Military helps in hunt for wanted fugitives in Canada's north

   Canada column for Sunday, July 28/19

   THE CANADIAN REPORT

   (c) By Jim Fox

   Canada’s military has been deployed as the hunt intensifies for two teenaged fugitives wanted in the murders of three people in northern British Columbia.

   Kam McLeod, 19, and Bryer Schmegelsky, 18, were last seen earlier in the week in the Gillam, Manitoba area.

   Mountie Corporal Julie Courchaine said they are wanted in the deaths of tourists Lucas Fowler from Australia, his American girlfriend Chynna Deese and University of British Columbia Prof. Leonard Dyck.

   Their bodies were found near their burned-out vehicles at the side of the Alaska Highway.

   Two vehicles the fleeing duo used were also found destroyed by fire.

   The last sighting of them was in the northern Manitoba town in a wilderness area filled with swamps, dense vegetation, wildlife and non-relenting biting insects.

   Police were searching door-to-door in the town of 1,200 people using dogs, drones, helicopters and patrols.

Canada's auto and manufacturing industries continue to lose thousands of jobs

   Canada column for Sunday, July 21/19

   THE CANADIAN REPORT

   (c) By Jim Fox

   The downturn in Canada’s auto industry is growing, costing thousands of jobs by the end of the year.

   The latest is the announcement that Ford Motor Co. will lay off 200 workers in September in Oakville, west of Toronto, with the possibility of more layoffs in January.

   The decision is to “match production with consumer demand,” said Ford’s Kelli Felker.

   Oakville, which employs about 4,600 workers, noted disappointing demand for its Ford Flex and Ford Edge SUVs and the Lincoln MKT crossover made there.

   Other big job losses include General Motors saying a few months ago that it would close its Oshawa, Ontario plant with the loss of about 2,800 jobs by December.

   Fiat Chrysler will put 1,500 people out of work starting Sept. 30 by ending a shift at the Windsor assembly plant, across from Detroit.

   The move is to “better align production with global demand,” the company said.

   Last week, the U.S. Buy America Act was cited as a reason for 550 workers losing their jobs with Bombardier’s railway car plant in Thunder Bay, Ontario by year’s end.

Buy America Act cited in big job loss at Bombardier in Canada

   Canada column for Sunday, July 14/19

   THE CANADIAN REPORT

   (c) By Jim Fox

   The U.S. Buy America Act is being mentioned as major reason for 550 workers losing their jobs with Bombardier Inc.

   The multinational manufacturer of airliners, trains and public transport equipment announced the termination of half its workforce in Thunder Bay, Ontario by year’s end.

   The company’s orders are winding down and the affected railway car plant is seeking more government work within Canada.

   Provincial government leaders are calling on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to negotiate an exemption to the act.

  It provides U.S. cities with financial assistance for public transit systems including buses, subways and commuter rail when 65 percent of the steel, iron and manufactured goods used are produced in America.

   Bombardier said it has “no choice” but to move work to the U.S. as has Winnipeg bus manufacturer New Flyer.

Calls for Ontario Cabinet minister to be removed after profane rant at Rolling Stones concert

   Canada column for Sunday, July 7/19

   THE CANADIAN REPORT

   By Jim Fox

   There are calls for a member of the Ontario government to be removed from the cabinet after a profanity laced outburst at the Rolling Stones concert.

   Eugene Melnyk, owner of the Ottawa Senators hockey team, said he was with family and friends watching the Stones perform north of Toronto when a woman burst through the crowd of about 70,000 and accosted him.

   The woman was Lisa MacLeod, Ontario’s Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sports, who launched into a “vulgar and profane” attack, Melnyk said.

   “All of a sudden, this woman yells at me,” he said, repeating her words.

   Melnyk spoke to Premier Doug Ford about the “troubling incident” made worse because MacLeod was at the concert on official business.

   MacLeod tweeted that she regrets her “inappropriate remarks and being so blunt.”

   She explained she was expressing concern about “the state of our beloved Ottawa Senators.”

No news on fate of detained Canadians in China after Trudeau's G20 attendance

   Canada column for Sunday, June 30/19

   THE CANADIAN REPORT

   (c) By Jim Fox

   There is no word on whether any progress was made at the G20 summit in Japan to have China release two Canadians being “arbitrarily held” in detention.

   Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was seen having several informal discussions with China’s President Xi Jinping but he hasn’t indicated if the case was discussed.

   President Donald Trump and other world leaders have offered their support to Canada as the Chinese have refused to talk to any senior Canadian government officials.

   It was felt the detentions of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor and the resentencing of Canadian Robert Schellenberg to death for a drug conviction is in retaliation.

   The events happened soon after Canada placed China’s Huawei chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou under house arrest in Vancouver.

   The U.S. asked Canada to make the arrest to seek extradition on allegations of fraud in violating Iran sanctions.

   Relations have been further strained when China banned the import of Canadian meat and other agricultural products.