The Asian Star_May 16_2015

www.theasianstar.com Vol 14

Issue 16 Saturday, May 16, 2015

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PM Harper, Premier Clark will not stop foreign investment in real estate

Aligning policies - BC Premier Christy Clark and PM Stephen Harper

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rime Minister Stephen Harper and BC Premier Christy Clark do not plan to restrict foreign investment in real estate -whether locals can afford to buy houses here or not. The two were responding to a petition requesting that foreign investors be restricted from buying residential houses so that locals will be able to afford to buy the houses. But the two leaders were having one of it. On Thursday, both Clark and Harper rejected the idea of such restrictions. Harper said limiting foreign investment in housing is not something he is “contemplating at the current time.� B.C. Premier Christy Clark, meanwhile, acknowledged that restricting foreign investors would cause prices to drop, but she won’t consider restrictions. “In terms of a tax on foreign buyers, people who already own homes are often a little bit concerned about that idea because it would probably mean a big reduction in the equity they own in the home,� Clark said earlier this week. “By trying to move foreign buyers out of the market, housing prices overall will drop -that’s good for first-time homebuyers, but Continued on page 6

A graphic shows that Translink already gets a lion’s share of gas tax, but now wants more

Transit referendum reaches final phase The Metro Vancouver transit referendum reached its final stage at midnight

last night, which was the deadline to request ballots from Elections BC. Continued on page 4

14-year-old Indian-American wins National Geographic Bee

K

aran Menon, a 14-year-old Indian-origin boy, answered questions about places from Tashkent to Telangana to win the National Geographic Bee championship here with the top three positions going to Indian-Americans.

Menon bagged the championship by answering Karan Menon (right) celebrates after his win. the final question: If built, the proposed Grand Inga Dam would be young finalists, seven of them of Indian the world’s largest hydroelectric dam. Near origin, from across the US, in grades four the Inga Falls, it is on which African river? through eight, for a trip to the Galapagos Menon’s winning answer: the Congo. “I’m Islands and $85,000 in college scholaron top of the world right now,� said the ships. Menon bested runner-up Shriya New Jerseyite, who competed against 10

See story on page 7

2 L Saturday, May 16, 2015

Local

Hinduism becomes fourth largest religion in USA

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ueled by immigration, America’s Hindu population has reached 2.23 million, an increase of about one million or 85.8 percent since 2007, making Hinduism the fourth-largest faith, according

to estimates based on wide-ranging study of religions in the nation. The proportion of Hindus in the US population rose from 0.4 percent in 2007 to 0.7 percent last year, according to the Pew Research Center’s “Reli-

gious Landscape Study” published on Tuesday.

The study only gave the percentage shares of Hindus in the population, rather than numbers, but calculations by IANS using the population proportions in the report

and census projections showed that the number of Hindus rose from 1.2 million in 2007 out of a total US population of 301.2 million that year to 2.23 million in 2014 in a population of 318.88 million. This amounts to an increase of 1.03 million or 85.8 percent in the Hindu population during the seven-year period. Pew said that it may have underestimated the size of the Hindu population. An earlier report from Pew on the future of world religions in April said that by 2050, Hindus would make up 1.2 percent of the US population and number 4.78 million. This would make the US Hindu population the fifth largest in the world. Looking at the socio-economic profile of Hindus, the new Pew report released on Tuesday said they had the highest education and income levels of all religious groups in the US: 36 percent of the Hindus said their annual family income exceeded $100,000, compared with 19 percent of the overall population. And 77 percent of Hindus have a bachelor’s degree compared to 27 percent of all adults and 48 percent of the Hindus have a post-graduate degree. Even as some American Christian organisations push for proselytisation in India, their share of the US population fell by 7.8 percent during the seven-year period, from 78.4 percent in 2007 to 70.6 percent last year the Pew study said. That works out to about 11 million fewer Christians. However, “Christians remain by far the largest religious group in the United States, but the Christian share of the population has declined markedly,” the report said. Underlying the change, there was a marked increase in the number of people who say they have “no particular religion,” the study reported. About 23 percent of American adults fell into this category, up seven percent from the 16 percent in 2007. Included in this broad category are atheists who make up 3.1 percent of the total US population and agnostics, four percent.

Compared to Christianity, the others are miniscule despite the increases. The second largest religion is Judaism, which accounts for 1.9 percent of the population, with an increase of 0.2 percent, the study found. It is followed

by Islam with a 0.9 percent share of the population, up by 0.5 percent. Buddhism ties for the fourth place with Hinduism at 0.7 percent.

The US census does not ask questions about religion. The Pew Research Center, an independent Washington-based organisation, surveyed more than 35,000 people across the US to fill this gap and arrive at the statistics. The rising trend of Hinduism in the US contrasts with that in India. The Pew report released in April said that the share of Hindus in the Indian population was expected to decline by 2.8 percent, from 79.5 percent in 2010 to 76.7 percent in 2050 even though their numbers were projected to grow to almost 1.3 billion by that year in a total Indian population of nearly 1.7 billion. The new report Tuesday on the religions in the US said that most of the increase in the Hindu population came through immigration and not conversions: 87 percent are immigrants

Local More charges laid in connection with Surrey, Delta shootings

Saturday, May 16, 2015 L 3

India- Africa Charitable Society and the Rotary Club of Burnaby fundraiser

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ore criminal ers will be brought to charges have justice. They want to been laid in know how many witconnection with a rash of nesses RCMP needs in shootings in Surrey and Delorder to lay charges. ta over the past two months.

One resident said she The Combined Forces Specan’t understand why cial Enforcement Unit says police can’t find these since March 9, police have so-called “low-level responded to 30 shootings, criminals” when they at least half of which are behave so much experilieved to be over competition ence dealing with the in the street level drug trade.

Pardip Brar, 20, of Delta, BC “high-level” bad guys Arman Dhatt, 18, is facing - especially with the deanother seven charges, after he was charged tailed information they have. “My husband in April with 12 drug trafficking and firearm gave them the exact description of the car, the offences, while Pardip Brar, 20, is facing 12. van that was involved... how can you not find Another suspect Rajvir Sunner is facing four them?” she asked. “It’s just very frustrating, charges. Two men were arrested but released you know? It’s just very frustrating.” Police pending further investigation. Police say the ask anyone with information on any victims continue to be uncooperative, and of the shootings to call the tip line during this investigation drivers in 40 veat 604-915-6566. hicles failed to stop for police. To date, the agency says there have been 131 calls to the tip line with 14 being of high value to the investigations. Meanwhile, Surrey residents are getting tire dof the slow response by the RCMP to the gangland warfare. Some residents are starting to wonder when the shoot-

Real estate market remains hot

C

anada’s hot housing market is no longer just the story of Vancouver and Toronto. New data released this week shows that Canadian home sales rose 2.3% in April, the third monthly gain in a row, and a 10% jump from the year before. What is really remarkable the buoyant figures show there is a lot more to the housing market’s resilience than just those two real estate power houses Toronto and Vancouver, says BMO chief economist Douglas Porter.

Only four of Canada’s top 26 cities reported really weak sales last month — no surprise — all in oil producing provinces, Porter said. Calgary, Edmonton, and Regina were the only cities to post double-digit yearly declines in sales, and Saskatoon declined 9.7%.

But even these laggards are showing signs of stabilizing, with sales flat from the month before, Porter said Meanwhile, 16 cities saw double-digit gains in sales, with seven of these showing an increase of more than 20%. Vancouver sales surged 38%. “The big picture here is that Canadian home sales and prices remain remarkably resilient, and this is not just a Toronto and Vancouver story any longer,” said Porter, noting that a number of smaller markets are showing “some real spark.” “Perhaps the most notable item here is that Canadian sales and prices were both up almost 10% from year-ago levels in April, even at a time when the previously hottest market in the country (Calgary) was struggling. Impressive.” For a closer look at individual markets here’s Porter’s rundown: “What’s hot? Toronto and Vancouver” Vancouver’s market got hotter with a 37.7% year over year jump in sales. Porter said prices are now not only the highest in Canada, but also rising at the fastest pace. Toronto sales are up 16.5% year over year. Porter said both remain sellers’ markets, but while detached homes are in extremely short supply, condos are much more plentiful.

Markets in smaller Ontario cities also got honourable mention for strong prices and sales. “Near the top of the list this year are Hamilton-Burlington, London, Kitchener-Waterloo, St. Catharines and Windsor — basically a who’s who of Canada’s manufacturing heartland,” said Porter.

Guests at a joint fundraiser of the India- Africa Charitable Society and the Rotary Club of Burnaby-Deer Lake. Photo: Chandra Bodalia

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4 L Saturday, May 16, 2015 Continued from page 1

EDITORIAL

Final chance to vote ‘no’ on Transit referendum

No more ballots were to be given out after midnight last night. All Elections BC

is waiting for is out standing ballots to be mailed back by midnight May 29 and

began mailing ballots to registered voters two months ago. So far, about 610,000 completed packages — or about 39 per cent — have been returned.

Voters are being asked to answer yes or no to the question, “Do you support a new 0.5% Metro Vancouver Congestion Improvement Tax, to be dedicated to the Mayors’ Transportation and Transit Plan?�

If approved, projected annual revenue of $250 million would be used to fund the Mayors’ Council’s $7.8 billion transportation and transit plan over the next decade.

Some of the big-ticket projects include a new Pattullo Bridge, light rail transit in Surrey and Langley, and a subway line along Vancouver’s Broadway Corridor.

A majority of 50 per cent plus one is required for approval.

The majority of the voting public has not been supportive of an increase in tax to give Translink more money- especially since Metro Vancouver’s transportation monolith has very poor spending habits.

People are not upset about a tax increase but about that fact that more money is being thrown at Translink before the organi Translink is getting the biggest chunk of gas taxes.

the federal and provincial governments will kick in one third each of the overall cost.

Most people also see this exercise as way to fund Vancouver mayor Gregor Robertson’s pet project. We already pay the highest gas taxes in North America, thanks to TransLink. But the TransLink Mayors want a sales tax too?

Residents would be far wiser to vote no to another tax grab.

www.theasianstar.com # 202 - 7028, 120th Street, Surrey, BC V3W 3M8 Ph: 604-591-5423 Fax: 604-591-8615 E-mail: editor@theasianstar.com Editor: Umendra Singh Associate Editor: Shruti Prakash Joshi Marketing and Sales: Ravinder S. Cheema..604-715-3847 Shamir Doshi..............604-649-7827 Harminder Kaur..........778-708-0481 Parminder Dhillon.......604-591-5423 Pre-Press: Iftikhar Ahmed Contributing writers: Akash Sablok, Kamila Singh, Jay Bains Photographer: Chandra Bodalia

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Saturday, May 16, 2015 L 5

LOCAL

6 L Saturday, May 16, 2015

Hells Angels challenge Civil Forfeiture Office in court

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ritish Columbia’s Civil Forfeiture Office is going beyond the province’s powers in its pursuit of three Hells Angels clubhouses and is using civil court as a substitute for the criminal justice system, says a lawyer representing the motorcycle club. In October, 2013, the Hells Angels announced a constitutional challenge of B.C.’s Civil Forfeiture Act. The Civil Forfeiture Office, the government agency that seizes property believed to be linked to crime, had started proceedings to take possession of the group’s clubhouses in Nanaimo, East Vancouver and Kelowna. A trial date has not been set for any part of the case, but the parties were in B.C. Supreme Court for a hearing on Thursday. John Hunter, the lawyer representing the Civil Forfeiture Office in the case, applied to amend his pleadings to remove allegations against specific Hells Angels members and instead focus on unlawful activity that will occur at the clubhouses in the future unless the activity there is stopped – rather than what may have occurred there in the past. He told Justice Barry Davies he hoped that not having to prove specific allegations against individuals would move the case more quickly. But Joseph Arvay,

representing the Hells Angels, told the court the office’s argument is flawed. He called the Civil Forfeiture Act “unconstitutional� and said the issues are the jurisdiction of Parliament, not the province. “When the province seeks to deter organized crime by seeking forfeiture on the basis that [property] might in the future be used to commit crimes, the province strays beyond its area of provincial competence and entrenches on Parliament’s exclusive power in relation

to criminal law,â€? he said. Mr. Arvay said the office is trying to use the civil court’s lower standard of proof to make a case that people will commit crimes in the future. “If there’s no past crime, once [Mr. Hunter] proves that the Hells Angels are a criminal organization on the balance of probabilities, he will now ask you to find on the balance of probabilities that the members of the Hells Angels ‌ have a propensity to commit crime. ‌ This would completely violate any of the rules of criminal law,â€? Mr. Arvay told Justice Davies. Mr. Arvay said the civil forfeiture office is trying to do what police and the Crown could not – drive the Hells Angels out of British Columbia.

Anam Kazim wins for NDP in Calgary-Glenmore after recount NDP’s Anam Kazim won her riding of Calgary-Glenmore in the provincial election last week, according to a recount from Elections Alberta. “It was a lot of suspense ‌ so I am glad about the outcome,â€? she said. Progressive Conservative incumbent Linda Johnson and Kazim had ended up with exactly 7,015 votes with all 94 polls reporting after the May 5 vote. “I did not anticipate that, so that was an excitement in its own,â€? said Kazim. But after the recount Kazim had 7,018 votes and Johnson 7,012.

Johnson still has the right to challenge the result by requesting a judicial review, an option she says she and her party are considering. Kazim can’t be sure yet of a final outcome. “There is still a chance the results will go to the judicial review, so for now I am just seeing myself as the winner for today, because these are not the final results as we don’t know what is going to happen next.� said Kazim, adding it would take at least a couple of weeks to finalize results if a review is requested. The recounted tally means the NDP won 54 seats in the election while the Wildrose won 21, the Progressive Conservatives 10, and the Liberals and Alberta Party one each.

Continued from Page 1...

PM Harper, Premier Clark will not stop foreign investment in real estate but not for anybody who’s depending on the equity in their home to maybe get a loan, or

average price of a detached house in Metro Vancouver was well over $1 million in April, up 12.5 per cent from one year earlier. Prices in other cities, like Toronto, aren’t far behind. ! " # & ' many young buyers and some blame wealthy foreign investors, who they say are snapping up the limited supply of houses and condos.

UBC professor Paul Kershaw says that the unaffordability is clear. His recent study suggests it now takes an average 25- to 34-year-old Canadian making median fulltime earnings 10 years to save an average down payment. In the 1970s, it was about

& ( In Vancouver, Kershaw estimates it takes

more like 20 years. “Even the most elite, earn )#

a space in metro Vancouver,� he says.

An online petition demanding foreign investors be restricted from buying housing in Vancouver recently passed 20,000 signatures, forcing politicians to respond. The petition points out that other places with soaring home prices have put restrictions on foreigners to keep them out of the resale market.

Australia, for example, requires non-residents to get approval before buying a residence and usually only approves those buying in new developments. “The Australian Government believes that foreign investment in the housing sector should increase the supply of homes, and should not be speculative in nature,� says a guide from its federal government.

LOCAL

Saturday, May 16, 2015 L 7

Continued from Page 1...

14-year-old Indian-American wins National Geographic Bee 11, of Michigan, who missed only one question through the entire contest (about the ! " &+ /: ; " ; preparation, and being able to relax at key moments,â&#x20AC;? he said. During one nail-biting moment, Menon challenged the judges after he answered taconite when host, journalist Soledad Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Brien, had wanted iron ore for the name of a mineral-rich deposit in the Mesabi Range. The judges agreed and granted ( <

Kapil Nathan of Alabama, Sojas Wagle of Arkansas, Nicholas Monahan of Idaho, Patrick Taylor of Iowa, Abhinav Karthikeyan of Maryland, Lucy Chae of Massachusetts, Shriya Yarlagadda of Michigan, Shreyas Varathan of Minnesota, Karan Menon of New Jersey and Tejas Badgujar of Pennsylvania. The

' " = (< ship in a preliminary round on Monday that included 54 contestants from state and territory-level bees. Four million students competed in local geography bees this year from 11,000 schools, representing roughly 12 percent of US schools. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Geography helps prepare students to make the world a better place,â&#x20AC;? National Geographic president and CEO Gary Knell told the Beeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s live audience on Wednesday. A recent survey found that three of four ;

( in the subject. National Geographic started the Bee in 1989 to improve geographic literacy among young people. Michael Jordan majored in geography and Mother Teresa taught it, the organisers noted.

B.C. government fires outspoken chair of Agricultural Land Commission Richard Bullock, the outspoken chair of B.C.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Agricultural Land Commission, says he was fired in a brief phone call Thursday shortly before the government issued a statement saying heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d been replaced. Bullock had been in the job for five years and his term wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t due to expire until November. He said in an interview he would have liked to serve another year because of all the pressures currently facing the commission, an independent tribunal that is responsible for preserving agricultural land. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Protecting agricultural land is important work and I was trying to keep that going as long as I could,â&#x20AC;? Bullock said. But the government had other ideas. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I got a 30-second phone call â&#x20AC;Ś It was a short conversation. They are headed in a different direction and thought they needed new leadership,â&#x20AC;? Bullock said.

He didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know what new direction the gov-

ernment plans, but speculated it has to do with making it easier to take farmland out of the Agricultural Land Reserve. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Maybe thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s going to be a loosening up of things out there and they might have felt I might not have been onside,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got all sorts of things coming at us. First of all [is the pressure] to do all sorts of things on agricultural land that have absolute-

ly nothing [to do] with agriculture and a lot to do with everything else â&#x20AC;Ś And up there in the northeast, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s huge issues with the oil and gas plays going on, on agricultural land.â&#x20AC;? Bullock said he had no regrets about speaking out in defence of the commission, as he did frequently over the past year while the government pursued controversial policy changes that many critics saw as a strategy to strip the commission of much of its powers.

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8 L Saturday, May 16, 2015

LOCAL

Saturday, May 16, 2015 L 9

Universities team to build database of terrorism, extremist attacks 1960-2014

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new, publicly accessible database looks at more than 50 years of terrorist and extremist incidents with a Canadian connection.

The Canadian Incident Database is the product of the Canadian Network for Research on Terrorism, Security and Society, or TSAS. The project began in December 2013, with money from Public Safety Canada and Defence Research and Development Canada.

It lists 1,815 such acts between 1960 and 2014, with 410 of the incidents occurring abroad.

It uses the Criminal Code definition of terrorism to differentiate between terrorist and extremist incidents. The 1,170 terrorist acts in Canada over the 64year period caused 450 deaths.

Most of the deaths were attributed to a pair of airline attacks. In 1965, a Canadian Pacific plane crashed after a bomb explosion, killing 52 people. The 1985 Air India bombing killed 329. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The purpose of the (database) is to provide unclassified information to national security researchers, which can be used to identify patterns and trends in order to improve our understanding of terrorism and extremist crime in Canada,â&#x20AC;? the network says on its website.

The database team members come from the University of British Columbia, Simon Fraser University, Carleton University, University of Waterloo and Universite de Montreal. Their analysis shows that terrorist incidents showed two peaks in the early and late 1960s, a drop in the 1970s and smaller peaks in the 1980s and around 2006. The first early peak came with attacks by religiously motivated groups, especially the Doukhobor Sons of Freedom, who used arson as a political tool. The second 1960s peak followed a rise in separatist incidents, including bombings.

The 1980s surge is attributed to a range of groups.

The analysis shows that of the terrorist attacks in the 64-year period, 42 per cent occurred in Quebec, with 30 per cent coming in British Columbia and 19 per cent in Ontario.

Two men charged in connection with Abbotsford homicide

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wo men have been charged in connection with the homicide of a 38-year-old man in Abbotsford on Sunday. The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team says shortly after 11 p.m., a motorist found Guiseppe â&#x20AC;&#x153;Joeâ&#x20AC;? Bengey Zecca in the area of Vedder Road and Lonzo Road suffering from a head injury.

Zecca was given medical assistance, but succumbed to his injuries at the scene, according to IHIT. Andre Provencal, 23, has been charged with two counts of assault with a weapon, uttering threats and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose. Shiloh Davidson has been charged with second degree murder. Provencal is scheduled to appear in court Friday, while Davidson is scheduled to appear Tuesday.

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LOCAL

10 L Saturday, May 16, 2015

Senators call for new blood on committee dealing with audit fallout

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group of senators, including a

Conservative, say senators David Tkachuk and Marjory LeBreton should step down from a committee that will deal with the fall-out of the Auditor General’s report into Senate expenses.

The senators, who spoke to CBC News on the condition of anonymity, say Tkachuk and LeBreton should not remain on the Senate’s internal economy committee given their involvement in the alleged mishandling of the Mike Duffy affair.

Tkachuk was the chair of the committee and Lebreton the government leader in the Senate when the Duffy scandal unfolded in 2013. Both senators are still members of the committee. Duffy is currently on trial for 31 charges of fraud, breach of trust and bribery related to his Senate expenses and a $90,000 payment to cover them.

The senators say, given what happened two years ago, they are not comfortable allowing Tkachuk and Lebreton to handle the next group of senators with prob-

lematic expenses. The senators say they are also concerned about recently released RCMP court documents that suggest Tkachuk and LeBreton were in close contact with the Prime Minister’s Office while they were handling the Duffy case.

Conservative Senator David Tkachuk was chair of the Senate’s internal economy committee. (Sean Kilpatrick/Canadian Press) The documents, released last week, detail efforts in early 2013 by the PMO, Tkachuk and LeBreton to contain the fallout of the expense scandal and to protect Duffy.

The RCMP cited a February, 2013 email from Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s former chief of staff, Nigel Wright, that said he had been on the phone with Duffy, Tkachuk and LeBreton.

According to Wright’s email, the plan was to issue a press release to announce that the expense cases of now retired senator Mac Harb, now suspended Senator

Patrick Brazeau and Duffy would go to external auditors, but also send a separate release about getting legal advice on Duffy’s primary residence. “A purpose of this is to put Mike [Duffy] in a different bucket and prevent him from going squirrelly in a bunch of weekend panel shows,” Wright wrote to other PMO staffers. Wright goes on to say, “Mike is pleased with this so it will give us a little bit of time if David [Tkachuk] can pull it off...” adding “... Marjory [LeBreton] is fully on-board.”

Both Tkachuk and Lebreton were surprised that there were calls for their removal from the committee. “I am comfortable with my position now on the committee and then as chair of committee and the actions I took,” Tkachuk told CBC News Thursday.

Lebreton said, “I would think I’d be the ideal person to be sitting on [the committee of] internal economy.” Some Senators are angry with LeBreton for calling in the

auditor general in the first place, back on June 3, 2013 at the height of expense scandal. But Claude Carignan, the current government leader in the Senate, defended the process and Tkachuk and Lebreton.

“For those who have an issue, we already said, I think, that we will have an arbitration process by an independent arbitrator,” Carignan told CBC News. However, the final decision on what happens to the senators who have expense issues in the auditor general’s report will land in the lap of the senators sitting on the internal economy committee. The Parliament of Canada Act states the committee has exclusive authority to determine what happens to those senators.

Allow gay-straight alliances in all B.C. schools: NDP MLA

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day to join Alberta, Ontario and Saskatchewan in legislating students’ right to establish the peer-led support groups when confronted with homophobic discrimination and abuse at school.

“The degree of homophobia and transphobia in schools and society is still too high,” said Chandra Herbert. “Gay-straight alliances have been shown to save lives.”

The majority of public school districts already support gay-straight alliances, but Chandra Herbert believes there’s need for provincial protection encompassing all public and private schools.

In question period on Thursday, Education Minister Peter Fassbender said government supports districts and independent schools that have implemented LGBTQ clubs on a local level but said B.C. already has an anti-bullying strategy that works.

“The heart of the ERASE strategy is very clear, and that is that we support the diversity of all students in the province of British Columbia,” he said.

While 56 districts and more than 160 secondary schools have gay-straight alliances, University of British Columbia school of nursing professor Elizabeth Saewyc (who has extensively researched the issue) says a provincial mandate protecting them would be helpful.

Saewyc said she’s interviewed students who have attempted to start a gay-straight alliance in public schools but have been denied by principals or couldn’t find teachers willing to sponsor the group.

LOCAL

Sex trial of Surrey soccer coach in July

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he jury trial of a Surrey youth soccer coach accused of pursuing sex with a minor has been set for July 20 in U.S. District Court in Seattle.

Kuldip Singh Mahal has been in custody south of the border since Feb. 3. On that date, a 47-year-old Surrey man was arrested at a park in Burlington after crossing into the U.S. at Blaine. Court documents alleged the accused responded to a “casual encounters” post on Craigslist in January, and communicated with what he believed to be a 12-year-old girl. However, according to court documents filed in U.S. District Court in Seattle, all suspect communications – including sexually explicit messages and photos – were sent to an undercover agent with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations. Word of the arrest resulted in Mahal’s suspension from Surrey United Soccer Club.

Saturday, May 16, 2015 L 11

Federal NDP tops in BC, according to new poll

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obs are the No. 1 issue concerning British Columbian voters, according to a new Insights West poll.

The poll, released Wednesday, was designed to gauge British Columbians’ opinion of federal parties, leaders and issues ahead of the next election and see where the Conservatives, New Democrats, Liberals and Greens stand in the province. If the federal election were held tomorrow, 35 per cent of respondents said they would cast their ballot for the NDP candidate in their riding, 29 per cent for Conservatives, 25 for the Liberal party and 10 for the Greens.

Similarly, NDP leader Thomas Mulcair enjoys the best approval rating in B.C. (52 per cent), followed by Justin Trudeau (46), Elizabeth May (44) and Stephen Harper (35).

Despite having the lowest approval rating among party leaders, Harper is still seen as the person who would

“make the best Prime Minister of Canada”.

Insights West vice president Mario Canseco said the poll gives B.C. a preliminary look at the province’s political leanings, but said the numbers could sway greatly once the election is officially called and campaigns are in full swing. More helpful,

perhaps, are the issues respondents said were most important to Canada. Thirty per cent identified jobs and the economy as the top issue, followed by government accountability (22 per cent), health care (15), housing, poverty and homelessness (12) and the environment (8). Canseco said it wasn’t surprising to see jobs take precedent over the environment, especially amongst young voters.

“People are looking for something that

will help them in the stage of life they are in,” said Canseco. “In the 18 to 32-yearold demographic, people are worried about what they’re going to do for a living and how they’re going to be able to afford a home.”

That means parties that focus on student debt and housing affordability issues could do well in B.C. swing ridings, as long as youth get out to vote, Canseco said.

The results were based on an online study among 814 adult British Columbians conducted from May 7 to 9. The margin of error is +/- 3.1 percentage points.

The study is the first time Insights West has polled British Columbians about federal politics. Canseco said the company will continue to track public opinion leading up to, and during, the federal election campaign expected later this year.

Phillipines president visits Vancouver

BC Premier Christy Clark (second from left) with the president of the Phillipines Benigno S, Acquino III, at a meeting at Canada Place in Vancouver organized by the federal Minister of defense, Jason Kenney. Photo: Chandra Bodalia

Long -delayed Compass Cards ready for next step: TransLink

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ransLink’s long-delayed Compass electronic fare card is finally ready to be tested by paying customers.

The transit authority announced Thursday that West Coast Express riders will be able to use Compass cards beginning June 8, marking the first time customers will be able to pay for their fares using the new system.

The next phase of the rollout will see 7,500 cards hand-delivers to riders at West Coast Express stations by customer outreach teams, which will also be present at stations throughout the trial to help users through

any growing pains. Originally tested in 2013 and slated to launch in January 2014, TransLink has instead delayed and gradually introduced its $194-million system in phases due to technical difficulties.

Approximately 67,000 elderly and disabled customers and 12,000 TransLink employees were the first to get the fare cards, followed by a small group of students.

Another 50,000 post-secondary students from SFU, UBC, BCIT and Langara will switch from U-Pass to Compass cards June 1.

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LOCAL

12 L Saturday, May 16, 2015

Appeal court confirms Surrey child molester’s dangerous offender designation

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Surrey man who snuck into a young girl’s home in the dead of night and molested her in her bedroom has lost an appeal of his dangerous offender classification. That means his sentence has no expiry date. Kyle Wayne Berkson, 40, was sentenced in 2013 in Surrey provincial court. His nine-year-old victim was sexually assaulted in her bedroom while her grandparents slept in the next room. Her identity is shielded by a court-ordered publication ban. She testified during the trial that she was sleeping in her bed when a man with “Elvis” hair climbed on

top of her, fondled and licked her and began “humping” her. Before he left, she said, he told her to stay put for five minutes or he and his buddy would start shooting.

The court heard Berkson was a long-time friend of the girl’s family, knew his way around her home and was adept at picking locks as his dad had been a locksmith. The court heard he used a pair of scissors to cut her underpants. He was designated a dangerous offender in 2013. He appealed that, and lost. The appeal was heard in B.C. Court of Appeal in Vancouver.

Shoplifting suspect struck by car during getaway in Coquitlam

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ounties say an alleged shoplifter hit by a car in Coquitlam while running from the scene is in hospital with life-threatening injuries.

The woman, who has not yet been identified, was hit in the fast lane of the Trans-Canada Highway around 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, said

Cpl. Ronda Rempel of B.C. RCMP Traffic Services. Rempel said she and a second woman were suspects in a minor theft from the Lougheed Highway Superstore, and that both were attempting to escape across the highway. The second woman made it across safely.

Man accused of killing spouse arrested in Vancouver one day after warrant issued

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Surrey man accused of killing his spouse on Mother’s Day was picked up by police Tuesday while walking along Vancouver’s Granville Street.

Gordon Alexander David, 34, is charged with manslaughter and aggravated assault in connection to the death of his spouse 23-yearold Cady Quaw and an assault on another woman who police won’t identify. She’s said to be in stable condition.

On Monday, the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team issued a Canada-wide warrant for David, who spokesperson Sgt. Stephanie Ashton said has “an extensive history with police.”

Surrey RCMP Sgt. Dale Carr said police

have been to the home many times.

“We have been there for domestic violence for him and her. Our Domestic Violence Unit was very engaged with the couple.”

Carr couldn’t say exactly how many times police had been to the residence, but said “it’s been on-going since late last year.” He added David was out on conditions related to domestic violence at the time of the incidence.” “There’s a history.” Asked by reporters, Ashton said to her knowledge, the victim was not pregnant and there were no children in the house at the time.

Crash victim wins $176,876 in damages after suing driver — his wife

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man suffering chronic pain from an automobile crash has been awarded $176,876 in damages.

The driver and defendant in the case was his wife.

Justice Christopher Grauer heard the case — Espinoza v. Espinoza — in B.C. Supreme Court in Vancouver.

Roberto Espinoza was riding in the front passenger seat of a sport utility vehicle driven by his wife Martha Espinoza on Dec. 31, 2011 when she lost control of the SUV. It mounted a curb, went up on a sidewalk, hit a fence, glanced of a tree and crashed into a lamppost.

The defendant admitted liability for the crash and conceded her husband was injured, but the extent of his injuries was “hotly contested,” Grauer noted.

The court heard the Espinozas have three adult children and live under one roof despite now being separated. At the time of the trial, she was living upstairs with their daughters while he lived in the basement with their son.

The court also heard the plaintiff had been laid off from his job 12 days before the crash.

He testified he was in shock after the crash.

The court heard he got out of the SUV and saw it “sparking.” His wife was leaning against the steering wheel and he tried to get her out of the vehicle as police and an ambulance arrived.

The ambulance took his wife to Surrey Memorial Hospital, with him riding alongside her. She was treated, he was not, and their son brought them home.

“He gave evidence that he was stiff and sore all over the next day, particularly in his neck and lower back,” Grauer noted in his reasons.

LOCAL

Saturday, May 16, 2015 L 13

Giving Tree Foundation to be stripped of charity status by CRA

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Toronto-based foundation that distributes about $2 million a year mostly to children’s causes says it has been targeted by the Canada Revenue Agency — and is about to lose its charitable registration. JoAnne Korten, executive director of the Giving Tree Foundation of Canada, said the tax agency issued a notice last month warning the foundation it would be stripped of its status on May 14, raising questions about the fate of the $58 million the foundation has in the bank.

“I was very shocked to have come into this agonizing situation,” said Korten, who joined the foundation last July. “We have done nothing wrong.”

When the foundation is no longer a registered charity, donations received will not be tax-deductible.

Korten said the foundation has been under a cloud since receiving letters over the last six months from Canada Revenue Agency officials raising objections to the types of donations it accepts.

“Our entire program is at risk of being shut down,” she said. “After several requests, the CRA has not provided any opportunity to meet and discuss the issue.”

Quickly raised millions The group has a relationship with EquiGenesis Corp., a company that designed a complicated donation tax strategy that helped the Giving Tree Foundation quickly raise millions of dollars after it was re-organized five years ago.

EquiGenesis successfully passed CRA audits in 2005 and 2006, but in recent years has again come under scrutiny from tax auditors who are raising questions about its tax donation strategy.

Korten said her group’s charitable registration troubles are likely related to the EquiGenesis file. “That’s probably why we’re on their radar,” she said. The foundation stopped accepting all donations when it learned about CRA’s concerns, she said, and is distributing only its investment income to more than 40 charitable partners, including Cystic Fibrosis Canada, Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation, Queen’s University and Special Olympics Canada. ‘I am satisfied it meets with the legal requirements.’- Vern Krishna, tax law expert Giving Tree still has a 90-day appeal period, and may have other legal options even after it loses its

charitable status. The group hired tax law expert Vern Krishna, a professor at the University of Ottawa law school, to review all its files, as well as its relationship with EquiGenesis. Krishna said the foundation complies with the law, as does the EquiGenesis tax donation strategy.

“I am satisfied that it meets with the legal requirements stipulated in the Income Tax Act,” he said in an interview, adding that it also conforms to the spirit and intent of the legislation. Krishna, who is providing Giving Tree with an affidavit, said EquiGenesis will be in the Tax Court of Canada later this year to defend its donation strategy.

Asked for comment, the president and founder of EquiGenesis, Ken Gordon, said in an email: “We are very much confused by the CRA’s rationale. The issues will, however, be before the courts in September and we hope to get more clarity through that process.”

Concerns about CRA seizure The EquiGenesis website said the company has generated $205 million in contributions to Canadian non-profit organizations and charities since 2003. Korten, who works as a volunteer and has no staff on the payroll, said she’s concerned about the government scooping up the foundation’s $58 million in long-term investments. “Do you think CRA is going to give that to any children’s charities?” she asked.

The Giving Tree Foundation was originally incorporated as the Ottawa College of Jewish Studies in 2005 to promote the study of Judaism, but changed its name and purpose in 2009 “to receive and maintain a fund or funds and to apply all or part of the principal and income therefrom … to charitable organizations.” The predecessor organization passed an audit in early 2009, but the Giving Tree has not been audited.

Korten said donors indicate which charities they want their dollars to go to. The Canada Revenue Agency has come under fire in recent years for its political-activity audits of Canadian charities, a $13.4-million program that launched in 2012 and has involved about 60 charities. The agency was asked for a comment but said it could not respond due to confidentiality provisions of the Income Tax Act.

Get ready! Playland opens today, May 16, with many exciting rides and games for all. Photo: Chandra Bodalia

LOCAL

14 L Saturday, May 16, 2015

Lakeland Mills explosion deaths ruled accidental

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coroner’s inquest has ruled the deaths of two men at the Lakeland Mills explosion in Prince George, as accidental.

Thursday’s ruling includes 33 recommendations aimed at improving workplace safety and improving the investigation of workplace death. In April 2012, Glenn Roche and Allan Little died as a result of injuries suffered when the Lakeland Mills exploded. Another 24 were injured.

Rhonda Roche says she regrets not doing more to help her husband improve workplace safety standards prior to his death in 2012.

The inquest recommended alerting family members to safety concerns in workplaces.

“I probably told him to maybe calm down instead of pursuing the right avenues required. I probably would have pushed him a

Girlfriend unable to contact mom for 8 months, Vancouver Mayor says

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little harder to be heard so if I knew, I probably would have done more. That’s a big regret,” she says.

Other recommendations include a review of emergency response and ambulance procedures, penalties for non-compliance with the B.C. fire code and improvements to the way in which workplace deaths are investigated and prosecuted.

ancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson said his girlfriend, pop star Wanting Qu, hasn’t been able to reach her mother for almost eight months after Chinese authorities detained her on corruption allegations. The mayor answered questions about Qu and the allegations against her mother – Chinese media reported she was arrested in Harbin last fall on allegations of selling state properties under market value for a profit – at the end of an interview at Metro’s office on Thursday. Qu Zhang Mingjie has had no access to a lawyer and no charges laid against her, Robertson said when asked for an update on the case. “The family hasn’t been able to see her she’s basically disappeared for almost eight months with no information,” Robertson said. “There’s been no contact

for the family or lawyers. It’s a difficult situation, hopefully there’s resolution soon.” Robertson also discussed what it’s like to have a relationship in the public eye. “It’s frustrating. And obviously Wanting and I are both public figures, so it’s something we just have to deal with right now,” Robertson said. His personal life has been on the radar since he announced his split with his wife in spring 2014 amidst rumours of “philandering” that they both denounced. He and Qu, who met in 2013 when the singer was hired as Vancouver’s tourism ambassador, made their relationship public in February. “It’s been more challenging this past year having more personal attacks in the 2014 election. My competition just chose to go to U.S. style personal attacks and, you know, that’s not pleasant.

Karl Lilgert denied appeal by Supreme Court of Canada in Queen of the North sinking

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he Supreme Court of Canada will not hear an appeal by Karl Lilgert, the former BC Ferries officer who was at the helm of the Queen of the North when it sank off the coast of B.C. in 2006.

Lilgert was convicted of two counts of causing death by criminal negligence, after two people went missing and were presumed dead in the disaster. The 125-metre car and passenger ferry went down after striking Gil Island off B.C.’s Central Coast. Evidence at the trial showed Lilgert failed to make a critical turn in the middle of the night. Lilgert was convicted of two counts of criminal negligence for causing the deaths of Gerald Foisy and Shirley Rosette, after a lengthy jury trial in 2013. Thursday’s decision by the Supreme Court of Canada not to hear Lilgert’s appeal means his legal fight is over and it is expected he will have to serve his four year sentence. The Supreme Court does not issue a reason when it turns down an application for an appeal. Distracted on the bridge During the course of the 2013 trial, the B.C. Supreme Court heard Lilgert was likely distracted by the presence of his former lover, quartermaster Karen Briker, who was the only other person on the bridge with him in the minutes before the ship hit the rocks. Lilgert testified in his own defence, telling the jury he was busy navigating the ship and ordering course changes and was challenged by rough weather and unreliable equipment. But B.C. Supreme Court Justice Sunni Stromberg-Stein ruled that it was clear Lilgert’s relationship with Briker was a factor in the sinking, and in delivering the sentence, said the “egregious” nature of the crime called for a strong sentence, as it was not an accident or lapse in judgment.

Lilgirt was sentenced to four years in prison, but he has been out on bail pending his appeals.

During his hearing at the B.C. Court of Appeal in 2014, Lilgert’s lawyer Glen Orris told the court that the instructions from the judge to the jury gave the Crown an unfair advantage, leading to the conviction of criminal negligence causing death. But the B.C. Court of Appeal dismissed his appeal, so Lilgert asked the Supreme Court of Canada for leave to appeal his conviction.

LOCAL

Saturday, May 16, 2015 L 15

New federal laws will force deportation of foreign criminals & strip them of refugee protection

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he federal government is proposing new legislation to “close the loopholes” that allow foreign criminals to remain in Canada even when convicted of serious crimes or deemed to be a danger to the public, Steven Blaney, Minister of Public Safety said Tuesday.

The Removal of Serious Foreign Criminals Act will allow for the mandatory transfer of foreign criminals to their country of origin and strip refugee protection from those later deemed a danger to the public, among other changes.

“What we are seeking to do is close the loopholes in our Canadian law [and] between our organizations that are being actually exploited by criminals who have been found guilty and who are basically taking those gaps to stay longer and, as we have seen here, constitute a bigger threat to our country,” Blaney said.

The government’s plans is to change

Feds push Keystone to U.S., without Alberta

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new political reality surfaced Wednesday in which Ottawa is aggressively marketing an Alberta pipeline project that the new provincial government says it won’t promote and doesn’t even want.

Finance Minister Joe Oliver’s speech Wednesday before a Wall Street crowd makes it clear Ottawa is happy to take over from the Alberta government when it comes to pitching the stalled Keystone XL project in the United States. The federal Conservative government’s latest Keystone pitch comes just days after Alberta voters elected the NDP and leader Rachel Notley, who has made it clear she won’t be taking part in the pipeline-promoting trips of her predecessors.

In his address, Oliver once again expressed the Conservative government’s exasperation with the delays in approving the project, which would transport Alberta oilsands bitumen to the U.S. “To take full advantage of our energy wealth we need to access markets, which implies the construction of pipelines,” Oliver said in his speech, given at an event organized by the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association.

“That is why Canada finds it frustrating that it’s still awaiting presidential approval on the Keystone project.” Following Notley’s stunning victory last week in Alberta, which gave the NDP a majority government, Ottawa appears to have lost a crucial partner in the effort to promote Keystone to Americans. Notley has said she doesn’t necessarily oppose pipelines, but when it comes to Keystone XL, she would rather see the oilsands bitumen refined in Canada instead of the U.S. And unlike Alberta’s Progressive Conservative premiers of the past, Notley has said she’s prepared to let the Keystone XL debate in the U.S. play itself out.

several acts to make it easier and faster to remove non-Canadian criminals out of Canada, including some who have already been accorded refugee protection and permanent residency status, he said.

It could allow Canada to negotiate treaties that allow the government to transfer criminals without their consent to serve their sentence in their home country, the government says. Currently, Canada cannot transfer a foreign inmate back to their home country without the inmate’s consent.

Often, well-financed and highly motivated people can drag the removal process out for years through multiple legal challenges, appeals and motions. Some serious criminals have preferred to remain in prison in Canada rather than return home to face trial or incarceration. The changes will also make foreign nationals and certain permanent residents convicted of serious crimes ineligible for a record suspension, what used to be known

as a criminal pardon. Also, the proposed legislation allows the Correctional Service of Canada to inform registered victims of crime of the date and destination of criminals released from immigration detention, similar to what is done for victims of convicted criminals who are released on parole. “Our government will not allow Canada to be used as a safe haven for foreign criminals,” Blaney said in prepared statement. The proposed legislation would amend the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act; Corrections and Conditional Release Act; International Transfer of Offenders Act; and Criminal Records Act. “By introducing the Removal of Serious Foreign Criminals Act, our Government is eliminating barriers to the removal of foreign criminals convicted of committing serious crimes in Canada. Also, by allowing the mandatory transfer of foreign criminals to serve the remainder of their sen-

tence in their home country and with the other measures being brought forward today, our government continues to keep our streets and communities safer for Canadian families.” Our government will not allow Canada to be used as a safe haven for foreign criminals Several notorious cases have caused concern and downright scandal when people accused of crimes were able to remain in Canada for years, or received pardons from crimes that allowed them to apply for citizenship or status in Canada.

Blaney referred specifically to the recent case of Raed Jaser of Toronto, convicted in March of multiple terrorism offences. Jaser had a string of criminal convictions but received a pardon in 2009, allowing him to become a landed immigrant in Canada and ineligible for removal based on his criminal past. Tuesday’s announcement caused concern for some refugee workers already challenging the government’s earlier changes on asylum rules.

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16 L Saturday, May 16, 2015

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British Columbia couple accused of plotting to blow up the provincial legislature has been found not guilty of one among four charges even before their trial concludes. B.C. Supreme Court Justice Catherine Bruce told jurors that due to legal reasons they will not need to make a decision on count three of the indictment – knowingly facilitating a terrorist activity.

“You will not be required to come to a decision about the guilt or innocence of the accused on this count in the indictment,” Bruce said Thursday, a week after jurors were last in court for the trial that began in February.

“You must accept as matter of law that the accused cannot be convicted of this charge and you must not speculate as to why this has occurred.” John Nuttall and Amanda Korody pleaded not guilty to a total of four charges. The remaining charges are conspiring to commit murder, conspiring to place explosives on behalf of a terrorist group and possessing explosives on behalf of a terrorist

B.C. judge tells jury to drop one terror charge

group. They are accused of planting three homemade pressure-cooker bombs on the grounds of the legislature on Canada Day in 2013. After the judge’s ruling, defence lawyer Marilyn Sandford opened her case by presenting several audio and video clips not included during weeks of evidence displayed

by the Crown. The jury spent several weeks watching an extensive series of videos captured by undercover RCMP officers involved in an elaborate police sting that ultimately led to the charges. Most of the recordings showed secretly captured conversations between the couple when they were alone, but in one excerpt that ran just over an hour they are seen discussing their plans with one of the officers.

In a video that was recorded on June 17, 2013 in a Kelowna, B.C., hotel room, he asked the pair if they have a “real plan.”

“Something realistic that you’re going to do? Or not?” said the Mountie they believed was part of the plot.

Nuttall replied that their plan is what they’ve told him about – firing rockets from a school field in Victoria towards the Esquimalt, B.C., military base.

“I just think that I’m not going to even worry about that because that would take

forever,” the officer responded.

Korody said they realize it will take a lot of preparation work, including joining a rocket-building club and obtaining explosives.

She said they have thought about dropping pressure-cooker bombs around Victoria as practice to gauge the reaction time by police.

The officer responded to the latter idea, saying, “That’s doable. It’ll send a great message.”

Nuttall added that he’s “never, ever strayed from my rocket idea.” He suggested that detonating the pressure-cooker bombs would not be an operational mission but they could be test blasted in a remote rock quarry.

When the officer said using rockets is a “long-term thing,” they agreed.

He suggested they could add C4 explosives to the pressure cookers in the meantime.

“If there’s a way to do that and still have the world know why we did it,” Nuttall responds.

“Then we’ll do that instead.”

Neither Nuttall nor Korody are expected to testify, and their lawyer said she will not be calling any witnesses.

Bombardier eliminates 1,750 jobs

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ombardier says it’s cutting 1,750 jobs, including 1,000 positions at the company’s facility in Montreal, as the company contends with a softer market for its business jets.

The move will affect up to 480 positions in Toronto and up to 280 in Belfast, the company said Thursday in a release.

“We have seen an industry-wide softness in demand recently in certain international markets and are taking steps to adjust our production accordingly,” said Éric Martel, president of Bombardier Business Aircraft, in the release.

“We fully understand the impact this will have on our affected employees and their families and we will do everything possible to support them.”

Lower energy prices and political turmoil in such markets as Russia, China and Brazil have sliced into the demand for Bombardier’s largest business planes, forcing it to reduce production of its Global 5000/6000 planes.

Bombardier had said last week that it was planning another round of cost-cutting to adjust to weaker demand for business jets and warned layoffs were likely in Toronto and Montreal.

Employees at the Toronto Downsview plant react to company’s announcement of steep job cuts

LOCAL

Bullied grocery store employee wins $16,000 in discrimination case

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B.C. man has been awarded almost $16,000 by the B.C. Hu-

man Rights Tribunal for a series of threats and slurs he endured from his boss’ sons. The tribunal ruled that Kyle Garneau was discriminated against while working at Buy-Rite Foods in Surrey, where the owner’s sons repeatedly physically and verbally harassed him.

Garneau is gay, and has a brain abnormality that affects him physically and mentally, including his appearance and weight.

In a decision released earlier this month, tribunal member Parnesh Sharma wrote that owner Shingara Sumal failed to ensure his store was a safe work environment, free from harassment. “I find (Garneau) was mistreated and bullied primarily because he was seen as weak and vulnerable, but that his physical and mental disabilities

RCMP charged under labour code for fatal Mountie shootings

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he RCMP has been charged under Canada’s labour code in relation to the 2014 shooting spree in Moncton that left three Mounties dead. In a statement, the RCMP said it has been charged with four counts under the Canada Labour Code, in relation to the events of June 4, 2014. The charges relate to equipment, training and supervision.

They stem from an investigation by Employment and Social Development Canada. The Labour Canada regulator is mandated to conduct a probe when a federal government employee loses his or her life on the job. In an email , a spokesperson from Employment and Social Development Canada said the Public Prosecution Service of Canada recommended that the RCMP be charged for “contravention of occupational health and safety provisions of Part II of the Canada Labour Code.” Constables Fabrice Gevaudan, Dave Ross and Doug Larche were shot dead as police responded to reports of a man roaming the streets of Moncton carrying a firearm.

Constables Eric Dubois and Darlene Goguen were injured during the shooting rampage. Justin Bourque was later arrested and charged in the shootings. He pleaded guilty last August to three counts of first-degree murder and two counts of attempted murder. Bourque was sentenced to serve 75 years in prison before he will be eligible to apply for parole.

“There has always been – and sadly will continue to be – deadly threats to police officers,” RCMP Commissioner Bob Paulson said in the statement. “The safety of our employees in doing this dangerous job, protecting the public, is always our priority.” The RCMP said it was reviewing the charges, but would not comment further as the matter is before the courts. A review of the fatal RCMP shootings released earlier this year said that officers responding to the shootings faced several problems relating to communication, and access to high-powered weaponry and protective equipment. A spokesperson for the minister of public safety said in a brief statement Thursday that the

RCMP commissioned a report into the incident and is acting on those recommendations.

and perceived sexual orientation were significant factors in the treatment he experienced,” Sharma wrote.

Garneau testified that the slurs made him powerless and less than human. He repeatedly asked Sumal and his sons to stop, saying their words were hurtful and offensive, but the behaviour continued. “It is apparent that the Sumals had little regard for (Garneau) and undoubtedly saw him as someone who could be mistreated with impunity,” Sharma wrote. Garneau asked the tribunal for nearly $200,000, saying he lost his house and car and had financial difficulties after his hours at the store were greatly reduced. The tribunal instead awarded $15,000 for damages and $936 for lost wages. Sumal and his sons were also ordered to stop their discriminatory behaviour, and to not repeat it in the future. The grocery store has since closed.

Saturday, May 16, 2015 L 17

High-risk sex offender back in custody

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women and children, and igh-risk sex is considered a high risk to offender Richard Thomas reoffend, said Vancouver Galt is back in custody Police. However, he had after being located in been on statutory release Abbotsford, Thursday after being sentenced for morning police said. A uttering threats, breaking Canada-wide warrant was and entering, and failing issued on May 12 for Galt, to comply with his proba46, after he failed to retion order. “He is actually turn to his halfway house supposed to check in every in Vancouver on Monday four hours. He failed to do night. Galt has four prior convictions for sexual asso,” said Const. Brian MonRichard Thomas Galt sault against women and tague. Galt is described as: children, and is considered a high risk to An aboriginal man. Five feet nine inchre-offend. He had been on statutory release es tall. 240 pounds. Long black hair and after being sentenced for uttering threats, several tattoos, including a wizard on his breaking and entering, and failing to comply left forearm, tribal design on the right with his probation order. Galt, who was wanted Canada-wide after failing to return to his halfway house in Vancouver on Monday night. Galt, 46, has four prior convictions for sexual assault against

forearm, and a heart and dagger on his left upper arm. He walks with a cane, and was last seen wearing a light blue t-shirt and blue jeans.

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House prices off peak levels in every urban maket but Vancouver, Toronto age 4.9% annual rise But that advance is unusually low for April, the month tradiouse prices are down from tionally at the core of the hot spring hometheir peak levels in almost ev- selling season. House prices in Toronto and ery city in Canada but Toronto Montreal, the hottest markets, are at the and Vancouver, according to the latest highest level they’ve ever been, but they’re Teranet national composite house price virtually unchanged since March, though index. Data for it’s too soon to say if they’ve comApril shows the pleted their run higher. Over the composite house Overvalued home year, Teranet shows home prices price in Canada prices could put are still up 7.3 per cent in Toronto up 0.2 per cent on new owners at risk and 4.8 per cent in Vancouver, an the month and Teranet house price estimate lower than the figures 4.4 per cent on released by the real estate boards. data shows averthe year. Small In every other market, prices age 4.9% annual rise increases in marare well below their peak levels. kets such as WinFor example, Ottawa-Gatineau nipeg, Quebec home prices are down 6.1 per cent from City and Montreal contributed to the 0.2 their peak in August 2014 and 2.2 per cent per cent gain on the month. ■ Overvalued from a year ago last month. Hamilton, home prices could put new owners at risk Ont., prices are down 0.4 per cent from ■ Teranet house price data shows aver- their peak in December 2014 and Montreal

H

prices are down 3.3 per cent from their peak in July 2014.

As for Calgary and Edmonton, the impact of lower oil prices and loss of jobs is playing out very differently in these markets. House prices in Calgary have fallen 1.9 per cent from October 2014, but are still up 3.3 per cent on the year.

Edmonton prices peaked in July 2007 and are still 2.6 per cent below that level, though they’ve risen 4.7 per cent on the year.

City Calgary

Peak Oct. 2014

Off peak (%) -1.9

Edmonton July 2007 Halifax June 2013 Hamilton Dec 2014 Montreal July 2014 Ottawa Aug. 2014 Quebec July 2013 Toronto April 2015 Vancouver April 2015 Winnipeg Sept. 2014

-2.6 -3.1 0.4 -3.3 -6.1 -0.3 0 0 -0.9

REAL ESTATE / FINANCE

2 L Saturday, May 16, 2015

Teranet house price data shows average 4.9% annual rise

April house sales surge 17% in Toronto, 37% in Vancouver

But only four Canadian cities show housing at

Huge demand for homes and tight supply make for a sellerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s market in both cities

per cent. Winnipeg housing rose 0.4 per cent in the month and 2.5 per cent since last year. However, for the first time since October 2010, prices were down from a year earlier in five of the 11 markets, including Halifax (â&#x2C6;&#x2019;3.5 per cent), Quebec City (â&#x2C6;&#x2019;2.4 per cent) and

H

ome prices rose a slight 0.5 per cent in April, following an unusually flat March, and are up 4.9 per cent from last year, according to Teranet. But the TeranetNational Bank Composite House Price Index points out that April is usually the busiest month of the year for home sales and the 0.5 per cent increase from March is actually much lower than usual. The year-over-year increase also looks deceptively robust, because April 2013 was an unusually poor month for home sales, it adds.

Canadian realtors have noted the very low number of houses offered for sale in April, compared with other years.

But Teranet says there is also oversupply in some markets because of usually slow winter and spring sales.

But low mortgage rates, such as the 1.99 per cent now on offer from Investors Group, continue to make housing attractive to buyers. Two months ago, the Conference Board of Canada said persisent reports that housing prices were a bubble ready to pop were overblown. Only four markets â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Calgary, Vancouver, Toronto and Winnipeg â&#x20AC;&#x201C; saw house prices at record highs, according to Teranet. Calgary housing prices jumped 10.0 per cent on year, with Vancouver prices up nine per cent and Toronto prices up 5.8

Montreal and Ottawa-Gatineau (â&#x2C6;&#x2019;0.4 per cent). Victoria housing prices also took a dip of 0.7 per cent on the month and one per cent from a year earlier.

The Teranet--National Bank House Price Index tracks resales of single-family homes across the country and does not include new homes being bought or sold for the first time.

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anadaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s two hottest housing markets got hotter in April, with the number of sales in Toronto up 17 per cent from last year and Vancouver sales surging 37 per cent.

The Toronto Real Estate Board reported 11,303 house sales in the Greater Toronto Area in April, and a five per cent surge in new listings as buyers decided to test the market. The average selling price rose 10 per cent year over year to $635,932, with a detached singlefamily home in the 416 area code region selling for an average of $1,056,114.

Residential property sales in Metro Vancouver reached 4,179, compared to the 3,050 sales in April 2014, and up 2.9 per cent from March, which also saw record sales numbers.

Few new listings in Vancouver The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver says people are not looking to sell their homes, with listings falling 19 per cent since last year. Supply is especially tight in Metro Vancouver,

where the average selling price of a detached home rose 12.5 per cent to $1,078,900. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The supply of homes for sale today in the region is not meeting the demand weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re seeing from homebuyers. This is putting upward pressure on prices, particularly in the detached home market,â&#x20AC;? REBGV president Darcy McLeod said in a news release.

The composite benchmark price for all residential properties in Metro Vancouver rose 8.5 per cent to $673,000.

A study of the Toronto and Vancouver markets by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation last week found both overvalued, but said there was little risk of a crash in prices because of high demand. Low interest rates continue to lure buyers into the market and there is little new supply, except in the Toronto condo market, where sales are flatter. The average price of a resale condo in Toronto is $407,612, a 5.8 per cent increase from last year. Urbanation, a source of information on the Toronto condo market, reports that the number of new condos coming on the market is in decline, with just 1,436 new units coming on stream in the first quarter of the year, a 58 per cent drop from last year.

BOLLYWOOD / FILM

Saturday, May 16, 2015 L 3

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Join us to learn more about the resources you can access as a landlord. In addition, learn about FREE incentive programs from FortisBC and BC Hydro that will help you upgrade your rental units. Help reduce homelessness in your community at the same time!

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4 L Saturday, May 16, 2015

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LOCAL

20 L Saturday, May 16, 2015

Fired B.C. auditor general for local government wants her job back

B

.C.’s fired auditor general for local government wants a court to overturn her ouster and restore her to the job. Basia Ruta (pictured) filed a petition in B.C. Supreme Court this week requesting her March 23 termination by government be overturned, and the court declare her to be the rightful auditor general for local government.

Ruta also requested outstanding salary, compensation and benefits accumulated from the date of her firing, as well as legal costs and other unspecified financial relief. Ruta argued the government breached procedural fairness when it fired her, acted outside its authority and did not give her proper notice or a chance to respond to allegations. Ruta “learned that she was terminated allegedly for cause by statements made by the Minister to the media,” read the court petition. The peti-

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tion also sought an opportunity for Ruta to be heard before Community Development Minister Coralee Oakes to address any issues before the minister makes any future recommendation for her removal. The government argued Ruta’s inability to produce more than three audit reports during two years in office, combined with her refusal to participate in a review of her performance, created an intolerable situation.

Ruta argued she was not refusing to participate in a review, but wanted to either appoint the reviewer herself or have the provincial auditor general do the work.

She argued the audit council appointed to oversee her did not have the authority under the law to hire an external reviewer. The B.C. government appointed Arn van Iersel as acting local auditor general in March. Premier Christy Clark has said she intends to reform the local auditor’s office, and is exploring all options including folding

Omar Khadr should serve sentence as youth, Supreme Court rules

T

he Supreme Court’s speedy rejection of the government’s bid to imprison Omar Khadr (pictured) as an adult for crimes committed as a teen is not another stinging judicial smackdown for the Tories, say experts. Thursday’s judgment did not involve major government legislation or policy, as with some other recent high court defeats. And with Khadr already out on bail, the question of where he serves the three and a half years remaining in his sentence is moot, at least for the time being. “Other than the fact it’s Omar Khadr, I don’t think it’s that big a decision, even in the (Tories’) toughon-crime agenda,” said Carissima Mathen, a University of Ottawa associate law professor.

There may even be a political upside.

Khadr is an important symbol for the Conservative party as it heads into a federal election campaign and it’s likely to snatch some tough-on-terrorists spin from the jaws of Thursday’s defeat. The court’s nine justices heard the federal appeal of an Alberta court decision that found Khadr, 28, can serve the time remaining in his eight-year U.S. sentence for war crimes in Afghanistan in a provincial jail rather than a federal penitentiary. In the time it takes to have a coffee, the justices returned from a recess and Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin delivered a unanimous oral decision from the bench — Khadr should serve his time in a provincial jail. It’s the third time the high-court has ruled against the governing Conservatives on matters dealing with Khadr.

The court found that a U.S. military commission sentenced Khadr in 2010 as it would a juvenile offender. The result is that Khadr

falls under a section of the International Transfer of Offenders Act that states his sentence is to be served in a provincial jail.

After years in detention at Guantanamo Bay, Khadr pleaded guilty before the U.S. commission to the 2002 murder of a U.S. soldier in Afghanistan and four other battlefield crimes. The Toronto-born Khadr was 15 the time and a member of “Canada’s first family of terrorism,” led by his Egyptian-Canadian father Ahmed Said Khadr, an al-Qaida operative.

In September 2012, at age 26, he won a prisoner transfer to Canada. He is now trying to appeal the U.S. verdict. Thursday’s judgment, “won’t change a thing in Omar Khadr’s life right away,” said Francois Larocque, a University of Ottawa associate law professor who represented Amnesty International Canada as an intervener in the case. Added Mathen: “The ultimate issue is not whether you’re in jail or out of jail, it’s just what system of incarceration are you talking about.” Unless he breaches bail conditions or in the unlikely event the government successfully launches an extraordinary legal manoeuvre against him — say a court-sanctioned peace-bond arrest to keep him from potentially causing harm — Khadr may not see much of any jail. The Conservative government is challenging the Alberta court’s decision to grant bail on the grounds that by accepting the transfer from the U.S., Khadr is precluded from applying for bail. A decision is not expected until fall. If the government loses, and given the Conservative’s unrelenting tough line against Khadr, another appeal to the Supreme of Court of Canada is conceivable.

NATIONAL

Rachel Notley reaching out to the energy sector

A

lberta premier-designate Rachel Notley has taken the initiative to reach out to the energy sector since her election win last week. Doug Suttles, CEO of Calgary-based oil and gas company Encana, said he took a phone call from Notley in recent days. “The core of the conversation was, let’s make sure we talk as you consider alternatives, and if we can support in any way with information or insights, we are happy to provide that,” he said. “I’ve got to believe her biggest challenge at the moment is putting her government together, and it’s a bit early to be speculating on policy changes.” The NDP ran on a platform that included an increase in corporate taxes and a review of royalties paid by oil and gas compa-

nies. The party’s victory has led to concern by the industry. Some Encana shareholders aired their concerns at the company’s annual general meeting in Calgary on Tuesday.

“Certainly what happens in the oil and gas sector is going to affect people like myself who are not part of the one per cent, but have held shares in Encana for several decades,” said Irene Bruzga. She wants the company to do well because she depends on the dividend from her shares to supplement her income in retirement.

Energy sector CEOs have largely been dip-

lomatic about potential changes from the new government. “You would almost have to be from another planet not to understand how important oil and gas is to Alberta and Albertans,” said Suttles. “You’ve got to be careful about speculating about what might happen. The important point here is I don’t think it’s lost on governments or new governments that it is a very competitive market out there.” Suttles said Encana can provide a perspective on operating not only in Alberta, but also in British Columbia and parts of the U.S. He said his conversation with Notley was brief and helped open the lines of communication between the energy sector and the new government. “Since the election, our government affairs team have talked to members of the NDP … and essentially said if we can support in any way, such as policy issues, we would be happy to do that,” said Suttles.

Encana’s results The company recorded a $1.7-billion US loss in the first quarter. The

Saturday, May 16, 2015 L 21 figure includes $1.2 billion US in asset impairments. Encana’s operating earnings were $9 million US and its cash flow dropped to $495 million US. Earlier this year, the company said it was assuming $50 US a barrel for the benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude. WTI has risen and now sits at about $60 US a barrel. “We didn’t believe $100 oil was going to last forever and we don’t believe $50 will last forever,” said Suttles to shareholders. Buying and selling Suttles described 2014 as a “transformational year.” The company racked up $18 billion US in transactions as it shifted away from being a purely natural gas producer. “It’s probably too soon to call it yet on whether or not this strategy is the right one for them,” said Tricia Leadbeater, wealth management director with Richardson GMP. Encana bought a Texas oilfield for $3.1 billion from Freeport-McMoRan. purchased Texas-based Athlon Energy for $7.1 billion and sold its Bighorn assets to Jupiter Resources for $1.8 billion

Elizabeth May “very apologetic” about her erratic speech Khadr has “more class than the whole f---ing cabinet,” Green Party leader claims

G

reen party Leader Elizabeth May says she is “very apologetic” about remarks she made on the week-

end that included profanity and insulted the federal cabinet about how it has treated Omar Khadr. May was among party leaders who addressed Parliament Hill journalists and politicians on Saturday night at their annual press gallery dinner.

Usually, party leaders deliver light-hearted, mainly self-deprecating speeches that include the odd barb thrown at the media.

But May went on at length about being the only female leader and having to claw her way into televised leaders’ debates. Transport Minister Lisa Raitt intervened and attempted to persuade May to end her speech, but instead, May played a recording of “Welcome back Kotter” — a theme song from a 1970s sitcom — and stated that Khadr has “more class than the whole f---ing cabinet.” In a phone interview on Sunday, a hoarse May expressed her regrets for her taste in jokes, her lack of respect for her parliamentary colleagues and her choice of language. “I wouldn’t want anyone to think I was less than respectful for the people with whom I work,” May said. “I apologize that I made an attempt to be funny and edgy....and it didn’t work.”

May said she was just getting over the flu, had put in a 21-hour work day on Friday, and then had to rise early in British Columbia on Saturday morning to make it to the press gallery event in Gatineau, Que. “My funny speech wasn’t funny. That’s not the first time a politician has done that.” In the Khadr section of her speech, May said she meant to make the point that Canada is a country that gives people second chances, and that she hopes Canadians welcome him into their midst.

Khadr, a former Guantanamo Bay prisoner, was set free on bail last Thursday despite repeated attempts by the federal government to keep him behind bars in Canada. Now 28, Khadr pleaded guilty in October 2010 before a widely discredited military commission to five war crimes — including murder in the death of Speer, a U.S. special forces soldier. Khadr spent almost 13 years behind bars — four of them as a convicted war criminal. He was captured, badly wounded, by American forces in Afghanistan in July 2002, when he was 15 years old. At one time, he

was the youngest prisoner at the American prison compound in Guantanamo Bay. May’s remarks left many at the Saturday night gala wondering what had come over her, and sparked a Twitter storm on Sunday. May said she had no hard feelings towards Raitt for intervening in her speech, and said the two women are friends.

CLASSIFIEDS

22 L Saturday, May 16, 2015

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

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oversee buffets; Manage kitchen operation.

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Mayuri Indian foods inc is looking to hire an Ethnic Food Cook in Surrey BC. F/T & Perm.$17/hr.

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* No credit history required for a credit card, car loan or home mortgage. Provided you meet all of Royal Bank of Canada’s eligibility and credit criteria, and provided you are a permanent resident who has arrived in Canada within the last 12 months, you may be eligible for an unsecured or secured RBC Royal Bank credit card even if you have no Canadian credit history. An RBC Royal Bank automotive car loan and residential mortgage or mortgage within an RBC Homeline Plan® are available to permanent residents and foreign workers even if you have no Canadian credit history provided you meet all of Royal Bank of Canada’s eligibility and credit criteria. † Based on market capitalization. 1 See www.rbc.com/newcomerterms for select credit cards. 2 Offer only available to First-Time Home Buyers on a 4, 5 or 7-year fixed interest rate closed residential mortgage or 5-year variable rate closed residential mortgage or on one RBC Homeline Plan mortgage segment. To qualify, you must have or open a mortgage payment account with RBC Royal Bank. The $500 will be deposited to this account. The mortgage or mortgage segment must be for a minimum principal amount of $100,000. This offer is only available for new builder single advance mortgages that close within 120 days from commitment start date. All other construction draw/builder mortgages (including purchase plus improvement), amendments to an existing mortgage, port/assumption transactions, an advance of additional funds or a renewal are excluded. Offer may be withdrawn or amended without notice at any time. The offer cannot be combined or used in conjunction with any other special offers, with the exception of RBC Royal Bank rate specials. 3 $14.95 monthly fee will be waived for first 6 months upon account opening. Applies to RBC Signature No Limit Banking® account only. Available only to newcomers who have arrived in Canada within the last year and who show proof of permanent resident status or who have arrived between 1 – 3 years ago when they switch their account from another financial institution using CustomSwitch®. Other restrictions and conditions apply to all offers. Each of these offers may be withdrawn or amended at any time and each is subject to change without notice. For complete Terms and Conditions visit any RBC Royal Bank branch or visit www.rbc.com/newcomerterms.

Personal lending products and residential mortgages are offered by Royal Bank of Canada and are subject to its standard lending criteria. ® / ™ Trademark(s) of Royal Bank of Canada. RBC and Royal Bank are registered trademarks of Royal Bank of Canada.

I

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JOBS

Matrimonial

You will have to investigate alarm responses and respond in a timely manner. You will need to communicate any concerns/ issues with Site Supervisor/ Coordinator.

The above opportunities suit candidates willing to travel all over the lower mainland and from Squamish to Hope. We also have opportunities in Edmonton, Alberta.

Minimum qualification for these positions are completion of secondary school and BST Justice Training of BC. Past experience is preferred but we are willing to train candidates who show eagerness to learn.

For more information please visit our website at www.transworldsecurity.ca.

Please email you resume to hr@ transworldsecurity.ca.

------------------------------------Retail Sales Supervisor (6211); Saim’s Communication Inc.,Surrey, British Columbia, (6211); Salary: $17:50/Hourly; Positions Available: 2; Type: FullTime; Minimum Education: High School; ,Description : Assign sales workers to duties and prepare work schedules, Authorize payments by cheque and the return ofmerchandise , Sell merchandise to customers, Resolve problems that arise, such as customercomplaints and supply shortages, t .BJOUBJO TQFDJöFE JOWFOUPSZ and ordermerchandise, Prepare

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

Please send your biodata and pics at aman.shine@gmail. com or contact +1 306 461 3131. reports regarding sales volumes, merchandising and personnel matters, Hire and train or arrange for the training of new sales staff, Ensure proper tagging, packing and displaying of products, Travel upto four different sites daily and/or weekly as required, Resolve disputes related to customers and employees, Get daily reports from employees and submit report to head office, Meeting with management and employees when required, Responsible to manage repair department for products.

Language Requirement:English is a must. Speaking other languages

such as urdu or punjabi would be an asset.Apply by email: saimscomm@yahoo.ca

To PLACE YOUR AD IN THE ASIAN STAR CLASSIFIEDS Section Please

Call: 604-591-5423

COMMUNITY Vedic Seniors Parivar Centre of Vedic Hindu Cultural Society Surrey invites South Asian Adults/ Senior members and non members to come and play Bingo for the sake of fun and make some new friends, on May 17th 2015 from 2.00 pm to 3.30 pm at Shanti Niketan hall 8321 - 140th street Surrey B.C. Please bring only two dollars with you to play 2 games, do not worry if you do not know how to play, members will explain you the game just for the sake of fun. Tea & light snacks will be served after the game is over. Please contact Surendra Handa Coordinator at 604 507 - 9945 for further details.

-----------------------------------------------Free Community Workshops & Activities May 18â&#x20AC;&#x201C;31 English & Multilingual š May 25 & 26, 1â&#x20AC;&#x201C;4pm MOSAIC Burnaby Centre for Immigrants, 5902 Kingsway 604 254 9626 ext 120 Canadian Citizenship Preparation š May 25 & 26, 5:30â&#x20AC;&#x201C;8:30pm Tommy Douglas Burnaby Public Library, 7311 Kingsway 604 254 9626 ext 104 Internet Security Workshop May 27, 11amâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;1pm MOSAIC North Burnaby Learning Centre, 103â&#x20AC;&#x201C;4181 Hastings St 604 254 9626 ext 114 May 28, 10amâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;12pm MOSAIC Burnaby Centre for Immigrants, 5902 Kingsway 604 438 8214 ext 123 ----------------------------------------------Vancouver- Starting 1st May 2015, PICS Vancouver Settlement Services

galog Language to serve the Filipino community in Vancouver.

The volunteer based services will be provided twice a week and will apply to every client who wishes to make use of these services. The services offered will focus on a full range of support services including orientation, training, guidance, mentoring, volunteering and service bridging among others.

For more information contact Sukhwinder Gosal (Vancouver Settle !

------------------------------------------------VISHWA YOGASHRAM All are Welcome All Day Free Community Event Sunday, April 19, 2015 9386 - 120 ST. Surrey BC Schedule 5 am to 7 am : Shubh Mangal Inauguration 7 am to 8 am : Yoga Asanas 10 am to 12 pm: Swadhyaya / " % ' modern life by Dr Preeti Misra 2 pm to 4 pm: Gyan Yoga & Meditation led by Swamiji Dr Satya Prakash based on Gita, Patanjali Yoga Sutra, Yogavashishtha and Yogoupanishad followed by Thoughts of Guest Speakers MP/MLA & Others 4 pm to 6 pm : Yoga Dance, Yoga Games, Yoga Vegetarian/Ayurvedic Health secrets 6 pm to 8 pm: Bhakti Yoga with Music 8 am to 9 am : Yogic Breakfast 12 pm to 2 pm: Yogic Lunch 8 pm to 9 pm: Yogic Dinner For Information Please Call : Paul Kaloti: 604-725-3134

Ravi Khosla: 604-301-0360 Dr. Preeti Misra 778-996-1807 For VISHWAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Recent Events and Activities Watch: https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=tChfWd40Jb8 https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=88tIeTosEjs Regards, Dr Preeti Misra Co-ordinator, VISHWA 778-996-1807 www.swamisatyaprakash.org --------------------------------------------Tickets on sale now for the Surrey International Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Festival For immediate release: April 14, 2015 Surrey, BC â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Tickets for the 11th annual Surrey International Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Festival go on sale today at 12 noon ) *+ ; < > @ !

This yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s festival is being held May 21 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 23 with seven ticketed headline performances over three days.

Tickets are $10 each. A Saturday â&#x20AC;&#x153;All

Access Passâ&#x20AC;? is also available for $12, which allows full access to all performances (subject to show avail ;

!

Entrance to the festival is free, as are many community performances and art activities.

The Surrey International Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Festival exposes children to the arts in a fun and interactive way. This yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s line-up ranges from preschool performances for children as young as 6 months to intermediate shows for older children, aged 9 and up. International and national performances include Music with Marnie and The Secret Life of Walter Manny from BC and Manitoba circus performers The Street Circus. Festival goers will also have the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience a traditional puppet theatre performance from Vietnamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Golden Dragon Water Puppet Theatre. This unique type of storytelling performance features ancient music, dance, and song â&#x20AC;&#x201C; all on water.

Purchase tickets online at www.sur-

Saturday, May 16, 2015 L 23 rey.ca/childrensfestival or by calling ) Q @ X Z[\ [ ZZ! Check the website for full festival programming information.

-30For event details contact: Maria Danysh Festival Organizer Surrey International Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Festival 604.501.5064 mdanysh@ surrey.ca ----------------------------------------------South Asian Seniors - Cruise to Panama Canal 2015 Meeting of Families on April 5th 2015 at 2.00 pm.

Vedic Seniors Parivar Centre of Vedic Hindu Cultural Society Surrey is organizing a 19 days cruise to Panama Canal and a tour to Orlando Attractions USA from April 15th 2015 to May 8th 2015.

The meeting of all the families ( 52 members ) who have already registered for the cruise has been arranged for April 5th 2015 at 2.00 pm at Shanti Niketan hall

Business / Finance

24 L Saturday, May 16, 2015

GM ignition switch death toll now 100 Automaker has paid $200M US so far, with more than 600 claims still under review

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he death toll from crashes caused by faulty ignition switches in 2.6 million older General Motors small cars has reached 100. The number was updated Monday by attorney Kenneth Feinberg, who was hired by GM to compensate victims. It’s the first acknowledgement by the company that the defective switches have caused at least 100 deaths. The switches can unexpectedly slip from the run to off position, shutting down the engine and knocking out power-assisted steering and brakes. GM has admitted knowing of the problem for at least a decade, yet it didn’t recall the cars until last year. At least one Canadian family has been offered compensation for a death related to the faulty switch. Here’s a by-the-numbers look at the ignition switch problem:

100: Number of death claims eligible for compensation from the fund administered

by Feinberg as of May 8. 13: Number of deaths GM initially blamed on the switches, although it expected the toll to grow. 184: Number of injured people eligible for compensation. 626: Number of claims still under review by Feinberg. 4,342: Number of claims filed before Jan. 31 deadline. 1,799: Claims deemed not eligible for compensation.

1,633: Claims that were deficient or submitted without documentation. $1 million: The starting point for payments in death cases. 193: Number of compensation offers made so far in injury and death cases. 140: Number of offers accepted. 5: Number of offers rejected. 48: Number of offers still being considered. $200 million: Amount GM has paid via Feinberg as of March 31.

Rachel Notley reaching out to energy sector

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lberta premier-designate Rachel Notley has taken the initiative to reach out to the energy sector since her election win last week.

Doug Suttles, CEO of Calgary-based oil and gas company Encana, said he took a phone call from Notley in recent days.

“The core of the conversation was, let’s make sure we talk as you consider alternatives, and if we can support in any way with information or insights, we are happy to provide that,” he said. “I’ve got to believe her biggest challenge at the moment is putting her government together, and it’s a bit early to be speculating on policy changes.”

The NDP ran on a platform that included an increase in corporate taxes and a review of royalties paid by oil and gas companies.

The party’s victory has led to concern by the industry. Some Encana shareholders aired their concerns at the company’s annual general meeting in Calgary on Tuesday.

“Certainly what happens in the oil and gas sector is going to affect people like myself who are not part of the one per cent, but have held shares in Encana for several decades,” said Irene Bruzga. She wants the company to do well because she depends on the dividend from her shares to supplement her income in retirement. Energy sector CEOs have large-

ly been diplomatic about potential changes from the new government. “You would almost have to be from another planet not to understand how important oil and gas is to Alberta and Albertans,” said Suttles. “You’ve got to be careful about speculating about what might happen. The important point here is I don’t think it’s lost on governments or new governments that it is a very competitive market out there.” Suttles said Encana can provide a perspective on operating not only in Alberta, but also in British Columbia and parts of the U.S. He said his conversation with Notley was brief and helped open the lines of communication between the energy sector and the new government. “

Lax Kw’alaams Band reject $1B LNG deal near Prince Rupert

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natural gas benefit offer worth more than $1 billion has been rejected by a First Nation on B.C.’s northwest coast, but not everyone thinks it will necessarily scuttle the project.

Pacific NorthWest LNG was proposing to build a pipeline and terminal in the Lax Kw’alaams Band territory just south of Prince Rupert. Band members were asked to vote on a $1.15 billion offer over 40 years in exchange for their consent for the project.

The vote in Vancouver on Tuesday was the third in a series conducted by the First Nation that rejected the project. Elya White said she was one of about a dozen members at the meeting in Vancouver that voted for the project to go ahead or did not vote against it.

“You know, I was terrified to give my answer. But, it’s my vote, it’s my decision, my vote counts. And it’s a yes,” said White.

“I have a forestry diploma and I understand working with First Nations people gets complicated with environmental issues. I also know all the regulations they have to go through to be approved to the environmental approval.” Premier Christy Clark said yester-

day that she believes it is only a matter of time until a negotiated agreement is reached with the 3,700 member band. Clark insisted the possible rejection of the liquefied-natural-gas terminal is nothing more than a bump in the road for a multi billion-dollar pipeline project. Environmental concerns Pacific NorthWest LNG wants to transport natural gas from the northeast corner of the province to an export facility on Lelu Island, just south of Prince Rupert. Band members have raised concerns over the project’s environmental impact, because of the site’s location at the head of the Skeena River and the threat it poses to the watershed. The band’s primary concern relates to the project’s potential impact on Flora Bank, an underwater area immediately adjacent Lelu Island where an abundance of eel grass provides vital habitat to maturing salmon in the Skeena watershed.

Pacific NorthWest LNG responded to concerns by proposing to build a 1.7-kilometre suspension bridge that would bypass the sensitive underwater ecosystem. The span would be anchored by a pair of support towers, one planted on the edge of Lelu Island and the other just outside Flora Bank.

Business / Finance

Nordstrom is hiring 1,000 people for its new downtown Vancouver location

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he upscale department store is posting the positions online next Tuesday and the official hiring starts in June. It will move into a high-profile property, formerly occupied by Sears, at Granville and West Georgia for its launch in September. “This is our third store in Canada, so it’s an exciting time to be a part of Nordstrom and get in on the ground floor as we continue our growth across the country,” says Chris Wanlass, store manager for Nordstrom Pacific Centre. Nordstrom is looking to fill sales positions in all its departments, including clothing, shoes, accessories and cosmetics as well as various support positions in alterations, building services and security.

Raising kids getting more affordable, government analysis suggests

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briefing note for Finance Minister Joe Oliver suggests the cost of raising children has been declining, even as federal parties compete to help struggling Canadian families with tax breaks and childcare benefits.

The note, dated 10 days before Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced a major family-benefit package, argues that children have become more affordable in the last 15 years.

“Increases in real family income have made children relatively more affordable than they were 15 years ago, and more so for lower income families,” says the heavily censored document, obtained by CBC News under the Access to Information Act. The Oct. 20 analysis was requested

by Oliver’s office as the government was preparing to announce two new programs — income-splitting for families, and an enriched universal child care benefit — in late October.

Department policy experts drew on cost data for food, clothing, shelter, transportation, health and child care for Manitoba, “the only province for which comprehensive information on the total cost of raising children exists,” says the note. Post-secondary education costs

were excluded.

The Finance Department found that for the period 1998 to 2013, the cost of raising children grew no faster than the rate of inflation.

Kids more affordable?

The annual cost of raising a oneyear-old in 2013 was estimated at about $14,000, falling to $8,400 at the age of 12 because day-care fees end, although the analysis notes that it did not capture the varied costs of raising children in different parts of the country.

The document also argues that adding more children may allow a family to take advantage of “economies of scale … so the costs do not increase at a constant rate when the family increases its numbers.”

The Finance analysis suggests that rising family incomes have made children more affordable, as the percentage of household income needed to pay for them has grown smaller over the years — especially for lower-income families.

“Our estimates show that the costs of raising children as a share of the after-tax income fell from 17.0 per cent to 13.5 per cent for the median income family, and from 42.5 per cent to 31.0 per cent for families in the lowest income quintile since the late 1990s.”

Global oil glut grows to 2 million barrels a day as OPEC keeps on pumping

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resh data on worldwide crude production shows the global glut of oil is growing with Saudi Arabia’s production near record highs, according to the International Energy Agency.

And there are signs the oversupply is moving into the market for refined products such as gasoline, meaning the recent rally in oil prices could lose steam, the IEA said in a report released today. OPEC crude supply rose by 160,000 barrels a day to 31.21 million barrels a day in April, the highest since September 2012. Iraq and Iran boosted their output and top exporter Saudi Arabia was increasing its rig count.

There has been a slowdown in U.S. production, but global oil supply is still exceeding demand by two million barrels a day.

Many in the North American oilpatch have accused the Saudis of keeping output high to drive down U.S. production.

On the up side, there has been recovery in demand for crude as the U.S. and European economies gain steam. Demand for crude this year is projected to grow to as

high as 1.1 million barrels a day, with the big surge expected later in the year. U.S. data released today shows commercial crude inventories fell by 2.19 million barrels in the week ended May 8, the second week that inventories have fallen after rising for months. WTI slips to $6 The new data on the worldwide oil glut hit oil prices in afternoon trading. West Texas Intermediate crude was down 62 cents to $60.13 US a barrel at the close, while Brent oil, the international crude contract, was off 34 cents at $66.52. Meanwhile, Western Canada Select, the main Canadian contract continued to close the gap with WTI, moving close to its high for the year of $52.50.

Refiners have been buying more crude to take advantage of the low prices and are refining oil for summer driving earlier than usual. The signs of an uptick in oil prices helped accelerate their purchase of crude.

There are plenty of players who predict a fresh downturn in WTI prices as U.S. producers see the higher prices and turn the taps on again.

Saturday, May 16, 2015 L 25

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PUNJAB

Girls from district Tarn Taran do parents proud

mritsar: While Tarn Taran is among the districts with the worst gender ratio in Punjab, the girl students of Baba Gurmukh Singh Baba Uttam Singh Senior

Secondary School, Khadoor Sahib, have proved that they are no lesser mortals. They have featured among the top 22 in the state on the merit

list of the Punjab School Education Board’s Class XII results. While three of them feature among top 12 in the state, the remaining are among the top 22 in the state. Incidentally, they have

grabbed top 11 positions in the school while the lone boy featuring on the merit list is the last.

Among the toppers are Komalpreet Kaur (98.22%, 8th rank), Ramanpreet Kaur (97.78%, 10th rank), and Harpreet Kaur (97.33%, 12th rank) in the state. The remaining meritorious students are Manpreet Kaur (96.44%), Kiranpreet Kaur (96.22%), Sonampreet Kaur (96.22%), Ramandeep Kaur (96%), Sumanpreet Kaur (96%), Jaspreet Kaur (95.77%), Pawandeep Kaur (95.77%), Manjinder Kaur (95.55%) and Amritpal Singh Thind (95.11%), all of whom feature among top 22 ranks in the state. The school authorities claim the institute has secured the fourth rank in the state and top rank among the schools of rural Punjab in terms of the number of merit positions attained. In addition, all the merit positions of Tarn Taran district were grabbed by students of this reputed institution being run by Baba Sewa Singh Khadoor Sahibwale. Hundreds of students belonging to underprivileged sections of the society are being taught free of cost at this school.

Most of 2,700 stateowned buses plying without insurance cover

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undreds of state-run buses have been plying without an insurance cover, one of the main requirements under the Motor Vehicle Act, for years without anyone bothering about the violation. The Transport Department authorities prefer to pay claim to the victims of accidents involving government buses instead of getting an insurance cover for around 2,700 buses which are in running condition and are plying on different routes within and outside the state. While the department has been throwing provisions of the Motor Vehicle Act to the wind, the traffic police too have turned a blind eye towards the violation.

Witness in Jassi case alleges threat to life

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dding a twist to the controversy shrouding cable operator Jaswinder Singh Jassi’s suicide, witness in the case Gurdev Singh Bhullar this week moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court to restrain the State of Punjab and other respondents from “implicating” him at the instance of the accused and Punjab Home Minster Sukhbir Singh Badal. He also alleged before the High Court that Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (ADCP) Harjit Singh Brar had threatened to eliminate him for pursuing the matter. He claimed the main accused, Sarabjit Singh, alias Raju, was pursuing Sukhbir’s interest in cable business. As such, the “Home Minister was openly supporting Raju”. In his petition filed through Himmat Singh Shergill, Bhullar also claimed that he was apprehending threats to his life and liberty at the hands of Brar and accused named in the FIR dated March 28 registered for abetment to suicide and another of-

fence at Civil Lines police station in Amritsar (City). Shergill has contended that when the petitioner approached the ADCP on May 4 to get his statement recorded as prosecution witness and furnish the evidence, including video CD and other material, the ADCP “threatened to eliminate him if he pursued the case”.

Saturday, May 16, 2015 L 27

INDIA

4 Indians among at least 5 killed in Afghan guest house siege

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our Indians and an American were among at least five persons killed when gunmen stormed a guest house here, trapping several foreign nationals inside and triggering hours-long overnight standoff with Afghan security forces. The attack started at about 0900 pm last night when three gunmen launched a brazen assault at the Park Palace Hotel, popular with foreigners and located in the Kolola Pushta area of the Kabul city. Soon after the gunmen stormed the guest house, the Afghan National Security Forces, including Special Forces, arrived and began striking back the attackers and also rescuing those under siege inside the guest house. Kabul police chief Abdul Rahman Rahimi said security forces rescued 54 persons from inside the guest house but five persons lost their lives. All three attackers

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were killed in the siege that lasted for about seven hours, ending in the wee hours of this morning. “Unfortunately a few Indian casualties among others at the Kabul g/house attack today,” Indian Ambassador Amar Sinha tweeted, bu official sources later confirmed that four Indians were among the dead.

United States Embassy in Kabul confirmed the death of one of American national in the attack. A concert attended by foreigners and Afghans was due to begin at the guest house around the time the gunmen stormed the place. So far, no group has claimed responsibility for the siege on the guest house which has rooms for visitors and a residential area for those who live full-time in Kabul, including foreign aid workers. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, currently on a three-day visit to China, tweeted last night, “In the aircraft I

Sants angry over Rajnath’s statement on Ram Temple

pset over Home Minister Rajnath Singh’s statement expressing inability to enact a law for the construction of the Ram Temple, seers and Hindu religious leaders here today reminded the BJP of its poll promise and asked it not to “betray” those who voted it to power.

“The ‘sants’ here are unhappy over the statement issued by Rajnath Singh. They believed that the BJP will not betray the people and they want the ruling party to enact a law as per its promises to pave the way for construction of the Ram Temple,” senior member of the Ram Janmbhoomi Nyas and former MP Ram Vilas Vedanti said. “Rajnath Singh as the then national president of BJP during Mahakumbh 2013 had promised the ‘sants’ that if voted to power, his party will enact a law for making the temple a reality and they want the government to keep its promise,” Vedanti told PTI.

Chinese leader Xi accords ‘highest-level reception’ to Modi

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rime Minister Narendra Modi will be accorded a rare “high-

est-level reception” by President Xi Jinping as the two leaders look to deepen their personal ties, Chinese official media said today. “Modi will begin his first trip to China since taking office a year ago by visiting the temple where Buddhist monk Xuanzang translated scriptures after an epic 17-year journey to India,” a report in the state-run China Daily said. “He will be given the highest-level reception when he arrives on Thursday, with President Xi Jinping accompanying him throughout his stay in Xi’an, the capital of Shaanxi province. It is very rare for Chinese leaders to accompany foreign guests outside Beijing,” the report said, highlighting Modi’s Chinese microblog tweet stating “President Xi invited me to visit his hometown.” Modi will be given formal state reception with guard of honour before his talks with Premier Li Keqiang here to-

morrow. He is due to arrive in Beijing from Xian later tonight. Xi’s family is from Shaanxi province, and when he visited India in September, the trip began with Modi greeting the Chinese president in his home state Gujarat. “I expect to visit the famous historic city closely related to Xuanzang,” Modi had said. Xuanzang was a key figure in Chinese Buddhism who lived during the early years of the Tang Dynasty (AD 617-907). He set off on his arduous trip to India, studied there for 17 years, then brought back many Buddhist sutras and translated them into Chinese.

“Xi’an symbolises the two countries’ cultural exchanges,” said Hu Shisheng, director of the Institute of South and Southeast Asian and Oceania Studies at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations. “It’s apparent the leaders are seeking to deepen their personal ties and highlight the two civilizations’ cultural links by making Xi’an the

first stop,” he said.

“I like unlimited transactions without any doosras.”

Cabinet alters Child Labour Act

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he Cabinet has prohibited all forms of child labour below the age of 14 years making exceptions for children helping families or working in family-based enterprises after school hours and during holidays and for children employed in the entertainment industry and sports barring circus. Child activists slammed the amendments saying majority children were working in home-based occupations in India and the government, by making exceptions, had excluded a vast section of child labour from protection. As per 2011 Census, India has 12.6 million working children.

Another amendment the Cabinet allowed today to the existing Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Amendment Bill 2012 is banning employment of adolescents (14 to 18 year olds) in hazardous occupations which have been separately defined. Further, penalties for employing children in violation of the law stand doubled. The current legislation prohibits child labour below 14 years in 18 listed hazardous occupations and 65 hazardous procedures.

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28 L Saturday, May 16, 2015

Real Canadian Superstore速 location is the convenient one-stop shopping solution for everyday needs and for special occasions. You'll find variety, value, and a wide range of South Asian specialities -- at great price!

350 SE Marine Drive, Vancouver T: (604) 322-3727 Fax: 604-322-3744 Store Hours: Monday to Friday 9:30AM-8:00PM Sat 9AM - 5PM & Sun 12PM - 5PM

Contact for more assistance:

Remo Mastropieri Store Manager

NRI

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record number of people of Indian origin (PIO) might have got elected to the UK Parliament â&#x20AC;&#x201D; from 8 to 10 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; this time around. But the representation of Punjabis took a hit as the numbers dwindle from four to three.

No fresh face among Punjabi-origin candidates could make it to the parliament as Labour candidate from Gravesham, Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi, lost to two-time MP Adam Holloway. There were a total of 17 candidates

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ndian-origin Tory MP Priti Patel has been appointed minister of state for employment in British Prime Minister David Cameronâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new cabinet. Patel, who called her new posting at the department for work and pensions â&#x20AC;&#x153;a real privilegeâ&#x20AC;?, won the recent elections by securing 58% of the votes from Witham. She was the exchequer secretary to the treasury from July 2014 to May 2015. The 43-year-old was first elected

Fewer Punjabis invotes.

UK Parliament Sharma has not lost any election since

of Punjabi origin in this election. However, three candidates â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Virendra Sharma, Seema Malhotra and Alok Sharma â&#x20AC;&#x201D; came out with flying colours and ensured Punjabâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s representation in the UK parliament. Punjabis in UK Parliament Virendra Sharma (Labour Party): The 68-year-old, who hails from Jalandhar and is a sitting MP from Ealing Southall, doubled his victory margin by bagging 65%

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2007, when he was elected as the MP in the by-election called following the death of the sitting Labour MP, Piara Khabra on June 19, 2007. He went on to hold the seat in the 2010 general election. Sharma, who came to the UK from India in 1968 and became a bus conductor, started his political career by joining the Liberal Party and later switched to Labour. A graduate from London School

Indian-origin Tory MP gets British cabinet post the MP for Witham in May 2010. During his trip to India in November 2013, Cameron had said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve made a personal commitment to strengthening UK-India relations because I believe we can be one of the great partnerships of the 21st century. And I firmly believe that British Indians - who already bring so much

Indian-origin lawmaker to takes oath on the Gita in Australia ndian-origin Daniel Mookhey will become the first politician on Tuesday to be sworn in to an Australian parliament on the Gita. Mookhey, 32, was elected by the Labor to replace Steve Whan in the New South Wales upper house, making him the stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first politician of Indian background. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is an incredible honour and I am humbled to be the first Australian politician to take his oath of allegiance on the Gita,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;My story is only possible because Australia is so open and so welcoming to the contributions of people like my parents and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m thinking a lot about them today as I take my oath,â&#x20AC;? Mookhey said, adding that the Gita is one of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s great religious texts, along with the Bible, the Quran and the Torah. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was an important backdrop to my childhood growing up in western Sydney. I am really proud to sort of be using it today

Saturday, May 16, 2015 L 29

as a mark of respect to the people that have helped me get to where Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve gotten today, and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m really very pleased and humbled by the opportunity,â&#x20AC;? he said. Mookhey said he hopes his time in the NSW Upper House is spent productively. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I will certainly be a very loud voice for a much more modern state and much more modern city in which everyone is able to move around and spend time at work and with their family and not consumed with the sort of frustrations you have in urban cities like Sydney,â&#x20AC;? he said.

to our country - can play a vital role forging this strong relationship. To date, I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve made the most of all they have to offer so Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve appointed Priti Patel as our diaspora champion.â&#x20AC;? The cabinet has got another

of Economics, Sharma was a local councillor in the London Borough of Ealing from 19822010 and was mayor for part of his time as councillor. He is also a school governor at Three Bridges and Wolf Fields schools. Seema Malhotra (Labour Party): Seema, who also has roots in Jalandhar district, registered an impressive victory with a margin of over 11,000 votes and mopped up 52% votes from Feltham and Heston constituency. minister of South Asian origin: Sajid Javid, the son of a bus driver and former banker, has been made the new business secretary, replacing Vince Cable. He recently oversaw the installation of Mahatma Gandhiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s statue at Parliament Square. London mayor Boris Johnson has not been made a minister

!" #!$ % & '$ ( & ) $ ( & * + ,* "

30 L Saturday, May 16, 2015

SOUTH ASIA

Tremors hit Nepal as toll in quake over eight thousand

F

resh tremors today struck Nepal where thousands of fear-stricken people spent the night in the open after a powerful earthquake killed 65 people, as the nightmare continued for the country already devastated by a temblor over two weeks ago that had claimed over 8,000 lives.

The 7.3-magnitude earthquake yesterday brought down homes and buildings, killing 65 people and injuring nearly 2,000, Nepal’s National Emergency Operation Centre said.

Most of the casualties were reported in Dolakha district, northeast of Kathmandu.

The toll was expected to rise. Police said a total of 32 of 75 districts were affected in the fresh quake and several houses collapsed.

The quake was centred some 83 kms east of Kathmandu near Mount Everest at a shallow depth of 15 kilometres. It was followed by 6.3-magnitude aftershock 30 minutes later and numerous other aftershocks continued into this morning. According to the US Geological Survey, yesterday’s quake was followed by at least 17 strong aftershocks.

Earthquake victims gather inside their temporary makeshift shelter at a camp.

The temblor triggered landslides blocking roads to remote villages in several districts.

The quake and the subsequent powerful aftershocks forced people out to live in the open under plastic tents barely shielding them from cold last night. A US military helicopter crashed with six US Marines and two Nepali soldiers on board while delivering aid.

All eight are dead.

Asia’s drifting people a looming crisis: UN

S

everal thousand migrants, many of them hungry and sick, are adrift in boats in Southeast Asian seas and governments of the region must rescue them quickly to avert a “massive humanitarian crisis”, the United Nations said on Tuesday. It appealed to authorities in Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia not to push back boats that are packed with refugees who have been abandoned by smugglers following a Thai government crackdown on traffickers.

There has been a surge in migrants from impoverished Bangladesh and Myanmar to Malaysia and Indonesia following the clampdown in Thailand, usually the first destination in the region’s people-smuggling network. Many of the arrivals are Rohingya, a stateless Muslim minority from Myanmar described by the United Nations as one of the most persecuted minorities in the world. Jeffrey Savage, who works for the UN High Commissioner for Ref-

ugees (UNHCR) in Jakarta, said that perhaps thousands of people were stranded in the waters between Malaysia and Indonesia.

“What we’re hearing from these people is that they’ve been stuck out at sea for weeks and months and then the smugglers just deserted them, left them with very little food and water, no fuel for the engines, so they’re drifting,” he told Reuters on the northern coast of Sumatra in Indonesia, where several hundred arrived in boats last weekend. He said the UNHCR was calling for an international search and rescue operation between the Andaman Sea and the Straits of Malacca to re-

spond to what he termed “a massive humanitarian crisis waiting to happen”. Thailand announced on Tuesday that it was organising a meeting of 15 countries, to be held in Bangkok on May 29, to address “the unprecedented increase of irregular migration across the Bay of Bengal in recent years”. “Countries of origin, transit and destination must work together to address the problem comprehensively by addressing the root causes as well as all the contributing factors ...”

Third blogger hacked to death in Bangladesh

M

achete-wielding masked men hacked to death a 33-year-old secular blogger in Bangladesh today with terror group Al-Qaida in the Indian Subcontinent claiming responsibility for the brutal murder, the third such attack by Islamists since February in the Muslim-majority nation. Ananta Bijoy Das died instantly after the gang of masked men attacked him with machetes near his house at Subidbazar area in Sylhet city this morning while he was on the way to his office, police said.

“Four armed assailants attacked him when he was going to the town in a rickshaw,” Airport Police Station Officer in charge Gausul Hossain said. “They (killers) attacked him from behind...he was hit with machetes on the head and died instantly,” an eyewitness told PTI. Later, Al-Qaida in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) claimed responsibility for Das’ murder. The terror group made the claim in a post on justpaste.it. Ansar Al-Islam Bangladesh tweeted a link to the post.

Das, who regularly blogged for Mukto-Mona website, two years ago wrote a poem eulogising self-exiled controversial Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen, who resides in India. Nasreen herself had shared the poem on her Facebook page, Suprity Dhar, a common friend of Das and Nasreen, said. Das’ family members said he had joined a private bank after completing masters from Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST).

FIJI

Saturday, May 16, 2015 L 31

Fiji wins Glasgow 7s, leads 7s series

T

EU-Fiji trade talks in limbo

thanked God for the win and also the team’s sponsors. Kolinisau dedicated the win to all mothers in Fiji. Ryan said Fiji was in a terrific position to win its first series title in 10 years.

Fiji leads the HSBC Sevens World Series with 147 points followed by South Africa 142 points, New Zealand with 139 and England with 117 points.

he Fiji sevens side won the Glasgow Sevens tournament this morning after defeating New Zealand 24-17. With a lacklustre performance in the first half, the side entered the field in the second half fired up after some harsh words by coach Ben Ryan at half time. In an interview with the overseas media after the win, Fiji team captain Osea Kolinisau

T

here is a possibility that negotiations between Fiji and the EU on establishing a comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement could be put on hold for a couple of years.

This was revealed by EU deputy head of delegation for the Pacific Johnny Engell-Hansen as the EU waits for the ratification of the agreement by Parliament.

“The Economic Partnership Agreement is very important to recognise,” he said.

“There is already an EPA with Fiji, PNG and the European Union which is the current one. “Fiji with PNG benefits from the most privileged access to the European market compared to anywhere in the world. “It’s true there have been negotiations on a new so called comprehensive

Tough year ahead for sugar producing countries EU deputy head of delegation for the Pacific Johnny Engell-Hansen wtih SCGC chief executive Sundresh Chetty (right) and Lorima Voravora (third from left) during the Europe Day celebrations in Lautoka on Tuesday night. among African Caribbean Pacific (ACP) sugar-producing countries including Fiji will be tough in the year 2017, says EU deputy head of delegation for the Pacific Johnny Engell-Hansen. Speaking at Europe Day celebrations in Lautoka on Tuesday, he said Fiji would need to prepare itself for the competition it would face with other countries in the ACP group. “The European

Union is therefore working with the Government, FSC and other stakeholders to define programs of support that will help to increase competitiveness,” he said “These are likely to focus on harvesting and transportation. We have around $25million earmarked for this. I think 2017 is all about competitiveness.

Good News!

Sunny Leone to perform in Fiji

Good News!

Economic Partnership Agreement and that has not gotten much headway in the last couple of years. “The EU and Pacific Island countries are now looking at what to do next. There is a possibility of taking a couple of years to think about it.” In the meantime, he said, the existing arrangements that Fiji acceded to last year was being applied on a provisional basis by the Fijian government.

“It (Fiji government) has said that it will be ratified by 2015 by the new Parliament.

“We are looking forward to early ratification of it and with that I think that Fiji has all the access to the European market it needs that it could wish for.” He reiterated that compared with all regions and countries in the world, Fiji and PNG had the most privileged access to the EU market.

Good News!

GOLDEN CHANCE TO VISIT & CELEBRATE GURUPURAB - 2015 AT SIKH GURUDWARAS IN PAKISTAN

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Nankana Saheb Panja Saheb Sensational Bollywood actress Sunny Leone will be coming to Fiji in August to perform two confirmed shows and a possible third. Leone, who is an Indo-Canadian and American Bollywood actress, is currently involved in the filming and post production of 4 movies, Kuch Kuch Locha Hai, Mastizaade, Tina and Lilo and One Night Stand. Professional Dancer and Choreographer Vikas Sawant and Akshat Singh, 9, boy wonder from Indian reality show Indias got talent will accompany Leone on her Spice It Up Fiji Tour.

The first show begins on August 14 at the Vodafone Arena.

$100k overpaid in road building scam

A

prosecution witness in the $3million road scam trial told the High Court in Suva of an incident where there was a $100,000 discrepancy in payment.

Five-men are standing trial for their alleged involvement in the scam involving State-funded road projects in Ba. TF Jan Bulldozing Company director Feroz Jan Mohammed is on trial for one count of bribing public officials, one count of obtaining financial advantage and one count of perverting the course of justice. Also standing trial are former Department of National Roads employees Iliesa Turagacati, who has been charged with one count of receiving a bribe and one count of causing a loss with Navitalai Tamanitoakula, Aisea Liwaiono and Vijay Prasad. Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) witness Ranjana Goundar, who was a former accounts officer of TF Jan Bulldozing Company, said the company was once paid $200,000 when the claim stated $100,000.

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32 L Saturday, May 16, 2015

Gunmen kill 45 Ismailis in Karachi At least 45 people have been killed and 13 injured in a gun attack on a bus carrying Ismaili Shia Muslims in the Pakistani city of Karachi, police say. Police said six gunmen on motorcycles had stopped the bus and fired indiscriminately at passengers. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has condemned the attack and ordered an investigation. Pakistani Taliban splinter group Jundullah and Islamic State (IS) both said they had carried out the attack.

Later, the militant group Tehrik Taliban Pakistan (TTP) also said it was behind the shooting. Analysts says Pakistan’s fragmented militant movements have previously competed to claim responsibility for attacks. Wednesday’s attack was the second deadliest in Pakistan this year after 62 Shia Muslims were killed in a suicide bombing in January.

About 60 people were on the bus when it was stopped in the Safoora Chowk area on its way to the Ayesha Manzil Ismaili centre, police said. Relatives of some survivors said the gunmen were dressed as policemen. “As the gunmen climbed on to the bus, one of them shouted, ‘kill them all!’,” a survivor told Pakistani TV. “Then they started indiscriminately firing.”

They said the bus driver was killed and an injured passenger drove the bus to Memon Hospital Institute.

BBC Urdu service editor Aamer Ahmed Khan in Karachi said the bus was making one of five daily scheduled trips between a gated community housing mainly Ismailis on the north-eastern outskirts and the main city.

Osama bin Laden was a prisoner in Abbottabad, Pakistani intelligence officer leaked his information, report says

A

former Pakistani intelligence officer disclosed the hideout of Osama bin Laden to CIA in exchange for $25 million bounty on the head of the al-Qaida chief, who was living as prisoner under ISI protection in the garrison town of Abbottabad, according to a report.

“In August 2010 a former senior Pakistani intelligence officer approached Jonathan Bank, then the CIA’s station chief at the US embassy in Islamabad. He offered to tell the CIA where to find bin Laden in return for the reward that Washington had offered in 2001,” Dawn reported, citing American investigative journalist and author Seymour M Hersh.

The intelligence official, Hersh said, was a military man who is now living in Washington and working for the CIA as a consultant.

“I cannot tell you more about him,” he said.

The US confirmed the information provided by the official and put the compound under satellite surveillance. Americans later

informed the ISI which set up a cell in Ghazi, Tarbela, where “one man from the SEALs and two communicators” practised the raid before executing the operation, Hersh said, adding that it was difficult decision but Pakistan was ultimately taken on board and told about the script to kill Osama. Hersh said that whatever the Obama administration told about the operation to kill Osama was part of fiction and the real story was totally different.

“The most blatant lie was that Pakistan’s two most senior military leaders — Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani (the-then army chief) and Gen Ahmed Shuja Pasha (the-then ISI chief) — were never informed of the US mission,” he told Dawn. When the Americans contacted the Pakistani government and asked for Osama, the ISI insisted that he be killed and his death should be announced a week after the operation. Hersh said the Saudi government also knew about Osama’s presence it

ISI man who ‘sold’ Osama a Kashmir hardliner WASHINGTON: The military general who sold Osama bin Laden’s location for part of the $25 million bounty has been identified in the Pakistani media as former brigadier Usman Khalid, a hardline Islamist fantasist whose television appearances invoke the glory days of Muslim domination from Istanbul to New Delhi. According to the bombshell story by Seymour Hersh that has caused ripples in the US, a former midlevel ISI officer walked into the US embassy in Islamabad to rat on Pakistan’s secret custody of bin Laden. He and his family have since been relocated to Washington, where he is said to be a consul-

Abbottabad and had advised the Pakistanis to keep him as a prisoner. “Osama was an ISI prisoner and never moved except under their supervision,” he said. The Americans were required to say that the al-Qaida chief was found in a mountainous region in the Hindu Kush so that neither Pakistan nor Afghanistan could be blamed for keeping him, Hersh said, adding that the ISI wanted him dead because “they did not want a witness”. Hersh said President Barack Obama did not consult Gen Kayani and Gen Pasha before releasing the cover story that he shared with his nation in a live broadcast. “The cover story trashed Pakistan. It was very embarrassing for them,” said Hersh. “Pakistan has a good army, not a bad army, but the cover story made it look bad.” Hersh also said that Dr Shakil Afridi, the physician now jailed in Peshawar for helping CIA trace down Osama’s hideout, was a CIA asset but he did not know about the operation. Afridi was used as a cover to hide the real story, he said.

Generals ‘sold’ bin Laden to US

S

enior Pakistani army generals and top ISI purportedly hosted Osama bin Laden in an Abbottabad hideout since 2006 before selling him out to the US in 2011 after a Pakistani intelligence officer betrayed him for the $25 million bounty, veteran investigative journalist Seymour Hersh has claimed. In a 10,000-word piece in the London Review of Books, Hersh, famed for his exposes on US excesses during the Vietnam War and after, also alleges that the US tant for the CIA. A scrutiny of his publicly available speeches, writings, and records show Brig

Khalid to be a grandfatherly post-retirement think-tanker who peddles hopeful theories about the imminent break-up of India due to sundry insurrections against the Brahminical

raid on Abbottabad was pretty much a cakewalk after Pakistan’s then top generals, Army chief Pervez Ashfaq Kayani and ISI head Ahmad Shuja Pasha, cooperated with the Americans under both threats and inducements, including personal blandishments.

President Obama, Hersh suggests, milked the episode for domestic political gains, including a second term re-election, after reneging on US promises to Pakistan about when and how the raid would be revealed to the world. class that allegedly rules India. As director of the ‘London Institute of South Asia’ he has also edited a book titled ‘Authentic Voices of South Asia’ with chapters by separatist malingerers such as Gurmukh Singh Aulakh and Syed Geelani.

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Volvo to build $500M car plant in South Carolina

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olvo Cars will build a $500 million

US plant — its first in the U.S. — in South Carolina and eventually employ up to 4,000 people there, the company announced Monday. The plant is initially expected to make about 100,000 vehicles a year, with the first ones ready in 2018, according to Volvo.

It expects to employ about 2,000 people at the Berkeley County plant, about 30 miles from the Port of Charleston, over the next decade. That could grow to 4,000 workers eventually. The state plans to borrow about $150 million to build the site and a new interchange on Interstate 26, South Carolina Commerce Secretary Bobby Hitt said at a news conference at the Governor’s Mansion. South Carolina beat four other states, including Georgia, which also made a hard sell for the automaker. “What I believe won Volvo Cars for South Carolina was our workers. They saw the fact this is a state where we build planes,”

F

said Gov. Nikki Haley, referring to the state’s last big economic development prize, Boeing. Georgia officials said last week that Volvo had decided against building near Savannah. Construction is expected to begin in the fall. Volvo has no timetable forwheit will have all 4,000 workers at the plan, said Lex Kerssemakers, president and CEO of Volvo Cars of North America. The company said vehicles made at the plant will be for the U.S. market as well as for export. Volvo has two plants in Europe and two in China. “The reason we came to South Carolina is accessibility. We want to be very close to the sea. We will ex-

port those cars,” Lex Kerssemakers, president and CEO of Volvo Cars North America, said in a phone interview. South Carolina’s technical college system will work to recruit and train employees for the plant. Volvo becomes the second European car maker to locate in South Carolina.

Self-driving car collisions tracked

our of the nearly 50 self-driving cars now rolling around California have gotten into accidents since September, when the state began issuing permits for companies to test them on public roads.

Two accidents happened while the cars were in control; in the other two, the person who still must be behind the wheel was driving, a person familiar with the accident reports told The Associated Press. Three involved Lexus SUVs that Google Inc. outfitted with sensors and computing power in its aggressive effort to develop “autonomous driving,” a goal the tech giant shares with traditional automakers. The parts supplier Delphi Automotive had the other accident with one of its two test vehicles. Google and Delphi said their cars were not at fault in any accidents, which the companies said were minor. Since September, any accident must be reported to the state Department of Motor Vehicles. The agency said there have been four, but would not comment about fault or anything else, citing California law that collision reports are confidential.

The person familiar with the accident reports said the cars were in self-driving mode in two of the four accidents, all of which involved speeds of less than 16 kilometres per hour (10 miles per hour). The person spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the reports publicly. Five other companies have testing permits. In response to questions from the AP, all said they had no accidents. In all, 48 cars are licensed to test on public roads. The fact that neither the companies nor the state have revealed the accidents troubles some who say the public should have information to monitor the

rollout of technology that its own developers acknowledge is imperfect. John Simpson, a longtime critic of Google as privacy project director of the nonprofit Consumer Watchdog, pointed out that the company’s ultimate goal is a car without a steering wheel or pedals. That would mean a person has no power to intervene if a car lost control, making it “even more important that the details of any accidents be made public — so people know what the heck’s going on.”

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