No April Fool’s joke: B.C. Liberals making life even less affordable, says NDP

4 April 2014

strong>ONCE again, the B.C. Liberals are making life even less affordable for British Columbians – continuing with their ongoing litany of fee and fare hikes, hidden taxes and cancelled discounts.
Starting April 1, the following costs will increase:
* Hydro rates will begin their 28 per-cent climb starting with a nine-per-cent jump April 1. Over the next three years, this government’s hydro hikes will make life less affordable for B.C. families and hurt business to the tune of $2 billion. More than half of that will go into this government’s pocket to pad their budget.
* Ferry fares will increase again by four per cent. This fare hike is on top of another 3.5-per-cent increase ferry users faced in January. Fares have gone up by more than 100 per cent on some routes since the Liberals formed government in 2001. In the meantime, service is getting cut on ferry routes up and down the coast, meaning B.C. families will pay more and get less.

Also on April 1, the following discounts will be cancelled or cut:
* Ferry discounts for seniors will be cut in half. The callous decision by the B.C. Liberals shows the lengths they will go to in order to make British Columbians pay more and get less.
* The LiveSmart program for businesses ends on April 1, eliminating an incentive for businesses to make energy-wise choices, and removing any opportunity for relief from the fee hike on the same day the program ends.

Plus, the B.C. Liberals are hitting families in the pocketbook this year with these increases:
* Medical Service Premiums were increased on Jan. 1 for the fifth year in a row. And they will go up by another four per cent in Jan. 2015. At that point a B.C. family will pay $1,728 per year for the medical services tax. That’s double what they paid in 2001 when the Liberals formed government.
* ICBC basic coverage is expected to increase by between 3.4 and 6.4 per cent by the end of the year.
* Tuition will increase by two per cent, pushing post-secondary education even further out of reach for many families. Tuition has doubled since the B.C. Liberals formed government in 2001.

B.C. EVENTS

4 April 2014

OBITUARY

AMARJIT KAUR MANGAT, 54, wife of Sardar Dilbagh Singh Mangat, passed away on March 28. She was originally from Mangat village in Nawanshahr district of Punjab, India.

Her funeral service will be held on Sunday, April 6 at 12 p.m. at Five Rivers Funeral Home in Delta.

Bhog and Antim Ardaas will be held at 2 p.m. at Gurdwara Sukh Sagar in New Westminster.

Contact: 604-325-8874 or 604-338-4471.

OBITUARY

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing away of SURINDER KAUR LITT in England. She was the wife of Sardar Manjit Singh Litt, former resident of England, now residing at 13822 Marine Drive, White Rock.

The family requests all to attend the Bhog ceremony for her at Gurdwara Sahib Brookside at 8365 140^th Street in Surrey at 3 p.m. on Sunday, April 6.

For more information, please call Manjit Singh Litt at 604-518-9098 or 604-535-9040.

B.C. EVENTS

(These are FREE listings. Email: [email protected])

Canada Cancer Society

Help us build our Daffodil Campaign in April in the City of Surrey and Abbotsford community. We are looking for volunteers to donate 2 to 4 hours on weekends throughout April. Please call 604-837-6837 to volunteer in Surrey, call 604-533-1816 to volunteer in Abbotsford.

Surrey Libraries: Filing Personal Tax Return

Surrey Libraries are offering free clinics for those eligible, at City Centre, Guildford and Strawberry Hill branches. A volunteer from DIVERSEcity, trained by the Canada Revenue Agency, will help prepare & electronically file (if eligible) your tax return. You must be a Surrey resident and your income falls within these guidelines: Single Person: $30,000. Single parent with child: $35,000. Each additional child: $ 2,500. Couples: $40,000. Investment income under: $ 1,000. You have a simple tax return (no self employment, no bankruptcy, no forms for deceased, no capital gains / losses and no rental income). The clinics operate on a first come, first serve basis. For details, visit the Libraries or www.surreylibraries.ca

Richmond Library: Free Income Tax Clinics

Richmond Public Library, in partnership with the Family Christian Fellowship, is offering free Income Tax Clinic to help those with a low income file their income tax returns. The clinics take place on Saturdays: April 5, 12, 19, and 26 between 10:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. in Community Place Room at the Brighouse (Main) Branch located at 7700 Minoru Gate. If you’re a single person with a maximum income of $30,000, a couple with a maximum income of $40,000, or an adult with one child and a maximum income of $35,000, then you qualify for this free service. Sessions are 45 minutes per person and couples must sign up for one time slot each. To register, call 604-231-6413 or visit the Brighouse 2nd floor information desk. Bring all relevant documents such as T4 and T5 slips.

South Asian Seniors: Filing Income Tax Returns Free

Vedic Seniors Parivar Centre of Vedic Hindu Cultural Society Surrey informs South Asian seniors that during the tax filing period we can help you to file your income tax returns for the year 2013 free of cost from now to April 20 if you are living in Surrey / Delta. The eligibility criteria are as follows: 1. Single individual with annual income limit up to $30,000. 2. Couples with annual income up to $40,000. 3. Adult with one child annual income up to $35,000, add the income limit by $2,500 for each dependent child. Interest income not over $1,000 and this income will be included as total eligibility. With no investment income, no rental income and no partnership income, SIN card and photo identity will be required to prove the documents. If you are eligible then contact Surendra Handa at 604-507-9945.

Free Tax Clinic

Eligibility: Low income Permanent Residents who have been in Canada for 5 years or less. Locations: MOSAIC Burnaby Centre for Immigrants, 5902 Kingsway; MOSAIC Vancouver, 2nd floor, 1720 Grant Street. Service dates: March and April. Appointments: Have your PR number ready and call required: 604 254 9626 (Vancouver) or 604 438 8214 (Burnaby).

Ugadi 2014 Sambaralu

Vancouver Area Telugu Association (VATA) invites all Telugu families and students to Ugadi Celebrations with your friends on Saturday, April 5 at Royal Palace Banquet Hall, 7845 Edmonds Street, Burnaby. Doors open at 5 p.m. Enjoy the cultural presentations, delicious food & wish the Telugu New Year brings happiness and success to our community. Come early to be eligible for ‘early bird’ draw.

Muslim Association of Canada Vancouver

Youth Vancouver would like to invite you to Sisters United’s biweekly girls Halaqa for girls in Grades 7 to 12 at Islamic Information Center, 3127 Kingsway (Main Floor), Vancouver, on Saturday, April 5, 5-7 p.m.

8th Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival

Sakura Days Japan Fair in partnership with the Japan Fair Association of Vancouver on Saturday, April 5 and Sunday, April 6, 10 a.m.-5p.m., at VanDusen Botanical Garden, 5251 Oak Street (37th & Oak), Vancouver. This fun two-day celebrates the cultural arts and age old traditions of Japan, allowing everyone to try their own hand at origami, calligraphy, ikebana and other Japanese arts and crafts demonstrations. Purchase advance tickets. Experience the special ritual of the Japanese tea ceremony, Japanese festival food, sample premium sake, guided Tree Talks and Walks to the cherry trees, and haiku readings. Experience Japan through performances including Japanese classical dance, taiko drumming, the Cherry Blossom Dance, soothing tones of shakuhachi (bamboo flute), martial arts performances, anime, the Kid’s Tent and more. Presented by Japan Fair Association of Vancouver (JFAV) and hosted by VanDusen Botanical Garden. For more info, visit www.vcbf.ca

South Asian Seniors: Bone Health & Managing Skills

Vedic Seniors Parivar Centre of Vedic Hindu Cultural Society Surrey invites South Asian adults / senior members as well as non-members to a presentation on Bone Health & Managing Skills by Amit Kumar, consultant occupational therapist, on April 6 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at Shanti Niketan Hall of Lakshmi Narayan Hindu Temple, 8321 140^th Street, Surrey. There will be a question-and-answer session after the presentation. Tea and light snacks will be served. Contact Surendra Handa at 604-507-9945 for further information.

Girl Empowered Leadership Workshops

Surrey Libraries has partnered with Plan in support of the Because I am a Girl campaign which is dedicated to making a difference in the lives of girls and women both locally and globally. The Strawberry Hill Library will be hosting free motivational workshops for girls ages 10-14 to help raise awareness of issues girls face and inspire them to create change of their own. Tuesdays, April 8 and 15 – 5-6:15 p.m. Snacks provided. Workshop Themes: * April 8: Because I am Socially Responsible: I Want to Make a Difference * April 15: Because I am Cooperative: I Will Work as a Team. For more information, contact Jaskirat Sahni at[email protected]. Register at the Strawberry Hill Library or call 604-501-5838. http://www.surreylibraries.ca/5252.aspx

Surrey Libraries: Know Your Legal Rights

April 7-11 is Law week. To keep you informed of your legal rights, Surrey Libraries have partnered with People’s Law School to provide free information sessions. Get answers to any questions you may have. Registration required. * Consumer Law & Scams to Avoid: Tuesday, April 8, 7-8:30 p.m. Semiahmoo Library. Register at 604-592-6908. Wednesday, April 9, 7-8:30 p.m. Guildford Library. Register at 604-598-7366. * Immigration Law: Thursday, April 10, 7-8:30 p.m. City Centre Library. Register at 604-598-7427. * Landlord & Tenant Rights: Tuesday, April 8, 7-8:30 p.m. Guildford Library. Register at 604-598-7366. * Power of Attorney: Thursday, April 10, 7-8:30 p.m. Ocean Park Library. Register at 604-502-6449. * Wills & Estates: Monday, April 7, 7-8:30 p.m. City Centre Library. Register at 604-598-7427. Thursday, April 10, 7-8:30 p.m. Fleetwood Library. Register at 604-598-7346. www.surreylibraries.ca

MOSAIC’s 3rd Annual Job Fair

April 8, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Croatian Cultural Center, 3250 Commercial Drive, Vancouver. A record 50 employers participating. Includes organizations in the areas of business, trades, finance, hi-tech, retail, foodservice, hospitality and more – even the police and the City of Vancouver will be recruiting. Most of the organizations indicated they have multiple positions to fill and all are hoping to meet some great candidates. In attendance for the first time will also be the skills and trades sector, with 16 organizations looking to fill positions ranging from welders and glaziers to engineers and estimators. Job postings call for apprentices and journeymen through to supervisors, managers and directors. The Job Fair is open to all job seekers and admission is free.

UFV: Research Lecture Series

At the University of the Fraser Valley on Wednesday, April 9 at 5 p.m. – at Abbotsford Campus Lecture / Theatre Room B101 – featuring a talk by Dr. Amandeep Sandhu, BC Regional Innovation Chair in Canada-India Business and Economic Development at UFV. Dr. Sandhu will be discussing How the Globalization of Service Jobs Will Determine Your Career and Life through the ‘now rising practices of outsourcing white collar jobs.’ This talk is free, all community members are invited to attend and refreshments will follow the lecture and discussion. There will also be an opportunity to networking with businesses and business organizations from the Fraser Valley and Lower Mainland.

Shree Mahalakshmi Temple

From now until April 9: 6:30 p.m. – Chaitri Navaratri, Gudi Padva. 467 E 11th Avenue Vancouver. Phone: 604-874-0175. [email protected]

Social Media for Job Searching

Are you unemployed? Learn how to use social media to help you find the job you are looking for. Surrey Libraries & Back in Motion are offering a free workshop on Using Social Media for Job Searching at the Newton Library on Friday, April 11, 10 .am.-12 p.m. Basic knowledge of computers required. Register at 604-598-7406. Surrey Libraries also offer free Career / Job Search Workshops and Resume Clinics throughout the year to help you access the hidden job market. Visit the libraries or www.surreylibraries.ca for details.

Khalsa Diwan Society: Vaisakhi Day Celebration

Saturday, April 12: The timeline: * 7-9 a.m. – Kirtan * 9-9:30 a.m. – Reception for dignitaries * 9:30-10:30 a.m. – Speeches * 10:45 a.m. – Ardas. * Parade departs from Ross Street Gurdwara Sahib at 11 a.m. and returns at 4 p.m.

Canadian Cancer Society Fundraiser

Spring cleaning for your mind, body & soul: An exciting interactive event, supporting small local businesses, community organizations, groups and clubs that promote health and wellness for all ages. Up to 35 exhibitors, eight demos, children’s activity zone and live Spring Shave from 3-4 p.m. Everyone welcome. Date: Sunday, April 13. Time: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Venue: River Market at Westminster Quay. Free admission. * Demos & activities for all ages * Gift bags for first 100 families. * Spring Shave & Raffle with all proceeds donated to Canadian Cancer Society.

Gurdwara Sahib Dasmesh Darbar: Vaisakhi Celebration

Saturday, April 19: Parade Route: The Vaisakhi Parade is scheduled to begin at about 9:30 a.m. at the Gurdwara Sahib Dasmesh Darbar, located at 12885-85 Avenue. It will conclude there at about 4 p.m. Main Stage Timeline: * 11-11:45 a.m.: Traditional Sikh hymn singers * 11:45 .am.-12:45 p.m.: Ceremony honoring community volunteers * 12:45-1:30 p.m.: Speaker series.

For more information about the event including the parade route visit: www.surreyvaisakhiparade.ca.

Annual Plant, Bake and Craft Sale

Plants in Real Time: Check out the Reality of the BC Fuchsia and Begonia Society, at the VanDusen Botanical Garden Floral Hall, 37th Ave and Oak Street, Vancouver. Saturday April 19, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Free admission. Face painting for kids of all ages. China painters. Unique vendor items. Prize draws. Home baking. Refreshments. Great variety of plants. Some hardy fuchsias. Vendor tables available: call Sylvia and Derek at 604-277-2905. For information call Sandy & Ruth at 778-881-0175 Everyone welcome. Wheel chair accessible.

South Asian Women’s Networking Group

BYOBF Network 2-Year Celebration at Ginger 62, 1219 Granville Street, Vancouver on Thursday, April 24, 8-10 p.m. Tickets: $20 Early-bird, $25 Regular. Ticket includes complimentary canapes and a networking reception. For more information: http://byobfnetwork.com. The BYOBF Network is Metro Vancouver’s first South Asian women’s networking group that provides the perfect opportunity to meet like-minded professional women who also share and celebrate each other’s success.

Lyme Disease Awareness Seminar

Free Lyme Disease Awareness Seminar on Thursday, April 24 at 7 p.m. at Semiahmoo House, 15306 24^th Avenue, Surrey. Speakers: Dr. Ernie Murakami and Gwen Barlee. Symptoms, treatment and prevention of this multi-system dysfunction epidemic.

Earth Day Pilgrimage to Burns Bog

On April 27. The annual pilgrimage engages several ethnic and religious people in a spiritual journey to connect with the environment and to celebrate the sacred ground of Burns Bog – the largest dome-peat-bog on the west coast of North America and the largest wilderness area in the urban setting of North America also. It is a home of hundreds of species of plants and animals. Join us in protecting it. All are welcome. The event will begin at 1 p.m. at the entrance to the Delta Nature Reserve (beside Planet Ice Delta) with a gathering followed by pilgrimage. For further information, call Dara at 604-572-0373, Rob Dainow at 604-523-0123 or Acharya Dwivedi at 604-507-3099.

Vancouver Satsang Cultural Society

2014 South Asian Heritage Musical Celebration. Come and celebrate the struggle and successes of Indians from Canada, Guyana, Trinidad, Surinam, Mauritius and Fiji on Saturday, May 3 at 6 p.m. at 2215 Pender Street East in Vancouver. Free admission. Dinner included. Contact Chamaylee at 604-945-9510 for complementary tickets.

Shakti Dance

Presents “Five Faces’ – a montage of five unique Bharata Natyam dance performances by Anusha Fernando and Sujit Vaidya. Written and narrated by Anusha Fernando.Visual art by Sue Leibik. On Friday, May 9 at 7:30 p.m. at Norman Rothstein Theatre, 950 West 41st Avenue, Vancouver. Tickets: $20 / $15 for children, seniors and arts workers. Tickets available at Banyen Books (604) 737-8858 and Gaia’s Fair Trade (604) 886-7117. For information, contact [email protected] or (604) 733-3439.

Mother’s Day Celebrations: Charitable Society

Fun filled celebrations with live entertainment during Mother’s Day weekend: Saturday, May 10 at 6 p.m. at Riverside Banquet Hall, 14500 River Road, Richmond. Tickets: Adults: $25. Tables of 10: $225. Children under 12: $10. Gujarati style meal. Cash Bar. All net proceeds to serve homeless in Vancouver and less fortunate in India and Uganda. For more info, contact Vasant Lakhani at (H) (604) 987-1925.[email protected]. www.indoafricacharity.com. www.vasantlakhani.com

Quran Memorization Competition

Muslim Association of Canada is holding the 12^th Annual BC Quran Memorization Competition: * Preliminaries: Saturday, May 17 * Finals: Saturday, May 24. At MAC Masjid & Community Centre at 2122 Kingsway, Vancouver. The competition is open to participants of all ages, males and females, from all parts of the province. Participants may register for both memorization and recitation. Sponsors needed for the Quran Competition Awards – call 604-434-7526 or email: [email protected]. Registration deadline: May 10 at 11:59 p.m. Information and registration: quran.islamicinfocenter.org.

7th Uganda Medical Mission

Indo-Africa Charitable Society (Canada). Venue: Sugar Corporation of Uganda Limited – Lugazi: medical, dental & eye camp from August 4-15 to provide primary examinations and treatments to needy Ugandans. Donation: US$650 (non-refundable) or equivalent in other currencies per person. Register by May 31 by contacting Vasant Lakhaniv(H) (604) 987-1925, [email protected], www.indoafricacharity.com,www.vasantlakhani.com. All participants arrive by August 3 committed fully till the end of the mission.

Canada India Education Council

Presents “The Business of Education” dinner event at Fairmont Waterfront Hotel, Vancouver, on Friday, June 6, 5-9 p.m. Learn about BC’s new education quality assurance standards (EQA) and examine the confluence of ‘business’ with education. How do we measure ‘ROI’? BC is committed to increasing international students by 50% by 2016. Interesting in attending / sponsoring? To view the agenda / speaker profiles, visit: http://canadaindiaeducation.com/bc/

World Twenty20: India set up a final date with Sri Lanka

4 April 2014

Mirpur (Bangladesh) (IANS): Virat Kohli starred with a brilliant unbeaten 72 as India pulled off a comprehensive six-wicket win over South Africa to make their second

finals at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium here Friday.

India, winners in 2007, will be facing neighbours Sri Lanka in Sunday’s title-clash which will be a repeat of the 2011 50-overs World Cup final. If they win, India will be the only team to hold the World Cup, Champions Tophy and the World T20 title at the same time.

Opting to bat first, South Africa did well to post a challenging total of 172 for four in 20 overs with skipper Faf du Plesis scoring a quick-fire 41-ball 58 while Jean Paul Duminy made an unbeaten 45 off 40 balls.

India made a mockery of what looked like a stiff target and cruised to 176 for four with five balls to spare as Kohli struck a blistering 44-ball unbeaten 72. Ajinkya Rahane (32), Rohit Sharma (24), Suresh Raina (21) and Yuvraj Singh (18) also made valuable contributions.

But it was Kohli’s knock that made the difference and the young batsman single-handedly took away the match from South Africa with his aggressive knock that was studded with five fours and two sixes.

South Africa missed an extra spinner badly as leg-spinner Imran Tahir was the most economical of the bowlers giving away 30 runs from four overs and picked up the wicket of Yuvraj. The pacers including world’s best fast bowler Dale Steyn proved too costly for the Proteas.

Earlier in the day, opting to bat first, South Africa riding on good innings from Du Plessis and Duminy got what looked like a winning score.

Though Indian bowlers struck twice inside the first six overs to reduce South Africa to 44 for two, Du Plessis and Duminy joined forces and plundered the Indian attack with their 71-run stand for the third wicket.

India pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar (1/33) struck in the first over to get rid of opening batsman Quinton de Kock (6) caught behind by Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Umpire Ian Gould had no doubts in his mind before raising his finger but De Kock looked surprised. TV replays, however, confirmed a sound as the ball passed by the bat.

Ashwin struck next in the sixth over to get rid of Hashim Amla (22), who had his off-stumps shattered with a carrom ball. The off-spinner was the pick of the Indian bowlers giving away 22 runs from four overs and also picked up Du Plessis and the dangerous AB de Villiers (10).

BJP could get 206-218 seats, says opinion poll

4 April 2014

New Delhi (IANS): The BJP could cross the 200 mark and get up to 218 seats in the Lok Sabha while the party-led NDA could win between 234 to 246 seats, putting it within striking distance of forming a government if polls are held today, according to an opinion poll released Friday.

The CNN-IBN-The Week tracker projected that Congress was poised to get 94 to 106 seats and the party-led UPA could get 111 to 123 seats.

“The tracker projects NDA (National Democratic Alliance) may secure between 234 and 246 seats if Lok Sabha polls are held today,” a release said.

“The tracker projects UPA (United Progressive Alliance) may secure between 111 and 123 seats if LS polls are held today. The March tracker projects BJP on its own may get between 206 and 218 LS seats while Congress on its own is projected to get between 94 and 106 seats,” the release said.

If BJP crosses the 200 mark, it will be a first for the party. The poll has also projected Congress reaching its lowest Lok Sabha tally.

The poll said Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress may secure between 23 and 29 seats while the J.Jayalalithaa-led AIADMK may get between 15 and 21 seats.

It said the Left Front was projected to get between 14 and 20 seats and Telugu Desam Party between 13 and 19 seats.

The poll said that the Samajwadi Party may get between 11 and 17 seats, DMK and its allies could get 10 to 16 seats, Mayawati’s Bahujan Samaj Party 10 to 16 seats and the YSR Congress could get between 9 and 15 seats

“The BJP is projected to secure 35 percent vote share across India. Congress may secure 25 percent vote share across India. The tracker projects NDA has taken a 10 percent lead over UPA across India,” it said.

The tracker projected that the Aam Aadmi Party may secure three percent vote share across India.

“March tracker shows a 10 percent rise for BJP in rural India since January tracker,” the release said.

UPDATED: Charnjit Singh (Sonny) Bassi of Brampton shot dead at courthouse after shooting officer, friends and ex-wife baffled

2 April 2014

ONTARIO’S Special Investigations Unit (SIU) on Monday identified the man killed by police at a Brampton courthouse on Friday (March 28) last week as Charnjit Singh (Sonny) Bassi, 45, of Brampton.

When an officer called Bassi over after he reportedly tried to bypass a security lineup at the A. Grenville and William Davis Courthouse at 7755 Hurontario Street in Brampton, Bassi allegedly started shooting at police. He shot an officer before another officer shot and killed him.

One news report said that a witness said Bassi tried to rush through the lawyers’ entrance near the front entrance instead of going through the security checkpoint for visitors and was challenged by an officer.

Peel Regional Police Constable Mike Klarenbeek, 53, was shot in the abdomen. He has now been transferred out of intensive care.

The SIU announced in a press release that it has 15 investigators and three forensic investigators probing the circumstances of this incident.

Peel Regional Police Homicide and Missing Persons Bureau investigators are conducting a full investigation into the actions and activities of Bassi leading up to the events that transpired on March 28. In particular, investigators are trying to determine what brought Bassi to the Brampton Courthouse and his intentions on that date.

Bassi’s neighbors told the media that he lived with his mother while his ex-wife lived down the street and their young daughter used to move between the two homes.

The Toronto Star reported that Bassi’s friends said he emigrated from India around 1986. His first marriage was an arranged one and ended quickly. His second marriage ended in a divorce in 2012. But he and his ex-wife remained friendly and he even mowed her lawn occasionally.

Media reports quoting Bassi’s friends said that he had turned very religious in recent years and this seemed to help him deal with challenges he was facing. He had given up meat and alcohol. He was halfway finished writing a religious book.

The Toronto Star said his friends were disappointed that a proper effort wasn’t made to revive Bassi after the shooting. A bystander video taken immediately after the shooting shows police attempting to handcuff Bassi as he lies face down on the floor.

On Thursday, one of Bassi’s friends who helped wash his body in preparation for his funeral, told the Toronto Star that he saw what he believed to be four gunshot wounds in Bassi’s upper body, including a wound behind his right ear.

The Mississauga News reported that Bassi had been previously charged with aggravated assault, weapons offences, credit card fraud and conspiracy to commit an indictable offence.

However, he was not facing any criminal proceeding in court last week and he did not have any outstanding charges, according to media reports.

When the Toronto Star tried to access his criminal court files, the Ministry of the Attorney General informed the newspaper that all information was being withheld. A spokesperson for the ministry refused to say why that was being done. But later, the ministry released the information.

The newspaper reported that in 1997, Bassi was charged with possession of stolen property under $5,000 and forgery of credit cards, but those charges were withdrawn. In 1999, he was charged with aggravated assault and possessing a dangerous weapon in a fight at a Peel-area restaurant. He allegedly produced a sword. But the charges were dropped. In 2002, Bassi was arrested in Toronto with three other men for an alleged fraudulent scheme involving the use of fake credit cards and debit cards. All those charges were withdrawn against all four men. In 2005, Bassi was again charged with credit card offences and conspiracy, and those charges were also withdrawn. In 2011, Bassi was charged with refusing to submit to a breathalyzer test and possessing an unknown quantity of marijuana. Those charges were withdrawn.

Meamwhile, Bassi’s ex-wife, Sonia Chowdhry, in a statement through lawyer Rishi Singh Bhasin said that she was shocked about the shooting of her husband and was baffled.

The statement said that at no time did Bassi show any signs of mental health illness, suicidal ideas or religious fanaticism.

It added: “Mr. Bassi was a gentle and supportive father towards Mrs. Chowdhry’s daughter.” Bhasin read from the statement.

The Toronto Star said that the two married in July 2001 when Bassi was a factory worker. He later went into business with friends. They sold used cars and ran a cash-and-carry.

Divorce records showed that Bassi and Chowdhry officially split in 2008 and the divorce was finalized in October 2012. Chowdhry claimed her husband made $150,000 a year. He was paying $4,200 a month in child and spousal support to Chowdhry.

Lions lock up Andrew Harris with extension

2 April 2014

THE BC Lions Football Club announced Wednesday that running back Andrew Harris has signed a contract extension keeping him in orange through the 2015 season.

Harris enters his fifth year with the Lions and has never missed an appearance in his 72-game career. The Winnipeg native who became the club’s premier ball carrier midway through the 2011 season has 2,568 rushing yards on 251 career carries with 15 touchdowns.

“Andrew is a very talented running back who along with Stefan Logan, gives our offence a lot of options,” said VP of football operations and GM Wally Buono. “This is a big step in the continuing effort to build a championship team and I’m very pleased to have Andrew as a Lion for years to come.”

Last season was another solid campaign for the club’s starting tailback who fell just two yards short of the 1,000-yard mark on the ground while leading all CFL backs with 61 receptions for 513 yards. His 1,511 yards from scrimmage last year not only led the Leos, it was more than 400 yards ahead of the next player.

“British Columbia has become my home and knowing that I will continue to wear these colours and play the game I love for this organization and Lions fans across the province is an amazing feeling,” said Harris.

Lofty numbers in 2013 including top-three rankings in touchdowns, rushing yards and yards from scrimmage garnered Harris a team nomination as Most Outstanding Canadian Player for a second consecutive year.

“Andrew is an elite football player in our league and I believe his best football is still to come,” said Head Coach Mike Benevides. “He works extremely hard as both a ball carrier and a receiver which not only makes him a challenge for defensive players, but also adds a dimension to our offensive attack.”

(BC Lions season tickets for 2014 are on sale now – Season ticket holders save up to 27% on the cost of single game tickets and receive first option on their seats for playoffs and the 102nd Grey Cup. Call 604.589.ROAR or visit bclions.com today for more information.)

Five killed in 8.2 magnitude quake in Chile

1 April 2014

Santiago (IANS): Five people have been killed in a massive earthquake measuring 8.2 on the Richter Scale that hit off Chile’s northern coast Tuesday and triggered tsunami waves, authorities said Wednesday.

According to the University of Chile Seismological Service, the powerful tremor hit off northern Chile’s coast at 8.46 p.m. (11.46 p.m. GMT) and the epicentre was located 99 km northwest of the mining port of Iquique, near the Peruvian border, Xinhua reported.

The US Geological Survey initially reported the quake at 8.0 magnitude.

The South American country is located in one of the seismically most active regions in the world. The nation is a long, narrow strip of land between the Andes mountain ranges to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west.

Chile borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far south.

Chilean authorities used television to order the evacuation of coastal areas, urging citizens to leave their homes and towns speedily.

The Chilean National Office for Emergency said more than 10,000 people in some coastal towns have been evacuated. Power went out and communication lines were affected in some areas where landslides blocked roads and highways to the region.

The office also said 300 inmates escaped from a women’s prison in the city of Iquique and the military was sending a planeload of special forces to prevent looting.

At least 10 strong aftershocks, including a 6.2-magnitude tremor, have so far been felt after the major quake.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre has said the quake generated a large tsunami with the biggest wave reported at 2.3 metres. The Chilean Navy said tsunami waves have hit some coastal areas.

ILLEGAL SPYING: BCCLA files class action lawsuit against Canada’s electronic spy agency

1 April 2014

LAWYERS for the British Columbia Civil Liberties Association (BCCLA) filed a proposed national class action lawsuit on Tuesday on behalf of Canadians whose private communications and metadata information has been collected by the Communications Security Establishment Canada (CSEC) in a manner that violates the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

The proposed class action statement of claim, filed in Federal Court, is a companion case to the claim filed by the BCCLA in the B.C. Supreme Court in October 2013. If the BCCLA’s original lawsuit is successful in striking down the laws that allow CSEC to collect Canadians’ private communications and metadata, the class action may provide a vehicle for Canadians to get a direct remedy for unconstitutional intrusions on their privacy and free expression rights.

“Last fall, we filed a lawsuit asking the court to strike down laws that allow CSEC to collect Canadians’ private communications and metadata,” said Josh Paterson, Executive Director of the BCCLA. “We are confident that the court will agree with us and will declare those laws to be unconstitutional. Now we have filed a class action, as a companion to our existing lawsuit, so that Canadians may have a remedy for violation of their rights by Canada’s electronic snooping.”

The proposed class action lawsuit has been brought on behalf of all people who have used a wireless device – laptops, cellphones, smartphones, tablets and similar devices – in Canada since 2001. The representative plaintiff for the proposed class is Lindsay Lyster, President of the BCCLA and a lawyer in Vancouver.

“I am bringing this lawsuit on behalf of everybody in Canada who uses wireless devices and who may have been spied on by the federal government,” said Lyster. “Canadians trusted that they could communicate on their phones, and use their computers, without the government looking over their shoulders. It turns out that that trust was misplaced. The government has been spying on us, and potentially violating the constitutional rights of millions of Canadians.”

The BCCLA claims that two aspects of CSEC’s operations violate Charter protections against unreasonable search and seizure and infringe free expression rights: the interception of private communications of Canadians and the sweeping collection of metadata information produced by Canadians.

Under the current law, CSEC is permitted to read Canadians’ emails and text messages, and listen to Canadians’ phone calls, when a Canadian is communicating with a person outside of Canada. CSEC also operates under a secret ministerial directive that allows it to collect and analyze the metadata information that is automatically produced each and every time a Canadian uses a mobile phone or access the internet. The BCCLA takes the position that the law permitting these activities is unconstitutional.

There is no court or Parliamentary committee that monitors CSEC’s interception of these private communications and metadata information, and there is no judicial oversight of its sweeping powers.

Border security task force arrests Harminder Singh Rai of Surrey in cocaine smuggling scheme

31 March 2014

SEATTLE: Two suspects arrested by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Office of Field Operations (OFO) made their initial appearances Thursday last week in Seattle federal court on charges they conspired to distribute more than 60 pounds of cocaine.

Harminder Singh Rai, 35, of Surrey, British Columbia, and Tuan Van Dang, 38, of San Diego, were arrested separately Wednesday following an investigation by the Blaine Border Enforcement Security Task Force (BEST Blaine).

According to court records, Rai, a known drug trafficker, was tailed by investigators after he entered the U.S. at the Blaine port of entry. Rai led HSI special agents to a Marysville motel, where he allegedly picked up a duffle bag loaded with cocaine from Dang.

Rai was stopped at the border by CBP on his return to Canada. CBP officers found 24 vacuum sealed bags containing more than 60 pounds of cocaine hidden in various locations of his vehicle. Rai was taken into custody by CBP; HSI arrested Dang near the Bellingham airport.

If convicted, both suspects face minimum mandatory sentences of 10 years in federal prison.

ICE said that the charges contained in the complaint are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

The HSI-led BEST is composed of full-time members from U.S. Customs and Border Protection Offices of Air and Marine, Field Operations and Border Patrol; the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office; the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service; the Drug Enforcement Administration; the Canada Border Services Agency; and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington is prosecuting the case.

Two South Asians lucky to be alive after crash at 120 km/hour, street racing suspected

31 March 2014

TWO South Asian young men are lucky to be alive after their car crashed near Maclure and McCallum Roads while travelling at about 120 km/hour and police suspect that they were involved in street racing.

Abbotsford Police Constable Ian MacDonald told The VOICE on Monday: “They were doing more than double the speed limit. They were doing about 120 [km/hour] in a 50 [km/hour] zone and that’s a stretch of road with a lot of S-curves. So there is never a good stretch of road to be speeding, but that’s a particularly bad stretch.”

MacDonald said: “The two occupants were South Asian but we do not what the occupants of the other car were because the other car kept going. Neither of the two men in our incident was seriously hurt. One was trapped but he was rescued using the jaws of life. He was more pinned in the car because of the amount of the damage to the vehicle. He didn’t suffer serious injury.”

Asked if they were street racing, he said: “We are still looking into the street race component and we are certainly looking at security video as it relates to that … see if we can get a plate or identification on the other car that was racing. But we certainly are going with excessive speed at this time and we are going to be looking at every violation to the Motor Vehicle Act for sure and we will see if we get enough for street racing based on the evidence we gather.”

(Photo courtesy CTV)