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www.theasianstar.com Vol 23 - Issue 1
Jeet Singh
Saturday, February 3, 2024
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BC to have nearly 8 million people by 2046, thanks to Liberal policies If the trajectory currently forecast holds, British Columbia’s population will grow from 5.5 million in 2023 to 7.9 million by 2046. This means that in just over a two-
decade timespan, BC’s population will grow by up to 44%, according to the provincial government’s newly released 2024 BC Stats report today. A population of nearly eight
million people is comparable to the current populations of Greater Toronto (roughly 7.0 million), New York City (8.5 million), the province of Quebec (almost 9.0 million).
Whitecaps sign Surrey teen Jeevan Badwal to first pro contract
Vancouver Whitecaps FC announced that the club has signed Whitecaps FC BMO Academy midfielder Jeevan Badwal to a
professional contract with Whitecaps FC 2 (WFC2). The product of Surrey, BC first
More migrants crossing northern border into the US as Mexicans fly to Canada & then head south The number of migrants crossing the border from Canada into USA is rising in one sector by more than 700% — as more Mexicans desperate to get into the U.S.
fly to Canada and attempt to cross in frigid temperatures. One family recently stopped by Border Patrol in Vermont was carrying an 8-month-old baby in -4 degree Fahrenheit
Vancouver & Montreal ranked among the best in the world in 2024 If you’ve caught the travel Time Out’s top 10 best cities bug this year, UK based 1.New York City, USA media company Time Out 2.Cape Town, South Africa has released its ranking of the 3.Berlin,Germany 4. London, 50 best cities in the world in UK 5. Madrid, Spain 6. Mexico 2024, and two Canadian spots City, Mexico 7. Liverpool, UK made the list. Montreal 29th 8. Tokyo, Japan 9. Rome, Italy and Vancouver 50th spot. 10. Porto, Portugal
joined the Whitecaps FC BMO Academy as a 13-year-old in 2019, and becomes the Continued on page 6
Former Pakistan PM Imran Khan & his wife jailed for corruption Former PM Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi (pictured) have been jailed for 14 years, the second sentence handed to former prime minister of Pakistan in two days. The couple were convicted of illegally profiting from state gifts - just a week before a general election in which he is barred from standing. Imran Khan was ousted from the office by opposition parties is already serving 3 -year jail term for corruption.
He has said the numerous cases against him are politically motivated. Wednesday’s court case revolved around accusations over state gifts that he and his wife Continued on page 15
Faced with the housing crisis, Canada restricts access to new immigrants For the first time since Justin Trudeau came to power in 2015, the Canadian Liberal government has made, if not a U-turn, at least the beginnings of a change in its immigration policy.
On January 22, the minister in charge of immigration, Marc Miller, announced the introduction of a two-year “temporary cap” on the number of new study permits granted to foreign students: around 360,000
will be issued in 2024, representing a 35% reduction compared to 2023. The Ministry said the measure was aimed in particular at “easing pressure on housing.”
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BC to ban use of mobile phones in public schools The province will restrict the use of mobile phones in public schools and take a tougher stand against social media giants that serve up addictive content to kids, B.C. Premier David Eby announced Friday. One online security expert said the in-class cellphone ban is an important measure that will reduce digital distractions and cyberbullying, while Opposition critics say it’s long overdue. “Kids live with different challenges than they did a generation ago, and they face
them all in the palm of their hand,” Eby said during an announcement in Surrey Friday. “While cellphones, the internet and social media help us connect with each other, they also present risks that can harm kids.” Citing his own conversations about online safety with his nine-year-old son, Ezra, Eby said kids at school have access to unregulated internet access, making it impossible for parents to know what their children are doing online.
Vancouver parent concerned about cell phone ban in classroom One parent is speaking up after the province announced it would be cracking down on cellphone use in classrooms. On Friday, B.C. Premier David Eby announced that school districts across the province will need to restrict cellphone use in the classroom by September. Eby said the devices are a distraction, with students
watching online videos and other content, and also because they can be used negatively as a tool that encourages behaviour such as bullying and sexual extortion. “The impact and influence of all these factors is bigger than any individual family can deal with on their own,” Eby said. “Parents cannot protect their kids without support.”
Flood watch issued as series of atmospheric rivers with heavy rain head for BC coast The Forecast Centre has issued a flood watch for parts of B.C.’s south coast, including the North Shore mountains, the northern Fraser Valley, Vancouver Island and the Sea-to-Sky region, as a series of atmospheric rivers is expected to bring heavy rain starting Friday. A high stream flow warning is also in effect for parts of the eastern Fraser Valley, including tributaries around Abbotsford and Hope, as well as Pemberton and the Fraser Canyon. The bulletin , released Thursday afternoon, states that a series of “potent” storms will hit the coast, with the first storm
expected Friday, and another Saturday and Sunday, with a third on Monday. The strongest atmospheric river will make landfall Monday, with the heaviest rainfall — possibly 200 to 300 mm from Saturday to Wednesday — forecasted over West Vancouver and the Coast Mountains. There is the potential for some areas to see up to 400 mm over that five-day period. Other areas, such as Howe Sound, the Sunshine Coast, parts of Vancouver Island and the Fraser Valley, could get 70 to 250 mm of rain, while double-digit temperatures cause mid-elevation mountain snow to melt.
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Post-secondary schools must guarantee housing for international students: Ontario Ontario says all colleges and universities in the province will be required to guarantee housing for incoming international students. The government also says it will review post-secondary institutions with a ``sizable’’ number of international students and introduce a moratorium on new public college and private institution partnerships. The announcement comes days after the
federal government announced a cap on study permits for international undergraduate students over the next two years. Federal Immigration Minister Marc Miller earlier this week announced a 35-per-cent reduction in the number of study permits this year, though with the total cap divided between provinces, Ontario will see its allotment of new visas cut in half.
USA accuses Iran of hiring two Canadian Hells Angels members to assassinate Iranian dissidents US and UK sanctions targeting Iranian network say drug traffickers led by Naji Ibrahim Sharifi-Zindashti recruited Hells Angels member to assassinate individuals in the US who fled Iran. Three men, including one Iranian and two members of the Hells Angels from Canada, have been charged with plotting a $350,0000 murder-for-hire scheme to assassinate individuals in the US. It comes as tensions mount between the US and Iran following the death
of three US soldiers at the weekend. Court documents today allege that between December 2020 and March 2021, Iranian Naji Sharifi Zindashti, 49, Damion Patrick John Ryan, 43, and Adam Richard Pearson, 29, conspired to kill two Maryland residents. The trio are accused of using an encrypted messaging service called “SkyECC” to plan the murders and negotiate payment. The intended victims had previously fled to the US after one defected from Iran, according to investigators.
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Saturday, February 3, 2024 By Michael Cuenco
Canada’s immigration backlash is far from populist
As the United States and Texas state governments clash over the Mexican border, a very different kind of immigration crisis is taking place elsewhere in North America. Unlike in the divided US, Canada is supposed to be one of the world’s most solidly pro-immigration societies. More
than just another self-satisfied Justin Trudeau facade, this attitude has been attested to by historically high levels of public support. However, an unfolding shift in public sentiment may now change that. Amid a housing crunch and soaring costs of living, Canadians are turning against the
prospect of welcoming more immigrants. And the Trudeau government has slowly started to bend under this pressure. But unlike the rest of the West, Canadians are not advancing this argument via populist rabblerousers or angry mass protests. Instead, Canada’s turnaround is being led by cadres of respectable, credentialed and, for the most part, small-l liberal experts and commentators, who are making the case for immigration reduction in terms that are academic and utilitarian, rather than emotive and atavistic. And, while there has been a rise in populism in recent years, within the Conservative Party and elsewhere, these forces have been unable or unwilling to capitalise on anti-immigration sentiment. This unique set of circumstances has led to a distinct form of restrictionism, a “polite backlash”, with stereotypically Canadian characteristics. Being driven by educated elites, it plays out in the rarefied spaces of establishment opinion, where opposition to Ottawa’s temporary migrant policies (which has seen more explosive growth than the permanent stream) has materialised. For instance, the editorial pages of the newspaper of record, The Globe and Mail, have recently featured pleas for “aggressive action to reduce the number of temporary migrants”, along with warnings that businesses “should not be subsidised through the import of cheap labour”. Similar sentiments were heard in the CBC’s nightly news program, which hosted a debate on the question: “Housing crisis vs. immigration: Is it time to slow things down?” Twitter, meanwhile, abounds with commentary by housing experts calling for Ottawa to “substantially reduce the number of visas for both international students and [foreign workers]”. A respected former Bank of Canada governor likewise criticised the fixation on juicing up growth through immigration, which retarded productivity: “On a per-person basis, the economy has been shrinking.”
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Saturday, February 3, 2024 Whitecaps sign Surrey teen Jeevan Badwal to first pro contract From page 1
Canadian teenager to be signed to a professional contract since WFC2 began play in MLS NEXT Pro in 2022. Whitecaps FC 2 midfielder Jeevan Badwal 17-year-old was the youngest player at Whitecaps FC preseason in Marbella, Spain Five starts in eight MLS NEXT Pro appearances as an amateur player with WFC2 in 2023 Selected to the 2023 MLS NEXT AllStar Game Started all three matches for
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Saturday, February 3, 2024 Press release SURREY: Progressive Intercultural Community Services (PICS) Society, expands its outreach to serve international professionals hailing from Mexico. This expansion was marked by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The Mexico Consul General in Vancouver, Berenice Diaz Ceballos visited thePICSheadofficeinSurreytosigntheMOU.
Sharing her views, Berenice Diaz Ceballos said, “This historic agreement will provide services in employment, housing, integration, and respect for human rights, with a special focus on vulnerable groups.” PICS CEO and President, Satbir Cheema, expressed his elation over the achievement, stating that it is another proud moment for the organization in fostering global collaboration.
Panel appointed to review Labour Relations Code Press release
VICTORIA - An independent panel has been appointed to review and provide recommendations for potential amendments to the Labour Relations Code (LRC). This review will help ensure B.C.’s labour laws keep up with the needs of today’s workplaces, provide stable labour relations and support people’s collective bargaining rights. Harry Bains, Minister of Labour, appointed the three-member review panel chaired by Michael Fleming, a mediator/arbitrator and former associate chair of the BC Labour Relations Board. Two labour and employment lawyers round out the panel, with Sandra Banister representing worker and union interests, and Lindsie Thomson, sitting on behalf of employer interests. The panel is tasked with consulting interest groups and Indigenous parties across the province, and reporting back to the minister by May 31, 2024, with a report and
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PICS signs MOU to serve Mexican professionals in Canada
recommendations for potential amendments to the LRC. The panel will also consider relevant developments in other Canadian jurisdictions to ensure B.C.’s labour laws are consistent with labour rights and protections enjoyed by other Canadians. The LRC establishes the relationships between provincially regulated employers, their workers and trade unions, and the rules for issues related to collective bargaining, such as how workers join unions, how employers and unions interact, and how labour disputes are resolved. The provincial minister of labour is required to appoint a committee of special advisers every five years to undertake an independent review of the LRC and make recommendations. The last comprehensive review took place in 2018, which resulted in several substantive amendments to the LRC made in 2019 and 2022. Ministry of Labour Media Relations
He mentioned that PICS had recently signed an MOU with the University of the Fraser Valley in Chandigarh, India. He credited the multilingual staff for doing amazing work that is now getting recognised all across the world. Raj Brar expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, stating, “We are delighted to formalize this partnership with the Consul General of Mexico. This MOU marks a significant step towards creating a more inclusive and supportive environment for internationally trained professionals. By
combining our resources and expertise, we aim to enhance the opportunities available to these individuals as they pursue their careers in British Columbia.” PICS is notable not-for-profit society in Canada that provides employment, language, settlement and housing services. The organization, through its network of trained staff, has successfully served thousands of clients with diverse cultural backgrounds, aiding them in integrating as productive forces into the Canadian mainstream.
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Saturday, February 3, 2024
LOCAL / NATIONAL
Saturday, February 3, 2024
Victim of deadly shooting in Burnaby identified as Johnson Viet Anh Do Police have identified a 25-yearold man gunned down in a fatal Burnaby shooting Tuesday, Jan. 23, in hopes of advancing the investigation. Surrey resident Johnson Viet Anh Do was pronounced dead at the scene after police responded to reports of multiple gunshots
in the 5500 block of Kingsway near Denbigh Avenue just after 10:30 p.m., according to a Integrated Homicide Investigation Team news release Thursday afternoon, Jan. 25. Police had found Do inside his vehicle suffering serious gunshot wounds, according to police.
Courier sentenced to eight years for trying to transport fentanyl to Vancouver Island A woman caught attempting to transport close to a kilogram of fentanyl from the Lower Mainland to Vancouver Island in 2019 has been sentenced to eight years in prison, despite having no previous criminal record.
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Langara College instructor who praised Hamas attack has been dismissed A Langara College instructor who praised the Oct. 7 attack on Israel by Hamas is no longer an employee at the Vancouver school. But Natalie Knight, an English instructor and Indigenous curriculum consultant, was apparently not dismissed for her controversial statement about the Hamas attack, which killed about 1,200 people, but for her conduct
at a rally this week. Knight went on leave after referring to the attack as an “amazing, brilliant offensive” during a pro-Palestinian rally outside the Vancouver Art Gallery in October. She was quietly reinstated after an investigation by Langara College found her comments “were not clearly outside the bounds of protected expression.”
Murder trial begins for man, 33, accused of stabbing girlfriend at Burnaby mall The second-degree murder trial of a man accused of fatally stabbing his girlfriend inside Burnaby’s Metrotown mall is underway in B.C. Supreme Court in Vancouver. Everton Javaun Downey, 33, was charged with second-degree murder in January 2022. The charge relates to the death of 25-yearold Melissa Blimkie of North Vancouver, who was stabbed in a Metropolis at
Metrotown parkade stairwell on Dec. 19, 2021 and later died in hospital, according to police reports at the time. Downey and Blimkie had been “in a relationship” for some time before the killing, according to the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team. Downey was ordered to stand trial after a two-day preliminary inquiry in March 2023.
TD Bank faces stiff penalty from FinTRAC for faulty controls to prevent money laundering TD Bank (TD.TO), opens new tab faces a significant monetary penalty after an examination by the financial-crimes watchdog found faulty anti-money laundering controls, the Globe and Mail reported , opens new tab on Friday. The Globe reported the monetary penalty is expected to exceed C$10 million ($7.44 million), which could be the biggest
ever penalty slapped on a Canadian financial institution by the country’s antimoney laundering agency. The Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC), which is preparing to impose the penalty, completed an assessment of the lender in late 2023 and deemed its anti-money laundering compliance to be unsatisfactory, the report said, citing five people familiar with the matter.
Surrey revamping age friendly strategy for seniors Surrey city council has endorsed an updated Age Friendly Strategy for Seniors in the city with its guiding principles being inclusion for all, community engagement and respect.
A corporate report by Laurie Cavan, Surrey’s general manager of parks, recreation and culture notes Surrey is seeing a “significant” increase in older adults living longer, healthier lives.
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The rise of race segregation on Canadian universities Twice a week, the University of Waterloo athletic centre suspends its usual calendar of mid-morning swim lessons, and reserves its 25-yard pool for the exclusive use of a demographic that, in their words, does not have a good “relationship with water.” “The aim is to get more Black Folx into a space where they haven’t always been welcomed,” reads the official description for the “Black Folx swim,” a 60-minute Black-only pool time. Users can swim lengths, practice diving or
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Saturday, February 3, 2024
INDIA “Thank You, India” says French President Macron at Republic Day Parade in Delhi
As the chief guest at the ceremony, Emmanuel Macron witnessed the grand military parade and the cultural performances along with President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, members of the Union Cabinet, foreign diplomats and a host of other dignitaries. French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday watched India’s 75th Republic
US sells 31 armed drones to India The Biden administration on Thursday approved a nearly $4 billion sale of drones and military equipment to India that are meant to be used to improve its maritime safety and surveillance. The approval comes at a time when
India set a side Rs 6.21 lakh crore for defence budget
India on Thursday set aside ₹6.21 was in financial year 2023-24, the ministry Day celebrations at the majestic Kartavya lakh crore for defence spending in said in a statement. To be sure, the defence Path, joining a select group of global the interim budget for 2024-25, with budget is 4.72% higher than what it was leaders to have graced the nation’s biggest the defence ministry saying that the in the budget estimates for 2023-24 but ceremonial event in the last seven decades. critical sector continues to receive the marginally lower (0.37%) than last year’s As the chief guest at the ceremony, highest allocation among all ministries. revised estimates, budget documents show. The allocation is 4.72% more than what it Emmanuel Macron witnessed the grand military parade and the cultural Man linked to Bishnoi gang shot dead performances along with President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, outside gym near Delhi
Washington is courting New Delhi to increase its cooperation with the U.S. Indo-Pacific strategy, which is largely focused on countering China’s influence in the region. The State Department notified Congress of the $3.99 billion sale
A man linked to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang was shot dead outside a gym in Faridabad near Delhi. The victim, identified as Surjabhan alias Ballu, was shot from a close range by unknown assailants in the evening, the police said. The incident occurred near a busy
market in sector-11 Faridabad, outside the gym he used to go to. Police sources told NDTV that Ballu was closely associated with gangster Kapil Sangwan of the Nandu gang and the latter had links with dreaded gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, who is reportedly hiding in the USA.
Indian navy rescues two vessels off the coast of Somalia Indian naval forces have rescued two hijacked vessels off Somalia’s coast as fears grow over a possible resurgence in piracy in the area. The rescues by the warship INS Sumitra came within 36 hours of each other. Just days earlier, Seychelles
defence forces reported freeing a group of fishermen from pirates. The waters off the Somali coast were previously a hotbed for piracy, but it had all but stopped after international forces stepped up patrols.
Muslims move High Court after district court order allow Puja in mosque cellar AS Varanasi court granted a Hindu priest the right to worship deities in Gyanvapi mosque cellar. Anjuman Intezamia Masajid Committee
(the management committe of Masjid) , which manages the Gyanvpai mosque in Varanasi, moved to the Allahabad High Court against district court’s order
Shashi Tharoor slams the Budget Congress man Shashi Tharoor criticised the Union govt budget, saying it failed to address the current “high debt, low employment, high food inflation” and accused the government of presenting dubious
figures to back their claims on poverty. In an interview Tharoor said over the last decade, people have had “no real growth in their income”. In fact, “income levels have shrunk over 50 per cent since 2015,
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Jharkhand Chief Minister’s wife may be the next CM if he’s arrested: sources Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s wife Kalpana Soren might step into his shoes if he gets arrested, sources in his Jharkhand Mukti Morcha Party have claimed. Mr Soren will be questioned by the Enforcement Directorate tomorrow in connection with an alleged money laundering case. There are chances that he might be arrested by the agency after his statement is recorded. Mr Soren, say sources, made the announcement at a meeting of the MLAs of the ruling alliance this evening. The MLAs have agreed since preservation of the government is crucial at this point.
“We, all the MLAs of the alliance, of Congress, are fully supporting the Chief Minister,” Banna Gupta, the state’s health minister who belongs to the Congress, told reporters late this evening. There, however, might be a legal hurdle in Mrs Soren taking over. Constitutional provisions demand that if the term of the Assembly will expire in less than a year, by-polls cannot be held. In that case, it would be difficult for Kalpana Soren to become an MLA. Assembly election in Jharkhand is due in November this year.
Probe agency’s big claim against AAP MP Sanjay Singh in liquor case Arrested AAP MP Sanjay Singh was allegedly involved in creating a special purpose vehicle to launder “proceeds of crime” that would have been generated from the business arising out of the changes in Delhi excise policy, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has contended before the Delhi High Court. Mr Singh was arrested in connection with a money laundering case linked to the Delhi excise policy ‘scam’. The ED submitted that Mr Singh was involved in acquiring, possessing, concealing, dissipating and using proceeds of crime generated from the Delhi liquor scam pertaining to the policy period of 2021-22. The ED’s contentions were made in its affidavit filed in response to Mr Singh’s bail plea in the money laundering case. The Rajya Sabha member, arrested by the
ED on October 4 last year, has challenged a trial court’s December 22 order dismissing his bail plea in the money laundering case. The case was listed before Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma on Tuesday. It has now been listed for Wednesday due to the unavailability of ED’s counsel. In its affidavit, the probe agency said that it was revealed during investigation that Mr Singh is a key conspirator in the alleged scam and he was closely associated with a number of accused or suspects in this case, businessmen Dinesh Arora and Amit Arora. “... it is evident that Sanjay Singh was involved in creating a special purpose vehicle (M/s Aralias Hospitality Pvt Ltd) to launder the proceeds of crime that would have been generated from the business arising out the policy changes as conspired by him and his co-conspirators.
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FIJI
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Fiji Airways rejects allegations of flights to Israel Fiji Airways says it remains committed to transparency, and will cooperate with any lawful investigation initiated by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption. This is in relation
to a complaint directed to FICAC in connection with certain charter flights operated by the company between Fiji and Israel in September and October last year. Fiji Airways says the allegations primarily
Audit inquiry led to termination of assistant DPP – Rabuku Acting Director of Public Prosecutions John Rabuku says the termination of the employment contract of Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Elizabeth Rice came about following an audit inquiry into workload disparity between
the expatriate and local prosecutors. Mr Rabuku stated the termination came into effect from January 19 after the Office of Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) conducted a full audit of all case files handled by prosecutors at the Suva and
“I hope they get caught drug smugglers” says Acting PM Acting Prime Minister Manoa Kamikamica has cautioned any business operator who may be involved in the recent importation of methamphetamine to Fiji. He emphasized that the law will not discriminate and will hold even the major
players in these drug busts accountable. Kamikamica says that Fiji cannot afford such a high level of illegal activity. He made it clear that authorities, including the government, will take strong action against all culprits involved
Former Pakistan PM Imran Khan & wife jailed for corruption
From page 1
Wednesday’s court case revolved around accusations over state gifts that he and his wife received while in office, while Tuesday’s case - for which he was sentenced to 10 years - for leaking classified state documents. It is thought the two sentences will run concurrently, although that has not been confirmed. The court has also ordered the couple to pay a fine of about 1.5 billion rupees (£4.2m; $5.3m). Imran Khan’s political party ‘Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)’ also said that the sentencing further bans their leader from future political work: he will be disqualified for 10 years from holding public office. Khan’s lawyers said they would be launching an appeal to Pakistan’s High
Elections will be held on February 8 Chief Election Commissioner
RBF Governor predicts 2024 to be challenging Reserve Bank of Fiji Governor Ariff Ali says 2024 is expected to be a challenging year. Ali says the Fijian economy is projected to decelerate as the substantial growth in tourism and consumption will taper off. The projections come as the Fijian
economy rebounded strongly over the last two years supported by the impressive recovery in the tourism industry. Ali says the 929,740 visitor arrivals last year set a new record, surpassing the 2019 level by four percent
BC to add $11 million to rent bank, but rental prices remain sky high The B.C. government is injecting $11 million into a provincial “rent bank” that provides short-term loans to tenants at risk of losing their homes, but critics say the move does nothing to temper the highest rental costs in the country. The announcement comes as a new Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. (CMHC) report finds Vancouver remains
Despite increasing poll-related violence and security challenges, Chief Election Commissioner Mr Sikanadar Sultan Raja and acting interior minister Gohar Ejaz dispelled
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the priciest rental market in Canada. During a news conference held in Vancouver on Wednesday, Spencer Chandra Herbert, the premier’s liaison for renters, said the $11-million cash injection will allow another 20,000 people to access the B.C. rent bank. Set up in 2019 with an initial $10-million investment, the bank has offered zerointerest loans to tenants when unforeseen
Court in both cases. His wife Bushra Bibi, who had been out on remand, surrendered at the jail on Wednesday. A government order late on Wednesday said she would be held under house arrest at her residence in Islamabad until further notice. Imran Khan’s wife Bushra Bibi has typically kept a low profile during their period in office. The two married in 2018, months before Khan was elected prime minister. In the so-called Toshakhana (state treasury) case, both had strongly denied the accusations brought against them by Pakistan’s anticorruption watchdog that they had sold or kept state gifts received in office for personal profit. Such gifts included a jewellery set from the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia.
all doubts about holding the general elections on the already announced date of February 8. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) summoned a meeting on Thursday.
Where Ontario’s housing market is headed in 2024
The pace of home sales in Ontario in 2023 hit lows not seen the turn of the century, and with little evidence that mortgage rates will drop significantly any time soon, forecasts are predicting the sluggishness to continue into early 2024. While prices have dropped somewhat from their pandemic-driven highs, the combination of high-interest rates and
buyers waiting for prices to tumble further has created a slow sales market throughout much of the province, according to a range of industry information. The number of home sales in the Greater Toronto Area in 2023 is on track to be lower than in any year since 2001, when the region’s population was roughly 25 per cent smaller than it is today.
Saturday, February 3, 2024 3 Punjabi-origin youths to
be extradited to USA from Canada for drug trafficking Three Indian-origin men have been arrested in Canada and will be extradited for trial in the US for their alleged links with a network trafficking drugs between Mexico and the North American nations. A joint operation between the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) dubbed “Operation Dead Hand” saw 19 people charged in two US federal indictments for their alleged roles in the organised crime ring.
Blogger Bhana Sidhu sent to judicial custody A Mohali Court has sent blogger Bhana Sidhu to judicial custody after his 2-Day police remand ended today. Sidhu was arrested on January 29 after a case was registered against Bhana Sidhu and Amna Sidhu for obscenity and criminal intimidation on January 22. A case under Sections 294, 387, and 506 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita on the basis of a complaint by Kindervir Singh Badesha, a resident of Malerkotla. He said that Sidhu was trying to threaten and blackmail him.
Tax collection a booster for Punjab, rising debt a concern Even as higher Goods and Services Tax and Excise duty collections have given a fillip to the state’s revenue receipts in the first three quarters of the fiscal, the burgeoning debt is a cause for concern. The just-released fiscal indicators of the first three quarters of 2023-24 (April to December) reveal that the government had borrowed Rs 26,317 crore during the period. In the last financial year (2022-23), the total borrowings by the state government were to the tune of Rs 30,899 crore. Thus, the debt between April 2022 and December 2023 — since the AAP government has taken over —
Hailstorm in Chandigarh & Mohali as rain lashes Punjab There was hailstorm in Chandigarh, Mohali , Zirakpur ans Kharar as rain washed across most parts of Punjab and Haryana while minimum temperature stayed above normal. Chandigarh, Mohali, Ludhiana, Amritsar, Patiala, Gurdaspur, Pathankot, and Faridkot among other places in Punjab, and Ambala, Hisar, Karnal, Rohtak and Bhiwani in Haryana received rain, according to the Met department.
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Saturday, February 3, 2024