Canada column for
Sunday, Dec. 15/19
THE CANADIAN REPORT
(c) By Jim Fox
Andrew Scheer, in a surprise move, has quit as
Canada’s Conservative leader.
He faced severe
criticism for failing to lead the party to victory over Liberal Prime Minister
Justin Trudeau in last October’s election.
Scheer also became
unpopular with voters during the campaign when hounded with questions about his
personal opinions on same-sex marriage and abortion.
Saying it was “one
of the most difficult decisions I have ever made,” Scheer will stay on until
the party chooses a new leader.
The 40-year-old
politician said he “felt it was time to put my family first” and quit.
“In order to chart
the course ahead, this party, this movement, needs someone who can give 100
percent to the efforts,” he said.
Trudeau thanked
Scheer for his dedication and service, saying he “understood the many
sacrifices made by the families of politicians.”
Among those
considered as a possible successor is former interim leader Rona Ambrose.
She united the
Conservatives when former Prime Minister Stephen Harper quit after his party’s
2015 election defeat.
---
Negotiators who
reached a new North American free trade deal call it a “win-win-win” for Canada,
the U.S. and Mexico.
Now with tentative
approval of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), the next step is final
ratification by the governments of the partners.
It will succeed the
decades-old North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and was approved with
some changes concerning labor and environmental enforcement and steel imports.
Deputy Prime
Minister Chrystia Freeland, who handled Canada’s negotiations, said it is a
“national priority” to now sign the deal.
---
News in brief:
- Canada’s second
phase of air passenger rights begin today and affect flight delays and
cancellations. The rules will require airlines to seat parents beside or near their
children at no extra cost and compensate flyers for delays and cancellations within
an airline’s control. Delays resulting from weather or mechanical issues are
exempted. The first phase in July required airlines to compensate for tarmac
delays, denied boardings and lost or damaged luggage.
- Independent
Member of Parliament Jody Wilson-Raybould is being threatened with eviction if
she won’t leave her cabinet office space. She resigned as a Liberal cabinet
minister after a dispute over ethics with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau last
February. She said she understood she would stay in her offices and had an
Algonquin elder bless the space and isn’t leaving soon.
---
Facts and figures:
The Canadian dollar
has advanced to 75.93 cents U.S. while the U.S. dollar returns $1.317 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.
Canadian stock markets are higher with the Toronto
exchange index at 17,003 points and the TSX Venture index 540 points.
The average price
for gas in Canada is steady at $1.12 a liter or $4.25 for a U.S. gallon.
Lotto Max: (Dec.10) 7, 11, 19, 30, 42, 43 and 50;
bonus 44. (Dec. 6) 9, 11, 17, 19, 35, 36 and 43; bonus 28.
Lotto
6/49: (Dec. 7) 18, 32, 36, 37, 38 and 45; bonus 13. (Dec.11) 7, 17, 21, 34, 47 and 48;
bonus 27.
---
Regional briefs:
- High school
teachers from 10 boards across Ontario will hold a one-day strike on Wednesday to
back contract demands. This is the third day-long walkout while other teachers
will hold information pickets outside schools and provincial government offices.
At issue are wage increases and the government’s plan to increase class sizes
and order mandatory e-learning.
- The Christmas
tree industry in Nova Scotia is bouncing back after the provincial government
earlier this year pledged $750,000 to strengthen the industry and explore new
markets. The 320 producers who harvest 15,000 acres will also have better
access to smart trees. These are healthier and hold needles for up to three
months. There is worldwide demand for the forest-grown balsam firs.
-30-
Jim Fox can be reached at canadareport@hotmail.com
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