Canada column for Sunday, June 13/21
THE CANADIAN REPORT
By Jim Fox
The Canadian government is relaxing anti-virus measures imposed on people flying home.
Fully vaccinated Canadian citizens and permanent residents who test negative for COVID-19 will soon be exempt from two weeks in quarantine on their return.
Now incoming air travellers must spend three days at a government-approved quarantine hotel at their expense.
They also must complete two weeks of self-isolation at their destination and take a second test on the eighth day after arrival – that will no longer be required of fully vaccinated people.
Beginning next month, those inoculated at least 14 days before entering the country will be able to avoid staying in a hotel.
They must still isolate until the test comes back negative but can resume activities.
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Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called it a “terrorist attack” after a young man allegedly mowed down a Muslim family, killing four in London, Ontario.
A massive vigil at the London Muslim Mosque attracted 10,000 people including Trudeau and Ontario Premier Doug Ford who both denounced racism.
The family of five was out for a walk on a hot Sunday evening when police said a pickup truck jumped the curb and ran into them in what they allege was a hate-motivated attack.
Killed were Salman Afzaal, 46, his wife Madiha Salman, 44, their daughter Yumna, 15, and grandmother Talat Afzaal, 74.
The couple’s son, Fayez, 9, was the lone survivor and remains in a hospital with serious injuries.
Facing murder charges is Nathaniel Veltman, 20, a part-time farm worker.
“Their lives were taken in a brutal, cowardly and brazen act of violence,” Trudeau said.
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News in brief:
- The statue of Egerton Ryerson has been toppled and become headless by protesters upset over his role in establishing former residential schools to Canadianise native children. Demonstrators protested outside the university named after Ryerson in downtown Toronto. This followed the finding of mass graves of 215 Indigenous children at an old school site in Kamloops, British Columbia.
- Canada’s central bank is keeping its trend-setting interest rate unchanged at 0.25 percent where it has been since the onset of the pandemic. The strategy is to keep the rate there until the economy has recovered. That rebound would likely happen in the second half of next year, it said. Inflation should stay around three percent through the summer due to higher gas prices.
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Facts and figures:
Canada’s dollar is higher at 83 cents U.S. and a U.S. dollar returns $1.21 in Canadian funds 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 20,049 points and the TSX Venture index 979 points.
The average price for gas in Canada is higher at $1.31 a liter (Canadian) or $4.97 for a U.S. gallon.
Lotto Max: (June 8) 1, 9, 14, 24, 26, 37 and 42; bonus 29. (June 4) 2, 3, 16, 28, 31, 42 and 47; bonus 12.
Lotto 6/49: (June 9) 1, 3, 15, 26, 28 and 39; bonus 10. (June 5) 13, 15, 22, 42, 45 and 46; bonus 14.
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Regional briefs:
- Canada is anticipating an above-normal number of Atlantic hurricanes this season. As many as five storms are expected to be major compared to the average of three, said Bob Robichaud of the Canadian Hurricane Center. A major hurricane is one with sustained winds of at least 110 mph (178 km/h). About one-third of named storms find their way into Canadian waters, he added. This year’s first storm will be called Ana.
- Jenica Atwin, New Brunswick Member of Parliament, has “crossed the floor” to leave the Green party and become a Liberal. She said she took the action due to strife among the Greens over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The former teacher who helped run an Indigenous education center “stands with Palestine and condemns the unthinkable airstrikes in Gaza.”
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Jim Fox can be reached at canadareport@hotmail.com
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