Canada column for Sunday, Sept. 8/19
THE CANADIAN REPORT
(Written on Sept. 7)
(c) By Jim Fox
Residents of
Atlantic Canada were being warned that Hurricane Dorian has Nova Scotia, in
particular, in its sights after devastating the Bahamas.
The Canadian
Hurricane Center said it packs a wallop and has strengthened to a Category 2
storm with “significant destructive potential.”
After making
landfall, it will move into the Gulf of St. Lawrence and transform into a
strong tropical storm.
Dorian is on course
to make a direct hit on or just east of Halifax and head off toward
Newfoundland late in the weekend, said meteorologist Bob Robichaud.
As coastal
residents were urged on Saturday to leave their homes, Robichaud said heavy
rain and wind have arrived in southwestern Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.
Winds at landfall
were predicted to be more than 62 mph (100 km/h), with gusts topping
87 mph (140 km/h).
The heaviest rain at
2 inches (50 millimeters) to 6 inches (150 millimeters) was expected over
western Nova Scotia as the storm turns to the left.
---
Canada immediately
sent field hospitals, shelter materials, food and water to the Bahamas after
Hurricane Dorian caused massive destruction.
Prime Minister
Justin Trudeau also announced the donation of an initial $500,000 in emergency
assistance to support experienced humanitarian organizations on the ground.
The government sent
officials to assess the situation and oversee rescue efforts.
As well, teams of
power workers from Canada were in Orlando and throughout the south ready to
help restore electricity in the Bahamas and the U.S.
The Disaster
Assistance Response Team of highly trained military and civilian experts, along
with Canadian airport engineering specialists, arrived in the Bahamas on
Wednesday.
---
News in brief:
- Conservative
Leader Andrew Scheer says if his government is elected next month it would better
protect personal information. After major security breaches that compromised the
data of millions of Canadians, Scheer said he would also create a certification
system. This would let consumers know if digital products meet federal security
standards and would be called “Canada Cyber Safe.”
- Canada’s economy
had a surge of new jobs last month with a gain of 81,100 net positions, most of
them part time in the services sector by young people. Statistics Canada said
that nationally the unemployment rate remained steady at 5.7 percent even with
the job gains. That was because more people entered the labor force looking for
work with the jobless rate near a 40-year low.
---
Facts and figures:
The Canadian dollar
is higher at 75.9 cents U.S. while the U.S. dollar returns $1.31 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 up at 16,535 points and the TSX Venture index slightly lower at 588
points.
The average price for gas in Canada is down to $1.13
a liter or $4.29 (Canadian) for a U.S. gallon.
Lotto Max: (Sept. 6) 4, 5, 24, 25, 43, 44 and
50; bonus 41. (Sept. 3) 6, 8, 11, 13, 28, 42 and 48; bonus 27. Lotto 6/49: (Sept.
4) 1, 4, 5, 17, 21 and 29; bonus 46. (Aug. 31) 2, 21, 22, 24, 48 and 49; bonus
23.
---
Regional briefs:
- Ontario
Provincial Police say it could take some time before the cause and details of a
deadly crash involving a boat owned by celebrity entrepreneur Kevin O’Leary are
known. The crash on Lake Joseph, north of Toronto, happened after an evening of
fireworks. Gary Poltash, 64, of Belleair Beach, Florida
and Suzana Brito, 48, of Uxbridge, Ontario, both on a second boat, were killed.
O’Leary and his wife on the other boat were not injured.
- Brenda Murphy, a feminist
and social-justice advocate, has been named lieutenant-governor of New
Brunswick by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The former city politician from the
Saint John area succeeds the late Jocelyne Roy Vienneau. The honorary role is
being Queen’s Elizabeth II’s representative in the province to celebrate special events and milestones and being the honorary patron
of service and community organizations.
-30-
Jim Fox can be reached at canadareport@hotmail.com
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