Canada column for
Sunday, Aug. 28/16
THE CANADIAN REPORT
(c) By Jim Fox
Former Prime
Minister Stephen Harper, defeated in last October’s election, has resigned
after two decades in politics.
Harper quit as aMember
of Parliament for Calgary in a statement and on video on Friday.
After his election
defeat to Justin Trudeau and the Liberals, Harper left his position as
Conservative party leader but remained in Parliament.
He led the
Conservatives to a minority government, becoming prime minister in the 2006
election and again in 2008 before winning his first majority in 2011.
“On seven
occasions, I have been deeply humbled by your trust and support, time and
again,” Harper said of his election victories.
As he leaves
politics for a career as an international issues consultant, Harper said among
his “proudest accomplishments” were guiding the economy through the 2008
recession and the tough-on-crime agenda.
Interim
Conservative leader Rona Ambrose also noted his foreign policy, including
support for Israel and opposition to Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
---
Authorities
discovered 1,500 “raft people” invading Canada last weekend.
It happened when
winds pushed participants of the Port Huron Float Down across the St. Clair
River into Sarnia, Ontario.
They were supposed
to float on rafts and inner tubes seven miles from Port Huron’s Lighthouse
Beach to Chrysler Beach in Marysville, Mich.
Police and the Canadian Coast Guard had to rescue many of the
participants, described as being “over-refreshed” and without life jackets,
from the fast-moving current and arrange for buses to take them back over the
Blue Water Bridge to the U.S.
Funding campaigns have been set up to repay Sarnia the $8,100 cost of saving
the “float refugees” and the cleanup.
---
News in brief:
- Canada has
advised the United Nations that it is ready to resume peacekeeping missions
around the world. The Liberal government ended Canada’s military action in favor
again of committing 600 soldiers, including engineers and medical specialists,
to peacekeeping operations. Canada needs to act with “responsible conviction as
a determined peacebuilder,” Foreign Affairs Minister Stephane Dion said.
- Canada Post and the
union representing 51,000 workers have agreed to allow a government-appointed
mediator to help them reach a new contract and avoid a looming strike. The
Canadian Union of Postal Workers has threatened to begin rotating strikes and
work-to-rule action as soon as Monday to back contract demands. Major issues
are wage parity between rural and city letter carriers and pensions.
---
Facts and figures:
Canada’s dollar is lower at 77.28 cents U.S.
while the U.S. dollar returns $1.293 Canadian, 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.
Stock markets are mixed,
with the Toronto exchange index up at 14,691 points while the TSX Venture index
lower at 810 points.
The average price for
gas in Canada has risen to $1.038 a liter or $3.94 (Canadian) for a U.S.
gallon.
Lotto 6/49: (Aug.
24) 4, 17, 22, 30, 36 and 38; bonus 3. (Aug. 20) 11, 20, 26, 32, 39 and 43;
bonus 49. Lotto Max: (Aug. 19) 19, 22, 25, 32, 37, 45 and 47; bonus 40.
---
Regional briefs:
- Environment
Canada said tornadoes touched down in Windsor and nearby LaSalle, Ontario
leaving a trail of destruction. There was extensive damage to 15 houses but
only four people had minor injuries. These were called the most powerful
tornadoes in Ontario this season, with seven confirmed to date.
- More people among
the 80,000 forced from their homes by the Fort McMurray, Alberta wildfire have returned
home. Families from some 242 houses still can’t return because the area remains
contaminated with highly caustic ash and carcinogens from the May fire. Damage
was estimated at $3.6 billion and “human activity” is suspected as the cause.
- It’s the case of
the purloined porker missing from the Unicorn Pub in Calgary. Owner Mel Lafleur
said he saw on surveillance video a man sitting on Henry the pig – a 30-pound glass
fiber ornament that’s a fixture of his bar. The man and two other people were
then seen leaving with Henry and he’s appealing to the bacon bandits for his
safe return.
-30-
Jim Fox can be reached at canadareport@hotmail.com
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