Canada column for Sunday, Nov7/21
THE CANADIAN REPORT
By Jim Fox
Ontario and Quebec governments – worried about a huge loss of workers in hospitals and health care – have dropped their vaccine mandate rules.
As well, the rule still imposed on public transportation services has resulted in Air Canada suspending without pay 800 unvaccinated workers.
Most of the airline’s 27,000 cabin crew, customer service agents and others have received both shots, said chief executive Michael Rousseau.
“Our employees have done their part, with now over 96 percent fully vaccinated,” he said.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford said his government won’t require hospital workers to get vaccinated while most health-care groups believe the shots are necessary.
Hospitals could continue allowing workers to be regularly tested for COVID-19 instead.
Continuing to force the 22,000 unvaccinated Quebec health-care workers to get the shots or lose their jobs would have “devastating consequences,” said Health Minister Christian Dube.
Nationally, almost 90 percent or 30 million of Canada’s 33.6-million people have received their first dose while 85 percent have had two doses, with provinces starting to offer third booster shots.
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Canada’s economy added 31,000 jobs last month with the unemployment rate at a pandemic low. Statistics Canada said the unemployment dropped to 6.7 percent from 6.9 percent in September. The statistics agency of the federal government said this was the fifth consecutive monthly decline in the rate. The Canadian Chamber of Commerce said there are about 900,000 job vacancies that still need to be filled, while three-million jobs lost at the onset of the pandemic were recovered in September.
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News in brief:
- Incumbent Montreal Mayor Valerie Plante has a six-point lead over Denis Coderre in advance of Sunday’s election. A Mainstreet Research poll said 49 percent of decided voters favor Plante, leader of the Project Montreal party with 43 percent for Coderre, former mayor and Ensemble Montreal party leader. In third place is Balarma Holness and his Movement Montreal party with six percent support.
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Facts and figures:
Canada’s dollar is lower at 80 cents U.S. while the U.S. dollar returns $1.245 in Canadian funds, before exchange fees.
The Bank of Canada’s 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 21,454 points and the TSX Venture index 979 points.
The average price for gas in Canada is lower at $1.46 a liter (Canadian) or $5.54 for a U.S. gallon.
Lotto Max: (Nov. 2) 7, 13, 18, 30, 33, 37 and 41; bonus 6. (Oct.29) 1, 5, 17, 18, 38, 41 and 48; bonus 13.
Lotto 6/49: (Nov. 3) 9, 20, 27, 35, 37 and 43; bonus 3. (Oct. 30) 3, 5, 7, 23 42 and 46; bonus 15.
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Regional briefs:
- Take a “staycation” in Ontario and receive a tax credit from the provincial government. The program was announced by Premier Doug Ford as part of the Fall Economic Statement to give a boost to the tourism industry. Ontario residents can apply for the refundable credit on their 2022 personal income-tax return. They will receive a 20-percent credit on accommodation between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31 to a maximum of $1,000 for an individual and $2,000 for a family, with a maximum credit of $200 or $400, respectively.
- They’re getting ready for winter on the ski slopes in Alberta. With plenty of snow in the mountains, Norquay and Lake Louise have opened for the season. Norquay’s Cascade Chair is also open along with the Glacier Chair at Lake Louise, providing skiers and snowboarders their first runs of the fall. The resorts are enforcing the mandatory wearing of face masks and checking for proof of vaccination against COVID-19. World Cup alpine skiing returns to Lake Louise this year after being postponed in 2020 due to the pandemic.
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Jim Fox can be reached at canadareport@hotmail.com
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