Canada
column for Sunday, Nov. 4/12
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THE CANADIAN REPORT
(c) By
Jim Fox
Two people were killed and thousands left in the dark as the aftermath
of Hurricane Sandy sideswiped Ontario and Quebec.
A worker
was killed when repairing a downed power line in Sarnia, Ontario while a Toronto
woman died after being struck in the head by a Staples sign the wind had blown
apart.
Trees were toppled and power lines came down as wind gusts reached 60
mph, leaving 150,000 people without power, including
55,000 in Toronto.
As the storm blew out, there were pounding
waves along the north shore of the St. Lawrence
River and into Atlantic Canada.
Hundreds of utility workers from Hydro One in Ontario are in New York
and New Jersey helping to restore power and clean up.
As
well, workers from Toronto Hydro and the Toronto Transit Commission have
offered to help make repairs with New York’s power and subways.
“In
the aftermath of the ice storm (in 1998), it was great to see our American
cousins up there with their trucks, their workers, their equipment, doing what
they could to help us,” said Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty.
Hydro One workers also helped restore power after hurricanes in Florida
in 2004 and 2005.
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A
national poll suggests the governing Conservatives could be defeated in the
next federal election should Justin Trudeau become Liberal leader.
The Forum poll said the Trudeau-led Liberals would win a majority
government, mainly with gains in Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada.
Trudeau, 40, is the son of the late prime minister Pierre Trudeau and
said he wants to succeed Bob Rae, the interim Liberal leader.
Also seeking the leadership to be decided April 14 are Deborah Coyne,
who had a child with Pierre Trudeau, attorney Alex Burton and economist
Jonathan Mousley.
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News
in brief:
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The Canadian government wants to “fast track” for permanent residency some
100,000 immigrants familiar with Canadian society and have knowledge of French
or English. Immigration Minister Jason Kenney said the goal is to change the
mix of immigrants to those with “marketable skills.” This would favor foreign
students and temporary workers already in Canada that admits between 240,000
and 265,000 immigrants a year.
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The Trans-Canada Highway has reopened after flood waters washed away sections
of asphalt through Wawa. The national highway was closed for five days along
with flood-damaged Highway 17 south of the Northern Ontario community.
Cross-country drivers had to take long detours to the north or drive through
the U.S.
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Facts and figures:
Job-creation numbers slowed last month as Statistics Canada reported the
economy added only 1,800 positions with the unemployment rate remaining at 7.4
percent.
Canada’s dollar advanced to $1.0035 in U.S. funds while the U.S. currency
is worth 99.64 cents Canadian before bank exchange fees.
The Bank of Canada’s key interest rate remains at 1 percent while the
prime-lending rate is 3 percent.
Stock
markets are higher, with the Toronto exchange index at 12,431 points and the
TSX Venture index at 1,312 points.
Lotto 6-49: (Oct. 31) 4, 8, 17, 23, 34 and 47; bonus 30. (Oct. 27) 11,
15, 16, 17, 31 and 40; bonus 6. Lotto Max: (Oct. 26) 3, 4, 20, 25, 30, 35 and
48; bonus 23.
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Regional briefs:
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British Columbia Supreme Court Judge Bruce Cohen has recommended a cap on
farmed salmon in the Discovery Islands to prevent disease among wild fish. That
was a major proposal from a two-year study into the decline of sockeye in the
Fraser River. Cohen said of most concern was the warmer climate in 13 of the
past 20 summers.
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Salmon is on the menu, too, on Nova Scotia’s Eastern Shore where a Scottish
company has withdrawn an application to develop fish farms. Snow Island Salmon,
a subsidiary of Loch Duart, said it was concerned about the proximity to wild
salmon. The company is continuing with applications for farms in Shoal Bay and
Spry Harbor.
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Quebec separatist Premier Pauline Marois said she will stop wearing a
Fleur-de-lis pin inside the red poppy on her lapel after complaints from
veterans. The premier’s office said she wasn’t trying to offend anyone by
wearing the Quebec emblem inside the symbol synonymous with Remembrance Day in
Canada.
-30-
Jim Fox can be reached at canadareport@hotmail.com
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