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
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