www.theasianstar.com Vol 20 - Issue 1
South Asian community giant Charan Gill passes away at 84 Over 5 decades, Charan Gill sought to protect workers, seniors and women and led fight against racism in BC. Tributes are pouring in for Charan Gill, who is being remembered as a passionate community leader who championed social justice in B.C. by fighting racism and supporting causes including better standards for immigrant workers and women’s rights. Gill, a recipient of the Order of B.C., died at Langley Memorial Hospital on Tuesday morning after a fight with cancer, his family near his side. He was 84. His dedication to human rights over his lifetime is being lauded by politicians, activists, friends and family. Gill was outspoken with a big personality, yet down to earth. He often wore a fedora hat and colourful rings on his hands. Satbir Cheema, CEO of the Progressive Intercultural Community Services Society, described him as a “straight shooter” and a crusader for many causes. Gill established the society in 1987 using $80 in contributions from friends. It now employs more than 150 people and has became a multi-million-dollar non-profit organization dedicated to helping others, Cheema said. “He will be missed. ... once in a lifetime you come across such people who do so much selflessly for the community,” he said. Gill was born in Hong Kong and raised by his mother — who was widowed when Gill was two years old — and educated in India. After immigrating to Canada in 1967, he took different jobs including work at a mill and then continued his education to become a social worker. His interest in social causes accelerated to activism to help immigrant workers, seniors and women facing domestic abuse.
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Saturday, February 6, 2021
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BC political parties reap more millions from public subsidy Calling a snap election in October 2020 netted Premier John Horgan’s B.C. NDP more than $2 million in election expense reimbursements, while the B.C. Liberals collected more than $1.5 million and the B.C. Greens got back more than $300,000. Election expense reimbursements are on top of the per-vote subsidy paid to parties each year in a program brought in by Horgan’s minority government in 2017, to replace revenue from corporate and union donations. Those were banned by the NDP changes, and
Horgan’s pre-election vow not to use public subsidies was reversed after the election, in a bill that ended up being supported by all parties. Financing reports released Monday by Elections B.C. showed the governing NDP received $2.15 million in reimbursed expenses. The party received $5.45 million in political contributions, but with the taxpayer subsidy, the party was able to spend $7.6 million to win a majority government in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Continued on page 6
Two criminals from Vancouver’s homeless camp arrested for brutally murdering 78-year-old South Asian woman Vancouver police have arrested two men accused of posing as police officers and violently attacking an elderly woman in her home last weekend, who has since died of her injuries. Police said Wednesday the two suspects were arrested on Tuesday, the same day 78-year-old Usha Singh died in hospital. Court records now show 41-year-old Pascal Bouthillette has been charged with murder while Sandy Parisian, 47, faces a manslaughter charge in connection to Singh’s death. Both charges were sworn against the men on Wednesday. “This was a
A South Asian woman murdered in her home in Vancouver, last week. Continued on page 7
Surrey RCMP officer arrested in anticorruption probe A young Surrey Mountie has been arrested after an anticorruption probe, Postmedia has learned. RCMP E Division spokesperson Dawn Roberts confirmed the “probationary” member with less than two years’ experience “has been removed from operations and suspended.” She would not provide more details of the investigation except to say it was not being done by Surrey RCMP, but by another unit. “B.C. RCMP became aware of information and launched a criminal investigation,” Roberts said. “It remains active
and ongoing.” The name of the officer will not be released “as charges have not been laid.” Roberts said there is also an internal code of conduct investigation underway. “While I can’t provide specifics with respect to the nature of the allegations, I can confirm that once we became aware, immediate actions were taken,” she said. “A divisional (headquarters) unit outside of the Surrey RCMP conducted the criminal investigation and the matter is now subject to a charge assessment.” Continued on page 7
Canadian pharma company plans to import Covishield anti-Covid-19 doses from India A Canadian company, which was not identified, is looking at importing 50,000 doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, developed in the UK and manufactured by the Pune-based Serum Institute of India under the Covishield brand. While Canada is struggling to buy sufficient Covid-19 vaccine doses for its population, a private pharma company in the country is in discussions
with the Indian government to secure doses of the Covishield vaccine. Indian officials confirmed the talks, saying it was “a query, not a final deal”. The Canadian company, which was not identified, is looking at importing 50,000 doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, developed in the UK and manufactured by the PuneContinued on page 7