Canada column for Sunday, May 22/22
THE CANADIAN REPORT
By Jim Fox
Two of Ontario’s4 political party leaders have had their election campaigns stalled after coming down with COVID-19.
New Democratic Party (NDP) leader Andrea Horwath called off a northern tour in Sault Ste. Marie and went into isolation after testing positive for the virus.
She is unable to attend in-person campaign events for now and has switched to virtual campaigning ahead of the June 2 Ontario election.
She said her symptoms are mild and that she is looking forward to getting back to the campaign once she is feeling better and has tested negative.
Also switching to virtual events is Green Party leader Mike Schreiner who said he tested positive on a rapid test after close contact with a staff member.
He said he is “feeling fine” and is fully vaccinated and will communicate remotely from home “for a few days” while following public health advice.
Ontario public health rules require that people isolate for five days after COVID-19 symptoms first appear or after a positive test result.
Polls show Premier Doug Ford’s Conservatives remain in the lead in a Nanos poll, with 36.1 percent support ahead of the Liberals 29.3 percent, the NDP 19.8 and the Greens, 7.3.
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There’s another virus to worry about as Quebec has two confirmed cases of monkeypox in the province with 20 other suspected cases under investigation.
These are first confirmed cases in Canada, while other countries have identified other cases of the rare disease.
Public health Dr. Mylene Drouin said the illness is not extremely contagious and is the milder of two strains.
Epidemiological investigations are continuing to determine the links in cases and identify potentially at-risk contacts.
Health officials are advising people to be vigilant and note that the disease is “transmissible through prolonged and close contact with an infectious person.”
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News in brief:
- There have been numerous carjackings during daylight hours across Toronto with armed thieves stealing high-end automobiles along with driver’s wallets and purses. One high profile theft was that of Toronto Maple Leafs hockey player Mitch Marner’s Range Rover in a movie theater parking lot. The brazen surge amounts to 64 carjackings this year compared with 59 in all of last year. One car quickly recovered by the police was a $250,000 Lamborghini taken during a home invasion at a downtown Toronto condo.
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Facts and figures:
Canada’s dollar is higher at 78 cents U.S. while the U.S. dollar returns $1.30 in Canadian funds, before exchange fees.
The Bank of Canada’s key interest rate is unchanged at 1 percent while the prime lending rate at commercial banks is 3.2 percent or more.
Canadian stock markets are higher, with the Toronto index at 20,181 points while the TSX Venture index is 705 points.
The average price for gas in Canada has risen to $2.01 a liter or $7.63 for a U.S. gallon in Canadian funds.
Lotto Max: (May 17) 10, 35, 38, 40 45, 47 and 48; bonus 23. (May 13) 2, 22, 37, 38, 39, 42 and 47; bonus 30.
Lotto 6/49: (May 18) 14, 22, 24, 28, 42 and 48; bonus 23. (May 14) 2, 14, 21, 27, 34 and 49; bonus 5.
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Regional briefs:
- Jason Kenney is leaving his job as leader of Alberta’s United Conservative Party, saying the slim majority of his leadership review was not enough to stay on. Kenney, Alberta’s Premier Kenney, 53, who cofounded the party five years ago, received support from 51.4 per cent of party members in the review and said it was “not enough to hold on to power.” Kenney said he will remain leader until someone is appointed to replace him. Critics said he broke his word by ignoring the “grassroots” members and called for his resignation.
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