Canada column for
Sunday, Aug. 18/19
THE CANADIAN REPORT
(c) By Jim Fox
Prime Minister
Justin Trudeau is unrepentant and said he will stand up for Canadian jobs,
communities and residents after being found in conflict of interest.
He’s not about to
apologize – as opposition politicians are demanding – while taking “full
responsibility” in the highly charged SNC-Lavalin affair.
Ethics Commissioner
Mario Dion said Trudeau violated the Conflict of Interest Act by improperly demanding
then-Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould halt criminal prosecution of the
engineering company.
Trudeau tried to
influence her in “many ways,” he ruled, but even so there is no punishment for
his actions.
The ruling found Trudeau
and senior officials “used various means to exert influence over Ms. Wilson‑Raybould,”
Dion said.
It was found that
SNC-Lavalin lobbied the government over several years to try to avoid
prosecution on bribery and corruption charges concerning Libyan projects.
Wilson-Raybould
later quit her cabinet position as did Jane Philpott in protest.
---
Mounties believe
two teenaged fugitives wanted for the murders of three people in British
Columbia died of “suicide by gunfire.”
An autopsy
confirmed the two bodies found in the northern Manitoba bush were those of Kam
McLeod, 19, and Bryer Schmegelsky, 18.
They were found
after a three-week manhunt by police that led to the Nelson River near Gillam,
Manitoba.
The two were wanted
for the murders of three people along the Alaska Highway.
Killed were
American tourist Chynna Deese and her Australian boyfriend Lucas Fowler and Leonard
Dyck, a University of British Columbia professor.
---
News in brief:
- Canada’s police
chiefs say the country’s gun laws are sufficient to deter crime and won’t
support a call for a ban on handguns. The Canadian Association of Chiefs of
Police said no other law is required to deal with violence in large cities. Toronto
Mayor John Tory wants a handgun ban and Prime Minister Trudeau said he will
consider additional gun-control measures. In most of the cases, handguns used are
illegal and it makes no sense to ban something that is already prohibited, the
group said.
- Air Canada’s bid
to take over tour operator Air Transat has improved with a sweetened offer up
$200 million to $720 million. Air Transat shareholders are to vote on the offer
by Air Canada, Canada’s largest airline, on Aug. 23 in Montreal. To reach a deal,
at least two-thirds of shareholders must approve the proposal and then it would
close early next year.
---
Facts and figures:
The Canadian dollar
is lower at 75.14 cents U.S. while the U.S. dollar returns $1.33 Canadian before
exchange fees.
The Bank of Canada’s
key interest rate is steady at 1.75 percent while the prime-lending rate is 3.95
percent.
Stock markets are lower, with the Toronto
exchange index at 16,045 points and the TSX Venture index at 577 points.
The average price for gas in Canada is lower at
$1.16 a liter or $4.40 (Canadian) for a U.S. gallon.
Lotto 6/49: (Aug. 14) 9, 14, 18, 31, 32 and 41;
bonus 38. (Aug. 10) 2, 3, 20, 33, 48 and 49; bonus 32. Lotto Max: (Aug. 13) 1,
5, 38, 39, 42, 47 and 49; bonus 15. (Aug. 9) 10, 25, 31, 34, 36, 39 and 45;
bonus 9.
---
Regional briefs:
- Manitoba Premier Brian
Pallister is seeking a second term in a provincial election called for Sept.
10. After three years in office, Pallister said his Conservative party had accomplished
most of its promises from the last election and needs a new mandate from
voters. The election would normally have been held next year. His party won the
largest majority in Manitoba in a century in the 2016 election, electing
members to 40 of 57 legislature seats.
- The federal
government is taking action to help prevent future massive flooding in
Fredericton, New Brunswick and surrounding communities. Prime Minister Trudeau
announced that $11.4 million in added money will be given to help protect the communities.
He made the announcement on the banks of the St. John River that has had three
major floods in 11 years. The work is expected to help protect about 27,500
residents.
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Jim Fox can be reached at canadareport@hotmail.com
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