The Asian Star January 13 2018

Vol 16 - Issue 50

Saturday, January 13, 2018

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Saturday, January 13, 2018

South Asian man jailed for 4 years for 2006 shooting that left 1 dead Fushpinder Singh Brar has been sent to prison for the shooting of a man who died six years later.

Brar was sentenced to four years in prison for the slaying of Mahdi Halane after a confrontation at a gas station in Surrey.

The Oct. 2006 incident saw Halane shot in the neck. His spinal cord was severed and he was left a quadriplegic. RCMP charge man with manslaughter in 2006 Surrey

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cold case Halane died in 2012 and police say his death was a result of the shooting years earlier. Brar was arrested in 2015 and charged with manslaughter.

In addition to his four-year sentence, the B.C. Prosecution Service said Brar will submit his DNA to a national databank and face a 10-year ban on owning firearms.

Police confirm dead man found in Surrey was victim of homicide Police are confirming that a man found dead inside a Surrey home on Sunday was the victim of a homicide. On Jan. 7, homicide police were called to investigate after a man’s body was found inside a home in the 17800-block of 64 Avenue.

The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team has since identified the victim as Shawnn Patrick Cotter, 37.

“Cotter is a Surrey resident, and from the evidence gathered so far investigators believe that his death is not random,” said Cpl. Meghan Foster of IHIT. At this time, there is nothing to indicate

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the death is connected to any other violent acts in the Lower Mainland.

Homicide police are continuing to work with Surrey RCMP and forensics to determine Cotter’s exact cause of death. Records show that Cotter has a court history including possession of a controlled substance and breach of probation. Anyone with information about Cotter’s activities leading up to his death is asked to contact investigators at 1-877-551-IHIT (4448), or by email at ihitinfo@rcmp-grc.gc.ca.

Those who wish to remain anonymous can contact Crime Stoppers by phone at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

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www.theasianstar.com Vol 16 - Issue 50

Happy Lohri from The Asian Star and Punjabi Star

Saturday, January 13, 2018

Tel:604-591-5423

India’s first female ice hockey team to visit Canada

Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson to quit

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n what he called “one of the hardest decisions of [his] life,” Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson has announced he will not run for re-election on Oct. 20.

“Ten years is a long time in politics,” he said, speaking at a press conference staged outside Va n c o u v e r City Hall on We d n e s d a y.

Vancouver Mayor “An important part of leadership is to know when to make space for new voices and leaders.”

Robertson, 53, said the decision was “intensely personal” and that he would not remain in politics in any capacity: municipal, provincial or federal. He said he had no concrete plans for when his term ends at the end of October.

Robertson said the choice not to run again was “one of the hardest decisions of my life.” 3 terms in office Robertson was first elected mayor in 2008 after serving as MLA for Vancouver-Fairview with the provincial NDP. He was reelected mayor in 2011 and 2014, leading a Vision Vancouver slate at city hall. He said his biggest achievement in office has been helping make Vancouver a green, Continued on page 7

On the frozen ice lakes of Ladakh, women from India gear up to play hockey

Story on page 7

Gov’t accused of ‘secretly’ extradite honour killing suspects to India The Canadian government “secretly” conspired last fall with India to whisk away two B.C. residents accused in an alleged overseas honour killing before their legal options had been exhausted and without regard for new evidence, their lawyers allege in court filings. The documents obtained by the National Post outline for the first time details of how the accused pair were awoken in the “dead of night” and transported from Vancouver to Toronto

without their lawyers’ knowledge and the feverish steps their lawyers later took to halt their extradition. What transpired last September amounted to a clear “abuse of process,” their lawyers allege in the B.C. Court of Appeal filings dated Dec. 15. Police in India allege Surjit Singh Badesha and his sister, Malkit Kaur Sidhu, Canadian citizens living in the Vancouver area, ordered the killing of Sidhu’s daughter, Jaswinder Sidhu, after she had Continued on page 6

South Asian drunk driver released after five months of his 3 years sentence Four years after her son was killed by a drunk driver, a Calgary mother joined two Alberta MPs to call for tougher sentences for those convicted of the crime. Francis Pesa, 20, was driving on Metis Trail on New Year’s Day in 2014 when his vehicle was hit by a drunk driver. Kulwinder Singh Chohan, now 40, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to three years in jail. He was released after serving five months. Francis Pesa’s family wants justice in alleged drunk-driving death “Francis’s killer is free,” his mother, Grace Pesa, said Tuesday. “I’m not a vindictive person.

What I have been working on, and I will continue to work on until I die, is that this crime should have a fitting sentence across Canada.” Pesa, who had returned to Calgary just two hours earlier from the Philippines, suffered massive injuries in the crash and spent several days in hospital. He underwent at least four surgeries before he died. His girlfriend, who was also in the car at the time of the accident, survived. Grace was joined by

Continued on page 6

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EDITORIAL

Saturday, January 13, 2018

Andrew Weaver puts the squeeze on Premier Horgan on foreign buyers Umendra Singh

BC Greens leader Andrew Weaver is in a position to be more effective in holding the governing NDPers feet to fire than the official Opposition.

In the latest example, Weaver has threatened to put before the house a private members bill banning foreigners from buying residential property if the NDP does not do it.

Premier John Horgan seems to have developed amnesia about his party’s campaign promise to deal with foreigner buyers speculating in residential properties in Metro Vancouver and driving up the price of homes for tax-paying locals. The NDP government has done nothing about this since assuming power. At least the previous BC Liberal government put up a 20 percent surtax on foreigners buying properties here. NDP, while in Opposition, complained that this tax was not enough to deter foreign speculators and help locals.

When I asked Horgan at a press conference last month about what his government

intends to do about this, he basically said his government will do nothing. He whimpered that he does not want to hurt the investments of those who already own homes and those in construction business by limiting foreign speculation in BC real estate. Apparently neither he nor his government doesn’t care about those British Columbians who can no longer afford to purchase homes because foreign speculation has driven prices sky high.

Along comes Weaver - apparently inspired by the New Zealand‘ s new Prime Minister who swept to power by defeating traditional political parties by promising to ban foreign buyers from purchasing properties in New Zealand.

That ban came into effect in New Zealand this past January 1. By the way, New Zealand also has proportional representation style of electing governments - something that Weaver wants in BC to help smaller parties like the BC Greens become more relevant.

So Weaver hopes here for a similar result as in New Zealand. So this past week, he

threatened NDP government to either ban foreign investment in residential real estate or he will force them to do it by introducing a private members bill in the Legislature. This should wake Premier Horgan anD his gang from their slumber on real estate.

www.theasianstar.com # 202 - 8388, 128 St.,

Letter to the Editor

PICS Diversity Village ‘will be built’ There are rumours circling around that PICS plans to sell the land at 175/64 Ave. This is a false rumour . I believe this rumour is untrue. The board, staff and membership are committed to carry on its work.

I have left PICS due to personal reasons. After 30 years working for PICS I had to find different meaning of life. It has been a great adjustment. Now my meaning in life is to look after my wife and my health.

It has been a great pleasure to work for our community. I had envisioned a few things to accomplish. Which I did to my satisfaction. Now I would like to have full retirement and enjoy my life. I never had luxury of joy of not working.

I am finding a new meaning of being retired, unemployed and overworked.

However, I will continue to be interested in PICS well being as clearly it’s my baby. Being a founding president I continued to work relentlessly for thirty years. During this time several people came and gone. Only a few committed souls remain. I will continue to work behind the scenes to ensure that Diversity Village will become a reality soon. Pi’s has and will continue to meet the needs of community.7 Dr. Charan Gill, M.A., M.S.W., O.B.C.

Surrey, BC V3W 4G2 Ph: 604-591-5423 Fax: 604-591-8615 E-mail: editor@theasianstar.com Editor: Umendra Singh Associate Editor: Chhavi Disawar Marketing and Sales: Ravinder S. Cheema........604-715-3847 Shamir Doshi....................604-649-7827 Harminder Kaur...............778-708-0481 Parminder Dhillon..........778-859-9234 Layout: Avee J Waseer Pre-Press: Iftikhar Ahmed Contributing writers: Jag Dhatt, Akash Sablok, Kamila Singh, Jay Bains

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New address: # 202 - 8388, 128 St., Surrey, BC V3W 4G2 All advertising in The Asian Star is subject to the publishers’ approval and the advertiser agrees to indemnify the publishers against claims arising from publication of any advertisement submitted by the advertiser.

Saturday, January 13, 2018

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LOCAL

Saturday, January 13, 2018

Drunk driver released after five months of his 3 years sentence From page 1

by St. Albert-Edmonton MP and shadow justice minister Michael Cooper and CalgaryConfederation MP Len Webber at a press conference in Calgary to call for mandatory minimum sentences for drunk drivers who kill others. “Francis was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time,” said Cooper, who called the three-year sentence “pathetic.” “It’s an outrage because it clearly does not match the seriousness and gravity of the crime committed. What this case illustrates is that when it comes to holding impaired drivers accountable to the fullest extent of the law, Canada’s criminal justice system is broken.” St. Albert-Edmonton MP Michael Cooper is calling on the Liberal government to make minimum sentencing harsher for those convicted of impaired driving causing death.

The group said they want to see mandatory

minimum sentences added to Bill C-46, which is before the Senate. “We’re not doing this because we’re being vindictive, we’re not doing this out of anger or out of hate,” said Pesa’s brother, Hervin.

“We’re doing this because of love, not even for our family, it’s the love for everyone else … that will be sharing the road. It’s not about sentencing....

The bottom line is being able to change the perception so this is a crime, and people don’t see this as an accident.” Cooper said four to five Canadians are killed each day as a result of impaired driving, and thousands more are injured each year.

From page 1

Honour killing suspects

secretly married Sukhwinder Singh Sidhu, a rickshaw driver, instead of a wealthier older man who had been chosen for her.

Jaswinder Kaur “Jassi” Sidhu, with her husband Sukhwinder Singh Sidhu. Handout The couple were attacked by armed men in 2000 in the Punjab region of India. Jaswinder Sidhu’s body was found the next day, her throat slit.

Her husband was badly beaten. A B.C. trial court judge approved the pair’s extradition in 2014, but the decision was overturned on appeal. Last September, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled the extradition could go ahead, citing assurances the federal government had received that the pair would not be mistreated.

But prior to the top court decision, lawyers for the accused presented the Justice Department with evidence they said raised fresh concerns about mistreatment and torture of prisoners in India.

Included in the evidence were affidavits from various people who had been held in custody in India, including two other co-accused from the same case. “Both of these affidavits disclose what can only be described as shocking prison conditions,” Michael Klein, Badesha’s lawyer, wrote to the department.

One affidavit described the presence of flies and mosquitoes in the jails and the ease with which disease could spread. Another affidavit stated that whenever a prisoner falls sick, “there is no arrangement of doctors and the sick persons (sic) dies.”

But on Sept. 20, before the justice minister had rendered a decision on that new information, the accused were transferred to the Vancouver International Airport, their lawyers say. Badesha says in an affidavit he was approached by guards at the North Fraser Pretrial Centre at 5:30 a.m. and told to get ready to be moved. “I thought I was going to be moved to another unit within the institution, but then the guards said to put all my belongings into a bag, including bed sheets, pillows and laundry,” he said. Extradition of B.C. mother, uncle for alleged honour killing halted by last-minute ruling Mother and uncle in alleged ‘honour killing’ trial threatened daughter’s secret husband with death: Crown Suspected ‘honour killing’ victim sought help from the RCMP two months before her death, court hears He was taken to an office and told by RCMP officers that Indian police would be taking him back to India. “I asked to contact my lawyer, Michael Klein. … I was not permitted to make the call to my counsel.” Outside, he saw his sister, Sidhu, who had been held at the Alouette Correctional Centre for Women, waiting in a separate car.

At the airport, they boarded an Air Canada flight and were escorted to seats at the back of the plane “I was on one side of the plane with police officers and my sister and the police officers escorting her were on the other side,” Badesha recalled. They flew to Toronto and were told to wait. Back in Vancouver, counsel for the accused learned from “rumours and online publications” the accused might be on their way to India, according to a filing by Sidhu’s lawyer, Greg DelBigio. DelBigio said the Justice Department responded that same day, stating: “Contrary to reports in the Indian media, I can confirm that Mr. Badesha and Ms. Sidhu have not yet been surrendered to India or into the custody of the Punjab/Indian Police. … To clarify our position, we have undertaken not to surrender them before the minister makes a decision on whether to reconsider. However should she decide not to reconsider they may be immediately removed.”

LOCAL

Saturday, January 13, 2018 From page 1

Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson to quit From page 1 and prosperous city admired around the globe. “I will leave the place a lot stronger than when we came in and that’s important. That said, we still haven’t solved everything.” the mayor

said, citing affordable housing and transit as two priorities.

As recently as October, Robertson had told reporters that he did plan to run again.

Biggest regret Robertson has faced numerous challenges during his time as mayor.

One of those has been housing affordability. The mayor had vowed to end street homelessness by 2015, but the numbers have increased over the last decade.

However, Robertson said he doesn’t regret setting that goal.

“It’s frustrating that we didn’t get there,” he said. “I think we’ve done more than any city in Canada for homelessness and affordable housing but we’ve got to keep doing more.”

Vancouver Mayor Robertson

Robertson became emotional when he spoke about what he considered to be his biggest regret over the last 10 years.

“I regret not spending enough time with family and friends. That’s what I grappled with over the holidays,” he said.

“Being in politics is a challenging lifestyle. My youngest daughter just had her college graduation, but for a lot of her high school school years I wasn’t there.”

Had he won the upcoming municipal election, he would have eclipsed Philip Owen as the only person to win four consecutive terms as mayor in the city’s modern era. Robertson also would have surpassed Louis D. Taylor as the city’s longest-serving mayor during his term.

It’s been the greatest honour of my life to serve this extraordinary city and help make Vancouver an inspiration to people and cities around the world,” Robertson wrote in a Facebook post Wednesday.

“

www.theasianstar.com

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India’s first female ice hockey team to visit Canada

Every winter morning, in temperatures that often dip to minus 30, a girls’ hockey team heads out for its daily skate. The practice is not in Canada but on a frozen lake in the Himalaya Mountains of northern India.

India’s first women’s ice hockey team was unknown until about a year ago when a video went viral and changed their fortune.

Four-time Canadian ice hockey Olympian Hayley Wickenheiser and Stanley Cup champion Andrew Ference are among 13 people heading to the remote village of Ladakh to empower the group of unexpected young female hockey players.

The group left Vancouver Thursday morning for New Delhi.

“I think we have 60 bags we checked of hockey equipment we’re taking up to the

Himalayas,” said Ference before boarding a flight at YVR. The visit will prepare the Indian women for a trip to Canada in November 2018 to the Wickenheiser World Female Hockey Festival, in Calgary. “It’s a bit of an exchange opportunity,” said Wickenheiser.

“It’s just a great way to grow the game of hockey and maybe help them help themselves through their life as well.”

The equipment going to India with Wickenheiser and Ference includes

donations from the NHL Players’ Association and various other hockey organizations.

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LOCAL

Gangster Jamie Bacon will remain in jail while he awaits trial on a charge of counselling murder.

The Red Scorpion leader was denied bail in B.C. Supreme Court on Tuesday morning, keeping him behind bars after more than eight

Saturday, January 13, 2018 years already spent in pre-trial custody. He has pleaded not guilty and faces a jury trial in April.

In December, charges of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder were stayed against Bacon in a separate case, the Surrey Six

Mandeep Sandhu Law Corp.

Slain Chris Mohan’s mom pleased that Jamie Bacon has been denied bail slayings, which saw six people killed in an apartment building in 2007. The victims of that gangland hit included two innocent bystanders, 22-yearold Chris Mohan and 55-yearold Ed Schellenberg.

Mohan’s mother Eileen was in the courtroom Tuesday to hear that Bacon would stay behind bars, and she told reporters she was pleased with the outcome. “We’ve had enough bloodshed in the community,” she said. “It will keep our communities safe, it will keep Mr. Bacon safe, and we would not want anything to happen to another innocent family.” Justice Kathleen Ker’s decision to stay charges against Bacon in the Surrey Six murders was called “a setback for all of us” by Premier John Horgan. When Crown prosecutors announced their intention to appeal, they said it was in the public interest.

soon

E-mail: info@sandhulaw.ca

The court proceedings that led to the stay were mostly conducted behind closed doors. However, an abbreviated ruling revealed defence lawyers had possession of privileged information that affected Bacon’s right to a fair trial but could not be used in his defence. Two other men, Cody Haevischer and Matthew Johnston, are now serving life sentences with no chance of parole for 25 years in connection with the murders. Legal proceedings connected to the Surrey Six case have dragged on for years, complicated at times by allegations of police misconduct. Four Mounties have been charged with breach of trust, obstruction of justice and fraud in connection with their investigation of the case. All were accused of sexual contact with protected witnesses.

Saturday, January 13, 2018

A pedestrian hit by a car early Friday, RCMP investigating Residents are being asked to avoid part of 192 Street in South Surrey on Friday morning after a pedestrian was hit by a car. Shortly before 5 a.m., Surrey RCMP responded to a report of a pedestrian being struck in the 3000-block of 192 Street.

When they arrived, officers found a man injured after being hit by a vehicle. He was transported to hospital in unknown

condition. Surrey RCMP say the driver of the vehicle remained at the scene.

Mounties say traffic in the area will be affected for an undetermined length of time as officers continue their investigation.

All traffic on 192 street between 32 Avenue and 28 Avenue has been shut down, and police are asking people to avoid the area.

Vancouver teacher suspended after student passes out from headlock A Vancouver teacher has been suspended after putting a female student in a headlock in gym class, causing her to pass out.

According to documents from the British Columbia Commissioner for Teacher Regulation, Weldon Cheung was working as a high school teacher in School District 39 in Vancouver when the incident occurred.

The report says that Cheung was teaching a self-defence class in May 2017, when a 15-yearold female student asked if she could learn how to get out of a headlock.

Cheung then put the student in a headlock.

According to the document, the student “described the hold being so tight that she could not breathe, causing her to struggle and panic and grab at Cheung’s forearms.”

Cheung and the student both fell to the ground with the student unconscious.

She later said her neck and shoulders were sore. According to the document released last month, Cheung did not call the school’s first aid attendant, contact school administration or tell the student’s parents about the incident.

Not an isolated incident

Earlier in May, Cheung asked the same student to demonstrate the proper technique for a sit-up. The documents said that Cheung then hit her in the stomach several times with a closed fist, leaving her with bruises on her abdomen.

In September, the Vancouver School District issued Cheung a disciplinary letter and suspended him for 10 days without pay. In December, the B.C. Teachers Regulation Branch suspended

Cheung for two more weeks.

According to a second document from the B.C. Teachers Regulation Branch, Cheung was also reprimanded in 2011 by the B.C. College of Teachers.

The document says he used inappropriate language while talking to a student about her relationship with her boyfriend, and referred to his own sexual relationships. At the time Cheung was told to complete the College’s professional boundaries workshop.

Chinese developer took $2.68-million cash loan in Richmond coffee shop, legal filings allege Paul King Jin, the B.C. Lottery Corp.-banned lender at the centre of an investigation into alleged transnational money laundering in B.C. casinos, claims that he delivered a $2.68-million cash loan to a Chinese real estate developer in a Richmond coffee shop. In B.C. Supreme Court filings, Jin says that on Dec. 24, 2015, he met a man named Xiao Bing Liu at a coffee shop on Richmond’s No. 3 Road to deliver “a significant amount of money.” Liu, however, claims that he only signed a document in exchange for gambling chips at an illegal casino in Richmond, and that he does not owe Jin any money.

The case appears to shed light on elements of the RCMP’s E-Pirate investigation. In 2015, the RCMP targeted an alleged organizedcrime network accused of delivering cash loans sourced from drug traffickers to VIP gamblers at Richmond’s River Rock Casino, and also running illegal casinos in Richmond attended by so-called “whale” gamblers from China.

In late August, at a Vancouver conference attended by law enforcement officials, RCMP Insp. Bruce Ward outlined the details of E-Pirate. Without naming the suspect he was talking about, Ward said that in late 2015 E-Pirate targeted a number of residences and

several illegal casinos in Richmond. “These are some of the illegal casinos he was setting up. He thought he could double-end it,” Ward said. “Not only loan the money, but then run the casino and take the profits.”

Ward explained the complex methods by which organized criminals run illegal casinos without having any cash on premises.

“The way our laws are written, now when they build the illegal casinos, there is no cash,” Ward said. “You go to another place of business and you sign a loan. You (gamble in the illegal casino, and) record what you lose, or what you win. Then you go back to the place of business and pay off your debt, from the loan you took out.” Jin’s claim that Liu has not repaid a $2.68-million loan is supported by an affidavit from “housewife” Jian Qiu Rong. Rong’s statement says that both she and Liu are from Shenyang, and she had heard of him “through my circle of friends in China.”

Rong says she met Liu socially in Richmond, and she learned that he was looking for a loan of up to $3 million, for an unknown purpose.

“When we first met, Xiao Bing Liu introduced himself to me as someone who started out doing real estate development in China,” Rong’s statement says.

LOCAL

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Saturday, January 13, 2018

RBC, TD bank raise their fixed 5-year mortgage rates

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anada’s two biggest banks have raised the interest rate on their benchmark five-year mortgage, and more are expected to follow.

The Royal Bank of Canada raised its posted rate for a five-year, fixed-rate mortgage by 15 points to 5.14 per cent, the bank confirmed.

Shortly after, Toronto-Dominion Bank did

the same, matching Royal Bank’s new rate.

Interest rates are about to go up in Canada — no, for real this time Canada’s other three major banks — Scotiabank, Bank of Montreal, and CIBC — currently have five-year posted rates of 4.99 per cent, but they are also expected to hike soon, based on what’s happening in the bond market. Scotiabank says it is reviewing

its rates and will likely soon make changes.

Banks finance their mortgages via a variety of sources, but the main one is by selling bonds, which they use to raise funds and then lend that money out to home buyers and other borrowers. bRates in the bond market have been inching steadily higher, which raises the banks’ cost of doing business. The annual yield on a five-year bond from the Canadian government briefly

topped two per cent this week, the first time it’s been that high since 2013.

Tw o - y e a r government bond yields also spiked to 1.8 per cent, their highest level since 2011.

Variable-rate mortgages Higher borrowing costs for the banks “point to potential upside for fixed mortgage rates,” Bank of Montreal economist Robert Kavcic said in a note to clients yesterday. Even if a borrower can negotiate a better rate than the bank’s posted rate, the posted rate is what the Bank of Canada tabulates its benchmark bank rate from. And that is one of the two options for new “stress test” rules — the other being to test their finances at two full percentage points above their actual rate. That means wouldbe buyers may have their finances tested as though their mortgage rate is at the new fiveyear levels — and if they fail the test, they won’t qualify for the loan. ‘We used to be savers’: Why Canadians ignore warnings about debt Higher rates on fixed-rate mortgages come at a time when the Bank of Canada is widely expected to raise its benchmark interest rate next week. Fixed-rate mortgages are tied to activity in the bond market, but variable rate mortgages are more closely linked to the Bank of Canada’s rate. So a higher central bank rate means variable rate borrowers should expect higher costs soon, too.

Saturday, January 13, 2018

No seat likely to come Jagmeet Singh’s way before 2019 unless one is offered to him NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh has made it clear he is comfortable not running for a seat in the House of Commons before the 2019 federal election. But he has opened the door to running in a byelection in a riding in which he has a “genuine connection” and which “makes sense.” Singh has laid out the criteria. So where could he run in 2018 if the opportunity presents itself — and where could he win? The Pollcast: Predicting the unpredictable in 2018 In an interview with CBC Radio’s The House, Singh told host Chris Hall, “I’m comfortable where I am right now and I’m open, though, to an opportunity that arises that I have a genuine connection to that makes sense.”

Asked to define what that means, Singh identified three parts of the country, all in southern Ontario. “An area that I have some history with, an area that I can connect with constituents,” he said. “I’ve represented Brampton, Mississauga for a number of years. Downtown Toronto is an area that I have a strong connection to.

Windsor, also, I have a strong connection, having lived in Windsor for a number of years.” In each of these regions, there are seats that are potentially winnable for Singh and the NDP. But there are also a few obstacles that might force him to wait. With NDP support stagnant and the party posting losses in all six of the byelections that have occurred during Singh’s short tenure, whether he can afford to wait is an open question.

Singh was first elected for the Ontario NDP in the riding of Bramalea–Gore–Malton, a riding straddling parts of both Brampton and Mississauga, in the 2011 provincial election. The bulk of that riding is contained within the federal boundaries of Brampton East, the seat that Singh has identified as the one he will most likely contest in 2019. Defeating incumbent Liberal MP Raj Grewal will not be easy. Grewal won by a margin of more than 29 percentage points over both the

Conservative and NDP candidates.

This suggests that a low score for the NDP in a previous election might not be an insurmountable obstacle for Singh in Brampton.

But Brampton East might be his best hope for a victory. In addition to his history in the riding, it was the one with the highest NDP support in Brampton in 2015 and the only one in which the NDP was even somewhat competitive.

The question is, however, whether he might get the opportunity to demonstrate his local connections in a byelection in 2018. The Liberals hold all five Brampton seats and all six seats in Mississauga (where the NDP’s chances look even slimmer, as they lost all six by 39 points or more in 2015). The five Brampton Liberal MPs are all in their first term. Barring health issues, scandal or tragedy, none of their seats are likely to become available before the next federal election. While Singh might not have the same ties to downtown Toronto as Brampton, his party has stronger roots there. The NDP won eight seats in Toronto in 2011 before being swept out of the city in 2015. But they did finish second in nine ridings, including three in which the margin was less than three points (Davenport, Parkdale–High Park and Toronto–Danforth).

If any of these became available, it would meet Singh’s criteria of “making sense” — i.e., being winnable. A number of ridings in the city have a history of voting for the New Democrats and will be battlegrounds in 2019 as the Liberals attempt to maintain their monopoly on the city. But that means these seats run into the same problem as those in Brampton. They are filled by first-term Liberal MPs, including a few parliamentary secretaries and the ministers for immigration, refugees and citizenship

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Saturday, January 13, 2018

Green party leader suggests ban on foreign real estate buyers housing market but a ban on If BC Green Party Leader, Andrew Weaver had his way, a ban foreign investors isn’t one of them. “As part of planning for on foreign buyers investing in the Budget 2018, we are evaluating province’s real estate market would be announced in the upcoming existing and proposed housing tax measures to improve budget. housing affordability for British “This is unsustainable,” said Weaver. “If we don’t curb the Columbians,” she said.

“This review includes the amount of the demand side of issue of speculation in B.C.’s this equation, it’s only going to get housing market; however, a ban worse.” New Zealand cracks down on foreign ownership of homes on foreign buyers New Zealand’s Andrew J. Weaver is not being considered as part government is the most recent to implement such a ban. There, foreign buyers of Budget 2018 planning. British Columbians can only purchase properties that are being are proud to welcome thousands of newcomers built. When it comes to selling existing homes, each year who help strengthen our province.”

Josh Gordon, an assistant professor at Simon foreign buyers aren’t allowed.

In B.C., Weaver says it would be put in place Fraser University’s School of Public Policy, to make owning a home a reality for more suggests a surtax on foreign buyers might be people. “Owning property is something that better than a ban. there’s a sense of pride there. You’re able to “What that means is people owning property make an investment for your retirement,” he with foreign income and wealth who are using said. The province says it’s looking at ways to social services, they would be paying their fair cool the red-hot housing market. Ban ‘not share of taxes,” explained Gordon. being considered’ In an email, B.C. Finance The 2018 provincial budget is expected to be Minister Carole James says the government released in February. is looking at different options to cool the

Increased number of flu cases at Abbotsford Hospital ER worries BC nurses union The BC Nurses Union says patients waited up to eight hours in the emergency room to see a physician at Abbotsford Regional Hospital on Friday. It’s calling on Fraser Health to do more to relieve congestion and better support staff, after it claims patients were placed in shower rooms and in hallways. “We had nurses in tears highly distressed about the quality of care they were able to provide,” said Christine Sorensen,

the union’s acting president. Sick with the flu? Avoid the hospital and get some rest, say health officials There are spikes in admission this time of year because of the flu, said Sorensen. She said 57 patients were admitted to the hospital on Friday. “This is an annual event. We have heard for years about what they call winter surge related to influenza .

Accused South Asian killer files appeal behind lawyer’s back A woman accused in a high-profile Toronto murder went behind her lawyer’s back late last month to file a notice of appeal of a ruling declaring her mentally unfit to stand trial.

Rohinie Bisesar, a former financial analyst with an MBA from York University, was ordered to undergo a 60-day course of anti-psychotic treatment at Toronto’s Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) in early December.

A court-appointed psychiatrist testified at that time that Bisesar was Rosemarie Junor acutely schizophrenic, actively delusional and manifestly unable to participate in her own defence. A jury agreed.

Bisesar, however, vocally objected to that diagnosis. She argued that she is not insane.

Instead she believes an entity of some kind is speaking to her and controlling her actions through a device implanted in her skin.

Bisesar tried to fire her lawyer, Robert Karrass, at that hearing. But Ontario Superior Court Justice John McMahon refused her request, ruling that she was not mentally fit to make that choice.

Bisesar stands charged with the first-degree murder of Rosemarie “Kim” Junor, a newlywed who was fatally stabbed in a Shoppers Drug Mart in Toronto’s Financial District in 2015.

She was set to go to trial this month. But that date was pushed back to next autumn. Even that date is preliminary. Unless and until a new jury declares Bisesar fit, she won’t be tried at all.

She was transferred from jail to CAMH on Dec. 12, according to Karrass. On Dec. 28, with the help of a pro bono legal organization, she filed notice at the Ontario Court of Appeal that she intends to contest the fitness verdict.

She did so without the assistance or knowledge of Karrass, according to Karrass himself.

“I didn’t advise her during this filing process,” he said. “It was done actually without my knowledge. I found out about it afterwards. Since then I’ve brought myself up to speed on what’s going on and spoken to this pro bono group.”

Bisesar argues in the Inmate Notice of Appeal that she can “do all legal things for fit” and that the jury’s verdict “was unreasonable (and) not supported by evidence.” She calls the drugs she’s being forced to take “damaging.” She also objects to the fact that she has had no physical testing done that could find and remove the entity she believes is responsible for her troubles. Karrass does not believe the appeal will or should interrupt Bisesar’s treatment. She appealed the fitness ruling, not the treatment order.

Had she done the latter, CAMH probably would have had to halt treatment Rohinie Bisesar immediately pending a hearing, Karrass said. As it stands, her first hearing on the fitness appeal won’t likely occur until well after the treatment order has expired in early February. That said, Karrass remains unimpressed by the process to date. “This is a pretty high-profile case,” he said. “It’s not easy find Rohinie’s name without finding the name of her lawyer. So I would say it was probably incumbent on whoever assisted her to give me a call and let me know that this was happening.” Toronto financial district stabbing suspect wrote judge to insist she is innocent: ‘Real criminal(s) are free’ Karrass said he found out about the appeal from a Crown attorney, who was told by a CAMH lawyer. He met with Bisesar on Monday. “I don’t think it was handled appropriately,” he said. ““But at the same time, to say that there was anything in particular that I could beat my chest about and get upset over, I don’t think it helps anything.”

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Masked robbers steal marijuana from licensed grow-op in Abbotsford Police are investigating after three masked men robbed a licensed marijuana grow-op in Abbotsford early Wednesday morning.

The call reporting the home invasion in the 2200-block of Windsor Street came shortly before 4:30 a.m.

A resident called the police to report that he and his teenage son were sleeping when three masked men brandishing firearms broke into their home, and tied them up.

Police say the men robbed the dad and son of an undisclosed amount of marijuana and their 2011 white Ford F350, with the licence plate LS 9325.

The victims were not injured.

An investigation continues. Anyone with information about this incident or who spots the pickup truck is asked to contact the Abbotsford Police at 604-8595225.

BC leading the way in opioid awareness: Stats Can British Columbians have the highest awareness in the country of opioids and the negative issues surrounding the pain-killing drugs, according to a new survey by Statistics Canada.

In BC 86 per cent of respondents report being either “very” or “somewhat” aware of the opioid issue, compared to the national average of 77 per cent. Quebec registered the lowest level of awareness at 67 per cent. British Columbians were also the most likely to report being “very aware that drugs obtained illegally have the potential to contain fentanyl,” according to the survey. The fentanyl crisis has hit B.C. the hardest with 1,208 lives lost to illicit drug overdose between January and October of 2017, according to the B.C. Coroners Service. Fentanyl was detected in 83 per cent of those deaths.Most Canadians over age 18 said they would call 911 if witnessing a suspected overdose. Seven per cent said they would know how to obtain and administer naloxone, the

opioid reversing drug. Nationally, 29 per cent of respondents say they used some form of opioid in the past five years, with one quarter of that group reporting left-over prescribed opioids stored at home. Opioids are legitimately prescribed to relieve pain but are highly addictive and have increasingly been detected in the illegal drug supply in Canada.

Fentanyl, OxyContin, morphine and codeine are all examples of common opioids. According to the survey, the rate of hospitalization due to opioid poisoning has increased by more than 50 per cent in Canada over the last decade. Stats Canada says the survey “is intended to provide a richer understanding of Canadians’ knowledge of the opioid issue, the risks associated and their willingness and ability to intervene in the event of an apparent opioid overdose.”

Prince George to charge landlords hourly rates for police calls to nuisance properties The City of Prince George plans to charge landlords hourly rates for using up police time if RCMP are repeatedly called to the same property.

It will also charge for fire officials and city staff as part of an ongoing campaign to target nuisance properties in the community. Prince George may act as model in addressing Merritt crime Coun.

Brian Skakun, who proposed the changes, said he wants the owners of problematic properties to be held responsible for using up city resources.

“People in the community are tired of subsidizing this bad behaviour,” he said. “It’s not just about covering costs, it’s also about having a deterrent out there for people to clean up their act. The bylaw is aimed at having repeat offenders pay for police time, rather than being ‘subsidized’ by taxpayers, said Coun. Brian Skakun. The efforts to target nuisance properties in Prince George began in 2016 when RCMP statistics revealed police had been called to one property

— the Connaught Motor Inn downtown — over 700 times in just 18 months, draining time and resources. The city suspended the motel’s business licence, leading to a 67-per-cent drop in calls to the area within a year. Since then, the city has acted as a model for other communities facing similar issues, and Mayor Lyn Hall was asked to speak about the experience at the Union of B.C. Municipalities. The charges will be laid out in a new “Nuisance Abatement and Cost Recovery Bylaw.” They range from $48 an hour for a parking control officer to $111 an hour for the RCMP superintendent. Hourly rates for fire trucks and RCMP vehicles are also included.

The proposed charges for RCMP and city official time when attending nuisance properties.

Landlords will only be charged if police or city officials are called out to a single property multiple times a year. Council would then be given the option of classifying the property as a nuisance,

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Mounties investigate shooting in Surrey overnight Mounties in Surrey are investigating a shooting Monday night in the Guildford neighbourhood. RCMP say that shortly before 9:30 p.m. there were reports of shots fired in the 15900-block 101st A Avenue. Investigators say there are no reports that anyone was injured.

Officers are speaking with witnesses as

part of a probe into the shooting. RCMP say witnesses saw two people running from the area, and an unknown vehicle speeding away.

Anyone with more information is asked to contact the Surrey RCMP at 604-599-0502 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS or solvecrime.ca.

WE VALUE YOUR PROPERTY AS MUCH AS YOU DO. If you’re among BC’s approximately 2 million property owners, you should receive your 2018 property assessment in the mail early in January. If you haven’t, call us toll-free at 1-866-valueBC. Access and compare property assessment information using our free assessment search service at bcassessment.ca.

The 2018 assessments are based on market value as of July 1, 2017.

If you have questions or want more information, contact us at 1-866-valueBC or online at bcassessment.ca. The deadline to file an appeal for your assessment is January 31, 2018.

For more property information, assessment highlights and videos visit

bcassessment.ca We Value BC

Talk of delaying TransLink projects ‘borders on nonsense’: Linda Hepner The mayors of Surrey and Vancouver are pushing back on any possible slowdown on the Broadway subway or Surrey light-rail transit following statements made by Burnaby mayor Derek Corrigan that raised questions on the future of both mega-projects.

Corrigan, the new chair of the TransLink Mayors’ Council on Regional Transportation, said its first priority is to replace the aging Pattullo Bridge and suggested it was unrealistic to do all three projects concurrently, which is the vision laid out in the mayors’ council 10-year plan.

Surrey Mayor Linda Hepner said the Pattullo Bridge has been identified as the top priority in the region, but took umbrage at Corrigan’s suggestions the Broadway subway and light-rail transit project could afford to be delayed. “He’s being presumptive in his other comment around the Broadway line and the LRT in Surrey as not being potentially

significant priorities, and not being possible to do all three at the same time,” said Hepner, who served as vice-chair on the council until she was replaced by North Vancouver Mayor Richard Walton last month. For the first time in a decade, there’s money on the table from the federal and provincial government and talk of a slowdown at this point in the game, at a time when the region is struggling with affordability and congestion, “borders on nonsense,” Hepner said.

Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson, who was defeated

by Corrigan in a secret vote after a threeyear tenure as council chair, said now is not the time to delay urgently-needed projects, given there is more than $2 billion on the table from Ottawa. “It’s a false choice to say it’s either Pattullo Bridge or rapid transit,” said Robertson in a statement. “All three of these key projects need to happen ASAP and TransLink has spent years preparing

Police looking for driver after pedestrian killed in Coquihalla Highway hit-and-run A 21-year-old man has died in a hit-and-run incident on the Coquihalla Highway.

Kamloops RCMP said they were notified at around 9 p.m.

Sunday of a body found on the highway near the Trans Canada Highway interchange.

The victim appeared to have been struck by a vehicle which left the scene.

Police is seeking the public’s assistance in the investigation and wants anyone who drove in the area Sunday night who may have thought they hit and animal or who later saw damage to their vehicle to contact

them. The incident occurred at night and the victim was dressed all in black, said RCMP in a statement.

“Due to the conditions at the time of the accident… the police believe it is possible that the driver of the vehicle may not have known they hit the victim or thought the impact was from an animal.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Kamloops RCMP at 250-8283000 or anonymously at Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

Vancouver’s empty homes tax prompts audits, call to complete forms The City of Vancouver has launched its empty homes tax audit system meant to ensure residents are complying with the program.

The deadline for homeowners to declare if their residence is empty is Feb. 2, but the city says it has already sent out notices requesting that some property owners provide evidence to support their declaration.

Mayor Gregor Robertson says in a news release that the tax encourages the best use of all housing in the city and will increase the rental supply for those who live and work in Vancouver. So far, 55 per cent of all property owners have completed their form telling the city if their home is lived in or empty.

Property owners who don’t declare by the deadline will have their homes declared vacant, will be fined $250 and will have to pay the tax at a rate of one per cent of the properties assessed taxable value.

The mayor said in November that the tax could put as many as 25,000 empty units back on the rental market.

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Save-On-Foods looks to score brownie points with $25 bread scandal rebate Save-On-Foods wants to be clear it had no involvement in the illegal bread pricefixing scandal that has rocked the Canadian grocery business, but that isn’t stopping the B.C.-based company from offering a $25 rebate to customers. President Darrell Jones says Save-On-Foods will offer a $25 “shopping incentive” to anyone who held a More Rewards loyalty card prior to Dec 31,

2017, matching what Loblaws announced last month. Various brands of bread sit on shelves in a Toronto grocery store. Loblaw Companies Ltd. and its parent company, George Weston Ltd., have admitted to participating in a bread price-fixing scheme which ran from 2001 to 2015. “It’s not an attempt at public relations,” said Jones. “I think when a wrong’s been done to the

Charges laid after Surrey Mounties seize guns, drugs Two Surrey residents are facing gun and drug charges after Mounties raided a home last month in connection with an investigation into the ongoing gang conflict.

Abdul Shaheel Khan, 22, and Shastina Shrena Kumar, 21, have each been charged with trafficking and six firearms counts.

Surrey RCMP seized this shotgun on Dec. 13, 2017 Khan remains in pretrial custody until his next court appearance on Jan. 12, while Shastina Shrena Kumar 21, has been released on $4,000 bail.

Before the new counts were laid, Abdul Shaheel Khan, was already facing two trafficking charges related to allegations he sold drugs in July 2016.

And he was convicted in 2014 of possession of a controlled substance.

Surrey RCMP Cpl. Scotty Schumann said that the investigation is continuing and more charges are expected. He said Surrey RCMP drug officers began their probe into alleged trafficking in Surrey and Langley in October 2017.

“Officers gathered evidence throughout November and December and on December 13, 2017, a search warrant was executed at a residence in the 8600-block of 144A Street in

Surrey,” Schumann said.

Police seized an SKS assault rifle, a sawedoff shotgun, a revolver, ammunition, drug processing materials and equipment, and two vehicles believed to be used in a dial-a-dope ring, Schumann said. Surrey RCMP seized this assault rifle on Dec. 13, 2017 Police also executed a search warrant on Dec. 21 at a second residence in the 18200-block of 83rd Ave. and seized three bolt-action rifles, a shotgun, an imitation firearm, more ammunition and a stolen vehicle.

Another man was arrested, but has been released on a promise to appear in court to face charges at a later date.

“Our drug section investigators, supported by our specialized sections and partners, continue to target dial-a-dope trafficking operations that pose a significant risk to public safety,” Supt. Shawn Gill said.

“Any time we can remove drugs and weapons of this nature from our communities it is considered a success. We continue to engage in a number of enforcement, prevention, and education strategies to disrupt the illegal drug trade and associated violence that we have seen in our city and across the Lower Mainland.”

China’s hunt for corrupt officials could affect BCLC ‘whale’ gambler revenue also BC Lottery Corp. casinos rely heavily on large transactions from Asian “whale” gamblers, but revenue connected to this high-roller group could be affected by factors including China’s hunt for alleged financial fugitives, documents obtained by Postmedia News show. Observations about BCLC’s reliance on so-called “whale” gamblers from China and Macau, and the risks associated to the revenue that VIP gamblers are pouring into B.C. government coffers, are revealed in a slide presentation prepared by BCLC’s anti-money-laundering director,

Ross Alderson. The slides, disclosed to Postmedia in a freedom of information request, were presented in November 2016 by Alderson and BCLC, to Vancouver’s association of certified fraud examiners. BCLC said it could not provide a transcript of Alderson’s remarks during the presentation.

“The presentation was intended to provide an overview of BCLC’s antimoney laundering and investigative programs, while also highlighting

how BCLC is working to mitigate unique challenges in B.C.,” a BCLC spokeswoman said. Information in Alderson’s prepared slides provides background context about a network of ultra-wealthy VIP bettors from China.

public and somebody steps up that didn’t do the wrong ... people really like that.”

Bread price-fixing: Investigation into at least 7 companies Jones says Save-On was unwittingly connected to the price-fixing scheme because it buys bread from the two bread makers — Weston bakeries (part of the Loblaws/Weston empire) and Canada Bread — that are being investigated by

the Competition Bureau. Canada’s three largest grocery chains — Loblaws, Sobeys and Metro — are also being investigated, as well as Walmart and Giant Tiger. A Loblaws grocery store in Toronto is shown on May 2, 2013. Loblaw Companies Ltd. and its parent company, George Weston Ltd., admitted to participating in the price-fixing arrangement that started in 2001 and lasted

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BC’s superintendent of real estate sues to force discipline hearing of a realtor B.C.’s superintendent of real estate is headed to court in a bid to establish the limits of his newly empowered office. Micheal Noseworthy filed a petition this week in B.C. Supreme Court in an attempt to force the province’s real estate council — which he oversees — to order a discipline hearing for a real estate agent in McBride, B.C. According to court documents, the council has refused to pursue disciplinary action against Rodger Peterson in relation to a complaint he misled a couple over the aborted purchase of a rural property in 2013.

Garry and Wendy Lowe complained to the superintendent’s office, which was tasked to evaluate the real estate council’s delivery of its consumer protection mandate in 2016, after a lack of public confidence led to the end of self regulation for B.C.’s real estate industry.

But when Noseworthy directed the council to revisit its decision and convene a hearing, the council refused. “We believe the public interest is not being served by how the real estate council regulates real estate. There’s a lot of people who don’t have our skill or our determination and they just give up,” he said.

“When the superintendent thing came up a few years ago, this was such a hopeful breath of fresh air for the public’s interest, but the real estate council has just basically told him to go away, because he doesn’t have jurisdiction.

Well, if he doesn’t have jurisdiction, then who does?”

As BC’s superintendent of real estate, Micheal Noseworthy is responsible for the oversight of Realtors in the province.

The Lowes have been in a small claims battle for the past four years with the owner of the property they had once planned to buy.

According to a provincial court judgment, the Lowes wanted land to expand their organic farming operation. They put an offer on a 36 hectare property listed by Peterson, who ended up acting for both buyer and seller. The Lowes claimed he told them the land included a four to six hectare field and an old abandoned farmhouse. They didn’t walk around the entirety of the property but dug holes to test the soil. The contract for purchase was completed and the conditions lifted, but at the last minute, the Lowes claimed they learned from locals that the property did not include the field, their main reason for buying the land.

They killed the deal, but the owner sued them for reneging on the contract. Peterson was a third party. In their response, the Lowes claimed he misled them about the field, an allegation Peterson denied. Provincial Court Judge Michael Gray ultimately dismissed the claim against the Lowes; in his judgment, he concluded that Peterson “was careless in not fully discussing the interest of the Lowes in the farming project.” The judge said that “at the very least, he should have insisted on walking the property before any offer was presented.”

Large fire destroys cedar products business in Kamloops

A fire tore through a cedar material business building in the Mount Paul industrial area of Kamloops Tuesday night.

Fire crews were called to Valley View Industries at 598 Okanagan Way at just before 9 p.m. By the time they arrived on scene, flames were already burning through the roof.

“We could see it from a long ways away,” said Kamloops Fire platoon chief Wade Lindoff. “It

got quite a head start on us before we arrived.”

Kamloops Fire decided to fight the fire from outside the building, as it was not safe enough to enter.

Lindoff said everything inside the building was destroyed. No injuries have been reported as a result of the fire. The cause of the fire is still unknown. Investigators will be on scene Wednesday to assess the damage.

Brother of Premier Horgan dies of cancer Pat Horgan, the older brother ofPremier John Horgan, has died of cancer at the age of 71. “It’s with great sadness that we announce that Pat Horgan, Premier John Horgan’s brother, passed away on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2018,” the premier’s office said in a statement released Thursday.

“He will be deeply missed by his family and friends.”

A service will be held in Pat Horgan’s

home community of Port McNeill on Feb. 10. Horgan served as a program coordinator at the North Island Crisis and Counselling C e n t r e Society.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the B.C. Cancer Agency in support of lung cancer research.

Messages to the family can be sent to: shirpath04@gmail.com.

Surrey city crews halt tree-felling in Hawthorne Park due to protesters

A fire tore through a cedar material business building in the Mount Paul industrial area of Kamloops Tuesday night.

Fire crews were called to Valley View Industries at 598 Okanagan Way at just before 9 p.m. By the time they arrived on scene, flames were already burning through the roof.

“We could see it from a long ways away,” said Kamloops Fire platoon chief Wade Lindoff. “It got quite a head start on us before we arrived.”

Kamloops Fire decided to fight the fire from outside the building, as it was not safe enough to enter.

Lindoff said everything inside the building was destroyed. No injuries have been reported as a result of the fire. The cause of the fire is still unknown. Investigators will be on scene Wednesday to assess the damage.

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BC’s wild real estate market in a nutshell Could Wang vs Wang be the ultimate BC real estate story?

A deal sealed with thousands of dollars imported from China by tourists, a lawsuit so tangled even a judge said it made no sense, and land allegedly leased to both the brother of Canada’s most notorious serial killer and a medical marijuana grow operation. And to top it all off — a piece of property that has appreciated nearly a million dollars in six years by just existing. ‘Occurrences and events that made no sense’ In trying to tackle the B.C. Supreme Court battle, Madam Justice Laura Gerow admitted frustration. “I did not find any of the witnesses who testified in this case credible,” she wrote. “In my opinion, no one told the truth about their relationship and the circumstances

surrounding the purchase of the property. They all testified to occurrences and events that made no sense.” 2973 Burns Road Port Coquitlam The purchase of this Port Coquitlam property is at the heart of one of the most confusing real estate battles to hit B.C. Supreme Court in some time. At the heart of the legal fight between Hong Jie — Anita — Wang and Yong Li — William — Wang is a two-hectare property in Port Coquitlam the pair decided to purchase together as an investment in 2011. Anita Wang sued William Wang for fraud and breach of contract. The dispute centred around the actual purchase price and subsequent financing. If the circumstances are confusing, the details contained within the judgment and associated filings are illuminating.

Abbotsford minor hockey team sued after hotel ice machine knocked over, causing water damage An Abbotsford minor hockey team is being sued by a Squamish hotel after a player allegedly kicked over an ice machine and ruptured a water main, causing more than $200,000 in damage.

The Abbotsford Minor Hockey Association, coach James Young and 60 unnamed players and parents are listed as defendants in the civil suit, which was filed in the Supreme Court of B.C. this week by Coastal Hospitality Ltd. The company operates a hotel at 38922 Progress Way in Squamish, which is listed online as Mountain Retreat Hotel & Suites, previously known as Best Western Mountain Retreat.

According to the documents, Young had booked a four-day stay at the Squamish hotel for the players and parent chaperones in early February 2016 so the team could participate in a local tournament.

On the second day of the three-night stay, one or more of the players allegedly “kicked and/or pushed an ice machine” on the fourth floor of the hotel. The machine was connected to a water line which then ruptured and caused water to leak into the hallway and down the elevator passages.

The company argued the coach, players and parents owed the hotel a duty of care and claim they “knowingly assisted, aided or encouraged the damaging acts” and “failed to report the rupture to hotel staff promptly,” according to the filing.

The hotel claims there was damage to the hotel structure and contents, the elevators and resulted in the loss of income.

The plaintiff claims the total financial loss exceeded $200,000 and is now seeking general and special damages on the basis of negligence and breach of contract.

The hockey team and its association has not yet filed a response in court.

A request for comment left with the Abbotsford Minor Hockey Association was not returned by deadline.

Schools close as storm warning remains in effect for Fraser Valley A winter storm warning remains in effect for the Fraser Valley, including Chilliwack, Hope and Abbotsford.

Environment Canada said freezing rain and snow are expected to redevelop throughout the region Friday.

The Chilliwack school district said that due to “unsafe weather conditions,” all schools are closed for the day.

The University of the Fraser Valley’s Abbotsford campus is open, but the campus located in Hope is closed. Students at the Abbotsford campus are being warned that the campus shuttle is running, but may be delayed due to road conditions.

Schools in Hope remain open and bus services are running.

Sprott Shaw College in Chilliwack is also closed today, as well as St. John Brebeuf Secondary School in Abbotsford.

Saturday, January 13, 2018

BC premier says housing top issue for 2018, but much more on NDP to-do list Premier John Horgan says addressing British Columbia’s housing crisis is his government’s top priority in 2018, but it’s not the only pressing concern on his minority New Democrat government’s to-do list.

Here’s a list of the consultations, audits and reviews the government is expected to complete or undertake in 2018: Ride Sharing: Legislation to introduce ride sharing in B.C. is scheduled for next fall after the release of a governmentcommissioned review of the taxi industry.

Poverty Reduction: Poverty reduction legislation with targets and timelines is expected in the spring to outline the government’s anti-poverty strategy, including a basic-income pilot project to test whether giving people a basic income is an effective way to fight poverty.

Child Care: More details are expected in February’s budget on a promised 10-year affordable child care program. Earlier this

month, the government announced it will spend $33 million to create 3,800 new licensed child-care spaces.

Massey Tunnel: An independent technical review is due in 2018 to determine the best option for replacing the aging Massey Tunnel south of Vancouver. The previous Liberal government had plans to replace it with a 10-lane bridge but Transportation Minister Claire Trevena said the plan lacked support from mayors and residents. Foreign Buyers Tax: The government is reviewing a 15 per cent tax on foreign real estate buyers in Metro Vancouver and an interest-free loan program for first-time home buyers.

Horgan says February’s budget will include measures to dampen speculation in the real estate market. Insurance Corp. of B.C.: : The government ordered a full audit of the Crown auto insurer’s operations, with results due in 2018. Attorney General David Eby said ICBC is in crisis, with financial losses totalling more than $500 million last year. Aquaculture Policy and Licensing: A committee continues to examine the aquaculture industry, and a report is expected early in 2018.

Abbotsford airport traffic surged more than 25 per cent in 2017 Abbotsford International Airport officials say they’re busier than ever.

According to figures released Monday, the Fraser Valley airport saw 147,010 more passengers in 2017 than they did in 2016, a surge of 27. 7 per cent. (2016 beat 2015’s numbers by 8.8 per cent.)

Abbotsford airport is used heavily by WestJet but also is frequented by aircraft from charter carriers SunWing and Flair, Vancouver Island’s Island Express, as well as international carriers like Air Canada, KLM and Delta.

To meet with this growing demand,

more than 14,000 square feet of space is being added to the main terminal building, along with two new gates. Seating capacity inside the terminal’s secure area will be doubled, allowing for 600 travellers.

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Fatal Kansas ‘swatting’ suspect wanted for similar hoax in Calgary The Los Angeles suspect in a fatal Acting Duty Insp. Peter Siegenthaler “swatting” incident in the United States said swatting calls can put the public and has been charged by Calgary police officers at risk and tie up police resources. for a similar, but non-fatal, hoax.

“We have to take these calls seriously Swatting is when a call is made to and we have to take them at face value police claiming that a major incident, based on the information that we receive.” often involving hostages, is unfolding at a Siegenthaler said the Dec. residence and usually results in 22 call concerned police a tactical team being deployed. because it was very specific ‘Swatting’ prank led to and sounded very real. fatal shooting of unarmed He said it’s not difficult for man: Wichita police someone to figure out how to The incident in Calgary took make a 911 call to a different city. place Dec. 22. A man called Barriss is currently in 911 and claimed that he had custody in Los Angeles Tyler Barriss shot his father and was holding awaiting a handover to Kansas to his mother and younger brother hostage, stand trial for a fatal incident on Dec. 28. according to a police news release.

In that case, Wichita police responded “While officers were on scene trying to to a home after a man called 911 confirm the reported information, Calgary and said he had shot his father, was 911 received another call from a female who holding a gun to his mother and sister lived at the address, who believed she was the and had doused the home in gasoline victim of a swatting call,” reads the release. and was considering setting it alight.

“The female exited her residence and Once police arrived, a man, later officers confirmed that the initial report of identified as 28-year-old Andrew Finch, a shooting and hostage scenario was false.” emerged from the house and an officer Police say the woman may have been shot him dead. Finch was unarmed. targeted because of her online persona.

Wichita Deputy Police Chief Troy Investigators identified a suspect who had Livingston said Finch was shot after made contact with her earlier that day. he raised his hands quickly and Tyler Raj Barriss, 25, has been charged appeared to point a weapon at officers. with public mischief, fraud and mischief.

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Saturday, January 13, 2018

Increasing minimum wage puts money back into small business economy, says labour expert An higher minimum wage has the potential to boost local economies by putting more money into the pockets of workers, according to a labour expert. Following blowback against businesses that have cut benefits and paid breaks to account for the recent mandatory minimum wage increase in Ontario, York University labour geographer, Steven Tufts, said small business owners should embrace wage increases as an opportunity.

“When we take wages and increase them and put more money in the pockets of workers they buy the products from those small businesses and that’s good for the economy,” Tufts told Stephen Quinn, host of CBC’s The Early Edition. His comments come as some independent businesses in Vancouver say

they’re having trouble recruiting and retaining workers amid a housing affordability crisis in British Columbia. B.C.’s NDP government raised the hourly minimum wage to $11.35 last fall and has committed to ultimately raising it to $15 per hour, but without a firm deadline.

Ontario has announced it will increase the provincial minimum wage to $15 an hour by Jan. 1, 2019. Tufts said he’s heard from business owners in Ontario who want to focus on the potential benefits of wage increases rather than the cost of higher wages.

“There are some small business folks … who are advocating that employers actually go along with the increase and turn the increase into an advantage,” said Tufts, “That might actually reduce turnover because you’re paying more.”

CRA allows low-income Canadians to file returns by phone Low-income Canadians will be able to file their tax returns by phone this year.

Under a new automated service called “File My Return” announced by National Revenue Minister Diane Lebouthillier today, about 950,000 Canadians with low or fixed incomes that don’t change from year-to-year can file their returns by answering a series of questions over the telephone. People eligible for the new service will receive personalized invitation letters

beginning mid-February.

They will be able to access all the deductions, benefits and credits they are entitled to without having to do any of the paper work or calculations, according to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). A CRA official said the changes are to make the system easier and to encourage more people to file. A former program called Telefile that allowed people to file basic returns by phone was cancelled in 2013 by the former

Canada takes USA to World Trade Organization Canada launches a wide-ranging trade dispute against USA, challenging Washington’s use of anti-dumping and anti-subsidy duties, according to a World Trade Organization filing dated Dec. 20 and published Wednesday.

Canada appeared to be mounting a case on behalf of the rest of the world, since it cited almost 200 examples of alleged U.S. wrongdoing, almost all of them concerning other trading partners, such as China, India, Brazil and the European Union. The 32-page complaint homed in on technical details of the U.S. trade rulebook, ranging from the U.S. treatment of export controls to the use of retroactive duties and split decisions by the sixmember U.S. International Trade Commission.

Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland said the legal action was in response to the “unfair and unwarranted” U.S. duties against Canada’s softwood lumber producers and part of a “broader litigation” to defend

forestry jobs. “We continue to engage our American counterparts to encourage them to come to a durable negotiated agreement on softwood lumber,” Freeland said in an emailed statement. Canada said U.S. procedures broke the WTO’s Anti-Dumping Agreement, the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures, the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, and the Understanding on Rules and Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes. US trade representative Robert Lighthizer issued a rebuttal calling Canada’s case an “ill-advised attack on the U.S. trade remedies system.”

“Canada’s claims are unfounded and could only lower U.S. confidence that Canada is committed to mutually beneficial trade,” Lighthizer said in statement. “Canada is acting against its own workers’ and businesses’ interests. Even if Canada succeeded on these groundless claims, other countries would primarily benefit, not Canada,” he said.

Saturday, January 13, 2018

Trudeau defends Khadr payment, pot legalization and role of ethics commissioner in N.S. town hall Prime Minister Justin Trudeau kicked off his town hall tour in Nova Scotia on Tuesday, taking questions that ranged from pot legalization to funding for post-secondary education. But he could not escape his government’s payout to Omar Khadr or his own ethical violations. One of the more direct questions during the event in Lower Sackville, N.S., came from a young woman who asked about Trudeau’s recent censure by Mary Dawson, the parliamentary ethics commissioner, who found he violated some provisions of the Conflict of Interest Act when he vacationed on a private island owned by the Aga Khan. “I am just curious about how you feel about being the first prime minister ever found guilty of a federal crime,” a young woman asked.

Mother tells Trudeau autism care is a ‘human rights issue’ Boyle’s Parliament Hill meeting raises questions about who meets the PM “If he is a longtime family friend of yours, since you’ve known [him] since [he was] a kid, you’re

probably not supposed to be giving money to his foundation. And if he is a lobbyist, and you are giving money to his foundation, then you probably shouldn’t be taking bribes from him,” she added.

Trudeau responded that his recent violations were evidence that “our system works” but went on to call the Aga Khan “a longtime family friend” despite Dawson’s ruling that there was no evidence to support that claim.

“If I had to do it all again I would have worked with the commissioner from the outset, even though this was a friend, and we would have followed the recommendations that were given no matter what they were,” he said. Trudeau was asked about his recent censure for spending a Christmas vacation on the Aga Khan’s private island. At one point a young girl stood to ask Trudeau a curious two-part question: “Why does it take so long to fax papers and why do you think it’s OK to give $10.5 million to a person that killed a soldier?”

Liberals have no plans to deal with sudden surge of Salvadoran asylum-seekers from US The Liberal government has a contingency plan for a potential flood of Salvadoran asylum seekers, but it is not expecting a sudden surge of people crossing the border from the United States. Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen said the government has been “engaging intensely” with the El Salvador diaspora, among others, and believes they are deeply embedded in their American communities with children, jobs and mortgages and not likely to abruptly flee. U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration announced Monday that 200,000 Salvadoran immigrants now allowed to live and work in the U.S. with temporary protected status will lose their right to remain in the country in September 2019. Salvadorans could test Canada’s system Hussen said because there’s a lengthy 18-month time frame for people to leave or seek legal residency, he expects many will use the time to regularize their status.

“Their first choice is to remain in the U.S.,” Hussen told reporters on Parliament Hill after meeting with a joint intergovernmental task

force on irregular migration.

Hussen says government continuing outreach to discourage asylum seekers1:52 “Having said that, we are not being complacent. We are making sure we are prepared for any eventuality, including a future influx of asylum seekers crossing our border irregularly and, in that regard, we are using the lessons that we learned in the summer to do so.” Since August last year, the government has embarked on an outreach campaign to spread the word about Canadian laws and immigration system. MPs have been dispatched to meet with various community groups and stakeholders in Miami, New York, Dallas, Houston and Los Angeles and used social media and online marketing tools to correct misinformation. “Our message is not only a deterrent message but it’s also a humanitarian message, because we don’t want people uprooting their lives, their deep roots in the United States, based on misinformation,” he said.

Liberal majority on ethics committee votes down opposition request for Trudeau to appear A Liberal majority on the House of Commons ethics committee voted down an opposition motion calling on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to appear before the committee to answer questions over his vacation on the Aga Khan’s private island, which breached conflict-of-interest rules.

Conservative ethics critic Peter Kent’s motion was defeated by six to three with all Liberals voting against, and the Conservatives and NDP voting in favour.

Just before Christmas, the conflict of interest and ethics commissioner found that Trudeau breached multiple aspects of the federal ethics code by accepting a vacation on the spiritual leader’s island during the 2016 holiday season.

“We have an ethics commissioner [who] is above partisan politics to make rulings and to look into things — to help Canadians separate the partisan attacks and mudslinging and the politics from what actually happened. I’m

happy to work with the ethics commissioner,” said Trudeau when asked in a radio interview if he will appear at committee if asked.

“I think keeping politics and partisan attacks to the side on this is what Canadians expect.”

Trudeau said his latest batch of town hall meetings, the first kicking off in Nova Scotia Tuesday night, is a better way to answer questions.

“Actually getting out and meeting with Canadians across the country, doing open town halls where Canadians get to ask me any question they want and hold their elected representatives to account is at the heart of what a democracy should be,” he told CBC Radio’s Information Morning.

“That is exactly why I am so excited to be getting out of the Ottawa bubble, the partisan attacks back and forth, and actually connecting with and meeting with Canadians like I do every chance I get.”

FINANCE

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SOUTH ASIA

Saturday, January 13, 2018

Bangladeshi immigrant indicted for New York subway bomb attack A Bangladeshi immigrant has been means of fire or explosives; conducting and indicted on terrorism charges in the attempting to conduct a terrorist attack US for last month’s botched bombing against a mass transportation system. in a New York City subway station.

“As alleged in the indictment Akayed Ullah Akayed Ullah, 27, would face life in prison constructed a pipe bomb and detonated it if convicted of the attack in a passageway in a mass transit hub in the heart of New near the Port Authority York City to terrorise bus terminal on as many people as possible and to December 11 that left bring ISIS-inspired three persons injured.

Ullah, 27, who was also violence to American soil,” said Acting injured in the explosion, has been in federal Assistant Attorney custody since his arrest.

General Dana Boente.

Ullah migrated He will be arraigned from Bangladesh before Judge Sullivan.

A courtroom sketch of Akayed Ullah The federal grand jury some six years ago appearing by video link for a hearing on a family visa. indicted Ullah yesterday He was sponsored with one count of providing and attempting to provide material by his uncle, who came to the support to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham US through diversity lottery visa.

(ISIS), and one count of using and attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction.

Since then US President Donald Trump He has also been charged with one has been pushing for end to chain migration count each of bombing and attempting to and diversity lottery visa. He began to bomb a place of public use and a public self-radicalise three years ago, authorities transportation system; destruction and said, but law enforcement said he was not attempted destruction of property by on their radar before the subway attack.

Bangladesh court upholds ban on Rohingya marriage A Bangladesh court today upheld a government ruling banning marriage between its citizens and refugees from Myanmar’s persecuted Rohingya minority, who have fled ethnic violence in the neighbouring country.

The High Court in Dhaka dismissed a legal challenge from a father whose son married a Rohingya teenager in a Muslim ceremony in Septemberdespitelawsforbiddingsuchunions.

Marriages with Rohingya were banned in 2014 to try to prevent hundreds of thousands of refugees living in Bangladesh from seeking a back door to citizenship.

Babul Hossain, whose 26-year-old son ran away with his new wife after they married, questioned the legality of the ruling that threatens a seven-year jail term for any Bangladeshi who weds a Rohingya refugee.

Cold wave claims 7 more lives in Nepal Intense cold weather in Nepal has claimed seven more lives, taking to 24 the death toll due to severe winter conditions over the past week in southern part of the country, according to a media report.

More than half of the them, 14, were reported from Saptari district while five each in Rautahat and Siraha districts in the Tarai region, it said.

Seven people, including a 7-month-old

child, lost their lives due to excessive cold in various municipalities of Saptari district last night, the Himalayan Times quoted senior police officials as saying.

The locals of Saptari have sent a memorandum to Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, demanding relief materials for those vulnerable to cold.

Rohingya insurgents say they have no option but to fight Myanmar Rohingya Muslim insurgents said on Sunday combat ‘Burmese state-sponsored terrorism’ that they have no option to fight what they against the Rohingya population for the called Myanmar state-sponsored terrorism purpose of defending, salvaging and to defend the Rohingya community, and they protecting the Rohingya community,” demanded that the Rohingya be consulted the group said in a statement signed by on all decisions affecting their future. leader Ata Ullah and posted on Twitter.

The Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army “Rohingya people must be consulted in (ARSA) launched all decisionraids on the Myanmar making that security forces on August affects their 25, which sparked humanitarian sweeping counterneeds and insurgency operations political future.” in the Muslim-majority The ARSA north of Rakhine State c l a i m e d that led to widespread responsibility violence and arson for the Friday and an exodus of some a m b u s h Rohingya refugees 650,000 Rohingya but gave no villagers to Bangladesh. details of the clash.

United Nations condemned the A Myanmar government spokesman Myanmar military campaign as ethnic declined to make any immediate comment cleansing. Buddhist-majority Myanmar saying he had yet to read the statement. A rejected that. military spokesman declined to make any But since the August raids, the small immediate comment about the security insurgent group has launched few if any attacks situation in the north of Rakhine State. until Friday, when its fighters ambushed The area is largely off-limits to reporters. a Myanmar military truck, wounding Authorities have previously said attacks by several members of the security forces. the insurgents would be met with force and they “ARSA has ... no other option but to ruled out any negotiations with “terrorists”.

Normally balmy Bangladesh shivering in record low temperatures Temperatures in subtropical Bangladesh hit a 70-year-low today as authorities handed out tens of thousands of blankets to help the poor fight a record cold spell, officials said.

The mercury plunged to a frigid 2.6 degrees Celsius (36.7 degrees Fahrenheit) in some parts of Bangladesh, well below average in the low-lying riverine nation whose 160 million citizens are used to milder winters.

“It is the lowest temperature since authorities started keeping records in 1948,” Shamsuddin Ahmed, head of the Bangladesh Meteorological Department, told AFP. The previous low of 2.8 degrees was recorded in 1968, he added.

Ahmed said Bangladesh was in the “grip of a severe cold wave”, with temperatures dipping across all northern districts over the past few days.

The coldest temperatures were recorded in the border town of Tetulia, about 400 kilometres north of the capital Dhaka.

One local broadcaster reported that at least nine people had died from exposure, including six in one of the coldest locations in the northern district of Kurigram.

Authorities have distributed at least 70,000 blankets to poorer Bangladeshis shivering in the coldest areas of Panchagarh and Nilphamari, government administrators in those two districts said.

PUNJAB

Saturday, January 13, 2018

Govt to probe Ghaggar scam Five years after an SP-ranked officer recommended the cancellation of an FIR against erring officials and the contractor in the multi-crore Ghaggar scam by “overruling” recommendation by the Estimates Committee of the Vidhan Sabha, the government has decided to reopen the case.

The project was initiated in January 2007.

The government had decided to construct a weir (low dam) on the Ghaggar to ensure round-the-year water supply in Banur canal. The work was to be completed in six months. But till date, the work is pending despite many extensions given to the same contractor by irrigation officials till 2009.

The contractor left the project midway after an FIR against him. Two years ago, controversial contractor Gurinder Singh was allotted the same work. The tenders were allegedly floated at exorbitant rates. However, he too booked by the VB in August last year in a separate case involving irrigation works.

A report was submitted in 2010 by Vidhan Sabha committee chairman Virsa Singh Valtoha. He had recommended action against executive engineers and the contractor in the multi-crore scam. “Everyone from the top to bottom was united in this act of corruption,” read the Vidhan Sabha report that held a number of officials guilty.

The report had mentioned that the government should get an FIR lodged against the contractor, besides blacklisting him.

Following this, the Patiala police registered

Former magistrate and son arrested in two more cases of fraud The Civil Lines police arrested a former special court magistrate HL Kumar and his son Pardeep Kumar (pictured) in two more cases of fraud in which they duped investors of Rs 38.7 lakh. The father-son duo was arrested from New Delhi on January 6 for allegedly duping chit-fund investors of Rs 10.3 crore and was on three-day police remand.

The police today produced both of them

in the court which extended their police remand by two more days. A police team also conducted raid at the residence of Kumar, but no incriminating document was found.

Of the cases registered today, the first one was registered on the complaint of Deepak Kumar of Bathinda on March 13, 2016. The complainant said he along with Pardeep Kumar of Paras Ram Nagar and Harish Kumar of Surakhpeer road met Pardeep three years ago in a party, where he introduced himself as businessman and offered them to invest money in his business. Deepak, Pardeep and Harish invested Rs 17.5 lakh in his company and the accused gave them security cheques.

an FIR on July 31, 2011, under Sections 420, 465, 468, 471 and 120-B IPC against DS Pannu and Associates, the contractor.

Investigations

by The Tribune revealed that following an inquiry by an SP-rank officer, the Patiala police recommended the cancellation of the FIR in 2012 on the ground that since the contractor’s experience certificates were not signed by him, he could not be held responsible for cheating.

Irrigation Minister Rana Gurjit Singh told The Tribune that the previous SAD-BJP government had closed the case and the erring officials and the contractor got the FIR cancelled.

23

Takht asks former CKD chief to appear in meeting Akal Takht has asked former Chief Khalsa Diwan (CKD) head Charanjit Singh Chadha (pictured) to appear during the clergy’s meeting scheduled for January 23.

Chadha was removed from the president’s post after a video clip showing him in a compromising position with a woman principal of a CKD-run school went viral.

Later, he was booked on the charge of sexual harassment on the principal’s complaint.

The CKD executive body has called its General House meeting on February 6. The agenda would be to take a final call on Chadha’s continuation in the body, said CKD honorary secretary Narinder Singh Khurana.

Hearing on bail plea today The anticipatory bail plea by Chadha will be heard tomorrow. It was earlier

listed for today, but the court adjourned it for a day for want of requisite papers.

The Special Investigation Team (SIT), headed by Inspector General of Police, has demanded case records to carry on the investigation.

Three FIRs were registered in the case — first at Jalandhar police station by Chadha regarding his alleged blackmailing by certain people; second against Chadha and his deceased son Inderpreet Singh Chadha at the Airport police station in a case of sexual harassment; and the third by Inderpreet’s son Prabhpreet Singh against the woman complainant in the second case and 10 others for abetting his father’s suicide.

Chadha was on interim bail till January 10, which was granted to allow him to attend the cremation and last rites of his son.

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INDIA

Saturday, January 13, 2018

Kashmir MLA describes militants killed by military and police as ‘martyrs’ Aijaz Ahmad Mir, an MLA from Ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) called ‘militants killed in encounters with security forces as martyrs’.

He also demanded that militants should be taken on board to resolve the Kashmir issue.

Mir, who represents Wachi constituency, the stronghold of militancy, said gun-wielding terrorists were also stakeholders in the resolution of the Kashmir issue.

Without any hesitation, he said the ongoing militancy was a collective failure as the killing of “our brothers” was going on unabated.

Mir also expressed sympathies with the families of the security forces who had lost their lives. Speaking to the media outside the Assembly, Mir said the time had come to talk to Hurriyat, militants and other stakeholders to

resolve the issue and to end bloodshed.

He said the Kashmiri militants are their brothers. “Call them militants or terrorists or anything else, they are Kashmiris, they are our brothers. I request you all to stop politicising their killings and take appropriate steps to end this violence,” Mir said, adding, “This House has to end the blame game over killings.”

Pitching for talks between India and Pakistan, the MLA said the two countries should start talks for a meaningful resolution of the Kashmir issue. “Those who die in Kashmir are Kashmiris and are our brothers. It is the responsibility of everyone in this House to ensure that the youth of Kashmir, be that a militant or a protester, be saved from being killed. It is high time talks were started to end the imbroglio,” he demanded.

Mumbai - Delhi flight world’s 3rd-busiest air travel route Even Mumbai-Delhi airfares soar up to Rs 29,000, but with around 130 flights between Delhi and the commercial capital Mumbai every day. Mumbai - Delhi was the third busiest air route in the world last year.

A total of 47,462 scheduled airline flights were operated between the two airports in 2017, next only to South Korea’s Seoul GimpoJeju airports (64,991 flights) and Australai’s Melbourne-Sydney aiports (54,519), according to data released by UK’s OAG Aviation Worldwide Ltd, an air travel intelligence company.

The ranking is based on total flights operated between two airports and not two cities. Unlike megacities such as New York and London, Mumbai and Delhi have only one major airport each, so all their air traffic is routed from these two airports.

While Bengaluru-Delhi was the 12th busiest route in the world with 29,427 flights between the two airports last year, BengaluruMumbai was 19th, with 23,857 flights. But if one were to look at the top 20 busiest domestic routes, Bengaluru-Delhi would take the 11th rank and Bengaluru-Mumbai 16th.

In reforms push, foreign airlines allowed 49% in Air India In fact, four out of the top five busiest air routes (both international and domestic together) in the world is in the AsiaPacific region, with Brazil’s Rio De JaneiroSao Paulo (5) being the only outsider.

Among international routes also, all the top five routes were within Asia and only two nonAsian routes—New York La Guardia-Toronto (6) and Dublin-London Heathrow (9)—in the top 10. Hong Kong-Taipei was the busiest international route in the world last year, with 29,494 flights. If both domestic and international routes are listed together, then Hong Kong-Taipei would be the 11th busiest route in the world.

When it comes to punctuality on the 20 busiest domestic routes, Japan emerges on the top with Tokyo Haneda-Osaka route (17th busiest, 21,900 flights) seeing 90.40 % of flights departing and landing within 15 minutes of their scheduled time.

Supreme Court to hear plea for probe into CBI judge Loya’s death The Supreme Court will on Friday hear a plea seeking an independent probe into the death of special CBI judge BH Loya, who was hearing the Sohrabuddin Sheikh encounter case.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices AM Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud on Thursday took note of the submission seeking urgent hearing on the plea for a probe into Loya’s death on December 1, 2014.

The plea was filed

by Maharashtra-based journalist BR Lone.

He submitted that a fair probe was needed into the mysterious death of Loya, who was hearing the sensitive Sohrabuddin encounter case in which various police officers and BJP president Amit Shah were named as parties.

Loya died of a cardiac arrest in Nagpur

on December 1, 2014, when he had gone to attend the wedding of a colleague’s daughter.

The issue came under the spotlight in November last year after media reports quoting his sister fuelled suspicion about the circumstances surrounding his death and its link to the Sohrabuddin case.

A total of 23 accused, including police personnel, are facing trial for their involvement in the alleged fake encounter of Sohrabuddin Shaikh, his wife Kausar Bi and their associate Tulsidas Prajapati in Gujarat in November 2005.

A PIL seeking probe into the judge’s death was also filed before the Bombay High Court on January 8 by the Bombay Lawyers’ Association

Locking the stable after horses have bolted: Chidambaram on new Aadhaar security features Congress leader P Chidambaram took to Twitter on Thursday to offer his take on the new security features to safeguard your Aadhaar number, using a classic analogy to drive the point home.

“Under compulsion, millions of persons have already shared Aadhaar number with many service providers. New security layer is like locking the stable after horses have bolted,” Chidambaram tweeted.

The former finance minister was implying that the Modi government was attempting to rectify their mistake after the damage had already been done.

Yesterday, the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) unveiled a fresh layer of security to address concerns after it was reported that millions of Aadhaar numbers

were vulnerable due to a major data breach. The new measures include a ‘Virtual ID’ to prevent the 12-digit number from being shared and a safety feature to ensure only need-based sharing of information, aimed at curtailing theft and misuse. However, the added security features failed to impress the opposition, which maintained that Aadhaar had become a tool for state surveillance of individuals.

“Aadhaar commenced to enable RESIDENTS of India to access basic services thru an identity. Not designed to be a TOOL for big brother state to spy/ surveill & police people online & offline. That is what it has become.

Classical Case of dual uses of Technology (sic),” said Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari in a tweet earlier in the day.

INDIA

Saturday, January 13, 2018

Kamala Mills fire: Police arrest 3rd owner of 1Above, 2 others were arrested last night Mumbai police this morning arrested a third absconding partner in Mumbai’s 1Above restaurant in Kamala Mills where a fire last month killed 14 people; two other absconding partners were arrested last night+ .

Abhijeet Mankar, the man arrested this morning, went on the run on December 29 - the morning after the overnight fire - after the police charged him and his co-owners with culpable homicide not amounting to murder.

So the fire was because of MOJO so doesnâ t the mumbai police arrest YOG PATHAK , so of Retired IPS officer? Because he is a VIPâ s son? The guys of one above are just being made scape ... Read Moreayesha merchant Mankar’s partners, Kripesh Sanghvi and his brother Jigar, who were arrested in Bandra last night, had also been absconding.

Police sources said they got leads on the whereabouts of the Sanghvi brothers during interrogation of Juhu resident Vishal Karia, who was arrested on Tuesday for sheltering the absconding trio.The blaze that swept through 1Above and adjoining Mojo’s Bistro in Kamala Mills was allegedly due to to poor fire safety measures at the restaurants.

CJI Dipak Misra, under attack from colleagues, delivered key verdicts The four senior most Supreme Court judges on Friday virtually revolted against Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dipak Misra, who has been a part of several key and sensitive verdicts, including that of confirming the death sentence of Mumbai blasts convict Yakub Memon during a midnight hearing.

Before being elevated as the 45th CJI, attempts were made to stall his elevation, but Justice Misra took oath as the head of the judiciary on August 28 last year.

Misra, who has a 13 month-long tenure till October 2, has been having a tough time in dealing with his colleagues and often reports have surfaced that there have been serious disagreements between him and other senior judges of the five-member collegium and Justice J Chelameswar

has often made his displeasure public.

Not only from within, but activist lawyers have also been critical of his functioning which was manifested in a medical college matter when the CJI and advocate Prashant Bhushan had a heated exchange of words in a packed courtroom.

CJI Misra had to hurriedly constitute a fivejudge Bench of his choice after a two-judge Bench headed by Justice Chelameswar had ordered setting up of a five-judge Bench of senior most judges to hear the petitions by an NGO and a lawyer levelling serious allegations of bribes being taken in the names of judges to get favourable order in a medical college case.

The CJI-headed Bench had overturned Justice Chelameswar’s order and asserted that Chief Justice of India is the “master of the roster”.

Issue of Judge BH Loya’s death is serious, says Supreme Court The Supreme Court on Friday termed as a “serious matter” the issue of alleged mysterious death of special CBI judge BH Loya, who was hearing the Sohrabuddin Sheikh encounter case, and sought response from the Maharashtra government on pleas seeking an independent probe into it.

The top court said, “This matter requires bi-party hearing rather than ex parte”.

A bench of Justices Arun Mishra and MM Shantanagoudar asked Maharasthra Government counsel Nishant R Katneshwarkar to file reply by January 15.

At the outset, senior advocate Dushyant Dave, representing the Bombay lawyers association, said the

high court is seized of the matter and the apex court should not hear the pleas.

“The Bombay High Court is seized of the matter and in my opinion the Supreme Court should not hear this matter. If the court goes ahead with the hearing, it may have implications before the high court,” Dave said.

Senior advocate Indira Jaising, appearing for one of the petitioners, Maharashtrabased journalist BR Lone, said she had also instructions from the Bombay lawyers association that this matter should not be heard by the top court.

The bench, however, said it would look into the petitions but would also consider the objections raised.

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‘Preserve SC or democracy won’t survive’ In a first-of-its-kind move, four seniormost judges of the Supreme Court on Friday called a press conference and said the situation in the top court was “not in order” and many “less than desirable” things had taken place.

Unless this institution is preserved, “democracy will not survive in this country”, the four judges said.

Justice J Chelameswar, the second senior judge after the Chief Justice of India, said, “Sometimes administration of the Supreme Court is not in order and many things which are less than desirable have happened in the last few months.”

Chelameswar, who was accompanied by Justices Ranjan Gogoi, MB Lokur and Kurian Joseph at the press conference, said they had met CJI Dipak Misra on Friday morning and “raised issues affecting the institution”.

Soon after the press conference by the four judges, the CJI called Attorney General KK Venugopal for a meeting, court sources said.

At the presser held at his house, Justice J Chelameswar said, “Unless this institution is preserved, democracy will not survive in this country” and added it was “extremely painful” to hold press conference in such a manner.

He said the four judges had written a letter to CJI Dipak Misra some time back, raising important issues.

But all of them “failed to persuade the CJI that certain things are not in order and therefore you should take remedial measures. Unfortunately our efforts failed.

“And all four of us are convinced that democracy is at stake and many things

have happened in recent past,” he said.

Asked what these issues were, he said they included the “allocation of cases by the CJI”. The remarks assume significance as the Supreme Court on Friday took up for consideration the issue of alleged mysterious death of special CBI judge BH Loya, who was hearing the sensitive Sohrabuddin Sheikh encounter case.

Justice Chelameswar said, “We owe a responsibility to the institution and the nation. Our efforts have failed in convincing the CJI to take steps to protect the institution.”

“This is an extraordinary event in the history of any nation, more particularly this nation and an extraordinary event in the institution of judiciary...It is with no pleasure that we are compelled to call this press conference.

“But sometimes administration of the Supreme Court is not in order and many things which are less than desirable have happened in the last few months.”

All the judges rubbished questions on whether they have broken ranks, with Justice Gogoi saying “nobody is breaking the rank and it is a discharge of debt to the nation, which we have done”. Justice Gogoi would be succeeding the incumbent CJI in October this year.

Asked whether they wanted the Chief Justice to be impeached, Justice Chelameswar said, “Don’t try to put words in our mouth”.

The four judges, in their seven-page letter to the CJI, said, “It is too well settled in the jurisprudence of this country that the chief justice is only first among the equals--nothing more or nothing less.”

India signs pact with UK on illegal migrants India has signed an MoU with the United Kingdom to enable the return of illegal Indian migrants within a month of their detection by authorities abroad.

Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju on Friday confirmed that the pact was signed by him and UK Minister of State for Immigration Caroline Nokes in Britain on Wednesday during his visit along with an Indian delegation for a week.

“We finalised long-pending India-UK MoU on the returns of illegal migrants and sharing of criminal records,” Rijiju tweeted.

The Memorandum of Understanding, which would affect hundreds of Indians, comes ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s proposed visit to the UK in March.

The UK has consistently raised the issue of return of illegal migrants with India.

Rijiju said he also discussed “issues of visas for dependents and students, social security, distressed Indian women and extradition”.

A Home Ministry official said: “The process was not streamlined yet. The British authorities will first identify the illegal

migrants, inform the Indian authorities, followed by police verification back home.

“If the claims of the British authorities are found to be correct, then the travel documents of the person concerned will be readied and he/she deported by the UK authorities. This process will have a timeline of one month,” said the official.

While the UK claims that the number of illegal migrants is in thousands, Indian agencies have found only 2,000 Indians are overstaying.

The Minister on Thursday also thanked the UK government for its cooperation in the ongoing extradition case of liquor tycoon Vijay Mallya.

He had also held talks with the Britain’s Minister of State for Security at the UK Home Office, Ben Wallace, on broad security issues.

“As part of the discussions, the Minister thanked the UK government for cooperation in the Mallya extradition case,” a senior official present at the meeting said.

Mallya, 62, is wanted in India to stand trial on charges of not repaying loans of around Rs 9,000 crore to various banks.

26

SOUTH ASIA

Saturday, January 13, 2018

How Army handled the Chinese intrusion in Arunachal Taking a leaf out of the 70 days Doklam standoff, the Indian Army had immediately ordered troops movement to the McMohan line in Upper Siang district in Arunachal Pradesh after Chinese road building workers and machineries were spotted by a porter on December 28, but the soldiers, had to walk for 19 hours to reach the point of intrusion.

As many as 120 Army personnel were deployed on the border with ration that could last them for 30 days. With no roads to the border and no animal transport at disposal, Indian Army pressed into service a company of 300 porters that was raised long back, to carry the ration for the soldiers. “The initial reading was that the Chinese might be planning to open up another area of dispute

after Doklam. We were certain that it would be a long haul, after the Doklam standoff lesson and we moved our troops immediately on December 28,” a defence source said. On the other hand personnel of Chinese PLA, who had come to the point for flag meeting on January 6, drove right till the border.

The issue was resolved instantly and the Chinese men returned along with machineries that were damaged by the locals. The Chinese civilian workers who had come for the road building had fled leaving the machineries after they were spotted by the locals.

“But, what if they had come back with the Chinese PLA in large numbers. We had to take immediate preventive measures and our first task was to stock our resources, but there were challenges and difficulties” the source said.

No growth, villagers attack Nitish convoy Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today escaped unhurt when his cavalcade was pelted with stones while he was on his way to a village as part of the state-wide Vikas Samiksha Yatra.

Upset over lack of development in the area, residents of Nandan village in Buxar district targeted Nitish’s convoy, injuring security personnel and damaging some vehicles.

Sources said when Nitish was passing through the village, some people urged him to visit the area inhabited by Dalits which they claimed was neglected. But the Chief Minister ignored the plea, angering the villagers who

later attacked his convoy.

Buxar DM Arbind Kumar Verma said: “A probe is on and action will be initiated against those who attacked the CM’s convoy.”

The CM said, “My purpose is not to run government from the state capital, but to assess ground realities and progress of development schemes so that basic amenities such as roads, clean water and power reach every village, in fact, every locality, in the state. If anybody is trying to mislead people about my mission, the reality will speak for itself and the mission would never get derailed.”

Mallya granted bail till April 2 in extradition case The UK judge presiding over the extradition trial of Vijay Mallya has granted bail to the embattled liquor baron till April 2 as she heard arguments from the defence against the admissibility of evidence presented by India.

The 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.

Mallya, wanted in India, was arrested by Scotland Yard on an extradition warrant in April, 2017 and has been out on bail. —

Reporter who exposed India data breach named in criminal complaint A journalist who broke the story that personal records of 1.2 billion Indians could be purchased online for less than £6 has been named in a criminal complaint filed by the government agency responsible for the data.

Senior Indian journalists and national press associations criticised the complaint against Rachna Khaira as “unfair, unjustified and a direct attack on the freedom of the press”. An investigation by Khaira in the Chandigarhbased Tribune newspaper last week claimed that access to a database containing the personal records was being sold on WhatsApp groups for about 500 rupees (£5.82). Sign up to the Media Briefing: news for the newsmakers The Unique Identification Authority of India, which collects and administers the information, said it appeared to contain “mere demographic” details and not the fingerprint and retina scans that are also part of the Aadhaar database, the largest of its kind in the world. A UIDAI deputy director filed a complaint with police at the weekend naming Khaira and her newspaper and alleging a range of offences including forgery and cheating. Others, including the people alleged to have sold access to the database, were also named in the complaint, which police will investigate to decide whether any

criminal charges should be brought. UIDAI denied “shooting the messenger”, arguing that it was simply naming every party involved in the incident and would leave police and the courts to determine whether any criminal acts had been committed. “It does not mean that all those who are named in the report are necessarily guilty or being targeted,” the authority said in a statement. Late on Monday the Indian law and IT minister, Ravi Shankar Prasad, clarified the focus of the criminal complaint was the unknown parties who had allegedly sold Aadhaar data. “Govt. is fully committed to freedom of press as well as maintaining security & sanctity of #Aadhaar for India’s development,” tweeted. “[The complaint] is against unknown. I’ve suggested @UIDAI to request Tribune & it’s journalist to give all assistance to police in investigating real offenders.” Indian courts have generally held that sting operations committed by journalists in the public interest cannot be considered criminal acts. The Editors Guild of India said the case was “clearly meant to browbeat a journalist whose investigation on the matter was of great public interest”.

The Broadcast Editors Association also demanded that the case against the journalist be withdrawn immediately.

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FIJI

Saturday, January 13, 2018

Stinson and Vatuwaqa bridges officially opened He says the government is overcoming all Two major bridges officially opened in Suva today and this is expected to ease traffic these challenges.

The Prime Minister has also thanked the congestion. While opening the two brand new bridges Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama Chinese government for being a steadfast says the opening of the Vatuwaqa and Stinson development partner for Fiji since 2007.

The two projects Parade bridges were successfully will bring relief to thousands of people. completed through a $30 million grant Bainimarama says from the Chinese this is a major victory government. for Fiji because the economy has done He also says that well and based on that more can be $70 million has been done for the people allocated to upgrade and expand roads and of the country.

Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama opening the new roundabouts in the Bainimarama says Stinson Parade Bridge in Suva the government Suva Nausori Lami is choosing on putting money into building corridor where nearly a third of the Fijian population live. infrastructure that lasts.

He says they are building for the future and $9.5 million has been set aside to construct there are no quick fixes. footpaths, $4.5 million to construct street Bainimarama says we all saw the consequences lights in Wainibokasi, Vuci, Nadera, Nadawa, when taking shortcuts in development during Davuilevu and Kalokalo Crescent while $31 Cyclone Winston as schools, homes and other million has been allocated to replace 16 critical buildings lacked proper planning and were not bridges all over Fiji and another 30 bridges are planned to be replaced in the next 5 years. built to a higher standard in the past.

Former cane farmers attend business training Former sugar cane farmers in Kavanagasau, Sigatoka, were part of a business training workshop that taught them how to operate their farm as a business. While opening the Farming as a Business Farmer workshop yesterday, Assistant Minister for Agriculture Viam Pillay said it was important for farmers to know the basis of farming as a business. “The need to build our capacity, change our mindset to view farming as a business and align ourselves to meet the need of the market is crucial,” Mr Pillay said. “As farm managers, we need to know all the costs associated with our farm operation and even the cost of producing a kilogram of any crop - be it

tomatoes, English cabbage, and eggplant. “We also need to keep our farm records for farm planning purposes.”

He said there was a need for farmers to prepare themselves for the changing world.

“We need to be proactive farm managers and update ourselves with the latest farming and market information and take advantage of the opportunity that exists.

“Remember, there is a hungry market out there that is yearning for our commitment. “We need to face the world with confidence and be able to supply the market with fresh and quality produce at a consistent level.”

SC Fiji processes 400-plus applications for education assistance The Save the Children (SC) Fiji has started its education assistance for recipients who had requested help to prepare their children with school supplies for this new school year.

SC Fiji CEO Iris McKenzie said they had received and processed 427 applications to date.

Ms McKenzie said education was a child?s right and as a child rights-based NGO, they had

to support children to return to school in this new academic year.

“We would like to thank the individuals and the corporate organisations who have supported us to meet this need,” she said.

“SC Fiji is grateful to Vodafone for coming forward to donate stationery kits as well. This has enabled us to reach out to more needy children.”

Air Terminal Services and workers in deadlock for 22 days Air Terminal Services (Fiji) Ltd workers involved in an impasse with the company remain unfazed despite not being paid for the past fortnight. With the impasse entering the 22nd day, workers are steadfast in their belief that it was time to stand up for what they were owed.

The workers were last paid on December 20, four days after the impasse started, but they did not receive their fortnightly pay on Wednesday as scheduled. For Yvonne Fong, life is a bit tougher with her husband disagreeing with her decision not to return to work. “My family hasn’t said much about it, just my husband and I know where he’s coming from,” she said. “It’s because of the bill commitments.” But like many others, Ms Fong has decided to take a stand, claiming that for more than a decade, the workers’ fight for an increment had fallen on deaf ears. She is a permanent part-time (PPT) worker, which by her account means she is not recognised by the company despite having worked there for 10 years. “We are not recognised as permanent part-time workers. We queried about an increment with the HR department and were

informed that we weren’t recognised by the company.

“It’s demoralising. I have three kids and we have bill commitments but it’s time to take a stand.” Similar sentiments were expressed by another permanent part-time worker, Sarah Lockington. Ms Lockington, a single mother to a 13-year-old girl, is a passenger service agent.

“For masters, when you reach the 10-year mark, you get certificates and you get long service leave,” she said. “But when we reached a decade of work, we didn’t even get recognition for our service, not even a letter of acknowledgement.

“We deserve some sort of long service something, but we don’t even get a letter.

“It’s like we work here, but we don’t exist.”

Another PPT worker, Mereoni Radinivugalei, said the starting rate was $3.76. She has been with the company for more than one year.

“I have to work overtime to be able to get at least a decent income after deductions,” she said.

“After working overtime and all deductions, then I can get at least $300-$400 pay. Imagine if I didn’t work overtime. I’d be left with almost nothing.

Population ratio shows ‘102 men to 100 women’ While the sex ratio of our population is 102 males to 100 females, females are expected to live longer, according to the 2017 Population and Housing Census.

There are 28,520 Fijians that are aged 65 years and above, of which 57 per cent are females. At least 14,393 Fijians are over 75 years with 8,604 being females.

The 2017 Population and Housing Census result was released by the Fiji Bureau of Statistics yesterday. More results, the bureau said in a press statement, will be released in the coming months.

One in 10 Fijians are under the age of five

years. According to the census which was carried out on September 17 last year, more children aged between 0-4 years, 5-9 years and 10-14 years lived in rural areas than urban centres. While the urban centres had more dwellers between the ages of 20-39 years. Meanwhile, in the labour force, the unemployment rate for females is 7.8 per cent while the rate for males 2.8 per cent.

There is also a significant gender differential in the number of persons engaged in paid and unpaid work. The number of males in paid or unpaid work is about 234,059 while it is 106,680 for females.

Ba Province has highest population in Fiji Most people in Fiji live in the Ba Province, according to the 2017 Population and Housing Census released by the Fiji Bureau of Statistics.

Ba’s population of 247,708 accounts for 28 per cent of the country’s population. The province recorded the highest increase in urban dwellers from 120,998 in 2007 to 165,411 when the census was carried last year. Fiji’s urban population spiked from 428,846 in the last census to 494,252 while the rural citizens declined from 412,425 to 390,635. The 2017 census report said the rise in the urban population was due to the extension of town boundaries. Naitasiri’s population

is 177,678 while Rewa’s population, which includes Suva is 108,016. Naitasiri’s population increased by 13,664 in the last 10 years while Rewa’s population which has 86.5 per cent urban dwellers increased by 4,720. The Naitasiri province includes some parts of the SuvaNausori corridor. Some provinces recorded growths in their rural population and these were Bua, Kadavu, Naiatasiri, Namosi, Rewa, Serua and Tailevu. Those whose population declined were Ba, Cakaudrove, Lau, Lomaiviti, Macuata, Nadroga/Navosa, Ra and Rotuma.

PAKISTAN

Saturday, January 13, 2018

Pakistan court frees anti-US cleric amid spat with Trump A court in Pakistan ordered of Taliban who is believed to be release of an anti US sufi-cleric hiding in Afghanistan. Washington accuses Pakistan of turning a blind Sufi Mohammad who went to Afghanistan with thousands of eye to militants. Pakistan denies the volunteers to help the Taliban fight charge. Last week, Trump said that the United States had “foolishly” against Americans after US led invasion in 2001, A defense lawyer given Pakistan more than $33 billion said. Sufi Muhammad arrived in aid in the last 15 years and had gotten nothing in return but “lies & to address supporters in Swat Sufi Mohammad deceit.” Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry, valley’s capital Mingora.

This development came amid rising US Pakistan ambassador to Washington, accused Trump tensions following Trump’s accusations administration of ignoring the sacrifices that Pakistan was harboring militants and made by Pakistan in the war on terror. the withholding of American aid. Sufi The claim is unfair, Chaudhry said, before Mohammad was set free on health grounds heading back to Washington. “We have been and the paperwork for his release was still the victim of terrorist attacks and how can being processed Tuesday, said defense we tolerate the presence of militants on our lawyer Fida Gul. Sufi Mohammad was soil,” he said. Ties between Washington and imprisoned since 2009, is also known as the Islamabad could be further strained by the father-in-law of Mullah Fazlullah, the leader release of Sufi Mohammad.

Violent protests erupt over rape, murder of 8-year-old girl An eight-year-old girl was allegedly raped and murdered in Pakistan’s Punjab province, triggering violent protests in which two people were killed in clashes with police. According to CCTV footage, the girl in Kasur district was abducted last week outside her home.

“Last night the girl’s body was found from a heap of garbage in Saddar area of the city,” Regional Police Officer (Kasur) Zulffiqar Hameed said, adding the body had been sent for autopsy. “Initial autopsy report suggests that the girl was strangulated after rape,” Hameed said. The girl was staying with her relatives while her parents had gone to Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah,

an Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, Hijaz, Saudi Arabia, performed by Muslims that can be undertaken at any time of the year.

The police has taken four suspects into custody. “We are trying to identify the person who was seen taking the girl along in the footage,” he said. Riots erupted in Kasur over police inaction after reports of the alleged rape and murder of the girl began circulating on social media. The protesters pelted stone at the police station, offices of district police officer and district coordination officer in Kasur as the city observed a complete shutter down to protest against the brutal murder.

Widespread furore over Imran Khan’s third marriage Annoyed by media campaign about his new Sharif, Imran Khan said: “I have known the marriage for a third time, Pakistan’s opposition Sharifs for 40 years and I know all their leader Imran Khan (pictured) asked the sordid personal lives, but I would never public, whether he had “sold” the state secrets stoop to the level of exposing these sordid to India or “laundered” the country’s wealth. details.” “For 3 days I have been wondering Imran Khan breaking his silence over reports have I looted a bank; or money laundered bns of his marriage to his spiritual peer (guru) Ms in nation’s wealth; or ordered a model-townBushra Maneka, Imran blamed ousted prime like killing spree; or revealed state secrets to India? I have done none of these minister Nawaz Sharif and one of the but discovered I have committed owner of a private media outlet for a bigger crime: wanting to get “vicious, gutter media campaign” married,” he said. Sharif was against him specially in recent disqualified by the Supreme days.

Court last year in the Panama In a series of tweets, the world Papers case. The Sharif family cup winner and former cricket is facing three corruption cases captain Imran Khan said that he was linked to the scandal. “All I ask of only concerned about “his children my well wishers and supporters (living in UK) and the family of is that they pray I find personal Bushra Maneka. He alleged that the happiness which, except for a “vicious, gutter media campaign” Imran Khan few years, I have been deprived was being led by NS (Nawaz Sharif) and MSR (Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman), adding of,” Khan added. Khan had first tied the knot that it did not bother him. Shakil-ur-Rahman with Jemima Goldsmith in 1995 that ended in is the founder of Geo Television Network. In divorce after nine years in 2004. His second another tweet, he told “NS & MSR” that their marriage was with Reham Khan, then a TV vicious campaign has only strengthened anchor, which lasted barely 10 months. his resolve to fight them. Attacking Nawaz

Pakistan threatens to cut off US reach for the region As Washington’s relations with Islamabad hit an all-time low+ , the US may be considering not using Pakistan as a route to send supplies to Afghanistan, a US State Department official hinted today.

He was answering a specific question about what the US will do if an angry Pakistan cuts off access to the routes through which military and other supplies get to Afghanistan. “Is the US talking with the Central Asian countries or Russia about trying to expand resupply - like northern resupply - routes to have alternatives if

Pakistan cuts that off,” was the question asked of the State Department official Steven Goldstein. “We always look at that,” said Goldstein, emphasising though that the recent suspension of as much as $2 billion in funds to Pakistan was just that - a suspension - not an end. “...this is a suspension and not a cut-off. No funds have been reprogrammed, and we’re hopeful for future cooperation from Pakistan,” said Goldsmith, referring to help from that country to rein in the Taliban and the Haqqani Network of terrorists.

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NRI

Saturday, January 13, 2018

Rahul Gandhi to have first foreign trip as Congress leader,

will address NRI conclave in Bahrain In his first foreign visit as Congress president, Rahul Gandhi will travel to Bahrain on January 7 and address an NRI conclave the next day, sources said.

According to party sources, the visit is aimed at promoting Rahul Gandhi as a â&#x20AC;&#x153;brandâ&#x20AC;? after his visit to the US last September received a positive response.

Rahul Gandhi ji looking impressive now

.. Brilliant, Confident, Committed & fully ready to take responsibility. The sole purpose of such trips is to bolster Rahulâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s global image as a popular leader and also reach out to the NRIs, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been doing since he came to power.

Rahul Gandhi was in Goa recently to join his mother Sonia to usher in the New Year.

NRI woman dies from injuries suffered in accident NRI woman who had an accident at Dudhaigam near Bhuj died at Surat Civil Hospital. According to police, Aruna Desai (73), an NRI from the US who had come to her native place at Amalsad in south Gujarat had left for Bhuj for excursion along with her relatives. At Dudhaigam, her car turned turtle. All passengers were injured, while Desai received serious head injuries. Desai, who lived in Greenwood, US, had come

to Amalsad of Navsari with her husband Mahendra and other family members. Aruna and Mahendra had gone to Kutch along with other relatives to witness Rann Utsav in a car hired from Vadodara. The driver lost control over the car and it overturned. Aruna was initially admitted to a hospital in Bhuj and later shifted to Navsari. She was again shifted to Surat as her condition didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t improve.

Salesman arrested for â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;molestingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; NRI A 35-year-old salesman of Colaba Causeway im Mumbai garment shop was arrested after an NRI accused him of molesting her while taking her measurements. Mohammed Azad Ansari, a resident of Ganesh Murthi Nagar in Cuffe Parade, was arrested for allegedly outraging the modesty of a woman. Ansari has denied the allegations. The complainant was in to Mumbai to attend her sisterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wedding. Police said after checking into a Colaba five-star on Monday, she decided to go shopping with her mother at Colaba Causeway on Shahid Bhagat Singh Road. Ansari works in a shop that mostly sells

denims. Police said when the woman entered the shop, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Ansari showed her a few jeans and she decided to try on one. She alleged that while taking her measurements, Ansari misbehaved with her,â&#x20AC;? said an officer. She narrated the alleged incident to her mother. Cops said the next day, the mother and daughter duo visited the police station and lodged a complaint.

Ansariâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lawyer Sunil Pandey said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;My client has been falsely implicated. Ansari had told her there was no trial room in the shop and yet she tried the jeans on her own. It is a case of misunderstanding,â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;&#x2122; he said.

Rajya Sabha nominations upset AAP NRI supporters Punjabi NRI supporters of Aam Aadmi Party are unhappy with the choice of the partyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Rajya Sabha candidates.

Even AAP leaders in Punjab have revealed that they are not happy with the partyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s selection of senior party leader Sanjay Singh, Delhi-based businessman Sushil Gupta, who had past links with Congress, and chartered accountant N D Gupta. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The biggest negative feedback is from NRIs,â&#x20AC;? revealed a senior Punjab AAP leader. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The choice of names for the Rajya Sabha by the party has come as a complete shock and disappointment for us and now we shall teach them a lesson.

Most of the NRI volunteers and supporters, who were already disappointed the way party was run in Punjab by the bosses from Delhi and the humiliating loss in the state election, are now clear that party cared two hoots about their opinion and they are just supposed to contribute dollars. We were demanding introspection and review for reasons of defeat in the election but they have rewarded a person whom people considered responsible for drubbing in the assembly elections,â&#x20AC;? said Australia-based Bhavjit Singh, AAP media coordinator in New South Wales.

NRI man with 30% burns in critical condition Three victims injured in the Kamala Mills fire were discharge from Bhatia Hospital, Tardeo, on Saturday. A 40-year-old NRI is now the only critical person to be treated at the hospitalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s burns unit. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The critical patient suffered around 30-35% burn injury. The burn areas are both the hands, the head and the whole back. At the moment, no surgery is required. Because of the deep and severe burns, he is critical. The patient is being administered collagen dressing and is on antibiotics. Regular dressings is being done to avoid any infection since the skin is lost,â&#x20AC;? said plastic surgeon Dr Ashok Shah. The hospital said 13 more patients are still admitted with 10-15% burns.

Dr Sunil Keswani, dean of National Burns

Hospital, said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;A young patient (Akshay Balwani) has sustained 10-12% burn injuries to his skull, ears, back of neck and both his hands. But his condition is stable.â&#x20AC;?

Stop this culture of British of drinking and parties in hotels drink and party in yr house if u were in yr house I would be safemusicjack Balwani (23), who works as a product marketing manager with Microsoft in California, is in Mumbai to celebrate a school reunion party with nine of his friends. The group was at London Taxi gastro pub when the tragedy occurred.

While his friends managed to escape in the nick of time, Akash was not as lucky, for aa burning portion of the awning fell on him. The wood scalded his head and both his hands.

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FRUITICANA

Saturday, January 13, 2018

Kangana Ranaut put a year-long feud with Karan to an end

W

ar of words between Kangana Ranaut and Karan Johar is coming to an end?

The two stars came together and hugged it out on the sets of Karanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new television show.

Although this act was purely for â&#x20AC;&#x153;professiona lâ&#x20AC;? reasons, a picture from the sets show the two exchanging rather warm pleasantries.

Karan and Kangana had a very publicised fall out when the actressâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;&#x153;n e p o t i s mâ&#x20AC;? comment on the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Koffee With Karan Showâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; opened the floodgates for a debate that took almost a year to die down. At a recent conference, Karan was asked about his views of having the feisty actress over

on his new show, to which he graciously said, he would â&#x20AC;&#x153;happily, lovingly and respectfully welcome her on the show.â&#x20AC;?

Dressed in a bright red designer lace gown, Kangana headed to the sets to shoot the segment.

It has been reported that the two were in a jovial mood on the sets and apart from joking with each other, also engaged in some friendly banter.

Speaking about her excitement to be on the show, Kangana said that it was purely a professional commitment for which she was being paid. She went on to state that it was â&#x20AC;&#x153;delightfulâ&#x20AC;? that Karan was â&#x20AC;&#x153;okayâ&#x20AC;? with doing the show with her and seemed to be slowly â&#x20AC;&#x153;warming upâ&#x20AC;? to her.

Tamannaah Bhatia a celebrity with performance par-excellence

T

amannaah was born on 21 December 1989 in Mumbai, to parents Santhosh and Rajani Bhatia. She has an elder brother, Anand. Her father is a diamond merchant. She is of Sindhi descent. She studied in Maneckji Cooper Education Trust School in Mumbai. Tamannaah later changed her screen name for numerological reasons, varying it slightly to Tamannaah. She has been working since the age of 13, when she was spotted at her schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s annual day function and offered a lead role, which she took up, and then also became a part of Mumbaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Prithvi Theatre for a year. She also appeared in Abhijeet Sawantâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s album song â&#x20AC;&#x153;Lafzo Meinâ&#x20AC;? from the album Aapka Abhijeet which was released in the year 2005. Her first release in 2015 was Baahubali: The Beginning.

In this film, Tamannaah plays a role of Avanthika, a member of a rebel group who wants to rescue Devasena from an evil

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Bollywood

Saturday, January 13, 2018

HOROSCOPE Aries March 21 - April 20 There is so much positive activity this coming week that it could be very productive for you. For instance, when determined Mars, your ruler, links to fervent Pluto, you might be willing to put a lot of

snowball. The right people and the right timing can also show up to assist you in other ways.

The weekend could see you adopting a more independent path.

Taurus April 21 - May 20 New opportunities are going to continue to beckon for some weeks and even months to come, but this week things could

youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re almost propelled along a new path by events or the encouragement of another.

In fact, your friends and loved ones can be instrumental in pushing you forward into new adventures.

Gemini May 20 - June 21

places you could go far. You could even see some powerful transformations occurring

determination. Be prepared to be led forward by a series of events and encounters that could be very practical yet extremely exciting.

Mercury, your guide planet, moves into Capricorn

Cancer June 22 - July 23 !

powerful interactions that build new relationships and enhance those you already have. Leisure and pleasure options could also bring you closer to others, as you may be eager to share your fun times with them. You might be drawn to collaborate with certain people on new projects, and this can be very rewarding for you.

Leo June 24 - August 23 You might be ready to make some lifestyle

for the better. A very lively blend of energies hints that making a start now could see you transforming your own health and perhaps that of others. In particular, a link between stirring Mars and fervent Pluto might encourage you to make a clean sweep.

Virgo August 24 - Sept 24 There seem to be so many ideas available to you, as well as an opportunity to collaborate with others. This could be a very busy and promising

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& isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t a time to hold back and keep things yourself.

Rather, share your thoughts and allow others to contribute. This process could be very creative for all involved

Libra Sept. 24 - Oct 22 You might need to use your powers of persuasion to convince family members that your ideas are in their best interests.

With both the sun and lovely Venus aligning with passionate Pluto, certain others may have their own agenda, and this could delay your plans. In the end, you might have to prove it to them by making a start and letting them see for themselves.

Scorpio Oct 23 - Nov 22 You could be on a personal mission over the days ahead, and this might show through your dedication and determination to turn an idea into reality. It might seem as though you need to be very persuasive to convince others to join you, but this might not be necessary at all. Your sheer enthusiasm might be what encourages others to come on board. What results from this could bring

Sagitarius Nov 23 - Dec 22 Your understanding and knowledge of your inner life and thoughts and feelings can have

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your income and feel secure. The presence of expansive Jupiter in your spiritual sector suggests that hiring the services of a life coach or other professional could be helpful, as he or she might be able to help you move beyond any perceived limits and feel even more abundant.

Capricorn Dec 23 - Jan 20 Your social life continues to be very buoyant and positive. And you seem to have friends in positions of power or authority who can be a great help to you at this time. With both feisty Mars and jovial Jupiter in your friendship zone, key alignments to planets in your sign could see you making fabulous progress with their help.

In addition, you have much experience to add to the mix, and this combination can be perfect for creating much success.

Aquarius Jan 21 - Feb 19 There are times in life when it pays to dig within and get to know oneself in greater depth. In your case, doing so could bring about positive experiences and insights that fuel your goals and aspirations. The coming weeks and months can be a great time to overcome any limitations that may be preventing you from living to your fullest potential. This week could see you trusting an intuitive nudge that turns out to be quite lucrative for you.

Pisces Feb 20 - March 20 With dynamic Mars aligning with expansive Jupiter in your sector of travel and adventure,

require a leap of faith. However, with the help of

courage to do whatever is required of you. They may be only too willing to join forces with you and lend you courage and support. However, avoid any impromptu purchases over the weekend, because the sunâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s link with restless Uranus could encourage you to splurge.

Did Sunny Leone beat all?

Got #1 in top 10 hottest actresses The most searched celebrity on internet, former adult actress Sunny Leon born on May 13, 1981 in Ontario, Canada. She made her Bollywood debut by Jism 2 (2012). The movie was blasted by the critics, and protests were held over India because of promotion of an adult star. In addition, Maxim named her as one of the 12 top adult stars in 2010. She has married to musician Daniel Weber.

After her performance in London, Sunny will fly down to South Africa on Christmas to resume shooting for her film. Sunny Leonne will celebrate the festival with her family there and will ring in the New Year in Dubai. Talking about her plans, Sunny said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s always good to be working

and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m excited to kick in Christmas and the New Year with family.â&#x20AC;?

Apart from Sunnyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s acting career she has been part of activism campaigns including the Rock â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;nâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Roll Los Angeles HalfMarathon to raise money for the American Cancer Society and has also posed for a People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) ad campaign with a rescued dog, encouraging pet owners to have their cats and dogs spayed and neutered.

Since 2011, Leone has been married to Musician Daniel Weber.

BIPASHA BASU takes on Zumba to stay fit

enthusiast Bipasha Basu says Zumba is her newfound secret

she has never felt so passionate about working out. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I simply love the Zumba programme.

to it when I heard its contagious music and rhythms and decided to take a class with renowned Zumba master trainer Sucheta Pal. I was hooked. I have never felt this passionate about

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all about feeling the music, enjoying the moves and allowing it to

Bipasha said in a statement.

She feels the dance-based exercise routine also gives an emotional boost. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is not (only) about physical transformation. The workout actually makes you smile. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a great emotional boost to my day and any

weight loss is an added

brings high energy to everything she does. It was so exciting to have the pleasure to train her and I know she will join me in making Zumba a lifestyle for millions of Indians who

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Bollywood Personalitiesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Birthdays

SAKSHI TANWAR JANUARY 12

HRITHIK ROSHAN JANUARY 10

BIPASHA BASU JANUARY 7

DEEPIKA PADUKONE JANUARY 5

Bollywood

Saturday, January 13, 2018

Film review: ‘Kaalakaandi’

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significant part of the movie is spent introducing the ensemble cast of the film. It is, to be honest, quite a lot to absorb so quickly. Saif Ali Khan learns he has cancer. Kunal Roy Kapoor’s girlfriend is leaving the country and he is very insecure about it. Akshay Oberoi is getting married. Vijay Raz could not help but laght at an anecdote in which a guy shot himself in the scrotum. All the stories start forming their parallel universes which you know are going to collide at a juncture in the movie.

The first half of the film is garnished with jokes that a group of young men would laugh out loud at. The plot thickens when Saif starts tripping on acid. Lives of others characters also begin to start tumbling down. The cast is handpicked to perfection.

All the actors – which are a hell lot – doing a great job. The characters haven’t interacted with each other much but are forming their own story arcs. Actually nothing much happens in the first half. Just a fun start to the film. No twist. No second act tension. Just a setup for the second half.

Hope everything happened so far has a well meaning place in the second half! (ALSO READ: Kaalakaandi song Kaala Doreya: Saif Ali Khan’s quirkiness adds fun to the remix version of a Punjabi folk song – watch video) Kaalakaandi is one film that fans were really excited about and even Aamir Khan loved the film. Aamir took to Twitter and said that after Delhi Belly, this was the only film that made him laugh so hard. The trailer of the film had already got the audience hooked on to the film. Saif ’s performance is being appreciated by everyone who has seen the film. Do you think the film will manage to impress the critics after the second half, too? Tell us in the comments below and stay tuned to BollywoodLife for the full review of the film.

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KAALAKAANDI *ing: Saif Ali Khan and Sobhita Dhulipala

Jan

12

Udanchhoo

*ing: Prem Chopra, Ashutosh Rana, Rajneesh Duggal

New Released Bollywood Films Jan 1921

12

*ing: Zareen Khan, Karan Kundra

Jan

12

MUKKABAAZ

*ing: Vineet Kumar Singh, Jimmy Shergill

Jan

12

Downup The Exit 796 *ing:Yatin, Vinayak Mishra, Kirti Swaly

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Saturday, January 13, 2018

Punjab Bhawan Surrey (Canada) and Pravasi Prajatantrik Prabodh Karyan Kendra of the Post-graduate Punjabi Department jointly organized a two-day International Conference under the centennial year of Gujranwala Guru Nanak Khalsa College (1917-2017).

Sunny Deol’s ‘Mohalla Assi’ Sunny Deol’s Mohalla Assi finally gets clearance for release from Delhi high court Sunny Deol and Sakshi Tanwarstarrer Mohalla Assi, which was not getting approval for its release from CBFC for last two years, has been finally cleared by the Delhi High Court. The film, which is based on Kashinath Singh’s novel, Kashi Ka Assi, was objected to by the CBFC due to its abusive and explicit content, which will hurt communities and their sentiments. Director of the film, Chandraprakash Dwivedi, who fought for over two years for its release says that filmmakers need to be prepared for a legal battle if they want to certify their films.

In an interview with Hindustan Times, Chandraprakash Dwivedi said, “The court ordered the film to be released after muting one word. No cuts or modifications were asked for, which raises the question why did the examining and reviewing committees of the CBFC object in the first place. It seems the guidelines for certification are being misinterpreted by the CBFC.” When asked to him that ex-chief Pahlaj Nihlani might have been the reason for Mohalla Assi’s delay, he replied, “I don’t know what the agenda was, but every possible attempt was made by the CBFC and the FCAT to delay the film.”

Jacqueline Fernandez Lankan beauty Jacqueline Fernandez, born on 2 June 1985 is a former model and beauty queen who won Miss Sri Lanka Universe in 2006. She has received an International Indian Film Academy Award for Best Female Debut and Stardust Award for Lux Exciting New Face in 2010, for her role in Aladin. In 2012 she gave 2 major hits,

namely Murder 2 and Housefull 2. Fernandez is most popular c e l e b r i t y endorser for various brands.

Also, she has participated in stage shows, and is active in humanitarian work. She is one of the highest paid actresses

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Saturday, January 13, 2018 #$ % &'$ *

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RBC Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Awards celebrates 10th anniversary Nominations are now open for the 10th annual awards program Perseverance. Tenacity. Determination.

These are just some of the words associated with the more than one in five Canadians born abroad and now call Canada home. For the past decade, the RBCÂŽ Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Awards have highlighted stories of success and inspiration made

by Canadian immigrants who have demonstrated incredible contributions and achievements in their communities and for the country.

Calling all inspiring immigrants!

Is there an inspiring newcomer in your life?

Do they have a story that should be heard and celebrated across Canada?

Canadian Immigrant and Royal Bank of Canada are now calling on nominations for the 10th annual RBC Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Awards. With 2018 being the 10th anniversary, over 250 inspirational immigrants will have been recognized by this awards program over the last decade.

The awards program is presented

by Canadian Immigrant, a national multimedia platform to help immigrants settle and succeed in Canada and has been proudly supported by founding and title sponsor Royal Bank of Canada since 2009.

The 2018 winners will be in good company. Past winners include two former Governor Generals of Canada, Adrienne Clarkson and MichaĂŤlle Jean, national broadcaster Ian Hanomansing, star chef Vikram Vij, entrepreneur/film producer Ajay Virmani, and ballerina Chan Hon Goh, to name just a few. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is a very special year for the RBC Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Awards,â&#x20AC;? said Margaret Jetelina, editor of Canadian Immigrant. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Recognizing the contributions that immigrants make to Canada is important as our countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s population becomes more diverse than ever. Each year, the RBC Top 25 winners are very diverse in professional background and ancestry, but one thing they all have in common is a deep desire to give back to their adopted country.â&#x20AC;? This will also be the fourth year that sponsor RBC selects one of the winners for the RBC Entrepreneur Award and the second year for the Youth Award, which recognizes the achievements of young

immigrants (between 16 and 29) who are making a difference in their adopted country through achievement and/or service, and show great potential as long-term nation builders.

Similar to our RBC Entrepreneur Award, the Youth Award will be an additional honour given to one of the RBC Top 25 winners. No special application process required.

Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s New? Brand new this year is the Settlement Agency Award. Canadian Immigrant and RBC want to recognize the amazing work immigrant settlement agencies are doing to help newcomers integrate and succeed in Canada. Concurrent with the RBC Top 25 campaign, we invite nominations from across the country for the top immigrant settlement agencies in your community. A shortlist will be posted at www. canadianimmigrant.ca/rbctop25 for an online voting process. One agency will be selected to receive the Settlement Agency Award for 2018. â&#x20AC;&#x153;These awards celebrate the significant contributions Canadian immigrants have made in communities across Canada,â&#x20AC;? said Ivy Chiu, Senior Director, Newcomer Strategy, RBC. â&#x20AC;&#x153;As we reflect on the amazing achievements weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve seen over the past 10 years, we can look ahead and be proud of all that we have accomplished together, and all that we will in years to come.â&#x20AC;?

Eligibility A nominee can be anyone who has immigrated to Canada and has since contributed to the success and uplifting of this country and/or its people. Achievements can be either professional or personal. Nominees must hold landed immigrant (permanent resident) or citizen status in Canada, and must reside in Canada.

Nomination Process Nominations can be made by visiting canadianimmigrant.ca/ rbctop25 until February 26, 2018, 11:59 pm EST. A distinguished panel of judges made up of past winners will review all nominees and present a list of 75 finalists who will be announced in March, after which all Canadians can vote for their favourite nominees. The 25 winners will be announced in June 2018 in print and online at canadianimmigrant.ca. Winners will also receive a commemorative plaque and $500 toward a charity of their choice provided

by RBC. Media partners include Toronto Star, Metro and Sing Tao.

BC Liberals call for deadline extension for farmers The BC Liberal critics for Agriculture and Environment say local farmers and other stakeholders deserve more time to provide their expertise and feedback on the governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Agriculture Waste Control Regulation Review. The regulation looks at environmentally sound practices for using, storing and managing agricultural wastes and by-products. The BC Ministry of Environment asked for this input at the end of November, with a deadline of January 15, 2018. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Farmers believe we should meet modern waste control challenges with innovation and creativityâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;yet they are being rushed to come up with and share these ideas over an extremely tight deadline,â&#x20AC;? says Delta South MLA and Agriculture Critic Ian Paton. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I wrote to Environment Minister George Heyman on their behalf nearly three weeks ago, asking for a 60 to 90 day extensionâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; but so far, the concerns of these farmers have

been ignored.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;The NDP have dithered on a number of key issues like ride-hailing, $10-a-day childcare and moreâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;so why are they rushing industry stakeholders to provide their valuable input?â&#x20AC;? asks Kamloops-North Thompson MLA Peter Milobar, Critic for Environment and Climate Change. â&#x20AC;&#x153;A short response period over the holidays begs the question of whether the NDP is truly interested in hearing meaningful feedback.â&#x20AC;? Of particular concern to farmers are new restrictions on the spreading of manure in high-precipitation areas during the months of October through March, as well as new soil-based thresholds for nitrogen and phosphate levels. Paton and Milobar are calling on the Minister to extend the deadline so stakeholders can provide the thoughtful and well-researched responses they are eager to share.

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Saturday, January 13, 2018

have you heard?

THIRD OUTING

Priyanka Chopra, who is currently shooting for Quantico in New York, announced on social media yesterday that the third season of the weekly American television drama series will premiere on April 26

Ready for the kill

Vidya Balan to play Indira Gandhi Vidya Balan has always been keen to essay the character of late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on screen. Yesterday, she took the first step towards fulfilling her dream.

Vids and producer hubby Siddharth Roy Kapur have acquired the rights to Sagarika Ghose’s book, Indira — India’s Most Powerful Prime Minister, on which the project will be based.

Yesterday, Ghose took to Twitter to announce the deal. Balan released a statement saying, “I am happy to have acquired the rights. I haven’t decided yet whether it should be made into a film or a web series, but that will take a while anyway.” Known for her acting chops, we can’t wait to see Vids bring alive the country’s most powerful and enigmatic PM.

House matters again

Yesterday, there were reports that a French court had ordered the eviction of Mallika Sherawat and beau Cyrille Auxenfans from their apartment in Paris due to nonpayment of dues. Last month, a French website had reported that the landlord sought seizure of their belongings due to mounting rent arrears. Sherawat, who was recently seen on Entertainment Ki Raat, took to social media yesterday to pooh-pooh the buzz. She wrote, “I do not own or rent any apartment in Paris! I have been in Los Angeles and India since the last eight months. Please do not spread false rumours (sic).” Mallika and controversies have always gone hand-in-hand.

Bare ride

Bhumi Pednekar wings her way to Chambal tomorrow as prep for her upcoming film. Abhishek Chaubey’s directorial venture is based on the dacoits who were active in the region in the 1970s. The actor was keen to spend some days to acclimatise herself to the surroundings and insisted on going before the unit arrives and shoot begins.

After Dum Laga Ke Haisha (2015), Toilet: Ek Prem Katha (2017) and Shubh Mangal Saavdhan (2017), Bhumi is all set to display her histrionics again. This time around with guns and gore.

Telly actor Tinaa Dattaa (Dhamini in Karamphal Daata Shani) has put the small screen folk into a tizzy with her photoshoot for a calendar. She is seen posing with a nude male model. The actor had no hang-ups and was comfortable during the shoot as she had worked with the photographer earlier. She took it up as a challenge in a bid to show a different self — far removed from her screen image. It was also her way of overcoming inhibitions and fears.

She hopes wellwishers and fans stand by her.

It’s finally official Krrish 4 in Xmas 2020 Since the last few months, there had been tattle about Parineeti Chopra teaming up with Akshay Kumar in Anurag Singh’s Kesari. Yesterday, producer Karan Johar finally confirmed on social media that she is on-board. Pari is said to be playing Akki’s wife in the film based on the battle of Saragarhi in 1897 between Sikh soldiers of the British Indian army and Afghan tribesmen.

Hrithik Roshan turned 44 yesterday. As a birthday gift to fans, dad Rakesh Roshan announced the release date of Krrish 4 on Twitter. The action franchise will release on Christmas 2020. It may seem a long way, but the Roshans are keen to take the superhero flick a notch higher on the action and special effects.

Brothers at work Diljit Dosanjh and Angad Bedi play siblings in Shaad Ali’s Soorma. The brotherly act continues off the set as well. As the two are fitness fanatics, when not facing the camera, they are hitting the gym. The actors regularly post workout videos and images on social media. The film is based on hockey champ Sandeep Singh; the duo also underwent extensive training to learn the sport together.

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Saturday, January 13, 2018

‘Indian theatres not ready for my movie’ Rahman says technological limitations didn’t dissuade him from making directorial debut with virtual reality film

SONIL DEDHIA sonil.dedhia@mid-day.com WHEN AR Rahman announced his directorial debut last year, many expected the project to be a musical for obvious reasons. However, the maestro threw a curveball by stating that Le Musk would be a virtual reality (VR) film, which would use smell for an enhanced immersive experience. The composer, who is currently working on the post-production of the film, is well-aware that releasing it in India will be a challenge since theatres don’t support the virtual reality technology.

“For a short film like Le Musk, I thought VR was the perfect medium. Unfortunately, our theatres are not ready. We don’t have theatres that provide the headmounted devices required for VR. Being one of the first few to make this kind of cinema comes with its own challenges,” says Rahman.

But he is hopeful that cinema screens will soon offer such an experience. “PVR has opened a VR lounge in Noida, so things are moving in that direction,” he

‘My film [Le Musk] will be more like an art installation rather than a regular release ’

A still from Le Musk points out.

Shot in Rome, the short film features foreign actors like Nora Arnezeder, Guy Burnet and Marian Zohrabyan, and follows the journey of an orphaned heiress and part-time musician, Juliet.

Rahman says that despite the issues, he was convinced about making the film in this format as it is “the next level of cinema.” “I knew about the infrastructure limitations, but certain things require you to just jump in. I faced a similar challenge when I worked on Roja [1992] — I was working in stereo mode when the theatres still had a mono audio system. But things changed after Roja. So, I couldn’t have waited for VR to come to India and then made a film on it. My film will be more like an art installation rather than a regular release.”

After Le Musk, Rahman, who has been appointed the brand ambassador of Sikkim, is keen to helm a film on different Indian classical dance forms. “I’m passionate about that project, but right now, I’m focussed on this.”

Naseer, Mithun take LBS Marg to investigate death Agnihotri ropes in veterans for thriller on Lal Bahadur Shastri’s “mysterious” demise SONIL DEDHIA sonil.dedhia@mid-day.com IN January last year on the occasion of Lal Bahadur Shastri’s death anniversary, filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri had announced that his next revolved around India’s second Prime Minister. mid-day has now learnt that the filmmaker has roped in veteran actors Naseeruddin Shah and Mithun Chakraborty for the film, which aims to investigate the “mysterious death” of the leader.

Shastri passed away in 1966 in Uzbekistan after signing the Tashkent declaration with Pakistan.

Confirming the development,

initiated crowdsourcing of Agnihotri says, “Shastriji’s ideas on the subject and says death has been a big mystery that he is delighted with the and there have been a lot of response. “I received a lot of theories around it. There are emails, which helped me do two narratives to any conthorough research on the troversy. I wanted to narrate the two sides of the Vivek Agnihotri project. The film is almost a story to the audience, and citizen investigation rethought who better than port.”

Naseerji and Mithunji?”

Ask him whether he exIn an industry obsessed pects any kind of backlash with stars, the director beand he says, “I believe this is the most researched work lieves that his film, given its Shastri on Shastriji. This is the most central theme, required “credible actors.” “I have done my apolitical film about a political casting on merit. I was sure that I leader.” The director is scouting for didn’t want to rope in a star for com- an actor to play the former Prime Minister before the film goes on mercial reasons.”

At the very onset, Agnihotri had floors next week.

‘Moved on from the nonsense’ Sunny on her NYE gig in Bengaluru getting cancelled due to protests SONIL DEDHIA sonil.dedhia@mid-day.com CLOSE on the heels of New Year’s Eve last month, Bengaluru took the country by surprise over the lack of support extended to Sunny Leone after certain political groups played moral police and objected to her scheduled performance.

With the untoward incident behind her, Leone tells mid-day that “most of the crazy stuff that happened was nonsense.”

Having constantly attempted to distance herself from the image of being an artiste worthy of roles only suitable for a selective audience, Leone says she doesn’t question the fact that the industry has accepted her today. “I am still associated with this industry and am happy with the work I am doing.

My fans and viewers have accepted me and that is what matters.”

Moving on, Leone says, is the only option she sees suitable to deal with the incident, which saw the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike oppose her performance in the city, claiming it would be an “assault” on the city’s culture.

With the Bengaluru police allegedly refusing protection, the actor had to cancel her gig. “If Bengaluru can’t ensure my safety, and that of those who attend the show, there’s no point [of performing there].

My mantra for survival has been to keep moving forward. It would be silly to get upset over it.”

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Saturday, January 13, 2018

‘Will give people a fair chance’ Salman on working on his talent management firm SONIL DEDHIA sonil.dedhia@mid-day.com MONTHS after reports of his apparent decision to launch a talent management firm hit headlines, Salman Khan tells mid-day he is indeed creating a “talent pool” for aspiring artistes.

The actor’s decision to part ways from a manager of nine years had fuelled speculation that he was venturing into creating a firm of his own. And now, referring to the rumours, Khan says, “Hiring new talent is necessary. There are so many people who come to the city and still don’t get a chance to work in films. Sometimes, even if they do land a film, they aren’t noticed enough. The idea is to create a talent pool and give everyone a fair chance to make it big in this world.”

Among Khan’s first finds will be a female actor for his brother-in-law Aayush Sharma’s Bollywood debut. A source says, “Salman plans to launch a female lead opposite Aayush for his debut venture, Loveratri. In order to get the work started, he has introduced an audition section on his app, BeingInTouch, where people can send videos showcasing their talents.”

Casting director Mukesh Chhabra, says the source, will play a vital role in this venture, even taking the “final call” on giving the nod to aspirants.

“There will also be seasoned casting veterans on board, who will spot talent and hone their

skills.” In order to connect with a wider audience, the team will encourage responses from social media platforms as well, says the source. Apart from scouting acting talent, Khan will also encourage works by musicians. “He will curate a music bank comprising works of aspiring composers. He may decide to use those songs in his forthcoming projects.”

Senior members of Khan’s production house, Salman Khan Films, will share their expertise to enhance this venture. “The team is finalising a location for the creation of an office where members of SKF will take charge of the company’s new wing. Salman will overlook the day-to-day affairs.”

Given that Khan has played a vital role behind launching successful faces like Katrina Kaif and Sonakshi Sinha, this new venture comes as a natural progression. “As a superstar, he wants to create a new line-up of stars for the industry.”

This development comes close on the heels of the actor’s decision to open the doors of his production house to writers and directors, who wish to venture into tele production.

‘Salman will also curate a music bank comprising works of aspiring composers. He may use those songs in his films’ A source

Radhika too busy to promote Akki’s film

Actor may be missing from Padman promotional work as she locks dates for international film with Dev Patel

MOHAR BASU mohar.basu@mid-day.com

Akshay Kumar and Radhika Apte; (inset) Dev Patel

WHILE Akshay Kumar’s decision to pre-pone the release of Padman to the Republic Day weekend has averted an expected clash with his other outing, 2.0, the reshuffling has caused havoc for Radhika Apte instead.

Apte, who stars in the former, a fictionalised biographical account on social entrepreneur Arunachalam Muruganatham, will have to skip the promotions owing to her chock-a-block schedule. She tells mid-day, “I was looking forward to

‘The club is open for everyone’ Sushant Singh Rajput on his recently launched social media book club that inspires members to “share great reads” MOHAR BASU mohar.basu@mid-day.com SUSHANT Singh Rajput, known to be among the league of A-listers often found buried under books, has taken his passion for reading a notch higher by creating a book club on social media. Running by the Twitter handle @intoxillectual, Rajput, almost apologetic for coining the name, says the platform will enable members to “discuss great books” and “share ideas.”

Rajput says launching the club is only one among the series of things he intends to do this year. “This book club is open to anyone who is interested to join it. On the forum, we will discuss which books should be read, a timeline to finish them, and then share the takeaways. People could cough up suggestions of other reads as well.”

A source tells mid-day, “Sushant is an avid reader.

He has a personal library comprising over 1,000 books. While on a vacation with friends in Europe, he was quoting lines from something he had read. It was then he thought of opening his own book club.”

Launched on Wednesday, the account, which has already acquired 2,722 followers, will be managed by Rajput. “I will handle it personally. It will see active participation and discussions by members.”

being there to support Padman.

Given that it revolves around the subjects of menstrual hygiene, there would have been a lot of ideas tossed around during the promotions.

However, I have a big project linedup, the filming for which will roll this month.”

While Apte chooses to remain silent about the venture, she reveals that the international outing pairs her alongside Dev Patel. “I am not sure if I will be in the country when promotional work picks up,” says the actor, further

What Rajput reads, then “reads again” Nausea (Jean-Paul Sartre) The Physicist and the Philosopher — Einstein, Bergson, and the Debate That Changed Our Understanding of Time (Jimena Canales) The Selfish Gene (Richard Dawkins) Eighteen Best Stories (Edgar Allan Poe) Leonardo Da Vinci (Martin Kemp)

heaping praise on her co-star, Kumar. “Akshay and I come from different schools of thought, but he is more experienced. As co-actors, we learnt from one another. That’s how we created work that was new.

I enjoy working with new people.”

While Padman was to hit screens in March, Kumar also has Rajinikanth-starrer 2.0 in the pipeline. With production work for the latter underway, Kumar pre-poned the release of his home production to allot time for the sci-fi later.

Saturday, January 13, 2018

9

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Classifieds / Jobs

Saturday, January 13, 2018

Saturday, January 13, 2018

Matrimonial Match for Jat Sikh, male, 50 years old, never married, city job in NY (USA), excellent health, looking for

compatible, homely, life partner 35 to 40 years of age. Pls contact: e-mail: harminder1229@gmail.com

Community news South Asian Seniors - Bingo On The House January 14th 2018 ( Sunday ) from 2.00 pm to 3.30 pm.

Vedic Seniors Parivar Centre of Vedic Hindu Cultural Society Surrey invites South Asian Adults/ Senior members and non members also to come and play Bingo for the sake of fun during and make some new friends, on January 14th 2018( Sunday ) from 2.00 pm to 3.30 pm at Shanti Niketan hall 8321 - 140th

street Surrey B.C. Please bring only two dollars with you to play 2 games, do not worry if you do not know how to play, members will explain you the game just for the sake of fun. Tea & light snacks will be served after the game is over.

Please contact Surendra Handa Coordinator at 604 - 507 - 9945 for further details. Project funded

by Government of Canadaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s New Horizons for Seniors Program for Hindi speaking Seniors.

Community / News

11

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Vol. 8 No. 50 Saturday - January 13, 2018

Metro Vancouver home prices to jump in 2018, pushed by ‘exceptionally’ low inventory

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ome prices in Metro Vancouver are expected to rise again in 2018, as “exceptionally” low inventory pushes up cost, according to Royal Lepage’s latest market forecast.

The real estate agency’s survey, released Wednesday, says prices increased in the fourth quarter of 2017, and predicts prices will continue to go up by 5.2 per cent by the end of the year.

The survey found that the aggregate home price in Greater Vancouver increased 8.2 per cent to $1,267,769 in the three months leading up to December, compared with the

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same period last year.

The largest increase was in the median price of a condo, which surged 20.2 per cent during those months to $651,885. The increases were highest in North Vancouver (26.8 per cent) followed by Burnaby (25.1 per cent) Langley (23.4 per cent) Richmond (19.5 per cent) and Coquitlam (18.8 per cent.)

The cost of a bungalow in Metro Vancouver went up 5.3 per cent to $1,436,606, while a two-storey home increased 6.6 per cent to $1,586,991.

The survey found there was double-digit growth in the city of Vancouver, where prices rose 12 per cent to $1,480,712, and in Burnaby and Coquitlam, rising 10.3 per cent and 11.1 per cent year-over-year to $1,115,541 and $1,064,247, respectively.

Surrey’s aggregate home price also saw a double-digit increase in the fourth quarter, rising 10.7 per cent to $844,869.

As buyers continued to search for reasonably priced homes near the downtown core, home values went up 5.7 per cent in North Vancouver to $1,459,570. Yet it was the area’s condominium growth that stood out.

The survey says North Vancouver posted one of the largest annual gains of any property segment tracked in the nation, surging 26.8 per cent to $673,313.

E-mail: ads@theasianstar.com

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14

Real Estate

Saturday, January 13, 2018

Latest property assessment data shows big increases for many condo and townhouse 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-per-cent 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 out, particularly when you see these kind of increases out in the Fraser Valley,” he said.

The single-family home market was “really quite stable, especially in the core areas of Vancouver — Vancouver, Richmond, North Shore, Burnaby,” said Ireland.

Urban areas of Greater Vancouver saw changes that ranged from a decrease of five per cent to an increase of 15 per cent. Rural areas of Greater Vancouver saw a similar range, with the upper end hitting 25 per cent.

For example, in Vancouver single-family home assessments went up on average 1.6 per cent, Richmond went up 2.5 per cent and Burnaby went up 2.6 per cent.

Continued on next page

Real Estate

Saturday, January 13, 2018

15

City of Vancouver in middle of the pack when it comes to density The City of Vancouver is the densest city in Canada, but is far behind the global municipalities itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s often compared to, according to a new study published Tuesday.

The city has 5,493 people per square kilometre as of the 2016 Census â&#x20AC;&#x201D; 13th out of 30 global cities measured by the Fraser Institute. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We find Canadian cities are much less dense than comparable American cities,â&#x20AC;? said Josef Filipowicz, a policy analyst with the Fraser Institute, who wrote the study. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Canadian cities, including Vancouver

and Toronto, which are experiencing an affordability crunch, can accommodate much more housing supply. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lots of room to grow, especially upwards, if thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what those cities want to do.â&#x20AC;? The population density of London and New York City is approximately double that of Vancouver. The densest city the Fraser Institute measured was Hong Kong, with 25,719 people per square kilometre â&#x20AC;&#x201D; 468 per cent higher than Vancouver. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re comparing very old cities with young onesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Filipowicz says the report shows the City of Vancouver could increase density, because

thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no correlation between higher density and a decrease in liveability standards. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a road map. These cities have already done this type of density, and it means Vancouver has a lot of room to catch up if they want to boost the housing supply ... which, in the short-term, is incredibly important for stemming home prices,â&#x20AC;? said Filipowicz.

But Brent Toderian, the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s former chief planner, says itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a simplistic way of looking at the data. â&#x20AC;&#x153;At best, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a mathematical exercise. And you could debate it, because not all municipal boundaries are created equal.

BC raises homeowner grant threshold to $1.65 million The BC government has raised the 2018 homeowner grant threshold to $1.65 million.

The property tax relief, designed to help property owners deal with sharp increases in assessment, offers $570 to owners of properties worth less than $1.65 million.

The province has steadily increased the threshold over the last few years as the value of real estate has climbed, from $1.6 million last year and $1.2 million in 2016.

Dramatic gains in B.C. assessed property values mean twice as many homeowners no longer qualify for grant How do I appeal my property assessment?

These are B.C.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s five most expensive properties The government says raising the

threshold means the grant would be applicable to 91 per cent of B.C. homes, the same percentage as last year.

Eligible homeowners must apply for the homeowner grant each year. The homeowner HSBOU BNPVOUT BSF t GPS UIF CBTJD IPNFPXOFS HSBOU t JG UIF IPNF JT MPDBUFE JO B OPSUIFSO PS SVSBM BSFB t 6Q UP GPS homeowners who are 65 years or older, or the IPNFPXOFS JT B QFSTPO XJUI B EJTBCJMJUZ t 6Q to $1,045 for homeowners who are 65 years or older, or the homeowner is a person with a disability if the home is in a northern or rural area.

Latest property assessment data shows big increases for many condo and townhouse â&#x20AC;&#x153;We start moving out to the Fraser Valley â&#x20AC;&#x201D; so even out Coquitlam way, into Surrey and Abbotsford â&#x20AC;&#x201D; seeing more in the 10- to 20-per-cent range for the 2018 assessment,â&#x20AC;?

Ireland said.

Detached homes in the Fraser Valley (which runs from Richmond, past Hope and Boston Bar) saw anything from a decrease of five per cent to an increase of 25 per cent.

Single-family homes in Surrey increased an average of 10.6 per cent, Maple Ridge went up 14.1 per cent, Abbotsford went up 16.3 per cent and Chilliwack went up 19.1 per cent.

The overall residential housing market in Vancouver saw â&#x20AC;&#x153;nominalâ&#x20AC;? changes in value, said Ireland.

The city saw a 5.63 per cent average increase in residential property assessments. The only municipalities in the Greater Vancouver or Fraser Valley areas that saw lower percentage changes were West Vancouver (1.12 per cent), Delta (2.9 per cent), District of North Vancouver (4.11 per cent) and White Rock

(4.35 per cent). Some rural areas saw even smaller increases or overall decreases.

Two dozen municipalities saw double-digit increases in their average residential property values, as did some rural areas. Municipalities on the fringes of the Greater Vancouver and Fraser Valley areas â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Pemberton, Whistler, Chilliwack, Kent, Mission, Hope and Harrison Hot Springs â&#x20AC;&#x201D; saw increases of about 20 per cent.

Tsawwassen First Nation saw the largest average increase: 44.94 per cent.

Property owners should note that just because their assessed property value went up, it doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t mean theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll face a big property tax increase this summer. What matters is how much your property increased compared to others in your property class.

About two million property owners are expected to receive their assessments by mail in early January. They have until Jan. 31 to appeal their assessments.

#106 - 7565 132 St. Surrey, BC 604.572.3005

Some include suburbs, some donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t, and weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re comparing very old cities with younger ones like Vancouver,â&#x20AC;? he said. He argues there are important reasons for cities to consider higher density â&#x20AC;&#x201D; from sustainability to liveability and affordability â&#x20AC;&#x201D; but targets shouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be created arbitrarily based on other cities. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a bit of a subjective thing. What people perceive as dense, it varies by cities, by cultures. So factually and mathematically, we could accommodate much more density.

Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m much more interested in the â&#x20AC;&#x153;so what?â&#x20AC;? of that,â&#x20AC;? he said.

16

Garry Grewal

Saturday, January 13, 2018

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