through a farm on the Vermont border.

B.C. introduces home-flipping tax legislation

The B.C. government has introduced the Residential Property (Short-Term Holding) Profit Tax Act — also referred to as the home-flipping tax.

The legislation, outlined in the BC NDP’s pre-election budget in February, aims to “discourage investors from buying housing only to turn a quick profit.”

The government has explained that, under these proposed rules, homes sold within the first year of being purchased will face a tax rate of 20 per cent of the profit, declining to zero per cent over the second year.

Approximately seven per cent of homes sold in B.C. between 2020 and 2022 were resold within two years, the government noted in February.

If passed, the legislation will take effect as of Jan. 1, 2025.

“Buying a home is one

of the biggest milestones in people’s lives –whether it is their first apartment or sizing up for a growing family – everyone wants to find a place to call home and build a good life,” Minister of Finance Katrine Conroy said Wednesday. “We don’t think families should have to compete against wealthy speculators when they are purchasing a home, which is why we’re taking action against investors who use the housing market as a stock market.”

WAF works to repair fault affecting Suva water supply, repair timeline still uncertain

The Water Authority of Fiji has managed to expose the fault site along Ki Street in Wailoku that is affecting water supply to thousands of Fijians living in the greater Suva area but they can not give the exact time the works will finish.

WAF has reassured those affected that repair works will not take as long as the previous repair works.

They say they have assessed the extent of damages on the washout which is connected to the DN600 raw water trunk pipeline which supplies raw water from Headworks 3 to the Tamavua Water Treatment Plant.

WAF Chief Operating Officer, Seru Soderberg says that apart from the multiple pinholes, the washout outlet pipe has also completely ruptured.

Soderberg says WAF is currently making the repair site safe as the pipes are around 2.5 metres and are under an overhanging concrete slab that poses a major risk to the lives of the welders should they be caught under if it collapses. He says once the site is safe to safely

access, the welders will move in to carry out repair works on the damaged pipe.

Soderberg adds the progress of works will be weather-dependent and they are hoping that the weather can hold up over the coming hours.

He adds they will give an update as soon as their team on the ground gives them reports on the latest developments.

Areas impacted include Tamavua Reservoir, upper Princes Road, upper Ragg Avenue, Namadi, Mead Road, upper and lower Samabula Area, Rewa Street, Delainavesi, Lami Village, Upper Lami Town, Qauia, Veisari, Waiqanake, Belinaiveli, Monfort, Togalevu, Wailoku, Raiwasa, Nabua, Ratu Mara Road, Gaji, Kula, Kaka, Kanavi, Belo, Nailuva, Ritova, Matanitobua, Talasiga, Shipping Reservoir, Walu Bay, Rokobili, Korovou Prison, Tamavua I Wai, Lovunilase Area.

The Toorak Reservoir is also being affected and areas affected include Amy Street, Augustus, High Street, Spring Street, Knolly Street, and Upper Toorak.

Acting DPP files appeal against sentence

Acting Director of Public Prosecutions, John Rabuku, has filed an appeal against the sentence of the former Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama and suspended Commissioner of Police, Sitiveni Qiliho.

According to a statement issued by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), the Notice of Appeal against the sentence was filed in the High Court this afternoon.

The former PM and the suspended COMPOL were found not guilty and acquitted accordingly by Resident Magistrate Seini Paumau at Suva Magistrates Court on October 12, 2023.

The State had filed an appeal against their acquittal where the Acting Chief Justice then overturned the Magistrate’s decision and found the two guilty as charged.

Fiji Airways plane in LA Airport accident

A Fiji Airways plane that was scheduled to depart Los Angeles for Fiji was hit by another plane while on the ground at Los Angeles aiport.

The Asiana Airlines plane hit the Fiji Airways elevator with both planes sustaining damage.

“We want to reassure our passengers that no guests or crew were aboard the aircraft at the time of the incident,” said Fiji Airways.

“In light of this incident, we anticipate some delays to our services for the next few days. Rest assured, guests impacted by these changes will be promptly notified of any alterations to their travel plans.”

The State has filed four grounds of appeal, and they are as follows:

* That the sentence imposed by the learned Magistrate against both the Respondents are manifestly lenient and in breach of sentencing principles, case laws and the tariff set in other similar matters and offences.

* That the learned Magistrate erred in law and in fact when she made a finding that

The matter was then sent back to the Magistrates’ Court for sentencing.

In sentencing the duo, Magistrate Puamau announced that both their convictions would not be registered.

Mr Rabuku said “the sentence delivered by Magistrate Puamau is unsatisfactory, is wrong both in fact and in law and does not reflect the considerations and tariff of cases or matters of similar nature.”

there were no aggravating factors against the Respondents.

* That the learned Magistrate erred in law and in fact in considering irrelevant factors in sentencing the Respondents; and

* That the learned Magistrate erred in law and in fact when she made a finding that there was no victim and that the offending was a technical breach by both Respondents.

Bhim Tank murder prime convict Harpreet Harry jumps parole, flees to Dubai

In a major embarrassment to the security agencies, Harpreet Harry, prime convict in the killing of Bhim Tank of Abohar, has jumped parole and is suspected to have fled to Dubai on a fake passport. An undated video message has also surfaced in which he has threatened to assassinate Prime Minister Narendra Modi on “issues being faced by farmers”. In the video, he has dared the PM to try and organise a rally in Punjab as “Harry and his men have enough AK-56 rifles” to take on the PM’s security.

Bhim Tank, leaving him to bleed to death in December 2015 at Doda’s farmhouse.

Police sources said Harry was the prime convict among 24 persons, including liquor baron and former SAD halqa in-charge Shiv Lal Doda, in the case of chopping of limbs of

Bhim Tank, a former employee of Doda, was killed by chopping off his limbs. A heavily built man, he had refused to work with Doda and had beaten up some of the liquor baron’s men.

Fazilka SSP Pragya Jain, who took over the command of the district last week, said action had been initiated in the case. A Fazilka court had convicted and sentenced Harry and others to life imprisonment in August 2019. They had moved a higher court and, according to sources, Harry had got parole recently. The police got information that he had fled to Dubai on a fake passport.

Spiritual leader appeals to PM Modi, MEA for help as Punjabi man fights for life in Los Angeles

In an appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), a spiritual leader has urged for urgent assistance for a Punjabi man battling for his life in the US following a heart attack.

“Whenever our youth face crises, whether in Ukraine or anywhere globally, our Prime Minister steps in. It is crucial that in this critical time, the government extends its helping hand to Ravi Kant Sharma,” Sant Guru Swami Paul Ji Maharaj said.

“Ravi Kant Sharma, a journalist working in Canada, was on assignment in the United States when tragedy struck. Now admitted to the Los Angeles Medical Center, Sharma’s critical condition necessitates immediate transfer to Canada due to his insurance coverage being in that country. However, the lack of resources and support has left Sharma and his family in a dire situation,” Swami Paul Ji Maharaj

explained.

With Sharma’s life hanging in the balance, the plea for assistance has gained “urgency and significance,” he added.

“Enough, I don’t want to say more. I trust

that PM Modi, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, and especially our Doda Member of Parliament if they take this matter into their hands,” the spiritual leader also said.

Man kills mother, sister-in-law, nephew with sharp-edged weapon in Amritsar’s Jhander

In a shocking incident, a man has killed three members of his family including mother, sister-in-law and nephew in Jhander area here on Thursday.

The deceased were identified as Manbir Kaur (mother), Avreet Kaur (sister-in-law) and Smarth Singh (nephew).

The accused Amritpal Singh is said to be mentally upset.

According to information, he allegedly

killed the victims with a sharp-edged weapon (datar).

Senior police officials, including SSP Amritsar (Rural) Satinder Singh, SP Harinder Singh Gill have reached the spot for investigations.

Gill said that after

committing the crime, the accused surrendered himself to the police at the police station. In fact he told the police about the incident.

Preliminary probe found that his wife Sharanjit Kaur along with her two children has been living separately for past two years.

His brother has been in abroad for past several years while his brother’s wife Avreet Kaur and nephew lived with his mother Manbir Kaur.

“The accused seems to be mentally unstable but it was yet to be ascertained. He told the police that nobody in the family considers him a good man and therefore he killed them. The investigations were still in progress,” SP said.

Protests erupt in Pakistan over abduction of Hindu girl

Amidst growing outrage, members of the Hindu community and traders in Dera Murad Jamali took to the streets to condemn the recent abduction of a young girl, Priya Kumari, and demanded urgent action for her recovery, Dawn reported.

Criticising the Sindh government’s perceived incompetence, protesters voiced their frustration over the failure to locate and rescue Kumari, who was abducted from Sukkur just days ago.

Showing placards, demonstrators vehemently denounced what they described

Domki, Khan Jan Bangulazi, and Harpal Das.

The leaders urged Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah to take immediate and decisive action to ensure the safe return of the girl and to deliver justice to the minority community. They issued a stern warning of nationwide protests if their demands go unheeded.

Human Rights Focus Pakistan (HRFP) has also strongly condemned the religious persecutions of minorities in Pakistan and urged the next government to bring legislation of equal status for all communities.

as the routine abduction of innocent children in Sindh and highlighted the deteriorating security conditions for religious minorities, as reported by Dawn.

Led by senior Hindu community figures Mukhi Manak Lal and Seth Tara Chand, the rally drew participants from various sectors of society.

Notable attendees included Taj Baloch, representing traders, Liaqat Ali Chakar from JI’s youth wing, Mir Jan Mengal, president of the wholesale market, Molana Nawabuddin

HRFP has highlighted that many people from Christians, Hindus, Ahmdiyya’s, Sikhs and other communities have been victimised in different attacks during the last few months.

Human Right Focus Pakistan (HRFP) is a non-government organisation (NGO) established in 1994 to work for the promotion and protection of human rights, with special focus to religious minorities, women and children “The newly elected representatives and the government must make legislation for equal status of all citizens as per founder of Pakistan, Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s vision and thoughts,” it stated.

“The recent cases are addition to suffering, and the growing numbers has made minorities more vulnerable,” HRFP added.

Naveed Walter, the President of Human Rights Focus Pakistan (HRFP) said that even in the short duration of the year so far, several alarming incidents have been reported.

Pakistan’s jailed former PM Imran Khan’s lawyer asks court to disregard Azam Khan’s testimony

Pakistan’s jailed former prime minister Imran Khan’s counsel has urged a top court here to discard the testimony of his ex-aide Azam Khan in the cipher case as it was ostensibly obtained under dubious circumstances.

Barrister Salman Safdar made the argument before an Islamabad High Court (IHC) division bench comprising Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb on Tuesday that Azam Khan, once a close confidant of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder and an accused in the case, went missing in June 2023.

Then instead of recording his confession, the former principal secretary to Imran Khan testified against him before an investigation officer and magistrate.

The IHC was on Tuesday hearing appeals filed by 71-year-old Khan and former foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi against their conviction under the Official Secrets Act, 1923, for misusing a cipher (secret diplomatic communication) to the detriment of national interests, Dawn News reported.

of paper-allegedly a copy of a diplomatic cipher-at a public rally in Islamabad, claiming it as proof of a conspiracy against his government by a foreign power.

Safdar said the case’s first information report was registered on August 15 last year and Khan recorded his statement the next day.

The IHC bench perused the record and found that Azam Khan went missing on June 15 and re-emerged on July 20, recording his

statement a month later.

Safdar raised doubts about the exbureaucrat’s testimony and argued that it was recorded under dubious circumstances.

Just two weeks before the ouster of the PTI government in April 2022 through a vote of no-confidence, Khan had brandished a piece

He urged the court not to give any credence to Azam Khan’s testimony, arguing that the magistrate recorded his statement without issuing prior notice to other accused persons.

Supreme Court to hear after 2 weeks plea to tally EVM votes with VVPAT

As India heads to the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, the Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to take up after two weeks a PIL seeking cross-verification of the votes cast in EVMs with voter verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT). Despite repeated requests made by senior advocates Kapil Sibal, Gopal Sankaranarayanan and advocate

Trivedi, said it was aware of the situation and would hear the matter in the week after the next week. “The matter may be struck out from the list next week because of the roster now,” Justice Khanna said.

“Mr Bhushan, after all, how much time will this matter take? You can make submissions in two hours and we will finish the matter. Okay,” Justice Khanna said, assuring that the parties would be given sufficient time to make submissions.

Prashant Bhushan for listing the PIL next week, a Bench led by Justice Sanjiv Khanna said it couldn’t be taken up next Tuesday or Wednesday.

The lawyers submitted on behalf of the Association for Democratic Reforms that the Lok Sabha elections were commencing in the next few days and if the PIL was not heard, it would become infructuous. The seven-phase elections will commence on April 19. The Bench, which also included Justice MM Sundresh and Justice Bela M

On July 17 last year, the top court had asked the Election Commission to respond to the petition by the Association for Democratic Reforms seeking a direction to the Election Commission and the Centre to ensure voters were able to verify through VVPATs that their vote had been “counted as recorded”.

The petitioners have demanded that all VVPATs should be verified, instead of the current practice of randomly verifying five EVMs per Assembly segment. On April 1, a Bench led by Justice BR Gavai had issued notice on another plea seeking 100 per cent verification of VVPAT slips and tagged it with a pending case on the issue.

Delhi High Court reserves order on Arvind Kejriwal’s plea against arrest

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday reserved its verdict on a petition by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal challenging his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering case linked to the Delhi excise policy scam.

“I am going to reserve the judgment,” Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma said after hearing arguments from senior counsel AM Singhvi for Kejriwal and Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, who represented the ED. The order is expected to be pronounced on Thursday.

no one can touch you because elections are coming…” the ASG wondered.

As Raju gave the example of a terroristpolitician who blew up an Army vehicle and then said “no one can touch me” as he was contesting elections, Singhvi took strong exception to it, terming it bizarre.

The ED had arrested Kejriwal on March 21 after the Delhi High Court refused to grant him protection from coercive action by the probe agency in the money laundering case. On April 1, a Delhi special court sent Kejriwal to 14day judicial custody on the expiry of his ED custody.

Singhvi questioned the timing and necessity of the Delhi CM’s arrest, saying it went against the basic structure of the Constitution, which included free and fair elections that required a level playing field for all political parties during the democratic exercise.

However, the ASG contested Singhvi’s submissions, contending that the offence of money laundering was prima facie made out and that the investigation against Kejriwal was at a nascent stage.

Raju said the accused could not cite the Lok Sabha elections or his position as the Delhi CM to claim any special exception in the money laundering case. “Everybody has to be treated equally and someone who looted the country can’t claim immunity citing upcoming elections,” he submitted.

Denying allegations of bias levelled against the probe agency, Raju asserted that the case was based on evidence and that “criminals are supposed to be arrested and put in jail”. “An aam aadmi (common man) has to go behind bars if he has committed a crime but because you are a CM, you can’t be arrested? You will loot the country but

“This is nothing but a bizarre example… My point is if a man, a CM, blows up an Army vehicle, he should be arrested. But is that a fair analogy?” Singhvi asked.

“There is no evidence against him (Kejriwal) that he is involved in the offence of money laundering. It is preposterous to say that the CM of Delhi will be handling hawala transactions,” Singhvi said, adding that there was no recovery of money and that the money trail had not been established.

However, the ASG said, “We have demonstrated that Kejriwal was responsible for the affairs of the company (AAP) at the time when the offence of money laundering was committed. Tomorrow, if we feel that others were also responsible for it, we will make them responsible as well.”

Raju also pointed out that the petition had only assailed the first remand order, which sent Kejriwal to the ED custody till March 28, and not the subsequent orders.

The case related to alleged corruption and money laundering in formulating and executing the Delhi Government’s excise policy 2021-22 that was scrapped after allegations of scam.

On March 27, the court had refused to grant interim relief to Kejriwal, saying the matter raised important issues that could not be “summarily” decided without hearing from the probe agency.

In its response, the ED alleged that Kejriwal was the kingpin and the key conspirator of the excise scam and there were reasons to believe on the basis of material in its possession that the AAP leader was guilty of the offence of money laundering.

Stick to price cap: US to India on Russian crude

A visiting American team to tighten sanctions on Moscow said all Indian imports of crude from Russia must adhere to the price cap announced by the US, the EU and Australia.

“Permitting unrestricted Russian oil trade was and remains unacceptable. It would allow Putin to profit from a price spike he created,” said US Assistant Secretary for Economic Policy Eric Van Nostrand at an interactive session here on Thursday.

Another US official, however, said India had not been asked to stop or reduce oil imports from Russia, nor had it sanctioned any Indian entity for buying and refining crude purchased from Russia.

with Russia,” said Acting Assistant Secretary for Terrorist Financing Anna Morris.

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal

“There is no restriction; we have not asked India to reduce Russian oil buying. Not dictating that no trade can be done

said, “We buy oil from the international market, wherever it is available, at the cheapest rate. We have to ensure our energy security.” The team from the US is here to discuss the second phase of the price cap on Russian oil.

Senior US treasury officials to urge India to maintain implementation of Russian oil price cap

Two senior US treasury officials are in India to urge New Delhi to maintain the implementation of the oil price cap aimed at limiting profits to Russia, while also promoting stable global energy markets, according to an official announcement.

Acting Assistant Secretary for Terrorist Financing Anna Morris and PDO Assistant Secretary for Economic Policy Eric Van Nostrand are travelling to New Delhi and Mumbai from April 2-5 to meet with government and private sector counterparts,

price cap.

This cap prohibits the utilisation of Western maritime services, including insurance, flagging, and transportation, for tankers transporting Russian oil priced at or above US$ 60 per barrel.

In 2023, Russia had emerged as India’s top oil supplier. India has strong economic and defence ties with Russia and has refrained from criticising Moscow over its war with Ukraine.

Morris and Nostrand will deliver remarks on the price cap and participate in a Q&A hosted by the Ananta Aspen Centre in New Delhi on Thursday.

the Treasury said in a statement on Wednesday.

“They will discuss key bilateral issues, including cooperation on anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism, other illicit finance issues, and continued implementation of the price cap, which seeks to further limit the profits Russia receives to fund its illegal invasion while promoting stable global energy markets,” it said.

Following Russia’s February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, the G7 nations, the European Union, and Australia jointly implemented a

As Morris and Nostrand noted in a blog post last month, the second phase of the price cap continues to achieve its twin goals: restricting Russia’s oil profits, while supporting energy market stability, the statement said.

“The price at which Russia sells its oil has declined markedly since the second phase began; the shift reflects the effects of reduced oil prices globally over this period, but also a significant widening in the discount Russia earns relative to other global oil suppliers,” it said.

Energy market participants, analysts, and even Russian President Vladimir Putin’s own oil czar have linked the rising discount on Russian oil to the Coalition’s increased enforcement activities reflected in the second phase of the price cap — clear evidence that this second phase is working, the statement said.

World Bank raises India’s GDP forecast to 7.5% for FY24 but flags job scarcity

The World Bank has revised upwards India’s GDP growth for 2023-24 by a massive 1.2 points to 7.5 per cent but cautioned that the country and its neighbours Pakistan and Bangladesh could miss the opportunities created by the demographic dividend or a greater proportion of the young.

The World Bank raised India’s GDP forecast on the back of robust activity in services and industry. Bangladesh’s GDP is expected to grow at 5.6 per cent and Pakistan’s by 1.8 per cent after suffering a contraction in 2022-23.

In its latest update for South Asia, the World Bank said the region’s employment ratio was falling. This means the three countries were not creating enough roles for their young population and thus stand the risk of squandering their demographic dividend. South Asia was “the only region where the share of workingage men who are employed fell over the past two decades,” noted the World Bank. The World Bank’s huge revision in Gross Domestic Product growth in India follows a stunning 8.4 per cent growth recorded in the October-December quarter. The

January-March Gross Domestic Product growth figures are also likely to be in the 8 per cent range.

But it sees growth slowing down to 6.6 per cent in 2024-25 due to lower investments than in the previous year. The lower investments would be partially offset by a decline in fiscal deficit and government debt. Besides India, growth will be strong in the rest of South Asia which will have a combined growth rate of 6.1 per cent in 2024-25. Bangladesh’s Gross Domestic Product will grow by 5.7 per cent, Pakistan’s by 2.3 per cent and Sri Lanka’s by 2.5 per cent during this period.

India and its neighbours are not creating enough jobs to sustain their young population, the World Bank has warned, putting the region’s demographic dividend at risk even as it enjoys the world’s fastest economic growth.