TORONTO:” The human rights situation in India has been a longstanding concern to the Canadian government and Canada has made numerous representations to the Indian government concerning reported human rights abuses in that country.” This is stated in a letter from the External Affairs ministry addressed to Gurdev Singh Gill, North American Coordinator of International Human Rights Organization, IHRO wrote numerous letters about the arrest and possible liquidation of Umrao Singh, a Canada returned Sikh youth, by the Indira Security forces. The letter further stated that the speaker of the House of Commons Hon. John Fraser and Mr. Joe Clark raised the matter of human rights violations with the highest levels of the Indian Government. Mr. Gill released this letter to the press and strongly urged the Canadian government to break its silence openly come forward to stop the state repression of Sikhs in India and help to punish the guilty. The case of Umrao Singh has been forwarded to the ministry of Employment of Immigration which is now under the head of Public Security.

Senators vote against $6,000 hike

OTTAWA: Doe to the firestorm of public outrage, Canada’s senators voted overwhelmingly to reverse a $6,000 expense allowance hike they gave themselves last month. The motion to hand back the raise was approved by 80 to 1. Prime Minister Kim Campbell and Liberal Leader Jean Chretien had demanded the Senators abandon the raise and scolded them for being out of touch with Canadians. The 104 Senators appointed by the Prime Minister and serve until age 75. Their annual salary is $64,400 and $10,400 free expense allowance a year plus lots of other perks and benefits.

No plans to cut Immigration

OTTAWA: Public security minister Doug Lewis said that the federal government has absolutely no intention of cutting back on Immigration. “You can’t build walls and say our country is just going to be for us who are here now, it doesn’t work that way anymore.” Lewis, in his first detailed interview about his new responsibilities, bristled at the criticisms and emphasized that if there were even a hint of cutting back on immigration, he would not have taken the job.

Underground economy costs millions

TORONTO: Ontario is annually losing hundreds of millions of dollars in taxes through an underground economy. Ontario’s finance minister Floyd Laughren said that his ministry is in the process of hiring new auditors. The number of possible tax evaders has jumped since the start of the recession and since July 1, often an increase in the personal income tax rate came. In all of 1992, about 145 people called to finger possible tax evaders and the same number have already called during the first six months of this year.

Ontario will try to stop violent video games

TORONTO; Ontario’s attorney general Marion Boyd has promised to investigate ways to stop children from playing video games that portray graphic violence against women. The Ontario’s government does ban pornographic violence against women in video movies and films under its Ontario Film Review Board.

Mila Mulroney returned $150,000 check

OTTAWA: Faced with a lot of public outrage, Mila Mulroney has cancelled a deal to sell the family’s furniture for$150,000. An National Capital Commission said that the Mulroney’s would be retrieving the funds in due time. Mulroney, said in the letter that she is upset by suggestions she profited from the deal.

Ontario will hire more minority Teachers

TORONTO: Education Minister Dave Cooke announced sweeping plans to in Crease the number of visible minority teachers in Ontario classrooms “making the province’s teaching ranks more reflective of Ontario’s diversity is vital to the goal of eliminating racial discrimination from the school system,” said Cooke.

Voluntary surveys show that visible minorities make up as little as 10% of teaching staff while the number of nonwhite students is 46%.

19 killed in head-on collision

MONTREAL: A small bus carrying elderly people on a religious pilgrimage exploded after colliding head-on with a pick-up truck. All that was left of the bus was its burned out shell, the passengers were from a senior club in Vercheras, a town of about 5,000 located south of Montreal. They were returning from a pilgrimage to a shrine for the Virgin Mary near Lac Bauchnette, a town 250 kilometers north of Quebec City.

Article extracted from this publication >>  July 23, 1993