Canada column for
Sunday, Aug. 21/16
THE CANADIAN REPORT
(c) By Jim Fox
The Canadian
government is looking at toughening national security measures after police
narrowly thwarted a terrorist attack.
Of concern are
peace bonds such as the one issued to Aaron Driver, 24, who was on his way to
launch a bomb attack when Mountie sharpshooters shot and killed him in a taxi
outside his home in Strathroy, Ontario.
Public Safety Minister
Ralph Goodale said there are “limitations” and the government is looking at having
terrorist sympathizers undergo mandatory de-radicalization counseling.
The government is also
spending $35 million to establish a center for countering violent extremism.
Driver was under a
court-ordered bond with strict conditions to limit his movements, travel,
internet communications and cell phone use after his arrest last year.
Even so, he was able to acquire bomb-making
materials, make a “martyrdom video” and set out to blow up a device to cause mass
casualties in an unnamed urban area.
His plans were
foiled when the FBI advised the Mounties about the video and they were able to
identify and confront him as he left the house.
---
Canadians face the
possibility of a strike by postal workers as little progress is reported in
contract negotiations.
Canada Post said
that Canadians “could expect” a strike notice to be issued by Aug. 25, when a
60-day negotiation mandate expires.
The union represents
50,000 workers and Canada Post spokesman Jon Hamilton said the strike mandate
is creating uncertainty for businesses and customers.
The union’s demands
were called “too costly” when mail volumes are declining.
---
News in brief:
- Prime Minister
Justin Trudeau will be visit China for a week from Aug. 30 to discuss deepening
business ties. Canada wants to make inroads into the rapidly expanding Asian
markets and perhaps a free-trade deal. An issue to be discussed will also be
Trudeau’s concerns over China’s human rights issues.
- Politicians and
the public are paying tribute to Mauril Belanger, a veteran Liberal Member of
Parliament, who died at age 61. He was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease last
November soon after being re-elected to his eighth term for Ottawa-Vanier. He
was expected to be elected Speaker of the House but had to withdraw.
- The family of
hockey great Gordie Howe wants his grave site to be back in his home province
of Saskatchewan. Known as “Mr. Hockey,” he died in June at age 88 and played
for 25 years with the Detroit Red Wings. Plans are proceeding for the cremated
remains of Howe and his wife Colleen to be interred at the base of a statue
that honors him in Saskatoon.
---
Facts and figures:
Canada’s dollar is higher at 77.64 cents U.S.
while the U.S. dollar returns $1.287 Canadian, before exchange fees.
The Bank of Canada’s
key interest rate is steady at 0.5 percent while the prime-lending rate is 2.7
percent.
Stock markets are lower,
with the Toronto exchange index at 14,686 points while the TSX Venture index is
832 points.
The average price for
gas in Canada is steady at $1.01 a liter or $3.83 (Canadian) for a U.S. gallon.
Lotto 6/49: (Aug.
17) 2, 12, 19, 38, 41 and 47; bonus 46.
(Aug. 13) 3, 4, 15, 17, 38 and 47; bonus 36. Lotto Max: (Aug. 12) 5, 7,
15, 18, 19, 27 and 28; bonus 25.
---
Regional briefs:
- Ontario 42,000
doctors showed their displeasure by rejecting a proposed contract from the
provincial government that would have raised their fees by 2.5 percent a year
to 2020. As well, it would have given hundreds of millions of dollars in
one-time payments to physicians each year.
- Prime Minister Trudeau
joined Tragically Hip fans in Kingston, Ontario paying tribute to the iconic
Canadian rock band’s last-ever concert. It was the final stop on the “Man
Machine Poem” tour as lead singer Gord Downie said he faces terminal brain
cancer.
- Two Brockville,
Ontario women were told by police to stay away from each other after they
engaged in a dog dirt fight. The fight started when one of them found what she
believed was her neighbor’s dog's excrement on her property and threw it back.
Then the neighbor retaliated by tossing handfuls of poop back and pushing each
other.
-30-
Jim Fox can be reached at canadareport@hotmail.com
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