Canada column for Sunday, Nov. 8/15
THE CANADIAN REPORT
(c) By
Jim Fox
With much pomp and ceremony, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took office
with his Liberal party, promising “openness and transparency” will be a
hallmark of his government.
Trudeau, 43, opened the grounds of Rideau Hall in Ottawa and invited the
public to observe the procession at the swearing-in.
Ending almost 10 years of Conservative rule under former Prime Minister
Stephen Harper, the Liberal era includes a smaller 30-member cabinet, down nine
members, with an equal number of men and women.
Commenting on the diversity of its members, Trudeau said he put together
a cabinet “that looks like Canada.”
Eighteen of the government officials are rookies including Toronto
businessman Bill Morneau who became finance minister.
“The swearing-in event was designed to convey openness, optimism and
inclusion – a stark contrast to nearly a decade of what the Liberals call the
one-man, secretive rule and politics of division of Stephen Harper’s
Conservatives,” the Canadian Press newswire reported.
The Conservatives have chosen veteran politician Rona Ambrose as interim
leader, replacing Harper who remains a Member of Parliament for Calgary.
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The decision by President Barack Obama to finally reject the proposed
$8-billion Keystone XL oil pipeline is “disappointing,” Prime Minister Trudeau
said.
“The Canada-U.S. relationship is much bigger than any one project and I
look forward to a fresh start with President Obama to strengthen our remarkable
ties in a spirit of friendship and cooperation,” he said.
TransCanada Corp. CEO Russ Girling said the rejection of his company’s pipeline
to ship Alberta crude to Texas was “misplaced symbolism chosen over merit and
science – rhetoric won out over reason.”
The decision deals a damaging blow to jobs, the economy and the
environment on both sides of the border, he added.
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News
in brief:
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Vancouver-based Telus plans to reduce its workforce by 1,500 positions “out of
necessity,” said Darren Entwistle, president and CEO. The job cuts represent
about three percent of its telecom workers and the estimated $125 million a
year in savings will help pay for growth plans that include new technological
investments, he said.
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Police have arrested four Quebec teenagers for making e-mailed threats against
schools in their area along with warnings about bombs at schools in the
province and Ontario. Police Capt. Guy Lapointe said no explosive devices were
found in the search of about 80 schools. Acting Public Security Minister Pierre
Moreau said the four were part of a group known as “Red Sceptre.”
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Facts and figures:
Canada’s dollar has dropped almost two cents in the past week to 75.17
cents. The U.S. dollar returns $1.330 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 lower with the Toronto Stock Exchange index at 13,517 points
and the TSX Venture index 532 points.
The average price of gas has risen to a national average of $1.074 a
liter or $4.08 (Canadian) for a U.S. gallon.
Lotto 6/49: (Nov. 4) 2, 4, 20, 35, 39 and 42; bonus 28. (Oct. 31) 3, 14,
20, 28, 40 and 44; bonus 48. Lotto Max: (Oct. 30) 2, 11, 19, 38, 43, 45 and 49;
bonus 9.
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Regional briefs:
- The
Liberals have a commanding lead in polls in advance of the Nov. 30 election in
Newfoundland and Labrador. The party, headed by Dwight Ball, received the support
of 66 percent of voters compared with 19 percent for the governing
Conservatives and Premier Paul Davis. The Conservatives have been in power for
four terms while there are now Liberal governments in Atlantic Canada’s neighboring
New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.
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The decision by the recently merged Kraft Heinz to close seven factories and
shed 2,600 North American jobs includes a salad dressing and food product
facility in St. Marys, Ontario. There will be 214 workers losing their jobs at
the plant. After being acquired by 3G and Berkshire in 2013, Heinz phased out
its tomato-processing plant in nearby Leamington that had operated for more
than a century and employed 700 people.
-30-
Jim Fox can be reached at canadareport@hotmail.com
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