Canada column for Sunday, March 27/22
THE CANADIAN REPORT
By Jim Fox
It’s a case of strange bedfellows as Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has formed a coalition government of sorts by an alliance with the socialist New Democratic Party (NDP).
The arrangement ensures Trudeau’s minority government will stay in power for at least three more years until the next election by being propped up by the NDP.
The two political parties will support each other as both fell short of a majority last year.
It’s a slap against the Conservative party that is the official opposition as it seeks to find a new leader.
Canada’s Parliament has 338 members, with the Trudeau Liberals having 159 elected and the Conservatives 119 to form another minority government.
The deal with 25NDP members will allow the Liberals to pass bills unheeded and rule.
Otherwise should a major bill fail to pass, the government could fall in a non-confidence motion and an election must be held.
“They've cooked up a backroom deal that would see Justin Trudeau get the majority power that he tried desperately to get last fall in the last election, but he failed to get,” said interim Conservative Leader Candice Bergen.
“Voters did not vote for a Liberal-NDP government,” she said.
There was a similar deal in 2017 in British Columbia with the NDP and Green parties.
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Oil-rich Alberta will stop collecting its fuel tax on April 1and offer a $150 electricity rebate in an effort to help Albertans deal with rapidly rising fuel and energy costs.
Rebates are also to be offered in Nova Scotia and now Quebec will also provide some help to people coping with high gasoline and food prices.
The spring budget includes a one-time payment of $500 to every adult earning $100,000 or less to help offset the impact of inflationary price increases.
Finance Minister Eric Girard said it will be transferred directly into Quebecers’ bank accounts after they file their 2021 income tax returns.
The payments are to “help Quebecers weather significant inflation that the government expects will reach 4.7 percent this year.
It will be paid to 6.4 million people at a cost of $3.2 billion.
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News in brief:
- Unifor national president Jerry Dias has resigned amid an investigation into $50,000 given to him by a supplier of COVID-19 rapid test kits. He then promoted the kits to employers of union members, said secretary-treasurer Lana Payne, calling it against the code of ethics. Unifor is the largest private sector union in Canada.
- Toronto Mayor John Tory said he will seek a third term in the Oct. 24 municipal election. Tory said he is seeking another term because the city “needs an experienced leader” who will continue to make Toronto “a more livable and more affordable place to live, to work and build a future.”
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Facts and figures:
Canada’s dollar is higher at 80 cents U.S. while the U.S. dollar returns $1.25 in Canadian funds, before exchange fees.
The Bank of Canada’s key interest rate is steady at 0.5 percent while the prime lending rate is 2.7 percent.
Canadian stock markets are higher, with the Toronto index at 21,937 while the TSX Venture index is 883 points.
The average price for gas in Canada is higher at $1.76 a liter or $6.68 for a U.S. gallon in Canadian funds.
Lotto Max: (March 22) 14, 16, 20, 26, 33, 36 and 48; bonus 1. (March 18) 5, 7, 12, 18, 26, 29 and 46; bonus 25.
Lotto 6/49: (March 23) 8, 11, 12, 23, 29 and 36; bonus 49. (March 19) 4, 7, 26, 36, 42 and 47; bonus 32.
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Regional briefs:
- The organizers of the “Freedom” truck convoy that jammed Ottawa, Canada’s capital city for almost a month, now jointly face more mischief, intimidation and obstructing charges. They are now being heard by the courts, with those arrested out of jail on bail. The rally with hundreds of parked trucks and thousands of demonstrators against pandemic rules cost the city and police services $36.3 million and restitution is being sought for the losses.
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