Canada column for Sunday, April 18/21
THE CANADIAN REPORT
By Jim Fox
Ontario’s 15-million residents are being more severely locked down as the provincial government tightens its “stay-at-home” order to fight the pandemic surge.
“We are losing the battle between variants and vaccine shortages and there are few options left with infection and hospitalization rates at record highs,” said Premier Doug Ford.
The emergency order bans out-of-province travel for non-essential reasons and recreation activities including closing golf courses.
Big box and food and drug stores can only operate at 25-percent capacity until at least May 20.
Police and bylaw officers have the authority to ask why someone is away from home.
All non-essential construction projects must stop, gatherings with people from another household are prohibited and crossing interprovincial borders between Quebec and Manitoba are limited to essential travel only.
Church services are capped at a maximum of 10 people indoors.
“We need to focus on those who are deliberately putting others at risk by ignoring the stay-at-home order,” Ford said.
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A peaceful demonstration against a pandemic curfew turned violent in Old Montreal, leaving dozens of businesses damaged and fires set.
Some business owners said the police were not prepared and took too long to intervene.
Montreal Mayor Valerie Plante said officers were there from the outset of the protest when the 8 p.m. curfew took effect and wanted to avoid further escalating the situation.
So far, police have made seven arrests and issued about 110 fines, said Chief Cedric Couture.
There were several dozen protesters who remained to defy the provincial government’s stay-at-home order.
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News in brief:
- It has taken more than a year but people whose flights were canceled by Air Canada are finally getting their money back. That’s because the airline was told by the Canadian government the refunds are part of a deal to receive $6 billion in a financial support package. Other conditions are the airline will ensure that regional communities have connections to the rest of Canada, protect jobs, pensions and collective agreements, restrict executive compensation and buy back shares and dividends.
- Canada has been ranked the No.1 country in the world in which to live. This is according to the 2021 Best Countries Report by U.S. News & World Report ranking 78 countries. Canada was tops in quality of life and social purpose with a good job market. Canadians were found to have concern over human rights, are committed to social justice, not corrupt and respectful of property rights. Next in the survey were Japan, Germany, Switzerland, Australia and the U.S.
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Facts and figures:
Canada’s dollar is steady at 79.83cents U.S. while the U.S. dollar is worth $1.255 Canadian before exchange fees.
The Bank of Canada key interest rate remains at 0.25 percent while the prime lending rate is 2.45 percent.
Canadian stock markets are mixed, with the Toronto index up at 19,351 points and the TSX Venture index down at 944 points.
The average price for gas in Canada is higher at $1.246 a liter (Canadian) or $4.73 for a U.S. gallon.
Lotto Max: (April 13) 15, 16, 18, 19, 22, 44 and 47; bonus 28. (April 9) 1, 19, 28, 29, 31,33 and 43; bonus17 .
Lotto 6/49: (April 14) 4, 6, 12, 23, 36 and 47; bonus 18. (April 10) 5, 16, 19, 24, 28 and 34; bonus 4.
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Regional briefs:
- High winds almost blew a large trailer over the guardrails on the Seal Island Bridge in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. Police said the wind caused a pickup truck hauling a trailer to become stuck sideways between the guardrails. It took about an hour to remove it and the trailer.
- Two Ontario medical students studying in St. Vincent, devastated by the recent La Soufriere volcano, put final exams aside to help the island residents. Claire Matlock of Kitchener and Anna Vanhoof, from Bowmanville, delivered food and supplies to displaced families.
Jim Fox can be reached at canadareport@hotmail.com
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