FRIDAY, JULY 22, 201 1 | WWW.PGCITIZEN.CA B.C. 7 Premier Christy Clark, left, speaks with Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty at the start of a meeting of the Council of the Federation in Vancouver Thursday. Burgeoning Asian markets have premiers' attention Keven DREWS The Canadian Press VANCOUVER — The country’s premiers want to ensure Canada seizes the economic opportunities associated with being a part of the Asia-Pacific but they sidestepped the issue of human rights Thursday morning. British Columbia Premier Christy Clark said while the premiers didn’t discuss human rights specifically during the meeting of the Council of the Federation in Vancouver, they did discuss trade with the Asia-Pacific. She said she believes Chinese human rights will improve as the Asian nation engages Western countries in trade. “One of the advantages of being engaged in the economy of another country is often that engagement and exposure will lead to improved human rights,” she said. “I mean it’s something we always have to be aware of, something we always have to be thinking about.” Clark and Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach came into the annual gathering determined to put China - and its burgeoning marketplace -at the top of the agenda. The B.C. premier says Asia has the fastest growing middle class, and 20 years from now it will account for 60 per cent of the world’s middle class. Prince Edward Island Premier Robert Ghiz agreed with Clark, saying human rights will improve as countries open up globally. He said he raised human-rights issues during a recent trade mission to China. But Ghiz said Canada is not perfect and must raise such issues politely. Ghiz also elaborated on what the provinces can do to improve trade with China. “From our perspective direct flights out of Toronto would definitely help with us,” he said, adding that he realizes his island will not get that service. Ghiz noted the Chinese are interested in his province’s agricultural sector and products like lobsters, oysters and mussels. Men accused of human smuggling on Tamil ship seeking bail The Canadian Press VANCOUVER — Four men charged with human smuggling after a ship full of Tamil migrants arrived on the West Coast almost two years ago will return to court Friday as they continue to seek bail. The MV Ocean Lady arrived off Vancouver Island in October 2009 carrying 76 Tamil men, who all made refugee claims. Vignarajah Thevarajah, 33, Francis Anthonimuthu Appulonappa, 33, Hamalraj Handasamy, 39, and Jeyachandran Kanagarajah, 32, were arrested in Toronto last month and charged with human smuggling. They’ve since been transported to Vancouver, where their case is proceeding through direct indictment, without a preliminary inquiry. Their bail hearing began Thursday and continued all day, but was adjourned until Friday afternoon. The men were led into court wearing red jail garb and white sneakers. They sat in the prisoners’ box wearing headphones as an interpreter translated the proceedings into the Tamil language. The evidence presented at the hearing cannot be published. The Ocean Lady was the first of two ships full of Tamil migrants, which have together fuelled a national debate about Canada’s refugee system, and have prompted the federal Conservative govern- ment to propose tougher human smuggling laws. A year after the Ocean Lady arrived, the MV Sun Sea brought nearly 500 Tamil migrants to Canadian shores, including women and children. The federal government alleged migrants aboard both ships were connected to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, also known as the Tamil Tigers. The group is considered a banned terrorist organization in Canada. None of the accusations against the Ocean Lady passengers were substantiated, but the Immigration and Refugee Board has ruled against several migrants who arrived on the Sun Sea, ordering them deported. At all 8 convenient locations! In-custody booze death to be probed The Canadian Press VICTORIA — B.C.’s Police Complaint Commissioner has ordered a review into the case of a Victoria man who died of alcohol poisoning on the floor of a jail cell and the disciplinary action taken against the officers involved. Kevin Vigar was arrested for being intoxicated in a public place on June 27, 2009, and taken to Victoria Police lockup to sober up. Vigar’s condition deteriorated as he was being booked and he was eventually dragged into the cell by a police officer and a jail guard. 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