Debby Rai

10/10/2024

Debby Rai from Connect FM highlights how housing has emerged as the main issue as the 2024 B.C. provincial election race heats up. The public demands affordable housing, and they want it now. Major parties are aware of the public's frustration with the high cost of living, especially in Metro Vancouver, where housing is a major concern. Party leaders know that offering credible housing solutions is key to winning the election.
Both the BC NDP and BC Conservatives have made significant housing promises this past week. David Eby of the BC NDP announced funding to cover 40% of the cost of market housing for 25,000 new units, with a commitment of $1.29 billion over five years. The government would offer parallel financing, with buyers repaying the loan plus 40% of any future capital gains from a sale.
On the other side, BC Conservative leader Rustad introduced the "Rustad Rebate," a provincial tax rebate on monthly rent or mortgage interest, starting at $1,500 per month in 2026 and increasing by $500 yearly until 2029, costing around $3.5 billion annually once fully implemented. However, households earning over $250,000 may be excluded.

08/10/2024

Debby Rai from Connect FM spoke with Rachna Singh, NDP candidate for Surrey North, who announced that if re-elected, the BC NDP will collaborate with Simon Fraser University (SFU) to introduce a Punjabi Language and Pedagogy professor.
“It’s crucial for our local universities to connect with the communities they serve,” said Singh. “They should reflect their students and prepare them for success. This is especially important as we’re opening a new medical school in Surrey, bringing future doctors from diverse places.”
The new professorship aims to make Punjabi language learning a key part of SFU’s curriculum, supporting the preservation of Punjabi language and culture.
This follows the BC NDP's commitment to establish a medical school at SFU, with students expected to enroll in 2026.

03/10/2024

Debby Rai from Connect FM highlights one critical issue for voters to consider for the upcoming provincial election - Education.
Surrey, the fastest-growing city in the province, is experiencing this pressure particularly in its schools, with projections indicating that its population could surpass Vancouver’s by 2029. The Surrey school district, which is the largest and rapidly expanding in B.C., anticipates a significant rise in student numbers.
By the fiscal year 2025, more than 85,000 students are expected, reflecting an approximate 10 percent increase since 2020.
In its new capital plan approved in May, Surrey is seeking $5.03-billion from the Ministry of Education and Child Care for 63 major projects, including 20 new schools, 19 expansions and 21 site acquisitions.
The provincial budget for 2024-25 allocated $3.75 billion for school capital projects over the next three years, which means that Surrey’s funding requests exceed the total budgeted for the entire province.

This month, some students lost their bus transportation due to budget cuts made by the board to support other areas. Portables aren’t the only expenses affected; inflation, a significant challenge for all, has not been accounted for in the funding.

28/09/2024

In this report, Connect FM's correspondent Debby Rai sheds light on the long prevailing healthcare issues faced by the people of Surrey, British Columbia. Patients at Surrey Memorial Hospital are facing significant challenges, with reports of long wait times and a lack of support during mass casualty events, leading to burnout among emergency room physicians. As the NDP seeks to strengthen its support in the region ahead of the provincial election, complaints about the hospital's state have intensified.

Recently, Premier David Eby and Health Minister Adrian Dix faced tough questions during a visit to the construction site of a new hospital in Surrey. Their scrutiny intensified after a letter from ER staff to Fraser Health CEO Victoria Lee was leaked, highlighting that only 20% of patients are admitted within 10 hours, with some waiting up to three days for treatment. This falls short of the 65% target set by the Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians, despite a 30-point plan released last summer aimed at improving healthcare in Surrey.

In response, Dix emphasized the progress made by the NDP, including hiring 476 additional healthcare workers at Surrey Memorial over the past year, claiming significant improvements were based on staff consultations.

Eby and Dix have frequently visited the new hospital site, expected to open in 2029, which has already seen its budget increase by 75%. They promoted recent successes, such as matching 248,000 British Columbians to family doctors since the launch of the Health Connect Registry in July 2023, and announced plans for rental housing for healthcare workers.

Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke criticized the NDP, stating that residents would still struggle to access necessary care, as the new hospital will not include a maternity ward and other essential services that Surrey Memorial cannot adequately provide. She shared that many residents have approached her about their negative experiences and long waiting times, suggesting that conditions are worsening.

30/06/2024

ਕੈਨੇਡਾ ਤੋਂ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਤੱਕ ਦਾ ਇੱਕ ਹੈਰਾਨੀਜਨਕ ਮੋਟਰਸਾਈਕਲ ਸਫ਼ਰ!

A group of six from the Canada-based ‘Sikh Motorcycle Club’ embarked on a journey from Canada to to spread the message of universal brotherhood and peace, as taught by Guru Nanak, the first Sikh Guru, in honor of his 550th birth anniversary.

Takhar, Azad Singh Sidhu, Jatinder Singh Chauhan, Mandeep Singh Dhaliwal, Sukhvir Singh Mlait and Jasmeet Pal Singh rode for about 10,000 km through 22 countries across 3 continents under the slogan ‘one love, one world’.

Debby Rai from Connect FM spoke to Pravjit Singh, a passionate motorcycle enthusiast with decades of riding experience. Singh said that his team rode through some of the most beautiful landscapes - mountains, deserts and coastlines. There were challenging moments but those experiences made the journey unforgettable. He believes that it's about pushing your limits and discovering what you're capable of.

Despite the risks associated with motorcycling, Singh remains undeterred. "Safety is paramount," he asserted. Meeting Pravjit Singh was inspiring. His enthusiasm for motorcycles is not just about the machines but the experiences, relationships, and personal growth that come with riding. For Singh, motorcycling is a way of life, a journey without a destination, and one he embraces wholeheartedly.

18/06/2024

ਸਰੀ ਦੀ 19 ਸਾਲਾ ਸਿਮਰਨ ਖੱਟੜਾ ਦੇ ਪਿਤਾ ਵਰਿੰਦਰ ਖੱਟੜਾ ਦੀ ਭਾਵੁਕ ਕਰ ਦੇਣ ਵਾਲੀ ਕਹਾਣੀ...

This is a painful, emotional and heartbreaking story of Varinder Khattra of Surrey, whose 19 year old daughter Simran Khattra remained missing for a month. After a whole month of searching, he finally found her, but not the way he hoped. She lay there, so still, and he couldn't believe it. He had looked everywhere, held onto hope every day, but now it was shattered. He knelt beside her, tears streaming down his face, holding her like he could still protect her. She was gone, and all he had left were memories of her laughter and the pain of not being able to save her.

13/05/2024

ਨੇਪਾਲੀ ਸ਼ੇਰਪਾ ਕਲਾਇਮਬਰ ਕਾਮੀ ਰੀਤਾ ਸ਼ੇਰਪਾ ਨੇ ਰਿਕਾਰਡ 29ਵੀਂ ਵਾਰ ਐਵਰੈਸਟ 'ਤੇ ਚੜ੍ਹਾਈ ਕਰਕੇ ਆਪਣੇ ਹੀ ਪਿਛਲੇ 28 ਚੜ੍ਹਾਈ ਦੇ ਰਿਕਾਰਡ ਨੂੰ ਤੋੜਿਆ। ਉਹ ਰਿਕਾਰਡ 29 ਵਾਰ ਵਿਸ਼ਵ ਦੀ ਸਭ ਤੋਂ ਉੱਚੀ ਚੋਟੀ 'ਤੇ ਚੜ੍ਹਨ ਵਾਲਾ ਇਕਲੌਤਾ ਵਿਅਕਤੀ ਹੈ: ਸਰਕਾਰੀ ਅਧਿਕਾਰੀ
Nepali Sherpa climber Kami Rita Sherpa climbs Everest for record 29th time breaking his own previous record of 28 ascends. He is the sole person to climb the World’s tallest peak for a record 29 times: Government officials

12/05/2024

Fourth person arrested in murder case. On May 11, 2024, IHIT arrested Indian national Amandeep Singh. He has resided in and . He has been charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder.

11/05/2024

04/05/2024

ਹਰਦੀਪ ਸਿੰਘ ਨਿੱਝਰ ਦੇ ਕਤਲ ਕੇਸ 'ਚ ਗ੍ਰਿਫ਼ਤਾਰ ਕੀਤੇ ਗਏ ਵਿਅਕਤੀਆਂ ਦੀਆਂ ਤਸਵੀਰਾਂ

01/02/2024

ਝੂਠੀ ਕਿਤੋਂ ਦੀ…