2017 Nissan Rogue: Compact CUV with a big personality

3 May 2017

By Autoreviewman

For 2017 the popular Nissan Rogue compact CUV arrives with a fresh restyle and a number of interior improvements. The Rogue still has the stylish cheeky looks keeping it fresh and attractive in what is a very competitive sector. It also comes with a third row rear seats option. The same power plant as before is the only engine available, a 170 horsepower 2.5-litre four-cylinder unit with continuously variable transmission (CVT) that has been improved and Nissan says is 10 per cent more efficient than before The SL AWD model we tested (base priced $35,698) ups the ante with 19 INCH alloy wheels, automatic climate control, fog lights, power sunroof, trailer hitch pre-wiring, navigation system with Around View Monitor, Intelligent Key with pushbutton start, auto up/down driver’s window, auto-dimming Rear-view mirror, illuminated vanity mirrors, dual-level console tray, luggage side hooks, cargo light, six-way power driver’s seat, leather upholstery and fold-flat front passenger seat. Our tester also came with the Reserve package with premium tan leather seats with unique quilted inserts ($500) The Platinum package ($400) with intelligent cruise control, lane departure warning, lane departure prevention, Forward emergency gracing, pedestrian detection, high beam headlights and 4 way power passenger seats. In addition Nissan equips the Rogue with the full suite of safety features, including an antiskid system, traction control, four-wheel disc brakes a with antilock and airbags all around (front, side and overhead). Small but useful standard features include a trip computer integrated with readout for average fuel consumption, average speed, and elapsed time and outside temperature. Cruise control and steering wheel controls are also standard on all Rogues. For hauling cargo, the rear 60/40-split/fold bench seat is standard The refined, speed sensitive power steering offer good confident handling. In fact, the steering is much tighter and more precise than the previous model. In terms of the AWD system, it uses a 70/30-power split with an AWD Lock option that turns off when you exceed 40km/hr.

Fuel economy is rated at 9.6 l.100km in the city and 7.4 l/100km on the highway. Other competitors in this class are roomier, but in- vehicle storage is fine and the Rogue just look better, and feels more “together” and classy. It is also more fun to drive. In the market for a SUV or CUV with personality? The Rogue fits the bill nicely.

2017 Nissan Rogue SL AWD base priced from $35,698. Price as tested with options/freight and PDE $38,528

2017 Honda HR-V Subcompact crossover is a standout!

3 May 2017

By Autoreviewman

The 2017 Honda HR-V is a subcompact-sized crossover that’s been a popular seller since its introduction. With its tight, sport-coupe styling and excellent cargo and passenger versatility it makes a great alternative to a hatchback. It also comes in two wheels or All Wheel Drive. Power for the HR-V comes courtesy of a 1.8-litre SOHC four-cylinder teamed either with a continuously variable shift logic transmission or a six-speed manual transmission (2WD models only). AWD models feature Honda’s Real Time AWD with Intelligent Control System.

In Canada, trim lines start with the well-equipped LX, ($21,150 for a manual front-wheel-drive).

All-wheel-drive HR-Vs, all of which are equipped with the CVT, start at $24,950.

The EX adds extras as leather seats, lane departure warning, forward collision warning, paddle shifters, and roof rails. The EX-L Navi trims add more as standard equipment and go up in price accordingly with such goodies as Navigation system, 17-inch alloy wheels, heated front seats, Display Audio System, rear-view camera with guidelines, forward collision warning and lane departure warning safety systems and Bluetooth HandsFreeLink.

Honda’s excellent Honda LaneWatch display is included with EX and EX-L Navi trims and is highly recommended as a must-have safety aid.

The Honda HRV’s cabin is a standout in my opinion with its rear “magic seats’ that fold and flip revealing a huge super-flexible cargo area for big bulky and awkward items such as bikes, big screen TVs and other items. Other than that the cabin with offers great room for four people in all areas. The Honda HRV interior and front cabin offer well made fabrics and plastics and a smart, stylish tech savvy dash and touch screen and slider controls. Some may find the touch controls finicky and a pain, but you do get used to them.

On the road, the HR-V delivers with a feeling of safety and security thanks to its All-Wheel Drive ability and excellent safety equipment. Handling is good and its moderate ground clearance will allow the HR-V to tackle light off-road trails, but not the really hard stuff. Not much to complain about- it’s more of comfortable four seater than a five-seater in my opinion. Its handy dimensions make it easy to park and manoeuvre and its four-cylinder engine delivers frugal fuel economy.

At $21, 150 for an LX, the base model is a great deal, especially with AWD, while the higher EX models offer desirable features for more money. Still all versions are well priced and worth considering. With excellent practicality, safety, Honda resale and reliability whichever HR-V you buy is going to be a great deal. The perfect small family CUV!

2017 Honda HR-V priced from $21,150 – $30,450

Clinton blames FBI, Russia for presidential poll loss to Trump

3 May 2017

Washington (PTI): Hillary Clinton has blamed FBI Director James Comey and Russian interference for her defeat in the last year’s presidential elections, saying they “scared off” voters and deprived her of an otherwise expected victory.

The former Democratic presidential nominee, speaking during a charity luncheon, said she takes “personal responsibility” for her loss to Donald Trump in the presidential race.

In her most detailed comments about her defeat since the shock result last year, Clinton blamed Russian interference in the US election and the release of a letter by Comey pertaining to the investigation into her emails just before the polls, saying such factors deprived her of an otherwise expected victory.

“If the election had been on October 27th, I’d be your president. And it wasn’t, it was on October 28th and there was just a lot of funny business going on around that,” Clinton told CNN in an interview at Women for Women International Forum in New York.

“It wasn’t a perfect campaign. There is no such thing.

But I was on the way to winning until the combination of Jim Comey’s letter on October 28th and Russian WikiLeaks raised doubts in the minds of people who were inclined to vote for me, but got scared off,” she said.

“The evidence for that intervening event is, compelling, persuasive,” she said.

Clinton, 69, highlighted Russia’s role in hacking into her campaign’s internal emails and subsequently coordinating their release on WikiLeaks.

“Ask yourself this, within an hour or two of the Hollywood Access tape being made public, the Russian theft of John Podesta’s emails hit WikiLeaks. What a coincidence. So I mean you just can’t make this stuff up,” Clinton said.

“He (Russian President Vladimir Putin) certainly interfered in our election,” Clinton said. “And it’s clear he interfered to hurt me and help my opponent.”

Asked whether she was a victim of misogyny, she said, “Yes, I do think it played a role. misogyny is very much a part of the landscape politically, socially and economically.”

Hours later, Trump attacked Clinton on Twitter, saying she used the “phony” Russian hacking story as a justification for her loss in the November 8 presidential elections.

“FBI Director Comey was the best thing that ever happened to Hillary Clinton in that he gave her a free pass for many bad deeds!” Trump tweeted.

“The phony… …Trump/Russia story was an excuse used by the Democrats as justification for losing the election, he said in another tweet.

Responding to a question on North Korea during the interview, Clinton called for a regional effort.

“There has to be a regional effort to basically incentivise the North Korean regime to understand that it will pay a much bigger price regionally, primarily from China, if it pursues this reckless policy of nuclear weapons development and very dangerously for us, the missiles that can deliver those nuclear packages to places like Hawaii and eventually, the West Coast of the US,” she said.

Noting that she takes the North Korean threat very seriously, Clinton said she does not believe that the US alone is able to really put the pressure on this North Korea regime that needs to be placed.

“Now, the North Koreans are always interested, not just Kim Jong-un, but his father before him, were always interested in trying to get Americans to come to negotiate, to elevate their status and their position, she said.

“We should be very careful about giving that away. You should not offer that in the absence of broader strategic framework to try to get China, Japan, Russia, South Korea, to put the kind of pressure on the regime that will finally bring them to the negotiating table with some kind of realistic prospect for change,” Clinton said.

During the interview, Clinton described Syria as another one of those “wicked problems” which everybody is desperately trying to figure out.

“Syria is another one of those wicked problems which everybody is, you know, desperately trying to figure out how to stop a civil war, how to prevent Iran from increasing its influence, how to prevent Russia from having a real foot hold in the Middle East, which is something that they are desperately seeking,” she said.

US lawmakers ask basketball federation to change policy against turbaned Sikhs

3 May 2017

Washington (PTI): Two top Democratic lawmakers on Wednesday urged a top sports body to change its discriminatory policy against Sikh players that requires them to remove their turbans during a game.

The appeal by Congressmen Joe Crowley and Ami Bera comes ahead of the International Basketball Federation’s (FIBA) long-awaited decision on the discriminatory policy requiring players to remove articles of faith, such as turbans, during a game.

FIBA is expected to announce its decision this week after many years of campaign led by Crowley and Bera on behalf of athletes who wear articles of faith.

“People throughout the US and around the world know that athletics, including basketball, are a way of bringing people together. Children and youth of many different faiths and backgrounds have long met on the playground to exercise and compete while building camaraderie, resilience, and friendship,” the two lawmakers said in a letter to FIBA.

“As you know, Sikhs and others have participated successfully in basketball competitions here in the United States, including NCAA players at the college level. Sikhs and others have also participated in Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) matches without any problems,” Crowley and Bera wrote.

After nearly three years of review, Crowley and Bera exuded confidence that FIBA will see the wisdom in the reversal of its existing policy, and ensure that basketball will continue to be the unifying sport it is intended to be.

FIBA’s discriminatory policy came to light in 2014 when two Sikh players were told by referees that they must remove their turbans if they were to play in FIBA’s Asia Cup.

The players, who had always played in turbans, were told that they were in violation of one of FIBA’s official rules, which states, “Players shall not wear equipment (objects) that may cause injury to other players”.

However, there is no evidence that a Sikh turban poses a threat to cause injury, and other sports leagues, such as FIFA and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), allow athletes wearing turbans to participate.

Second round of voting starts today (Wednesday)

3 May 2017

ADVANCE voting is available across B.C. from today until Saturday.

Voters can find advance voting places and the dates they are open by:

referring to the Where to Vote card sent to them by Elections BC,
visiting the Where to Vote page on the Elections BC website at http://elections.bc.ca/wtv, or
calling Elections BC at 1-800-661-8683.

All advance voting places are wheelchair accessible and open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (local time). Eligible voters can vote at any open advance voting place in B.C.

All voters must prove their identity and residential address to receive a ballot. A complete list of acceptable identification is available at http://elections.bc.ca/2017-general-election/voter-id/.

General Voting Day is May 9. Voters can refer to their Where to Vote card or the Elections BC website to find their assigned voting place and voting places near them. Usually it is faster and easier to vote at your assigned voting place on General Voting Day, but voters can vote at any voting place that is convenient for them.

For more information about where, when and how to vote, visit the Elections BC website: http://elections.bc.ca/2017-general-election/.

Maximum age of a dependent child will be ‘under 22’ from October 24

3 May 2017

THE federal government announced on Wednesday that it has published regulatory changes to increase the maximum age of a dependent child which will allow more families to stay together.

The new age limit of ‘under 22’ will come into effect this fall, on October 24, raising it from the current ‘under 19’ requirement. The increased age will apply to new applications for all immigration programs under Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, including for refugees. Children who are 22 years of age or older and who rely on their parents due to a physical or mental health condition will continue to be considered dependent children.

Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, said: “Raising the age of dependants lets more families stay together. This will bring economic and social gains to our country as it enhances our attractiveness as a destination of choice for immigrants and refugees.”

The government said that a higher age limit will have more positive social and cultural impacts by keeping families together. It will also better address humanitarian and safety concerns by enabling more family members of refugees to qualify as dependants. Increasing the age limit will also help to enhance Canada’s economy by making it a destination of choice for skilled immigrants who want to keep their families together.

The government said that family reunification is one of its key immigration commitments and it has made a number of important changes to uphold this commitment. Regulations were recently published to eliminate the conditional permanent residence measure in recognition that most marriages are genuine and to reduce the vulnerability of spouses in the immigration program. Access to the parent and grandparent program was improved with changes to the 2017 application process to make it fairer and more transparent. In 2016, the number of parent and grandparent sponsorship applications accepted each year for intake was doubled to 10,000 applications, and the Government announced processing times for most sponsored spouses and partners would be reduced to 12 months.

Quick Facts

* The change is consistent with the global socioeconomic trend for children to stay home longer, including pursuing their post-secondary education. The change would allow older immigrant children, aged 19 to 21, to study in Canada thereby boosting the pool of applicants from which Canadian post-secondary schools can draw talented students. Upon graduation, these individuals would be equipped with a Canadian education and be able to contribute to Canada’s economy.

* A higher age for dependants better aligns with two of the main objectives of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, which are to see that families are reunited in Canada, and support the self-sufficiency and social and economic well-being of refugees through family reunification.

Toronto Star’s National Affairs Columnist calls Harjit Sajjan’s false claim “a scandal about nothing”

3 May 2017

DEFENCE Minister Harjit Sajjan has at least one prominent journalist coming to his rescue.

Thomas Walkom, National Affairs Columnist of Toronto Star, in a piece titled “Harjit Sajjan ‘architect’ fuss a scandal about nothing,” says: “In the end, Defence Minister Harjit’s Sajjan’s sin is grammatical. He has described himself as “the” architect of a 2006 Canadian-led mission against the Taliban during the Afghan War. He should have said “an” architect.”Walkom quotes a letter that was sent to then-Vancouver’s Chief Constable Jamie Graham by Brigadier General David Fraser, Commander CTF Aegis, who was the top Canadian commander in Afghanistan at the time. That letter was published by the online publication National Observer). Walkom quotes a few lines, but here are more details:

“He [Sajjan] consistently provided the most timely and accurate intelligence available, and he personally fused broad sources of information into an extremely coherent picture upon which most of the formations major operations were based. Not only did he display a rare high level of intellect and experience in his analysis, he also demonstrated remarkable personal courage in his collection efforts, often working in the face of the enemy to collect data and confirm his suspicions, and placing himself almost daily in situations of grave personal risk. His products were cogent and demonstrated a profound understanding of the Taliban (TB) and tribal networks which were critical in making formation and unit operations successful. He was the best single Canadian intelligence asset in theatre, and his hard work, personal bravery, and dogged determination undoubtedly saved a multitude of Coalition lives. Through his courage and dedication, Major Sajjan has single-handedly changed the face of intelligence gathering and analysis in Afghanistan. “He tirelessly and selflessly devoted himself to piecing together the ground truth on tribal and Taliban networks in the Kandahar area, and his analysis was so compelling that it drove a number of large scale theatre-resourced efforts, including OPERATION MEDUSA, a large scale conventional combat operation that resulted in the defeat of the largest TB insurgent cell yet identified in Afghanistan, with over 1500 Taliban killed or captured. I rate him as one of the best intelligence officers I have ever worked with – fearless, smart, and personable, and I would not hesitate to have him on my staff at any time in the future. I have advised my chain of command that the Canadian Forces must capture his skillset, and seek his advice on how to change our entire tactical intelligence training and architecture to best meet the needs of future deployed units fighting in extremely complex battle space.”

Based on this letter, Walkom states: “All of which suggests that Sajjan wasn’t entirely wrong when he twice referred to himself as the architect of Operation Medusa — first in a 2015 interview and more recently at a conference in India. He may not have been Medusa’s sole architect. But he was one of them.”

Liberals support BC wine success

3 May 2017

SPEAKING at Gray Monk Estate Winery in Lake Country on Wednesday, Premier Christy Clark highlighted the success of BC’s wine industry and laid out the Liberals’ plans to continue the growth of the province’s wineries, craft breweries, cideries, and distilleries.

“BC’s wine industry has grown by leaps and bounds, creating thousands of jobs and attracting millions of tourists – and we’re just getting started,” said Clark, with local BC Liberal candidates Eric Foster and Norm Letnick at her side. “There’s huge potential still to be realized if we stay on track with a strong economy, low taxes, and a solid plan – and Today’s BC Liberals are the only party that can lead the fight to preserve, protect, and create BC jobs.”

British Columbia is home to more than 330 wineries, compared to just 70 in 2001 – welcoming over a million visitors a year, employing more than 12,000 people, and contributing $2.8 billion to the provincial economy. And BC wines are increasingly being recognized at prestigious international competitions – with 1,200 top finishes for our wines last year alone.

As part of common sense modernization of BC’s liquor laws, the previous BC Liberal government made key policy changes to support the wine industry, including:

Reducing red tape to allow for greater tasting and on-premise food and beverage service at wineries, breweries, and distilleries.
Allowing sale of 100% BC wines in grocery stores, with 18 stores participating to date.
Allowing the sale of BC wine, craft beer, and distilled products by local producers at farmers’ and artisan markets.

Committed to standing up for the BC wine industry and protecting BC jobs against the threat of international trade disputes, Liberals say they will:

Develop an international marketing strategy for BC wine, craft beer, cider, and distilled products.
Support the establishment of a new BC Wine Centre of Excellence in Penticton.
Invest in targeted advertising campaigns and new apps to promote BC wineries, breweries, cideries, and distilleries.
Spur the development of a hops industry in BC with a $1 million annual grant towards an incentive program for farmers, contributing to the development of a VQA-like program for made-in-BC craft beer.

Kasimir Tyabji-Sandana, accused in Calgary drug case, actively campaigning for Liberal Party

3 May 2017

BY RATTAN MALL

KASIMIR Tyabji-Sandana, son of former MLA Judi Tyabji who married former B.C. Leader of the Opposition Gordon Wilson, who will be facing a trial in a serious drug case in September, has been campaigning for the Liberal Party on the Sunshine Coast.

Back in 2015, Kasimir, then 27, was arrested and charged with one count of importing a controlled substance after a drug bust in Calgary.

Calgary Police said in a press release on July 14, 2015, that a Border Services Officer at the Canadian Border Services Agency’s Vancouver International Mail Centre intercepted a parcel declared as a “muffler” that was destined for a Calgary resident. As the officer was conducting an examination of the parcel, an unknown white powder was found and the officer suspected it to be fentanyl.

The officer sent a sample of the unknown substance to the CBSA Laboratory, which confirmed her suspicion and CBSA engaged the support of the RCMP to further the investigation. The RCMP then began working with Calgary Police Service and on July 22, a warrant was executed on a Calgary residence in the 2400 block of 14 Street S.W., resulting in one arrest. Through the investigation, 122 grams of fentanyl was seized with an estimated value of $348,000.

Kasimir Tyabji-Sandana with mom Judi Tyabji and Premier Christy Clark in 2014.

Kasimir’s mother, Judi, described his arrest in detail on Facebook, but believes that her son was set up. Incidentally, she is the author of Premier Christy Clark’s biography. His stepfather, Wilson, is Christy Clark’s LNG commissioner. His stepbrother, Mathew Wilson, is the Liberal candidate in Powell River-Sunshine Coast.

Here is part of Judi’s version of her son’s innocence on her Facebook:

All of the evidence against Kaz is in front of the court: his name was on a package shipped to his Calgary apartment. This package came from China, and contained fentanyl. It was intercepted in Vancouver, where the police removed the fentanyl, replaced it with a benign substance and resealed it. An undercover police officer delivered the resealed package, which had Chinese characters on it, to Kaz’ Calgary apartment. He signed for it, and put it on the counter.

Minutes later, the Calgary drug police, fully armed, broke into the apartment. Kaz tossed the package out the window. Kaz was thrown to the floor and arrested, and his apartment was fully searched. No drugs, no paraphenalia and no weapons were found. Kaz cell phone and laptop were seized and yielded no evidence related to drugs of any kind. His bank records and credit card records showed he barely had money for his travel home, and had no evidence related to drugs of any kind.

Some time late in 2017 a judge will have a chance to decide if this is evidence for fentanyl importation. Kaz told the police he had never heard of fentanyl before.

NDP: Christy Clark’s “Wild West” of political cash draws international headlines again

3 May 2017

CHRISTY Clark’s Liberals are refusing to answer questions after a New York Times investigation revealed more than $140 million in British Columbians’ tax dollars have flowed to a secret list of companies since 2008 under a system of corporate tax breaks led by Christy Clark’s former campaign chair and former Finance Minister Colin Hansen, the NDP said on Wednesday.

The Liberals have refused to reveal the identities of the program’s 82 clients and could provide no evidence that the program creates jobs, the NDP said.

Although the full list remains a secret, Hansen admits that the majority of the members of Advantage BC are registered for this program. Those members have given $5.8 million to the BC Liberals.

Former member-firms include PacNet, a payment processing company listed by the US Treasury Department as a significant international criminal organization for its “lengthy history of money laundering.”

Former Finance Minister Mike de Jong refused to answer questions about whether British Columbians have a right know who else is receiving publicly-funded tax breaks.

The Liberals redesigned the program in 2010 to allow high-paid foreigners to receive “new generous tax breaks unavailable to Canadian residents,” according to The New York Times. These include refunds for conducting real estate activities with foreigners – including providing mortgage loans to international buyers – but not for offering the same services to buyers from British Columbia, fueling foreign speculation of BC real estate.

The BC Liberals expanded the program again in 2014 for foreign banks. Members now include the Bank of China and subsidiaries of Chinese state-owned companies.

The NDP said that this leaves a few big questions for Clark:

Why did you expand the program to offer tax breaks for helping foreigners buy real estate that aren’t available to Canadian residents?
Doesn’t this fuel foreign speculation and drive up housing costs?
Mike de Jong has refused to say which companies are receiving taxpayer-supported benefits: do you think British Columbians have a right to know where their tax dollars are going?
Why are you hiking taxes and fees on British Columbians while secretly giving away hundreds of millions of dollars to foreign companies?