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Sunday, August 4, 2019

Canadians need not worry over prescription drug shortages with U.S. sales: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says


   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.

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   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.”

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   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.

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   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.

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   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.

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Jim Fox can be reached at canadareport@hotmail.com

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