Canada column for Sunday, Sept. 27/20
THE CANADIAN REPORT
(c) By Jim Fox
The threat of an imminent federal election has been averted through a deal to further support workers during the pandemic.
The opposition New Democrats are supporting the minority Liberal government’s legislation to continue aiding displaced workers.
As a result, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government has the support needed to survive a confidence vote on the throne speech outlining the Liberal plans.
New Democrat Leader Jagmeet Singh said the agreement includes its demands to widen access to sick-leave benefits during the pandemic.
It also raises the benefits for people left jobless to $500 a week from the planned lowering to $400 weekly.
Without the party’s support, the government might not have survived a non-confidence vote that would have caused the government to fall and an election held.
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With a dramatic increase in cases of COVID-19 health officials suggest Canadians should limit Thanksgiving activities on Oct. 12.
The second wave of the virus is “already underway,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said.
There are 1,100 new cases a day compared with 380 a day in August.
“It’s all too likely we won’t be gathering for Thanksgiving, but we still have a shot at Christmas,” he said.
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News in brief:
- Prime Minister Trudeau paid tribute to the late former Liberal Prime Minister John Turner as a “strong advocate for equality and a champion of our democracy.” Trudeau and representatives of the other political parties gathered in the House of Commons to honor Turner, who died at age 91.
- Bonnie Henry, British Columbia’s top doctor, says she’s received death threats and abuse over her actions during the pandemic. The provincial health officer said she had to have security at her home and has been targeted with threats, along with abusive letters and phone calls to her staff. She has become a national figure leading the COVID-19 response. Shoe designer John Fluevog has even named a pair of shoes after her.
- Online services still aren’t back to normal at Revenue Canada more than a month after a major cyberattack. The federal tax collection agency said a number of services remain unavailable and can’t say when it expects its online services to fully return to normal. A forensic analysis continues into the incident involving 48,000 accounts.
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Facts and figures:
The Canadian dollar is lower at 74.7 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 lower with the Toronto index at 16,065 points and the TSX Venture index 695 points.
The average price for gas in Canada is steady at $1.03 a liter (Canadian) or $3.91 for a U.S. gallon.
Lotto Max: (Sept. 22) 8, 9, 37, 38, 40, 43 and 49; bonus 28. (Sept. 18) 2, 11, 22, 25, 32, 40 and 44; bonus 27.
Lotto 6/49: (Sept. 23) 11, 17, 28, 29, 36 and 39; bonus 15. (Sept. 19) 5, 15, 31, 35, 42 and 46; bonus 17.
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Regional briefs:
- The remnants of Hurricane Teddy made landfall in eastern Nova Scotia and blew across southern Cape Breton with 60 mph winds. There were numerous power outages but little major damage when the then tropical storm came ashore near Sheet Harbour east of Halifax, the Canadian Hurricane Center said.
- It was a sticky situation as the Supreme Court of Canada agreed to hear a case involving fines and compensation of $10 million for a massive maple syrup heist. Richard Vallieres of Quebec, called the ringleader, was found guilty of fraud, trafficking in stolen goods and theft. More than 9,500 barrels of maple syrup, valued at $18 million, were stolen from a Quebec warehouse in 2011 and 2012. The Quebec Court of Appeal ruled the fine was excessive and lowered it to $1 million.
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Jim Fox can be reached at canadareport@hotmail.com
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