Canada column for Sunday, Nov. 15 /20
THE CANADIAN REPORT
By Jim Fox
The gloves are off in the battle against a resurgence of COVID-19 in its second wave across Canada.
With more than 20,000 new cases in the country in the past week, medical experts want governments to enforce stricter health measures.
“The time for asking nicely has passed – there’s simply too much at stake,” said infectious disease specialist Dr. Abdu Sharkawy.
“There are too many lives that have already been lost and too many more that lie in waiting,” he added as Canada has 10,828 deaths and 45,646 cases.
There are calls for the Canadian government to play a more active role in health care even though it’s a provincial government issue.
“Action needs to be taken soon, or this will just become more frightening,” said Ann Collins, Canadian Medical Association president.
“We all have to be vigilant in every part of daily life and in every part of the community,” said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
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Help is on the way for Canadians living in Hong Kong where there’s a Chinese clampdown on democracy.
Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino said Canada is targeting students and young people.
They are being offered work permits to help them obtain permanent Canadian residency faster.
The law says Canadian citizens and permanent residents living in Hong Kong can return to Canada at any time and the government will expedite documents they need.
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News in brief:
- The pandemic resulted in scaled-down Remembrance Day ceremonies Wednesday. Distancing requirements led to small groups at cenotaphs and the Canadian War Memorial in Ottawa, Canada’s capital. There were also concerns for the health of the aging veterans of the conflicts dating back to the Second World War. Debbie Sullivan was the Silver Cross Mother, whose son Chris Saunders died while serving on one of Canada’s submarines in 2004.
- Canadian grocery chain Loblaw Cos Ltd. has had higher profits boosted by online sales as stuck-at-home consumers spent more on groceries during the pandemic. Loblaw, with 2,400 stores, had revenue of $15.67 billion for the last quarter and plans to invest more to expand pickup and delivery offerings and reduce costs.
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Facts and figures:
The Canadian dollar is lower at 76.12 cents U.S. while the U.S. dollar returns $1.313 Canadian before exchange fees.
The Bank of Canada key interest rate is steady at 0.25 percent while the prime lending rate is 2.45 percent.
Canadian stock markets are mixed with the Toronto index up at 16,675 points and the TSX Venture index down at 736 points.
The average price for gas in Canada is steady at $1 a liter (Canadian) or $3.80 for a U.S. gallon.
Lotto Max: (Nov. 10) 4, 6, 18, 27, 28, 30 and 40; bonus 13. (Nov. 6) 7, 9, 19, 20, 26, 32 and 35; bonus 49.
Lotto 6/49: (Nov. 11) 6,14, 18, 23, 31and 47; bonus 44. (Nov. 7) 1, 16,19, 24, 26 and 47; bonus 29.
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Regional briefs:
- Toronto-based Porter Airlines won’t be flying again until at least Feb. 11. The regional airline said flights will remain grounded until then due to rising pandemic cases and ongoing travel restrictions. Michael Deluce, president and ceo, said travel demand has dropped so a return to sustainable levels of passengers is unlikely for the rest of the year. Porter suspended service March 21 after the pandemic hit.
- Sir John A. Macdonald High School outside Halifax will be getting a new name to be determined due to the role Canada’s first prime minister played in developing the residential school system. Principal Darlene Fitzgerald said Macdonald’s school policy for Indigenous children and passage of the Indian Act in 1867 caused irreparable harm to generations of young people.
- While southern Ontario was enjoying record-high temperatures in the mid-70s F skiing has started in the Vancouver area. Several downhill runs at Cypress Mountain in West Vancouver opened Friday with a few inches of snow. Under pandemic guidelines, the mountain resort requires all lift tickets to be bought in advance online to control the number of skiers.
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Jim Fox can be reached at canadareport@hotmail.com
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