Canada column for Sunday, Jan.17/21
THE CANADIAN REPORT
By Jim Fox
Most Canadians are in favor of the government prohibiting personal international travel to help control the rise in COVID-19 cases, a poll shows.
While the land border with the United States remains closed to non-essential travel, flights continue to carry Canadians to their favorite winter destinations, including politicians and health officials who urge others not to do the same.
An Angus Reid Institute poll found 65 percent approve of a prohibition on personal air travel.
The poll also found 9 in 10 Canadians say politicians must set an example and stay home.
Support to bar travel to international destinations was highest in Ontario and lowest in Alberta followed by British Columbia.
It also found that 7 in 10 Canadians have canceled or put off planned international and domestic travel since the pandemic began.
A negative COVID-19 test is needed now before being allowed on flights bound for Canada.
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Ontario Premier Ford has kicked Roman Baber out of his Conservative government for speaking out against the current lockdown in Canada’s most-populous province.
“While Doug only cares about re-election, lockdowns are killing more than saving,” Baber said. “The lockdown is deadlier than COVID,” he added.
Baber will be forced to continue as an independent or join another party.
Ford accused him of putting people at risk by spreading misinformation and undermining the efforts of front-line healthcare workers.
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News in brief:
- The ‘ramp-up phase” of Canada’s COVID vaccine rollout is under way as 1.4-million doses are to arrive by the end of the month and another 1.9 million in February. Major-General Dany Fortin, working with the Public Health Agency of Canada, says the doses are from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna. That will leave 2.7-million doses to be delivered in March to get to the 6-million doses the companies have promised to ship to Canada before the end of that month.
- The 10-day-old requirement that a negative virus test is required to board air flights to Canada so far hasn’t stopped all infected people. There have been 35 flights with virus victims landing in Canada since the negative test requirement started. Since the beginning of the year, 178 infected international flights have landed. Cancun had the most infected Toronto-bound flights followed by Dubai, Dublin, Fort Lauderdale, Frankfurt, Punta Cana and Istanbul.
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Facts and figures:
Canada’s dollar is steady at 78.7 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 17,909 points and the TSX Venture index is up to 908 points.
The average price for gas in Canada is higher at $1.10 a liter (Canadian) or $4.18 for a U.S. gallon.
Lotto Max: (Jan. 12) 4, 12, 13, 15, 18, 30 and 50; bonus 34. (Jan. 8) 4, 21, 24, 25, 26, 27 and 42; bonus 8.
Lotto 6/49: (Jan. 13) 20, 27, 28, 37, 38 and 39; bonus 9. (Jan. 9) 4, 8, 18,24, 31 and 32; bonus 40.
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Regional briefs:
- Newfoundland and Labrador’s provincial government is seeking to win a majority to face troubled times as Liberal Premier Andrew Furey called an election for Feb. 13. He was mandated to hold an election within a year of taking over the party leadership from Premier Dwight Ball. Challenges include an expanding debt with the pandemic, a troubled oil industry and vast public service spending. Interest is high with more than 70 candidates nominated so far.
- Quebec residents are digging out of up to a foot of snow this weekend. Environment Canada was warning of that amount from part of a larger weather system sweeping east across the province. The weather warning was for up to eight inches by Sunday night in the Montreal area and more across Quebec.
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Jim Fox can be reached at canadareport@hotmail.com
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