Vaisakhi, a religious event commemorating the birth of the Khalsa in 1699, plays a key role in our society. It forges bonds with mainstream society by fostering a greater understanding, tolerance and acceptance of Sikhism and is one patch of the quilt that characterizes our Canadian multicultural society as a mosaic.

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WHY LAIBER SINGH SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO STAY - AND HOW THIS CAN BE WORKED OUT
I, for one, certainly did not approve of the tactics failed refugee claimant Laibar Singh's supporters used to keep him in Canada after federal Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day granted him a temporary stay last summer. They were illegal and they did not do much for the Indo-Canadian image in the mainstream community. I also pointed out quite bluntly that India has far better medical facilities and doctors than ours (Canadian authorities were to foot his medical bill in one of India's most prestigious hospital). [Full Story]

JAGROOP BHULLAR MAKES HISTORY BY BAGGING OUTSTANDING WRESTLER OF THE YEAR TROPHY
Richmond wrestler Jagroop Bhullar, 22, who was honoured earlier last week at the 2008 Premier's Athletic Awards, made history at the 2008 Canada West Championships last weekend by winning the Outstanding Wrestler of the Year Trophy - the first Simon Fraser University student ever to bag the prestigious trophy since its inception in 1947. [Full Story]

GLOBAL WISH FOUNDATION: DETERMINED TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE COMMUNITY
So the five - realtor Jug Bilg, university student Ruby Bilg, Conquitlam RCMP Constable Chuck Marjara, businessman Robby Kanwal and Telus' Navdeep Kanwal - "decided to get an organization together and then we chose our first annual fundraiser to be for the Children's Hospital," they told The VOICE. [Full Story]

THE SHAMEFUL STATE OF AFFAIRS AT SURREY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL
Being an Indo-Canadian youth born and raised in Richmond, I had often wanted to move to Surrey as I grew up, mostly because my friends and relatives all lived there. However, on Saturday night (February 16) my opinion of Surrey changed forever as I witnessed a complete disintegration of their medical system. [Full Story]

CAROLE TAYLOR: BUDGET A TURNING POINT IN B.C.'S HISTORY
She told me in an extensive interview: "The beauty of the model that we've designed is that it's a very small tax (carbon tax) to start with. It gives people lots of time to look at it and adjust. But all of the money comes back to individuals and businesses as tax cuts." [Full Story]

VANCOUVER SUN CONTINUES TO DEMONIZE SIKHS AND DISTORT NEWS
All decent Indo-Canadians, and especially Sikhs, who believe in fair reporting are still waiting for Vancouver Sun reporter Kim Bolan and CBC National TV reporter Terry Milewski to be honest enough to carry the fact that what transpired at last year's Vaisakhi Parade in Surrey - the sporting of ISFY jackets, the display of pictures of Sikh militants and the shouting of Khalistan slogans - was NOT illegal. [Full Story]

INDIAN SKILLED WORKER QUOTA DOWN BECAUSE OF FOREIGN WORKERS APPLICATIONS IN CANADA
Well-known immigration lawyer Richard Kurland told The VOICE this week that the lowering of India's federal skilled workers' quota from 10,500 visas in 2007 to 8,210 visas this year is to balance the number of people who are already in Canada under the foreign workers permits and will be applying to live here permanently. [Full Story]

VOICE MIRROR
#1. LADNER FINALLY ANNOUNCES HE WILL CHALLENGE MAYOR SULLIVAN
#2. IS DAVE BASI-BOB VIRK TRIAL HEADED FOR DISASTER?
#3. RESTAURANT CO-OWNER MANJEET NANDHA FOUND DEAD
#4. ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO PROCEED WITH PANGHALI'S TRIAL [Full Story]

CELEBRATING THE PUNJABI LANGUAGE: WHAT ALL NEEDS TO BE DONE
Punjabi Language Education Association (PLEA) will be celebrating its Sixth Annual International Mother Language Day on February 24. In 1999, UNESCO declared February 21 Mother Language Day in response to a resolution put forward by the Bangladeshi government. On this day in 1952, a number of young men in Bangladesh, which was East Pakistan at the time, sacrificed their lives while struggling for the recognition of their mother tongue. [Full Story]

FEDERAL LIBERALS PROMISE $50-MILLION FOR SOUTH ASIAN FOUNDATION OF CANADA
"I am pleased to announce a Liberal government will create a foundation to promote dialogue and knowledge exchange between Canada and South Asian countries on a wide range of economic, security, political, environmental and social issues," Dion told the Canada India Business Council in Toronto. [Full Story]

YOUR TURN
PAKISTANI ELECTIONS: REMARKABLE [Full Story]

GREENER FUTURE, STRONGER ECONOMY
As we mark the 150th birthday of British Columbia, our province has reached a turning point. Our children, our young people, are asking us to face directly the challenge of climate change. And we are taking action - while, at the same time, taking new steps to strengthen our economy and enhance public services. [Full Story]