2 Indians sentenced for smuggling fake cigarettes into US

15 February 2018

Washington (PTI): Two Indians have been sentenced to nearly two years of imprisonment by a federal court in Florida on charges of conspiring to smuggle counterfeit cigarettes into the United States.

Besides Abhishek Shukla and Harish Shabhai Panchal, the two Indians, Jubilee Tobacco Industries Corp – an India-based company – was found guilty in the case. The company has been ordered to forfeit USD 300,000 to the US, the Department of Justice said. The three have pleaded guilty to the charges.

According to the guilty plea, they conspired to import about 68,000 cartons of counterfeit cigarettes with the trade names and marks of popular American brand Newport cigarettes.

Through internet negotiations, an agreement was reached for a 20-foot container filled with counterfeit Newport brand cigarettes to be shipped from India to Miami.

Payment for the shipment was made in instalments through international wire transfers to bank accounts in India and in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

On November 1, 2016, the container arrived and was seized at the Port of Miami with the assistance of US Customs and Border Protection Officers.

If distributed in the state of Florida, the untaxed importation would have an approximate value of USD 1.2 million, the Department of Justice said.

Analysis conducted by FDA’s Forensic Chemistry Centre determined that the cartons, packs, and cigarettes were all counterfeit.

Within two weeks of the arrival, the co-conspirators sought out undercover agents offering another shipment, twice as large. By April 2017, deposits totalling USD 55,000 had been made for more counterfeit Newport cigarettes.

On June 9 last year, the container arrived at the Port of Miami and was again seized with the assistance of Customs and Border Protection Officers, and turned over to FDA-OCI Special Agents. If distributed in the state of Florida, the untaxed importation would have had an approximate value of USD 3.2 million.

Shukla and Panchal travelled to Miami in August 2017 to meet with the undercover agents to promote further business dealings. During the recorded meeting, they advised the agents that they had been partners for 12 years and personally oversaw the production of all the products being offered.

They also assured the agents that they could counterfeit any American-made menthol cigarette without any problem, as well as other trademarked brands and that they could produce tobacco blends, which would closely match the legitimate product, federal prosecutors said.

Liberal Ben Stewart wins Kelowna West by-election

14 February 2018

BEN Stewart, who had stepped down as MLA in 2013 to allow then-premier Christy Clark to get elected after she lost in her own riding of Vancouver-Point Grey to NDP’s David Eby, is back in the saddle after winning the Kelowna West by-election on Wednesday with 56.6 per cent of the total votes cast.

After Clark’s government was defeated in the B.C. Legislature, she resigned as leader of the B.C. Liberal Party and also quit as MLA on August 4.

The Liberals now have 42 seats in the Legislature, the NDP has 41 seats and the Green Party has three seats. Speaker Darryl Plecas, a former Liberal MLA, is an independent member.

Preliminary Voting Results

* Ben Stewart (BC Liberal Party): 7,692 (56.46%)

* Shelley Cook (BC NDP): 3,197 (23.47%)

* Robert Stupka (BC Green Party): 1,727 (12.68%)

* Mark Thompson (Conservative): 898 (6.59%)

* Kyle Michael Ernest Geronazzo (Libertarian): 110 (0.81%)

Total: 111 of 111 ballot boxes: 13,624 (100%)

PREMIER John Horgan in a statement said: “Congratulations to Ben Stewart on winning the by-election in Kelowna West, and I want to congratulate Shelley Cook for running a stellar campaign.

“I know Ben will represent the people of Kelowna West with integrity and compassion, and I look forward to having him rejoin us in Victoria.

“Given Kelowna West is historically a BC Liberal seat, we knew we were facing an uphill battle. We’re so proud of the Shelley Cook and her campaign. My thanks go to her and to all the volunteers and supporters who helped out.

“Our BC NDP government is committed to making lives better and more affordable, in every community in our province. We’ll continue that work, for the people of Kelowna West and across the province.”

Alberta’s boycott sparks off proclamation of April as B.C. Wine Month

14 February 2018

ON the heels of Alberta’s boycott of B.C. wines, the B.C. government is ramping up its support for the industry by proclaiming April as B.C. Wine Month, including a special month-long promotion at all public liquor stores.

“B.C.’s wine industry is made up of family-run vineyards and wineries that have chosen farming and wine-making as their passion and their profession,” said Minister of Agriculture Lana Popham on Wednesday. “In addition to delivering fantastic wine, they also provide good jobs in communities throughout the province, and we are proud to shine a spotlight on the work they do and the wine they make. We told British Columbians we would fight for our wine-making community, and devoting an entire month to B.C. wines is a wonderful way to do just that.”

Along with the proclamation of B.C. Wine Month in April, other government initiatives in support of B.C.’s wine industry include:

Increased opportunities to have B.C. wines in local BC Liquor Stores, including local wines from small and medium producers that are not typically available outside of the wineries.
Promotion throughout the month with storefront displays.
A greater variety of in-store tastings of B.C. wines.
Funding for an expansion of the Buy BC: Eat Drink Local campaign, to further develop partnerships between the BC Wine Institute and the British Columbia Restaurant and Food Services Association.
Funding to support the marketing of BC VQA wines to new international markets.

While the Province has worked to develop this support, the Ministry of Agriculture has been involved in ongoing engagement with wine producers throughout the province.

“We are grateful for the loyalty and support we have received from the consumers across B.C. and Canada in response to Alberta’s announcement to boycott B.C. wine,” said Miles Prodan, President and CEO of the BC Wine Institute. “We appreciate the Province’s quick response in support of B.C.’s wineries, and we remain resolute in our mission to secure sales opportunities here in B.C. for the many B.C. grape wineries across the province, most of which are small, family-owned-and-operated businesses, and will continue to promote our local world-class products at home and abroad.”

B.C.’s wine industry employs about 12,000 people, and has an economic impact of $2.8 billion annually.

Quick Facts:

B.C. is home to 929 vineyards, including over 350 licensed wineries.
There are just under 3,900 hectares of wine grapes grown in B.C.
Over 60 different grape varieties are produced in the province, including Merlot, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Gewurztraminer, Cabernet Franc, Syrah, Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc.
In 2016, B.C. wine exports increased 4% over the previous year to $9.7 million shipped to 17 international markets.
Ice wine exports were $1.8 million of the total.
The top markets for B.C. wine were China (54%), Taiwan (23%) and the United States (11%).
These initiatives in support of B.C.’s wine industry will be developed in the context of B.C.’s existing trade obligations.

Pedestrians injured in two incidents in Delta

14 February 2018

AN older woman and a teen boy were both struck by vehicles in Delta on February 13, Police said on Wednesday.

The first incident occurred around 1 p.m. in Ladner. An elderly woman tripped on a speed bump in the Trennant Park parking lot, and fell to the ground. Another driver who was proceeding out of a parking stall drove over her while she was on the ground, and did not appear to realize they had a struck a person.

At this time, it appears the elderly woman has non-life threatening injuries from the incident. The matter remains under investigation.

The second incident occurred around 6:20 p.m. in North Delta. A driver was eastbound on 84th Avenue when they struck a pedestrian in the crosswalk at 110th Street. The pedestrian, a teen boy, was taken to hospital for evaluation, but later released.

It had just started to snow at the time, and the driver remained on the scene, indicating they had not seen the pedestrian prior to the collision.

“Both incidents occurred at low speeds, and drivers are cooperating with police,” says public affairs coordinator Cris Leykauf. “Pedestrian safety is one of the top priorities for Delta Police and we are in ongoing discussions with the City of Delta about this topic.”

Eby calls on Wilkinson to release suppressed 2014 ICBC report

14 February 2018

ATTORNEY General David Eby on Wednesday said B.C. Liberal leader Andrew Wilkinson should release the original 2014 ICBC report his government chose to hide from the public.

On January 23, the Vancouver Sun revealed that the B.C. Liberals received a report in 2014 warning of the impending crisis at ICBC. Instead of acting on the recommendations, the former B.C. Liberal government deleted them before making the report public.

“I know this is Andrew Wilkinson’s first Question Period in his new job today, but I’d like to ask him if he has yet directed his friend Mr. de Jong to release the ICBC report redacted by the B.C. Liberal government,” said Eby. “The decision to hide the report and not act has cost British Columbians more than a billion dollars, and it’s time for Andrew Wilkinson and the B.C. Liberals to be accountable for that.”

On January 31, Eby wrote to Mike de Jong requesting that he exercise his power as former Finance Minister to waive cabinet privilege so the report can be released to the public. De Jong has so far refused. Eby is calling on Wilkinson to show leadership by instructing de Jong to release it.

“British Columbians deserve to know exactly what the B.C. Liberal government knew and when they knew it,” said Eby. “If Andrew Wilkinson wants to show that the B.C. Liberals have learned anything, he should tell Mr. de Jong to the release the report immediately.”

Horgan trade war threatening more jobs: BC Liberals

14 February 2018

BC LIB LEADERS 5 Andrew Wilkinson — Andrew Wilkinson

THE trade war provoked by Premier John Horgan has now imperiled a $2 billion private sector investment in British Columbia, said the BC Liberals on Wednesday.

In a February 8 submission to the National Energy Board, the Alberta Department of Energy formally voiced its opposition to the North Montney Mainline Extension, a natural gas pipeline linking British Columbian natural gas operations with eastern markets.

“While the Premier goes about grandstanding to his activist friends, British Columbian workers are suffering and our reputation as a safe place for investment is being tarnished,” said BC Liberal Leader Andrew Wilkinson. “Alberta’s actions are a direct consequence of John Horgan’s provocative approach – this is has to end, John Horgan has to go to Edmonton and sort this squabble out now.”

This project would create 2,500 direct jobs and hundreds of millions in direct contracts to Canadian companies while providing a new market for B.C. gas.

“This is not a coincidence, the Alberta government has never expressed opposition to the proposed pipeline until last week,” said Peace River South MLA Mike Bernier. “The trade war is expanding and the job losses are mounting. It is ridiculous that another project is being dragged into Horgan’s trade war.”

New program shattering glamourized image of gangs in Surrey

14 February 2018

A new anti-gang presentation tailor-made for Surrey, is providing localized information on gangs and drugs that is hitting home with students, parents, educators, and newcomers.

This past fall, launched “Shattering the Image”, a new presentation that shares the true story of gang life in Surrey and its consequences. Adapted from the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit’s (CFSEU-BC) popular “End Gang Life” program, “Shattering the Image” talks about gangs and dial-a-doping, but information is specific to Surrey and geared towards a younger audience, primarily students in grades 6-7.

“With the current drug and gang climate in the Lower Mainland and kids being recruited at younger ages, we knew we had to adjust the way we were approaching gang prevention in Surrey,” says Sgt. Mike Sanchez of the Surrey Gang Enforcement Team. “We found that when we share stories of kids who have gotten caught up in dial-a-doping right here in Surrey, it really hits home with the youth.”

“Shattering the Image” details the history of gangs and drug trafficking in Surrey and the demise of local youth caught up in the gang lifestyle. The presentation identifies current trends in the gang landscape and includes officers sharing real stories about the dangers of dial-a-doping.

In an adapted presentation for adults, tips on how to recognize the signs of drug dealing are shared along with the emergence of fentanyl and the young victims it has left behind. The use of social media in gang recruitment is also discussed. Young people can get exposed to glamourized ideations of gang life through videos, images or chat rooms, normalizing these behaviours at a young age. Gang recruiters then prey on individuals showing interest in this material, and draw them into a lifestyle that is extremely difficult to escape.

“We know that kids are getting information about gangs from a variety of sources, including social media,” says Sanchez. “Our job is to give kids the facts so they are equipped to make better choices.”

SGET officers facilitate two to four “Shattering the Image” presentations a week. Requests come from partner agencies including the Surrey School District, Justice Education Society, and local community groups, including newcomer groups. Officers will also be presenting with the school district at the upcoming Gangs and Guns Training Symposium.

“There is definitely a need for these safe, open discussions with youth prior to them entering secondary school,” says Rob Rai from Surrey Safe Schools. “Building these connections early and often has a real impact on students and can start to turn the tide and prevent the next generation from entering this lifestyle altogether. The Surrey RCMP is shedding light on the realities of drugs and gangs and instilling confidence in our students to make positive life choices.”

After a recent presentation, SGET officers were approached by a Safe Schools liaison. The educator realized the items she saw in a young student’s belongings were in line with what was being described in the presentation as tools of the dial-a-doping trade. This quickly triggered a series of meetings between police, school staff, the parents and the student, which led to a host of supports being put in place. The student is now part of the Surrey WRAP program for at-risk youth and on track to graduate ahead of other students in the program.

Thanks to a recent contribution from the BC Civil Forfeiture Office, SGET now has a highly visible mobile billboard to promote its anti-gang message, in the form of a luxury SUV that was seized from an alleged Coquitlam drug trafficker last year.

The Surrey RCMP has many education and enforcement strategies for preventing gangs and criminal organizations from operating in their communities. One of the most effective strategies is to stop youth at an early age from getting involved in this type of activity in the first place. The Surrey RCMP are committed to a long-term strategy to address the issue of youth criminal involvement by promoting positive choices for kids and accessible support and guidance to parents.

For a complete list of the Surrey RCMP’s youth programs, visit their website.

Budget must significantly invest in public education: BCTF

14 February 2018

BC Teachers’ Federation President Glen Hansman on Wednesday welcomed some important promises around increased spending to upgrade unsafe schools and to get students out of crowded portables made in the latest Throne Speech. He urged the government to invest significantly more in the operating side of public education in next week’s budget to ensure students’ learning conditions continue to improve.

“Public schools have seen some big changes since the BCTF won our Supreme Court of Canada case, but implementation hasn’t been free from challenges,” said Hansman. “The ongoing teacher shortage is having a big impact in many communities, and too many students are losing out on their educational programs as a result. This is especially problematic for students with special needs who are seeing their specialist teachers reassigned to cover classroom teacher vacancies. Special education and English Language Learner supports should not be treated like dispensable luxuries.”

In the September 2017 budget update, the new government committed to an additional $110 million for public schools in 2018–19. That is in addition to the funding announced to implement teachers’ Supreme Court win.

“Given all of the challenges facing our schools, we need to see that $110 million figure grow significantly,” said Hansman. “The BC Liberal government spent 16 years underfunding our schools and forcing cuts onto school districts that took important programs and learning services away from students. Beyond funding the restoration of jobs, BC still has a long way to go to make up for that era of program cuts, unconstitutional legislation, and school closures.”

Hansman called on the government to implement the recommendations of the Legislative Assembly’s Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services. This year, the committee has made several sweeping recommendations to improve education funding. The recommendations include several specific points raised in the BCTF’s submission. The committee called for more funding to tangibly support implementation of the revised curriculum, provide better support for Aboriginal education initiatives in all regions of the province, hire additional specialists, and many other long overdue changes.

Hansman also called on the BC government to let school districts keep their share of the savings from the recent 50% reduction in the Medical Service Premium (MSP). School districts, as employers, are saving about $20 million in MSP costs this year for teachers alone.

“For 16 years, the BC Liberal government downloaded costs like MSP increases onto school boards without any funding to pay for them,” said Hansman. “That put huge pressure on school districts to make even more cuts. Our hope is that the new government will let school districts keep their share of the MSP savings and not count it toward any increase in funding.”

Hansman said the priority for that estimated $20 million in MSP savings should be used to address the teacher shortage, provide resources for the revised curriculum, support mentoring initiatives for the thousands of new teachers, and hire additional specialist teachers.

CRA: Panama Papers-related searches in West Vancouver, Calgary, GTA

14 February 2018

THE Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) announced on Wednesday that it executed three search warrants on February 14 during the course of an offshore tax evasion criminal investigation related to the data leak from the Panamanian law firm and corporate service provider Mossack Fonseca made public in the Panama Papers.
Approximately 30 CRA criminal investigators, assisted by members of the RCMP and the West Vancouver Police, took part in the operation that unfolded in Calgary, West Vancouver and the Greater Toronto Area, searching for evidence with respect to the commission of offences against the Income Tax Act and the Excise Tax Act. The CRA’s investigation identified a series of transactions involving foreign corporations and several transfers through offshore bank accounts used allegedly to evade taxes.
Working in collaboration with its domestic and international partners, the CRA said it would like to acknowledge the significant contribution of the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC) to this criminal investigation.
This investigation is one of the 42 international / offshore tax evasion cases that CRA is currently investigating which involve complex structures and potentially multi-million dollars in taxes evaded, which is consistent with its priority of focusing on sophisticated and well organized tax evasion schemes, the CRA said in a press release.
The CRA is pursuing additional criminal investigations relating to the Panama Papers data leak.
Wilfully failing to follow tax laws could result in serious consequences, including reassessments, the imposition of civil penalties and criminal tax investigations and prosecutions resulting in the imposition of court fines, jail time and a criminal record. Under the income tax and excise tax laws, persons convicted of tax evasion can face fines ranging from 50% to 200% of the evaded taxes and up to five years imprisonment. If convicted of fraud under Section 380 of the Criminal Code, an individual can face up to 14 years in jail, the CRA pointed out.

Construction wages to increase nearly 10%: ICBA

14 February 2018

B.C. construction workers should see pay raises of nearly 10 per cent over the next two years, according to the results of the Independent Contractors and Businesses Association’s (ICBA) 2018 Wage and Benefits Survey. But it’s still getting tougher and tougher for companies to find skilled workers.

ICBA President Chris Gardner released the results of the survey Wednesday morning at ICBA’s annual CEO Breakfast, kicking off the BUILDEX tradeshow in Vancouver.

“With such strong demand for workers, construction wages are growing more than twice as fast as inflation,” said Gardner. “The need is intense. Every single glass company we surveyed this year said they needed more glaziers. For pipefitting companies, 93% said they needed more help; sheet metal workers, 91%; electricians and plumbers, 89%. The message is clear: if you want to work in construction, there’s a job out there for you.”

Construction in B.C. now employs more than 225,000 people and contributes nearly 10 per cent of the provincial GDP. This year, survey respondents said they expect to give their workers a 4.5% raise; in 2019, they expect another 5.1% increase.

The ICBA Wage and Benefits Survey also looks regionally at how optimistic companies are about adding more work in 2018. Fully 96% of construction companies expect business in 2018 to be as strong or stronger than 2017:

Interior: 43% of contractors expect more work in 2018 than last year; 82% say they are short of workers, especially labourers, carpenters and framers.
North: 60% of contractors expect more work in 2018 than last year; 80% say they are short of workers, especially carpenters, truck drivers and drywallers.
Vancouver Island: 49% of contractors expect more work in 2018 than last year; 76% say they are short of workers, especially carpenters, labourers and framers.
Lower Mainland-Fraser Valley-Whistler: 55% of contractors expect more work in 2018 than last year; 82% say they are short of workers, especially carpenters, labourers and plumbers.

“Our findings bode well for opportunities in construction and its $19 billion annual contribution to provincial GDP – as long as we can continue to get to and stay at ‘yes’ on major projects and otherwise maintain a competitive business climate,” said Gardner. “We must do more to attract investment into British Columbia, ensuring that we continue to build the infrastructure and harness our resources responsibly.”

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