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www.theasianstar.com
#215 - 7110, 12
VOL 25 - ISSUE 15
SATURDAY, MAY 24, 2025
Justin Trudeau to collect two pensions, $104K in severance Former prime minister Justin Trudeau’s recent departure from politics will net him over $8 million across two pensions, plus a large severance cheque. That’s according to calculations made public Wednesday by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, who released a chart of estimated pension and severance payouts to departing MPs. “Pensions for former MPs depend on length of service and the rules at the time,” said CTF National Director Franco Terrazzano. “When Canadians see some of these numbers, the clear takeaway is that these political pensions are costing taxpayers too
much money.” The former PM is entitled to two pensions – one for his nearly 17 years as a member of parliament, and a second for his decade as prime minister. Combined, both pensions are worth around $8.4 million, with his MP pension entitling him annual payouts of $141,000 per year when he turns 55 in two years, and an additional $73,000 annually upon turning 67. “Trudeau is also going to be getting a severance just shy of $105,000,” Terrazzano added. “When we speak of leadership at the top, the first place for politicians to reign in the perks is to end the second pension for future prime Continued on Page 10 ... ministers.
Steve Rai named new Vancouver police chief The Vancouver Police Board has appointed interim police chief Steve Rai to be the Vancouver Police Department's new chief constable. Rai has more than three decades of experience with the Vancouver Police Department, the city said in a statement, having worked through the ranks to lead major operations, including the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics and the 2011 Stanley Cup riot. Mayor Ken Sim said Rai was chosen to be new police chief following a thorough selection process. "With Chief Rai at the helm, Vancouver is in strong hands as we work to build a safer, more connected, and more resilient city," Sim said. Rai had recently received a national profile fronting briefings about the Lapu-Lapu Day tragedy that claimed 11 lives in Vancouver last month. The mayor called Rai — who was born in India's Punjab region, and grew up in Vancouver — "a powerful reflection of our city that's diverse, driven and rooted in service." His appointment as the department's 32nd chief constable comes after former chief Adam Palmer stepped down from the position he had held for 10 years.
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2 Indian students face deportation after ‘knowingly’ dragging Surrey pedestrian under their car Horrific details are emerging in court about a deadly hit-and-run in Surrey in which a man was trapped under a car and, according to the prosecution, knowingly dragged more than a kilometre after being struck. The actions of Gaganpreet Singh and Jagdeep Singh, who are now also facing deportation for their actions, are being described by the victim’s family as “unimaginably cruel.” The pair has pleaded guilty to a number of offences, including failing to stop after an accident and interference with a dead body. On Jan. 27, 2024, a 45-year-old father and husband – being identified only as “J.G.” at the family’s request – was lying on the road when he was Continued on Page 10... struck by a Ford Mustang.
Indian man arrested in US for plotting to kill his wife An Indian-American, Darshan R Soni, has been arrested and charged with attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder after allegedly plotting to kill his wife in a plan that spanned months and included a failed poisoning attempt, a murder-for-hire scheme, and efforts to cover his tracks. According to a probable cause affidavit filed in Hamilton County in Indians, Soni, 44, asked one of his employees, Ken Cox, to help carry out the murder. The plan allegedly involved
poisoning his wife and, when that failed, staging a break-in at their home on May 16, 2025, during which the murder was to occur. The case unfolded after a tipster alerted authorities about Soni’s intentions. The tipster claimed Soni had previously asked them how to obtain a silencer and spoke about committing additional crimes. They also reported seeing Soni pick up a wig from Cox, presumably for use as a disguise. Continued on Page 15...
Jamil Jivani launches petition to end temporary foreign worker program Conservative MP Jamil Jivani has launched a petition to end the temporary foreign worker program. The petition says the temporary foreign worker program is a “large contributor” to an unsustainable level of immigration and claims the program is taking jobs away from Canadians and suppressing wages. In a social media video about the petition, Jivani links immigration to doctor shortages, crowded hospitals, the housing crisis and a challenging
job market. “There’s a pretty clear consensus, even across people with different political views, that immigration levels are just unsustainably high,” Jivani said. “Anyone who goes to a hospital can see there’s not enough beds. Anyone who goes to look for a family doctor can’t find one. You go to buy a house, there’s not enough of those. You go to find a job, there might not be one of those for you either.” Continued on Page 10...
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