1-5 Aug 14, 2010 - MarkhamTimes.COM

Markham
Times
The New Voice of Markham
Vol.
1 #3
31-0614August,
2010 Tel:
Tel:
647-476-6546
Vol.
1 #5Markham
MarkhamTimes
Times• •info@markhamtimes.com
info@markhamtimes.com• •July
August
- 20, 2010
647-476-6546
Tamil migrants arrive by ship
at B.C. base
HAPPY
RAMADAN!!
Friday, August 13, 2010 | 10:12 AM
- Courtesy: CBC News
The MV Sun Sea, carrying nearly 500 Tamil
migrants, has pulled into harbour at the Canadian naval base at Esquimalt, B.C., under a
military escort.
Two naval tugboats ferried the 59-metre
Thai-owned cargo ship into the base on
Vancouver Island shortly before 6:30 a.m. PT
Friday.
Dozens of border services officers waited on
shore to meet the ship, whose 490 passengers
are all seeking refugee protection in Canada.
The officers and other officials donned surgical masks and gloves before boarding the
ship, in light of reports there may be passengers with infectious diseases on board. Some
reports indicate several passengers may be
infected with tuberculosis.
Officials erected large tarps to hide passengers from the media, as four buses and several ambulances waited to transport the ship’s
passengers to nearby hospitals and prisons.
They are believed to be Tamils from Sri
Lanka, who left their homeland in May
aboard the MV Sun Sea.
Public Safety Minister Vic Toews stressed
Thursday the migrants are not welcome and
issued a warning:
“We want to send a very clear message that
this type of activity — specifically human
trafficking and human smuggling — [is]
illegal, it’s criminal and we will take the
strongest steps possible in order to deter it.”
Some of the migrants are believed to be
members of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil
Eelam, which has been outlawed in Canada
as a terrorist group since 2006.
Naval and RCMP officers boarded the ship
on Thursday at approximately 9:30 p.m. ET,
according to the Prime Minister’s Office,
in order to take control of it and steer it to
Esquimalt.
Government sources told CBC News that the
ship was first visually identified by military
vessels at 2:30 p.m. ET and that the vessel
entered Canadian territorial waters at 5:30
p.m. ET.
Toews said the best way to deal with migrant
ships is to wait until they enter Canadian
waters. “Intervening on the high seas brings
certain legal obligations and a number of
legal problems, and so it’s better to intercept
them, I’m advised, inside of Canadian territorial waters.”
The passengers would be “processed accord-
Who’s that other Roberts
woman in all the Julia
Roberts movies?
Julia Roberts might be the most famous
member of the Roberts acting dynasty (one
that includes Oscar-nominated brother Eric
and rising-star niece Emma), but her lesserknown sister, Lisa Roberts Gillan, has been
by Julia's side for much of her career. And
with a role in the much-hyped romantic
travelogue "Eat Pray Love," Gillan will be
hitting the big time alongside her younger
sibling yet again.
most visible role to date. (She's also had
small roles in "Raising Helen" and "Maid in
Manhattan," which did not star her sister.)
The cargo ship MV Sun Sea arriving at
Esquimalt, B.C., on Friday morning
sangaree, general counsel for the Canadian
Tamil Congress also said the government
should distinguish between the ship’s passengers.
“We’re not saying every single person on
the boat should be accepted carte blanche,”
Anandasangaree said. “Every single person
should be assessed on their own merits and
in accordance with Canada’s laws and our
international obligations.”
The migrants are expected to be transported
aboard four buses from the port at Esquimalt
to various destinations, including Victoria
General Hospital and the Wilkinson Road
Jail in Victoria. One bus is expected to be
transported aboard an early-morning ferry
to Vancouver to take women and children
to the B.C. Women’s Hospital and Health
Centre.
Staff at Victoria General Hospital have
reportedly been advised that they might have
to treat a large number of sick people when
the ship arrives. The hospital’s old emergency wing, which was recently closed after
a renovation, has reportedly been reopened
to treat the incoming migrants. The hospital
has also brought in extra personnel to help
treat the passengers.
UNIONVILLE JAZZ FESTIVAL KICKS
OFF AUG 13-15;
CONTINUES AUG 20-22
It is learnt that Canadian figure skater Elvis Stoiko, will be gracing the Unionville Jazz festival. He will cut the ribbon and will be playing his newly learnt adult contemporary songs,
along with other collection at 2 PM this
weekend.
Unionville Jazz is Toronto’s biggest jazz
festival that attracts over 50,000 people in
Unionville over the two weekends.
Returning bands playing at the festival are
George Kash, the classic jazz of Charlie
Finlay, the big band sounds of the Uptown
Swing Band and Brian Rose’s Little Big
Band. Other bands playing this time are the
Bluesers, Drum Hand, The TLC Trio, KC2,
Quincy Bullen, Dave Parsons with Gail
Berry and Not Affiliated Big Band.
It will also include our own local the Bluesers, Drum Hand, The TLC Trio, KC2, Quincy
Bullen, Dave Parsons with Gail Berry and Not Affiliated Big Band.
Gillan, 45, has had small parts in several
of her sister's movies, including 1994's
"Something to Talk About," 1996's "I Love
Trouble," 1999's "Runaway Bride," and
2003's "Mona Lisa Smile." In her sister's
latest release, Gillan will actually play Julia's
character, sort of.
In "Eat Pray Love," Julia's character,
Elizabeth, writes a play about her marriage,
and when the play is staged, Gillan plays
Elizabeth. (Got that?) It could be Gillan's
ing to their claims” and that if the claims
were found to be invalid they would “not be
treated as refugees,” he said.
Human smuggling a ‘criminal activity’
Many on board are believed to have paid up
to $50,000 each for the trip.
Sri Lanka’s high commissioner to Canada,
Chitranganee Wagiswara, said that money
would go toward to the Tamil Tigers and
chided the federal government for not turning the ship away altogether.
“Human smuggling is a criminal activity,” he
said.
Calling human smuggling “despicable,”
“dangerous” and “irresponsible,” Gary
Ananda
8 DAY FORECAST
sat
By Lindsay Robertson
(Yahoo Movie Talk)
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2 22• •Markham
• Markham
Markham
Times
Times
Times• •info@markhamtimes.com
• info@markhamtimes.com
info@markhamtimes.com• •July
• August
August
31-0614
13-19,
August,
- 20,2010
2010
2010 Tel:
Tel:
Tel:
647-476-6546
647-476-6546
647-476-6546
LETTER OF
THE WEEK
Our Response
Dear Ann,
We appreciate your concerns and the tone of
your letter.
Let us assure you, your perception that our paper is biased is incorrect. It is a coincidence that
it is election time, and a particular candidate
Editor,
has purchased the first page banner ad spot.
There is nothing wrong with this as you are also
Well, now I know why police officers
at liberty to buy any spot in our paper. Many
are no longer ticketing speeders etc
other candidates have tried to get that very
at the intersection of James Scott and
particular spot but we could not have given it to
Main Street Markham. When I read
someone else till our commitment expires with
this ill informed article in your first
issue and on the front page as a feature the particular candidate. We are not to blame if
some candidates are more proactive than others
no less, I was shocked but did not
think it would actually have an impact in interacting with voters through the newson the police presence or else I would paper. And you must realise that demographics have changed in Markham as the visible
have emailed you sooner.
minority population has reached 60% mark in
Markham. Hence you see more visible minority
I live on Rouge Street and our only
ads and this offends you, for whatever reasons
means of exit on to Markham Road
southbound and access to Rouge Street known to you. This not only offends you but it
has offended many others like you, who do not
is via the lights at James Scott and
Markham Road. This is a very danger- want to evolve with change. We never stopped
others from contributing articles for our paper
ous intersection, there have been at
or from placing ads in our paper. It is just a
least two very nasty accidents (one
almost fatal) there because of speeding coincidence that South Asians seem to be very
active for the time being. You must also realize
and incorrect lane use. The house on
that we have a sizeable Chinese, Muslim and
the corner (where a friend lives) has
Sri Lankan community living in Markham, and
had it’s fence demolished twice.
that is a fact we have all to accept honorably.
You, me or anyone else CANNOT ignore that
Drivers consistently run the red light
fact even if we want to for whatever reason.
or use the turn lane to pass forcing
residents to take their lives in their
With respect to the police ticketing north of
hands to turn on to James Scott.
Markham Rd/407, many have asked as to why
Everyone one of the residents I have
the York Region and Police don’t post proper
spoken to (how many did you speak
to?) were horrified by the article in this CAUTION signs on Markham Rd going north
your publication. We really appreciate between 14th Av and 407 ETR if the intersection just north of 407 is so dangerous? We have
the police presence and have noticed
noted such warning signs at many places across
the difference it makes. Now that
they are not there any more it is just a Canada, wherever the areas are accident prone.
matter of time before another accident On this particular road, the signs have been
occurs. Drivers apparently just passing deliberately neglected, and many wonder why.
through Markham continually ignore The goal should not be to ticket unassuming
drivers who are merely passing through this
the signeage regarding the turn lane
area but to create an ‘effective’ safety zone. That
and the 50 km limit.
can be created by posting highly visible and
flashing signs on northbound Markham Road,
As far as I can see your publication
as we find on many dangerous roads in Canada.
is not “The new voice of Markham”
RE: POLICE TICKETING NORTH
OF 407 AT MARKHAM ROAD/
JAMES SCOTT TRAFFIC LIGHTS
but is heavily biased, no how much
you protest, toward one section of the
community. You continue to run political advertising under your banner,
I don’t know of any other newspaper
that does this, political advertising is
generally inside the newspaper. I find
a great deal of your paper offensive
and illiterate, if you can’t spell at least
get a decent spell checker or employ a
good proof reader. How the front page
got by your editors I have no idea.
Example: article on Giant Hogweed,
space missing between Giant and
hogweed (gianthogweed). Incorrect
spelling of Yonge Street (Younge) On
page three, space in the middle of the
word Election Elec tion) Maybe there
are more but I don’t have the time.
Please note that I have written to the
Markham police requesting they recommence monitoring this intersection.
Regards,
Ann O
Now coming to your concerns about English
language spellings and grammar. Although,
we do not claim Markham Times to be a pure
bred English paper, yet we take all efforts to
check the spellings to the best of our ability. In
a fledgling paper, with meagre resources, it is
difficult to hire so many people as you have advised. We have to ensure survival in absence of
paid ads from government and establishments,
because they like to give ads to those papers
that toe their line. The Town of Markham and
the York Region have not given us ads despite
our request for a fair share of government ads.
NOTICE
The governments are supposed to be fair in dissemination of their public notices and ads, yet
they are not. That is what you should term as
being biased. Our intent is totally different and
that is why we take pride in calling ourselves
the bold, new voice of Markham. Our main
theme is to empower the consumers as well
as the voters, so that they can make informed
decisions. Whether you consider us fair or not
is up to you, and you can have a democratic
opinion in a free society. It is but natural that
employees working in a bank will be offended
by articles against the banks, insurance guys
will be offended with articles against their
industry and the government employees will
be offended by articles against government
inefficiencies because most people think about
their personal selves and not about the average
Canadian consumer, who is at the receiving end
in this game.
For your information, we did know that there
were spelling mistakes but then it was too late
as everything in publication is tied to strict
time lines. It is NOT that easy to bring out a paper and then physically distribute it across the
whole Town of Markham. What happened with
respect to hogweed was that while copying the
word file to design software, the designer gave
space within the word hogweed in the main
text of news. We told her to remove the space
and she ended up removing the space between
the words Giant and hogweed. Second about
the heading Election on page 3. The designer
was told by phone to write the heading Election
instead of last issue’s Know Your Regional Municipality of York on that page, and in a hurry
she typed it wrong and one would NEVER
expect something from an English speaking designer. We managed to correct that at the press
on actual mounted plate with great difficulty by
scratching it, when the first few hundred pages
came out. It cost us lot of money to stop the
press and do that. And it shows that we are as
vigilant as possible, given our circumstances
and resources. And then there was the incorrectly spelled Younge St. That is a very common mistake that many Canadian make, and
we all know proper names can sometimes be
spelt wrong , and it is acceptable even within
strict confines of English language. Sometimes
the paper has mistakes and still it has to go to
press and we cannot correct something even
if we want to because there is no time to see
the final-final proof because we assume that
the designer will not commit the very basic
spelling mistakes. But they do. In our case,
the designer’s file was given directly to press
because the file was excessively heavy due to the
software used by the designer. In any case, we
will tell you some other glaring mistakes of the
last issue to further convince you that we are far
below your critical standards. We were not at all
happy with the small headings across the paper
this time, we were not happy with paragraph
spacing, we were not happy with simple Times
New Roman font used across the whole paper,
we were not happy with the duplication of sentences within Letter from the Editor and Readers’ Comments, and we were not happy with a
lot of other things. We wanted to postpone the
paper from printing when we saw these mistakes at the press when the first copies few were
printed. We would have lost two complete days
to Monday night because the press was closed
for the weekend.
We were using a temporary designer because
our other designer’s servers and systems were
down. This new designer who was referred to
us last minute, did not have the actual software
to open our files and she used Photoshop to
create the pages (no designer uses photoshop
for layout and design as Photoshop is primarily
for editing photos only). We did not know that
and we only came to know when we saw that
she was not able to convert the heavy photoshop files to PDF in a timely manner and send
the final file back to us by email because the
final pdf file, according to her, was too heavy at
over 15 MB. We had to go to her place at 1 AM
on Saturday morning to physically collect the
disc(our press slot time was 9 PM and we were
already late by four hours, and our distribution
pêople were held up). All these things happen,
not because of the editors but because of the
way files are created in design software. For
readers’ info, when most articles are dropped
in a design software, they lose their formatting.
The designer has to look at the main file and reformat exactly the same way as the original file.
And while cutting and pasting, they sometimes
will duplicate sentences, sometimes they will
forget to give space in paragraphs and sometimes they will end up making wrong font size
headings, and so on. That is where the whole
experience of the designer comes in. In our
case, we did not have a proper designer at the
last minute. That DOES NOT make us illiterate
as you have so said.
We could even send you a copy of the original articles by Dr Traises and Labiba, and you
would notice the massive design change of
theirs in the paper. You should also appreciate that we devoted a great deal of our time
explaining on each of your concerns. Perhaps
some day you will realize our value and offer
your volunteer help to us. And some day we
hope that all our bashers would start praising
us for our efforts because we will take a stand
for them irrespective of which community they
belong to. For us, we have all to move together
to strengthen our future in a highly diverse
Markham.
MT
CAUTION:
The views expressed are the views
If for some reason, you do not receive
of individual writers and not of the
our newspaper, you can obtain a copy
from the nearest library OR you can call editor and publishers. We advocate
our office or email us with your address open dialogue and free expression
in our paper.
and we will have it delivered.
Interim Managing Editor:
Sam Mehta
Editor: Diane Ali
Phone: 647 476 6546
Box: 203, 21 Main Street
Markham, L3P 1X0
3 • Markham Times • info@markhamtimes.com • August 14 - 20, 2010
Tel: 647-476-6546
COMMUNITY FOCUS
Public Survey:
Please note that it is a healthy discussion and all names will be shortened in responses, because of the apparent fear of residents to openly debate such an issue. Hence discuss freely!
Markham Times is seeking a democratic opinion from the public through emails on very important questions that are being raised by some residents:
QUESTION 1 - Should the Municipality and the Police post conspicuous warning signs on Markham Rd cautioning about the dangerous intersection, north of 407?
QUESTION 2 - Should the Police oblige residents’ request to stand on their street if some residents do not want to see police on their street? In other words, does a resident have an unequivocal right to peace and tranquility on his/her street in return for the taxes the resident is paying to the municipality?
QUESTION 3 - Do residents believe that the police always acts fairly? If yes, why? If no, why not? Cite specifics, if possible.
QUESTION 4 - Do residents feel comfortable in police presence? If yes, why? If no, why not?
LOCAL REVIEW
Upcoming Events
Pharmacist with a Passion!
We have been scouring the
Town of Markham to look
for businesses that are businesses run by ‘real’ human
beings in today’s scientific
age. We came across one
such business in Market
East Plaza, at the southeast
corner of Markham Rd
and Steeles. The business
is a pharmacy by the name
MEDICARE PHARMACY,
located in unit B-109 of
the Blue Building touching
Markham Rd.
Those pharmacists are out
rightly cold and formal as if
they are doing you a favor
by dispensing medicines.
One has to have real courage to insist on getting a
proper answer from such
pharmacists. On the other
Ms Rupal Parekh, who still
believes in one-on-one human relationships, manages
this pharmacy. On the face
of it, Rupal appears to be
a very simple person, yet
there is a hidden passion
carved deep inside her body
to serve humanity. She
spends a lot of her time in
educating the patients. This
is something we don’t see
in many Canadian pharmacies. Remember the feeling
one gets by the stoic looks
of mega store pharmacists?
side of the continuum is
this humble being, who will
spend her valuable time to
satisfy a patient in whatever
manner possible.
You will always leave wiser
and empowered as a patient,
and in fact know factually,
whether you are on the
right medication or not.
Hence she will voluntarily
supplement your family
physician’s time in guiding
you. You can stand there for
hours and she will never feel
offended by the barrage of
your health questions.
The Medicare Pharmacy
also has an added edge in
that Rupal happens to be an
on-site Certified Diabetes
Educator from the Canadian Diabetes Association.
We know that almost every
second or third person in
Canada has some linkage
to diabetes, through genetic
or other reasons. And what
better could it be, than to be
in the hands of a pharmacy
that will guide the patient
through years of medication.
Next time if you have a prescription drug to buy, just
try out Medicare Pharmacy
in Market East Plaza. And
do email your experience
to us.
DATE
August 14
EVENT
LOCATION
TIME
Main Street Farmer’s Main Street Markham,
Market
Robinson Street
8:00 am - 1:00 pm
Hockey Equipment
Swap
10:00 am - 3:00 pm
Markham Village
Arena, Hwy 7 and
Cosburn Road
Main Street
Markham Road &
Markham Pedestrian Hwy 7, 132 Robinson
Day
Street
10:00 am - 5:00 pm
2:00 pm - 2:00 pm
August 15
August 19
Grand Opening:
124 Dickinson Hill
Taoist Tai Chi
Road
(Markham-Stouffville
Location)
Festival 4 Athletes
Fun Fitness Challenge
Advantage 4 Athletes
Training Centre, 500
Denison Street
Main Street
Markham Farmer’s
Market
Main Street Markham,
Robinson Street
1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
3:00 pm - 8:00 pm
(The entrance to the Blue
building is easier from
Markham Rd, just South
East of Steeles. The Pharmacy Tel # is 416 754 9992).
The next Main Street Markham’s
Pedestrian Day is Sunday, August
15 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
If you’ve been to Pedestrian Days
in the past, you won’t want to miss
this one!
NEW...
• The Markham Fire Department,
the fire safety house and the Fire
Truck!
• Meet the St. John Ambulance’s
therapy dogs
• OPP & York Regional Police
safety demos
And of course...
• Watch local artisans paint,
sculpt, draw and throw a pot in
Artists’ Alley
• FREE live entertainment on the
street, including:
• Andrea Kuzmich 10 a.m. 12:30 p.m.
• Farrucas 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
• Davide Corraza Quartet 1
p.m. - 5 p.m.
• Sit at one of our licensed patios
and listen to live bands at:
• Artisan Pub
• Duchess of Markham
• Mains Mansion
• The ever popular Kids Zone
with:
• Face Painting 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.
• Petting Zoo 11:30 a.m. - 3:30
p.m.
• Make a clay sculpture in Artists’ Alley
• Meet Alex the Beaver and get
a free kids pass to the CNE (while
quantities last)
• Treats and games all day!!
• International food fare, BBQs
and the ice cream truck
(source: guidingstar.ca)
4 • Markham Times • info@markhamtimes.com • August 14 - 20, 2010
Tel: 647-476-6546
Kids And Youth Corner:
JEREMY’S LOCKER
A fervent, putrid stench filled the already musty air of
the hallway—it was Jeremy’s locker. The reek circulated around my nose, burning my eyes and baffling
my sense of smell. Its feeling was like no other; as if I
had smothered my face in a cat’s dank litter box. The
locker’s inside was a wreck; as if a maelstrom had torn
through it. An old football rested on a slight angle at
the top of the locker. Its Nike sign was faded to a light
brown, as was the rest of its skin. Strenuously sewn
stitches were beginning to succumb to the pressure of
the over-pumped ball, tearing and ripping their seams.
Dull grass stains and dry, cracked dirt maliciously
deluged the football’s leather skin, causing its grip to be
HEALTH:
Vitamin D is a nutrient generated by the
body through exposure to the rays of the sun.
It can also be found in some foods. Vitamin
D plays an important role in building strong
bones by helping the body absorb calcium
from food and supplements. People who get
too little vitamin D may develop soft, thin,
and brittle bones.
Vitamin D is found in cells throughout the
body and is vital for many other health functions, as well. It participates in the nerve and
muscle function, as well as in the function of
the immune systemand in the reduction of
inflammation.
How can I get vitamin D?
The body makes vitamin D when skin is
directly exposed to the sun outdoors. During
the warmest months, for example, 5 to 30
minutes of exposure between 10 AM and 3
PM several times
a week to the face,
arms, legs, or back
without sunscreen
may be enough to
produce sufficient
vitamin D. However,
excessive exposure
to the sun increases
the risk of skin cancer. When out in the sun,
wear protective clothing and apply sunscreen
with a sun protection factor of 8 or more.
Cloudy days, shade, and having dark-colored
skin cut down on the amount of vitamin D
the skin makes. People who avoid the sun,
who cover their bodies with sunscreen or
clothing, or who live in the northern half of
the United States during the winter months
should include good sources of vitamin D in
their diets or take a supplement.
Vitamin D is found in supplements in two
different forms: D2 (ergocalciferol) and D3
(cholecalciferol). Both increase vitamin D in
the blood, but the D3 form may do it better
and keep levels raised for a longer time.
Vitamin D in American diets is found mostly
in fortified foods:
Fatty fish such as salmon, tuna, and mackerel,
as well as fish liver oils, are among the best
sources.
Beef liver, cheese, egg yolks and some mushrooms provide small amounts.
Almost all of the U.S.
milk supply is fortified with 400 IU of
vitamin D per quart.
But foods made from
milk, like cheese and
ice cream, are usually
not fortified.
Vitamin D is added
to many breakfast cereals and to some brands
of orange juice, yogurt, margarine, and soy
beverages. Check the labels for more information.
Am I getting enough vitamin D?
The amount of vitamin D required depends
on your age. Average daily recommended
amounts for different ages are listed below in
International Units (IU):
Children and most adults
200 IU
Adults 51-70 years
400 IU
Adults 71 years and older
600 IU
Pregnant and lactating women
200 IU
Measuring blood levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D is the best test to check the levels
of vitamin D in the body. In general, levels
below 15 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL)
are inadequate, and levels above 200 ng/mL
are too high. Some nutrition experts think
a blood level of at least 30 ng/mL is best
for overall good health. By these measures,
some Americans are vitamin D deficient and
excessively smoothed. The locker’s warm and humid
atmosphere gave off the odor of hot rubber and sour
sweat. A long, gray sock dangled limply under the
pressure of the football. Miniscule, awry fibers protruded from its puckered wool, gripping to any rust they
found. It was a forlorn sight; gym clothes were stuffed
ruggedly between old and mildewed lunches, pictures
of famous athletes scattered across the locker’s inside,
a calculator caked with yellow mustard stains feebly
stuck out of the rubble—all while one hastily put away
binder precariously loosened the hold of the junk. The
ardent, mortifying stench had finally done its job; I
blinked once and the ground rushed up to meet me.
By Aman
All You Need to Know About
VITAMIN D
By Dr George T. Traitses
D.C., B.Sc.(Hon.), M.Sc., C.H.N., C.C.R.D., C.N.M., A.C.R.B. 1, C.R.A.
almost no one has levels that are too high.
Certain groups of people may not get enough
vitamin D:
Breastfed infants. The American Academy of
Pediatrics advises that breastfed infants be
given a supplement of 400 IU of vitamin D
each day.
Older adults, since their skin produces
vitamin D less efficiently, and their kidneys
are less able to convert vitamin D to its active
form.
People with dark skin, because their skin has
less ability to produce vitamin D from the
sun.
People with Crohn’s disease or celiac disease
who don’t handle fat properly, because vitamin D needs fat to be absorbed.
Obese people. Their body fat binds to some
vitamin D and prevents it from getting into
the blood.
In children, vitamin D deficiency causes
rickets, where the bones become soft and
bend. Although rare, this disease still occurs. In adults, vitamin D deficiency leads to
osteomalacia, causing bone pain and muscle
weakness.
How does vitamin D affect health?
As people get older, they develop, or are at
risk of, osteoporosis a condition where bones
become fragile and may fracture easily as a
result of falls. Women are at an especially
high risk for developing osteoporosis. Supplements of both vitamin D3 (at 700-800 IU/
day) and calcium (500-1,200 mg/day) have
been shown to reduce the risk of bone loss
and fractures in people aged 62 to 85 years.
Some studies suggest that vitamin D may
protect against cancers of the colon, prostate,
and breast. But higher levels of vitamin D
in the blood have also been linked to higher
rates of pancreatic cancer. At this time, more
studies are needed to assess the connection
between vitamin D and cancer.
Vitamin D is also being studied for its pos-
sible role in the prevention and treatment of
low-back and joint pain, diabetes, hypertension, glucose intolerance, multiple sclerosis
and other conditions.
What precautions do I need to take with
vitamin D?
When amounts of vitamin D in the blood become too high, it can lead to toxicity nausea,
vomiting, poor appetite, constipation, weakness and weight loss. In addition, by raising
blood levels of calcium, too much vitamin
D can cause confusion, disorientation and
problems with heart rhythm. Excess vitamin
D can also damage the kidneys.
The safe upper limit for vitamin D is 1,000
IU/day for infants and 2,000 IU for children and adults. Vitamin D toxicity almost
always occurs from overuse of supplements.
Excessive sun exposure doesn’t cause vitamin
D poisoning because the body limits the
amount of this vitamin it produces.
Tell your health care providers about any
dietary supplements and medicines you take.
Source: http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/
VitaminD-Consumer.asp.
5 • Markham Times • info@markhamtimes.com • August 14 - 20, 2010
MUNICIPAL MISMANAGEMENT
PART 1: DEVELOPMENT CHARGES
If the municipal mismanagement continues, the day is not far when development charges on a new detached/semidetached home will cross $100,000 mark
in Markham. We could buy a home for that
price in GTA a few years back.
Most of us do not understand or have anything to do with development charges. We
think that we don’t pay them and that the
developers and big builders pay these fees to
the town to build new homes. We couldn’t be
more wrong. Most of us, including myself,
think that big builders are filthy rich and that
‘they must be made to pay for our development’. Again, we couldn’t be more wrong.
No doubt, an ordinary taxpayer has no sympathy for the big syndicate of developers. Yet
we have to see behind this whole game. We
have to understand that it is not the developers who are paying for us, but it is us who are
actually footing the bill after all. The trend
adopted by municipal politicians is dangerous and we are ballooning our liabilities that
will someday bounce back at us with mighty
force. My concern is not for the rich or the
capitalist elite. I talk about the ordinary Jane
and John Doe(s), who are aspiring to have
better affordable homes for their children
just like us. It is highly unlikely that these
doe(s) will ever be able to move into bigger
and spacious homes because of the bungling
by our municipal politicians. Our municipal
politicians, just like the provincial ones, try to
copy and emulate other jurisdictions, without
analyzing the disastrous pitfalls of their hasty
actions. They have done this time and again
and we the taxpayers keep electing them
again and again, without separating the able
ones from the pack.
At first here are some crude and shocking numbers. The municipalities are in a
race with each other to increase development charges or fees, including the Town of
Markham. In Markham, the development
charges for single homes have more than
doubled from $20,000 in 2006 to $44,457 in
2009. It is learnt that they are being bumped
up by another $8,000 or so this year which
will take the amount to well over $52,000. Of
By Partap Dua, CFA, MBA (Finance)
course the Markham councilors and Mayor
will cry wolf and say that they only get 40%
share of these charges, while the rest are
taken away by the Region of York and the
School Boards. But don’t we all know who
controls York Region- it is our Mayor and the
four Regional Councilors that vote on budget
of Regional Council. They have it both ways.
The surprising thing with today’s politicians
is that they have become like ordinary business managers. If there is a shortfall, increase
the levy here. For further shortfall, increase
the levy there, and so on. We expected more
from our politicians. Don’t they realize that
these increases ultimately hit the taxpayers,
no matter who pays them now? And has
anyone seen any improvement in their own
standard of lives in Markham with the increasing taxes and development charges? At
least I have not in the last 12 years. It seems
to have become worse.
Let me explain the impact of such increases
on our lives. Today a builder has to pay these
charges before the builder picks up a building permit for any new home from City Hall.
Add another $3,000-4,000 for the building
permit fee. Add another $12,000 –15,000 for
service connection fees, and $3,000-5000
for hydro connection. Add another $10,00012,000 for the parkland dedication fees. Then
there are a host of fees like tree preservation
fees, engineering fees, grading deposit and so
on. Besides, there are architect and surveyor
fees, and in some cases minor variance
and severance fees if a lot is severed from a
property and it requires minor variances in
setbacks to comply with town bylaws. Thus a
builder ends up spending $100,000 for each
semi or detached house before even picking up the permit from the town. Then there
are construction costs of another $250,000300,000 for an average size home under 2,500
sq ft. In the end, factoring the cost of land
at $200,000-300,000, an average Markham
house costs $550,000-600,000 to build. A decent house will easily cost between $700,000800,000 to build. Now the builder has to
factor the NEW HST at 13%, which translates
to around $60,000 or so factoring the interim
PST credit of $24,000. The builder has to sell
that house for a profit. Realistically the sale
price should end up at around $700,000800,000 or so. The buyer does not care, as
the buyer is interested in the end price only.
This implies that the builder will have to
make the deal look attractive and affordable
for the buyer, and the builder might decide
to sell the house at $650,000-$675,000. In
simple mathematical terms, the builder will
have to cut considerable corners in terms of
quality or cheat in terms of taxes somewhere
so as to make a profit on a sale price that is
almost equal to his cost factoring the HST.
The builders and developers will always make
money, but at whose expense? Ours! Thus we
see that the constant increase in development
charges has affected us in the following ways:
1.
The house prices have a built-in
inflation that is ballooning up.
2.
The house prices have become unaffordable.
3.
The cost of land has become more
than the actual construction cost. The land to
building cost thumb rule of 40:60 has become
meaningless.
4.
It is out of reach for an average family to buy and ‘self-build’ a detached or semidetached house in Markham, however small,
because in addition to land cost, there is an
upfront sunk cost of $100,000 irrespective of
the number of bedrooms of such dwelling.
5.
The house prices of older homes
will not keep up with the new inflated costs
of new homes, unless their prices keep
rising. Hence the homeowners, who were
basking in glory that their home prices have
increased by leaps and bounds, will suddenly
be trapped in the harsh reality of basic laws of
Economics. We cannot sustain such artificial
inflation for long.
6.
The builders will cut quality and
standard to sustain their business.
7.
The present Councilors are ‘consciously’ favoring and promoting big developers/builders vis-à-vis smaller builders and
homeowners, as the latter have no means to
afford such heavy upfront land and soft costs
for single homes because of lack of economies of scale.
8.
Markham has fallen in competitiveness as builders find it attractive to build
in Toronto and Scarborough, where the
THE HST FIASCO...continued from Issue 1
Lot of readers would remember that some
time back I had written an article titled “The
Voters Must Punish Ontario Liberals”. Many
Liberal sympathizers had got offended with
me. My intent was not to offend or hurt any
party, but just to say out my mind as a frustrated voter about HST.
Tel: 647-476-6546
Here are the stark facts for readers.
because of increased efficiencies with a single
harmonized tax. The Government stated that
harmonization will remove layers of taxation
on manufacturing, resulting in lower costs to
manufacturers, hence lower prices for consumers. The first part is easily understood,
but the second part is doubtful. The businesses will definitely benefit, but what about
the taxpayers?
The Ontario Government had their eyes
on one and only one goal of increasing tax
revenues under the garb of Harmonized Sales
Tax (HST). They did not come out clean
on this aspect. They kept telling voters that
harmonized tax is efficient and it has been a
success in many other jurisdictions, hence we
in Ontario must have it. They never discussed
their need to increase provincial tax on many
items. It was nice for the government to
say that Ontario taxpayers will be benefited
If provincial tax is introduced on many items
that were earlier exempt from PST, how will
the harmonized tax help the taxpayers? The
Ontario residents will have to pay more on
many things like gas, private car purchases,
new homes, non-OHIP health procedures,
and the worst, on legal fees and Real Estate
commissions, as if the GST on fees were not
enough. This shows that the present Ontario
government, either does not understand the
plight of already overburdened taxpayers, or
the government does not care to make life
easier for them. It is the same lack of political accountability as we see at all levels of our
governments.
We can see the desperation of Ontario
government to raise $400M per year by
legalizing online gambling in Ontario. With
respect to HST, the Ontario government had
planned to extract $22.9 billion in sales tax
from Ontarians by 2011-12. That would have
been $5.3 billion more compared to 2009-10
sales tax revenues of $17.6 billion (this has
been revised to a bit lower level now at $4.5
billion). During the same period, the Ontario
government will also get couple of billions
in kickbacks from the federal government
for helping it implement harmonized sales
tax. This is all at expense of taxpayers. You
will notice that Ontario budget revenues
will increase from $102.4 billion in 2009-10,
total upfront municipal fees end up around
$30,000-$40,000 compared to Markham’s
$100,000.
9.
The home prices in most pockets of
Scarborough handily beat Markham, which
clearly points that our actual quality of life
has fallen below that of Scarborough, no matter how much our Mayor and Councilors talk
about superficial achievements.
10.
It is still within reach of ordinary
families to build their own homes in Toronto,
but not in Markham.
11.
The standard of life has not at all
improved in older localities with increase in
development charges and property taxes.
To sum up, an average family cannot build
or buy a house in Markham. A small builder
cannot survive in Markham. The house prices
are artificially inflated in Markham. The quality of life has fallen in Markham.
If it were so easy to manage people’s money,
then anyone could be a politician. Politicians have to have a broader vision, a deep
understanding of economics and a higher
sense of responsibility compared to salaried
business mangers. That is the sole reason that
people elect them and trust them with their
lives. Politicians have to create value for their
town in a natural course rather than bumping up the value artificially, which will never
sustain in an economic sense. When the
catastrophe happens in the future is hard to
say. But when it does, the politicians wouldn’t
want to be near the victims. It is not far when
people will start abandoning Markham. In
fact, many long-term residents have already
started migrating to other towns. They would
never have done so, if our quality of life had
‘really’ improved in Markham. THE FOCUS
HAS BEEN ON NEW DEVLOPMENT AND
MONEY RATHER THAN ON IMPROVING
EXISTING LOCALITIES. The town’s leadership is biased to some pockets of Markham,
while neglecting others.
Because it is so easy, everyone wants to become a politician. You can bungle when you
like. You can vote to get more cash when you
like. And you never have to answer for longterm consequences of your actions.
to $111.0 billion in 2011-12. Only a small
fraction is from personal income taxes and
Ontario health premium, while the majority
is from increased provincial tax, under the
blanket of harmonized sales tax. The government is showing carrot to families by giving
(temporary) transition benefit cheques to
them that fade out in year 3. These payments
are not much, but the impact of increased
provincial tax will stay on forever for Ontario
residents. Buying one used car or getting
braces for kids alone will take away most of
the benefit cheques.
The bottom line is the Ontario Liberals have
increased provincial tax on many items and
have helped the federal government in making GST a perpetual reality for Canadians. It
is up to Ontario voters to approve it or reject
it. The fact is, we all are now residents of an
overtaxed province.
By Partap Dua
TECHNOLOGY
6 • Markham Times • info@markhamtimes.com • August 14 - 20, 2010
Tel: 647-476-6546
Should You Buy a Desktop PC,
Laptop, or Both?
By Hasmukh Daji,
Markham
There are no hard and fast rules when
making decisions. Each case depends
on the individual interests and requirements. However, certain factors will
need to be considered. If you are going
back to school, this brief article might
help you make those decisions.
If you consider apples to apples in terms
of available features, laptop computers
generally cost $300.00 - $400.00 more
than desktop computers. Why is that?
It is mostly about component miniaturization and cost of manufacturing compared to those for desktop computers.
You will realize that desktop computers
with related high-end hardware technology become available much sooner
than laptops.
It is always a tough decision to make
when considering investment into
purchasing computer systems. Here are
some of the tips that might help you
make a sound decision.
High school students generally prepare
for solid foundations, mostly in reading, writing, science and mathematics
study. Most of the study materials are
based on the suggested text-books by
the school board except for special
interest projects where some external
research on the topic may be necessary. So it makes most sense to invest in
desktop PC’s instead of laptops.
The college students while pursuing
advanced studies will also be expected
to continue their studies from suggested
text-books. Coupled with that, depending on their curriculum and discipline
of their study, delivering extensive written material and research on different
topics is almost a requirement. In this
case investing in laptops is most viable.
From technology perspective the
buzzword of the industry, should I get
32-bit or 64-bit processor systems. How
much memory is enough? Storage capacity, I would not waste time arguing,
because they have come down in price
drastically. Today the cost of hard drive
storage capacity from Gigabytes to
Terabytes is comparable and affordable.
My personal preferences are WesternDigital than Seagate models.
Although most laptops are still manufactured with 32-bit processors, do not
underestimate its capabilities compared to 64-bit processors which most
manufaturers try to push. The 32-bit
processors allows you to access maximum 4GB of memory, whereas 64-bit
processors can support in Terabytes
range. Here is a quick chart to show
the comparisons of memory ranges for
Microsoft Windows XP and Microsoft
Windows 7 operating systems directly
from Microsoft’s web site. Note that the
available memory limits are not only
the function of 32-bit/64-bit processors but the type of operating system
installed on your system. That’s why the
list below shows “32-bit Windows vs
“64-bit Windows”
VERSION
32-bit Windows
64-bit Windows
Windows 7
Ultimate
4 GB
192 GB
Windows 7
Enterprise
4 GB
192 GB
Windows 7
Professional
4 GB
192 GB
Windows
Home Premium
4 GB
16 GB
Windows
Home Basic
4 GB
8 GB
Windows
Starter
2 GB
2 GB
Windows
XP
4 GB
128 GB
Windows
XP Starter
512 MB
N/A
How much can I do with 4GB RAM?
If you will be using Microsft Office
suite of applications, including Word,
Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher and even
Microsoft Oulook as part of your daily
usage, memory capacity of 2GB with
32-bit processor is more than adequate.
Although, 1GB memory is most common and comfortable to use. There
might be subtle operational differences
between Windows XP and Windows
7, but that should not be your major
consideration factor when deciding for
memory needs. I personally have been
32-bit Windows user for several years
developing complex desktop programs
and database applications with 2GB
memory. If you are planning to use
your system for gaming purposes and
some memory hungry video applications then you may wish to consider
4GB range.
Do not get caught in 64-bit processor
race. I personally do own one desktop
PC with Quad-CPU 64-bit processor
with 8GB RAM. I still use the system
for Windows Office applications and
play video. As a normal user, I have yet
to exhaust 4GB RAM. When I switch
from my laptop to PC, as far as speed
is concerned it is not that noticeable.
64-bit processor systems are ideal for
developers and lab environments where
they need to set up multiple virtual
operating systems on a single PC and
various other testing requirements.
So here are my personal recommendations, yet you will be the best judge
based on how you wish to use your
computer?
High-school students may wish to
consider desktop PC’s and focus on
reading, writing and math and science
studies to build on solid foundations
that will be necessary for higher studies.
You will realize that you are reading
more pages from the books than the
computer screen. Do not get trapped
with the technology race versus what
your real requirements are to get you
through the high-school.
Laptops might be ideal for college
students as they will be expected to do
extensive research and be mobile with
wireless access for further studies and
research groups.
Investing in both, laptop and desktop
PC is a matter of convenience and your
Desktop PC’s are much cheaper than
laptops. If you find laptops of comparable price, I recommend you do some
research first in terms of comparing
apples-to-apples.
Should I purchase warranty? Laptop
screens and their fabrication with
hinges to maintain your view position
are the most sensitive and expensive
to get repaired. Desktop PC’s motherboards and power-supply are also
expensive to replace. My personal suggestion is if you can get the maximum
warranty from a reputable retailer at a
rerasonable price, then get it. It is worth
spending those extra dollars.
I am hoping you will find this article
helpful in making some preliminary
decisions.
The
Lighter Side
A lawyer is standing in a long line
at the box office. Suddenly, he feels
a pair of hands kneading his shoulders, back, and neck. The lawyer
turns around. “What the hell do you
think you’re doing?”asks the lawyer. “I’m a chiropractor, and i’m just
keeping in practice while I’m waiting in line,” comes the reply. “Well,
I’m a lawyer, but you don’t see me
screwing the guy in front of me, do
you?”
DID YOU KNOW?
needs for portability.
A typical configuration for desktop PC
or laptop system fabrication may be:
32-Bit Processor with minimum 1GB
RAM, ideal 2GB RAM for normal use
or 4GB for extensive gaming and video
requirements. I will not argue about
storage capacity, get the most that
comes with the system but try not to go
overboard or pay extra for the storage. I
have installed Windows 7 Ultimate and
Windows XP Professional. The storage
space used for the operating system was
less than 6GB of the drive. With the
entire Micorosft Office Suite of applications, I may have used 10GB of space
most. This will give you an idea of your
hard drive storage requirements.
The Town of Markham had created
a call center to handle complaints
in the name of increasing efficiencies. According to the call center’s
own admission, the town staff has
3 weeks time to have a first peek at
your ‘urgent’ complaint submitted
through the call center (you can’t
complain directly to staff). There is
no timeline for staff to actually address the complaint.
For advertisements,
please call Dave 647407-2588 Or email
info@markhamtimes.
com
7 • Markham Times • info@markhamtimes.com • August 14 - 20, 2010
News in Brief
Muslim Holy Week of Ramadan starts on 11th August
New York’s Jewish Mayor Michael Bloomberg supports plan for an
Islamic Center near Ground Zero;
Draws mixed admiration and criticism
Canadian military and RCMP intercept Thai cargo ship The MV Sun
Sea carrying 490 Tamil migrants and bring it to Esquimalt harbor,
B.C., on Friday morning
Pakistan in chaos; Pakistan floods could give Taliban time to
regroup, AP
The number of people suffering from the massive floods in Pakistan could exceed 13 million — more than the combined total of
the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, the 2005 Kashmir earthquake and
the 2010 Haiti
earthquake, the United Nations said
Death toll in China landslides rises to 1,117
Khadr’s defence lawyer faints in court; The trial of Khadr will reconvene despite human right protests, as the US is determined to
confine child soldier to life in prison;
Anti-HST petition group garnered the signatures of at least 10 per
cent of voters in all 85 ridings of BC, which were required for calling a general non-binding plebiscite /referendum or repeal of bill
vote in legislature;
Median home prices up in 2nd quarter in most US cities
Venus, Mars and Saturn align; All three planets will be visible to
the naked eye from anywhere in Canada on Saturday/ Sunday after sunset; Look at horizon in the west 60-90 minutes after sunset
Iran’s atomic energy chief Ali Akbar Salehi confirms next week’s
launch of the Islamic republic’s first nuclear power plant.
New Superbug, found in Canada, spreading from India to all
world; has no antibiotic cure
No one comes forward to post bail for Ashley Anne Kirilow, the
23-year-old Burlington woman, who faked cancer to raise money
from donors
Ontario to get into online gambling for $400M annual revenues
Brain-cell microchip lets scientists ‘listen’ as neurons ‘talk’ (The
Star)
Booty Camp Fitness Inc Canada’s largest women-only fitness
camp, leads Toronto Star’s top 50 GTA Employers list
Ontario awarding $250,000 each to wrongfully convicted due to
the fabricated evidence of disgraced pathologist Dr. Charles Smith
Belville, ON female Police Chief, Cory McMullan, 47, acknowledges
being the victim of domestic assault
Metal and objects continue to fall off many Calgary buildings,
resulting in death and injuries
Helena Guergis, MP recovering at home after car crash
35-year old David Beckham too old for England’s national team
FOOD FOR THOUGHT!
Did you ever think as to why retailers use the cheapest
paper for cash receipts that whites out within days?
Tel: 647-476-6546
FOCUS SHOPS
BAKERY /RESTAURANT
Indian Vegetarian Haweli
820 Denison Rd
Markham, Tel 905 477 2787
Mellycakes
Market East Plaza, B 115
416 412 0000
PHARMACY
Medicare Pharmacy
3341 Markham Rd, B 109
Blue Bldg (Certified Diabetes Ctr)
Tel 416 754 9992
REAL ESTATE
Reet Dua
Home Life Future
905 201 9077
CELLULAR
Vision Mobile
Market East Plaza, B 119
416 844 1111
REHAB
Bio Kneads
3341B Markham Rd, #130
Toronto
Tel 416 754 6900
COMPUTERS
Fortune Computers
416 335 3433
CONSTRUCTION/RENOVATION
Urban Home Design & Reno
Market East Plaza, SE Markham/Steeles B 101
416 332 9448
DENTAL CARE
AC Dental, Dr Albert Chan,
5981 Steeles Ave East, Unit 108,
Scarborough, ON
Tel 416 335 3350
(just w of Markham Rd)
HOME HELP
ICS Staffing Canada Ltd
416 299 4403
JEWELLERY
Banu Jewellery
Market East Plaza, B 113
416 754 4446
TAILORING
A & A Fashion
Unit 118, Market East Plaza
SE Markham/Steels
416 292 0404
TAKE OUT
Home Style Caribbean Take Out
Market East Plaza, Unit 120
416 293 0550
TRAVEL
Gill international Travel
3331 Markham Rd, #115,
Toronto
Tel 416 746 7700
TUTORING
Sharp Minds.ca
62 Main St N, Markham
LAWYERS
Jagtoo & Jagtoo,
B 113, Market East Plaza
SE Markham/Steels 416 282 6490
OPTICAL
EYECONE Optical
6055 Steeles Av E, C-101,
Toronto
Tel 416 299 1533
CLASSIFIED
COMPUTER REPAIR AND VIRUS REMOVAL
All software is included, reasonable rates, 15 years of experience and
reliability.
Lessons also available.
Reference on request.
ORIGINAL PAINTINGS
Award winning artist has paintings to suit your taste and pocket.
Visit www.edwardabela.com or call 905-887-7765
Edward Abela
REAL ESTATE
Condo (1 yr old) for rent at Don Mills / Eglinton. 1 bedroom plus den
+ locker + private balcony + private parking slot. Available Sept/Oct,
firm price $1400/month or $1500/month furnished plus metered utilities. Executive Tridel suite, green friendly building, 5 star living!
Email: rvirji7@gmail.com for more details.
A huge 4-bedroom condominium, around 1700 square feet, for sale in
recently built building on Markham Road. Call Reet Dua, Home Life
Future Realty at 905 201 9977
FOR RENT: Two separate bedrooms rooms available in a Scarborough
Bungalow basement on Winstanley for $450 and $350 respectively.
They share common kitchen and common bath. Near TTC, Sheppard
and Malvern Mall. Ideal for students and singles.
Call 647 407 2588
ARTICLES FOR SALE
Sanyo 25” Tube TV with
remote + stand + Sony Multi
DVD Player, excellent condition.
$175 firm. See and pick up at
the same time.
Email: rvirji7@gmail.com
with your contact info.
3 pcs. Sofa set with matching
pillows, white/cream colour
with flower patterns, excellent condition (smoke free
and pet free home).
Asking $700, If you pay
full price, will deliver at no
charge.
Email: rvirji7@gmail.com
with your contact info.
BASEMENT RENO
For additions and new basements.
Call 647 407 2588.
Please Elect Mohammed Rahman
Councillor – Ward 7
Serving in Ward 7 Since 1987
www.VoteRahman.com VoteRahman@yahoo.com