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.

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   There’s a growing concern of Canadian medicine shortages as some U.S. states including Florida are allowing Americans to import cheaper drugs.

   “The Canadian medicine supply is not sufficient to support both Canadian and U.S. consumers,” said 15 groups representing patients, health professionals, hospitals and pharmacists.

   To highlight the drug price issue, Senator Bernie Sanders plans to visit Windsor, Ontario across from Detroit today (Sunday).

   He will be with diabetic patients who will buy life-saving insulin for about one-tenth the price charged in the U.S.

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   News in brief:

   - There’s now a closer fight between the ruling Liberals and the Conservatives in advance of the October federal election. A Leger poll said the Conservatives have dropped two percent to 36 since June and Liberal support is up four at 33. The Green Party edged the socialist New Democrats 12 percent to 11 while t the Bloc Quebecois had four and the People’s Party of Canada, three.

   - The right-wing People's Party formed last year by Maxime Bernier when he quit the Conservatives would get tough on immigration. His government would slash immigration and refugee numbers, build a fence to block asylum seekers from walking across the border and no longer allow immigrants to sponsor their families to join them. “We cannot be the welfare state of the planet,” he said.

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   Facts and figures:

   The Canadian dollar is lower at 75.84 cents U.S. while the U.S. dollar returns $1.318 Canadian before exchange fees.

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

   Stock markets are higher, with the Toronto exchange index at 16,531 points and the TSX Venture index 592 points.

   The average price for gas in Canada is lower at $1.217 a liter or $4.62 (Canadian) for a U.S. gallon.

   Lotto 6/49: (July 24) 2, 8, 10, 18, 37 and 48; bonus 29. (July 20) 4, 21, 30, 41, 44 and 46; bonus 5. Lotto Max: (July 23) 4, 8, 11, 16, 28, 29 and 44; bonus 43. (July 19) 1, 15, 21, 29, 30, 31 and 33; bonus 5.

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   Regional briefs:

   - Toronto police are investigating the sudden death at home of former Ontario Health Minister David Caplan, who was 54. The cause of death was not immediately known but police said there had been a fire at the house. The Liberal politician, first elected in 1997 and served until 2011, is survived by his parents, wife Leigh and two sons. 

   - Actress Pamela Anderson is calling for an end to chuck wagon races after more horses died at this year’s Calgary Stampede. “Please use your authority to end chuck wagon racing before more horses die,” Anderson told Alberta Premier Jason Kenney. “Recently moving back to my beautiful native Canada, my heart sank as I read about six horses who died,” she added. More than 70 horses have died in the event since 1986.

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Jim Fox can be reached at canadareport@hotmail.com