Computer hack caused massive delays for Canadian air travelers on Sunwing flights

    Canada column for Sunday, April 24/22

    THE CANADIAN REPORT

   By Jim Fox

    Thousands of people have been stranded all week in sun destinations and at Canadian airports due to a data security breach involving Sunwing Airlines.

   The problem began last weekend and is slowly improving for the Toronto-based “low-cost airline” that connects Canadian destinations with the Caribbean, Mexico and Central America.

   Would-be flyers report chaos and confusion with a lack of information on when their planes might leave.

   As a result of the breach, the airline has to check-in passengers manually after the server networks belonging to a third-party service provider, Airline Choice of Illinois, were compromised.

   “We apologize to our customers for the ongoing delays and thank them for their patience and understanding during this unfortunate situation” Sunwing said in a statement.

   Passengers whose flights have been delayed by more than three hours should be entitled to compensation under Canadian air passenger protection regulations.

   Sunwing has subcontracted aircraft from other airlines, including WestJet, AirTransat and Nolinor Aviation, to relieve backlogs and has offered customers changes in their departure dates with no fees for flights that were scheduled between April 19 and 22.

   “We actually thought it was nice that we got an extra night’s stay at first in Veradero, Cuba, but now I’m thinking this isn’t fun anymore,” said Tania Cameron, of Kemora, Ontario.

    ---

    Canadians are paying more for goods and services as the country’s inflation rate soared to 6.7 percent last month.

   It was the fastest annual increase in more than three decades, affected by world affairs that have pushed up oil prices and the continuing pandemic-related supply chain crunch.

   The latest increase, after a 5.7 percent jump in February, puts it at the highest reading since January 1991 when the Goods and Service Tax was introduced.

  Statistics Canada noted prices were also driven higher with the hot housing market and supply chain constraints.

   House prices were up 12.9 percent over last year, grocery store prices rose 8.7 percent, with dairy products and eggs rising 8.5 percent and higher prices for pasta and cereal, with average hourly wages up3.4 percent.

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    News in brief:

   Montreal Canadiens’ hockey legend Guy Lafleur has died at age 70 of lung cancer. He led the National Hockey League to a record 24 Stanley Cups and was a member of the team’s Ring of Honor that includes Jean Béliveau and Maurice (Rocket) Richard. Team owner Geoff Molson described Lafleur as “one of the greatest players in Habs’ history and an extraordinary ambassador for our sport.” He is survived  by wife Lise and sons Martin and Mark.

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        Facts and figures:

   Canada’s dollar is steady at 79 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 1 percent while the prime lending rate at commercial banks is 2.7 percent.

   Canadian stock markets are down, with the Toronto index at 21,650 points while the TSX Venture index is 880 points.

   The average price for gas in Canada is higher at $1.76 a liter or $6.69 for a U.S. gallon in Canadian funds.

   Lotto Max: (April 19) 1, 6, 10, 27, 42, 45 and 50; bonus 43. (April 15) 1, 6, 18, 21, 30, 32 and 37; bonus 35.

   Lotto 6/49: (April 20) 6, 10, 13, 17, 21 and 37; bonus 34. (April 16) 7,13, 26,35,36 and 38; bonus 40.

    ---

    Regional brief:

    - A Toronto woman narrowly escaped death after being pushed by a stranger onto the subway tracks as a train approached. The woman, 39, rolled under the platform at the Yonge and Bloor station to avoid being hit by the train. She escaped with a broken rib. Video helped the police make an arrest of Edith Frayne, 45, for attempted murder when she was seen at a Toronto GO train station. Last November, a man was pushed onto the subway tracks and injured at the same station while last week, there was an unprovoked stabbing on the subway that left a man injured.

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Canada's cenral bank makes big jump in its key interest rate to fight inflation

    Canada column for Sunday, April 17/22

    THE CANADIAN REPORT

   By Jim Fox

    Canada’s central bank has made its biggest key interest rate increase in 20 years in the battle against inflation.

   The jump in the key rate of the Bank of Canada by .50 percent to 1 percent is said to be the first of more – perhaps raising the target several times this year.

    “With inflation well above target and the economy moving in excess demand, there is a need to normalize monetary policy relatively quickly,” said Bank Governor Tiff Macklem.

   The bold move was necessary as inflation and economic growth has passed the bank’s forecasts.

   For consumers, what it means is a bonus for those with money in the bank and higher fees for those with variable-rate mortgages and loan payments.

   The central bank rise also prompted commercial banks to increase their prime-lending rates to

2.7 percent.

   Originally, the bank’s prediction early this year was an annual rate of inflation at an average of 5 percent for the first half of the year but it is now 6 percent.

   World events pushed inflation higher with higher prices for commodities such as gasoline and food, budging the rate from its historic lows of 0.25 percent.

   “A robust jobs market with unemployment below pre-pandemic levels is driving demand and consumer spending at a feverish pace,” Macklem said.

    ---

    At the height of the pandemic’s sixth wave, Ontario’s top doctor couldn’t be found to comment publicly because he was taking a vacation in the Caribbean, reporters learned.

   At a news conference last week – the first in almost five weeks for Dr. Kieran Moore –

 Premier Doug Ford said he “never rests and works around the clock for the people of Ontario.”

   Health Minister Christine Elliott and Ford mentioned that he was at a medical conference.

   “While Dr. Moore was away, we had an acting chief medical officer of health as well as five assistant medical officers of health who were closely following the situation in Ontario,” Elliott said.

   Moore now recommends that the provincial government extend remaining mask mandates in settings such as hospitals, long-term care and public transit after the current end date of April 27.

    --

    Facts and figures:

   Canada’s dollar is steady at 79 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 has jumped to1 percent while the prime lending rate at commercial banks is 2.7 percent.

   Canadian stock markets are mixed, with the Toronto index up at 21,855 points while the TSX Venture index was down at 884 points.

   The average price for gas in Canada is lower at $1.69 a liter or $6.42 for a U.S. gallon in Canadian funds.

   Lotto Max: (April 12) 3, 5, 7, 19, 32, 34 and 50; bonus 25. (April 8) 1, 2, 14, 15, 21, 26 and  29; bonus 4.

   Lotto 6/49: (April 13) 9, 27, 31, 33, 45 and 49; bonus 20. (April 9) 12, 28, 34, 41, 46 and 49; bonus 2.

    ---

    Regional briefs:

   - There are reminders of winter in Winnipeg and across Southern Manitoba as a multi-day storm dumped snow and brought high winds. Environment Canada said the storm left behind up to 50 cm (two feet) of snow. The highest amounts of snow fell in the south and the Interlake and Parklands regions. There were also blizzard warnings for southeastern Saskatchewan at mid-week. Earlier rain resulted in the province using flood controls in the Red River Floodway before the snow.

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Foreigners prohibited from buying houses for a profit in Canada government budget

    Canada column for Sunday, April 10/22

    THE CANADIAN REPORT

    By Jim Fox

    The door has been slammed shut on foreigners wanting to buy up houses in Canada for profit while impacting the supply and cost for people living here.

   Calling it an “affordability crisis” with a limited supply of housing, the government of Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in its budget has banned non-Canadians from buying residential properties for two years.

   Refugees, international students wanting a permanent residence and those with work permits are exempt.

   As promised, the government said it will continue to oversee the impact foreign money is having on housing costs and will strengthen the ban if necessary.

   The budget also outlines plans for creating a tax-free First Home Savings Account that would give first-time homebuyers the ability to save up to $40,000 towards a house.

   It also calls on Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. to develop 100,000 new housing units and set aside $1.5billion over two years to create 6,000 affordable units.

   Starting on May 7, the government will tax house flippers who buy properties to renovate and put them back on the market less than a year later for quick gains.

    ---

    Toronto area doctors are at odds with the Ontario government over relaxed COVID public health measures.

   The number of cases has been growing in a sixth wave of the virus since the province lifted mask mandates and public gathering limits in March.

   Dr. Kieran Moore, the province’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, is no longer giving daily updates to guide residents.

   Premier Doug Ford, who faces an election on June 2, said the recent rise in hospitalizations is “a little spike” while Toronto’s medical officer, Dr. Eileen de Villa, has called for the wearing of masks in most settings, a move endorsed by Mayor John Tory.

    ---

 News in brief:

   - Tributes are pouring in for famed musical conductor Boris Brott who was killed by a hit-and-run driver in Hamilton, Ontario. He was78 and the artistic director and conductor of the Montreal Classic Orchestra. “He was an extraordinary ambassador of classical music, recognized beyond our borders, a mentor to countless young musicians and a very dear friend to many among them,” an orchestra notice said.

    ---

    Facts and figures:

   Canada’s dollar is lower at 79 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 lower, with the Toronto index at 21,834 points while the TSX Venture index is886 points.

   The average price for gas in Canada is lower at $1.70 a liter or $6.46 for a U.S. gallon in Canadian funds.

   Lotto Max: (April 5) 14, 24, 34, 39, 43, 48 and 50; bonus 20. (April 1)  7, 10, 18, 29, 38, 43 and 50; bonus 41.

   Lotto 6/49: (April 6) 2, 8, 9, 16, 39 and 49; bonus 21. (April 2) 5, 12, 15, 29, 42 and 44; bonus 38.

    ---

    Regional briefs:

   - After a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, hundreds of cruise ships will be again visiting Canada, leaving residents near the cruise ship terminals in Victoria and Vancouver concerned that the virus will spread with all of the visitors. The first scheduled arrival of the season was canceled after several outbreaks were reported on the Caribbean Princess. There are 358 cruise ships with 780,000 passengers expected in British Columbia this season.

   - Quebec’s coveted maple syrup harvest was too much to resist for one of the ringleaders in the theft of $18 million of the liquid gold. The Supreme Court of Canada raised the fine for Richard Vallieres, who is serving an eight-year prison term, for the 2016 heist to the value of the stolen syrup at $9.1-million. Court was told 9,500 barrels of syrup were stolen from a warehouse over two years and he sold it for $10 million.

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Canada considers urging fourth vaccine as numbers of infection grow

   Canada column for Sunday, April 3/22

    THE CANADIAN REPORT

   By Jim Fox

    An increase in the number of COVID-19 cases, combined with public health indicators, is pushing Canada to recommend second vaccine booster shots.

   The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) is to release guidance on more doses of the vaccine in the next week.

     Many health practitioners are calling this the sixth wave that is causing growing concerns about hospital capacity and staff burn out, said Anna Maddison of Health Canada.

  NACI earlier recommended that people who are “moderately to severely compromise” receive a fourth dose of the vaccine six months after getting their third one.

   The number of cases of infection has been growing since most provinces dropped mask- wearing rules and eased restrictions on public events.

   Colin Furness, a University of Toronto epidemiologist, said it has been a bad idea to say “everyone take off your mask and we’ll have a hospital bed when you need it.”

   Ontario Health Minister Christine Elliott said the province isn’t considering bringing back any COVID-19 measures despite rising infections and hospitalizations.

   That’s because there is a highly vaccinated population with increased hospital capacity and access to antiviral medications, she said.

    ---

    New vaccine testing requirements are now in effect for fully vaccinated travelers.

   The Canadian government has eased testing requirements for international travel as demand surges after two years of the pandemic.

   Gone are the pre-entry testing requirements for fully vaccinated Canadians to enter Canada by air, land or water but some rules remain.

   Travelers must still show proof of vaccination and still have to use the ArriveCAN ap prior to returning including those taking a cruise or flying within 72 hours before boarding.

   There are no changes to rules for those partially vaccinated or unvaccinated to provide a positive molecular or negative rapid antigen test.

   For those cruising, an antigen test is required to board a ship no more than one day before departure but isn’t required to leave the ship.

   The government cautions that the virus can spread easily between people in close quarters, such as on cause ships, and infections are still “very high even for those who are fully vaccinated.” Government details at: https://travel.gc.ca/travel-covid

    ---

   News in brief:

   A $5-billion investment will create a large-scale electric vehicle battery plant in Windsor, Ontario, across from Detroit. Automaker Stellantis and South Korean battery-maker LG Energy Solution will build the plant to make the “cars of the future from start to finish.” It will be the largest investment in Canadian automotive manufacturing history, said Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne. The plant will employ about 2,500 people along with work at auto parts-makers for a total impact of about 10,000 jobs. Construction is to start this year with a goal of being operational by 2025.

    ---

    Facts and figures:

   Canada’s dollar is steady 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 mixed, with the Toronto index down at 21,890 while the TSX Venture index is up at 892 points.

   The average price for gas in Canada is lower at $1.74 a liter or $6.61 for a U.S. gallon in Canadian funds.

   Lotto Max: (March 29) 7, 17, 32, 34, 39, 45 and 47; bonus 42. (March 25) 3, 7, 16, 18, 27,32, and 37; bonus 17.

   Lotto 6/49 :(March 30) 3, 7,15, 21, 35 and 40; bonus 37. (March 26) 5, 11, 21, 22, 38 and 45; bonus 44.

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    Regional briefs:

   - Live Nation is planning to open a new concert hall in Toronto’s Beaches neighborhood to host about 150 events annually. Called 713 Music Hall on Queen street, representing the area’s phone code, the opening performance will be Willie Nelson & Family on Nov. 17.

   - The Rolling Stones’ Live at El Mocambo nightclub recordings in Toronto has been released after 45 years. Over the years, the Stones have played at the club and others in Toronto to prepare for their upcoming concerts. The 23 songs from the two secret 1977 shows had the band billed as the Cockroaches to keep crowds away.

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