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Parliamentary secretary’s statement on Islamic Heritage Month

Mable Elmore, Parliamentary Secretary for Anti-Racism Initiatives, has released the following statement to acknowledge Islamic Heritage Month:

“October is Islamic Heritage Month, when we are encouraged to reflect, celebrate, learn and appreciate the diversity of British Columbia’s Muslim communities.

“Muslims have been living in Canada since 1871, and people who practise Islam – the second-most practised religion in the world – have immigrated here from various regions, such as South Asia, the Middle East, Eastern Europe and sub-Saharan Africa. Muslim communities have a diversity of tradition, language and experience that they contribute to the social fabric of our province. According to the 2021 Census, more than 125,000 Muslims are living in B.C., with approximately 110,000 residing in Vancouver.

“In recognizing Islamic Heritage Month, we need to also acknowledge the acts of hate and racism that Muslim people experience in communities throughout B.C. and across Canada. According to a 2022 report by the National Council of Canadian Muslims, the impact of Islamophobia has resulted in more targeted hate attacks on Muslim people in Canada in the past five years than any other G7 country. This must end. We each need to do our part to stand with the Islamic community and make B.C. a safer, more inclusive place where there is zero tolerance for racism and Islamophobia.

“One of the ways our government is addressing systemic racism is through legislation such as the Anti-Racism Data Act. This act makes it possible to safely collect demographic information to identify gaps and barriers to accessing government programs. As part of this work, the Province has released anti-racism research priorities to keep us focused on areas that matter most to Indigenous Peoples and other racialized communities.

“The next step is to build on this historic act by introducing broader anti-racism legislation in 2024. This broader legislation will require government to address and dismantle systemic racism within its policies, programs and services, as well as provide supports to those who have been adversely affected by systemic racism.

“The Province is also addressing systemic racism in the education sector with the K-12 Anti-Racism Action Plan, which puts tools and resources into the hands of parents, teachers and students to better equip them to be active agents of anti-racism in their communities.

“Islamic Heritage Month is a time to learn about and honour the rich diversity of people who follow the Islamic faith and their contributions to B.C. I encourage all British Columbians to take time this month to learn about the rich history of Islam.”

Blinken on Canada India rift: ‘Those responsible must be held accountable

By James McCarten
The Canadian Press

Washington: America’s top diplomat is again urging India and Canada to work together on bringing Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s killers to justice and hopefully forestall a deepening of a serious geopolitical rift between two important allies.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he delivered that message Thursday during his meeting in Washington, D.C., with Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, India’s external affairs minister.
Relations between Canada and India have plumbed new depths since Prime Minister Justin Trudeau cited “credible allegations” of links between the Indian government and the shooting death of Nijjar, a prominent Sikh separatist and Canadian citizen.
“We’re very concerned about the allegations that have been raised by Canada, by Prime Minister Trudeau,” Blinken told a news conference Friday.
“Those responsible need to be held accountable, and we hope that our friends in both Canada and India will work together to resolve this matter.”
Blinken said the U.S. has been in close contact with both countries about the allegations ever since Trudeau made them public earlier this month in the House of Commons.
“At the same time, we have engaged with the Indian government and urged them to work with Canada on an investigation, and I had the opportunity to do so again in my meeting yesterday with Foreign Minister Jaishankar.”
A State Department readout of that meeting made no mention of the controversy, but experts in international diplomacy say that’s hardly surprising.
The allegations have put the U.S. in an awkward spot, with the Biden administration courting India as it works to develop a geopolitical bulwark against the mounting influence of China.
Trudeau, who expressly asked Blinken to reiterate Canada’s concerns with Jaishankar, paid a visit Friday to a community centre in Brampton, Ont., a Toronto suburb that’s home to Canada’s largest Sikh population.
He moved through an outdoor picnic area, where he encountered a number of people worried about the tensions and the safety of members of the Indo-Canadian community.
“It’s very, very complicated times right now,” Trudeau said. “It’s a time where we have to pull together, we have to be there for each other.”
At another table, he acknowledged the challenge of navigating such serious allegations with a country that is widely seen around the world as a vital economic and geopolitical ally with the West.
“Every Canadian, regardless of where they come from, needs to be safe in this country,” Trudeau said.
“That’s something that even as we look to work and grow our trade ties around the world, including with India, we have to be unequivocal about the rules being the rules.”
Diplomacy under such circumstances can be a tricky and nuanced endeavour. But the U.S. has already taken steps to ensure Trudeau had at least some support from inside the so-called Five Eyes security alliance.
That came last week from David Cohen, the U.S. envoy to Canada, who confirmed that Canada’s allegations were supported in part by intelligence from inside that alliance, which includes the U.S., the U.K., Australia and New Zealand.
“I think the Americans feel they have backed up the head of the government, the prime minister, with the comments of the ambassador,” said Gary Doer, who spent more than six years as Canada’s envoy to D.C.
“I think if they hadn’t been public through their ambassador, you could look for a tilt, but they did get somebody out there to back up the prime minister.”
A strong economic and diplomatic relationship with India is as important for Canada as it is for the U.S., he added.
“It’s not one versus the other. I think we benefit both ways. And so do they.”

Alberta Opposition creates counter-survey on province’s ‘unicorn’ plan to quit CPP

EDMONTON — Alberta’s Opposition is launching its own survey on whether the province should leave the Canada Pension Plan, saying the government questionnaire is a “sham” and a “unicorn.”

NDP finance critic Shannon Phillips says her party’s survey is to lay out a simple choice for Albertans, asking them whether they think leaving the CPP is a good idea.

Phillips notes the United Conservative Party government survey, launched last week, does not ask that basic question.

Instead, the survey assumes an Alberta pension plan is a good idea and asks Albertans how they would like to see it administered, which Phillips likens to asking respondents what colour they would like for their unicorn.

A report commissioned for the Alberta government says a stand-alone pension plan can deliver higher benefits and lower contributions based on a calculation that suggests the province deserves half the $575 billion in the CPP.

Analysts, including the CPP investment board, put Alberta’s share much lower at 12 to 20 per cent.

The government survey is one component of a consultation strategy announced last week by Premier Danielle Smith.

A panel led by former finance minister Jim Dinning is also to hold telephone town halls and other consultations in the months to come.

Next year, it will recommend to Smith whether a referendum should be held on Alberta leaving the CPP.

Smith says the potential benefits to Alberta of quitting the CPP are so profound, citizens deserve to have a say.

Phillips says Albertans have been clear in the past, and have been vocal with her caucus in recent days, that they don’t want the CPP touched.

“We’re going to look at everything from town hall meetings, ensuring that we are tabling petitions, ensuring that we are tabling letters, ensuring that we put the heat on those UCP MLAs who are supporting this Alberta pension plan,” said Phillips.

New immigration minister says one-click citizenship oath still worth considering

OTTAWA — The new immigration minister is still considering a controversial option to allow new Canadians to take their oath of citizenship with the click of a button, but there are no immediate plans to implement it, he said Monday.

The government asked for public feedback in February about the idea to allow new Canadians to skip a virtual or in-person ceremony and opt instead to take the oath with the click of a mouse.

Consultation documents posted online say the new regulations were expected to come into force in June 2023, but the government has been mum about its plans since then.

The department is still mulling it over, Immigration Minister Marc Miller said Monday, and he thinks it’s a good idea.

“You don’t want to take these moments lightly, but we do need technological options,” Miller said on his way into Question Period.

“The department has been criticized, rightly, for not being adjusted to the 21st century and that option is one I think that we should preserve.”

It’s particularly important for people who live in remote or rural communities, who shouldn’t have to drive long distances to swear their oath, he said.

Earlier this year, then-immigration minister Sean Fraser pitched the idea as a temporary option to help work through backlogs of people waiting for their citizenship.

The change is expected to save people up to three months of processing time, the government consultation documents said.

The responses to that consultation offered mixed views on the idea: some called it a forward thinking approach, while others thought it would degrade the value of in-person ceremonies.

The department said in a statement Monday that the comments will “inform the next steps and the development of implementation plans.”

“I’ve heard from Canadians and advocates of the importance of actually being in person. I’ve also seen the importance of virtually, when there’s no question about someone’s loyalty or citizenship or oath or the seriousness he should take the Canadian citizenship,” Miller said Monday.

iSAFF 2023 Unveils “Pathbreakers” as Theme for Upcoming Film Festival to Celebrate South Asian Stories Through Cinema

The vibrant world of South Asian cinema is set to take center stage at the upcoming International South Asian Film Festival (iSAFF), which runs from September 28th to October 1st in Surrey, BC, Canada.

With ‘Pathbreakers’ as this year’s theme, iSAFF 2023 will showcase six feature films, four documentaries and over 30 short films, as well as dynamic industry events and innovative new initiatives.

“We’re incredibly excited to present ‘Pathbreakers’ as our festival theme this year,” said Pulkit Datta, iSAFF Artistic Director. “Our aim is to provide a platform for the voices and stories of South Asia and its diaspora to be enjoyed by the BC audience and beyond. Each film in our lineup offers a unique perspective from the massively diverse and complex South Asian communities, addressing contemporary issues, challenging the status quo, and flexing the artistic prowess of South Asian filmmakers. We look forward to celebrating the artists who have changed the game and will inspire future generations.”

This year’s festival includes lauded features from Cannes and TIFF, films and filmmakers nominated for Emmys and BAFTAs, a former Miss America, and Punjabi-Canadian film and music stars, among many others.

iSAFF’s Opening Film kick off is on September 28th with LORD CURZON KI HAVELI, a directorial debut by actor Anshuman Jha, starring Arjun Mathur (Amazon Prime’s Made in Heaven) and Rasika Dugal (Netflix’s Delhi Crime and Amazon Prime’s Mirzapur). Making its Canadian premiere, this dark comedy is about four South Asians in London who meet for a thoroughly unplanned dinner party that ends in chaos, and serves as commentary on the range of immigrant experiences in the UK. It is also the first mainstream Indian feature film to be shot on a single lens.

iSAFF 2023’s exciting lineup also includes:

Special Closing Night Film

IN FLAMES: A Pakistani-Canadian supernatural thriller by Zarrar Kahn. In Flames is only the second Pakistani film to premiere at Cannes Film Festival. It is also screening at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival in the Centerpiece programme.

PINE CONE: Trailblazing queer Indian filmmaker, Onir, brings his buzzy feature Pine Cone, starring Vidur Sethi, which also opened South Asia’s largest queer film festival, Kashish.

THE LUNCHBOX: iSAFF is celebrating the 10th anniversary of Ritesh Batra’s 2013 film The Lunchbox, with a special Q&A with the director. With an incredible leading performance from the late Irrfan Khan – co-starring Nimrat Kaur and Nawazuddin Siddiqui – The Lunchbox reached worldwide acclaim, leading to a nomination for Best Film Not in the English Language at the 2015 British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA).

CALL ME DANCER: Dancer Manish Chauhan’s journey from Mumbai slums to the Kennedy Center stage is captured in this documentary that brought on global music star Jay Sean as the Executive Producer, and world premiered at Santa Barbara Film Fest.

COMPLEXION: An intimate dissection of colorism conceived by the first and only South Asian Miss America winner, Nina Davuluri.

AGAINST THE TIDE: Sarvnik Kaur’s moving documentary, which won the Special Jury Prize at Sundance Film Festival, tells the story of Indigenous fishermen in Mumbai who are driven to desperation by a dying sea. The film takes a humanistic and intimate approach towards addressing key issues around climate change and rapid urban development.

YOUR LOVE: Queer non-binary writer, actor, activist, Sundeep Morrison makes their directorial debut with Your Love. A LGBTQ love story that is set to the backdrop of DJ Khanvict’s remixed imaginings of iconic Punjabi folk song Ik Tera Pyaar, originally sung by Noor Jahan.

MY MOTHER’S GIRLFRIEND: Writer/Director Arun Fulara’s award winning short film about finding love at any age, comes to iSAFF following a showing at OutFest.

TO THE DEATH: Written by and starring Menik Gooneratne (Lion) and Yasmin Kassim (Jungle) and directed by actor/director Rose McIver (Ghosts, iZombie). This darkly comedic short follows two actresses in the audition room, who might literally kill to get an upcoming role.

LEVELED: ReelWorld Institute Emerging Filmmaker, Sara Rangooni’s sophomore short film Leveled comes to iSAFF this year.

STARCH: A short film by multi-disciplinary Australian writer/director, Ajai Vishwanath, and starring Gayatri Patel Bahl and Vandit Bhatt, is a rare and must-see Tamil diaspora story.

FOREIGNERS ONLY: Pioneering Bangladeshi filmmaker Nuhash Humayun’s latest award-winning short is a horror commentary on the skin-based preference of landlords for foreigners in his home country.

iSAFF will also host a series of exciting events, including Q&A sessions with filmmakers and social media influencers, industry panels, workshops, and networking opportunities for attendees to engage with the creative minds behind these remarkable films.

“We’ve come such a long way, and this year is a big leap forward for us,” says Mannu Sandhu, iSAFF Festival Producer. “Since 2010 we’ve been building this journey, and now with a new name and new goals, we’re reaching even more hearts. At iSAFF 2023, our goal is simple: to light up screens with incredible stories and grow our community. Join us as we celebrate films, embrace a community of storytellers, and honour everyone pushing limits in their own ways. We’re determined to make this year’s festival unforgettable!”

iSAFF 2023 will take place from September 28th to October 1st.

Attend the Opening Gala on Friday, September 29th to celebrate all Pathbreakers and kick off iSAFF in style!

Tickets for the Gala can be purchased here:

https://tickets.surrey.ca/TheatreManager/1/login?event=2593

MLA Adam Walker ousted from BC New Democratic Party, Premier David Eby says

Victoria: A New Democrat member of the British Columbia legislature representing a riding on Vancouver Island for the past four years has been turfed from the government’s ranks, Premier David Eby announced on Sunday.

The news came in a brief statement outlining the ouster of Adam Walker, but offered few specifics.

The statement from Eby’s office said his dismissal came about as the result of an internal investigation sparked by an unspecified human resources complaint.

“This thorough investigation found misconduct on the part of MLA Walker,” it said of the legislature member who had served as the parliamentary secretary for the sustainable economy up until Sunday.

“As a result, Mr. Walker will no longer be a member of the government caucus and he will no longer be a parliamentary secretary.”

The statement said no further details would be released in light of the fact that the issue at hand is a human resources matter.

Walker, who did not immediately respond to request for comment on his removal from caucus, was elected to the provincial legislature in 2020 to represent the riding of Parksville-Qualicum.

A brief biography on the B.C. government website said he spent two years serving as a town councillor for Qualicum Beach before making the move to provincial politics. It says he has also owned and operated a local technology business for 15 years and runs a small farm alongside his wife.

His departure from the NDP caucus leaves the governing party with 56 seats in the provincial legislature.

The BC United Party holds 26, while the BC Green Party and Conservative Party of British Columbia hold two a piece. The latter party saw its seat count double after Bruce Banman, the MLA for Abbotsford South, defected from BC United last week.

Premier Eby ‘white hot’ angry over Chinatown stabbing suspect’s release from hospital

SURREY, B.C.: British Columbia Premier David Eby says he is “white-hot” angry over the day release of a man from a forensic psychiatric hospital before he was arrested for a triple stabbing in Vancouver’s Chinatown.

Eby says the decision to release the man boggles the mind, and he wants to get to the bottom of how it occurred.

Blair Evan Donnelly, who’s 64 years old, has been charged with three counts of aggravated assault and remains in custody after Sunday’s attack at the Light Up Chinatown! festival.

Donnelly was found not criminally responsible on account of a mental disorder for fatally stabbing his teenage daughter in 2006 and was sent to a psychiatric hospital, but Eby says he was released in 2009 and “went out and stabbed somebody else.”

The premier says he can’t fathom how the man was released a second time before Sunday’s attack, and he’ll do everything he can to make sure it doesn’t happen again.

A man and woman in their 60s and a woman in her 20s received severe but non-life-threatening injuries in Sunday’s attack.

B.C. officials warn residents to take care when they return to fire zones

VANCOUVER _ As an out-of-control wildfire still burns near West Kelowna, B.C., officials in the region say evacuated residents should brace themselves for their return to neighbourhoods they may no longer recognize.

Officials from the Regional District of Central Okanagan say crews are still busy putting out hot spots and repairing damaged infrastructure affected by the McDougall Creek wildfire.

Lance Kayfish, the City of Kelowna’s risk manager, cautioned people about re-entering their communities once evacuation orders are lifted.

Kayfish told an information session held online Tuesday that people need “to have a heightened level of caution and safety” when they explore their neighbourhood because it will not be exactly as they left it.

He says it’s likely that wildlife including deer and bears will be in areas where there’s been an absence of human activity during the evacuation period.

Some areas, he said, may still have active fire hot spots or “ash pits,” while fire-damaged trees may be in danger of falling.

2023 Nissan Z: Iconic Sportscar Offers More Performance Thrills

Review by Veeno Dewan.

The new 2023 Nissan Z sports coupe  completes its  50-plus years of heritage and continues to please global fans. The new 7th generation Z   design  still has the classic long hood, short deck low stance and a silhouette that pays homage to the first-generation Z.

The 2023 Z’s 3.0-litre V6 twin turbo engine adds a significant bump in  power output over the previous generation 370Z. The Z’s lines are sleek, clean, and devoid of the sometimes-ugly garish strakes, vents, spoilers, and wings slapped onto some modern-day coupes. Instead, it has a few tastefully  executed retro-modern design cues, with a cleaner front grille and a distinctively cool rear design with lights similar to the old 240 Z  version.   The interior pays homage to its DNA too with the iconic  three pod analog dashboard gauges that display the boost pressure, turbo RPMs, and battery voltage.

In terms of power, there is a significant increase with a V6 engine rated at 400 horsepower at 6,400rpm and 350 lb-ft of torque starting from 1,600 to 5,600 rpm. With an increase of 68 horsepower and a30 percent increase in torque, over the previous model, the  engine has an estimated 15 percent improvement in 0 to 100 Kph acceleration and limited top speed of  250 kph.

The transmission is either a choice of a 9-speed automatic or a more preferable   6-speed close-ratio manual transmission with SynchroRev Match® rev matching and an EXEDY® high-performance clutch.  For the Canadian market, the 2023Nissan Z will be offered in Sport and Performance (As tested) models, each with a choice of a 6-speed manual or new 9-speed automatic transmission.

The Nissan Z starts at $46,498 – plus a freight charge of $1,950. The  Z Performance model as reviewed, adds the rev-matching feature, limited-slip diff, and high-performance brakes, 19 -inch Rays alloy wheels and high – performance tires. Z Performance models equipped with a manual transmission also include an advanced launch assist control system for quicker off the line acceleration. But the prices rises to $58,498 plus freight and optional paint color,  A full range of convenience features are offered as standard equipment, with the Z Performance grade adding an  8-speaker Bose® Audio system with Active Noise Cancellation and Active Sound Enhancement.

The 2023 Z cabin is contemporary in design and form modern with a few well-integrated retro touches and modern technology. The cabin features high-quality  synthetic suede material, and  premium leather covered seats and steering wheel.  The centre stack takes inspiration from other previous Z version with the cool, iconic  three analog pod gauges on the instrument panel. There  is an  8.0-inch touch screen and audio display in the centre stack and climate control switches near the shifter.

On the road, the Z offers  very quick acceleration with maximum torque coming as early as 1,600 rpm. Turbo lag is minimal, it revs fast and  the  400 horsepower is delightfully metered out just eats up straight line roads , whilst the beefy brakes rein in for deceleration for  twisty back roads and fats tight curves with nary an effort. The engine’s 400 horsepower is tractable and  a  jewel of an  engine. The  exhaust note  in the Z sounds fantastic being urgent, and raspy with a real crackle on startup.

The short throw shifter can be a shade notchy at first in the lower gear range , and you really have to be masterful in the beginning at snicking in gears solidly until you get a feel for the shifter. However, Nissan also installed an upshift indicator as found on pro race cars  as a shifter  guide. The clutch is fairly light and has some travel before you hit the biting point.   If you opt for the Performance trim, Nissan gives you the  auto rev-matching feature for even smoother, quicker applied manual shifts.

The new Z’s steering is pin sharp and direct, the suspension well calibrated for sport driving and  the front four-piston brakes inspire confidence. The Z is an ideal track car when properly equipped with the right tires, but in  everyday driving exhibits good  road manners and a  not too harsh ride.

Downsides are few, The Z is a  tad thirsty on  fuel, and the Performance Upgrade is more expensive. Fuel Consumption (Combined ) is L/100km: 11.90. Starting at $46,498 for the Sport model with the manual transmission, it’s one of the best bargains in the coupe market and will not disappoint in any way. The Performance version is the one to stretch for if possible. A superbly optimised quick agile  and fun to classic sports car.

2023 Z starts: at base price $46,498. Performance model as tested –   $59,448 plus PDE and freight.

More info at www.nissan.ca.

Police investigating after shooting at Ottawa wedding leaves two dead, six injured

Ottawa: A weekend wedding celebration in Ottawa morphed into a homicide investigation after a shooting left two men dead and six people injured, city police said Sunday.
Officers were called to the Infinity Convention Centre after shots rang out shortly before 10:30 p.m. on Saturday evening, police said. Residents living in the area reported hearing between 20 and 25 gunshots at the time.
Ottawa Police Acting Insp. Amy Bond said the shooting took place outside the convention centre, adding all the victims were attending the wedding festivities.
“This violence is tragic, it’s unacceptable, it’s disturbing for our entire community,” Bond said at a morning press conference.
Yellow tape and police cars surrounded the convention centre on Sunday morning as people gathered around the scene with looks of confusion and concern. Forensic officers with gloves and cameras dipped in and out of the nearby parking lot.
The crowd had dispersed by late Sunday afternoon, though officers remained on the scene.
Bond did not immediately identify the victims, but a release from Ottawa Police later identified them as 26-year-old Said Mohamed Ali and 29-year-old Abdishakur Abdi-Dahir. Both men were from Toronto, police said.
“This is an active and ongoing investigation. All investigative angles are being explored,” the Ottawa Police Service release read. “At this stage, there is no indication that this was a hate-motivated shooting.”
Police did not provide information on the condition of those injured.
Suspect information was also scarce. Bond said investigators were still working to determine how many people may have been involved.
No arrests have been made so far, Bond said.
Police are asking anyone with video footage of the scene or information on the shooting to come forward.

By Liam Fox
The Canadian Press

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