Canada column for Sunday, July 3/16
THE CANADIAN REPORT
(c) By Jim Fox
U.S. President
Barach Obama heaped praise on Canada and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, while
calling for more defense spending as the “three amigos” met in Ottawa.
“If I can borrow a
phrase, the world needs more Canada. NATO needs more Canada. We need you,”
Obama said in an address to Parliament.
His rousing speech
was greeted by Canadian politicians chanting “four more years” to the outgoing
U.S. president, knowing it isn’t a possibility unlike Canada.
The heartfelt
comments came before Canada Day on Friday that marked the country’s 149th
birthday as Trudeau hosted Obama and Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto.
“The enduring
partnership between Canada and the United States is as strong as it has ever
been and we are more closely aligned than ever before,” Obama said.
Trudeau, who was
elected prime minister last October, has brought “new energy and hope” to the
cross-border relationship, he added.
Obama then bluntly
called on Canada and other NATO allies to contribute their “full share to our
common security” in military spending and action.
The three North
American leaders pledged to enhance deeper continental integration in trade and
find new initiatives on battling climate change and cleaner energy sources.
---
Canadians are being
told to prepare for the possibility of a national postal workers strike that
could begin this week.
Negotiations between
Canada Post and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers,
representing 50,000 carriers, continue but both sides are “miles apart,” said
union head Mike Palacek.
The
government agency said the large drop in mail volumes calls for
the need to hire more temporary workers instead of paying overtime and revamping
the pension plan.
Businesses have advised
customers to pay bills online or use courier services in the event of a strike.
---
News in brief:
- There has been a
huge increase of United Kingdom residents looking for jobs in Canada after the Brexit
vote to withdraw from the European Union. Indeed.com says the number of UK inquiries
for Canadian jobs has jumped by four times the average. Investments by British
employers will be “hampered and reduced and decline,” with fewer jobs, said Mel
Cappe, Canada’s former high commissioner to the UK.
- The absence of
Canadian teams in the National Hockey League playoffs has hit the country’s
bottom line. Statistics Canada said there was a 3.9 percent drop in the arts,
entertainment and recreation sector as the economy edged up 0.1 percent in
April. It was the first time since 1970 that no Canadian team made the
playoffs.
---
Facts and figures:
The Canadian dollar
is higher at 77.5 cents U.S. while the U.S. dollar returns $1.289 in Canadian
funds, before 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 higher,
with the Toronto Stock Exchange index at 14,064 points and the TSX Venture
index at 730 points.
The average price for
gas in Canada has dropped to $1.06 a liter or $4.02 (Canadian) for a U.S.
gallon.
Lotto 6/49: (June
29) 8, 11, 20, 24, 41 and 42; bonus 47. (June 25) 4, 5, 6, 8, 39 and 42; bonus
30. Lotto Max: (June 24) 2, 17, 22, 24, 26, 42 and 48; bonus 6.
---
Regional briefs:
- Two people were
killed in a massive explosion that destroyed a house and damaged dozens of
others in Mississauga, west of Toronto. Police launched a criminal
investigation after the body of Diane Page, 55, and an as-yet unidentified man
were found. Robert Nadler, the owner of the house on Hickory Drive and Page’s
partner, not been located.
- The Federal Court
of Appeal’s decision to quash the approval for Enbridge's $7.9-billion Northern
Gateway pipeline is being called a major setback. The line would link Alberta’s
oil sands with British Columbia ports. The court said the federal government failed
to consult with aboriginal people about the project’s impacts.
- Calgary is
exploring a bid to host the 2026 Olympic Winter Games after its success with the
1988 games. For the 2024 Summer Games, Rome, Paris, Budapest and Los Angeles
are finalists.
-30-
Jim Fox can be reached at canadareport@hotmail.com
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