Prime Minister Trudeau to lead Canadian delegation to United Nations General Assembly

13 September 2017

Justin Trudeau
Photo by Sukhwant Singh Dhillon

PRIME Minister Justin Trudeau on Wednesday announced that he will be in New York City from September 19 to 21 to lead Canada’s delegation to the opening of the 72nd Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

At the UNGA, Trudeau is scheduled to deliver Canada’s national address on the afternoon of September 21. The UNGA, with its 193 member states, provides an important opportunity for Canada to voice its commitment to strengthening multilateralism and the rules-based international order, advancing human rights, including gender equality and women’s empowerment, and championing diversity and inclusion, the PMO noted.

While in New York, Justin will be honoured at the Atlantic Council dinner on September 19 as part of the annual “Global Citizen Awards.” He will receive the award in recognition of his leadership to advance inclusiveness, diversity, and economic growth that works for everyone.

On September 20, Trudeau will speak to more than 6,000 youth at WE Day New York to mobilize youth action on the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, which aim to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for all. He will also participate in the Bloomberg Global Business Forum to discuss how leaders from business and government can create a more transparent, equitable, and sustainable framework for the global economy.

Trudeau said: “In building a better world, multilateralism is the recognition that we are stronger when we stand together. Canada believes our collective peace and prosperity can only be achieved through diverse and meaningful partnerships. A modern United Nations focused on the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century will ensure a brighter future for all.”

Canada is the fifth largest donor to the UN system.

ONTARIO: Brampton Councillor Gurpreet Dhillon applauds City Council’s university funding decision

13 September 2017

BRAMPTON Councillor Gurpreet Dhillon on Wednesday applauded Brampton City Council’s decision to ratify $150 million in funding for the new Ryerson University campus as historic.
The staff report was received by City Council for ratification and was approved unanimously.
As per the report, $100 million of the funding will go towards a city-owned, state-of-the-art, joint-use centre for education, innovation and collaboration in the downtown core, and $50 million over 10 years directly towards the post-secondary facility for Ryerson.
“This is a game changer for our city’s economy and the future of our youth,” said
Dhillon, a member of the Blue Ribbon Committee tasked to establish the university in Brampton. “With the new campus, and Brampton’s downtown being located in the Province’s new Innovation Corridor, we will now be able to tap into our City’s true potential.”
Similar to Silicon Valley with technology, the Innovation Corridor will span 100 km between Toronto, Brampton and Waterloo, and has been identified as a new global centre for research and innovation, with Brampton being located directly at the midpoint.
“Along with my June 2016 motion to increase Brampton’s job forecast by up to 25,000 jobs, and being a catalyst for job growth, the University will not only have a significant educational impact, but an economic one as well,” said Dhillon. “We will potentially see $220 million in on-going economic impact, thousands of jobs created, additional youth employment, and $18.3 million in visitor spending annually.”
Dhillon also stated that though Council “had achieved its goal to attract and invest in the new University”, the $90 million allotted by the Province is “not nearly enough funding for a city of Brampton’s size,” and that the City will continue the negotiations to receive its fair share.

Langley explosion sends two to hospital

13 September 2017

LANGLEY RCMP’s Drug Section has assumed conduct of the investigation into a fire and an explosion in Aldergrove early Wednesday morning.
Police and fire attended the townhouse complex in the 27100-block of 31A Avenue shortly after midnight following a report of an explosion. Three residences were still on fire when police arrived and two men were found in the middle garage suffering from severe burns. One of the men was transported by air and the other by ground ambulance. No other injuries were reported.
Langley Client Support and Victim Services attended to provide support and assistance to the families from all three residences displaced by the fire.
Currently, police are waiting for a structural engineer to attend and determine if entry onto the site is safe. The two neighbouring units were both heavily damaged by the fire.
Police believe there may have been a butane extraction site in the centre garage and will continue their investigation in this regard.

Trump appoints Indian-American to key White House position

13 September 2017

Washington (PTI): Indian-American Raj Shah, a well known aide of Donald Trump, has been appointed to a key position by the US President in his communications team, the White House said.

Shah, 32, was one of the few handful aides of Trump who landed in the White House within hours of the billionaire tycoon’s swearing in as the 45th US President on January 20.

He formerly served as Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy Communications Director. In April, Shah was identified as one of the three West Wing power players in the White House along with Hope Hicks and Eli Miller.

“Raj Shah will serve as Deputy Assistant to the President and Principal Deputy Press Secretary,” the White House said in a statement.

Trump also appointed his confidant Hope Hicks as his Communications Director. Hicks previously served as Assistant to the President and Interim Communications Director.

Mercedes Schlapp, a Fox News contributor and columnist for The Washington Times, will serve as Assistant to the President and Senior Advisor for Strategic Communications.

ALBERTA POLITICS: Brian Jean first candidate to file papers and pay full $95,000 in leadership fees

13 September 2017

BRIAN Jean, United Conservative Party leadership hopeful, on Tuesday became the first candidate to submit his Leadership Candidate Questionnaire, $20,000 good conduct bond and the final half of the $75,000 leadership entry fee to the United Conservative Party.

Jean released the following statement regarding the campaign’s success:
“I’m humbled by the support our positive vision for Alberta has received and I truly appreciate the thousands of individuals who have made financial and volunteer contributions to our campaign. Assembling this much in small contributions, this quickly, couldn’t happen without the support and enthusiasm of so many Albertans. I particularly want to thank the over 500 persons who made “$200 foundational contributions” to our campaign.
“This new party must be built on a strong foundation of conservative principles and ideals that will appeal to as many Albertans as possible. I am encouraged by how Albertans have responded to our positive campaign designed around those mainstream conservative ideals and I encourage all interested Albertans to buy a membership in the United Conservative Party in the 16 days before the deadline.”

On Wednesday, Jean garnered the endorsements of former Mayor of Sundre and Conservative MP Myron Thompson, Rimbey Mayor Rick Pankiw, and Rocky Mountain House Mayor Fred Nash.

Conservatives call for competition for new fighter jets

13 September 2017

FOLLOWING the U.S. State Department’s notification to the U.S. Congress that the proposed sale of 18 Super Hornet fighter jets to Canada would cost $6.4 billion, James Bezan, Shadow Minister for National Defence, and Tony Clement, Shadow Minister for Public Services and Procurement, said on Wednesday that this confirms that the Liberal plan to replace Canada’s CF-18 fleet has been fundamentally flawed from the onset.
They pointed out that during the 2015 federal election, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promised to hold an open competition, yet at the same time he committed to exclude one of the contenders. This promise was not based on the advice of experts but was made for purely partisan reasons, they alleged.
Bezan and Clement said: “The Liberal plan would result in Canada spending over $6 billion CDN on 18 planes. Last February the United States Department of Defence announced its intention to purchase 90 F-35s for $8.5 billion USD. As defence analyst David Perry from the Canadian Global Affairs Institute has said, ‘$6.3 billion is awfully expensive for temporary aircraft’. Conservatives wholeheartedly agree.
“On a per plane basis, the United States deal for 90 F-35s would mean a per unit cost of approximately $90 million USD. The Liberal plan proposes to spend over $350 million CDN on each Super Hornet. Even after accounting for the exchange rate, this makes no sense whatsoever. These figures also do not factor in the additional training and maintenance costs that are inevitable when running a mixed fleet. It is unfortunate that Canadian taxpayers are being forced to pay for the Prime Minister’s ill-conceived campaign promises.
“With the threats that exist in the world today, especially from rogue states such as North Korea, it is absolutely necessary we provide our military with the best available equipment to defend Canadians and our allies. According to a recent survey by the MacDonald-Laurier Institute, the vast majority of Canada’s defence experts agree that the government should abandon its plan to purchase an interim fleet of fighter jets and immediately proceed to an open competition. Several of Canada’s allies have completed such a competition in less time than these Liberals have been in power.
“It is time for the Prime Minister to set politics aside and do what is right for Canada’s national defence. He should follow the advice of experts and immediately proceed to an open competition to find a permanent replacement for Canada’s CF-18s.”

Ontario’s Durham Regional Police constables Amandeep Thakur and Husen Aswat charged in drug investigation

13 September 2017

ONTARIO’S Durham Regional Police constables Amandeep Thakur and Husen Aswat are among five people charged in a drug investigation in Ajax.

Incidentally, both these officers’ names appear on the province’s Sunshine List of public employees earning more than $100,000 per year.

The investigation began in the summer of 2016 when officers became aware of excessive alcohol serving and illegal drug transactions at the Black Bear Bar and Grill on Westney Road South in Ajax. As part of the investigation, it was determined two Durham Regional Police Service (DRPS) officers from west division were associated with the owner of the establishment.

On Tuesday, September 12, the investigation, led by the Criminal Intelligence Branch and the Professional Standards Unit, resulted in five arrests related to the sale of marihuana and cocaine in connection with this establishment.

Thakur, 30, of west division, with eight years of service, has been charged with: theft under; two counts of breach of trust; and possession of property obtained by crime. He was held for a bail hearing and has been suspended from duty.

Aswat, 32, of west division, with nine years of service, has been charged with: seven counts of breach of trust; four counts of trafficking in substance schedule 1 (cocaine); three counts of weapons dangerous; theft under; possession of property obtained by crime; and three counts of proceeds of crime. He was held for a bail hearing and has been suspended from duty.

Three other persons have been charged as part of this investigation. All three were held for bail hearings: Rajalingam Varatharajan, 44, of Pickering, Kevin Chung, 34, of Toronto and Shaun Carter, 40, of Ajax.

Durham Regional Police Chief Paul Martin expressed his concerns over the charges and said they are not a reflection of the hard working and dedicated women and men of the DRPS.

He said: “Obviously it’s very concerning and disappointing when we find ourselves investigating our own employees. When we became aware of the possible involvement of our DRPS members, we conducted a vigorous investigation. No one is above the law and every one of our employees is accountable for their actions. I want to assure the community that this is not a reflection of our women and men who work so hard every day to uphold the law and keep our communities safe. We are sharing this information with the public, as we always do, in the interest of openness and transparency. We are committed to accountability and integrity as an organization.”

Anyone with new information about this investigation is asked to call Sgt. Walker of the DRPS Professional Standards Unit at 1-888-579-1520, ext. 4366.

Anonymous information can be sent to Durham Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or online at www.durhamregionalcrimestoppers.ca and tipsters may be eligible for a $2,000 cash reward.

New Surrey history book explores a community rich in stories

12 September 2017

THE City of Surrey released a new community history book on Monday night in a special presentation to Surrey City Council; Surrey: A City of Stories comprises historic photos, maps, artifacts and stories of Surrey residents from the distant past to modern day. The book is a Canada 150 legacy project that was spearheaded by the Surrey Heritage Advisory Commission.

“Surrey is in a period of incredible growth and transformation, however it is also a city rich with history,” said Mayor Linda Hepner. “Surrey: A City of Stories invites us to reflect on our past and celebrate our accomplishments. This comprehensive and well researched book is a wonderful legacy commemorating Canada’s 150^th birthday.”

“We didn’t want a dusty history book,” explains Councillor Dave Woods, Chair of the Surrey Heritage Advisory Commission. “We wanted a vibrant, accessible book that anyone could pick up, flip to a page and take in a quick story, tidbit or photo. Something that could live on your coffee table and be visited again and again.”

Written by award-winning author K. Jane Watt, Surrey: A City of Stories is a coffee table style book created with the intent to inspire conversation and create a sense of community. Residents scanning the book will discover long-gone landmarks like the Crescent Hotel and recognize historic locations they may pass every day, such as the 1912 Municipal Hall on Highway 10. Readers will also see the faces and read the stories of people for whom schools and communities have been named.

The book showcases over 500 visuals, including 332 images, 40 maps, 73 artifacts, 61 documents, and features the voices of 80 Surrey residents, past and present. Watt hopes the book will appeal to newcomers, seniors, families and anyone interested in learning about their community’s history.

Surrey: A City of Stories can be purchased for $25 at the Surrey Archives, Historic Stewart Farm, Surrey Arts Centre and Surrey City Hall. The Surrey Heritage Advisory Commission has purchased a copy for every Surrey school and branch of Surrey Libraries. For more information, visit www.surrey.ca/heritage or call 604-502-6459. Follow City of Surrey Heritage Services on Facebook @HeritageSurreyBC.

Shots fired into vehicle in East Vancouver

12 September 2017

A number of shots were fired into a silver Honda Civic in East Vancouver just before 2 p.m. on Tuesday afternoon. Police towed away the vehicle from East 33rd Avenue and Argyle Street, according to one report.

All that police will say at this time is that they are “investigating shots fired” and that “this incident appears targeted and there are no reports of injuries.”

Anyone who may have information about this incident is asked to call police.

City of Vancouver reports 23 suspected overdose deaths in August

12 September 2017

VANCOUVER Police Department have reported that the City of Vancouver saw a total of 23 suspected overdose deaths during the month of August, a slight increase from the 18 deaths confirmed in the month of July by the BC Coroners Service.

Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services (VFRS) also reported a 12 per cent decrease in overdose support calls with a total of 499 in August, down from 568 in July.

Despite this slight decline, overdose support calls for the month are still 46 per cent higher than they were in August of 2016.

The City Of Vancouver has been urging the federal and provincial governments to make this public health emergency a top priority. In response to Monday’s provincial budget announcement which allotted significant funding towards fighting the overdose crisis, Mayor Gregor Robinson said: “I’m very encouraged to see the BC government making bold decisions in this week’s budget to work in partnership with the City, first responders, front-line community service workers and people with lived experience to scale up response to the drug overdose death crisis. The $322 million allocated for immediate relief will save lives and bolster BC’s mental health and addictions system to better connect people to the services they need, when they need them. I look forward to working with the BC government in the coming weeks to action this new funding.”

From August 28 to September 3, VPD reported a suspected five overdose deaths, down from nine reported the previous week. VFRS reported a slight drop in overdose calls for the same period, with a total of 102 calls, down from 156, a decrease of 35 per cent.

Toxicology reports on the most recent deaths are not yet complete, and final overdose death numbers need to be confirmed by the BC Coroners Service.

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