Wildfires burn through northern Alberta, cut oil production

   Canada column for Sunday, May 22/11

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   THE CANADIAN REPORT

   (c) By Jim Fox

   Raging wildfires have consumed much of the northern Alberta town of Slave Lake and cut off more than 100,000 barrels a day of oil production.

   It’s estimated about half of the town of 7,000 people has been destroyed as more than 80 wildfires are still burning and about 20 remain out of control across the province.

Harper's Conservatives getting down to business with majority

   Canada column for Sunday, May 8/11

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   THE CANADIAN REPORT

   (c) By Jim Fox

   Savoring the majority mandate he fought hard to win from voters, Prime Minister Stephen Harper is preparing to get down to business.

   After his Conservatives scored a decisive victory in the federal election, Harper is able to go about relatively unimpeded in implementing his agenda.

   The first order of business after selecting his new cabinet will be to implement the budget the opposition parties rejected and defeated the minority government.

   This means the country can “turn the page on the uncertainties and (four) repeat elections of the past seven years,” Harper said.

   Voters rewarded the Conservatives - who are credited with pulling the country out of the recession better than other nations – with Harper’s first majority government with 167 elected and a stable government for the next four years.

Socialist surge continues in advance of Canadian federal election

   Canada column for Sunday, May 1/11

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   THE CANADIAN REPORT

   (c) By Jim Fox

   The socialist surge continues to gain momentum as the New Democrats are closing in on the governing Conservatives as Canadians elect a new government on Monday.

   The personable Jack Layton and his New Democratic Party are resonating with Canadians unhappy with the country’s traditional parties – the right-wing Conservatives led by Prime Minister Stephen Harper and the third-place, left-leaning Liberals led by Michael Ignatieff.