Canada column for
Sunday, Dec. 8/19
THE CANADIAN REPORT
(c) By Jim Fox
Political analysts
suggest Canada might pay a price for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau provoking
President Donald Trump.
It’s because
Trudeau appeared to mock Trump in a “hot mic” conversation at a Buckingham
Palace event for world leaders.
Trudeau was talking
with French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson,
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Princess Anne where they appeared to make
fun of the president.
Later Trump said
Trudeau is “two-faced, but I find him to be a nice guy.”
“Canada could well
pay for this . . . it could have very serious consequences,” said Michael
Byers, politics and law professor at the University of British Columbia.
“It sets back years
of effort . . . to keep Canada out of the gunsights, so to speak, of an
impulsive and vindictive president,” he added.
Conservative Leader
Andrew Scheer said “Trudeau’s poor judgment, lack of professionalism, and love
of drama continues to weaken Canada’s position on the world stage.”
---
The Canadian
government will soon be moving to ban a list of semi-automatic weapons, said Public
Safety Minister Bill Blair.
He made the comment
on the 30th anniversary of the “Montreal massacre” when a gunman killed 14
women and himself at the Ecole Polytechnique university.
The Ruger Mini-14
used in the shooting is among the weapons to be banned.
The Liberal
government in the recent election campaign said it would ban military-style
assault rifles and allow municipalities the power to limit or ban handguns
within their borders.
Owners of the
estimated 250,000 semi-automatic assault rifles named in the ban will receive compensation
for their weapons in a buyback program, Blair said.
---
News in brief:
- The Speech from
the Throne, outlining the Liberal government’s plans for its second term calls
for stronger action to fight climate change. As well, there will be lower taxes
for the middle class, stronger gun controls, work toward national pharmacare
and investments in infrastructure, public transit, affordable housing and
health care. Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-Francois Blanchet said his party’s 32 members
will support the speech to avoid a possible defeat of the minority government.
- Bank of Canada
Governor Stephen Poloz announced he will retire in June when his current
mandate expires as head of the central bank. Speculation suggests a possible
successor could be Senior Deputy Governor Carolyn Wilkins. Poloz, who is 64, is
currently serving a seven-year term in the position.
---
Facts and figures:
The Canadian dollar
is higher at 75.45 cents U.S. while the U.S. dollar returns $1.325 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 mixed with the Toronto
exchange index down at 16,996 points and the TSX Venture index up to 537
points.
The average price
for gas in Canada is down at $1.12 a liter or $4.25 for a U.S. gallon.
Lotto Max: (Dec. 3) 2, 10,
20, 30, 32, 35 and 50; bonus 21. (Nov. 29), 3, 8, 14, 15, 24, 33 and 48; bonus 4.
Lotto 6/49: (Dec.
4) 2, 3, 4, 10, 21 and 43; bonus 19. (Nov. 30) 1, 8, 18, 24, 30 and 45;
bonus 13.
---
Regional briefs:
- There’s a
political football of sorts as agreement still hasn’t been reached on the site
of a $110-million stadium to bring a Canadian Football
League team to the Halifax area. Schooner Sports and Entertainment is seeking
government funding to build the complex in Dartmouth’s Shannon Park by 2022.
The problem is a report for Halifax Regional Council recommends rejection
of the location saying it is “not conducive to a robust transportation plan.”
- A craft beer
battle in Alberta has ended with the Court of Appeal ruling the province
doesn’t have to pay $2 million to out-of-province breweries. It also ruled
Alberta can’t resurrect a craft beer support program in which the previous
government charged retailers a higher markup for beer brewed outside British
Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan that was called a barrier to interprovincial
trade.
-30-
Jim Fox can be reached at canadareport@hotmail.com
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