The Asian Star March 17 2018

www.theasianstar.com Vol 17 - Issue 7

Saturday, March 17, 2018

Six South Asian men charged after drugs seized with ‘lethal amounts’ of fentanyl

Garry Grewal honoured

Six people have been charged after police in Surrey and New Westminster turned up a large quantity of drugs containing lethal amounts of fentanyl.

New Westminster police launched an investigation a year ago into drug dealing in the city.

As a result of that investigation, search warrants were used throughout Surrey and New Westminster, and from those officers seized a large amount of drugs, including heroin containing what

The Fraser Valley Real Estate Board held its annual Medallion Gala at the Hyatt Regency in Vancouver on Saturday, March 3, 2018. Garry Grewal from Sutton Group West Coast Realty was awarded the top Business Sales Achievement Award for 2017. Garry Grewal is a consistent top performer, achieving many top awards in years previous. Garry Grewal has been congratulated by his family, friends and business associates on receiving this outstanding award.

police call “lethal levels” of fentanyl.

Investigators also seized a number of vehicles, a large quantity of cash, multiple firearms, and replica firearms.

Six people are facing multiple drug trafficking-related charges: Neil Naidu, 31, of Surrey; Mannish Lidhar, 25, of Surrey; Pahul Lidhar, 20, of Surrey; Tyler Sandhu, 28, of Surrey; Eric Hanif, 32, of Surrey; And Matthew Sharif, 24 of Chilliwack.

“These kinds of investigations take a lot of experience Continued on page 7

French President Macron shows Trudeau how to make India trip successful This week, French president Emmanuel Macron became the first Western leader to visit India since the departure of Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau.

Where Trudeau’s visit was a textbook disaster in international relations, Macron has

Singer Daler Mehndi sentenced to 2 years in jail in human trafficking case A Patiala court on Friday sentenced singer Daler Mehndi to two years in jail in a human trafficking case registered against him in 2003.Mehndi,

Tel:604-591-5423

apparently been bathing in diplomatic triumph.

Below, a quick rundown of how another handsome, French-speaking, progressive G7 leader outdid Trudeau in almost every conceivable way.

Narendra Modi met him at the airport Continued on page 7

Fiji wins Vancouver 7s rugby

who was present in the court, was arrested and was later released on bail.

Daler Mehndi and brother Shamsher Singh had Continued on page 6

Jagmeet Singh now rejects glorification of Air India bombing mastermind After having expressed some doubts, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said today he accepts the Air India inquiry’s conclusion that Talwinder Singh Parmar was the mastermind behind the deadly mid-air bombing that killed hundreds of Canadians — and he thinks it’s inappropriate for some Sikhs to

glorify Parmar by displaying his photo.

“There was an inquiry that was conducted into this horrible terrorist act. The inquiry identified specifically Talwinder Singh Parmar, and I accept the findings of the investigation, of the inquiry. I accept them and I condemn all Continued on page 7

A proud fan with Fijian flag wrapped around in downtown Vancouver last weekend after the Fijian team won Vancouver 7s rugby championship at BC Place.

See story on page 28

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Saturday, March 17, 2018

BC sets up anonymous tip line for reporting shady real estate agents

C has created an anonymous tip line so consumers — and fellow agents — can report shady real estate agents to the provincial regulator. The province said the line is another measure to ensure that agents are abiding by professional standards, while protecting consumers who report unethical behaviour. There are now two ways to send tips to the Real Estate Council of B.C. In a statement, the council said it will open an investigation file on every complaint and continue to follow up. The new tip line is the latest addition to the regulator’s existing complaint process. “People deserve to know that they can trust the professionals they are working with when they are buying or selling

real estate,” said Finance Minister Carole James.

A new tip line was one of the recommendations made by the council’s Independent Advisory Group in order to further protect real estate consumers in the province. “I think it’s positive, I think anything to bring transparency to our industry is 100 per cent key and these days, needed,” said Jay McInnes, a Vancouver-based realtor. ‘Anything to bring transparency’ Jay McInnes, a Vancouver-based Realtor, said though he’s never personally witnessed any behaviour that he would report to the tip line, he considers it a step in the right direction. “I think it’s positive, I think anything to bring transparency to our industry is 100 per cent key and these days, needed,” he said.

South Asian mom hunted by police in parental abduction Vancouver police are continuing to search for a woman who allegedly abducted her nine-yearold son on Friday in contravention of a courtimposed custody order.

Shawana Emerson Cusworth Chaudhary, also known as Virjinia Leeman, Virjinia Leman and “Shawna. Ms. Chaudhary,” may be

travelling with her son, Emerson Cusworth, as well as her six-year-old daughter and one or two dogs. Police believe Chaudhary made plans to be away from home for an extended period and there Shawana Chaudhary is evidence that the boy and mother may have changed their appearances using hair dye. There is no indication that either child has been harmed or is in imminent danger. Chaudhary is 34 years old, five-foot-eight, 106 pounds and appears South Asian, with long dark hair and dark eyes. Her son Emerson is nine years old, appears South Asian with short black hair and dark eyes. His father reported him missing after he went to pick him up at school on Friday and discovered he was not there. Anyone with information is asked to call 911, the Vancouver police non-emergency line at 604-717-3321, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

2 men arrested in Abbotsford drug investigation Police in Abbotsford arrested two men and seized more than $35,000 in cash, fentanyl, crack cocaine and a semi-automatic rifle, after executing search warrants at two homes on Thursday. Kulvir Sandhu, 23, remains in custody and has been charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking in fentanyl and cocaine. He also faces a weapons-related charges, including careless use or storage of a firearm and possession of a weapon without licence and/or registration. A second man has been released from custody and charges are pending, according to police.

“It is anticipated the arrest of these individuals and the items seized will significantly disrupt the drug trade in Abbotsford and further improve public safety through the targeting of gang associates within the community,” said APD Staff Sgt. Dan Culbertson in a news release. According to police, the

amount of fentanyl and cocaine seized is about 750 grams combined, but it was packaged in smaller quantities.

Sandhu is scheduled to appear in Abbotsford Provincial Court on Thursday. Drone drug drop thwarted at B.C. prison Drugs, cash and vehicles seized in arrest of 19-year-old gang member in Abbotsford

Local

Saturday, March 17, 2018

Man sets himself on fire at McDonald’s in Vancouver, police watchdog investigating A man carrying a gasoline can set himself on fire at a McDonald’s restaurant in East Vancouver on Thursday night, prompting people to flee in panic. Police said the “distraught” man walked into the restaurant at Commercial Drive and East Broadway just after 9 p.m. A statement said officers tried to negotiate with him, but he ultimately “lit himself and parts of the restaurant on fire.” The man, who police said is in his 30s, survived and was taken to hospital with serious burns. His name wasn’t released.

The Independent Investigations Office of B.C. — an independent, civilian-led police watchdog — is now investigating. McDonald’s

There was a significant damage inside the McDonald’s.

commercial drive fire Carla Arsenault was in the area as the incident unfolded. “There was a man sitting outside the McDonald’s … I noticed that he had a can of gasoline. I could smell the gasoline,” she said. Arsenault said she called the non-emergency police line just before the man ran inside the restaurant.

She said he started shouting, then began pouring gasoline. “People started panicking and rushing out of the McDonald’s,” said

Canadian home sales fall 16.9% as average price drops 5% in February: CREA

Vancouver police investigating the incident at McDonald’s in Vancouver

Arsenault. “It was quite busy, and people started just flowing out ... I could see that the staff were rushing out the back. “I saw people kind of jumping, ‘cause I think they had to jump over gasoline as they were running, and kind of jumping past the man and past the gasoline to get out of the building.”

Fire crews walk into the McDonalds on Commercial Drive on Thursday, after a man lit himself and the restaurant on fire.

The provincial police watchdog has been called to investigate the incident. Arsenault said the man then rushed to the back of the building and squatted down with a lit cigarette. The witness said police spent nearly an hour outside the McDonald’s, which was also partially damaged from the fire. The police statement said officers used non-lethal, riot-control ARWEN guns to subdue the man. Fire crews extinguished the flames. There was also significant damage to the inside of the McDonald’s. Arsenault said the incident was surreal. “I’m concerned for the man, and feel badly for all the people who were in the restaurant at the time, because it would have been very frightening.”

Canada’s national average home price was down five per cent and sales volume was down 16.9 per cent in February compared with a year ago, evidence that many buyers raced to purchase before new mortgage rules came into effect. There was also a 6.5 per cent decline in transactions between January and February, the second month-over-month decline and the lowest reading in nearly five years, the Canadian Real Estate Association reported Thursday.

CREA’s latest monthly statistics show that home sales were down in February in almost three quarters of all local housing markets tracked by the national association.

“The drop off in sales activity following the record-breaking peak late last year confirms that many homebuyers moved purchase decisions forward late last year before tighter mortgage rules took effect in January,” said Gregory Klump, CREA’s chief economist in a statement Thursday. The number of homes sold nationally in December hit a record high, ahead of a new stress test for uninsured mortgages that requires potential buyers to show they can service their mortgage payments if rates increase. The federal banking regulator’s tougher rules, which took effect Jan. 1, now require a stress test to be applied even to borrowers with more than 20 per cent down payment. To qualify for federally

regulated mortgages, borrowers must be able to afford interest rates that are two percentage points above the contracted rate or the Bank of Canada’s five-year benchmark rate, whichever is higher. The stricter residential mortgage lending regulations introduced by the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions were aimed at reducing risk in the market amid high housing prices.

Homebuying activity has also been dampened by the Bank of Canada’s move in January to hike interest rates to 1.25 per cent. The quarter-point increase was the central bank’s third since last summer, after hikes in July and September. In January, Canadian home sales fell by 14.5 per cent from the previous month, according to CREA’s figures.

The national average house price for homes sold in February 2018 was just over $494,000, down five per cent from a year earlier. But excluding Toronto and Vancouver, the country’s most active and most expensive markets, the national average price was just under $382,000, up 3.3 per cent from $369,728 a year ago. The number of newly listed homes in February increased by 8.1 per cent, following a plunge of more than 20 per cent in the month prior. However, new listings across the country in February were still 6.4 per cent below the 10-year monthly average and 14.6 per cent below the peak reached in December 2017.

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OPINION

By; Josef Filipowicz and Steve Lafleur The Fraser Institute

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Saturday, March 17, 2018

How BC can escape its painful housing trap

he B.C. government’s recent budget included a 30-point plan aimed at the province’s housing woes. The aim was off the mark. Most of the plan’s points fit into two broad categories: reducing demand by raising property transfer taxes, for non-residents and on homes over $3 million, for example; and increased spending on social housing - sometimes called affordable housing - for disadvantaged groups.

In both of these categories, the government targets specific niches of the housing spectrum - non-residents and the most vulnerable - but ignores the fundamental drivers of housing markets (and prices) for the vast majority of British Columbians.

British Columbia gained almost 250,000 new residents between 2011 and 2016 - more than the entire population of Burnaby. A growing population and growing average incomes and historically low mortgage interest rates mean that homes in B.C. - particularly in Vancouver - remain in high demand.

Typically, when faced with strong demand, homebuilders respond by building new homes. However, if the supply of new homes doesn’t meet that demand, prices increase.

That’s precisely what has happened in B.C. The provincial government’s new housing plan partially recognizes this ongoing supply conundrum by repeating the need to accelerate new home construction. However, its solution to this conundrum is to spend at least $6.6 billion over 10 years to construct thousands of new social housing units.

While some British Columbians will benefit from this new raft of social housing, the province’s plan almost completely ignores the many more market-rate homes (houses, townhomes, apartments) required to satisfy demand and eventually help temper prices.

Without addressing this chronic shortage, renters and buyers alike will see their ability to climb the housing ladder reduced, and the billions of taxpayer dollars spent on “homes and housing supports that people need” will have been in vain.

For all the talk of affordable housing, the vast majority of British Columbians need affordable market-rate housing.

Why? Because most people don’t qualify for subsidized housing and expanding eligibility would mean needing to build even more social housing. The majority of British Columbians just need the market to accommodate their housing needs. So what’s holding back the supply of new homes in B.C.’s most desirable metropolitan areas?

Of course, there’s geography - the ocean, mountains and U.S. border all make it more difficult to build new neighbourhoods at the urban fringe of Metro Vancouver. But there’s also red tape at city halls across the region that slows or halts homebuilders from getting much-needed housing on the market. It takes 21 months (on average) for homebuilders to obtain building permits in Vancouver and more than a year across the Lower Mainland.

There’s also an ad-hoc process of fees levied on builders, making it difficult for them to know how long a project will take and/or how much it will cost. This uncertainty reduces the likelihood of new homebuilding, aggravating existing supply constraints. These regulatory barriers impact affordability. The previous provincial government commissioned a report on the homebuilding process. It found that hundreds of thousands of units were tied up in the approvals process across several Metro Vancouver municipalities. And yet, rather than addressing the causes of a severely constrained housing market, the government of Premier John Horgan has opted to tinker by targeting two relatively small groups at either extreme of the housing market. This is a lost opportunity and indicates a fundamental mischaracterization of B.C.’s housing woes.

Rather than focusing on affordable housing for some and freeing up homes at the margins, the government should ensure that the housing market can accommodate the needs of all British Columbians.

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Saturday, March 17, 2018

SIMPSON, THOMAS & ASSOCIATES

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Saturday, March 17, 2018

RCMP relocate the owner of Indian military medals found at bus stop on Remembrance Day Surrey RCMP say they have found the owner of the military medals, the medals were found at a Surrey bus stop on Remembrance Day. Zora Singh Tatla is the rightful owner.

Zora Singh has been reunited with his missing medals.

Surrey RCMP say the medals were found at 72nd Avenue and 148th Street bust stop on November 11, 2017 and were handed in to police in early February.

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

Zora Singh Tatla has been reunited with his missing medals.

Anti-money-laundering measures will significantly reduce BCLC casino revenue: A report A confidential report commissioned by B.C. Lottery Corp. estimates that B.C. casinos could lose up to $88 million in revenue each year if the government bans large cash transactions

by VIP gamblers at high-limit betting tables.

An October 2017 report by HLT Advisory, obtained by Postmedia News, estimates financial effects that could follow if B.C. Lottery Corp. restricts VIPs from buying chips with over $10,000 in cash a day. The report points to significant financial ramifications for B.C.’s provincial budget and economy, and also for the casino corporations contracted to provide gambling in the province.

Attorney General David Eby said Thursday that the report was commissioned last

September around the time when he called for an independent review into circumstances that let hundreds of millions in suspected drugdealer cash flood Metro Vancouver casinos.

Postmedia News has reported on police investigations and government documents that allege that a transnational money-laundering operation used VIP gamblers from China to buy chips in B.C. casinos with loans of criminals’ cash. The scheme, which allowed ultra-wealthy VIPs to skirt China’s tight capital export controls, resembles the junkettype operations that are prevalent in Macau casinos, according to government documents.

“It quickly became apparent to me that the issue for the previous government and our government is that cracking down on suspicious transactions at government casinos will mean less income for government,” Eby said. “Clearly the proceeds of organized crime have been laundered through B.C. casinos for many years. I believe it is tremendously hypocritical, to on one hand say we are fighting gang crime, and on the other to be taking in government revenue that is connected to gang crime.”

Daler Mehndi jailed for 2 years in human trafficking case From page 1 accused of illegally sending people abroad disguised as members of his troupe by charging hefty “passage money”.

It was alleged that Mehndi brothers had taken two troupes in 1998 and 1999 during the course of which 10 people were taken to the US as group members and were “dropped off ” illegally.

Pleading innocence, Daler told the media on Friday: “I have been granted bail. We will appeal in a higher court.

“Police had earlier moved two petitions before the court saying that Daler was not required in the case as he had nothing to do with the immigration fraud, called ‘kabootarbaazi’ -- meaning flying pigeons referring to numerous youth in Punjab trying to use illegal means to settle abroad.

Daler, on a trip to the US in the company of Karisma Kapoor and the latter’s mother Babita, had allegedly “dropped off ” three girls at San Francisco.

The girls had been identified as Priya, Meenu Behn and Nimu, all from Gujarat.

The brothers took another troupe to the US in October 1999 in the company of Juhi Chawla, Raveena Tandon and Javed Jaffri during which three boys were “dropped off ” at New Jersey.

Soon after the Patiala police registered a case against Daler and Shamsher, on a complaint filed by one Bakshish Singh; 35 more complaints came up levelling charges of fraud against the brothers.

The complainants had alleged that the brothers had taken “passage money’ from them to help them migrate to the US ‘illegally’, but had failed to do so.

The Patiala police had even raided the offices of Daler Mehndi at Connaught Place in New Delhi and seized documents, including the case file of those who had paid the Mehndi brothers ‘passage money”.

In 2006, the Patiala police filed two discharge petitions articulating Daler Mehndi to be innocent, but the court had upheld that Daler Mehndi be prosecuted as there was “sufficient evidence against him on the judicial file and scope for further investigation”.

LOCAL

Saturday, March 17, 2018

Jagmeet Singh now rejects glorification of Air India bombing mastermind

From page 1 those responsible,” he said.

The 18-month long Air India inquiry, led by former Supreme Court justice John Major, pointed to Parmar as the chief terrorist behind the bombing.

A separate inquiry, carried out by former Ontario NDP premier and Liberal MP Bob Rae, also fingered Parmar as the architect of the 1985 bombing that left 329 people dead — 268 of them Canadians.

In last October, Singh refused to denounce extremists within Canada’s Sikh community who glorify Parmar’s memory.

When Milewski asked him specifically about Parmar, Singh said this: “I don’t know who’s responsible [for the bombing] but I think we need to find out who’s responsible, we need to make sure that the investigation results in a conviction of someone who is actually responsible.”

A day after a 2015 appearance by Singh at a Khalistan “sovereignty” rally ignited criticism, the NDP leader said the inquiry’s findings are not in doubt and he accepts that Sikh extremists were behind the attack.

Singh said the aftermath of the bombing was painful not only for the families of the victims but also for many Sikhs who felt they were “collectively punished for the acts of some individuals.”

Because of the history of violence and persecution directed at some Sikhs, it has been hard for some in the community to accept that Parmar was to blame, he said.

“There are some in the community that don’t accept the official record,” he said.

When asked if he thought it was appropriate for some gurdwaras — Sikh houses of worship — to display pictures of Parmar, Singh said he did not.

“Personally, I think the displaying of a picture of Mr. Parmar is something that re-traumatizes and hurts and injures people that are suffering so much in terms of that loss in their lives,” he said.

“I don’t think it’s appropriate, so I don’t think it should be done. It doesn’t help us move forward with peace and reconciliation.”

Militant leader honoured by some Sikhs At the controversial 2015 rally Singh attended, the stage featured a large poster of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, a militant leader regarded by the Indian government as a terrorist but celebrated by some Sikhs who want a state separate from India.

Bhindranwale was killed in an Indian military raid on the Golden Temple, a sacred site then regarded as a hotbed of the Khalistan independence movement.

His death in the raid made him a martyr to many Sikhs who were appalled that an Indian prime minister would approve armed action against a revered religious site.

Indira Gandhi, India’s prime minister, was later killed by her Sikh bodyguards

Six South Asian men charged after drugs seized with ‘lethal amounts’ of fentanyl From page 1 and expertise from detectives, and our street crime unit along with our partnering agencies have successfully recommended multiple drug offence charges,” said New Westminster police spokesman Sgt. Jeff Scott.

Naidu is in custody to appear in court, and the others have been released pending a court appearance.

for sanctioning the Golden Temple action. That killing later prompted retaliatory violence against many Sikhs.

Singh spent much of his early political life lobbying the Ontario government to recognize the 1984 anti-Sikh riots — that resulted from Gandhi’s killing — as an act of genocide.

In Thursday’s interview, Singh said he has no qualms about attending events where controversial figures with violent pasts are venerated — even if he does not condone their actions himself — because they offer him a chance to have a “dialogue” with disaffected Sikhs.

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French President Macron shows Trudeau how to make India trip successful

From page 1

There was a lot of talk about how Trudeau got “snubbed” upon his arrival in India. Trudeau was met on the tarmac by Gajendra Shekhawat, the Indian minister for agriculture. Granted, Modi is a busy man who rarely greets visiting dignitaries at the airport. But the Indian prime minister absolutely made time to meet the French president the moment Macron’s feet touched Indian soil. “I think we have very good chemistry,” Macron told a subsequent press conference. In fact, the French leader spent much of his time in India alongside Modi. Trudeau was only able to get attention from the Indian prime minister by literally showing up to India’s equivalent of Rideau Hall.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra

Modi, hugs French President Emmanuel Macron as his wife Brigitte watches upon their arrival at the airport in New Delhi, India, Friday, March 9, 2018. AP Photo France got all kinds of stuff done The ultimate purpose for Trudeau’s trip to India is still a little unclear. Over eight days, the only real accomplishment was an announcement highlighting that Indian companies plan to invest $250 million in Canada, and Canadians plan to invest $750 million in India. Macron, however, has been a diplomatic machine. He cut the ribbon on a major Indian solar plant. He co-hosted the International Solar Alliance Summit in New Delhi. He reiterated French technological support to build the world’s largest nuclear

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Saturday, March 17, 2018

This is the part where some incredibly intelligent economist usually tells you that while it may look suspicious the way gas prices rise in lockstep without any apparent logic except relieving you of your hard-earned pay, in fact, it does make perfect sense to anyone who’s spent half their life in graduate school studying the highly evolved calculus of taxes, rack rate fluctuation and Middle Eastern politics.

As prices in Vancouver hit $1.50 a litre this week, it’s certainly tempting to go down that road. And — in fact — history shows that price-fixing at the pumps has happened in Canada. Recently.

But there’s a big difference between the legal definition of price-fixing (the kind that can get a vendor jail time) and what a cash-strapped customer might consider the crossing of a moral line in a bid to keep up with competitors.

“I think a lot of Canadians they look and they go, ‘I can’t understand why these companies are

The cases have seen courts levy millions of dollars in fines. And some of the conspirators have been sent to jail.

In one investigation, the bureau used wiretaps to intercept more than 220,000 private communications between dozens of people.

The details of the scheme are laid out in a Quebec Court of Appeal ruling which includes a document outlining the way in which a representative of a fuel company would call employees of a major service station chain to get an agreement on price and time before calling people at other service stations so that they would agree to do the same.

“Once the price hike was initiated, the conspiracy participants would call each other to check whether the price modification had taken place as agreed,” the document reads.

‘Beyond the criminal courts, gas price fixing has also led to class action lawsuits on behalf of cheated consumers.

In 2016, an Ontario court ordered four companies — Canadian Tire, Mr. Gas, Suncor Energy Products and Pioneer — to pay out $1.3 million to residents who bought gas in the Kingston, Belleville and Brockville area between May and November of 2007.

The class action award per individual amounted to around $20. That’s actually a lot of money when you consider the fact prices were fixed by mere cents. Linda Visser, a partner at Siskinds, the firm which won the suit, says some non-profit organizations actively sought consumers to assign their claims to them so the money could be used for charitable purposes.

She says gas prices touch a unique nerve with the public. “Partly, it’s because the prices are so easy to compare, so people can see they’re all charging the same amount. And because prices are so variable,” she says. “The other thing is that everybody needs to buy gas.”

Spiking gas prices: sometimes it really is a conspiracy appearing to raise their price in lockstep,” says Steve Szentesi, a Toronto-based competition and advertising lawyer.

“I think that’s at the root of it all. And I think there likely is some pessimism around large corporations that are controlling a staple like gas. There’s probably an innate pessimism assuming that they’re doing bad things.

Sometimes, they are.”

If you are a conspiracy theorist on the gas price front, you’re not alone.

According to the results of an Ipsos Public Affairs survey done last October as part of a study on retail fuel pricing in Ontario, the “vast majority” of drivers had negative impressions of the fuel industry.

“Nearly 90 per cent felt that the industry manipulates prices for profit (such as during holiday weekends),” reads the report, prepared by the Kent Group. “And 53 per cent believe

that a lack of competition is leading to unfairly high prices.”

$17M settlement reached in lawsuit targeting Eastern Townships gas ‘cartel’ Bakers, grocers met to reach deals on bread prices, competition watchdog alleges The legal basics of price fixing require a finding that two or more competitors have agreed to either fix prices, restrict output or divide or allocate markets or customers.

Szentesi says that’s a very different thing to hiking your price to match a competitor’s.

“Raising your price unilaterally to get the most you can get is natural free market conduct,” he says. “What you can’t do is enter into an agreement with a competitor.”

The Competition Bureau of Canada says questions about gas price fixing are among those most frequently asked of the agency.

It dedicates a page of its website to successful gas price prosecutions the bureau has pursued involving dozens of individuals and corporate entities in Ontario and Quebec.

Saturday, March 17, 2018

Phase 2 of TransLink’s 10-year plan calls for two per cent fare hike Transit riders can expect to be hit with a two per cent hike in fares and increased parking fees as TransLink looks to cover a gap in regional funding for its 10-year transit plan, which includes major projects such as rapid transit lines in Vancouver and Surrey.

The Mayors’ Council and the provincial government announced Friday that they have agreed on a plan to fund the regional share for Phase 2 of TransLink’s 10-Year Vision.

The agreement will help jumpstart most of Metro Vancouver’s $7.5 billion transportation and transit plan. For months, TransLink and the Mayors’ Council have been negotiating with the provincial government to come up

with mechanisms to cover an approximately $70-million annual funding gap for the second phase of the Mayors’ 10-Year Vision for Metro Vancouver Transportation. That phase of the vision includes projects such as a subway line in Vancouver, at-grade light rail in Surrey, SkyTrain rail cars and station upgrades, bus and HandyDart expansion and road, pedestrian and bike network improvements.

The funding gap is about 15 per cent of the total cost of the Phase 2 plan. The federal government has committed to paying up to 40 per cent of the capital costs for major projects and the province has agreed to pay for 40 per cent of all projects.

BC CEO charged with conspiring to sell unhackable phones to criminals A Vancouver businessman alleged to have sold encrypted BlackBerrys to international drug-trafficking organizations has been charged in the U.S. On Thursday, Vincent Ramos, who owns Phantom Secure, and four international associates were indicted by a federal grand jury in Washington for conspiring with global drug traffickers by providing encryption services to evade law enforcement.

Ramos and the four others — Kim Augustus Rodd, Younes Nasri, Michael Gamboa and Christopher Poquiz — are charged with participating in and aiding and abetting a racketeering enterprise and conspiring to import and distribute controlled substances around the world.

He was arrested in Bellingham, WA., two weeks ago and also faces racketeering, drugtrafficking, conspiracy and money-laundering charges in San Diego.

The U.S. alleges he sold 20,000 of his specialized devices, as well as access to his encrypted communication network, to organized crime groups around the world, including the deadly Sinaloa cartel in Mexico, headed by Joaquin (El Chapo) Guzman.

Documents obtained by Postmedia show Ramos used shell companies and crypto currencies to allegedly launder “tens of millions” of dollars of his illicit profits. The latest indictment alleges Phantom Secure generated approximately $80 million in annual revenue since 2008.

This is the first time the U.S. government has targeted a company for conspiring with criminal organizations by providing them with the technological tools to evade law enforcement and obstruct justice, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Owner of Vancouver encryption c o m p a n y trafficked drugs, aided cartel, U.S. says Vancouver man laundered ‘tens of millions’ of crime cash, U.S. alleges B.C. drug smuggler caught after Phantom Secure phone seized U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions says the indictment sends a clear message that drug traffickers and criminals cannot hide, because they will “hunt them down and find them wherever they are.”

Ramos has made his first appearance in the Western District of Washington last week and will face charges in San Diego. The remaining four defendants are fugitives.

According to court documents, Phantom Secure advertised its products as impervious to decryption, wiretapping or legal thirdparty records requests. It’s also alleged that Phantom Secure guaranteed the destruction of evidence contained within a device if it was compromised, either by an informant or because it fell into the hands of law

CEO of Vancouver cyber-security company charged with helping drug cartels The chief executive of a Vancouver-based company appeared in a Washington state court on Thursday in the first U.S. case in which a company has been targeted for providing criminal drug cartels with the technology to evade law enforcement, the U.S. Justice Department said.

Phantom Secure CEO Vincent Ramos was indicted, along with four of his associates, on charges related to providing criminal organizations with cellular phones and encrypted networks to coordinate the shipment of illegal drugs around the world.

“Phantom Secure allegedly provided a service designed to allow criminals the world over to evade law enforcement to traffic drugs and commit acts of violent crime without detection,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray in a statement. It is the first time the

U.S. government has targeted a company and its principals for providing criminals with the technology to evade law enforcement while committing transnational drug trafficking, the Department of Justice said.

Phantom Secure, which has a public website promoting its encrypted email and chat service plans, advertised its products as “impervious to decryption, wiretapping or legal thirdparty records requests,” according to court documents.

Ramos, a British Columbia resident, was arrested in Seattle last week and will face charges in San Diego. The four other defendants remain at large.

Ramos or a representative of Phantom Secure could not be reached for comment.

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ALR advocates aim to ban pot farms on BC’s fertile land Every gold rush comes to an end — and sometimes they leave the land a little worse for wear. As marijuana legalization looms, there are fortunes to be made. Small towns like Williams Lake, in the B.C. Interior, are venturing to become major players in the cannabis industry, while licensed medicinal growers are buying up swaths of prime B.C. farmland — land that could soon be ripe for recreational crops. It’s a trajectory that Victoria’s Ken Marriette fears could leave the province’s fertile fields in ruin.

“Frankly, there’s a gold rush on right now,” said Marriette. “[But marijuana] should not be grown on existing, fertile agricultural land.”

Marriette fears grow operations will cause irreparable damage to prime farmland, threatening B.C.’s food security for generations to come — and he has 1,400 friends who share similar concerns. Marriette

is the spokesperson for Citizens Protecting Agricultural Land — an advocacy group that’s fighting against the growth of recreational marijuana on prime B.C. farmland.

On Thursday, the group delivered a petition with over 1,400 signatures to the B.C. Legislature, urging the province to prohibit marijuana grow operations on the Agricultural Land Reserve — a 4.6 millionhectare zone meant to preserve the province’s food production. ‘We have no alternative’: White paper warns lost B.C. farmland could be catastrophic Currently, medical marijuana production is allowed on the ALR. Marriette says concerns sparked when licensed grower Evergreen Medicinal Supply proposed to transform a local dairy farm into a medical marijuana plant, which, he said, would significantly alter the landscape with the construction of a series of greenhouses.

Andrew Weaver slams Gov’t’s lack of new legislation Highly paid MLAs doing little work B.C. government is promising a more “We did not change governments to pass no active second half of the spring session of the legislation. We changed government to ensure legislature, after the first five weeks produced that some of the issues that have not been dealt the lowest number of introduced legislation with over the years are dealt with. in recent memory. “We’ve released a budget Weaver brought up the idea of passing that’s dealt with lots of measures that we set legislation to change the date of Family Day out to deal with during the election campaign, — which the government has committed to — around affordability issues, we’re starting to see as the type of smaller legislation that could be some of the changes coming in ... we’re moving introduced. forward with our agenda,” said “That literally requires the house leader Mike Farnworth, changing of one sentence in one saying he was pleased with the existing act. That’s it ... what are measures his government had you waiting for?” he said. introduced since the legislature Overall, the government is resumed activities last month. markedly behind the number of So far, the government bills the B.C. Liberals passed in has introduced seven pieces their first year in office, and the of legislation, three of which number of bills the NDP passed — the “Act to Ensure the when they last took power Supremacy of Parliament”, after the 1991 election. But the 2018 budget, and a Supply Farnworth says there’s a couple Andrew J. Weaver Act to continue financing the of reasons for that. government — are mandatory.

“The house is significantly That leaves an agreement with the Tla’amin different than it was in the 90s. The sessions First Nation; a bill giving parents access to started sometime in late February, would sit more information about who is caring for their often into July, it would sit five days a week, kids; changes to the B.C. Innovation Council; it would sit starting in the morning, it would and the Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment sit sometimes until 11 or 12 at night, so you Act as the only new bills introduced. The could get an awful lot done,” he said. “Then legislature will now take a three-week break when Gordon Campbell came in, 2001, he before the spring session finishes over April had [a majority of] 77 people to 2 ... this idea and May. It’s a pace that frustrates Green Party of trying compare to today to the fact that Leader Andrew Weaver, whose support of the Gordon Campbell put through all those bills, is NDP propelled them to government after last really representative of people who don’t really year’s election. “We’re hoping they step it up, understand how the system actually works.” because it’s a pretty pathetic agenda so far.

Farnworth did promise several bills Nothing of substance in this term, apart from around marijuana legalization would be the innovation commission, which is us,” said coming forward. Many of the government’s Weaver, referencing his party’s support for the consultations and reviews will have wrapped idea in their platform. by then.

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23-year-old Delta man latest victim in Surrey shooting The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team is asking the public for help as it investigates the shooting death of a 23-yearold Delta man with ties to gangs.

Investigators say Pardip Brar (pictured) is the victim of gun violence near a home at 137A Street near 67 Avenue around 7 pm. He was found with gunshot wounds at the scene and was taken to hospital, where he later died.

IHIT has since taken over the investigation.

Detectives spent the night collecting evidence and interviewing witnesses. “Right now we don’t have suspects, it’s still very early on in the investigation,” said Cpl. Frank Jang with IHIT.

Later Saturday, Jang said in a release that the shooting is believed to be targeted and linked to gang violence in the Lower Mainland.

He also said that a white SUV and a black sedan were seen leaving the area after the shooting. IHIT wants people who know anything about the two vehicles or Brar to contact them.

Meanwhile, people who live in the area say they’re worried about gang violence. Jeannie Crane lives blocks from where the shooting took place and said she is scared of stray bullets when she walks her dog in the neighbourhood. “It could be me any day,” said Crane. “You just don’t know when someone could jump out and shoot you.”

Tempers flare at Vancouver council debate after mayor suggests turning Langara Golf Course into park What was expected to be a discussion about upgrading the drainage system at Langara Golf Course in Vancouver wound up turning into a much bigger debate Wednesday evening at city hall. Mayor Gregor Robertson steered the conversation into whether some of the Langara lands located near Cambie Street and 49th Avenue could be turned into a public park, track and field facility or something else altogether. Future of Vancouver’s golf courses up for review in 25-year parks plan.

“We want to pursue the conversation with the community and with the park board and see what our options are,” Robertson said.

“We don’t want to race headlong into spending $3 million on golf course drainage.”

NPA councillor George Affleck says he felt blindsided by the sudden change in conversation. “This is a classic bait and switch,” he said.

“This is taking it into a report that was on one thing and completely transforming it into something else without any public input.”

Council supported Robertson’s motion to enter into discussions with city staff and the park board about other possible uses for Langara lands, but all four NPA members on council voted against it. “This motion was thrown onto the floor out of nowhere, with no chance for the public to provide us with any feedback,” Affleck said. Robertson says he wants to hear from the community about what it would like the city to do with the 120 acres of land. “I know we’ve had park board people and many people in the community talking about track and field and an international competition facility that would be fantastic,” he said. “We’ve had cricket and kabaddi people saying, ‘why do we have no facilities in south Vancouver that the community can use?’”

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Video surveillance camera gets credit after charges laid in break-and-enter case Surrey RCMP is crediting video surveillance after laying charges in three break-and-enters in the Fraser Heights area of Surrey earlier this year. A suspect was identified thanks to video obtained from home security systems in the neighbourhood, police said.

The first burglary took place on Jan. 25, when Surrey RCMP investigated a report of a group of men tampering with exterior motion sensor lights and breaking a lock at a residence. Surveillance video later confirmed that there were three men. On February 9, police investigated a reported break-andenter at a residence, where, again, surveillance video showed three men had successfully gained access at the rear of a residence. Four days later on February 13, Surrey RCMP investigated a third incident in which three

men were captured on surveillance video tampering with exterior motion sensor lights at a residence. Police said 35-year-old Glen Nelson of Vancouver has been charged with one count of breaking and entering, two counts of trespassing at night, and three counts of mischief. “Security video played an important role in this investigation,” said Cpl. Elenore Sturko. “Locking doors and keeping your home’s exterior well-lit are also good measures for preventing property crime.”

Police are encouraging residents to voluntarily register their with home surveillance systems with Project IRIS, a secure online database managed by the City of Surrey that allows investigators easier access to CCTV cameras after a crime has been committed.

BC Hydro stops new independent power project deals, pending review BC Hydro says it won’t sign any new any additional electricity purchase agreements agreements for independent power projects until the review is complete.” Independent until it gets the results of a review into its power production has been a contentious issue operations by the new NDP government. within Hydro for years. In opposition, the The Crown power NDP frequently complained Hydro had been forced corporation announced five small-scale First Nations by government to enter into deals in which it was clean energy projects contractually obligated to Wednesday and said it buy unnecessarily expensive would not finalize any more privately generated power deals with private energy that it did not need. Private providers until it receives power proponents say government direction. they provide smaller, less “BC Hydro supports the Power project intrusive, clean sources of government’s decision to take a closer look at energy procurement energy that benefit Hydro outside of its largeto ensure it provides the best value for its scale hydroelectric dams and other powercustomers through their review of B.C. Hydro generating sources. The NDP government this year,” Hydro said in a statement. “As a is conducting an operational review of result, there are no plans at this time to issue Hydro after the independent B.C. Utilities

Tax changes mean a hit to the BC legislature and MLAs’ own budgets Provincial politicians are grappling with thousands of dollars in extra costs caused by changes to how taxes are handled at the B.C. legislature. The legislative assembly, which pays the medical services plan premiums for MLAs, constituency office staff and legislature employees, will face a 15-per-cent jump in health costs under the provincial government’s new employer payroll health tax. The legislature’s $77-million annual budget comes from taxpayers, as will covering the cost of changes caused by the new payroll health tax in 2019 and the elimination of MSP in 2020. The legislature’s monthly health care costs were $51,500 in

2017 for MSP, which dropped to $24,600 in 2018 with the 50 per cent cut in MSP rates, and will increase to $59,000 a month with the payroll health tax. The bill will hit $84,000 a month in 2019, when the legislature, like many others, must pay both MSP and the payroll tax for one year, something critics have called blatant double-dipping on fees by the government. “This is just another example of how the employer health tax will cost everyone,” said Opposition Liberal house leader Mary Polak. “It’s not just an elimination of the MSP. This is clearly a replacement, and you can tell from looking at the projected expenses with respect to the

Saturday, March 17, 2018

RCMP needs help identifying woman injured in South Surrey hit and run Mounties in Surrey are asking for help to identify a pedestrian in critical condition following a motor vehicle collision in South Surrey Wednesday afternoon. The pedestrian is a Caucasian female, about 70 years old, with shoulder length grey-brown hair, which was in a bun wrapped in cloth. She also has a distinctive mark above her right eye. At the time of the collision, RCMP say she was

wearing blue jeans, a blue hoodie, purple and black shoes, and a red wristwatch. According to Surrey RCMP, the crash took place around 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at the intersection of Southmere Crescent and Martin Drive. The woman was crossing the intersection when she was struck by an eastbound vehicle making a left turn. Police said the driver remained at the scene to assist.

Same driver gets 2 distracted driving tickets within 7 minutes A driver in New Westminster, racked up more than $736 in fines after receiving two distracted driving tickets within seven minutes of each other on Tuesday afternoon.

The 22-year-old male — driving a Dodge Journey — received both tickets for using an electronic device while driving. The first ticket was issued in the 1100 block of 10th Avenue and the second one was received just two kilometres away, seven minutes later in

the 600 block of 20th Street. The infractions also resulted in an eight point penalty on his licence. The New Westminster Police Department Traffic Unit tweeted about the incident, imploring drivers to put the phone down when driving. Supt. Davis Wendell with RCMP E Division says more than 300,000 tickets for electronic device use have been handed out in the province since 2010.

Awareness campaign after microplastics found in Vancouver water samples The problem of plastic pollution in the world’s oceans has found its way to Vancouver’s shores. Scientists with Ocean Wise gathered water samples outside Canada Place in Coal Harbour 10 days ago, and found 1,258 particles of microplastics in one cubic metre of seawater. To put that in perspective, scientists collecting samples off the coast of Qatar last year found an average of 0.7 particles per cubic metre.

That’s prompted Ocean Wise to launch the #BePlasticWise public awareness campaign, aimed at getting people to reduce their plastic consumption, and dispose of the plastic they do use responsibly.

“Some [scientists] are estimating that by the year 2040 or 2050, there will be more pounds of plastic in the ocean than there are pounds of fish,” Ocean Wise president and CEO John Nightingale told the crowd at the GLOBE Sustainability Forum on Wednesday. “That’s why we’re launching this campaign and asking people to sign the pledge.” The pledge is available on Ocean Wise’s website, and asks people to commit to reducing their plastic consumption and to stay conscious about how they use plastic in the future. Plastic has become a major problem in the eyes of ocean

conservationists. Researchers with the Plastic Oceans Foundation estimate about 8 million tonnes of plastic end up in the world’s oceans every year. Among the newest concerns among scientists are microplastics, which are defined as pieces of plastic measuring less than 5 millimetres in length.

While larger pieces of plastic can harm or kill marine mammals and fish by wrapping around them or being ingested, microplastics can be just as deadly to creatures on the bottom of the food chain. Just like with larger plastic items, microplastics can poison or kill those tiny organisms, affecting bigger fish and eventually creating food shortages that can affect even the ocean’s largest inhabitants. “Ingesting little bits and pieces of plastic can suffocate, block, or artificially satiate [creatures] so they’re not hungry anymore, causing real problems,” Coastal Ocean Research Institute director Dr. Peter Ross said at the forum. His team was the one responsible for pulling and analyzing the water sample taken right outside the forum’s doors. “Plastic is not nutritious, and mistaking it for food is a problem for all species. We find microplastics in every species we look at.”

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Province commits $50 M to protect indigenous languages Time is of the essence when you’re trying to breathe life into languages on the brink of extinction. “Language is fundamental to who we are, where we come from, how we relate to others and what will live on after we are gone,” said Finance Minister Carole James during the NDP government budget speech last month in the B.C. Legislature. “Teaching of language also strengthens the cultural and social health of a community. It encourages children to grow into a future that flows from their rich heritage, and it connects the next generation with those of the past.” The province just pledged to invest $50 million into Indigenous languages, and that boost is being welcomed warmly in Chilliwack, and clear across Sto:lo territory.

“It will go a long way toward actually revitalizing and supporting our languages, not just maintaining them,” said Tyrone McNeil, past chair of First Peoples’ Cultural Council, and president of the First Nations Education Steering Committee (FNESC).

There is only one fluent speaker of

Halq’emeylem left in the Chilliwack area, Elizabeth Phillips of Cheam First Nation.

Several public schools, in addition to onreserve schools which provide Halq’emeylem instruction in Sto:lo communities, will benefit directly from the new funding. Two on-reserve schools are located in the Chilliwack area, at Squiala and Skwah First Nations, as well two more nearby at Sts’ailes and Seabird Island.

“It’s a tremendous investment by the province, which is greatly needed and greatly appreciated,” McNeil said. The new language funding is “significant,” he added, and a clear indicator of a government ready to “walk the talk.” The TRC Calls to Action and the UN Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples both emphasize the need to “preserve and revitalize” Indigenous languages, and they were also cited in the budget speech. McNeil pointed out that language is absolutely key.

“It is our culture; our history, and our future,” he said. There are two things they have learned definitively from experience

A record 399,000 job vacancies in Q4 2017 The number of job vacancies reached a new high in Q4 2017, with BC facing the biggest gap. According to CFIB’s latest Help Wanted report, the number of unfilled jobs in the private sector totalled 399,000 across Canada, including 69,500 in BC.” The job vacancy rate— the proportion of unfilled jobs relative to all available jobs in the private sector—reached 3.9 per cent in BC, the highest since Q4 2007. BC’s vacancy rate is well above the national average of 3.0 per cent, which is also up markedly since Q4 2016 (2.4 per cent). “Labour shortages are a growing problem,” explained Richard Truscott,

Vice President, BC and Alberta. “Every time a job remains unfilled for a period of time, business owners struggle to operate at their potential. Most small businesses have fewer than 10 employees, so even one position left unfilled creates major headaches. Governments at all levels need to ensure policies are in place to help those small businesses find enough qualified people.” The job vacancy rate rose in 8 out of 14 industry sectors in Q4 2017, with the most significant increases occurring in the personal services, information, arts/recreation and retail sectors.

Children expected to recover after Abbotsford crash, grandmother in serious condition A grandmother and two children, struck by a car in Abbotsford Monday morning, are all expected to survive, according to the Abbotsford Police Department. The trio was hit just after 8 a.m. Monday by a Toyota Yaris. The grandmother and her fiveyear-old grandchild were airlifted to hospital.

Police confirmed Tuesday that the woman is in serious but stable condition, while the five-year-old suffered a broken femur and is still being treated in hospital. The two-year-old suffered minor injuries and has since been released.

Abbotsford pedestrians struck Two air ambulance helicopters were needed to transport the grandmother and five-year-old to hospital.

Province scaling back Surrey road connections to new Pattullo Bridge B.C. government is scaling back the scope of the Pattullo Bridge replacement project by eliminating “important” roadworks on the Surrey side of the new structure. Last month, the province announced that it plans to spend $1.4 billion on a new bridge to replace the 80-year-old Pattullo, which links Surrey and New Westminster. The province took over the project from TransLink, the regional transportation authority that owns and operates the existing bridge. The planned project includes a new, four-lane Pattullo Bridge that will be located to the north and upstream of the existing structure, as well as pedestrian, bike and road connections in Surrey and New

Westminster, and removal of the existing bridge. For the most part, the province’s plan is the same as what was proposed by TransLink, but there is a key difference on the Surrey side.

TransLink’s plans for the project included realigning Scott Road to better connect it to King George Boulevard through an interchange, and a new road called the Scott Road Extension. The extension was intended to run through the Bridgeview neighbourhood parallel to 124th Street, linking the South Fraser Perimeter Road to King George Boulevard and onto the Pattullo Bridge heading west. The road was meant to be a new connection for regional and industrial traffic, removing vehicles from

West Kelowna councillors demand exemption from B.C.’s speculation tax Councillors in West Kelowna. B.C., are irate about the speculation tax announced by the B.C. government in the 2018 budget and demand that the Okanagan city be exempt. West Kelowna Mayor Doug Findlater says homeowners and developers are so concerned about the tax, they are sending letters to city hall at a rate of one an hour. “The letters are very compelling reading ... some of them, their lives are being altered by this,” said Findlater. “Their lives are going in a different direction. Their retirement plans are going up in smoke.”

The speculation tax is aimed at non-B.C. residents who own a second home in certain B.C. cities, including West Kelowna.

Finance Minister Carole James says the government announced the tax to address rapidly rising house prices, but staff in the Okanagan city say the tax could do more harm than good to the local economy.

“This tax assumes that if you’re asset rich, you’re revenue rich, and that may not be the case,” said chief administrative officer Jim Zaffino to CBC Radio West host Sarah Penton. “I can see that there will be some foreclosures if this continues.” On Tuesday, Zaffino presented a staff report on the possible effects of the speculation tax to West Kelowna city council.

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Saturday, March 17, 2018 BC public may NDP Gov’t won’t disclose Gordon Wilson’s lawsuit never know exactly A search on the B.C. government’s own how much taxpayers are on the hook for in the legal battle between former LNG advocate website showed 180 pages of reports, Gordon Wilson and Premier John Horgan. memos and progress updates filed by Both Horgan and Jobs Minister Wilson to the former Liberal government Bruce Ralston have been sued in a during his first 15 months on the job.

Both Ralston and Horgan publicly $5-million libel lawsuit that goes back to comments made last summer. apologized for the comments. That has not Wilson contends his reputation was damaged been enough for Wilson to drop the libel suit.

Ralston and Horgan have the right after both Horgan and Ralston said publicly that the former BC Liberal leader did very as MLAs to file indemnity applications little in his LNG role and produced no reports. to have taxpayers pay their legal fees.

Vancouver no longer part of North American bid to host 2026 World Cup The 2026 FIFA World Cup of soccer will not be coming to Vancouver. The provincial government confirmed Wednesday that the B.C. city had been dropped from the North American bid to host the world’s largest sporting event.

Canada, Mexico and the U.S. are up against Morocco to host the FIFA men’s tournament, with a decision coming in June. Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal and Edmonton had been identified as potential candidates for hosting games, but Vancouver’s involvement was put in serious doubt on Tuesday when B.C. Premier John Horgan stated he wanted some guarantees on the cost for the province before signing an agreement with the United 2026 bid committee.

On Wednesday, the province learned that United 2026 has dropped Vancouver from its list of host city candidates. “We submitted our second bid last night and this morning we received notification that (United 2026) have

not accepted the bid,” Tourism Minister Lisa Beare told a scrum of reporters Wednesday at the B.C. Legislature. A previous bid from the province was rejected last week. Premier John Horgan says B.C. government won’t...

1:37 Beare said the province “couldn’t agree to terms that would put British Columbians at risk of shouldering potentially huge and unpredictable costs.’ “So far, the bid committee has rejected our requests to clarify how much British Columbians could be expected to contribute.

And they have declined to negotiate with the province regarding the concerns we raised,” she said in a statement.

Beare said the bid committee’s terms included FIFA being able to unilaterally change the stadium agreement at any point.

Surgeon demands ICBC pay out nearly $1M for wrecked Ferrari A Vancouver neurosurgeon who crashed his Ferrari into a lamp post in 2012 is demanding British Columbia’s public auto insurer cover the full cost of repairs, citing an affront to his “sense of dignity” in a lawsuit over the estimated $982,000 bill. Dr. Navraj Heran originally wrecked his rare Ferrari F40 in a 2012 collision.

The Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) offered him $503,000 at the time, but he complained and an arbitrator ruled that the payout ought to be $696,000.

The luxury car ultimately had to be shipped to Toronto for repairs, bringing the ICBC payout up to a total of $790,000. The insurer has covered those costs but Heran says that still is not enough, and is now suing ICBC to cover what he says is the full cost of repairs: an estimated $982,000. Heran said in his latest notice of civil claim against the agency that it was “unsettling and embarrassing” for him to have the Ferrari absent from his vehicle collection, “which he makes available for public display and appreciation.” “The show absence of the vehicle is not a matter the plaintiff should have to repeatedly deal with on a public basis,” Heran’s notice of civil claim said. A judge ruled that the “embarrassment” paragraph in Heran’s claim be struck from his notice of civil claim, calling it “frivolous.” However, the case remains unresolved as the court awaits additional financial estimates from Heran.

The ballooning price tag for Heran’s crash has sparked criticism in the province, where some say luxury car owners are not paying their fair share in insurance premiums. ICBC projects an estimated $1.3 billion operating loss this fiscal year, but critics say that loss could be eased by forcing high-end car owners to pay more each

month. The NDP provincial government has raised taxes on luxury vehicle sales, but not on insurance premiums.

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cost against Bruce Ralsotn and John Horgan But Attorney General David Eby said the specific cost of those legal fees does not have to be laid out publicly.

“The policy has been in place for a long time,” said Eby, “The

way that the public has accountability on indemnities that each year in the public accounts there is a report out on how much the public has spent on indemnities.”

“The members who access them, their names are not released. The individual amount for cases is not released because it could compromise the case.”

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BC government won’t delay carbon tax hikes in face of sky-high gas prices The B.C. government is not considering delaying an increase in the carbon tax by $5 a tonne on April 1, 2019. The tax is set to move to $35 a tonne at the beginning of April and will increase prices at the gas pumps, as well as for the province’s businesses. “It’s what business in British Columbia wants and that is what we are giving them,” said Heyman. “What we are going to do for low- and moderate-income British Columbians is ensure they get a rebate that will mitigate the effect of the carbon tax and leave British Columbians far better off than they would have been under the plan of the previous Liberal government.” The BC Liberals raised the issue in Question Period on Monday.Based on numbers crunched by the opposition, by the time the carbon tax hits $45 per tonne in 2020/21, the cost per litre of gas will go from 6.7 cents per litre to 10.01 cents per litre. The tax is scheduled to go up by $5 a tonne in each of the next four years. A compact car with a 65-litre gas tank would see carbon fuel tax rise from $4.35 per tank to $7.23 per tank, for a $2.88 increase per fill up.

The Liberals calculated that an SUV with

an 80-litre tank would see carbon fuel tax rise from 5.36 per tank to $8.01, a $2.64 increase. A truck with 128 litres would see an increase from $8.58 per tank to $12.81, an increase of $4.23.

“We are in an era of big NDP government,” said BC Liberal MLA Jas Johal. “Nobody believes that increased taxation is good for the economy. Under the NDP plan, the price of gas is going up at least five cents a litre.” The Alberta government announced last week that it will consider legislature that would ban the shipment of oil and gas to B.C. if the province stands in the way of the twinning of the Trans Mountain pipeline. Analysts have said that closing the taps could drive gas prices above $2 per litre. “I want to come in the legislature when the opposition will not fear-monger about events that will never happen,” Heyman said in response to questions about the gas prices in the range of $2 to $3 per litre.

The B.C. government is still powering on with a legal case that could give the province the right in the eyes of the court to restrict the flow of bitumen by pipeline or by rail through the province.

Driver fined after rear camera catches her tailgating student driver A woman has been fined nearly $500 for dangerous driving following an incident that happened in 2017.

Joanna Harrington was fined for crossing a solid line and using an electronic device after she was caught on the rear camera of a car that was being driven by a student driver with her instructor in the passenger seat on the Sea to Sky Highway last July. The student driver’s car travelling between Whistler and Pemberton when Harrington came up behind them quickly. The instructor says they were going the speed limit. Harrington was apparently frustrated with the fact the student and instructor were obeying the speed limit so she followed closely behind, flashing her lights at them.

At one point, she used her cellphone to take

pictures of the other car.

“Basically bullying our students,” said Todd McGivern with Licence to Drive. “She was flashing headlights, waving her arms about and even putting on her right turn signal, asking us to move over off the road out of her way.” Finally, she passed them on the right, crossing a solid line to do so. “You can see in our footage she’s taking pictures of us while waiting at a red light,” said McGivern. “The red light turned to green and she illegally overtook us from the right hand side through the intersection, crossing over white solid lines.” The instructor can be heard taking down Harrington’s licence plate in the video.

But that wasn’t the only matter that landed Harrington in trouble. After the incident, she called police to complain that the student driver was going too slowly and making her late for work.

BC & Ontario have most vegetarians and vegans in Canada Younger Canadians are far more likely to be vegetarians or vegans than older generations, according to a survey that’s claimed to be among the first of its kind. The poll, conducted for Dalhousie University professor Dr. Sylvain Charlebois, reported that 7.1 per cent of Canadians consider themselves vegetarians, and 2.3 per cent consider themselves vegans — levels he says were not previously known. “I’m not aware of a scientific study around vegetarian and vegan rates in Canada specifically,” said Charlebois, adding he believes those levels have generally stayed the same over the past decade, based on U.S. and European polls and literature. “As we were collecting data, we started to realize that this is rich data that will help us understand where veganism and vegetarianism is going in the country.” Charlebois also found that 16 per cent of all vegetarians in the country live in British Columbia. The survey suggested people under the age of 35 were three times more likely to consider themselves vegetarians or vegans than people 49 or older. And in what Charlebois characterized as “mind-blowing,” the report also showed that of the Canadians who identified as vegetarians and vegans, more than half were under the age of 35.

“Those are really, really high numbers,” said Charlebois, whose research topics include food distribution and food policy. “Even though we believe the overall rates have not gone up, they could go up over the next couple of decades as a result of seeing such a high number of young consumers committing to speciality diets... “That will actually impact food demand over the next few decades and I suspect the food industry will need to adapt.”

Charlebois said there are a number of reasons young people are committing to vegetarianism or veganism, including reducing their environmental footprint, concern over animal welfare and the industrialization of agriculture, and concern for their own health.

“A lot of studies are actually discouraging consumers from eating red meats specifically.

Even the World Health Organization has made processed meats a category one product, which means it could cause cancer, at the same level as asbestos,” said Charlebois, who was aided by research assistant Caitlin Cunningham. Halifaxarea restaurant worker Rylee Booroff said she decided to become vegan eight years ago during university for health reasons. The 26-year-old woman said since changing her diet, she’s notice a shift in veganism and vegetarian culture in Canada. “It’s really blown up ... I used to work at a vegan restaurant in Toronto and seeing the growth of our restaurant over the years, I could really tell that people started to take either a lot more care about what they were eating or they were just more interested in a plant-based diet,” said Booroff, a supervisor at The Wooden Monkey in the Halifax suburb of Dartmouth.

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Saturday, March 17, 2018

Vancouver residents looking to stop city from building bike path through Kitsilano beach park A coalition of concerned activists is planning a rally ahead of Monday’s Vancouver Park Board meeting, where a proposed new bike path through Kitsilano Beach Park will be debated. The protest, which is being organized by Wake Up Vancouver, will take place outside the Park Board office before the meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. Several community groups — including the Kitsilano Beach Coalition, the Kits Points Residents Association, and various local sports clubs — are also taking part in the protest before attending the meeting itself. The proposed bike route being recommended by city staff and HUB Cycling would cut through the

green space in two major sections of the park — replacing more than 900 square metres of parkland with a paved path. “It’s a slippery slope,” Fiona Brodie with Wake Up Vancouver said. “When they start replacing park space with asphalt, where does it end?

“Every inch of Kitsilano deserves protection, and that park is no different.” Vancouver city staff ’s proposed route being discussed at Monday’s park board meeting, which would cut through the Kitsilano Beach Park green space at two key areas. Vancouver city staff ’s proposed route being discussed at Monday’s park board meeting, which would cut through the Kitsilano Beach Park green space.

BC spending $300k to study ultra-high-speed rail linking Vancouver, Seattle and Portland The B.C. government will spend $300,000 towards a Washington State-led business case study for a proposed ultra-high-speed rail service that would connect Vancouver with Seattle and Portland. The B.C. government will chip in $300,000 towards a Washington Stateled business case study that will examine the economic feasibility of building and operating an ultra-high-speed rail service connecting Vancouver with Seattle and Portland. No more news on cost or timeline for high speed rail, but @jjhorgan says he wants to take part to answer those questions on BC side. pic. twitter.com/s1xYzsfGqE— Derrick Penner (@ derrickpenner) March 16, 2018 Premier John

Horgan, joined by Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, made the announcement Friday in downtown Vancouver. Washington State’s legislature voted Monday to approved funding of up to $1.2 million U.S. on the study, which will examine ridership, possible alignments and economic benefits of the alignment.

Horgan said high-speed rail service would reduce highway traffic and have a “positive impact on climate action.”

“The convenience of a one-hour trip between Vancouver and Seattle would create countless opportunities for people in both B.C. and Washington, from sports or concert getaways for families, to untold economic growth potential for businesses,” said Horgan.

“Exploring the possibility of creating a clean, efficient high-speed corridor is particularly important as the Pacific Northwest grows in economic importance, and we look to reduce barriers to expansion across our borders.”

Advocates say the trip from Vancouver to Seattle would take 40 to 50 minutes, while the Seattle to Portland leg would take 30 minutes.

“With airports near capacity and highways

University of Regina suspect a number of students cheated in law & ethics classes A “significant” number of students at the University of Regina are suspected of cheating during, of all things, a law and ethics exam, CBC’s iTeam has learned.

This apparent breach is just the latest instance of academic dishonesty in the university’s faculty of engineering.

George Sherk, an instructor in the faculty of engineering at the University of Regina, regrets leaving teaching assistants in charge of the exam. (www. researchgate.net) In February, George Sherk handed out a quiz to his fourth-year law and professionalism class, then left the students under the supervision of teaching assistants.

According to a Feb. 26 email from David deMontigny, the associate dean of engineering to the students, the university discovered “there may have been a significant amount of academic misconduct” during the quiz. “I trust that the irony of cheating in a law and ethics class is not lost on anyone,” wrote deMontigny. “I am not impressed.”

The university says deMontigny sent the email “after he received reports from two students indicating they had witnessed other students cheating on the quiz.” “I have to take responsibility for that. If I had been in the room it may not have happened. Or if I had been in the room and seen it I could have taken action against students.” ‘For the remainder of the term, I strongly encourage everyone in the class to conduct their own independent work.’

—David deMontigny, associate dean, of engineering He said leaving the teaching assistants in charge put them in an awkward position: supervising an exam of their fellow students. “I assumed more of some of the students than I should have.” Referring to the last time he taught a similar course at another institution, he said, “I did not appreciate the extent to which cheating has become much more widespread than it was.”

NATIONAL

Saturday, March 17, 2018

Tooba Yahya, mother in Shafia murder case, has permanent resident status revoked The permanent resident status of Tooba Yahya, the Montreal woman serving a life sentence for killing her three daughters and her husband’s first wife in 2009, has been revoked. Yahya, husband Mohammad Shafia and their son Hamed were convicted of firstdegree murder in the deaths of the women in 2012. The bodies of their daughters Zainab,19, Sahar,17, and Geeti, 13, and that of Rona Amir Mohammad, 52, were found in a car submerged in the Kingston Locks.

The Shafia family and Rona Amir, Mohammad Shafia’s first wife in the polygamous marriage, left Afghanistan and came to Canada in 2007. At a hearing in Montreal Thursday, the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada determined that Yahya will not be permitted to remain in Canada as a permanent resident when she is released from prison. She will not be eligible for parole for at least another 16 years.

The three Shafia daughters and their father’s first wife were murdered in 2009 by

their parents and eldest brother.

She is serving her sentence at Quebec’s Joliette Institution for Women and appeared at the hearing by video link. Yayah’s lawyer Stéphane Handfield said his client’s life could be in danger if she is returned to Afghanistan and her only recourse will be a humanitarian appeal.

It’s not yet clear whether similar immigration proceedings will be launched in the cases of Hamed and Mohammad Shafia, who are serving their sentences in Ontario.

The three members of the Shafia family appealed their verdict in 2015, arguing that expert testimony on the practice of so-called honour killing presented by the Crown at their trial prejudiced the jury and that Hamed was actually a minor at the time the crime took place. Documents the family used in 2007 when immigrating to Canada showed Hamed would have been 18 at the time of the killings.

Sons of slain professor who died in Iran urge Trudeau to help their mother The sons of an Iranian-Canadian university professor who died in a Tehran prison last month urged Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to speak out publicly and pressure the Iranian government to free their mother. They also want Canada to seriously investigate their father’s arrest and death.

Ramin and Mehran Seyed-Emami said in a joint interview with The Associated Press Both Seyed-Emami sons said they have been speaking out that they have been speaking out despite intimidation and threats from Iran despite intimidation and threats. They this undated photo with his son, Mehran, said they believe it is their only hope for getting their mother back to Vancouver and wife, Maryam. (Family photo) Iranian after she was stopped at the airport March 7 authorities told the family that Seyed-Emami and barred from leaving Iran. Their father, killed himself while in custody. But Ramin, a Kavous Seyed-Emami, a 63-year-old professor musician who performs under the stage name of sociology at Imam Sadeq University in King Raam, said he and his brother “feel Tehran and the managing director of the that the guards in the prison are responsible Persian Heritage Wildlife Foundation, died directly for his death.” He said he was shown in February. His death sparked new anger in video of his father in a cell, pacing around, Iran over the treatment of detainees, especially taking off his shirt, and going into the after nearly 5,000 people were arrested in the bathroom. Then “eight hours later they come wake of nationwide protests at the start of the in and they bring the body out of that room, so there is no footage or film of the death or year.

Kavous Seyed-Emami, (right), is seen in how it happened,” Ramin said.

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Ottawa ‘determined’ to see Trans Mountain pipeline expanded: minister Canada’s natural resources minister says Ottawa is determined to see the Trans Mountain pipeline expanded, despite an interprovincial dispute on whether the project should go ahead. Jim Carr said the federal government approved the project because broad consultations determined it was in the national interest and will help facilitate a transition to clean energy. “Our plan is to use this time of transition to Canada’s advantage by building the infrastructure to get our resources to global markets and using the revenues to invest in clean forms of energy,” he said in Vancouver on Thursday.

“That’s why we’ve approved pipelines, including the Trans Mountain expansion, and we’re determined to see them built.”

Alberta and B.C. have been locked in a battle over the future of Kinder Morgan Canada’s $7.4-billion plan to triple capacity of the Trans Mountain pipeline, which runs from Edmonton to Burnaby, B.C. This week, Alberta Premier Rachel Notley called on the federal government to do whatever it takes to get the pipeline built.

“Our government will not hesitate to do

whatever is necessary to push the federal government to stand up for Albertans and for all Canadians, because we know that’s what the pipeline represents,” she said in the legislature.

The federal government continues to voice its support for the project and has already stepped in to intervene with the National Energy Board over construction delays, Carr said. He noted that Trans Mountain still faces significant opposition in B.C., where thousands of people recently rallied in protest of the project and where the provincial government has raised concerns about the pipeline’s possible environmental and economic impacts.

B.C. has a right to consult with residents about the project, but the federal government has already held broad consultations and determined that expanding the pipeline is in the national interest, Carr said. “We understand that you’re not going to have everybody in the country thinking that a major energy project is a good idea, but there’s only one government that has the responsibility of determining the national interest and that’s the government of Canada.

And we have made that decision,” he said.

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NATIONAL

Saturday, March 17, 2018

Trump says he made up facts about trade deficit in meeting with Trudeau Donald Trump boasted in a fundraising speech in Missouri on Wednesday that he made up facts about trade in a meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, according to a recording of the comments obtained by the Washington Post.

The newspaper said in a report posted on its website that Trump had insisted to Trudeau that the United States runs a trade deficit with its neighbour to the north without knowing whether or not that was the case.

Trump said on the recording that after Trudeau told him the U.S. does not have a trade deficit with Canada, he replied, “Wrong, Justin, you do,” then added, “I didn’t even know ... I had no idea.”

‘Canadians should understand that we

are under attack,’ says Canada’s former trade ambassador The president said he then “sent one of our guys out” to check the prime minister’s claim.

“Well, sir, you’re actually right,” Trump says in the recording. “We have no deficit but that doesn’t include energy and timber and when you do, we lose $17 billion a year. It’s incredible.”

Trump regularly bemoans a trade deficit with Canada and complained about it in late February by saying: “We lose a lot with Canada. People don’t know it. Canada’s very smooth. They have you believe that it’s wonderful. And it is,

for them. Not wonderful for us.”

U.S. runs trade surplus with Canada, U.S. says But a different story is told in the recently released 2018 White House “Economic Report of the President” — an annual document prepared by Trump’s own team which bears his signature and contradicts a number of trade statements and policies already articulated by him.

One example involves the supposed trade deficit with Canada. Trump keeps insisting it exists, but the document he signed states Canada is among the few countries in the world with whom the U.S. runs a surplus.

The document states: “The United States ran a trade surplus of $2.6 billion with Canada on a balance-of-payments basis.”

Canada-U.S. relations, reiterated Thursday his government’s long-held stance that it’s actually the U.S. that has a trade surplus.

“At this point it’s very important to point out that there is over $2 billion a day of trade between our two countries and overall annually the United States has a small surplus with Canada of about $8 billion,” he told reporters in Montreal.

“So we can talk about balanced trade between the two countries, huge amounts of trade, and this is something we want to continue to improve as we negotiate the NAFTA agreement.”

Canada can’t kick stimulus habit as deficit set to balloon to $37 billion

C

anada’s in no hurry to end an era of stimulus. In just over a week, three of

the nation’s most important economic policy makers have signalled they’ll keep supporting

an economy that’s already close to running hot.

Bank of Canada Governor Stephen Poloz held interest rates steady; Federal Finance Minister Bill Morneau’s budget added new spending; and Ontario Finance Minister Charles Sousa, having already balanced his budget, is plunging back into the red. The risk is the spending, instead of boosting growth, fuels inflation that could ultimately undermine Canada’s economy — while leaving governments with debt-heavy balance sheets whenever a recession strikes.

“We are choosing to put our strengthened fiscal position to work,” Sousa said Wednesday in Toronto, announcing he’d deliver a budget on March 28 with a deficit of less than 1 per cent of gross domestic product, which would mean less than $8 billion (US$6.2 billion). This year’s budget is balanced, he said. “I see challenges ahead.” Ontario Finance Minister Charles Sousa. Ontario’s Liberal government is breaking its promise to maintain a balanced budget this year, saying its upcoming fiscal plan will run a deficit in order to fund programs for seniors, women and students ahead of a spring election.

Canadian provincial and federal governments are projected to run a cumulative deficit of $31.9 billion in 2017-18, fiscal tables published

by Royal Bank of Canada show. That’s about 1.4 per cent of GDP. Ontario’s new deficit would push the 2018-19 total to as much as US$37.3 billion, or about 1.6 per cent of GDP. The reasons are varied.

Governments, for instance, have introduced new program spending aimed at reducing poverty and income inequality.

The economy also faces a number of economic headwinds and risks — Donald Trump among them. Canada’s economy remains vulnerable to steel and aluminum tariffs while talks continue on a revamped North American Free Trade Agreement. Business investment also may be faltering in an era of uncertainty.

Politics is a factor. Ontario’s next election is in June, and Sousa used his speech Wednesday to attack his party’s top rival. Morneau’s budget included repeated elements of political posturing ahead of a federal vote in 2019.

The Bank of Canada, which has lifted borrowing costs three times since July, indicated on Wednesday it’s in no rush to pursue further hikes in any aggressive way, citing the growing global trade tensions and softer housing data.

While global growth is “solid and broadbased,” recent developments in trade policy have become “an important and growing source of uncertainty” for the Canadian economic outlook, the central bank said.

Finance Minister Bill Morneau. Justin Tang/ The Canadian Press Morneau, meanwhile, has regularly called current interest rates “accommodative” and said Wednesday that’s “providing opportunities for businesses, for individuals, to be able to borrow money at favourable rates.” By the central bank’s own measure, interest rates are still extremely stimulative, about 2 percentage points below what it would consider “neutral” even with the economy operating at close to capacity.

Morneau defended his fiscal plan that includes deficits that are 0.8 per cent of GDP. Business groups such as the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and the Business Council of Canada have called on him to rein in the deficit.

“The same people who say you need to lower taxes are the same people who say you need to balance the budget,” he said, adding the U.S. deficit on a per-capita basis is five times the size of Canada’s. Given all the trade developments, one could argue “risks are tilted to the downside, and maybe running a little bit looser for longer isn’t necessarily a bad thing,” said Jean-Francois Perrault, senior vice-president and chief economist at Scotiabank. “But we’re not there yet,” he said, given the economy is still forecast

to grow above its potential. On Ontario’s plan, Perrault said it will depend on how the deficits are used and could be seen as a positive if they go toward boosting business competitiveness.

Ontario has already funneled a windfall from strong growth and its cap-and-trade program into higher spending, Bank of Montreal Senior Economist Robert Kavcic said in a research note.

“We are late in the cycle — perhaps very late.

Significant fiscal capacity to combat the next downturn is being foregone.”

It’s not all deficits in Canada. Quebec has a balanced budget while British Columbia projects a narrow surplus. Alberta’s budget gap, the largest among the provinces, is expected to shrink in coming years. Even Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s deficits are smaller than what were projected only a year ago as the economy performed better than expected. The overall trend in Canada was supposed to be one of narrowing deficits, until Ontario chose to take up that fiscal space.

Saturday, March 17, 2018

Canada among three economies in world most at risk of banking crisis, BIS warns China, Canada and Hong Kong are among the economies most at risk of a banking crisis, according to early-warning indicators compiled by the Bank for International Settlements. Canada — whose economy grew last year at the fastest pace since 2011 — was flagged thanks to its households’ maxedout credit cards and high debt levels in the wider economy. Household borrowing is also seen as a risk factor for China and Hong Kong, according to the study. “The indicators currently point to the build-up of risks in several economies,” analysts Inaki Aldasoro, Claudio Borio and Mathias Drehmann wrote in the BIS’s latest Quarterly Review published on Sunday. The study offered some surprising results: for example, Italy wasn’t shown as being at risk, despite its struggles with a slow-growing economy and banks that are mired in bad debts. While China was flagged, a key warning indicator known as the creditto-gross domestic product “gap” showed an improvement, said the BIS, known as the central bank for central banks. This may suggest the government is making progress in its push to reduce financial-sector risk.

The gap is the difference between the credit-to-GDP ratio and its long-term trend.

A blow-out in the number can signal that credit growth is excessive and a financial bust may be looming. In China, the gap fell to 16.7

percent in the third quarter of 2017, down from a peak of 28.9 percent in March 2016 and the lowest since 2012, the study showed.

The narrowing gap in China “suggests the efficiency of financial intermediation is improving,” said Ding Shuang, chief economist for Greater China and North Asia at Standard Chartered Plc in Hong Kong.

“This helps to slow the pace of the rise of the debt-to-GDP ratio, creating conditions for an eventual deleveraging of the economy.”

China is getting serious about dangers in its financial system.

While derisking has been the government’s mantra since 2015, the country’s most powerful politicians have been ramping up directives on everything from shadow banking to stock-market speculation. Since April last year, financial regulators have targeted curbing the growth of wealth management products and interbank borrowings, with a more recent focus on reining in household debt. The Basel, Switzerland-based BIS routinely collects and analyzes data to monitor vulnerabilities in the global financial system. These figures typically include the amount of credit in an economy and house prices, as well as borrowers’ ability to service their debts. For this study, the analysts assessed household borrowings and cross-border or foreign-currency liabilities as potential sources of vulnerability.

Ontario Premier Wynne says voters have to choose between the ‘stark’ contrast of her and Doug Ford Ontario’s premier says voters will have a “stark” choice between her Liberal party and the Progressive Conservatives led by Doug Ford in the province’s spring election.

Kathleen Wynne says Ford being made leader of the official Opposition this weekend won’t change how her party plans for the June vote, pitching herself as the candidate ready to invest in people. Ford won the Tory leadership late Saturday night, narrowly beating out former Tory legislator Christine Elliott, who did not initially concede. Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne speaks to media in Toronto on Thursday Jan. 25, 2018, and Doug Ford arrives at his mother’s house to watch the results of the election in Toronto, Ont. on Monday October 27, 2014 Elliott issued a statement Sunday night saying that after a review of the vote she had concluded Ford won the race, noting that she will run for the Tories in the general election.

Ford has said he’s focused on uniting the

Tories and defeating Wynne. Wynne noted that she and Ford were very different, and said her party will be focusing on policy in the weeks ahead. Mr. Ford and I disagree on a lot of things and there will be a stark choice in June “Mr. Ford and I disagree on a lot of things and there will be a stark choice in June,” she said. “I think what we are putting forward as a platform is very, very different than what any of the Conservatives were putting forward, which is cutting and removing supports from people.” Wynne also downplayed suggestions her party, which has been trailing behind the Tories in the polls, will ratchet up attacks on Ford. Kelly McParland: Doug Ford prepares to storm the Confeder … err, Liberal … capital What Doug Ford’s victory means for the Ontario PCs and the upcoming election Christine Elliott concedes Ontario Tory leadership to Doug Ford after a review“There’s going to be a lot of conversations about the politics that we’re in. I get that,” she said.

Canadian consumer debt hits new high amid watchdog warnings A fresh wave of concern has washed over the growing amount of debt Canadians have piled up. Equifax Canada said Monday that the country’s consumers owed $1.821 trillion as of the fourth quarter of 2017, a new high that was up 1.3 per cent from the previous quarter and six per cent from a year earlier.

There were signs that Canadian consumers were managing to keep on top of their debts for the time being, according to Equifax. The credit-reporting agency said the 90-day-plus delinquency rate fell by 6.4 per cent yearover-year, and that consumer bankruptcies were down by 1.7 per cent.

“It looks like, given the current economic environment, the debt is still sustainable,” said Regina Malina, senior director of decision insights at Equifax Canada.

However, Malina also noted that the

economic environment could change.

“I think, because of the high debt, it is more important than ever to remind consumers to stick to the key principles of responsible spending and budgeting,” she said.

Canada’s debt is being watched closely by central bankers both at home and abroad for signs of trouble. Equifax’s latest figures even came a day after the Bank for International Settlements published a report on early warning signs of a banking crisis, which had singled out Canada as one of those that is most at risk. The Swiss-based BIS said in its report that some credit-related indicators “point to vulnerabilities in several jurisdictions,” and added that Canada was one of those that had stood out, with both its credit-to-GDP gap and debt service ratio “flashing red” under the group’s colour-coded scheme.

NATIONAL

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INDIA

Saturday, March 17, 2018

SP-BSP hands BJP defeat in Yogi land Springing a surprise, the SP-BSP “poll understanding” in Uttar Pradesh today defeated the BJP in the byelections to the Gorakhpur and Phulpur Lok Sabha seats, the first vacated by Chief Minister Yogi Adiyanath and the other by Deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya on their election to the state Legislative Council.

Profusely thanking BSP chief Mayawati, SP national president Akhilesh Yadav described it as “the victory of social justice”.

Later in the day, he drove to Mayawati’s residence to express his gratitude.

Jubilant SP workers distributed sweets, burst crackers and applied gulal on one another amid chants of “bua-bhatija zindabad”.

Rather stunned by the defeat, CM Yogi attributed it to the “unnatural deal” between the SP and the BSP and BJP’s “overconfidence”. During the campaign, the BJP

had repeatedly described the byelections as a referendum on the four-year rule of the PM Narendra Modi government at the Centre and the year-old Yogi government in UP. In Phulpur, SP’s Nagendra Singh Patel defeated his BJP rival and former Varanasi Mayor Kaushlendra Singh Patel by 59,613 votes. Mafia don-turned-politician Atiq Ahmad, who contested from behind the bars, was expected to dent the chances of the SP candidate. He polled 48,087 votes. Despite that, the SP victory margin was impressive.

In Yogi’s bastion Gorakhpur (he represented the seat five times in the Lok Sabha) SP’s Praveen Nishad defeated BJP rival Upendra Dutt Shukla by 21,961 votes.

Earlier in the day, there was a commotion with DM Rajeev Rautela asking the media to leave. But the Election Commission intervened and the results began trickling in.

Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale holds talks with US officials Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale held meetings with top State Department officials and discussed various bilateral issues, including shared interest in the IndoPacific region and America’s support for New Delhi’s emergence as a leading power.

Gokhale, on his maiden visit to the US as India’s top diplomat, met the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Thomas Shannon at the Foggy Bottom headquarters of the State Department yesterday.

“They discussed US-India strategic cooperation, shared interests in the Indo-Pacific region, and US support for India’s emergence as a leading power and security provider,” a State

Department Spokesperson told PTI. Indian Ambassador to the US, Navtej Sarna and Alice Wells, who is currently State Department’s point person for South and Central Asia, were also present during the meeting.

No other details of the meeting were immediately available.

Gokhale’s meetings in the tour were scheduled well in advance and was mainly meant to prepare for the first ever two-plustwo dialogue between the two countries.

Officials from the either side have not yet announced any dates of such a dialogue, but it was previously scheduled for some time in mid-April.

Delhi HC extends Karti’s protection from arrest in ED case till Mar 22 The Delhi High Court on Thursday extended the protection from arrest to Karti Chidambaram in the INX Media money laundering case from March 20 to 22.

A bench of Justices S Muralidhar and IS Mehta changed the date of hearing from March 20 to 22 after Karti’s counsel said senior advocate Kapil Sibal would not be available on March 20.

Sibal is representing Karti in the matter.

Enforcement Directorate counsel Vinod Diwakar said he had instructions from Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Tushar Mehta that the ASG had no objection if the date of hearing is changed to March 22.

To this the bench said, “Since no objection has

been expressed by the ED for changing the dates, the petition is fixed for hearing on March 22.”

The high court had on March 9 directed the ED not to arrest or take any coercive action against Karti, son of senior Congress leader P Chidambaram, till March 20 in the money laundering case.

Karti is currently lodged in Tihar jail in connection with the CBI’s INX media corruption case relating to irregularities in the FIPB clearance given to the firm.

The ED has challenged in the Supreme Court the high court’s March 9 order granting interim protection to Karti and it is listed for hearing on Thursday.

Media cannot write just anything about anyone, says Supreme Court in Jay Shah case The Supreme Court on Thursday asked a Gujarat trial court not to proceed till April 12 with the criminal defamation complaint filed by BJP president Amit Shah’s son Jay Shah against the news portal The Wire and its journalists.

A Bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra asked Jay Shah and others, who have filed the complaint against the scribes, to respond within two weeks to the plea filed by the journalists against the Gujarat High Court’s order, refusing to quash summons issued against them by the trial court.

The Bench, also comprising Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud, observed that the media should be more responsible and said it cannot write whatever it feels about anyone.

The chief justice, while repeatedly stressing that he was not commenting on the case before it, also said that sometimes journalists write in a way that amounts to “sheer contempt of court”.

“I have told many times about Freedom of Speech and Expression. We are not going to gag the media.The question of gagging the media does not arise. But the press should be more responsible,” he said.

“How can anyone write whatever they feel about anyone. There are limits,” the chief justice observed. “... they are writing sometimes which amounts to sheer contempt of court,” he added.

The Gujarat High Court had on January 8 rejected a petition filed by the news portal, seeking quashing of a criminal defamation case filed against it by Jay Shah over an article related to his company.

The high court rejected the petition on the grounds that the article, “The Golden Touch of Jay Amit Shah”, is per say “defamatory” and the trial court should proceed with the case.

Jay Shah had moved the lower court alleging criminal defamation by the petitioners after the article published by the website claimed his company’s turnover grew exponentially after the BJP-led government came to power at the Centre in 2014.

After the suit was filed on October 9, 2017, the court initiated proceedings against them under CrPC’s section 202 (to inquire into a case to decide whether or not there is sufficient ground for proceeding).

The suit has been filed against the author of the article Rohini Singh, founding editors of the news portal Siddharth Varadarajan, Siddharth Bhatia and M K Venu, managing editor Monobina Gupta, public editor Pamela Philipose and the Foundation for Independent Journalism. The foundation publishes The Wire.

Jay Shah has separately filed a civil defamation suit of Rs 100 crore against the website over the article.

Dinakaran launches new party AMMK Independent legislator and sidelined AIADMK leader TTV Dinakaran on Thursday launched his new party called Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagham (AMMK).

He announced his party’s name at Melur near the temple town here in Tamil Nadu. The party flag was later unfurled.

“From today onwards we will function with a name and work to recover the ‘two leaves’ symbol of the AIADMK,” Dinakaran said.

He said till the party recovers the ‘two leaves’ symbol, it will contest the elections with the ‘pressure cooker’ symbol.

On March 9, the Delhi High Court allowed Dinakaran’s plea for use of a common poll symbol -- preferably ‘pressure cooker’ -- and a

suitable party name to carry on with his politics.

The court was hearing Dinakaran’s plea for permission to use “pressure cooker” symbol for local bodies elections likely in April in Tamil Nadu or any other elections, during the pendency of the writ petitions regarding the AIADMK’s ‘two leaves’ symbol.

In December 2017, Dinakaran won the Radhakrishnan Nagar bypoll as an Independent which he contested with ‘pressure cooker’ symbol.

Dinakaran has challenged the Election Commission order to award the ‘two leaves’ symbol to a faction led by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K. Palaniswami and Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam.

PUNJAB

Saturday, March 17, 2018

Punjab economy in a mega mess, I have no magic wand to fix it, says Capt Amarinder Amid dwindling electoral fortunes of the Congress since the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, Captain Amarinder Singh led the party to a spectacular comeback in Punjab on March 11 last year – that also happened to be his 75th birthday.

But the euphoria wore thin rather quickly.

A year into his second term at the helm of the border state, the erstwhile Patiala royal has been in a firefighting mode. The implementation of a raft of promises – debt waiver, unemployment allowance, free smart phones, hiked social pensions and what not – made in the election manifesto has become a daunting challenge for his fund-crunched government. A watereddown scheme for farm loan waiver has already led to dissatisfaction. As a number of states head for polls this year, his role becomes

all the more significant as the Congress needs to showcase its performance in states where it is in power. And there aren’t many.

In a wide-ranging interview with Executive Editor Ramesh Vinayak and Senior Assistant Editor Navneet Sharma in Chandigarh, Amarinder acknowledged the tough challenges that he faces while exuding a sense of optimism on stabilizing the state’s ever-shakier finances. Excerpts: How do you look back at your first year?

It’s been a tough one because we took over a sinking ship. There was no money and the debt was overflowing. Salaries got delayed. The treasury only had bills.

Recovering from a debt of Rs 2.08 lakh crore is not easy. Look at the interest on that.

Capt Amrinder Singh’s image takes a hit As Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh completes one year in office today, he will notice most of his earnest initiatives have hit a wall of non-existent resources. Yet, he has not cut back on the bluster of pre-poll promises, even as the voter gets restless The tussle between the bureaucrats in the team and the politician lobby kept the pot of intrigue boiling. Illustrations: Sandeep Joshi CMO: Advisers more handful than handy For any state government, the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) is the nerve centre, working to strengthen the Cabinet

Won’t stop free power to farmers: Chief Minister Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh said here today that free power to the agricultural sector would not be withdrawn, even as he rubbished the SAD’s allegations that the state government wanted to issue bills to farmers for using tubewells. Launching the second phase of the farm debt waiver programme, the CM issued certificates worth Rs 162.16 crore to 29,192 farmers.

The next phase would kick off in Majha, he said. Capt Amarinder said, “The Congress is fulfilling its promise to rid the farm sector of crisis. We came in at a time when farmers were debt-ridden and suicides were being reported in every village. During our rule, suicides have gone down.” The CM added, “Our plan is to slowly bring all needy farmers under the programme’s ambit. We have money for the purpose.”

Six-year-old raped, killed in Ludhiana A six-year-old girl was allegedly raped and murdered by a migrant labourer at Sanyas Nagar in Basti Jodhewal area. The accused has been identified as Parmod Kumar alias Pandit, 38, a resident of the locality. The girl’s father, a tailor from Uttar Pradesh, told the police that she was the eldest of his three daughters.

Last evening, he saw Parmod, their neighbour, giving her eatables. An hour later, Parmod took the girl to the market, saying that he would buy her a samosa.

When his daughter did not return home till midnight, they started searching for her in the neighbourhood and lodged a report with the police.

This morning, a passerby spotted the girl’s body in the bushes in the area and informed the family and the police.

Locals thrashed the accused before he was taken to the police station.

and executive processes on behalf of the Chief Minister and his ministers.

23

Pakistan passes historic bill to regulate Sikh marriage Lahore: Punjab Assembly on Wednesday adopted a landmark bill to regulate marriages of Sikh community living in Punjab, Pakistan.

Punjab Sikh Anand Karaj Marriage Act 2017 was tabled by Member of Punjab Assembly Ramesh Singh Arora. Pakistan has become the first country in the world to introduce legislation for the registration of Sikh marriages. “Anand Karaj: means the lawful union of a Sikh male and female solemnized under the Act and conducted in accordance with the practices of the Sikh religion, as permitted in the Guru Granth Sahib.” New bill has set the minimum age for Sikh marriages for both male and female at 18 years. Every marriage between Sikhs shall be registered under the Act. For the purpose of the registration of marriages under the Act, the government, in the prescribed manner, shall grant license to one or more persons professing Sikh religion to be called Anand Karaj Registrar, authorizing him to grant Anand Karaj Certificate. The bridegroom

and the bride or a Granthi shall fill the Anand Karaj form and present it, within thirty days of the marriage, to the Anand Karaj Registrar for registration of the marriage and a copy thereof shall be sent to the chairman.

A marriage, which is not solemnized by the Anand Karaj Registrar, shall, for the purpose of registration under the Act, be reported within thirty days of the solemnization of the marriage to him (chairman) by the Granthi or the person who solemnized the marriage.

The violators, according to the bill, will be punished and fined which may extend to ten thousand rupees. “In India, Sikh marriages are registered under the Hindu Marriage Act. Pakistan is the only country in the world where a separate Sikh marriage bill has been formally promulgated,” MPA Ramesh Singh said. “The bill is the result of SikhPunjabi brotherhood,” Sardar Gopal Singh, General Secretary of Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC), told Pak SAMAA tv media.

24

INDIA

Saturday, March 17, 2018

Modi govt never cared about Andhra’s problems: CM Naidu Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, whose TDP pulled out of BJP-led NDA on Friday, said during the last four years, the Narendra Modi government never cared about the problems faced by the state and did injustice to it in all the Union Budgets. Addressing the state legislative council, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief said that in the last budget (2018-19), the government did not even bother to mention Andhra Pradesh. Reminding Prime Minister Narendra Modi about his poll promise that he will build a state capital which will be better than New Delhi, Naidu said it was same Modi who had targeted the Congress party during 2014 election campaign over the manner in which it carved out Telangana from Andhra Pradesh.

He pointed out that Modi had compared the Congress to a doctor who killed the mother to facilitate the birth of the child. The Chief Minister said the Bharatiya Janata Party, which was then in Opposition, promised to fulfil all commitments, including a special category status to the state, but forgot all the promises after coming to power. Naidu told the House that TDP joined the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) for the sake of the state’s interests. “We never demanded any post. They made two of our MPs the ministers,” he said.

The TDP last week pulled out both the ministers to mount pressure on the government. Stating that the special category status is the right of Andhra Pradesh, he said the TDP would not rest till achieving this right.

Matching India’s nuclear capabilities matters most to Pakistan, claims new book For Pakistan today, matching Indian nuclear capabilities is all that matters, says a new book which critically examines how and why the neighbouring country acquired its nuke weapons and many related issues. The book also examines Pakistani nuclear physicist A Q Khan’s involvement in nuclear proliferation in Iran, Libya and North Korea, and argues that the origins and evolution of the Khan network were tied to the domestic and international political motivations underlying Pakistan’s nuclear weapons project, and that project’s organisation, oversight and management.

It further takes a look at the prospects for nuclear safety in Pakistan in the light of the country’s nuclear control infrastructure and the threat posed by the Taliban and other extremist groups to the nuclear assets.

“Whether it is about prospects of admission into Nuclear Supplier Group or gaining access to western technology useful for civilian nuclear purposes, Pakistan feels that it is treated unfairly vis-a-vis India. On the side, Pakistan is also aggressively investing in developing nuclear reactors capable of yielding weapon-grade plutonium with China’s help,” Abbas writes. The author also says that the simmering Kashmir dispute continues to drive Pakistan’s security perspective and it considers all means, including use of any proxy militant groups as legitimate. He adds that Pakistan is unlikely to budge from this posture

in foreseeable future. “India is obviously not impressed with this state of affairs and its calculus also involves following China’s nuclear capabilities and policies,” he writes in the book published by Penguin Random House India.

According to Abbas, India’s nuclear posture naturally corresponds to its status as a rising global power; it pledges “no first use” but also promises a massive retaliation against an adversary that strikes first with nuclear weapons.

This only further complicates the South Asian security scene that has already yielded to a deadly nuclear arms race, he says.

Abbas also provides a brief sketch of North Korea’s nuclear development, followed by an analysis of the historical nature of Pakistan-North Korea relations.

“Clearly, North Korea’s determination in acquiring nuclear capabilities over 40 years suggests that the issue remained one of the highest priorities for the country’s national security and strategic considerations,” he writes.

“As for Pakistan, nuclear proliferation, or the sale of its nuclear expertise to North Korea did not constitute a threat to its sovereignty. But what occurred beneath the surface is critical. Information about the exact nature of the transactions between Pakistan and North Korea reveals a complex web that involves the AQ Khan network, the Pakistani military, and the government of Pakistan,” he says.

Vijay Mallya extradition trial returns to UK court Liquor tycoon Vijay Mallya’s extradition trial is set for one of its final hearings at Westminster Magistrates’ Court here on Friday. The 62-year-old, who is on trial for the UK court to rule if he can be extradited to India to face charges of fraud and money laundering amounting to around Rs 9,000 crore, is on bail until April 2 and therefore not obliged to attend the hearing today.

Judge Emma Arbuthnot is expected to rule on the admissibility of evidence presented by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), on behalf of the Indian Government and set a timeframe for her final verdict. At the last hearing in January, Mallya’s counsel, Clare Montgomery, had argued that evidence that was claimed as a “blueprint of dishonesty” by the CPS was in fact privileged conversation between Mallya and his lawyer about “legal advice in clear contemplation of litigation” and hence should be inadmissible. On a separate category of evidence presented by the Indian Government, Mallya’s team questioned the reliability of investigating officers in the case and pointed to over 150 pages of “near identical material” purporting to be statement of witnesses taken under Section 161 of the Indian CrPC. “They do not appear to be in any way an account of things that witnesses would have said but rather seem to be somebody

else’s analysis put into the mouths of the witnesses, down to the spelling mistakes,” Montgomery said, adding that the documents were “identically reproduced” with not only the same words but also the same typing errors. After the defence has completed its arguments, the CPS will respond against the claim of “absence of a strong prima facie case on grounds of iniquity”.

Judge Arbuthnot had also sought further clarifications related to availability of natural light and medical assistance at Barrack 12 of Mumbai Central Prison on Arthur Road, where Mallya is to be held if he is extradited from Britain.

According to Indian authorities, these clarifications have been provided to the court. The extradition trial, which opened at the London court on December 4, is aimed at laying out a prima facie case of fraud against the tycoon, who has been based in the UK since he left India in March 2016.

It also seeks to prove that there are no “bars to extradition” and that Mallya is assured a fair trial in India over his now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines’ alleged default of over Rs 9,000 crore in loans from a consortium of Indian banks.

The CPS, representing the Indian Government, has argued that the evidence they have presented confirms “dishonesty” on

Drugs worth Rs 11.96 crore seized in Manipur, 1 held Security forces apprehended a drug peddler and seized banned drugs worth Rs 11.96 crore from his possession in Manipur’s Tengnoupal district, an Assam Rifles release said.

The drug peddler was apprehended by the security forces at a check post on Tuesday

night, the release said on Wednesday.

Later, the drug peddler, along with the seized drugs, was handed over to the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) officials in Imphal, the release said.

25

Saturday, March 17, 2018

India biggest strategic opportunity for United States: Pentagon India is the “biggest strategic opportunity” for the US with New Delhi showing more openness to strengthen bilateral security ties, a top Pentagon commander has said, underlining a mutual desire for global stability and support for the rules-based international order.

Admiral Harry Harris, Commander of the US Pacific Command, also told members of the Senate Armed Services Committee, that the Quad, comprising India, US, Japan and Australia, is an important idea of like-minded nations that could go after the challenges in the Indo-Pacific region. In his prepared testimony, Harris said the US and India are natural partners on a range of political, economic and security issues. “I think India is the biggest strategic opportunity for the US. We share democratic values, we share the same concerns, and we operate more frequently in the Indo-Pacific region together,” Harris said. He said that with a mutual desire for global stability and support for the rules-based international order, the US and India had an increasing convergence of interests, including maritime security and domain awareness, counter-piracy, counterterrorism, humanitarian assistance and coordinated responses to natural disasters and transnational threats. Noting that India

TDP exits NDA, moves no-trust motion in Parliament Ending its four-year-old alliance with the BJP, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) on Friday pulled out of the NDA over the Centre’s refusal to grant special category status to Andhra Pradesh and simultaneously moved a notrust motion in Parliament. TDP president and Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu made the announcement to exit the BJP-led alliance in Amaravati, eight days after two of its union ministers—P Ashok Gajapati Raju and Y S Chowdary—quit on March 8 following a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The YSR Congress—a regional party in AP—also moved a no-confidence motion against the Modi government. The BJP termed TDP’s decision as “inevitable”. Naidu later told reporters he was fighting a “dharma yuddh”(righteous war) to secure the state’s ‘legitimate’ rights and claimed that parties at the national level were backing the TDP’s noconfidence motion due to his party’s credibility.

Naidu also came down heavily on the prime minister saying that Modi did not even bother to invite the TDP MPs for a discussion when they were agitating in Parliament for the state’s rights. He said Modi showed a lot of concern for Andhra Pradesh on the eve of 2014 elections and promised many things, including building the state’s new capital better than New Delhi.

The Chief Minister wanted to know what happened to all those promises. “We joined the NDA in the first place only to protect our state’s interests in the aftermath of bifurcation.

We waited for four years with the hope that the Centre will honour all the promises but it only meted out injustice to us,” Naidu said. However, the BJP never cared about TDP, he charged adding while in the Opposition, it promised to take care of the state and its needs but once in power, “it completely ignored us.” The Centre on its part said it has been waiting endlessly

would be among the US’s most significant partners in the years to come due to its growing influence and expanding military, Harris said as a new generation of political leaders emerged, India had shown that it is more open to strengthening security ties with the US and adjusting its historic policy of non-alignment to address common strategic interests.

Loss of Rs 36,000 cr in Rafale deal even as Army begs for money: Rahul Congress president Rahul Gandhi again trained his guns on the government on Friday over the Rafale fighter jets deal, claiming that it had caused a loss of Rs 36,000 crore to the state exchequer even as the Army “begs for more money”. He also alleged that Dassault Aviation, the French company that manufactured the fighter jets, had called the “lie” of “RM” (Raksha Mantri or Defence Minister) Nirmala Sitharaman by releasing the price of the aircraft. Gandhi highlighted the price the BJP government paid for the fighter jets, the figure finalised by the erstwhile UPA regime led by Manmohan Singh for

What’s going on with car insurance in B.C.?

It’s no secret car insurance has been getting more and more expensive.

Ever wondered why? For a start, there are more and more crashes. In fact, each year there are about 300,000 crashes on our roads – that’s close to 820 per day. More crashes lead to more insurance claims.

In B.C., there has been a sharp increase in both injury and vehicle damage claims. What’s more, the costs of these claims have gone up. Injury claims alone costs close to $3 billion a year.

So what’s being done about this?

You may have heard the provincial government and ICBC have announced changes to car insurance in B.C. Under the new plan, more money will be available for your medical care, treatments and other benefits, like wage loss.

The changes include:

9 Doubling of the overall money available for medical care and treatment.

9 More types of treatments covered including kinesiology, acupuncture, counselling and massage therapy. This means you won’t need to wait for approval.

9 More money covered by ICBC for individual treatments.

9 Higher wage loss payments and benefits for household support.

How is this possible?

To allow more money for the care of people injured in crashes, the government has also announced it will

Find out more For more information visit icbc.com/change

purchasing the aircraft and the amount Qatar had paid for the same. “Dassault called RM’s lie and released prices paid per RAFALE plane in report: Qatar: 1319 Cr, MODI : 1670 Cr, MMS = 570 Cr. “1100 Cr per plane or 36,000 Cr i.e 10 pc of our Defence budget, in the pocket. Meanwhile, our Army begs our Govt. for money (sic),” the Congress leader said on Twitter. Gandhi has been attacking the BJP-led government over the defence deal, alleging that it has caused a huge loss to the state exchequer. He has also questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s silence on the issue.

introduce a $5,500 limit on pain and suffering payouts for minor injuries (sprains, aches and strains).

This means the amount of money you can receive for the emotional distress of being in crash will be limited. But this limit is entirely separate from the money available to you for medical care and the other benefits described above. In fact, with the new changes these benefits are actually going up.

This limit will not apply to non-minor or catastrophic injury claims – like broken bones or brain injuries.

So who decides if an injury is minor?

Under the new plan, just like today, a medical professional – not ICBC – will determine the nature of your injuries and this will be used to establish whether it falls under the definition of a minor or non-minor injury.

Will I still be covered?

The limit on pain and suffering payments does not take away your right to a hire lawyer or seek compensation for any additional economic losses.

Just the same as today if you are injured in a crash and not at-fault you can get more money for wage loss and treatment costs over and above what is covered by ICBC accident benefits.

What if nothing changes?

In order to cover rising claims costs, B.C. drivers would need to pay on average at least $400 more for their full basic and optional coverage by 2019 – an average premium of approximately $2,100.

These changes will stop you from paying rate increases of 30 per cent or more in 2019, while providing increased care for anyone injured in a crash.

26

SOUTH ASIA

Saturday, March 17, 2018

No need to extend ‘State of Emergency’ in Lanka: Govt The Sri Lankan government is unlikely to extend the 10-day nationwide state of emergency imposed after communal riots erupted in Kandy district, as no fresh incidents of violence has been reported from anywhere in the country, the new Law and Order Minister has said.

Also, the government said that the restriction on the use of social media, including the Facebook would lifted by Friday.

Communal violence broke out in the country’s scenic district following the death of a man from the mainly Buddhist Sinhalese majority, resulting in the death of two persons and damage to several homes, businesses and mosques.

President Maithripala Sirisena has appointed a three-member commission to probe the communal clashes in Kandy.

He had declared a nationwide state of emergency on March 6 and deployed the police

and military to prevent escalation of violence after clashes between majority Sinhala Buddhists and minority Muslims erupted in other areas of the central riot-hit district.

Ranjith Maddumabandara said he thinks it was not necessary to continue the state of emergency any further.

“I had a discussion with the Inspector General of Police and senior police officers this morning to assess the current security situation in the country.

“We are of the view that the country’s security situation is normal right now and therefore, the extending of the ‘state of emergency’ which will expire on Thursday (March 15) will not be necessary,” Maddumabandara was quoted as saying by the Daily Mirror.

He also said he discussed the possibility of lifting the temporary ban on social media, including Facebook, with the police.

Pakistanis speak of human rights violations A host of organizations representing Pakistan’s ethnic minority communities from Balochistan, Sindh and PakistanOccupied-Kashmir have raised the issue of human rights violations committed by Pakistan at the 37th Session of the UNHRC in Geneva in the last couple of days.

The members of Baloch Republican Party (BRP) accused Pakistan of “looting” the precious natural resources of Balochistan and committing atrocities on its people.

“The precious natural resources of Balochistan are being looted and taken away by the Pakistani state while the Baloch people are forced to live in Stone Age like conditions,” said representative of the BRP to the UNHRC Abdul Nawaz Bugti.

“Whenever the Baloch people demanded their rights from the Pakistani state, the response has always been military operations and massacre by the army,” he added, “300 thousand Baloch have been displaced and 27 thousands have become the victim of enforced disappearances.”

Similar concerns were raised for the people of the Sindh province by the World Sindhi Congress (WSC).

“Want to inform Council about gross human rights violations against Sindhi people by state and security establishment of Pakistan. The Pakistani establishment is ruthlessly crushing any voice and struggle of Sindhi people against China-Pak Economic Corridor (CPEC),” WSC activist Dr Hidayat Bhutto said in Geneva.

Bidya Devi Bhandari re-elected President of Nepal Nepal’s first woman President Bidya Devi Bhandari was re-elected for a second term in the office. Incumbent Bhandari defeated Nepali Congress leader Kumari Laxmi Rai with an overwhelming majority in the presidential election.

Bhandari, 56, won since her nomination was backed by the ruling Left alliance of the CPNUML and CPN (Maoist Centre), the Sanghiya Samajbadi ForumNepal and other fringe parties. She became Nepal’s first woman president in 2015. With 148 lawmakers in the Federal Parliament and 243 in Provincial Assemblies, the CPN-

UML commands a total vote of 23,356.

CPN (Maoist Centre) has 65 lawmakers in parliament and 108 in provincial assemblies, which account for 10,319 votes. T he Nepali Congress, which has 76 seats in parliament and 113 in provincial assemblies, has a total vote of 11,428. As Sanghiya Samajbadi ForumNepal and other fringe parties also deciding to support Bhandari, she could easily garner 26,921 votes for her re-election.

An electoral college, including members of parliament and provincial

US defence secretary Mattis arrives in Kabul on unannounced visit The United States is picking up signs of interest from Taliban elements in exploring the possibility of talks with Kabul to end the more than 16-year-old war, US defence secretary Jim Mattis said on Tuesday as he made an unannounced visit to Afghanistan.

“There is interest that we’ve picked up from the Taliban side,” Mattis told reporters before landing in Kabul, saying the signs dated back several months.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani offered talks without preconditions with the Taliban insurgents last month, in what was seen by US officials as a major overture from Kabul.

Mattis said some of his indications, which he did not detail, dated back before Ghani’s remarks.

“We’ve had some groups of Taliban - small groups - who have either started to come over or expressed an interest in talking,” Mattis said.

“In other words, it may not be that the whole

Taliban comes over in one fell swoop. That may be a bridge too far to expect. But there are elements of the Taliban clearly interested in talking to the Afghan government,” he said.

The United States has in the past also expressed hope of “peeling off ” elements of the Taliban and it was unclear how this new effort might be different.

Western diplomats and officials in Kabul say contacts involving intermediaries have been underway with the aim of agreeing on ground rules and potential areas of discussion for possible talks with at least some elements in the Taliban.

However, the insurgents, who seized a district centre in western Afghanistan earlier this week, have given no public sign of accepting Ghani’s offer, instead issuing several statements suggesting they intended to keep fighting.

SOUTH ASIA

Saturday, March 17, 2018

Nepal plane crash caused by confusion about runway Dhaka-Kathmandu The Nepal US-Bangla Airlines government flight with 67 passengers formed a and four crew on board six-member crashed here in Nepal. committee to The plane caught fire probe the crashafter it careened off the landing. A highrunway and ploughed level team led into a football field near

by Bangladesh’s Tribhuvan International Minister of Civil Several people were rescued from the wreckage Aviation Airport.

Nepalese and of ill-fated plane investigators have Tourism M K M retrieved the black box from the wreckage Sahajahan Kamal is scheduled to arrive in a plane that crashed killing 49 people, Kathmandu today. The last four minutes authorities said, the conversation between of the conversation between the pilot and air traffic controllers and the pilot before Air Traffic Control at the airport indicates a the tragedy indicated a possible confusion possible confusion in the mind of the pilot over the runway. “The flight data recorder about Runway 02 (the southern end) and has been recovered we have kept it safely,” Runway 20 (the northern end), a Nepalese said Raj Kumar Chettri, the airport’s general newspaper reported. The Nepali pilots of manager, adding that an investigation into other aircraft are heard warning the ATC the cause of the crash had begun. The airline that the US-Bangla pilot seems disoriented, and airport authorities have blamed each according to the Nepali Times. other for the tragedy, the worst in the country At the very in 25 years, after it emerged that there was outset of confusion over landing instructions. There the tape, the were 33 Nepalese nationals on board flight control tower UBG 211, a Bombardier Dash 8 Q400. Others was heard include 32 Bangladeshis, one Chinese and warning the one Maldivian. Bombardier is a twin-engine, pilot, “I say medium-range and turboprop aircraft. again, do Canadian plane maker Bombardier said it not proceed was sending an air safety investigator to the t o w a r d s site, as well as a field service representative.

Runway 20.”

Bangladesh court sentences 39 ruling party activists to death

27

New warrant against former Bangladesh PM after bail in corruption cases Bangladesh’s ex-prime minister Khaleda Zia was on Monday granted bail in a corruption case but her plans to walk free were thwarted as a fresh warrant was issued against her in another case.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chief Zia, 72, was sentenced to five years in jail on February 8 in connection with the embezzlement of Taka 21 million (about USD 250,000) in foreign donations meant for the Zia Orphanage Trust, named after her late husband, military ruler-turned-politician Ziaur Rahman.

“The bench granted her bail for four months and simultaneously ordered authorities to prepare arguments on her appeal against the conviction and

imprisonment,” a court official said.

But hours after the high court order, she was “shown arrested” in another criminal case under a separate arrest warrant, officials said.

A court in central Comilla district in January had ordered Zia’s arrest for instigating a series of clandestine arson attacks while she faces several identical charges in different courts for spearheading a protracted violent anti-government campaign three years ago.

“The warrant today reached the Central Jail ordering her appearance before the judge in Comilla,” an official said on condition of anonymity.

Earlier, the high court bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Shahidul

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A court in southeastern Bangladesh today sentenced to death 39 activists of the ruling Awami League for brutally killing a fellow local level party leader four years ago. Ekramul Haque, the upazila Awami League president, was hacked, shot and burnt alive by miscreants inside his car in broad daylight in Feni town’s Academy area on May 20, 2014. “The court handed down the death penalty to 39 people in this single case,” a prosecutor told PTI over telephone from Feni.

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28

FIJI

Saturday, March 17, 2018

Fiji wins Vancouver 7s rugby The Fiji Airways Men’s Nationals 7s team has won the Vancouver 7s after thumping Kenya 31-12 in the final. Fiji is the first team to win two tournaments in this season as they ran away with five tries. Captain Jerry Tuwai led his side well with a courageous performance as they showed a different class with more combinations.

Josua Vakurinabili scored Fiji’s first try while Sevuloni Mocenacagi levelled the scores to 12-all with a try before the second half. Kenya scored two tries in the first half as the scores were level 12all. The second half saw Fiji shifting the gear to another level with strong defence and brutal on the breakdown. Their tries in the second half came from Mocenacagi, Alasio Naduva and Paula Dranisinukula. This win has moved the national side to second place in the World Sevens

Series with 101 points while South Africa is still leading with 109 points.Sevuloni Mocenacagi was given the Player of the Tournament Award for his outstanding performance and two tries.

The next tournament is Hong Kong which will be held on April 6th to 8th.

We are all victims of online bullying - Biman Prasad NFP Leader Professor Biman Prasad says we are all victims of online bullying and there are emotional distresses caused by a lot of this communication. While speaking after the tabling of the Online Safety Bill, Prasad says that this bill should not be rushed as it will need a lot of discussion on the pros and cons of the bill.

Prasad says that there are issues of concern that everyone has about online communication and a law that is going to have far reaching

implications on everyone must be given a reasonable amount of time, so that when the law does come into force there has been enough consultation and public awareness and people understand it better. He says having the bill go through the Standing Committee of Justice, Law and Human Rights for 2 months is unreasonable and suggested that 6 months be given for the bill to be discussed.

Former National soccer team manager passes away Former National Soccer Team Manager and long-term Suva Football Association Administrator, Pratap Singh (Fatty) has passed away.

Singh passed away on Monday.

Fiji Football Association’s President Rajesh Patel says Singh will be missed by the football

family in Fiji and abroad.

Patel says Singh immensely contributed towards the development of football in Fiji and leaves behind a legacy which many would only dream of fulfilling.

Rabuka reveals a number of issues SODELPA will look at in their manifesto SODELPA Leader Sitiveni Rabuka has revealed a number of issues SODELPA will look at in its manifesto which include the review of the constitution, setting up of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission, scrapping the term contracts of the civil servants, increase the retirement age of civil servants to 60 years, remove the Tertiary Education Loan Scheme and the reintroduction of the scholarship scheme.

Although detailed information has not been revealed, Rabuka has hinted that a SODELPA government will look into these issues. He says the review of the constitution is necessary.

SODELPA says any changes to the constitution will go through the process under the constitution which requires the support of 75 percent of parliament and 75 percent of registered voters through a referendum.

Rabuka says they will assemble a National Economic Summit after 3 months in office to develop government’s short term and long term plans. He says they will reintroduce the tripartite machinery to include government, employers and employees to address issues relating to our labour market.

Money is a factor in temple break-ins MONEY kept inside places of worship has been identified as the reason behind the recent break-ins at temples and churches around the country. This was revealed by Minister for Defence and National Security Ratu Inoke Kubuabola while responding to a supplementary question by Opposition MP Prem Singh on the proactive measures Government had in place to combat the desecration of places of worship. “The police have found out from the youths around these places of worship that the motivating factor is the money that is kept in these places of worship,” Ratu Inoke said. He confirmed 14 sacrilege cases were with police. Ratu Inoke

said three break-in cases — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at Waila in Nausori, Vishnu Bhavan Temple in Sasawira Nakasi and Gopal Sahu Mandir in Nakasi — were before the courts. He said investigations into 11 other temple and church break-ins were continuing.

The 11 cases include break-ins at the Shiv Mandir at Namara Rd Nabua, Nadera Catholic Church, Caubati Mandir, Tagusu AOG Church in Sabeto, Hope AOG in Sabeto, Maharishi Triaath Dhaam Temple, Kalili Settlement Church, Kavanagasau Temple in Sigatoka, Shree Sathya Dharam Ramayan Mandali, Vunisinu Methodist Church and the Waidalice Mandir Temple.

Bainimarama reaffirms strengthening relations with India Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama during his visit to India has met India’s Minister for Railways Piyush Goyal.

The meeting was to discuss the recent arrival of India’s Railway experts’ in Fiji to conduct an assessment on the Railway Network in Fiji.

The team after the assessment will then recommend a plan of action that will see upgrade works on the current railway network that will enable it to accommodate greater freight and passenger travel.

Prime Minister Bainimarama during his r visit to India meets with minister for railways Piyush Goyal

Registration of Sex Offenders Bill to identify sex offenders The Registration of Sex Offenders Bill 2018 is expected to be debated and voted upon in the April sitting of Parliament. This is after the motion by the Acting Prime Minister and Attorney General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum for the bill to be considered by parliament without delay and it be immediately referred to the

Standing Committee of Justice, Law and Human Rights was agreed to without any opposition.

Sayed-Khaiyum also moved that the Standing Committee must report on the bill to parliament in the April sitting of Parliament and upon the presentation of the report of the bill by the Standing Committee, the bill must be debated.

Man sentenced to life for killing his wife 33-year-old Hem Rabneet Singh who killed his wife and then took the body by horseback with the intention of hiding it, has been sentenced to life imprisonment by High Court Judge Justice Salesi Temo. While delivering his sentence today, Justice Temo said Singh would be considered for a presidential pardon after spending 17 years behind bars.

Singh charged with one count of murder and one count of giving false information to a public official pleaded guilty to murdering his 29-year-old wife near his home in Tagitagi Settlement in Semo on July 1st, 2015. Justice Temo said Singh hit his wife with a stick on the head and chest after they had an argument.

This caused her to fall on the ground and he

then took the wife by horseback to Semo Hill.

The Judge said the body fell several times from the horse on the way to Semo Hill and on one occasion Singh hit the wife’s head again with the stick while the body was on the ground.

Justice Temo adds that when Singh returned home, he lied to his children and said that their mother was missing. It was also heard in court that Singh told the Police, family, and friends that his wife was missing. Justice Temo said life is precious and it is totally unjustified to use murder as a remedy for an argument.

Hem Rabneet Singh has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the charge of murder and 12 months imprisonment for the charge of giving false information to a public official.

PAKISTAN

Saturday, March 17, 2018

Taliban killed 7 in blast near the residence of Nawaz Sharif A blast near residence of Pakistan’s former PM Nawaz Sharif killed at least seven persons. The blast took place close to a check post, a few kilometers from residence of Nawaz Sharif and close to the congregation of the Tableeghi Jamaat. “Seven persons have been killed in the blast. Some seven policemen among the 20 or so suffered injuries. The condition of four policemen is stated to be critical,” Rescue 1122 spokesman Jam Sajjad said.

Nawaz Sharif

He said the Rescue ambulances are shifting the injured to the Sharif medical complex and other nearby hospitals. Deputy Inspector General Police Lahore Dr Haider Ashraf told reporters that three policemen were among the dead. It was such a powerful blast that its sound was heard several kilometers from the site.

A fire ball was seen after the blast at the Nisar Police Check Post.

Supreme Court indicts another minister in contempt case After sending one Senator into the jail and speeches of Daniyal Aziz against the judiciary. summon another one minister in contempt The office though did not specify which of court case, now Supreme Court took notice “contemptuous speech” was made by Daniyal of contemptuous speeches of another Aziz that had caught the judges’ attention, but directed that the federal minister against Judiciary.

Supreme Court indicts another matter be fixed in the court on minister Daniyal Aziz in a contempt February 7. Chief Justice the other day also issued a contempt notice case for making critical speeches against judicary after disqualification to another minister Talal Chaudhry of former PM Sharif in notorious and directed for fixing the matter before the court on February 6. corruption and money laundering cases as Panama papers leaked. A According to a notification, Chief three-member bench, headed by Justice Mian Saqib Nisar issued a Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed, heard the contempt notice to Talal Chaudhry Daniyal Aziz case against ruling (PML-N) minister over the note of registrar’s office.

Daniyal Aziz. Public Relations department It was learnt that the registrar’s office gave the of Supreme Court circulated a press release chief justice reference to various speeches made through WhatsApp stating that Chief Justice by the minister of state in which he allegedly Mian Saqib Nisar took notice of contemptuous insulted the judiciary.

First Hindu woman senator takes oath in her traditional dress Krishna Kumari Kohli, 39 who recently Koli community and hails from Nagarparkar made history by becoming the first-ever Hindu village in Tharparkar district, Sindh where woman to be elected to the Senate in Pakistan women are still deprived of basic facilities. She came wearing her traditional dress for oath got married at the age of 16 in 1994 while she taking ceremony. Showcasing her culture with was studying in grade nine. immense pride, Krishna Kumari was dressed in a purple and white bangles that ran up to her shoulders. Kumari’s parents also accompanied her to the Senate.

They were also clad in the same cultural dress.

She was applauded by fellow senators for “being connected to her roots”. On March 3, 39-yearold Kumari became the first Hindu senator in Pakistan, She is member of Pakistan People’s Party. She got elected on woman seat reserved for minorities from New Senator elect Krishna Kumari Kohli in her traditional dress province of Sindh. Born to a poor family, she belongs to lower caste taking oath. 52 new senators took oath presided by Senator Sardar Yaqub Khan in Islamabad.

Shoe thrown at former PM Sharif A shoe was hurled at former PM Nawaz Sharif at an event here in Lahore, earlier ink was thrown at minister Khawaja Asif in his home-town Sialkot. The shoe was hurled at former disqualified PM Sharif by a religious extremist during a function in Lahore. Sharif was ‘chief guest at Jamia Naemia school, madrasa, Gharhi Shahu, Lahore, was struck on the shoulder and the ear as he headed

29

towards the rostrum to deliver his speech.

The assailant, a student, also managed to position himself in front of Sharif and chant the Islamic slogans. Security personnel caught the student and his other accomplice, who also chanted “Labbaik Ya Rasoolullah” slogans, and gave them a sound thrashing before handing them over to the police.

Shoe thrower identified as Abdul Gafoor.

Diplomatic mission in New Delhi faces harassements The officers and families of Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi are still facing harassment, intimidation and ‘outright violence’ from the Indian state agencies, according to a Ministry of Foreign Affairs statement. The statement states that the “deliberate bullying” is not confined to a single isolated event, but continues unabated in a series of incidents targeting the families of the officers. According to the statement, a car carrying school-going children of Pakistan’s counselor was followed by “unknown persons on cars and motorcycles”.

Moreover, the vehicle was blocked and videos and photographs of the children were constantly made for 40 minutes. Alongside, the drivers of the high commission were forcibly halted and their mobile phones aggressively switched off to prevent them from contacting anyone.

In another incident, the vehicle of another senior counsellor was forcefully stopped by an unknown individual who then disembarked and

took pictures of the counsellor. The unknown individual did not let the senior counsellor’s vehicle pass obstructing his vehicle, turning a ten-minute journey home into a 90-minute ordeal. Tuesday’s incidents are not the first, rather, a continuing trend that started last week on Wednesday when a senior diplomats vehicle was stopped and damaged. The following day the Deputy High Commissioners’ vehicle was chased by unknown individuals in a car and on a motorbike, who dragged the driver out of the car and hurled abuses at him. In another incident on Thursday, the minister political of the Pakistan High Commission was chased and his car was damaged by unknown individuals.

The very next day on Friday, Pakistan’s High Commissioner raised the issue with the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and met with the MEA Joint Secretary about the incidents.

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NRI

Saturday, March 17, 2018

NRI couple robbed of Rs 2lakh by duo on bike A couple from sector 6, Ghansoli, on short leave from their workplace in Singapore, was robbed of nearly Rs 2 lakh they had withdrawn from bank by two youths on a bike. The two allegedly threw itching powder on the woman riding pillion with her husband on a Scooty to distract them. They then snatched the cash bag

and sped away around 11am on Wednesday.

Koparkhairane police registered an FIR under sections 392 (punishment for robbery) and 34 (common intention) of IPC based on a complaint by the victim, Vandana Singh (31).

Inspector Shivaji Awate said they have sought CCTV footage from the bank.

STF to declare bounty on NRI Sunny Anand After failing to arrest NRI Atul Anand, Sunil Jain and Rajesh Kapoor in a forgery scam, the Madhya Pradesh STF is likely to declare a bounty on the accused. The immigration department has also been alerted, after receiving information, that Bhopal resident Anand has managed to leave India — even after being booked by STF in the forgery case. Anand is an influential lobbyist who has strong connections with highly placed government officials in MP. Officials refused to comment on the issue. STF had registered an FIR against Sunny and two other Mumbai residents for allegedly duping a farmer of Rs 1 crore under the guise of mining business. Their plea for anticipatory bail was

rejected by a special court in Bhopal recently.

This is said to be one of the most high-profile cases registered by STF. While Atul Anand, alias Sunny, is a resident of Dubai, Sunil Jain and Rajesh Kapoor live in Mumbai. They have been booked on a complaint lodged by Sanjay Chouhan, a resident of Raisen district, who has dual citizenship of India and UAE and owns a house in Bhopal’s Trilanga. Sunil is the brother of Mumbai-based builder Pradeep Jain, who was shot by gangster Abu Salem in 1995 and Kapoor is a chartered accountant. Sunny and Kapoor are associated with a company named JS Wisher Apparels Private Limited, registered with Registrar of Companies (RoC), Mumbai.

When even the state government’s education department turns a blind eye to the needs of government schools, particularly of basic infrastructure, it is the NRIs who have always come to their aid. The Government Primary School for Girls, Ayali Kalan — which has five classes of primary, and one preprimary school — has been facing a tough time running the school.

Due to shortage of classrooms, one class attends school in the open, while another sits in a borrowed classroom of the middle school.

This shortage happened when the education department introduced the pre-primary class in schools last November.

In this situation, two NRIs of the village (who are settled in California since 1984) lend a helping hand to the school. The NRI brothers — Amarjeet Singh (62) and Daljeet Singh (60) — who hail from the village, relocated to California decades ago. They donated Rs 1.50 lakh for the construction of a classroom.

The two brothers, who are transporters in the

US, came to the city 10 days ago to organize ‘Akhand Path’, as Daljeet lost his 29-year-old ailing son. In his memory, he wanted to make some donation, but then one day, he visited a primary school of the village. When he saw small kids there attending classes in the open, he immediately decided to construct a classroom for them in the memory of his son. Daljeet said: “We visit our village once a year, and this time, we had come to organize ‘path’ for my son. He was bed-ridden and passed away last November. Every time, we used to organize medical camps for villagers, or donate money to the village gurdwara. However, this time when I and my elder brother Amarjeet visited this school, we felt sad about children and the school’s condition.� Amarjeet added: “The school in-charge Inderjeet Kaur told us that one class is attending school in a borrowed classroom of the middle school, while another class was sitting in the open.

‘NRI policy to be formulated soon’

NRI woman goes missing after boarding train from Mumbai A 76-year-old NRI woman went missing after boarding a long-distance train from the Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT) in suburban Kurla, a senior GRP official said on Thursday.

Devikiamma Pillai, a South African national of Indian origin, had apparently come to India on a vacation last month. She had put up at a guesthouse in south Mumbai’s Colaba area on February 21, he said. On February 23, the woman boarded a train for Bhubaneswar from the LTT, but she did not reach there, as per her daughter, and has been missing since then, the

NRI brothers come to aid of govt girl’s school in village

Government Railway Police official said. Her last mobile phone location was traced to Gondia in Maharashtra. Since then, her phone has been unreachable, he said. The matter came to light on March 1 when Pillai’s daughter, who was unable to contact her, called up the guesthouse from South Africa and enquired about her. She then got to know that her mother had left the guesthouse. The daughter told the guesthouse manager that she was not able to contact her mother and requested him to approach the local police, the official said.

NRI affairs minister KT Rama Rao on Tuesday announced that the state government is in the process of formulating a NRI’s Policy and a fund would also be allocated. During zero hour in the Assembly, Nizamabad rural MLA Bajireddy Goverdhan said lakhs of Telangana workers employed in the gulf they face problems. Even getting their bodies back gets delayed, he said. In the past four years, various organisations and individuals have been demanding a policy that would benefit Gulf workers from Telangana. Bheem Reddy Mandha, a migrant rights activist, Nangi Devender, TPCC Gulf NRI cell convenor and founder of Telangana Gulf Workers Association, Krishna Donikeni who has been heading a

movement demanding the NRI Policy, Patkuri Basanth Reddy of Gulf Telangana Welfare and Cultural Association, and TR Srinivas, chairman, BJP Hyderabad City Gulf NRIshave allbeen asking the government to create an NRI policy. Mohd Amjed Ullah Khan of MBT has also been active in taking up cases of workers in distress in the Gulf. Several meetings were conducted by organisations which made suggestions on the inclusion in the NRI Policy.

Neighbouring Andhra Pradesh already has a policy in place which helps workers. Kerala also has a robust mechanism to not only help procure jobs but also for rehabilitation when they return.

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FRUITICANA

Saturday, March 17, 2018

Parineeti Chopra reveals what prompted her to go for a massage

I

t has been a gruelling shooting schedule for Parineeti Chopra, who is currently filming for ‘Namaste England’. The actress has been pulling off all day long shoots as she is filming an energetic song sequence with her co-star Arjun Kapoor. “It has been insane for Parineeti. She has been dancing all-day for back-to-back two days as they are shooting a song sequence. It’s a fun song which requires a lot of energy to pull off the intense choreography planned for her and Arjun.

They were shooting in extreme heat in the morning and chilling cold at night.

With no respite, Parineeti’s body was giving up. Plus, she was recovering from her fever,� informs a source from the sets. he informer adds, “After 2 days of non-stop shoot, it was evident that Parineeti’s body

T

Katrina Kaif’s latest picture is all things cute

was breaking.

Looking at her going through such an intense shoot, Arjun advised that she must take a massage to recuperate.

Parineeti hates taking massages and this is one time she had to listen to Arjun, who insisted that she should take care of herself for the rest of the shoot.� When contacted, Parineeti said laughing, “It is true. I listened to Arjun and went to take a massage to relax and open up my muscles. This must have been the third time I took a massage in my life! But thank God for this session, it helped my body that was breaking with the song shoot.�

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atrina Kaif is b u s y shooting for her upcoming film ‘Zero’ but she makes sure that her fans are updated about her exciting life under the limelight.

This time too the mesmerising actress shared an adorable picture of herself which flaunting a cute hooded unicorn neck pillow.

With nearly 8.9 million followers on Instagram, Katrina knows how to grab everyone’s attention. She shared the cute click with a post that read, “I mean just everybody should have a unicorn neck pillow.� atrina, whose last outing with Salman Khan proved to be a massive hit and broke many box office records, will soon be seen in Aanand L Rai’s ‘Zero’ which also stars Shah Rukh Khan and Anushka Sharma. Katrina Kaif, 16 July 1983 an works in Hindi films.Despite receiving

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mixed reviews from critics for her acting prowess, she has established herself in Bollywood, and is considered among the country’s most attractive and highest-paid actresses. orn in Ho n g Kong, Kaif and her family lived in several countries before she moved to London. She received her first modelling assignment as a teenager and later pursued a career as a fashion model. At a fashion show in London, filmmaker Kaizad Gustad spotted Kaif and decided to cast her in Boom (2003), a critical and commercial failure. While filming in India, Kaif received modelling assignments and established a successful modelling career. However, filmmakers were hesitant to cast her due to her poor command of Hindi. After appearing in the Telugu film, Malliswari (2004).

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Saturday, March 17, 2018

HOROSCOPE Aries / <" C + <= You may clash with someone in authority as sociable Venus angles toward cautious Saturn early in the week. Perhaps you should say how you feel, but you might fear doing so. However, another more positive connection could give you the courage to speak out and express yourself honestly, and

moon on Saturday could be an invitation to pay closer attention to your dreams. When feisty Mars enters Capricorn on Saturday, your

Taurus + <" C / <= It might seem like keeping your feelings to yourself is a good thing, but is it really? You might be worried about someoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s reaction, and this could be the reason for your dilemma. Nevertheless, if you can say what you

new moon in your social sector on Saturday could inspire you to move in new circles or connect with new friends. At the same time, with feisty Mars entering your sector of exploration, travel may be on the horizon.

Gemini / <= C D <" Your social life fairly sparkles as lovely Venus and inquisitive Mercury continue their journey in this zone. However, you could be a little nervous about approaching someone because they appear special. Even if you feel intimidated, introducing yourself could bring a surprisingly positive reaction from this person.

With a new moon in your sector of career and goals on Saturday, a new idea may be well worth exploring. At the same time, feisty Mars suggests letting go of the past to make room

Cancer

D << C D <E With a positive focus on your career zone, using both charm and logic could see you making great progress. Even so, you may feel that someone is blocking your plans. If so, your best bet might be to have a heart-toheart chat with them even if you feel nervous

your sector of travel on Saturday could be a

dreaming about for some time.

Leo D <> C + <E With Mars in the last degrees of Sagittarius, the start of the week could be an opportunity to complete a creative project. If you do it now, you could feel a great sense of accomplishment.

Stirring Mars moves into Capricorn and your lifestyle sector over the weekend, so your

another reason to get it all done and dusted.

Even so, there is a lot of activity in your travel sector, and this could see you eager for new experiences.

Virgo + <> C <> As luscious Venus angles toward Saturn early in the week, you may wonder if you should share your feelings or keep them to yourself. However, this person might encourage you to speak out, and magical things could happen if you do. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t

your relationship sector over the weekend can be another reminder to be bold and have faith in your instincts. Mars enters your communication zone on Saturday, so the coming weeks could be perfect for marketing your business.

Libra

Prachi Desai: An actor is always open to experiment

<> C G << You may not see eye to eye with a family member, but perhaps this isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t as bad an issue as you think. If it encourages you to discuss key issues openly and honestly, it could lead to something positive. With the sun aligning with jovial Jupiter in your sector of values, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s possible that much good could come out of this. Over the weekend, the new moon in Pisces can be an opportunity to get

Scorpio G <E C J << A relationship could seem very special, showing great promise at the start of the week.

If you feel nervous about getting close to this person, however, it could put a little bit of a wall between you. If you feel the fear and conquer it,

at all. Feisty Mars moves into your sector of talk and thought over the weekend, and this can bring opportunities for networking and linking with those on your wavelength.

Sagitarius J <E C L << You could be geared up for adventure, especially with chatty Mercury and lovely Venus now moving through your leisure sector.

If the cost seems prohibitive, you might wonder

gain and reconsider. Even if itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s expensive,

On another note, the new moon in your home and family sector could ring in changes this weekend. Whatever project you have in mind, this is the time to start.

Capricorn L <E C D <= You might wonder if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re doing the right thing regarding a family issue. With delightful Venus angling toward sobering Saturn in your sign, you could even feel like a wet blanket putting a damper on everyoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s party spirit.

However, there may be truth in what you say, and it might be wise for family members to heed your advice. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also likely that a compromise could work equally well. Fiery Mars moves into your sign over the weekend, which could reenergize and inspire you.

Aquarius D <" C : "# You might refrain from sharing your feelings, particularly if the issue is a sensitive one. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve had experience of this yourself, you could be even less willing to talk about it.

However, it could lead to a breakthrough. Early

a barrier and speaking your truth comes as a great relief. Feisty Mars moves into your spiritual sector over the weekend, which could stir up your psyche. Be prepared for some vivid dreams.

Pisces Feb 20 - March 20

! " # going away on a trip this week, it could be a very promising one. Opportunities may show up that bring you a new lease on life. Even so, friends might question whether youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re doing the right thing. If you feel you are, take no notice.

Over the weekend, the new moon in your sign is perfect for starting toward an important goal or dream.

Prachi Desai, who will be seen in a dark urban fantasy film titled â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Koshaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, said an actor is always open to experiment with new genres.

Prachi Desai learns guitar for â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Koshaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Asked if she is looking for an image change with â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Koshaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, Prachi told â&#x20AC;&#x153;There is nothing called image change since every script has a different appeal and â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Koshaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; is something that struck a chord with me on the script and characterisation level itself. An actor is always open to experimenting with new genres.â&#x20AC;?

takes something from you or you end up giving something to it and â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Koshaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; gave me the opportunity to The actress said an urban dark explore a new side all together with fantasy is something that she was action to colouring my hair purple,â&#x20AC;? looking to do. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Every film I believe she added.

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Bollywood

Saturday, March 17, 2018 Story: A rich country bumpkin vows to go abroad and marry a white lady and get a foreign citizenship when his ego is hurt by a village drunk during a silly altercation. He seeks the help of a pretty visa agent to accomplish his mission, but life has other plans for him.

Film: ‘ RAJA ABROADIYA ’

Review: Raja (Robin Sohi) is the son of a rich landowner. He has no ambition in life and whiles away his time in the company of other time-wasters in his village. While his father is perpetually in a violent mood over Raja’s permanent state of good-for-nothingness, his mom loves him to bits. In a strange scene, with his pride injured when a village drunk accuses him of never being able to go abroad, Raja vows he will and become an Abroadiya’ (someone who gets a foreign citizenship) and approaches a visa consultant, the beautiful Preety

(Vaishnavi Patwatrdhan). In another bizarre plot point in the film, Raja fakemarries Preety and leaves for ‘abroad’ aka Germany. There, one misadventure follows another as Raja tries to hook up with white women, but in the process discovers his feelings for Preety.

Raja’s character is modelled after Govinda’s iconic Raja Babu, including clothes and habits, but is in no way as funny. The funny element in the film is largely about Punjabi stereotypes and it falls flat. The only redeeming quality of the film is the performance by Yograj Singh as Raja’s angry-yet-loving father, Succha Singh.

With an overkill of songs and a plot that has gaping holes when it comes to who loves whom and why, there is little in the film to appreciate. While at times, it does get you with its goofiness on some silly scenes, those moments are few and far between. A bad edit and shaky camera work give us a film that doesn’t fly too far.

Mar RAID

16

*ing: Ajay Devgn, Ileana D’Cruz

Mar

16

Raja Abroadiya

*ing: Robin Sohi, Vaishnavi Patwardhan

New Released Bollywood Films Mar

09

Baa Baaa Black Sheep *ing: Anupam Kher, Manjari Fadnis, Kay

Mar

16

Hichki *ing: Rani Mukerji

Mar

16

PRESHAN PRINDA *ing: Meeraj Shah, Sakshi Singh

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4

Bollywood

Diljit Dosanjh’s ‘Con.Fi.Den.Tial’ storms UK charts

S

inger Diljit Dosanjh’s new album, “Con. Fi.Den.Tial,” produced by T-Series, created history by debuting on the UK iTunes Top Albums Chart at No. 5 within a few hours of its India release. It is important to note that no Punjabi album has ever debuted on any UK mainstream music chart at such a high position within a few hours of its international release. In fact, within a few hours of its debut on the UK chart, it moved up to No. 4, breezing past Justin Timberlake’s Feb. 2- released “Man of the Woods.” “Con. Fi.Den.Tial” is currently at the No. 1 position on Indian charts, and No. 2 on the Canadian and New Zealand charts. The album has lyrics by Rav Hanjra, and the music is by Snappy. One of the first songs on the album, “High End,” saw an early solo release Feb. 20 and immediately stormed the charts and earned 14 million views on YouTube. The video, which was shot in Los Angeles, is directed by Ben Griffin, who last year had

directed the international chartbuster “Gucci Gang.”

With nine peppy tracks on the album, and all ruling the charts, this has been an experiment for both Dosanjh and Bhushan Kumar of T-Series, who dared to create an entire album at a time when most artists and music labels only create singles.

Said Kumar, “Diljit and our company worked together on another album five years ago. We realized then that he is going to be big. So, when he approached us to collaborate on this album, we didn’t hesitate to produce it for him because we believe in him and his music.

Plus, he is hugely popular with a massive following, so that helps too!” Dosanjh added, “I cannot thank Bhushan-ji enough for making this happen and also my loyal fans, who constantly believe in me and love me. I want to do more such albums because I have so much music in me, I cannot restrict it to a single.” The British editors at iTunes said, “Diljit Dosanjh uses his signature drawl

Saturday, March 17, 2018

Anushka & Virat visiting Lanka for holidays

N

ewly married couple of Anushka Sharma and Virat Kohli is mostly busy with their shoots and cricket matches, but whenever they get time together, they make the most of it. Be it with stepping out together or just chilling at home, Virushka has fans going gaga over their every move. According to reports, Sri Lanka’s sports minister, Dayasiri Jaysekera has extended a special invitation to Team India’s captain, Virat Kohli to holiday in the island nation.

Reports quoted him saying that he is not inviting Kohli to play, but he wants him to spend a few days here with his wife, Anushka. After his marriage, he has not visited Sri Lanka. Dayasiri reportedly added that the couple can be guests of his nation and there are several good places to see there. Dayasiri Jaysekera is a passionate follower of Virat and had specially come to see his batting during

India’s second Test in August last year. On Virat and Anushka’s last visit to Sri Lanka, they were famously captured planting a sapling and spending some quality time with each other.

Irrfan, Amit Trivedi get together for ‘Badla’

A

ctor Irrfan Khan, composer Amit Trivedi and rapper Divine will feature together in the ‘Blackmail’ song ‘Badla’.

It is the third song to release from the Abhinay Deo-directed movie. A quirky and comic song, it will showcase the hidden anger of Irrfan’s character.

‘Blackmail’, releasing as scheduled on April 6 on Irrfan’s insistence despite his announcement that he has been diagnosed with a “rare disease”, drew the audience interest from its teaser.

The film is poised to be a madcap comedy starring an ensemble cast of Irrfan, Kirti Kulhari, Divya Dutta, Arunoday Singh, Omi Vaidya, Anuja Sathe, Pradhuman Singh Mall and Gajraj Rao among others. It is produced by T-Series’ Bhushan Kumar and Deo’s RDP Motion Pictures. Get latest news & live updates on the go on your pc with News App. Download The Times of India news app for your device.

Read more Entertainment news in English and other languages.

Anupam Kher visits Priyanka on her tv show

A

nupam Kher met Priyanka on the sets of her TV show ‘Quantico’ here.

Anupam Kher delivers inspirational lecture on ‘the power of failure’ to college students in Boston. He posted photographs from their meeting on Twitter. “Thank you dearest Priyanka Chopra for your love and warmth. It was wonderful to come and see you on the sets of ‘Quantico’. You are a star.

As a fellow Indian, I am so proud of you and your achievements. Keep our flag flying. You are the best. Indian actor, our ambassador abroad,” he wrote.

Thank you dearest @ priyankachopra for your love & warmth. It

was wonderful to come & see you on the sets In response, Priyanka posted: “Thank you for dropping by Anupam Kher sir. Was absolutely wonderful to see you again. Mere desh ki khushboo... Good luck with what your here to do! Can’t wait to see you again.

Soon.” While Priyanka is busy shooting for the third season of her spy thriller show in New York, Anupam is shooting a TV pilot there. Priyanka plays FBI agent Alex Parrish in ‘Quantico’, which will return to the small screen on April 28. Besides ‘Quantico’, she is working on Hollywood projects like ‘A Kid Like Jake’ and ‘Isn’t It Romantic’.

Saturday, March 17, 2018

Jeetendra rubbishes claims by the cousin Film star Jeetendra has rubbished the sexual assault allegations made by his cousin.

In a statement issued by the actorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lawyer, Rizwan Siddiquee, the allegations were called â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;baseless and ridiculousâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;.

The statement read, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Foremost, my client specifically and categorically denies any such incident. Besides even otherwise such baseless, ridiculous and fabricated claims cannot be entertained by any court of law or the law enforcement agencies after a span of almost 50 yearsâ&#x20AC;?.

Siddiquee went all out and said that the law did not give any person liberties to defame a public figure for hidden personal agendas.

The statement further noted, â&#x20AC;&#x153;The statute has provided a justice delivery system through

the courts, and the Limitation Act 1963 was specifically enacted to ensure that all genuine complaints are made within a maximum time limit of three years so that a proper investigation is carried out and timely justice is deliveredâ&#x20AC;?.

The cousin emailed the complaint to the Director General of Police of Himachal Pradesh as she stated that the incident allegedly took place in Shimla in January 1971.

At that time the actor was 28 years old and the complainant was 18. She said that the actor â&#x20AC;&#x153;arrangedâ&#x20AC;? for her to join him on a film shooting schedule in Shimla where he later assaulted her in an inebriated state.

!

Bollywood

5

Film actors also use their sexuality to get things done: Ekta Kapoor Indian film and television personality Ekta Kapoor says there are powerful producers who use their position to exploit aspirants in showbiz, but then there are also actors who use their sexuality to get work. Ekta made the comment amid the hullabaloo over sexual harassment allegations that emerged across showbiz globally after several names in Hollywood came out against producer Harvey Weinstein, followed by complaints against a slew of actors and filmmakers. She was present along with actress Nimrat Kaur on Mirror Nowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s show â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Town Hallâ&#x20AC;?, hosted by journalist Barkha Dutt. She was asked if a Harvey Weinstein also exists in Bollywood, and if the #MeToo campaign has helped women come out with their story in the entertainment industry. Ekta said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Well, I think there are Harvey Weinsteins in Bollywood, but there is probably an equal number of Harvey Weinsteins on the other side of the story, but people do not want to talk about that part. Yes, there are people in power like producers who use their power to take advantage of people, but at the same time there are people on the other side, like an actor or others who need the job, would also use their sexuality to get things done. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Therefore, I believe that predators should not be put in a box based on power. It is always not true that the person who does not have power is the victim,. Citing an example, Ekta said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Being a producer, on a personal level when I talk to my male counterparts, they said they were propositioned blatantly. Is that person not a predator?

6

Saturday, March 17, 2018

have you heard?

ACTION REACTION

After Tiger Zinda Hai (2017), Salman Khan will be collaborating with Hollywood action director Tom Struthers again for Race 3. The makers have planned an elaborate climax sequence, which will be shot in Abu Dhabi

ON THE SET

Sona is killing it

A storm in a teacup

Sonakshi Sinha now refers to herself as a Pilates girl.

The actor, who switched to it recently, has managed to do the unimaginable within a month. Yesterday, the actor posted her workout snapshot (inset) and wrote, “Not too shabby, eh? Consistency is the key (sic).” Sona’s weight loss over the past year has been amazing.

Anupam Kher, who is shooting for an untitled NBC series in New York, visited Priyanka Chopra on the set of Quantico. A delighted PeeCee wrote on social media, “Mere desh ki khushboo. Good luck with what you are here to do (sic).” Kher wrote, “You are a star. As a fellow Indian, I am proud of you and your achievements. Keep our flag flying (sic).” Both made it a point to talk in Hindi.

Sunny Leone shared a picture on Instagram recently where she can be seen sitting in a garden and trying to make tea. The actor wrote, “Please don’t try making tea with only a lighter. It doesn’t work. Tried

Caught in the web

Milind’s in the army now Welcome to teenhood Raveena Tandon’s daughter Rasha turns 13 today. The doting mom has planned an elaborate bash to make her landmark birthday special.

Last evening, the celebrations kicked off on board a yacht.

The actor shared a snapshot of the cake (inset) on Instagram. She wrote, “And before you know it.

They are teenagers.

Happy 13th my baby (sic).”

it. Done it. Failed (sic).” Troll had a field day yesterday.

One asked if she wanted to have tea after a month, whil another suggested to try agarbattis as well, still others termed her a beauty without brains.

Milind Soman never fails to surprise us — whether dating a girl (Ankita Konwar) half his age or running barefoot from Mumbai to Ahmedabad in 2016 to his triathlon quests across the globe. Now, he has packed a punch in Manu Chobe’s Mukti — Birth Of A Nation, which has bagged awards and applause in the short films circuit. Based on the 1971 Indo-Bangla war, it has Milind play an army officer.

Radhika Apte and Manav Kaul’s action horror film, Ghoul, is now being turned into an English web series. The producers (Phantom Films) recently showcased the rushes to Netflix who liked the concept and decided to turn the supernatural thriller into a miniseries. Created

by Patrick Graham, it will be showcased in three parts. With Radhika and Manav known for their acting chops, it should make for an intriguing watch.

Who can Mahira say ‘I love you’ to?

Be on top of celebrity gossip with www.mid-day.com

Mahira Khan shared the stage with Simi Garewal at the recent UK Asian Film Festival in London. The Pakistani star revealed that her grandmother is still not comfortable with the idea of her working in films. Mahira quipped that her granny is particular about who she says, “I love you,” to on

screen, “but does not mind Fawad Khan.” To which Simi replied, “She does have good taste.” Mahira also bagged an award for her contribution to films and activism. The festival, which is focussing on the role of women in films, began yesterday and runs till March 25.

7

Saturday, March 17, 2018

‘Omar Sheikh turned me into a writer’ ’90s star Mukul Dev on starting a new career with Rajkummar Rao’s upcoming film Omerta SHAHEEN PARKAR shaheen@mid-day.com

Asked to comment on her hiccup moment in life, Katrina Kaif opens up on struggling with two left feet in the early days of her career

MOHAR BASU mohar.basu@mid-day.com

Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh; (top) Rajkummar Rao in Omerta; (below) Mukul Dev knew he was the best to turn to if this story had to be brought to the big screen. Hansal and Rajkummar have worked hard. In fact, the title was Hansal’s brainchild too,” says Dev, who has been penning scripts for a while.

While acting remains his first love — he is currently seen on 21 Sarfarosh: Saragarhi 1897 — he finds writing a creatively fulfilling process.

“I am keen to share my stories with likeminded filmmakers.”

Karishma sued for fraud Event manager alleges TV actor backed out of show causing losses, actor claims organisers duped her MOHAR BASU mohar.basu@mid-day.com TV actor Karishma Tanna has landed in a legal soup with Delhi-based event manager Manas Katyal accusing her of fraud. Katyal has slapped a legal notice accusing the actor of cheating, threatening and blackmailing him.

According to Katyal, a former TV actor who appeared in Rakhi Ka

KATRINA Kaif has sealed her place as one of the better dancing talents in Bollywood with numbers like Kamli (Dhoom 3, 2013), Chikni Chameli (Agneepath, 2012) and Sheila Ki Jawani (Tees Maar Khan, 2010). The actor recently trained with Prabhudheva for a fortnight and filmed a sizzling dance number for her upcoming film, Thugs Of Hindostan. However, in an interesting revelation, Kaif recently admitted how shaking a leg was the biggest hurdle she faced when she joined the film industry.

Responding to a campaign initiated by Yash Raj for their film Hichki, the actor recalled how dancing was her biggest ‘hichki’ in the beginning of her career. Recollecting her

Swayamvar, Tanna had been roped in to perform at a wedding reception in Haldwani on February 16. “We gave her the advance payment, thus booking her for the said date. However, Karishma and her entourage, including her manager Payal Rai and stylist Seema Samar Ahmed, didn’t show up at the venue. Her noshow caused us a loss of nearly 10 lakh.” He adds that Tanna had been flown down to Delhi by them and

ordeal with the latkas and jhatkas synonymous to Bollywood, she said, “I remember I was shooting for a Telugu film with Venkatesh.

The choreographer, Raju Sundaram, looked quite irritated with [the lack of] my dancing skills, but didn’t say anything. Later, while working on Wanted (2009), I overheard him telling Salman Khan that as a dancer, Katrina Kaif is zero! I was shocked to hear that.”

Determined to not let it hinder her growth as an artiste, Kaif took it upon herself to hone her dancing skills and trained in Kathak soon after. “I trained with Kathak guru, Veeru Krishnan, from 7 am to 1 pm almost every day.” She attributed choreographer duo Bosco-Caesar for helping her overcome her fears and making her enjoy the process.

“Bosco-Caesar gave me the confidence to perform to the best of my ability in Race (2008). I think this is what a good teacher does — gives a person the confidence that s/he can do it. That’s how I overcame my challenge of being a ‘zero’ dancer.”

‘When I was shooting for Wanted in 2009, I overheard choreographer Raju Sundaram tell Salman Khan that as a dancer, Katrina is zero’ was being brought to Haldwani by road when she had a change of heart. “She threatened our driver with a false case of harassment if he didn’t turn the car around and drive her back to Delhi.”

Tanna, on her part, accuses Katyal of duping her. "I was told the show was in Moradabad. When we reached Moradabad, we found out that the show was actually in Haldwani, which is another few hours from there. I had told Manas right at the start that I

have a back issue and can’t travel long distances.” Countering Katyal’s demand that she compensate for his loss, she retorts, “Why should I return the money? He should compensate me for the mental harassment that I was put through.”

Tanna’s lawyer Tushar Gujjar says they have responded to Katyal’s notice and initiated proceedings against him.

PIC/SHADAB KHAN

MUKUL Dev has director Hansal Mehta to credit for helping him understand the nuances of writing a film script. “As a writer, you want to say everything. But he taught me when to say what,” says Dev, who marks his debut as a writer with Mehta’s Omerta.

Dev had pitched the story of the Rajkummar Rao starrer to Mehta, who he has “known for ages”, after the story of Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh caught his fancy. The British terrorist of Pakistani descent, who inspired Mehta’s film, was associated with a number of terrorist organisations, and served prison time for the 1994 kidnappings of western tourists in India.

“I used to read up about him.

His story was intriguing. I started putting together facts and felt that a story on him would make for an ideal espionage thriller,” says Dev. However, churning facts into a script was no mean feat for Dev. “Hansal gave the story a structure, and improved it. He taught me the finer nuances of writing a film. I would follow a linear approach, but he taught me how to add layers to the story.”

The director also caught Dev off-guard when the latter saw the final product.

“When I saw the film, I was spellbound. No one could have dealt with the subject like he did. I

‘Was called a zero dancer’

8

Saturday, March 17, 2018

DEKH KE CHALO

Helpers are happy to assist Raveena Tandon hop aboard a ferry at Gateway of India, as she heads for daughter Rasha’s birthday party

nce his six-pack abs and da Tiger Shroff shows off ow sh dance reality moves on the set of a

ALL IN AWE Ranveer Singh chats with Mandira Bedi as they head for a football league featuring amateurs

ON THE RAMP

Vaani Kapoor and Bipasha Basu Grover are spotted walking the ramp for designers at a fashion gala in the city

Malaika Arora

IT’S HAWT Mandana Karimi takes the ‘gym look’ a notch higher in an off-shoulder top

Kajal Aggarwal

ARTSY LOVE Danish Aslam and wife Shruti Seth are seen along with Dipannita Sharma at an Assamese film festival

JUST IN PICS/SHADAB KHAN, SATEJ SHINDE, PRADEEP DHIVAR, YOGEN SHAH

TOGETHER FOREVER Post their nuptials, Gautam Rode and Pankhuri Awasthy make their first public appearance at Gauahar Khan’s fashion event

GURU, PLEASE Asha Bhosle conducts a session for students at Subhash Ghai’s film school

9

Saturday, March 17, 2018

Bali will switch off the island’s internet services for the whole of Saturday It’s news that will likely cause smartphone addicts to break into a cold sweat, but as long as you steer clear of Bali this weekend, you’ll be just fine. The Indonesian island is set to turn off mobile internet services for the whole of Saturday to mark the sacred Hindu holiday of Nyepi.

The local communications ministry told news outlets on the island that phone companies have agreed to comply with the request for Bali’s first-ever internet shutdown.

Nyepi marks the new year according to the ancient Balinese calendar and is known as the Day of Silence. As part of the celebrations, Bali’s largely Hindu population is encouraged to take some time for self-reflection. The idea was

suggested by Balinese civil and religious groups, according to the Guardian, and was accepted after the issue was discussed by the central government in Indonesia’s capital, Jakarta.

“Many Hindu people are addicted to gadgets,” Hinduism Society head Gusti Ngurah Sudiana told the BBC. “I hope during Nyepi they can be introspective.”

During the pause for reflection, some people may end up contemplating how much time they spend on social media, how few books they tend to read nowadays, and if there might be a way to get back online once their period of introspection is over.

If the internet’s temporary disappearance becomes just too much for Bali’s residents or the thousands of tourists visiting the island, they can make a beeline for the nearest hotel where Wi-Fi connections will still be available, allowing them to fire up their apps and browse the web in the usual way. Home-based internet setups will also remain available should people still want to hop online to see what they’re missing. Aware that a blanket internet shutdown could cause problems, the authorities are making sure that connections remain available for important services, among them the

Irrfan Khan is in good spirits: Abhinay Deo

I

rrfan Khan’s much-awaited official statement has left the world in shock and sadness. The actor has revealed that he is suffering from Neuroendocrine Tumour, bringing his family, friends, the film industry and fans come to a screeching halt.

Abhinay Deo, the director of his upcoming film ‘Blackmail’, who launched the song ‘Badla’ from the film, reportedly stated that the actor is in “good spirits” though he is not well and is away for treatment. He also allegedly requested all to respect the family

and their privacy on the matter. Irrfan clarified in his Twitter post that contrary to the rumours that were floating around, “NEURO” is not always about the brain and that “googling” is the easiest way to research.

Sahabzade Irfan Ali Khan was born on 7 January 1967, credited as Irrfan Khan or simply Irrfan, is an Indian film actor, known for his work predominantly in Hindi cinema, as well as his works in British films and Hollywood.

[2][3] Film critics, contemporaries and other experts consider him to be one of the finest

actors in Indian cinema for his versatile and natural acting.[4][5] Marked his screen debut in 1988 with the Academy Award nominated Salaam Bombay!, Khan received the Padma Shri (2011), India’s fourth highest civilian honour for his contribution to the field of arts.

Khan has garnered the National Film Award for Best Actor in the 60th National Film Awards 2012 and a Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actor for his performance in Paan Singh Tomar. Khan has won the 2014 Asian Film Award for Best Actor.

10

Classifieds / Jobs

Saturday, March 17, 2018

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11

Saturday, March 17, 2018

Community news Dr. M.R. Rajagopal visit to Victoria and Vancouver April 9-10, 2018 See and hear 2018 Nobel Peace Prize Nominee LIVE BUY YOUR TICKETS NOW! The event is expected to sell out!

A 2018 Nobel Peace Prize nominee from Kerala, India is coming to BC April 9-10, 2018.The BC Centre for Palliative Care and Victoria Hospice are honoured to be co-presenting the BC premiere of the feature-length documentary [ "\ ]4 Gently Shaking the World, based on the extraordinary life and work of Dr M.R. Rajagopal. The movie will be followed by a Q&A with Dr. Rajagopal, who will be in attendance. This is a must-see event for anyone interested in the power of the human spirit, human rights and social justice, and essential viewing for anyone working in health care.Dr. Rajagopal is a: 2018 Nobel Peace Prize Nominee. 2018 recipient of the Government of Indiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Padma Shri Award â&#x20AC;&#x201C; one of the highest civilian honours. Often called the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Gandhi of Modern Medicineâ&#x20AC;? and the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Father of Palliative Care in India.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;The inspirerâ&#x20AC;? for the internationally recognized model for Compassionate Communities in Kerala, India. Founding Chairman of Pallium India Palliative Care physician VICTORIA EVENT DETAILS DateMonday, April 9, 2018 Time6:30 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 8:30pm Location Cineplex SilverCity Victoria, 3130 Tillicum Road Tickets $16 per person, available at:

[ 0 E\"= VANCOUVER EVENT DETAILS Date Tuesday, April 10, 2018 Time 6:30 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 8:30pm

Location Park Theatre, 3440 Cambie St Tickets $16 per person, available at:

[ 0 EÂ&#x201A;#< Media Contact: Ariela Friedmann Manager of Communications BC Centre for Palliative Care afriedmann@bc-cpc.ca 605-553-4866 ext 225 Please note that Interviews with Dr. Rajagopal can be organized ahead of his travel to British Columbia, either for radio, print or TV (via skype or other means).

------------------------------------------------------

â&#x20AC;&#x153;HANUMAN JAYANTI â&#x20AC;&#x153; SATURDAY, MARCH 31 , 2018 *PUJA TO BE CONDUCTED

BY PUJYA SHRI PANDIT SHARADCHANDRA SHASTRIJI * AT ALL SAINTS PARISH HALL , COQUITLAM , BC; will be celebrated from TIME : 6.00 P.M. TO 8.30 P.M. ; DATE: SATURDAY. MARCH 31 , 2018.

PROGRAM : with Special HANUMAN Puja , Bhajans , Hanuman Chalisa , Bajrang Baan , Hanuman Stotra , Shiva Stotra followed by Aarti and Preeti Bhojan.

PLACE : @ ALL SAINTS PARISH HALL ,R C CHURCH ; 1405 , COMO LAKE AVENUE ,{ @ Crestwood Drive / or @ Schoolhouse Street COQUITLAM , BC .

PREETI BHOJAN : is Sponsored by â&#x20AC;&#x153; GLOBAL CARPETS â&#x20AC;&#x153; Mr. Gurinder & Mrs. Urvashi ARORA & FAMILY and Children Rosie & Yessica .

All Devotees , their Family Members , Friends & Relatives are cordially invited to join in and participate on this extremely Auspicious Celebration of LORD HANUMANJIâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S Birthday .

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12

Saturday, March 17, 2018

Nowruz celebrations in BC legislature

We invite you to

An Evening Filled with Hope & Inspiration

5,000 Years of Civilization Reborn Premier John Horgan, leader of BC New Democrats, issued the following statement on Nowruz (Persian New Year) “Today we celebrate Nowruz, the most auspicious date in the Persian Calendar. Nowruz celebrates the old and welcomes the new. For thousands of years, the Persian, Kurdish, Ismaili, and other communities have marked the return of spring and the beginning of the New Year with Nowruz celebrations.

“On Nowruz we are called to come together as families and communities to exchange gifts, and enjoy traditional delicacies. It is a time to treasure the values of peace, harmony and tolerance. “It is truly a blessing to join with our Iranian community in celebration of this inclusive and joyful holiday – a day where we are invited to look with hope upon the future.

“On behalf of myself and the New Democrat Caucus, I would like to thank the Canadian Persian community for its rich contribution to Canadian society. I wish all those across Canada and the world celebrating Nowruz a joyous spring and a prosperous new year.

“Norou zetan Pirouz.”

Shen Yun’s unique artistic vision expands theatrical experience into a multi-dimensional, deeply moving journey through one of humanity’s greatest treasures—the five millennia of traditional Chinese culture.

Featuring one of the world’s oldest art forms—classical Chinese dance—along with patented scenographical effects and all-original orchestral works, Shen Yun opens a portal to a civilization of profound wisdom and divine beauty.

“There is a massive power in this that can embrace the world. It brings great hope. It is truly a touch of heaven.”

—Daniel Herman, Minister of Culture of the Czech Republic

“These beautiful, gifted people are expressing something that’s both pure and good.”

—Philadelphia Weekly

“Epic! One of the greatest performances ever existing on the planet.

I will remember it for the rest of my life.”

—Arion Jay Goodwin, veteran music producer

“They’re performing through their spirit. It’s a breath of fresh air.

I felt a sense of happiness and peace.”

—Elvis Stojko, world champion figure skater & Olympic medalist

“The spirit of hope, beauty, and blessing ... it’s a fabulous gift to us.”

—Sine Mckenna, Canadian award-winning Celtic singer

All-New Program from New York with Live Orchestra

March 23–25

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Book Your Today!

Vol. 9 No. 7

Saturday - March 17, 2018

Judge rules Vancouver West End condo assembly can be sold off despite holdout ownersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; protests A judge has ruled that the sale of a Vancouver West End assembly can proceed despite two holdout owners who believed the sale price was too low and that they were not kept informed during the sale process.

Barclay Terrace is a 36-unit concrete complex built in 1992 and located at 1075 Barclay St. in Vancouverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s West End. Of the 36 units in the building, 34 belong to two corporations, Barclay Thurlow Property Inc. (BTPI) and Shepstone Investments Inc.,

referred to as the majority owners. BTPI is affiliated with Westbank Corporation and Shepstone with Bosa Properties Ltd. The units had been gradually purchased by the companies from individual owners with the goal of winding up the strata corporation and selling the property for redevelopment.

According to B.C. strata bylaws, owners can force a sale if 80 per cent agree; with 34 of the 36 units in hand, BTPI and Shepstone owned 94 per cent of the strata vote.

An adjacent complex of four two-storey townhomes was also bought by Shepstone to be sold as part of the assembly.

The remaining two units at Barclay Terrace belong to Grace and Lisa Francescato and Ramin Malekmohammadi Nouri, referred to as the minority owners in court documents.

The Francescatos had been in discussions to sell their suite to the majority owners in 2016 for $1.9 million, but the sale fell through after the Francescatos raised their price to $2.1 million and then changed their minds.

Westbank Corporation and Bosa Properties Ltd. are looking to build two residential towers with 643 units at 10401080 Barclay Street. Artist rendering / PNG Nouri had been contacted by the majority owners in 2015 and 2016 to sell his unit but

Continued on next pages

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14

Real Estate

Vancouver West End condo assembly can be sold off From page 13 he refused on both occasions. In early 2017, BTPI offered Nouri $3.5 million to sell and said they were “prepared to offer more.”

“According to … the realtor engaged by BTPI to negotiate with Mr. Nouri, Mr. Nouri said his price was $10 million,” read court documents.

When told the “figure was absurd” but that a counteroffer would be entertained, Nouri lowered his price to $9.75 million.

The negotiations ceased.

After a purchase offer for the complex was made

by Grand World Holdings Ltd. in June 2017 for a price of $105 million, the majority owners applied to the court to confirm its resolution to wind down the strata and proceed with the sale. They also notified the holdout owners of the deal struck, and informed the Francescatos they would receive $2.7 million and Nouri $2.2 million as part of the sale.

The minority owners, however, opposed the application based on their beliefs that they weren’t adequately consulted during the sale process and that the sale price is too low.

In his decision dated March 13, 2018, Justice Warren B. Milman ruled that the minority owners were as informed as could be since the majority owners were required to keep the details of the sale agreement confidential.

Milman also said the holdout owners had fair warning as to what the future was likely to hold for Barclay Terrace. “The minority owners were not taken by surprise by what occurred,” wrote Milman. “They were able

to see the writing on the wall by late 2015 or early 2016, when the majority owners sought and then acquired a controlling block in pursuit of their patent agenda to redevelop the property. “At that point, a dissolution and sale of Barclay Terrace was all but inevitable (and, in the case of the Francescatos at least,

Saturday, March 17, 2018 Last month’s sales of detached properties rang in 39.4 per cent lower than the 10-year average for the month of February. Cameron Muir, chief economist at the B.C. Real Estate Association, said what the province calls a speculation tax is more accurately described as largely a vacancy tax that will scare Albertans away from buying recreational property in major swaths of B.C. and spur others to sell their existing secondary homes and look at places such as Palm Springs, Calif.

“There will be substitutes outside of Canada that will be considered,” Mr. Muir said. “I would argue that if you’re buying a B.C. place in Nanaimo or Parksville as an Albertan, you might be planning on living there full time when you retire, but that isn’t the same as purchasing in Palm Springs.” Real estate economist Tom Davidoff of the University of British Columbia’s Sauder School of Business said he supports the NDP’s move against Albertans and residents from other provinces, though he acknowledges

Stress tests, foreign buyers and higher rates likely to impact housing market in 2018

initially welcomed).” As for the sale price, the judge noted that the assessed value – which the minority owners suggest is closer to $150 million – is based on the assumption that all 36 units and the adjacent townhomes are sold as a controlling block under one owner. He also rejected the notion that the minority owners were being unfairly treated or that the sale price was prejudiced against them. “In the end, the minority owners are to receive enormous premiums over the 2017 assessed values of their units as a result of the efforts of the majority owners in marshalling the combined properties for sale as an assemblage,” he wrote.

Two percentage points higher than whatever rate able to get from a lender. At the five-year average posted rate, according to the Bank of Canada, which currently sits at 4.99 per cent. Anyone who fails the test can’t get the loan they are applying for, which means they’ll have to either buy something less expensive with a smaller mortgage or sit out entirely. It’s not just a concern for first-timers either, and it could lead to a surge in unregulated lending, said Ratehub Inc. co-founder James Laird.

“Canadians who need to refinance and no longer qualify will be forced this way, while

some who are looking to purchase and no longer qualify with a regulated lender will choose to go this way,” Laird said.

That’s far from the universal view, however. While the OSFI rules are significant, economist Doug Porter at the Bank of Montreal says he expects the market will largely be able to withstand the impact of new stress tests, just as it has withstood other policy changes.

Property assessment data shows big increases for many condo and townhouse owners Condominium and townhouse owners throughout Greater Vancouver and the Fraser Valley will likely get a shock when they open their property assessment notices this week, thanks to a region-wide increase in strata property values. On Tuesday, B.C. Assessment released its 2018 property assessment data, that showed across Greater Vancouver there were assessment increases in the five- to 35-per-cent range between July 1, 2016 and July 1, 2017. In the Fraser Valley, the increases ranged from 10 to 40 per cent. “The strata market is quite different. It’s been very robust — it’s really outstripped the single-family market,” said B.C. Assessment spokesperson Tina Ireland.

Last month, the authority sent warning letters to 67,000 homeowners, telling them to expect above average increases on their 2018 property assessment notices.

According to B.C. Assessment data, Vancouver strata homes went up on average 15.2 per cent over the previous year’s assessment, while in Surrey they went up 23.8 per cent. The City of Langley saw an even bigger jump — 26.2 per cent. A typical strata townhouse in Whistler Village went up 30 per cent, while a townhouse in Squamish’s Garibaldi Estates saw a 20-percent increase. “I think the extent to which things really cooled down in single family but not in condos was very, very striking because we tend to think of condos as something where you can add more supply, and single family it’s harder to add more supply,” said Tsur Somerville, professor and director of the University of B.C.’s Centre for Urban

Economics and Real Estate.

Since the assessments took place on July 1, Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver president Jill Oudil said the trend has continued. “Detached has calmed a bit, although it’s still what we consider a balanced market,” she said. “Condos and townhomes haven’t changed as far as both being in high demand.” Port Coquitlam Mayor Greg Moore, who also chairs the Metro Vancouver board of directors, said it’s not a surprise to see condo and townhouse assessments going up. It happened in Vancouver a number of

years ago, and now the suburbs are catching up. Strata residential values went up about 20 per cent in PoCo, and a typical low-rise condo in the city’s downtown saw a 28 per cent increase. “What I hear most about is not necessarily the assessment percentage going up, it’s how unaffordable it is for people to now even afford a condo in the suburbs,” Moore said. Somerville agreed that the affordability of condos and townhomes is “worrisome.” “When you see a lot of price appreciation in the thing that’s really the entry level product, then you’re really more concerned about people being shut

Real Estate

Saturday, March 17, 2018

15

Condo developer demands 15% more money from buyers after project hits delays in New Westminster

A

group of prospective homeowners in New Westminster are crying foul after being told they need to pay tens of thousands dollars more for their presale condominiums or risk losing their future homes — despite signing a contract nearly two years ago. Earlier this month, Jago Development notified buyers of the Westbourne Residences project at 5th Avenue and 13th Street that the purchase price of their homes would be increasing by 15 per cent to cover unforeseen cost overruns caused by major delays. It was gut-wrenching news for Laurie Macleod, 55, who had poured his life savings into his dream one-bedroom condominium after renting his

whole life.

Worried your presale condo might be cancelled? Research the developer first “If I do not live here in this development, I will never be able to buy a home again. I won’t be able to afford a down payment,” he said holding back tears. The cost increase means another $40,000 out of his pocket — money he doesn’t have.

The 55-unit project was sold in 2016 at about $475 per square foot, according to the developer. Prices in nearby developments are now closer to $600 and as much as $700 per square foot depending on proximity to the Fraser River.

Westbourne Residences was expected to be complete in the spring or

summer of 2017. That date has been pushed back until this summer.

In a statement, Jago Development vicepresident Jennifer Tung wrote she was “deeply troubled” by the turn of events and that the company was doing all it could to complete the project while keeping the best interests of its clients in mind. It blames factors beyond its control for the delays, including the discovery of an underground stream, the icy winter of 2016/17 and a labour shortage.

All are circumstances that Macleod says an experienced developer like Jago should have had contingency plans for. He and other homeowners are now mobilizing in hopes of

Woman fined for living in condo left to her by mother It was meant to be a gift to pay the fines that from her dying mother. now amount to more But not only is Coralee than $15,000, and Stevens not allowed to live continue to grow, in the condo she inherited though she says she no — it is also costing her longer lives in the suite. thousands of dollars in fines.

Stevens lives on a Stevens’ mother died in disability pension.

2015. She left her condo She said she was told unit in Central Heights by provincial officials Manor in Abbotsford, B.C., that she couldn’t to Stevens. The building rent out the unit is for residents aged 55 because she receives An Abbotsford woman living on and older. Stevens is 48. a disability pension. disability is wondering what happened “She believed I would No one from to compassion after being ordered to pay have a home for the thousands of dollars in fines because the condo strata rest of my life,” Stevens was available she’s too young to live there. said.

“She worked for an interview. her entire life to give me this home.”

Tony Gioventu, with the Condominium BC Supreme Court documents show Home Owners’ Association of B.C., Stevens wrote a letter to the strata, requesting says the age restriction is enforceable. an exemption from the age restriction.

“The difficulty the strata corporation The strata rejected the request, but has is they didn’t have any choice,” said according to court documents, Stevens moved Gioventu. “There is no exemption ever in anyway. As a result, the strata imposed granted for age restriction bylaws.” fines of $200 per week, which she didn’t pay.

He urges anyone who is inheriting Owes more than $15,000 a condominium to read the bylaws.

Eventually, the strata took Stevens Stevens is now looking for a to court in a bid to collect the fines. lawyer to help her sell the home.

A BC Supreme Court ruling forced Stevens

#106 - 7565 132 St. Surrey, BC 604.572.3005

finding an alternative solution. Some have even posted signs on nearby posts to round up others like them. “I don’t want to lose my unit,” he said. Buyers have until Feb. 28 to agree to pay the extra money. For those who give up their purchase, the developer is offering options that promise some return on investment in recognition of the “sacrifice” buyers made.

Buyers can choose to take back their deposit and receive an additional 50 per cent. Or, if they are willing to wait until the units are sold to new homeowners at a higher price, they can get 40 per cent of the difference between the new and original sale price, minus administrative costs such as taxes, legal fees and commissions.

16

Garry Grewal

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