Car travel to Florida eased, as U.S. land border with Canada to reopen in Novemer

   Canada column for Sunday, Oct. 17/21

    THE CANADIAN REPORT

   By Jim Fox

    The decision to reopen the U.S.-Canada land border to non-essential travel will make it easier for Canadians to get to Florida and their Sun Belt winter destinations.

   Details are still being worked out but the plan is for the U.S. to reopen its land borders to vaccinated non-essential visitors on Nov. 8 after being closed for 20 months.

   Travelers will need to show proof of COVID-19vaccinations to Customs and Border Protection officials upon request.

   What it means is that Canadians can drive to the U.S. on day trips and family visits and beyond as Canada has allowed fully vaccinated Americans to do since Aug. 9.

   The Public Health Agency of Canada is still advising against non-essential international travel during the pandemic.

   The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is working on the operational details, such as what will constitute acceptable proof.

   Canadians have been getting around the land-border crossing ban by flying but they face quarantines and negative testing to return.

   It’s still not clear whether people who received doses of two different vaccines, estimated to be four-million Canadians, will be considered fully vaccinated for travel purposes.

   Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, speaking in Washington, said no decision has been made to end the need for a negative test to return home.

    ---

    Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s recently re-elected Liberal minority government will get down to business on Oct. 26.

   That’s the day he will unveil his new cabinet and prepare for this government’s third mandate.

   The challenges will be focused on finishing the fight against COVID-19 and rebuilding the pandemic-ravaged economy, he said.

   That work will prepare for the recall of Parliament on Nov. 22 after the election win on Sept. 20.

   The Prime Minister has also spoken by phone to the opposition leaders about Canadian priorities during the pandemic’s fourth wave.

    ---

    News in brief:

   - Canada's Big Six banks will join the Net-Zero Banking Alliance ahead of the UN climate summit in Glasgow later month. The global alliance commits members to aligning their lending and investment portfolios with net-zero emissions by 2050. They will also set intermediate targets for 2030 or sooner. The industry-led alliance is the banking component of the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero, chaired by UN special envoy and former Bank of Canada Gov. Mark Carney.

    ---

    Facts and figures:

   Canada’s dollar is higher at 81 cents U.S. while the U.S. dollar returns $1.24 in Canadian funds, before exchange fees.

   The Bank of Canada’s key interest rate is unchanged at 0.25 percent while the prime lending rate is 2.45 percent.

   Canadian stock markets are higher, with the Toronto index at 20,929 points and the TSX Venture index 933 points.

   The average price for gas in Canada is higher at $1.45 a liter (Canadian) or $5.55 for a U.S. gallon.

   Lotto Max: (Oct. 12) 7, 11, 13, 30, 38, 40 and 43; bonus 45. (Oct. 8) 5, 16, 19, 21, 23, 31 and 36; bonus 46.

   Lotto 6/49: (Oct. 13)   2, 7, 8, 11, 19 and 27; bonus 24. (Oct. 9) 1, 11, 19, 27, 28 and 38; bonus 8.

    ---

    Regional briefs:

   - Ontario’s controversial vaccine passport has started a phased rollout to provincial residents to confirm their COVID-19 status. The enhanced certificate can be downloaded or mailed on paper with its scan able QR code for businesses using the Verify Ontario app. It confirms vaccinations required for access to higher-risk settings in Canada’s most-populous province including indoor restaurant dining, movie theaters, gyms, sporting events and concerts. covid-19.ontario.ca/proof-covid-19-vaccination 1-(833) 943-3900.

    - Randy Bachman of the iconic Canadian rock band the Guess Who has “taken care of business” as one of his song titles was called. After 45 years, he has finally found his cherished 1957 Gretsch guitar in Tokyo. The rare 6120 Chet Atkins’ model was stolen from a Toronto-area hotel in 1976. It was finally found through a fan's creative use of facial recognition software. The current owner, Japanese musician Takeshi, said she would trade the guitar for another one from Bachman.

 -30-

 Jim Fox can be reached at canadareport@hotmail.com