Canadian Prime Minister remains embroiled in SNC-Lavalin controversy

   Canada column for Sunday, March 10/19

   THE CANADIAN REPORT

   (c) By Jim Fox

   As Prime Minister Justin Trudeau faces the biggest crisis of his career, the company at the center of his political turmoil has lost a major court battle.

   Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer continues to demand the Liberal Prime Minister resign for political interference in support of engineering company SNC-Lavalin.

   The Montreal-based company on Friday lost its bid to have the Federal Court allow it to seek an agreement to avoid a criminal trial.

   It is alleged that SNC-Lavalin paid bribes to obtain government business in Libya.

   The firestorm followed testimony by Jody Wilson-Raybould, who was removed by Trudeau as Justice Minister, that she cautioned him not to interfere.

   She referred to “relentless pressure” from the Trudeau’s office and federal officials to help the company reach a remediation agreement.

   Trudeau and his former principal secretary, Gerald Butts, who also quit his job along with Wilson-Raybould, said nothing inappropriate happened.

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   There could still be no deal with the U.S. for a revised North American free trade agreement.

   Mexican senators meeting in Ottawa said its new government insists that unless the U.S. lifts punishing tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, there’s no deal.

   Mexico prefers the updated agreement “but we are OK with the current NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement),” said Luz Maria de la Mora, deputy trade minister.

   There are tariffs of 25 percent on steel and 10 percent on aluminum from Mexico and Canada under a national-security clause the two countries say is illegal.

   Canadian Transport Minister Marc Garneau told Trump economic adviser Larry Kudlow the tariffs are “a serious impediment to us moving forward on what is the best trade deal in the world.”

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   News in brief:

   - Canada plans to offer “no-cost, expedited pardons for simple possession of cannabis," says Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale. Now that the sale and use of pot is legal, the bill will offer release from cannabis possession records for hundreds of thousands of people. It will allow people “to shed the burden and the stigma,” Goodale said.

   - The Canadian labor market had its second month of strong job gains in February, adding 55,900 net new full-time positions. Statistics Canada said the surge followed a gain of 66,800 positions in January. It amounted to the strongest two-month job creation since 2012 and its best start to a year since 1981. The jobless rate stayed steady at 5.8 percent.

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   Facts and figures:

   The Canadian dollar is lower at 74.56 cents U.S. while the U.S. dollar returns $1.341 Canadian before bank and credit card exchange fees.

   The Bank of Canada’s key interest rate is unchanged at 1.75 percent while the prime-lending rate is 3.95 percent.

   Stock markets are lower, with the Toronto exchange index at 15,996 points while the TSX Venture index is 618 points.

   The average price for gas in Canada is higher at $1.12 a liter or $4.25 (Canadian) for a U.S. gallon; $1.07 in Ontario.

   Lotto 6/49: (March 6) 1, 3, 18, 19, 22 and 37; bonus 30. (March 2) 4, 14, 21, 29, 41 and 49; bonus 35. Lotto Max: (March 1) 2, 23, 24, 29, 40, 48 and 49; bonus 18.

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   Regional briefs:

   - “Give them the support they need, you stupid liar,” a protester yelled at Ontario Minister of Social Services Lisa MacLeod in a heated battle over an autism policy. The protest by hundreds of parents, therapists and union members outside the Legislature was the latest skirmish. Parents are upset by the government’s stated goal of getting children in need of treatment off the waiting lists. They say some kids with severe problems will be denied the expensive therapy they need.

   - An elderly Ottawa man was found alive and somewhat well after being snowed in at his house for the winter. Police were called to check on the well-being of the man who said he was living off whatever he had left. There was a winter’s worth of snow and ice in the driveway that police and city helpers then removed. They also brought him groceries and arranged for a care agency to give him future support.

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Jim Fox can be reached at canadareport@hotmail.com