Canada column for Sunday, Nov. 27/16
THE CANADIAN REPORT
(c) By Jim Fox
Canada’s spending
deficit under the new Liberal government doubled to $2.4 billion in September
from a year earlier.
Prime Minister
Justin Trudeau earlier backed away from his election campaign vow for a
balanced budget by the end of the government’s four-year term.
Instead, the
current budget spending plan is said to help create 100,000 jobs and boost
national economic growth.
Revenues in the
month were about $21.7 billion, down from $22 billion, with lower corporate
income taxes, non-resident income taxes and excise taxes, and duties, the
Finance Department reported.
Infrastructure and
other program spending to stimulate the economy rose to $22.2 billion, up from
$21.2 billion a year ago.
In the first half
of the fiscal year, there was a deficit of $7.8 billion compared with a surplus
of $1.6 billion in the April-to-September period last year with the previous
Conservative government.
For the current
fiscal year, the government has forecast a $25.1-billion deficit.
---
Marineland, a
themed amusement park with marine and other animals in Niagara Falls, Ontario,
faces five animal cruelty charges.
The Ontario Society for the Prevention of
Cruelty to Animals says the charges concern 35 American black bears, peacocks
and guinea hens.
The charges include
failing to provide adequate and appropriate food and water for the bears.
Marineland also faces
charges for allowing a peacock to be in distress and failing to comply with the
prescribed standards of care for them and guinea hens.
The society said it
expects further charges as the investigation continues.
---
News in brief:
- The days of a
“bloated, taxpayer-subsidized CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corp.) are numbered,”
federal Conservative leadership candidate Kellie Leitch says. If elected leader
and prime minister, Leitch said she would dismantle the national radio-tv
broadcaster. The Member of Parliament for Simcoe-Grey said taxpayers “should
not have to subsidize the CBC to keep it afloat.”
- The union at
Postmedia wants five of its newspaper executives to reject bonuses amounting to
$2.275 million as the chain continues to reduce staff. The bonuses range from
$200,000 for National Post president Gordon Fisher to $900,000 for Postmedia
president and ceo Paul Godfrey. The Communications Workers of America said the
executives shouldn’t accept the payments while asking employees to take buyouts
and face further layoffs.
---
Facts and figures:
Canada’s dollar is lower at 73.90 cents U.S. while
the U.S. dollar returns $1.353 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 higher at 15,120 points while the TSX Venture
index is down at 733 points.
The average price for
gas in Canada is $1 a liter or $3.80 (Canadian) for a U.S. gallon.
Lotto 6/49: (Nov.
23) 6, 12, 13, 21, 31 and 42; bonus 22. (Nov. 19) 9, 11, 21, 26, 28 and 45;
bonus 49. Lotto Max: (Nov. 18) 7, 10, 21, 24, 38, 40 and 49; bonus 3.
---
Regional briefs:
- Two planes
clipped wings at the Vancouver International Airport on Thursday, putting both
of them out of service for repairs. The incident involved a United Airlines
Airbus being towed to a gate and a stationary WestJet aircraft that was Flight
1722 to Palm Springs. There were no passengers on board either plane at the
time.
- The Atlantic
nesting grounds of the roseate tern, an endangered seabird, are being protected
by the Canadian government. The surrounding waters and lands of four islands
off Nova Scotia, including Sable Island, are now listed as protected habitat
for them. This boosts measures already in place by Nova Scotia’s government.
The terns have a black cap and bill with a red base and a long, forked white
tail that resembles streamers in flight.
- Sixteen
“dognapped” canines, taken when a cargo van was stolen in downtown Toronto,
have been found unharmed. The dogs were out with a doggy day-care worker to visit
a park. They were missing most of the day until three railway workers noticed
the van parked at the rear of an industrial building. Police and the pet owners
had conducted a desperate search throughout the day.
-30-
Jim Fox can be reached at canadareport@hotmail.com
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