Pandemic puts several of Canada's political leaders in isolation

    Canada column for Sunday, Sept. 20/20

    THE CANADIAN REPORT

 (c) By Jim Fox

   Several of Canada’s political leaders have gone into isolation after positive readings for the COVID-19 virus while several provinces are retightening restrictions.

   Recently elected Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole and his wife Rebecca are in self-isolation but “feeling well” along with Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-Francois Blanchet, both of whom were linked to a staff member’s positive tests.

   At the height of the outbreaks, Tina Namiesniowski, president of the Public Health Agency of Canada, says she is quitting her job citing fatigue.

   “You really need someone who will have the energy and the stamina to take the agency and our response to the next level,” she said after holding the position since May 2019.

  “It is time for someone else to lead the country through the virus’ second wave,” she added.

   Canada has had 141,732 cases with 9,202 deaths as numbers flatten.

   Recent outbreaks have prompted provinces to reduce numbers of people gathering, making masks mandatory in public settings and other measures.

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   Canada appears content to keep the land border with the United States closed despite comments to the contrary by President Donald Trump.

   Both countries have agreed to extend the closing to all but essential travel for at least another month until Oct. 21.

   The border has been closed since March 21 in a bid to limit the spread of the virus.

    There has been some relaxing of the rules now to allow families to reunite but not including non-married couples and others.

   “We will continue to base our decisions on the best public health advice available to keep Canadians safe,” said Public Safety Minister Bill Blair.

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   News in brief:

   - Environment Canada says the haze from California and U.S. forest fires has reached Canada as far east as the Maritimes but it poses no health risk. The layer of smoke is in the upper atmosphere and is not affecting air quality, meteorologist Peter Kimbell said. Most of the heavier particles have fallen out in their voyage from the West Coast but it is making things “a bit hazier than it would otherwise be,” he added.

   - Even as the “situation is far from back to normal,” the National Bank said Canada’s economic indicators continue to surprise on the upside. This includes retail and home sales and housing starts. Pent-up demand and benefits from provisions for deferral of debt repayments and extraordinarily generous income-support programs more than offset the losses of employment earnings, it said. “Though the vigor of the job-market rebound is impressive, the road ahead remains formidable,” the bank said.

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   Facts and figures:

  The Canadian dollar is lower at 75.7 cents U.S. while the U.S. dollar returns $1.332 Canadian before exchange fees.

   The Bank of Canada’s key interest rate is unchanged at 0.25 percent while the prime lending rate is 2.45 percent.

   Canadian stock markets are mixed with the Toronto index down at 16,198 points and the TSX Venture index up at 745 points.

   The average price for gas in Canada is lower at $1.03 a liter (Canadian) or $3.91 for a U.S. gallon.

   Lotto Max: (Sept. 15) 1, 5, 6, 24, 27, 28 and 32; bonus 38. (Sept. 11) 4, 15, 16, 17, 35, 46 and 50; bonus 13.

   (Lotto 6/49: (Sept. 16) 6, 12, 23, 29, 44 and46 bonus 39. (Sept. 12) 5, 13, 19, 37, 42 and 45; bonus 40.

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   Regional briefs:

   - Hurricane Teddy is on track to arrive in Atlantic Canada with gale-force winds and heavy rainfall on Tuesday and Wednesday. The storm is moving southeast of Bermuda with maximum sustained winds of 126 mph. It will continue on a path toward Nova Scotia and transition to a “very dangerous” tropical storm as it moves though the region, forecasters said.

   - “Look ma, no hands.” A “driver” was arrested in Alberta for dangerous driving while sleeping behind the wheel of a Tesla electric car. Police said the two front seat occupants were snoozing as the car was speeding on autopilot at 90 mph. Police Sergeant Darrin Turnbull said they were alerted to the driverless car by other concerned motorists.

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 Jim Fox can be reached at canadareport@hotmail.com

Former finance minister guilty of breaking election laws

    Canada column for Sunday, Sept. 13/20

    THE CANADIAN REPORT

   (c) By Jim Fox

    Former Finance Minister Bill Morneau, caught up in a conflict-of-interest investigation with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, was found guilty of breaking election laws.

   Yves Cote, Commissioner of Canada Elections, ruled that before last year’s federal election, Morneau wrongly promoted two prospective Liberal candidates at separate events he headlined as finance minister.

   His actions “promoted the electoral prospects” in these districts, Cote said and “caused the expenses related to these events to benefit the Liberal party,” he added.

   In giving him a $300 fine, Cote said ministers are not to use taxpayer funds for partisan gain.

   Morneau has resigned from politics after repaying $41,000 for trips his family took that were paid by WE Charity where his daughter worked.

   The conflict investigation continues into Trudeau’s family payments from the charity that was given lucrative government work and has now closed in Canada.

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    Amazon plans to open two new “fulfillment centers” in Hamilton and Ajax, Ontario to create 2,500 new, full-time jobs next year.

   Promising “competitive hourly wages and comprehensive benefits,” this will bring Amazon’s total to 10 centers in Ontario and 16 in Canada.

   Amazon recently added five nearby delivery stations in Stoney Creek, Kitchener, Vaughan and Toronto (Etobicoke and Scarborough).

   The stations are creating hundreds of permanent, full-time and part-time jobs, in addition to offering entrepreneurs the opportunity to build their own small businesses delivering Amazon packages, the company said.

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   News in brief:

   - Canada’s central bank has kept its trendsetting interest rate on hold at 0.25 percent.

   The Bank of Canada said it will stay there until inflation is back on target. “It will remain at near-zero until economic slack is absorbed and a two-per-cent inflation target is sustainably achieved,” it said. As well, the bank said it “stands ready to do whatever is necessary to aid the economy as it recuperates from the COVID-19 crisis.” It noted household spending rebounded sharply over the summer.

   - A much different Toronto International Film Festival opened its 10day run for its pandemic version with no crowds and celebrities, fewer screenings and wearing masks. As one of the largest film festivals in the world, it normally attracts about 500,000 people. The show is going on for its 45th edition with some in-person screenings, virtually and pop-up drive-in locations.

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    Facts and figures:

  The Canadian dollar is lower at 75.8 cents U.S. while the U.S. dollar returns $1.31 Canadian before exchange fees.

   The Bank of Canada’s key interest rate is unchanged at 0.25 percent while the prime lending rate is 2.45 percent.

   Canadian stock markets are higher with the Toronto index at 16,222 points and the TSX Venture index at 734 points.

   The average price for gas in Canada is lower at $1.035 a liter (Canadian) or $3.93 for a U.S. gallon.

   Lotto Max: (Sept. 8) 6, 12, 19, 27, 30, 32 and 44; bonus 18. (Sept. 4) 7, 18, 22, 26, 35, 41 and 50; bonus 11.

   (Lotto 6/49: (Sept. 9) 3, 5, 9, 19, 29 and 37; bonus 42. (Sept. 5) 1, 8, 10,33,34 and 38; bonus 4.

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   Regional briefs:

   -Toronto based Porter Airlines will remain grounded until at least Nov. 12, almost eight months after flights were first halted because of the virus. The decision was due to mandatory quarantines for people entering Canada that are still in force and the Canada-U.S. border and Atlantic Canada travel remain closed. The airline will waive change and cancellation fees on all fares booked through Nov. 12, including vacation packages.

   - Quebec must be the karaoke capital of the world but this form of expression and escapist fun has run afoul of pandemic laws. The Quebec government is banning karaoke after an outbreak at a Quebec City bar linked to dozens of cases. Dr. Horacio Arruda said the combination of droplet-projecting singing, shared microphones and alcohol consumption make karaoke the ideal environment to spread COVID-19. “Karaoke isn’t the problem, it’s management that doesn’t respect the rules,” said performer “Billy Karaoke.”

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 Jim Fox can be reached at canadareport@hotmail.com

Canada orders enough COVID-19 vaccine when avilaable for two shots a person

    Canada column for Sunday, Sept. 6/20

    THE CANADIAN REPORT

   By Jim Fox

    The Canadian government has ordered 75-million doses of COVID-19 vaccine when it becomes available from clinical trials.

   The stockpile is enough vaccine to give at least two doses to every Canadian, said Procurement Minister Anita Anand.

   As well, it is getting ready to receive a similar number of syringes, alcohol swabs and bandages, so Canada will not have to rely on foreign suppliers as before.

   Quebec biopharmaceutical company Medicago has begun Canada’s first human vaccine trials and expects to have the initial results on 180 people by early fall.

   Rather than pandemic panic buying, Canada is seeking a private company to take over the logistics of ordering, receiving, storing and distributing millions of face masks, respirators, surgical gowns and other personal protective equipment.

   Previously Canada faced the “wild west” of trying to find and buy supplies and devices from around the world, said Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland.

    ---

    Even with the billions of dollars in government support, Canadians are getting back into the workforce after devastating job losses due to the pandemic.

   Statistics Canada said the economy added 246,000 jobs in August, the fourth consecutive month of gains, after jobless claims soared in the March and April lockdowns.

   The overall employment total is within 1.1 million of pre-pandemic levels with most gains in full-time work.

   There are also 713,000 people working less than half their usual hours, falling from 2.5 million in April.

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    News in brief:

   - Anxious parents and teachers are wondering if their provinces’ plans and safeguards against the virus will be enough as schools are reopening across Canada. Ontario Premier Doug Ford said his province’s strategy that is “adaptable and flexible” is the best in Canada but he feels some children will get the virus. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said his three children will be back in school this coming week.

   - Two airline passengers were fined $1,000 for refusing to wear face masks on a WestJet flight. Transport Canada said these are the first fines for violating rules meant to prevent the spread of the pandemic. In British Columbia, a U.S. boater was fined $2,000 for entering Canadian waters and failing to follow COVID-19 quarantine measures and for not reporting to border agents.

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    Facts and figures:

  The Canadian dollar is higher at 76.54 cents U.S. while the U.S. dollar returns $1.306 Canadian before exchange fees.

   The Bank of Canada’s key interest rate is unchanged at 0.25 percent while the prime lending rate is 2.45 percent.

   Canadian stock markets are lower with the Toronto index at 16,218 points and the TSX Venture index 733 points.

   The average price for gas in Canada is lower at $1.054 a liter (Canadian) or $4 for a U.S. gallon.

   Lotto Max: (Sept. 1) 2, 9, 29, 30, 31, 35 and 37; bonus 19. (Aug. 28) 5, 8, 9 28, 32, 48 and 50; bonus 40.

   Lotto 6/49: (Sept. 2) 1, 5, 15, 23, 25 and 31; bonus 40. (Aug. 29) 3, 13, 21, 24, 29 and 40; bonus 35.

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    Regional briefs:

   - The cancellation of the Canadian National Exhibition due to the risk of spreading the virus is a huge financial and emotional blow to Toronto. In business for 142 years, The Ex is an 18-day summer tradition and one of largest fairs in North America with 1.4-million visitors a year. It has an annual impact of $93 million on the city and employs more than 5,000 seasonal workers.

   - The pandemic has forced the Vancouver Aquarium to close and lay off 200 staff members. The move is to save money after months of financial losses. Operator Ocean Wise Conservation Association said it costs $1 million a month to feed and care for the 70,000 animals. Specialized staff, such as veterinarians and biologists, will remain to care for the animals.

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 Jim Fox can be reached at canadareport@hotmail.com