Canada column for Sunday, Nov. 22/15
THE CANADIAN REPORT
(c) By
Jim Fox
The first wave of Syrian refugees is about to arrive in Canada among 25,000
people the new Liberal government pledges in a “rapid resettlement” by year’s
end.
Armed Forces’ bases and some decommissioned hospitals are among the
facilities being readied to provide housing and other immediate needs for the
migrants.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau hasn’t formally indicated any specifics to
meet the Dec. 31 resettlement commitment for the group made up mostly of government-assisted
refugees and some privately sponsored ones.
A
government document suggests the plan will cost the government $1.2 billion
over the next six years, with $876.7 million needed through the next year.
Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale said the resettlement can be done
without compromising safety to Canadians as stringent background checks will be
conducted.
He
called it a “humanitarian” mission that will “rescue people who are in terrible
conditions and fleeing from the scourge.”
After a series of anti-Muslim incidents across Canada, a coalition of
anti-racism groups is concerned the migrants will become terrorist “scapegoats,”
said Mohamed Boudjenane of the Canadian Arab Federation.
Ontario, which is expected to receive most of the newcomers, has a committee
planning for the provision of housing, education, health services and language
and employment training.
---
Deteriorating economic conditions mean the Liberal government has a
bigger challenge to meet its pledge of balancing the budget, Finance Minister
Bill Morneau said.
The
April budget it inherited from the former Conservative government needs
updating due to higher expenses and lower revenues tied largely to falling oil
and commodity prices, and global uncertainty, he said.
An
updated fiscal baseline is about $6 billion lower this year than the forecasts
contained in the budget.
“The
road ahead is challenging, but it is also one of opportunity,” Morneau said.
---
News
in brief:
-
Bell Media is moving ahead with cutting 380 positions, including 270 in Toronto,
at its television and radio networks. The latest round includes some well-known
TV personalities such as CTV news anchors Dan Matheson, Bill Hutchison and
Suneel Joshi. Also losing their jobs are Toronto Newstalk 1010 (CFRB) radio’s
Mike Toth and David Woodard, TSN Vancouver Canucks announcer Jeff Paterson and
CTV Vancouver’s meteorologist Michael Kuss.
-
The proposed merger of Canadian Pacific and Norfolk Southern to create North
America’s largest railway could result in its headquarters being moved outside
of Canada. CP chief executive Hunter Harrison said details such as the head
office location and distribution of board seats would be worked out during
negotiations. The Calgary-based CP’s offer for Norfolk Southern is valued at
about $28 billion U.S.
---
Facts and figures:
The
Canadian dollar has slipped to 74.94 cents U.S. while the U.S. dollar returns
$1.334 in Canadian funds, before bank exchange fees.
The Bank of Canada’s key interest rate remains at 0.5 percent while the
prime-lending rate is 2.7 percent.
Markets are mixed with the Toronto Stock Exchange index up at 13,461
points and the TSX Venture index down at 521 points.
The average price of gas is down at a national average of $1.015 a liter
or $3.85 (Canadian) for a U.S. gallon.
Lotto 6/49: (Nov. 18) 3, 8, 25, 27, 36 and 38; bonus 32. (Nov. 14) 5, 8,
23, 39, 41 and 48; bonus 26. Lotto Max: (Nov. 13) 7, 11, 19, 38, 40, 41 and 42;
bonus 49.
---
Regional briefs:
- Ron
Hynes, known as Newfoundland and Labrador’s “man of a 1,000 songs,” has died of
cancer in a St. John’s hospital. The singer-songwriter was 64. Among his best-known
songs was “Sonny’s Dream,” about a mother worrying about losing her son to the
sea. Comedian Rick Mercer called Hynes the “poet laureate” of the province.
-
Government-run liquor stores in Manitoba are the best place to sell marijuana
should the federal government move to legalize it, says Premier Greg Selinger.
Liquor store workers are well-trained about the potential risks of alcohol and
would be in the same position to provide advice about marijuana, he said.
-30-
Jim Fox can be reached at canadareport@hotmail.com
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