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