BC NDP’s hypocrisy seems to have no limit

9 May 2014

THERE was no sense of any excitement among British Columbians as John Horgan took over the reins of power from Adrian Dix.

In fact, there seemed to be one big collective yawn.

Indeed, the BC NDP seems to evoke disgust and Premier Christy Clark can just go on doing her stuff – even with blunders – because for British Columbians there does not seem to be a credible alternative.
At least for now.

Yes, the Liberals are not perfect, but the NDP is worse.

The NDP is supposed to be a party for the poor – but the behavior and attitude of its MLAs tell a very different story.

Just last March there was this big drama as Vancouver-Mount Pleasant MLA Kwan tearfully announced she would pay back $34,922 for travel expenses charged to Vancouver charity Portland Hotel Society and blamed her ex-husband for it. She said she was taking an unpaid leave of absence as an MLA. But just a few weeks later she was back!

And of course she never noticed that she stayed in a $871-a-night hotel room in Britain. And this guardian of the poor never realized that a society that was supposed to be serving the poorest souls in town was recklessly spending $12,028 in limousine rides for society executives billed and $8,395 for spa treatments and $69,000 for grub at Vancouver’s finest restaurants!

Isn’t that what we call turning a blind eye to something?

And then we learned that Kwan, who represents one the poorest neighbourhoods in the country, lives in a $1.9-MILLION home!

Then there was Burnaby-Edmonds MLA Raj Chouhan, who is also Deputy Speaker, who repaid $2,200 for his wife’s fare for a South African trip to a parliamentary conference. Speaker Linda Reid reportedly assured him that it was okay for him to take his wife along at the taxpayers’ expense. Reid herself had to fork out more than $5,500 for her husband’s business class fare to the same conference after the media came to learn of it.

But then, as I reported recently, just when everyone had forgotten about it, he tried to garner sympathy by explaining to The Province newspaper that he had asked three different legislature officials about including his wife on the trip at the taxpayers’ expense and was told it was okay. But that backfired as angry readers tore a strip off him.

So why did I bring up these two recent cases again?

BECAUSE yet another NDP MLA – this time Surrey-Whalley’s Bruce Ralston, who is also the Opposition House Leader, just didn’t seem to get it at the Legislative Assembly Management Committee (LAMC) meeting that taxpayers are really in a very negative mood about how their precious dollars are spent by their representatives.

DUH!

And this if from a party that shouts and screams itself hoarse about standing up for the poor guy!

As Vancouver Sun’s Vaughn Palmer reported, the LAMC’s finance and audit subcommittee had proposed that we should cough up $61 per diem ($61? Why not $60?) for food for an MLA’s travelling companion.

Finance Minister Mike de Jong, who’s been getting increasingly frustrated at the way some MLAs from both parties have been spending cash, noted: “We have these 12 trips [each MLA can take someone along with them to Victoria a dozen times a year at our expense]. I actually don’t think that if you bring your child to Victoria, they should get a per diem.”

Wow – 60 bucks (oops, I mean 61 bucks!) per day for grub. How many of us spend $60 a day on food (unless of course you go to some fancy restaurant like Kwan’s ex-husband did!)?

But the poor party’s MLA, Ralston thought $61 was no biggie, arguing, “If the goal is to keep families together, then, surely there should be some consideration to the fact that you’re going to, obviously, want to feed your child when you’re here.”

Hmm, I wonder what all those NDP supporters on welfare think about that!

De Jong had to point out to Ralston: “It’s not like we’re paupers. It’s not like we aren’t paid a good wage to do this.”

I think MLAs from both parties should stop acting like sneaky characters who use committees and subcommittees to coolly slip in recommendations that they know the public are just not going to like.

B.C. Supreme Court rules Hankar Singh’s Mercedes that was set on fire was not stolen

9 May 2014

A B.C. Supreme Court judge has ruled that a 2007 E-350 Mercedes belonging to Hankar Singh of Surrey that was set on fire on October 24, 2009, not far from his house was not stolen and dismissed his ICBC claim.

The ruling noted: “This case involves events which caused damage to a luxury vehicle. The luxury vehicle was found burned, in a location not far from the owner’s house, only 40 minutes after the owner claims he last parked it in front of his residence. There are somewhat confusing and contradictory assertions concerning whether the vehicle was stolen at the time of the incidents. The owner brings this action against the insurance company following the denial of his insurance claim.”

Justice Hope Hyslop noted that the police and Singh had different explanations for what occurred that evening and added: “I accept the police version.”

In the judge’s analysis under the heading “Was Mr. Singh’s 2007 Mercedes Stolen?” it states:

“In his evidence, Mr. Singh repeatedly stated that the Mercedes was burned, denying its theft, where in his notice of civil claim did he state that someone set fire to the Mercedes. However, it is not the theft that caused the damage, rather it is the fire. The pleadings allege a theft only.

“Mr. Singh bears the burden of proving that the Mercedes was stolen on a balance of probabilities.

“Mr. Singh testified that he last saw the Mercedes at 9:30 p.m. on October 24, 2009 and at 10:10 p.m. the police observed the Mercedes in flames. I have already stated that I prefer the police’s version of the facts when they arrived at the scene of the fire and their communications with Mr. Singh. I reject Mr. Singh’s version of events. Mr. Singh referred to other persons in his home on the evening of the fire who did not give evidence. No explanation was given as to why they did not give evidence. There were family members with whom he had telephone conversations who did not give evidence. The only family member who gave evidence was Daryl Prasad. Daryl Prasad testified that at the time of the trial his mother was in town. She could have given evidence about the telephone calls, as could have Mr. Prasad’s wife.

“Mr. Singh stated that they did not hear anybody outside on the street or hear a tow truck. I do not accept that Mr. Singh went to bed at 9:30 p.m. I have already found that the police spoke directly to him that evening. Mr. Singh also participated in a number of telephone calls with family members both before and after the fire. I do not accept that the fire was not discussed during the evening of October 24 and the early morning hours of October 25, 2009 between Mr. Singh and his family members. ”Mr. Singh’s evidence was untruthful. His feigned lack of memory was used as an excuse not to answer questions posed to him. As I stated earlier, Mr. Singh repeatedly said that he did not know answers to the questions. He was belligerent throughout his testimony. His behaviour was similar at his examination under oath and towards ICBC’s employees when they attempted to investigate his claim.

“Constable Gibo stated that Mr. Singh was not surprised or did not express shock that the Mercedes was on fire, nor did he ask for any details as to the event. He did not care. I find that is because he knew in advance what would happen to the Mercedes.

“I do not accept that the Mercedes was stolen. Mr. Singh’s evidence was that when he purchased the Mercedes he received two sets of keys to operate it. He claims that he mislaid one set of keys, but was very clear that the keys were not lost or stolen. He refused to say when one set of keys was mislaid.

“Expert evidence is before the court that categorically states that Mr. Singh’s Mercedes could not be driven without the keys. The opinion of Mr. Seroogy is that in order to produce a new key, it requires the proper equipment and people with extensive training and experience “in multiple electronic disciplines”. Mr. Seroogy said that the process is delicate and time consuming and could not have been performed within the timeframe between when the Mercedes was last seen and the time when it was found burning. I accept this evidence.

“Mr. Crowe found that there was damage to the right side of the Mercedes. I find that this was intended to cover up the fact that the Mercedes was driven to the site of the fire with a key.

“I find that the Mercedes was driven to the scene of the fire using the keys. The Mercedes was then set on fire.

“The fact that it is unknown who participated in the theft and the destruction of the Mercedes by fire, is of no consequence.

“In his testimony, Mr. Singh completely resiles from his pleadings in which he alleges theft. Mr. Singh repeatedly testified that he was not claiming the Mercedes was stolen, but rather that it was burned. Nothing in his pleadings mentions that the Mercedes was burned.

“In his Claim File Report (by telephone), Mr. Singh claimed that the Mercedes was stolen. No mention was made of it being burned. In his statement of November 4, 2009, he refers to the fire. In his Proof of Loss, he swears that the cause of his loss was by “burned”. However, whether it was stolen or not, it could not be at the location of the fire without being driven there with the use of one of the sets of keys issued to Mr. Singh when he purchased the Mercedes.”

No hate crime charges in Immigration Watch Canada flyer case in Brampton

9 May 2014

ONTARIO’S Peel Regional Police announced on Thursday that after a thorough investigation and following consultation with the Peel Crown Attorney’s Office and the Ontario Crown Law Office, they have determined that the content of the flyers distributed in Brampton by members of an organization called Immigration Watch Canada do not meet the Criminal Code of Canada’s requirements regarding hate crime.

Police said: “While the flyers may be considered racist and offensive, they do not cross the legal line into hate crime as determined by the Supreme Court of Canada (SCC vs. Keegstra). As such, there are no reasonable grounds to warrant criminal charges in this case.”

However, police assured residents that they “along with the community we serve, do not tolerate hate crime within the Region of Peel.”

They added: “We understand the deep hurt and harm incidents such as this cause our community, and we are committed to taking immediate action through investigation, prosecution and support for the communities impacted.”

They said: “Peel Regional Police deeply values the cultural diversity of our community and are proud that this diversity makes Peel Region a highly desirable place in which to live, work and visit. We are steadfast in our commitment to all members of our community to be transparent, to promote the value of diversity in our community and police service, and to provide a safe and enjoyable place for all our residents.”

The World Sikh Organization of Canada had condemned racist flyers distributed by the group “Immigration Watch Canada” targeting the Sikh community in Brampton a couple of weeks ago.

The flyer titled “The Changing Face of Brampton” laments the decreasing proportion of “Mainstream Canadians” in Brampton and contrasts an older picture of a largely Caucasian group with a recent picture of a group of Sikh men and women.

Brampton is home to a large Sikh population. According to the 2011 Census results, approximately 19 per cent of the Brampton population reported their religion as Sikh.

WSO Ontario President and Brampton resident Prabhmeet Singh Sarkaria called the flyers “the work of an isolated fringe group and don’t reflect the view of the vast majority of Bramptonians or Canadians.”

WSO President Dr. Amritpal Singh Shergill called the flyers “an example of ignorance and fear-mongering.” He added: “Despite Immigration Watch Canada’s claims, Sikhs are proudly “mainstream” Canadians. We have been in Canada for well over 100 years and Sikhs are an integral part of their communities in Brampton and across Canada. We are Canadians. Period.”

Jagat (Jack) Uppal passes away

9 May 2014

JAGAT (Jack) Uppal, a pioneer, a well -respected family man, a pillar of the community and a philanthropist, passed away on Sunday (May 4).

Jack (born February 27, 1925) arrived from India as a baby in 1926 following his father’s arrival in 1906.

Recently, Jack was honored with a Doctorate of Law by Simon Fraser University. Although this was only one of the many acknowledgements he had received over the years, he felt blessed by the mere mention of his name, and grateful for the recognition of his and his father’s contribution to the South Asian community, his family said in a statement.

Jack leaves behind children Cindy (Harjinder), Paul (Manjit), Davie (Kay) and Pam (Jinder), 11 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Jack was a storyteller. He shared his stories of love, religion, and life in every speech he presented with hope that it would instill the same sense of pride he carried in his heart for his community and family. His humble beginnings fuelled his determination and fight to provide a quality of life for his family that would allow the following generations an opportunity to pursue their passions. He had an incredible work ethic that he shared with his children and as a result his company, Goldwood Industries, came to become one of many successful lumber mills in British Columbia.

His family said: “Jack will always remain in our hearts, and his love forever in us all. It was an honor to have met him, a privilege to have known him, and a blessing to call him our father.

“We ask that you join his family as we celebrate the life of our father and his legacy on May 11, 2014, at the Riverside Funeral Home 7410 Hopcott Road, Ladner, at 10 a.m., followed by temple services at Guru Nanak Niwas, 8600 No. 5 Road, Richmond.

“In lieu of flowers the family ask that you please donate to the charity of your choice.”

PREMIER Christy Clark issued the following statement:

“British Columbia’s South Asian Community lost one of its pillars with the passing of Dr. Jagat Uppal – better known to everyone as Jack.

“Dr. Uppal lived the quintessential Canadian story. The son of immigrants, he was one of the first Sikh children to attend public school in Vancouver. He went out of his way to support others looking to build their lives in British Columbia, hiring them with his successful lumber company, Goldwood Industries, or helping them integrate with Canadian society as president of the Khalsa Diwan Society.

“He was recognized as a leader, receiving a British Columbia Community Achievement Award in 2010, and an honorary doctorate from Simon Fraser University in 2012.

“My thoughts and prayers are with Dr. Uppal’s family. He will be missed.”

BY THE WAY … WITH RATTAN

9 May 2014

1. WHY DID TOM GILL DROP OUT OF RACE FOR SURREY MAYOR?:

LAST Saturday, The VOICE noted that Tom Gill was expected to face embarrassment and maybe more thanks to a defamation suit filed against him.

Apparently, that made Gill do a rethink about running for Surrey mayor and he told a local newspaper on Monday that he was out of the reckoning.
Gill came up with the excuse that “he does not want to take any more time away from his young family” and added that he’ll be backing Hepner.

2. SOUTH ASIAN WRESTLERS WIN SILVER, THREE BRONZE: Four South Asian wrestlers from B.C. won a silver medal and three bronze medals for Canada at the Cadet Pan American Championships being held in Recife, Brazil, on May 2-4 to qualify athletes for certain weight categories to the upcoming Youth Olympic Games, being held in Nanjing, China, in August.

Two of them were from Guru Gobind Singh Wrestling Club and one each from Abby Wrestling Club and Khalsa Wrestling Club.

Ramandeep Khehira of Guru Gobind Singh Wrestling Club bagged silver in the 85 kg category in Greco-Roman, while Jaskaran Khela of Abby Wrestling Club won bronze in the 54 kg category.

In freestyle, Jimsher Sidhu of Khalsa Wrestling Club won bronze in the 100 kg category, and Arshdeep Gurm of Guru Gobind Singh Wrestling Club won bronze in the 76 kg weight category.

May 2 results – GRECO-ROMAN
* 85 kg – Ramandeep Khehira (2/6) – SILVER
vs. Marco Duran (ECU) – W 2-4 by fall
vs. Tyler Johnson (USA) – L 4-7
* 54 kg – Jaskaran Khela (3/3) – BRONZE
vs. Erivan Rocha (BRA) – L 0-9
vs. Daton Fix (USA) – L 0-8
May 4 results: MEN’S FREESTYLE
* 100 kg – Jimsher Sidhu (3/7) – BRONZE
vs. Adam Smith (USA) – W 10-2
vs. Maximiliano Garcia (MEX) – L 3-3
vs. Pedro Morales (CHI) – W 12-0
* 76 kg – Arshdeep Gurm (3/10) – BRONZE
vs. Carlos Rivera Rodruigues (HON) – W 12-10 by fall
vs. Carlos Izquierdo Mendez (COL) – L 0-12
vs. Erick Bendezu (PER) – W 9-6

3. POLICE KEEPING STRICT WATCH ON ACCUSED IN PROSTITUTES’ CASE: Surrey RCMP told The VOICE on Monday that their investigators are ensuring that Simranpreet Dhillon, Sukhraj Chahal and Gurjinder Sodha, who have been charged in violent sexual assaults against prostitutes, are abiding by their release conditions.

Cpl. Bert Paquet told this newspaper that all three men were released by the courts on an extensive list of conditions and so far they have been abiding by their release conditions.

Police are trying to track down any other prostitute who may also have been a victim. The charges date back to 2012. The three were charged with a total of 17 criminal offences on April 11 after a lengthy and complex investigation.

Paquet said that one of the two victims suffered more significant injuries than the other, but both were probably close to a full physical recovery now.

Harper makes special mention of Surrey’s Vaisakhi Parade at celebration on Parliament Hill

9 May 2014

PRIME Minister Stephen Harper on Wednesday delivered the following remarks at a Vaisakhi celebration on Parliament Hill:

“Waheguru ji ka Khalsa, Waheguru ji ki Fateh.

“Distinguished guests, High Commissioner, all of my Parliamentary colleagues, obviously MP Parm Gill, Minister [Tim] Uppal and his strong supporter there, his son, everybody else, Joy Smith, Bob Dechert, Brad Butt, Patrick Brown, Nina Grewal, Senator Enverga, Ron Cannan, C.S. Leung hiding in the corner there, LaVar Payne, Devinder Shory, Senator Ataullahjan, Senator Seth, Wai Young and Deepak Obhrai, Minister [Bal] Gosal who’s merging in with the crowd there, man of the people, and of course also thanks to Lois Brown for playing her piano today.

“It’s wonderful to be with all of you, friends, at this special time of year.

“I am honoured to join again with you and Sikhs around the world in marking Vaisakhi, the start of a new year and the anniversary of that time when Guru Gobind Singh Ji established the Khalsa, the body of pure ones, thereby founding one of the world’s great religions.

“Again this year, there have been many joyful celebrations across the country.

“Last month I’m told some 200,000 people – a little bit bigger than here on the Hill – some 200,000 people participated in the annual Vaisakhi Parade in Surrey, British Columbia.

“This, I’m pleased to note, is one of the largest Vaisakhi events held anywhere in the world.

“Furthermore, while gift-giving is a Vaisakhi tradition, the Surrey Sikh community took it a step further this year.

“Hard-working volunteers from the Amar Karma Organ Donation Society spent the day encouraging people to give back to their community by registering as organ donors.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I think that is a great cause and we should all applaud their efforts there in Surrey.

“It’s wonderful.

“My friends, as you are all probably very well aware, during the next few years we have a number of special national anniversaries to mark, as we approach the 150th anniversary of Confederation in 2017.
“This year, for example, on the road to 2017, is the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of the First World War.

“And, with that in mind, I would like to use this Vaisakhi observance to share a story that is of some importance, I know, to Canadians of Sikh heritage and a great story of service for all of us.
“I want to speak about Private Buckam Singh.

“Private Singh was born in India.

“In 1907, at the age of 14, he came to Canada and became a farmer.

“Now sadly, he faced discrimination in Canada, something not unusual for the times, although that makes it no less a matter for profound regret today.

“Nevertheless, despite all that, Buckam Singh still believed in Canada, and the idea and the ideals of Canada.

“So it was that when the First World War came, with other Canadian Sikhs he rallied to the cause.

“And as a member of the 20th Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force, Private Singh joined his fellow Canadians in Flanders Fields.

“Now there he was wounded twice, and seriously so during the grim struggle at St. Eloi.

“He first went to the battlefield hospital run by soldier-poet John McCrae, and then later on to England.

“Ultimately, he returned to service, but in the process of all of this, Singh had contracted tuberculosis.

“Sent back to Canada, he died at an Ontario military hospital.

“And for many years, he was forgotten, as too often in those days, were the fallen and their bereaved families.

“Yet the story of Private Singh still speaks to us.

“Amid the goodwill of the Vaisakhi season, it reminds us that the values to which Canadians aspire are of universal appeal, crossing the boundaries of cultures, religions and backgrounds and bringing them together.

“I’m delighted to learn that, in recent years, members of Canada’s Sikh community have worked hard to see that Private Singh does not remain an unknown soldier.

“Since 2008, an annual memorial service has been held every November, November 11th, at his grave in Kitchener, where his service to Canada is recognized.

“Canadians of all faiths and creed pay tribute.

“As they should, for Sikhs have always contributed and never hesitated to defend the great values for which Canada stands because these are the same values that make you, Canada’s Sikh community, so strong.

“So, ladies and gentlemen, as we enjoy Vaisakhi again this year, let us also proclaim our admiration for the success of the Sikh community in Canada and for your tremendous contributions in making Canada the best country in the world.

“I wish all of you a happy Vaisakhi.”

Modi wave or flop? Voting in India ends Monday, results on May 16

9 May 2014

WILL the so-called Modi wave prove to be forceful enough to get the Bharatiya Janata Party a majority on its own or with its allies – or will it prove to be an embarrassing flop?

If the latter comes true, the Indian media, which has been accused by parties opposed to the BJP of whipping up a frenzy of Modi propaganda, will have egg on its face – and it will stink to high heavens in the torrid heat of the Indian summer.

Western leaders who have been royally sucking up to Modi – all for economic reasons, of course – will for sure cut a sorry figure.

And the BJP’s credibility as well as that of Modi will be in tatters, perhaps never to recover again.

However, if Narendra Modi does become Prime Minister, he will have no option but to be a moderate for the international community will not tolerate attacks on religious minorities and economic sanctions will ruin the Indian economy.

How Modi ends up satisfying the Hindu fanatical elements of his party and supporters will be interesting to watch.

How he handles the economy of the nation – which is not the same as managing the economy of just one state, Gujarat – will also be interesting to watch, as will the way he handles Pakistan.

If Modi can’t win the support of enough allies to form a government in case his BJP fails to get a majority on its own, then he will soon become a pariah for his own party with many prominent members who were sidetracked ready to strike back.

On the other hand, the Congress Party’s chances appear to be rather slim, but it has the skills to put together a coalition based on their hatred for the BJP. So don’t count it out yet. The Nehru-Gandhi family has bounced back time and again and no amount of vitriolic attacks by politicians such as Modi can destroy them.

THE last round of the election takes place on Monday (May 12) and the results will be declared four days later (Friday, May 16).

Eight rounds of election have already taken place on April 7, 9, 10, 12, 17, 24 and 30, and May 7.

As many as 814 million Indians were eligible to vote in the 16th parliamentary election to elect the Lok Sabha (House of Commons) that has 545 seats. Two of the MPs are nominated by the President.
The states of Sikkim, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh are also electing new assemblies (state legislatures).

BY RATTAN MALL

Education Minister Peter Fassbender apologizes to Anjali Vyas, says education report funding followed policy

9 May 2014

FOLLOWING a vicious attack on South Asian student Anjali Vyas, who received government funding worth $16,000 for research on Finland’s education system, Education Minister Peter Fassbender on Thursday apologized to her on behalf of the Education Ministry of Education.

Fassbender said: “I want to apologize to Ms. Vyas for the significant impact this matter has had on her and her family. Through no fault of her own, a very talented and dedicated young woman has been subjected to unfair allegations that her work was of no value or the manner in which she pursued it was inappropriate.”

Fassbender noted: “I appreciate the questions about the Ministry of Education’s decision to support Ms. Anjali Vyas’ research project comparing teacher training programs in Finland and British Columbia.
“Particularly in a period of fiscal restraint, government must carefully manage and make best use of every available tax dollar.

“That is why I asked my deputy minister to review this matter. That review confirmed that the financial commitments were made in keeping with relevant policy. The review also makes recommendations to further strengthen ministry procedures, which will be implemented immediately.

“This was an unusual set of circumstances and the ministry’s intent was to support an existing research project that had been initiated by a talented and motivated young person. Teacher training is an important matter that does bear greater scrutiny and it is imperative that the ministry continue to seek out the perspectives of students and young people on how to improve our education system.

“However, in this case, I believe the ministry could have pursued these important objectives in a more cost effective manner. It is a reminder that we must remain prudent with tax dollars as we continue our efforts to improve the education system.”

The CBC reported that documents obtained by the Canadian Taxpayer`s Federation showed that Vyas delivered her final, 14-page report last September, after spending five months at the University of Victoria and five months at the University of Helsinki.

Vyas defended the assignment in a video sent to CBC. She said: “This project was by no means the result of a whim. It was the result of much hard work and sacrifice. It is simply misleading to say that the $16,000 all went towards funding a teenager’s trip to Finland. This was not a vacation. I was working every single day to complete this project.”

Surrey RCMP warn residents to keep expensive jewellery and large amounts of cash in safety deposit boxes

9 May 2014

SURREY RCMP told The VOICE on Friday that a prolific property crime group, three members of which were arrested recently, are specifically targeting high-end homes where they believe they will find expensive jewellery and large amounts of cash.

Since South Asians are associated with keeping expensive gold jewellery, they are being advised to keep their valuables in safety deposit boxes.

On March 20, information obtained by investigators with the Surrey RCMP’s Property Crime Target Team and the Burnaby RCMP’s Prolific Offender Suppression Team and Strike Force led to the arrest of three suspects following a series of residential break and enters in Surrey. The suspects charged are:

Stanley Calvin Price, 33, of Surrey (four counts of break and enter with intent to commit offence), Wyatt James William, 28, of Kamloops (four counts of break and enter with intent to commit offence), and Glen Allan Nelson, 31, of Surrey (three counts of break and enter with intent to commit offence).

These suspects are believed to be part of a larger group that is responsible for multiple residential break and enters throughout the Metro Vancouver region. Members of this group are usually very selective of the types of homes they target, which usually include high end residences believed to contain expensive jewellery and currency. In addition, the group conducts a number of checks to ensure the homes are unoccupied prior to attempting a break in.

“Our investigators have been very active monitoring individuals believed to be associated with this group and will continue to do so,” said Cpl. Bert Paquet. “Due to the prolific nature of these crimes, however, we are reminding residents to be extra vigilant in securing their homes and properties. This is also the time of year where we usually see a rise in residential thefts as people leave more windows and garage doors are open. As a result we urge residents to review their home safety measures to reduce their chances of becoming a victim.”

Anyone with more information is asked to contact the Surrey RCMP’s Property Crime Target Team at 604-599-0502 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS if they wish to remain anonymous. Thefts under $5,000 can also be reported online through the Surrey RCMP website.

For more information on protecting your property, visit the Protect Yourself section of the Surrey RCMP website or the Playing it Safe in the Summer page on the BC RCMP website.

MISSING: Harvinder Singh of Surrey

9 May 2014

SURREY RCMP is requesting the public’s assistance in locating Harvinder Singh, who was reported missing on April 8 and was last seen in the area of 12800 block of 85th Avenue. He has not been seen or heard from since.

The family is concerned about his current well-being as it is out of character for him to be out of touch for this long. He is known to frequent Sikh temples in Surrey and is known to visit Vancouver and Maple Ridge / Pitt Meadows.

Singh is described as a 33-year-old South Asian male, 5’11”, 216 lbs, with short black balding hair, beard and moustache, and brown eyes. It is unknown what he was last wearing at the time of his disappearance.

If you know the whereabouts of this person, contact the Surrey RCMP Missing Persons Unit at 604-599-0502, or CrimeStoppers, at 1-800-222-8477 quoting file number 2014-47635.