Canada column for
Sunday, Aug. 4/19
THE CANADIAN REPORT
(c) By Jim Fox
Canadians will
continue to have access to the medications they need even as concern grows over
Americans importing prescription drugs, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said.
Health Canada
ensures there is a “steady and solid supply” of medications Canadians need and
“at affordable prices,” he said.
There is mounting
concern after the U.S. announcement, similar to that in Florida, to allow
prescription drug imports from Canada.
No date was
announced for this to take place and Canada was not consulted on the specifics
of the plan in advance.
The issue has been
forefront in the election campaign of Senator Bernie Sanders who visited
Windsor, Ontario with a group of diabetic patients who bought insulin for
one-tenth the price charged in the U.S.
Health Minister
Ginette Petitpas Taylor’s office said there is a “mutual interest” in helping
to lower drug prices.
---
Two teenaged
fugitives wanted for three murders in British Columbia continue to elude police
as the hunt has been scaled back.
It’s been more than
a week since the last sighting of Kam
McLeod, 19, and Bryer Schmegelsky, 18, in the Gillam, Manitoba area.
There’s the thought
they might have made their way to northwestern Ontario in search of an easier
time out of the wilderness.
They are wanted in
the deaths of 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.
The incident has
changed life forever for residents of Gillam as locals have said “it’s the
first time in 20 years that I've locked my door.”
---
News in brief:
- In advance of the
Canadian election in October, the Liberal government is handing out money. A
series of spending announcements has started as the government gives away $1.3
billion in tariff revenues to steel and aluminum industries. The government pledged
to support domestic industries with the revenue it collected from the now-ended
retaliatory tariffs on U.S. steel, aluminum and other products.
- Police have
arrested 11 people, including two employees of Sunwing Airlines, believed to be
smuggling drugs into Canada from Jamaica. Raids in Kitchener, Brantford,
Hamilton and the Toronto area found drugs valued at $10 million and $400,000 in
cash. Police said the drugs from Caribbean countries arrived at the Toronto
airport on Sunwing planes.
---
Facts and figures:
The Canadian dollar
is lower at 75.74 cents U.S. while the U.S. dollar returns $1.32 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 mixed, with the Toronto
exchange index down at 16,271 points and the TSX Venture index up at 595
points.
The average price for gas in Canada is steady at
$1.217 a liter or $4.62 (Canadian) for a U.S. gallon.
Lotto 6/49: (July 31) 2, 11, 19, 35, 39 and 48;
bonus 17. (July 27) 1, 3, 5, 34, 38 and 43; bonus 49. Lotto Max: (July 30) 4, 6,
10, 15, 24, 40 and 43; bonus 3. (July 26) 11, 15, 17, 20, 24, 25 and 50; bonus
30.
---
Regional briefs:
- A train carrying
hazardous chemicals derailed near Irvine, Alberta, forcing residents from their
homes and closing part of the Trans-Canada Highway. Fifteen cars of the
Canadian Pacific Railway freight derailed and caught fire. Residents within a
five-mile radius of the crash were advised to leave their homes from Friday
afternoon until Saturday morning.
- The Canadian
government has lifted speed restrictions in shipping and cruise ship lanes
in the Gulf of St. Lawrence after no further endangered North Atlantic right
whales were seen. There are only about 400 of the species left in the world.
There have been eight right whales found dead in Canadian waters since June.
-30-
Jim Fox can be reached
at canadareport@hotmail.com
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