Canadian government telling people to avoid Florida and warm destinations to stay home this winter

    Canada column for Sunday, Dec.27 /20

    THE CANADIAN REPORT

   By Jim Fox

    The Canadian government will spend $850,000 from now through March to urge Snowbirds not to go to Florida and other warm-weather destinations.

   The digital-based ad shows a man in a hospital bed with COVID-19 and somber music playing.

   It warns of the perils of travel now during the pandemic along with annoying grounded flights and lax health rules and health insurance at their destination.

   At this time of year, most Snowbirds are already away as many leave after the Canadian Thanksgiving in early October and stay until around Easter.

   It’s estimated that 3.5-million Canadians visit Florida every year and spend $4 billion in the state, with many of them owning homes.

   It is more challenging to visit now as the Canada-U.S. land border is closed to non-essential travel although Canadians can still fly to the U.S., Mexico and other countries.

    ---

    Canadian realtors say it’s an extreme market for sellers as the pandemic is creating pent-up demand for houses.

   Buyers are leaving the big cities for larger, more expansive properties and those on lakes as they can work from home.

   Realtors in London, Ontario – midway between Toronto and Windsor/Detroit – say there is “extreme volatility” with interest rates at historic lows and houses on the market getting 30 to 60 offers in the $600,000 range.

   The Canadian Real Estate Association predicted the average home will reach a price of $620,000 in the New Year. 

    ---

    News in brief:

   - The federal government has directed the Canadian Transportation Agency to strengthen rules that require airlines to refund passengers for canceled flights and those with lengthy delays. The pandemic has highlighted a gap in Canada’s protections for airline passengers, which weren’t designed to cover such lengthy delays, said Federal Transport Minister Marc Garneau. This gap needs to be closed so that travellers are treated fairly, he said.

   - Canada and the United Kingdom have approved a free-trade deal to avoid an automatic increase in tariffs when Britain leaves the European Union on Jan. 1. This will ensure that Canadian goods such as maple syrup, lobster, beef and car parts aren’t subject to British tariffs, said Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland. The two countries conduct about $29 billion in trade each year and the U.K. is Canada’s third-biggest export market.

  ---

    Facts and figures:

   Canada’s dollar is higher at 78.45 cents U.S. while the U.S. dollar returns $1.274 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 higher, with the Toronto index at 17,623 points and the TSX Venture index is 845 points.

   The average price for gas in Canada is higher at $1.05 a liter (Canadian) or $3.99 for a U.S. gallon.

   Lotto Max: (Dec. 22) 4, 29, 30, 37, 38, 43 and 44; bonus 15. (Dec. 18) 2, 9, 10, 22, 31, 35 and 49; bonus 30.

   Lotto 6/49: (Dec. 23) 7, 15, 24, 31, 33 and 34; bonus 3. (Dec. 19) 1, 8, 10, 11,17  and 3; bonus 41.

   ---

    Regional briefs:

   - Boxing Day (Dec. 26) shoppers in Ontario faced a new hurdle this year as the country’s most populous province is in lock down for two to four weeks. The provincial government moved to close most businesses, shutting out bargain hunters to slow the spread of COVID-19 that has hospitals at capacity. Stores and restaurants can offer only curbside pickup and delivery with capacity restrictions at big-box retailers that sell food. Quebec businesses are on a similar “holiday pause.”

   - It’s being called a “Merry Thrift-mas” at a business on British Columbia’s Campbell River. The Qualitown Thrift Store is letting homeless people shop free. This follows numerous break-ins and thefts with people rummaging through the store’s trash bins. Manager Caroline Bleany said she hopes this will stop the crimes and help the needy. Now every second Monday afternoon, people who are homeless can stop in for a hot meal and take what they need.

 -30-

 Jim Fox can be reached at canadareport@hotmail.com

Canadians want accelerated COVID-10 vaccine supplies now

    Canada column for Sunday, Dec.20 /20

    THE CANADIAN REPORT

   By Jim Fox

    The Canadian government is under pressure to push companies to accelerate shipments of COVID-19 vaccine.

   Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Canada is running ahead of schedule in its vaccine rollout.

   It will ramp up in January with deliveries of 125,000 Pfizer-BioNTech doses a week, for a total of 500,000 that month.

   As well, 168,000 doses of Moderna’s vaccine will be shipped by the end of the year pending Health Canada approval.

   At the same time, health professionals across the country are calling for a lock down of more parts of the country for the holidays.

   The government is investing $9 million through the National Research Council to develop more treatments for COVID-19 and other viral infections, Trudeau said.

   The money is going to four Canadian companies working on therapies, including two each in Montreal and Vancouver.

    ---

    Canada’s population growth stalled over the past four months due to the pandemic.

   Statistics Canada said population gained only 2,767 for the lowest quarterly growth since 1946.

   The largest demographic impact was the loss of international migration and refugees.

   Along with border and travel restrictions, there were visa office closings and delays.

   Canada’s population is 37.6-million people with Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia the largest provinces.

    ---

    News in brief:

   - Canada is working with the U.S. government to send a Canadian astronaut around the moon in 2023. The mission will be part of an effort to establish a new space station above the lunar surface. There is an American-led effort to build the station to be known as the Lunar Gateway.

   - Canada is getting closer to allowing a return to the skies of Boeing’s 737 Max aircraft. Transport Minister Marc Garneau said Transport Canada has approved design changes to the plane including allowing pilots to disable a faulty warning system that was found to be central to two fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019.

   - A sailor from a Canadian navy ship remains missing after falling overboard in the Pacific Ocean 500 miles off San Francisco. Duane Earle, 47, accidentally fell overboard as the ship was returning to British Columbia after being deployed to the Asia-Pacific region. The Canadian Armed Forces is investigating what happened.

    ---

    Facts and figures:

   Canada’s dollar is steady at 78.2 cents U.S. while the U.S. dollar returns $1.27 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 down at 17,534 points and the TSX Venture index up at 816 points.

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

   Lotto Max: (Dec. 15) 1, 4, 20, 33, 44, 45 and 49; bonus 47. (Dec. 11) 9, 21, 30, 33, 38, 39 and 46; bonus 48. Lotto 6/49: (Dec. 16) 10, 12, 20, 25, 31 and 34; bonus 42. (Dec. 12) 27, 28, 29, 36, 46 and 48; bonus 49.

    ---

    Regional briefs:

   - The search continues in Nova Scotia for five fishermen whose scallop dragger sank in the Bay of Fundy. The body of one fisherman was found but the boat and other crew members including captain Charles Roberts remain missing. The boat’s home port is Digby.

   - The Mounties have given out fines amounting to $18,400 to clergy at three places of worship in British Columbia’s Fraser Valley for violating public health orders. Police said the churches were hosting in-person gatherings against provincial orders intended to protect people from COVID-19. There were 624 new cases of the virus on Friday and 11 additional deaths, for a total of 724 fatalities in the province.

 -30-

 

Jim Fox can be reached at canadareport@hotmail.com

Canadians are urged to "remain vigilant" over the holidays as vaccine rolls out

    Canada column for Sunday, Dec.13 /20

    THE CANADIAN REPORT

    By Jim Fox

    Now that Canada has begun giving the COVID-19 vaccine, health authorities say everyone should remain vigilant over the holidays.

   Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the “darkest days of the outbreak” could lie ahead with several provinces reporting record case counts and hospitalizations.

   Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada’s chief public health officer, said new modeling predicts there could be 12,000 new infections daily by January.

   This has led to cautions against holiday merriment over the vaccine and there could be deadly consequences with the national death toll nearly 14,000.

   Trudeau said this is the largest immunization campaign in Canada’s history with the approval of the Pfizer vaccine.

   There are also plans to distribute a second vaccine that’s currently under regulatory review.

   Canadians should “hold tight and don’t give up,” Trudeau said. “We know how to make it through long, cold winters and we’re going to do that once again,” he added.

    ---

    The Canada-United States land border will remain closed to non-essential travel until at least Jan. 21 – a 30day extension.

   The world’s longest international border has been closed for months except for commerce and health care professionals.

   Canadians can still fly to U.S. destinations but face 14 days of quarantine upon their return.

   As virus numbers are increasing the U.S. and Canadian governments mutually agreed to continue restricting movement across the border.

   Americans driving through Canada to Alaska must take the most direct route and are limited to five crossing points in the west.

    ---

    News in brief:

   - Canada’s central bank was looking for the virus vaccine to give the economy a shot in the arm to start 2021 but it hasn’t so far. The Bank of Canada is keeping its key interest rate on hold at a record low of 0.25 percent while warning rising COVID-19 cases will hamper near-term growth. The bank is also buying up bonds to drive down interest rates for mortgages and business loans to boost spending.

   - The Canadian government plans a $15-billion plan to meet its climate change commitments. It includes steady increases of its carbon tax in each of the next 10 years. “It can no longer be free to pollute anywhere in the country,” Prime Minister Trudeau said.

    ---

    Facts and figures:

   Canada’s dollar has advanced to 78.29 cents U.S. while the U.S. dollar returns $1.277 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 higher with the Toronto index at 17,548 points and the TSX Venture index 780 points.

   The average price for gas in Canada is lower at $1.01 a liter (Canadian) or $3.85 for a U.S. gallon.

   Lotto Max: (Dec. 8) 5, 13, 14, 21, 36, 37 and 43; bonus 40. (Dec. 4) 5, 7, 14, 23, 24, 46 and 47; bonus 11.

   Lotto 6/49: (Dec. 9) 10, 11, 14, 19, 27 and 39; bonus 40. (Dec. 5) 3, 10, 13, 21, 27 and 45; bonus 23.

    ---

    Regional briefs:

   - A lack of business, with Air Canada carrying just 8 percent of its normal traffic, has led to cutbacks of flights across Canada. The airline is suspending all flights until further notice in Sydney, Nova Scotia and Saint John, New Brunswick as well as service between Halifax and Deer Lake, Halifax and Ottawa, and Fredericton and Toronto. As well, Air Canada is cutting flights between Charlottetown and Toronto but will add flights between Charlottetown and Montreal.

   - A New Brunswick businessman decided to “let them eat cake” as he emptied the shelves to help a struggling bakery in Fredericton. With business suffering due to the pandemic, Shawn Bordage went into Monkey Cakes bakery and said he’d buy everything on the shelves. He shared the goods with other businesses and said it was part of a movement to help small companies in the city. That’s the “icing on the cake,” said bakery owner Jonathan Ramirez.

 -30-

 Jim Fox can be reached at canadareport@hotmail.com

Canadian politicians accused of 'killing Christmas' and restaurants over pandemic lockdowns

    Canada column for Sunday, Dec. 6 /20

    THE CANADIAN REPORT

   By Jim Fox

   “'I’m the guy who is stealing Christmas,” Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister is telling people in his province.

   Next door in Ontario, Canada’s most populous province with 14.5-million residents, Premier Doug Ford is being blamed for killing businesses especially restaurants and fitness studios by pandemic lockdowns.

   All across Canada, various forms of lockdowns are being imposed to stop the spread.

   Pallister and Ford are among the leaders who are urging people to stay apart this holiday season.

   They want people to celebrate the holidays differently and not disrespect public health orders as Canada awaits a vaccine next month.

   Quebec is among the provinces restricting the sizes of family gatherings around Christmas.

   Canada has its 300,000th case of COVID-19 and 12,470 deaths.

   “If you don’t think that COVID is real right now, you’re an idiot,” said Pallister.

    ---

    Statistics Canada reports the pace of job gains slowed to 62,000 last month, down from 84,000 in October.

   Job gains were in full-time work mainly with a gain of 99,000 jobs that was offset by a decline in part-time work of 37,000 positions.

   This leaves Canada 574,000 jobs short of recouping the three-million jobs lost from lockdowns in March and April.

    The unemployment rate fell to 8.5 % last month from 8.9% in October and 13.7% in May.

    ---

    News in brief:

   - Canada’s home mortgage rates have fallen to a new low – less than 1%. HSBC is offering 0.99% for some mortgages on new five-year variable and renewable closed-term mortgages. The annual percentage rate is based on a $200,000 mortgage. The deal applies to high-ratio residential mortgages where the homebuyer has a down payment of less than 20% of the purchase price.

   - Transport Canada is on the verge of approving a return to the skies of the Boeing 737 Max aircraft that had two disastrous crashes killing 346 people. Federal officials told Canadian families of the victims that approval is “imminent” as it is in the United States. Transport Canada has spent months reviewing changes in the anti-stall system that could plunge the plane into a nosedive if a sensor failed.

    ---

    Facts and figures:

   Canada’s dollar has advanced to 78 cents U.S. while the U.S. dollar returns $1.28 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 higher with the Toronto index at 17,520 points and the TSX Venture index 769 points.

   The average price for gas in Canada is steady at $1.02 a liter (Canadian) or $3.87 for a U.S. gallon.

   Lotto Max: (Dec. 1) 1, 4, 9, 15, 18, 24 and 31; bonus 43. (Nov. 27) 9, 15, 35, 41, 42, 45 and 46; bonus 43.

   Lotto 6/49: (Dec. 2) 22, 24, 28, 41, 47 and 49; bonus 21. (Nov. 28) 3, 4, 16, 23, 26 and 44; bonus18.

    ---

    Regional briefs:

   - Three people have been arrested on charges of supplying ammunition to the gunman dressed as a police officer who killed 22 people in the April mass shooting in Nova Scotia. Those charged include Lisa Banfield, 52, the common-law partner of gunman Gabriel Wortman, who was killed by police. Also charged are James Banfield, 65, and Brian Brewster, 60. Police said the three “had no prior knowledge of the gunman’s actions.”

   - The Toronto Santa Claus Parade, bringing the jolly gent to the big city the past 116 years, has fallen victim to the pandemic. The merry Christmas spirit will prevail as the parade must go on, said Mayor John Tory. In order to bring Santa to town, the parade went on this weekend without spectators and as a television special. It featured 20 floats, musical guests, celebrity appearances and marching bands.

 -30-

 Jim Fox can be reached at canadareport@hotmail.com

COVID-19 vaccine to be rolled out as planned by Canadian military leaders

    Canada column for Sunday, Nov. 29 /20

    THE CANADIAN REPORT

   By Jim Fox

    Canada’s COVID-19 vaccine will be distributed next year with military precision as ordered by a former NATO commander.

   Major-General Dany Fortin was named by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to lead the vaccine distribution effort.

   His mission: to immunize more than half of all 37-5-million Canadians by September of next year.

   Priority groups should start receiving vaccine doses early next year, with the Canadian Armed Forces assisting the cold-storage requirements, data sharing and reaching Indigenous communities, Trudeau said.

   Dr. Howard Njoo, deputy chief public health officer, said the government is working with five vaccine makers and is in advanced negotiations with two more.

   That will amount to 194-million doses with the option to buy another 220 million.

   There has been a spike in cases across Canada, with 58,974 active infections and 11,894 deaths.

   Distribution efforts in Ontario are being headed by retired General Rick Hillier.

    ---

    New rules will allow Canadians to travel to Hawaii this winter and avoid quarantine.

   They must, however, show proof of a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours of departure.

   Major air carriers Air Canada and WestJet made the arrangements with Hawaii that will take effect in December.

   Hawaii didn’t want to miss out on hosting the Canadian snowbirds that Governor David Ige said are the second-largest international market for the islands.

   Meanwhile, insurance companies are being swamped with inquiries across Canada from people wanting to ensure their extended health coverage will be in effect in Florida, Hawaii and elsewhere.

   They plan to get round the land border closing between Canada and the U.S. by flying to and from their destination.

    ---

    News in brief:

   - Champion ice dancers Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir and Olympic champion swimmer Mark Tewksbury are among 114 athletes, artists, scholars and community leaders named to the honorary Order of Canada. Governor General Gen. Julie Payette announced the new honourees. Moir and Virtue had gold-medal performances at the Winter Olympics in 2018. They are being honored for their athletic excellence and for inspiring a new generation of figure skaters.

   - The owner of a barbecue restaurant in Toronto has been released from jail on $50,000 bail for defying health orders to remain closed due to the virus lockdown. Adam Skelly, 33, of Adamson Barbecue restaurant battled with police and city inspectors as he remained open for three days. Police finally closed his restaurant, changed the locks and arrested him for the health violation and obstructing police as a large crowd taunted them.

    ---

    Facts and figures:

   The Canadian dollar is higher at 76.9 cents U.S. while the U.S. dollar returns $1.30 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 higher with the Toronto index at 17,396 points and the TSX Venture index 749 points.

   The average price for gas in Canada is higher at $1.02 a liter (Canadian) or $3.87 for a U.S. gallon.

   Lotto Max:(Nov. 24) 6, 8, 13, 27, 41, 46 and 47; bonus 39. (Nov. 20) 11, 17, 29, 33, 39, 40 and 42; bonus 48.

    Lotto 6/49: (Nov. 25) 13, 14, 31, 33, 37 and 46; bonus 40. (Nov. 21) 16, 19, 21, 34, 37 and 47; bonus 25.

    ---

    Regional briefs:

   - New Brunswick has pulled out of the Atlantic bubble that protected the Maritime provinces from contracting the virus – until now. As a result, all visitors to the province will have to self-isolate for 14 days. Community transmission has not been confirmed there but there’s the threat, “so taking swift action right now is important,” said Premier Blaine Higgs.

   - “There’s plenty of toilet paper to go around” and no need for hoarding is the word from British Columbia-based Kruger Products. Workers are going “full tilt” to meet increased demand especially for toilet paper. “This is a product that people typically take for granted,” Kruger general manager Mark Evans said.

 -30-

 Jim Fox can be reached at canadareport@hotmail.com