The best of The Simi Sara Show - Wed Dec 12th 2018

Chapter 1

🔥🔥 Hot question of the day 🔥🔥

 

Guess the ICBC rate hike! Will it be between:

 

Zero to 3 per cent

3 to 7 per cent

7 to 10 per cent

Over 10 per cent

 

Chapter 2

Surrey councillor says Surrey needs more RCMP officers, despite working towards municipal police force

 

In a split vote, Surrey council has approved the draft budget which goes to a final vote next week. Councillors Jack Hundial, Brenda Locke, Linda Annis and Steven Pettigrew voting against, because the draft budget includes postponing several big-ticket capital projects including the Cloverdale Ice Complex that was promised by the previous council, and the Grandview Heights Community Centre.

 

The proposed budget also calls for no new RCMP members to be added to the current force, given the city's plan to set-up a municipal force. Surrey RCMP officer in charge Dwayne McDonald, who was at council last night, is asked if he's concerned about the safety of residents with an ever-increasing population and no new members added to the ranks.

Councillor Linda Annis says Surrey needs to hire more RCMP officers, even as it makes plans for its own police department. Why does she think the need is there, and is she disappointed that it is not included in the draft budget?

 

Guest: Linda Annis

Surrey City Councillor

 

Chapter 3

Author Dr. Jillian Roberts on her new book "Kids, Sex & Screens"

 

Our kids are being exposed to sexual content at a younger and younger age, whether through the Internet, advertisements, or interactions with their peers. When children are exposed to this sexual information without context, or images of a graphic nature, they can experience lasting psychological effects with deep-seated ramifications. Kids, Sex & Screens explains in easy-to-understand language what exactly the psychological effects of that exposure can look like, and offers parents the tools and expert advice on how to handle it appropriately. Weaving eye-opening accounts from her own counseling practice with up-to-date psychological science, Dr. Jillian Roberts gives a full-fledged accounting of our sexualized society. Dr. Roberts pairs this explanation with advice and concrete actions that parents of both girls and boys desperately need.

 

Guest: Dr. Jillian Roberts

Child psychologist based in Victoria

 

 

Chapter 4

Landlords react to the recommendations from the Rental Task Force

 

The all-party rental task force is out with 23 recommendations on how to improve the situation for renters in the province. Chair Spencer Chandra- Herbert presented the report - compiled from months of consultation - to housing minister Selina Robinson.  Recommendations include halting renovictions, improving fairness of dispute resolution at the tenancy branch and to ensure rent reductions if repairs are not done. The Minister is taking all recommendation under advisement. What she does with them next remains to be seen.

 

RECOMMENDATIONs:

 

1:  STOP RENOVICTIONS

 

2:  WORK WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO DEVELOP TENANT COMPENSATION AND RELOCATION GUIDELINES IN THE CASE OF DEMOLITION OF PURPOSE-BUILT RENTAL TO REDUCE DISLOCATION, AND HOMELESSNESS OF AFFECTED TENANTS.

 

3:  SET A CLEAR TIMELINE FOR A TENANT’S DECISION ON THE USE OF A RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL.  

 

4:  IMPLEMENT A B.C.-WIDE RENT BANK SYSTEM FOR LOW-INCOME PEOPLE.

5:  STRENGTHEN ENFORCEMENT OF THE LAW, INCLUDING IMPLEMENTING A CLEAR PROCESS FOR MAKING, INVESTIGATING AND REPORTING ADMINISTRATIVE PENALTY COMPLAINTS.  

 

6:  STRENGTHEN PENALTIES FOR BREAKING THE LAW, INCLUDING REFUSAL OF SERVICE FOR OUTSTANDING ADMINISTRATIVE PENALTIES.

 

7:  INVESTIGATE WAYS TO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE ACCESS TO BAILIFF SERVICES IN SMALLER AND MORE REMOTE COMMUNITIES.

 

8:  INVESTIGATE OTHER OPTIONS TO INCREASE THE REPAYMENT RATE FOR DAMAGES, NON-PAYMENT OF RENT AND OTHER STORAGE COSTS IF ORDERED BY THE RESIDENTIAL TENANCY BRANCH.  

 

9:  INCREASE THE AVAILABILITY OF CURRENTLY EMPTY STRATA HOUSING BY ELIMINATING A STRATA CORPORATION’S ABILITY TO BAN OWNERS FROM RENTING THEIR OWN STRATA UNITS.  

 

10:  MAINTAIN RENT TIED TO THE RENTER, NOT THE UNIT.

 

11:  WORK WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO DEVELOP, IMPLEMENT AND ENFORCE SHORT-TERM RENTAL RULES TO BETTER PROTECT LONG-TERM RENTAL STOCK.

 

12:  MAKE THE RESIDENTIAL TENANCY BRANCH MORE RESPONSIVE, ACCESSIBLE AND PROACTIVE WITH MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN FROM AND EDUCATE LANDLORDS AND RENTERS ON THEIR RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES.

 

 13:  IMPROVE FAIRNESS AND CONSISTENCY OF THE RESIDENTIAL TENANCY BRANCH DISPUTE RESOLUTION HEARINGS PROCESS BY RECORDING ALL HEARINGS.  RECOMMENDATION

14:  IMPROVE PROCEDURAL FAIRNESS BY EXPANDING REVIEW CONSIDERATIONS TO INCLUDE MORE GROUNDS FOR REVIEW.

 

15:  REQUIRE LANDLORDS WHO ARE FILING FOR EVICTION FOR CAUSE, OR FOR RENOVATION, TO PROVIDE ALL EVIDENCE WITH ANY EVICTION NOTICE TO THE AFFECTED TENANTS

 

 16:  IF REPAIRS ARE NEEDED TO MAINTAIN A RENTAL HOME AND THE LANDLORD IS REFUSING TO MAKE THEM IN A TIMELY WAY, HAVE THE RESIDENTIAL TENANCY BRANCH PROACTIVELY REDUCE THE RENT OF AFFECTED TENANTS UNTIL THE REPAIRS ARE COMPLETED.

 

17:  ALLOW EMAIL AS A FORM OF NOTICE OF SERVICE BETWEEN LANDLORD AND TENANTS.

 

18:  SPEED UP THE RETURN OF DAMAGE DEPOSITS TO TENANTS BY ALLOWING TENANTS TO MAKE A DIRECT REQUEST TO THE RESIDENTIAL TENANCY BRANCH FOR THE DAMAGE DEPOSIT WHERE NO DAMAGE HAS BEEN FOUND AND REPORTED BY THE LANDLORD.

 

19:  WORK WITH THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY TO SEE IF RENT GUARANTEE INSURANCE, AND OTHER IMPROVEMENTS TO INSURANCE COVERAGE, MIGHT BE PROVIDED FOR LANDLORDS IN B.C.

 

 20:  UNDERTAKE A REVIEW TO SIMPLIFY THE REGULATIONS RELATING TO A LANDLORD’S OBLIGATION TO STORE ABANDONED PERSONAL PROPERTY.

 

21:  ENSURE IT IS CLEAR FOR ALL LANDLORDS AND RENTERS WHERE TO GO TO GET HELP FOR ALL FORMS OF RESIDENTIAL TENANCY  

 

22:  ADDRESS THE SPECIFIC NEEDS OF NON-PROFIT HOUSING AND SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROVIDERS IN THE RESIDENTIAL TENANCY ACT.

 

 23:  ENSURE MANUFACTURED HOME PARK RULES ARE CLEAR AND UNDERSTANDABLE. CLARIFY WHAT OCCURS WHEN PARK RULES CONFLICT WITH LEASE OR CONTRACT RULES.

 

Guest: David Hutniak

Landlord BC

 

 

Chapter 5

Friend of detained diplomat in China says she fears for the worst

 

The whereabouts of Canadian diplomat Michael Kovrig remain a mystery after it was revealed that he was detained by the Chinese government. Since the news broke, the Chinese government has shed very little light on the situation. While declining to confirm Michael Kovrig's detention, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said the International Crisis Group, where Kovrig is a Hong-Kong-based analyst, was not registered in China and its activities in the country were illegal.

 

Charles Burton is a former Canadian diplomat in China and now is a professor at Brock University in Ontario. He says because Kovrig has been arrested by the Ministry of State Security, he can expect a tough interrogation process and won't be able to see a lawyer for six months, and his family will have no way to get in touch with him.

 

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says his government has contacted Chinese authorities about the detention of former Canadian diplomat as tensions intensify between the two countries over the recent arrest of a Chinese tech executive.

 

Joanna Chiu is a friend of Michael Korvig’s, and has written an opinion piece in the Vancouver StarMetro pleading for everyone in Canada to pay attention to his case. She joins us now…

 

Guest: Joanna Chiu

Assistant managing editor of StarMetro Vancouver, and friend of Michael Kovrig

Chapter 1

🔥🔥 Hot question of the day 🔥🔥

 

Guess the ICBC rate hike! Will it be between:

 

Zero to 3 per cent
3 to 7 per cent
7 to 10 per cent
Over 10 per cent

 

Chapter 2

Surrey councillor says Surrey needs more RCMP officers, despite working towards municipal police force

 

In a split vote, Surrey council has approved the draft budget which goes to a final vote next week. Councillors Jack Hundial, Brenda Locke, Linda Annis and Steven Pettigrew voting against, because the draft budget includes postponing several big-ticket capital projects including the Cloverdale Ice Complex that was promised by the previous council, and the Grandview Heights Community Centre.

 

The proposed budget also calls for no new RCMP members to be added to the current force, given the city's plan to set-up a municipal force. Surrey RCMP officer in charge Dwayne McDonald, who was at council last night, is asked if he's concerned about the safety of residents with an ever-increasing population and no new members added to the ranks.

Councillor Linda Annis says Surrey needs to hire more RCMP officers, even as it makes plans for its own police department. Why does she think the need is there, and is she disappointed that it is not included in the draft budget?

 

Guest: Linda Annis

Surrey City Councillor

 

Chapter 3

Author Dr. Jillian Roberts on her new book "Kids, Sex & Screens"

 

Our kids are being exposed to sexual content at a younger and younger age, whether through the Internet, advertisements, or interactions with their peers. When children are exposed to this sexual information without context, or images of a graphic nature, they can experience lasting psychological effects with deep-seated ramifications.

Kids, Sex & Screens explains in easy-to-understand language what exactly the psychological effects of that exposure can look like, and offers parents the tools and expert advice on how to handle it appropriately. Weaving eye-opening accounts from her own counseling practice with up-to-date psychological science, Dr. Jillian Roberts gives a full-fledged accounting of our sexualized society. Dr. Roberts pairs this explanation with advice and concrete actions that parents of both girls and boys desperately need.

 

Guest: Dr. Jillian Roberts

Child psychologist based in Victoria

 

 

Chapter 4

Landlords react to the recommendations from the Rental Task Force

 

The all-party rental task force is out with 23 recommendations on how to improve the situation for renters in the province. Chair Spencer Chandra- Herbert presented the report - compiled from months of consultation - to housing minister Selina Robinson.  Recommendations include halting renovictions, improving fairness of dispute resolution at the tenancy branch and to ensure rent reductions if repairs are not done. The Minister is taking all recommendation under advisement. What she does with them next remains to be seen.

 

RECOMMENDATIONs:

 

1:  STOP RENOVICTIONS

 

2:  WORK WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO DEVELOP TENANT COMPENSATION AND RELOCATION GUIDELINES IN THE CASE OF DEMOLITION OF PURPOSE-BUILT RENTAL TO REDUCE DISLOCATION, AND HOMELESSNESS OF AFFECTED TENANTS.

 

3:  SET A CLEAR TIMELINE FOR A TENANT’S DECISION ON THE USE OF A RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL.  

 

4:  IMPLEMENT A B.C.-WIDE RENT BANK SYSTEM FOR LOW-INCOME PEOPLE.

5:  STRENGTHEN ENFORCEMENT OF THE LAW, INCLUDING IMPLEMENTING A CLEAR PROCESS FOR MAKING, INVESTIGATING AND REPORTING ADMINISTRATIVE PENALTY COMPLAINTS.  

 

6:  STRENGTHEN PENALTIES FOR BREAKING THE LAW, INCLUDING REFUSAL OF SERVICE FOR OUTSTANDING ADMINISTRATIVE PENALTIES.

 

7:  INVESTIGATE WAYS TO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE ACCESS TO BAILIFF SERVICES IN SMALLER AND MORE REMOTE COMMUNITIES.

 

8:  INVESTIGATE OTHER OPTIONS TO INCREASE THE REPAYMENT RATE FOR DAMAGES, NON-PAYMENT OF RENT AND OTHER STORAGE COSTS IF ORDERED BY THE RESIDENTIAL TENANCY BRANCH.  

 

9:  INCREASE THE AVAILABILITY OF CURRENTLY EMPTY STRATA HOUSING BY ELIMINATING A STRATA CORPORATION’S ABILITY TO BAN OWNERS FROM RENTING THEIR OWN STRATA UNITS.  

 

10:  MAINTAIN RENT TIED TO THE RENTER, NOT THE UNIT.

 

11:  WORK WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO DEVELOP, IMPLEMENT AND ENFORCE SHORT-TERM RENTAL RULES TO BETTER PROTECT LONG-TERM RENTAL STOCK.

 

12:  MAKE THE RESIDENTIAL TENANCY BRANCH MORE RESPONSIVE, ACCESSIBLE AND PROACTIVE WITH MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN FROM AND EDUCATE LANDLORDS AND RENTERS ON THEIR RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES.

 

 13:  IMPROVE FAIRNESS AND CONSISTENCY OF THE RESIDENTIAL TENANCY BRANCH DISPUTE RESOLUTION HEARINGS PROCESS BY RECORDING ALL HEARINGS.  RECOMMENDATION

14:  IMPROVE PROCEDURAL FAIRNESS BY EXPANDING REVIEW CONSIDERATIONS TO INCLUDE MORE GROUNDS FOR REVIEW.

 

15:  REQUIRE LANDLORDS WHO ARE FILING FOR EVICTION FOR CAUSE, OR FOR RENOVATION, TO PROVIDE ALL EVIDENCE WITH ANY EVICTION NOTICE TO THE AFFECTED TENANTS

 

 16:  IF REPAIRS ARE NEEDED TO MAINTAIN A RENTAL HOME AND THE LANDLORD IS REFUSING TO MAKE THEM IN A TIMELY WAY, HAVE THE RESIDENTIAL TENANCY BRANCH PROACTIVELY REDUCE THE RENT OF AFFECTED TENANTS UNTIL THE REPAIRS ARE COMPLETED.

 

17:  ALLOW EMAIL AS A FORM OF NOTICE OF SERVICE BETWEEN LANDLORD AND TENANTS.

 

18:  SPEED UP THE RETURN OF DAMAGE DEPOSITS TO TENANTS BY ALLOWING TENANTS TO MAKE A DIRECT REQUEST TO THE RESIDENTIAL TENANCY BRANCH FOR THE DAMAGE DEPOSIT WHERE NO DAMAGE HAS BEEN FOUND AND REPORTED BY THE LANDLORD.

 

19:  WORK WITH THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY TO SEE IF RENT GUARANTEE INSURANCE, AND OTHER IMPROVEMENTS TO INSURANCE COVERAGE, MIGHT BE PROVIDED FOR LANDLORDS IN B.C.

 

 20:  UNDERTAKE A REVIEW TO SIMPLIFY THE REGULATIONS RELATING TO A LANDLORD’S OBLIGATION TO STORE ABANDONED PERSONAL PROPERTY.

 

21:  ENSURE IT IS CLEAR FOR ALL LANDLORDS AND RENTERS WHERE TO GO TO GET HELP FOR ALL FORMS OF RESIDENTIAL TENANCY  

 

22:  ADDRESS THE SPECIFIC NEEDS OF NON-PROFIT HOUSING AND SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROVIDERS IN THE RESIDENTIAL TENANCY ACT.

 

 23:  ENSURE MANUFACTURED HOME PARK RULES ARE CLEAR AND UNDERSTANDABLE. CLARIFY WHAT OCCURS WHEN PARK RULES CONFLICT WITH LEASE OR CONTRACT RULES.

 

Guest: David Hutniak

Landlord BC

 

 

Chapter 5

Friend of detained diplomat in China says she fears for the worst

 

The whereabouts of Canadian diplomat Michael Kovrig remain a mystery after it was revealed that he was detained by the Chinese government. Since the news broke, the Chinese government has shed very little light on the situation. While declining to confirm Michael Kovrig's detention, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said the International Crisis Group, where Kovrig is a Hong-Kong-based analyst, was not registered in China and its activities in the country were illegal.

 

Charles Burton is a former Canadian diplomat in China and now is a professor at Brock University in Ontario. He says because Kovrig has been arrested by the Ministry of State Security, he can expect a tough interrogation process and won't be able to see a lawyer for six months, and his family will have no way to get in touch with him.

 

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says his government has contacted Chinese authorities about the detention of former Canadian diplomat as tensions intensify between the two countries over the recent arrest of a Chinese tech executive.

 

Joanna Chiu is a friend of Michael Korvig’s, and has written an opinion piece in the Vancouver StarMetro pleading for everyone in Canada to pay attention to his case. She joins us now…

 

Guest: Joanna Chiu

Assistant managing editor of StarMetro Vancouver, and friend of Michael Kovrig