Canada column for Sunday, Feb. 12/17
THE CANADIAN REPORT
(c) By Jim Fox
Canada and the
United States intend to remain best of friends as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
and President Donald Trump prepare to meet on Monday.
The Canadian nice,
polite and friendly demeanor hopefully will prevail but if pushed on trade
issues and jobs, Trudeau plans to stand his frozen ground.
Somewhat unsettling
is Trump’s public rift with Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto that scrubbed
plans for a trilateral meeting of North America’s leaders, dubbed the “Three
Amigos.”
As Trudeau heads
off to Washington, his ministers have been preparing U.S. officials about the
realities between life on both sides of the border.
This includes the
value of the North American Free Trade Agreement that Trump has said needs to
be renegotiated to serve America’s interests better.
As the world’s
largest two-way trading partners, Finance Minister Bill Morneau said
nine-million U.S. jobs are tied to trade with Canada while the trade surpluses
and deficits are fairly even.
Trudeau said he
expects discussion on a “board range of issues,” including creating jobs and “opportunity
for Canadian citizens through the continued close integration on both sides of
the border.”
“The president
looks forward to a constructive conversation in strengthening the deep
relationship that exists between the United States and Canada," said White
House press secretary Sean Spicer.
---
The Trans-Canada
Highway near the British Columbia-Alberta border was closed on Wednesday when
an avalanche roared down.
No one was injured
and vehicles were able to turn around, police said.
The avalanche
danger is high due to recent snowstorms with more on the way.
In Atlantic Canada,
a fierce winter storm has dumped up more than a foot of snow with high winds
across Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.
There was freezing
rain and snow in Newfoundland and blizzard warnings for southeastern Labrador
on Friday.
---
News in brief:
- You betcha. Social
media speculation suggests Sarah Palin, former Alaska governor, will become the
U.S. ambassador to Canada. There was no comment from the White House. Bar owner
Mike Slankard tweeted: “Stop laughing . . . she speaks almost fluent Canadian.”
She would succeed Bruce Heyman who served with the previous government.
- The Emmerson town
hall in Manitoba has been opened to provide shelter to refugees who are
crossing the U.S.-Canada border in larger numbers. Reeve Greg Janzen said the
community will continue to be a “welcoming place” for those seeking asylum in
Canada. Canada Border Services and Mounties processed 22 refugees who walked
into Canada last weekend. They are searched and screened before being released
to await the refugee process.
---
Facts and figures:
The Canadian dollar
is lower at 76.51 cents U.S. while the U.S. dollar returns $1.307 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 higher,
with the Toronto exchange index at 15,724 points while the TSX Venture index is
at 830 points.
The average price
for gas in Canada is lower at $1.058 a liter or $4.02 (Canadian) for a U.S.
gallon.
Lotto 6/49: (Feb. 8)
3, 4, 8, 12, 13 and 46; bonus 26. (Feb. 4) 2, 8, 9, 13, 41 and 44; bonus 27. Lotto
Max (Feb. 3) 8, 19, 24, 28, 34, 42 and 48; bonus 17.
---
Regional briefs:
- Canada’s
population grew to 35.1 million last year, driven by growth in the West,
Statistics Canada reported. That’s up five percent from 33.5 million in 2011,
with two-thirds from immigration. Some 66 percent of Canadians live within 60
miles of the U.S. border. The three largest cities – Toronto, Montreal and
Vancouver – have a combined population of 12.5 million, about half of that in
Greater Toronto.
- Nova Scotia’s
9,300 public school teachers are in a showdown with Premier Stephen McNeil’s
Liberal government after rejecting a third tentative contract deal. “They
deserve better,” said Liette Doucet, teachers union president as a work-to-rule
campaign resumed. Education Minister Karen Casey said the failed agreement
included $20 million to improve classroom conditions, a key issue in the
dispute.
-30-
Jim Fox can be reached at canadareport@hotmail.com
No comments:
Post a Comment