Canada column for Sunday, Jan.10/21
THE CANADIAN REPORT
By Jim Fox
Canadians who choose to ignore public health warnings against international travel are no longer eligible for COVID-19 sick leave benefits.
This follows new rules that took effect last Thursday that require travelers to produce a negative virus test before flying home.
Upon arrival in Canada, they must quarantine for 14 days either at home or a government-run facility.
The sudden changes are aimed at preventing future outbreaks of the virus related to foreign travel and have caused chaos in the airline industry, travelers say.
Visitors to the Caribbean and Mexico are saying it is difficult to get last-minute tests and some places are charging up to $500 a person and there are delays for results.
WestJet airline said it had to deny boarding to passengers on six international flights into Canada over confusion over the type of testing required on the first day.
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An Ontario police chief, hospital chief executive and politicians are among the latest community leaders who violated the stay-at-home rules of health professionals.
Named were Halton Police Chief Stephen Tanner who went to Florida last month to deal with a personal property business matter as did Calgary politician Ron Liepert to California.
St. Joseph’s Health System in Hamilton won’t say if Dr. Thomas Stewart resigned or was fired for his trip to the Dominican Republic.
Also apologizing are Conservative politician David Sweet who has resigned as chair of the House of Commons ethics committee and Senator, Don Plett.
Earlier Rod Phillips resigned from his job as Ontario finance minister.
Premier Doug Ford warns of more restrictions coming as Ontario reports a record 4,249 new COVID cases in one day.
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News in brief:
- Ontario grade school children in southern Ontario including Toronto will continue online learning until Jan. 25 due to an increase in virus cases. Provincial public health officials say the general lockdown in Northern Ontario will be extended another two weeks, matching restrictions for the southern part of the province.
- Canada lost 63,000 jobs last month in the first decline since April. Statistics Canada reported the unemployment rate was 8.6 percent for December, an increase from 8.5 percent in November. There was an increase in full-time employment, up 36,500, along with a loss of 99,000 part-time jobs. Monthly job gains began in May as restrictions to slow the spread of the pandemic began to ease.
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Facts and figures:
Canada’s dollar is higher 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 higher, with the Toronto index at 18,042 points and the TSX Venture index is 896 points.
The average price for gas in Canada is higher at $1.07 a liter (Canadian) or $4.06 for a U.S. gallon.
Lotto Max: (Jan. 5) 1, 16, 21, 24, 35 37 and 39; bonus 45. (Jan. 1) 18, 21, 28, 29, 31, 32 and 49; bonus 38.
Lotto 6/49: (Jan. 6) 15, 23, 30, 31, 32 and 42; bonus 48. (Jan. 2) 16, 17, 20, 42, 47 and 49; bonus 40.
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Regional briefs:
- Calgary-based WestJet airline is cutting hundreds of flights and lying off 1,000 workers to reduce costs. The airline is being hit hard by fewer travelers during the pandemic. The job cuts will be made through furloughs, temporary layoffs, unpaid leaves and reduced hours along with a hiring freeze.
- How much is that little doggy to rent? That’s the question being asked in Quebec since Premier Francois Legault imposed an 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew. He said the curfew would exempt pet owners so people could walk their dogs. Some creative Quebecers are putting ads on Kijiji offering dog rentals for those looking to take late-night walks.
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Jim Fox can be reached at canadareport@hotmail.com
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