Canadian government to aid in rebuilding fire-ravaged Fort McMurray, Alberta

   Canada column for Sunday, May 15/16

   THE CANADIAN REPORT

   (c) By Jim Fox

   Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has pledged support in the rebuilding effort for those affected in wildfire-devastated Fort McMurray, Alberta.

   The massive wildfire, nicknamed “the beast,” roared into the oil-producing city, destroying neighborhoods and forcing 94,000 people to flee on short notice.

   It burned through 2,400 houses and businesses and the deaths of two people in a car crash as they fled the city were blamed on the wildfire.

   The Liberal government has formed a special cabinet committee to co-ordinate Fort McMurray aid and reconstruction efforts, Trudeau said during a visit on Friday.

   As well, the government is “fast tracking” claims for unemployment insurance by displaced workers.

   The Alberta government is giving residents and families immediate emergency financial support and the Red Cross has started distributing the $87 million donated so far and matched by the government.

   Municipal Affairs Minister Danielle Larivee said it isn’t yet known when people can return as workers are restoring power, inspecting properties and working to repair the hospital.

   The fire, which now covers about 10,000 square miles, has moved away from the city and is expected to burn in forested areas for several more weeks.

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Wildfire "beast" drives thousands from Alberta city

   Canada column for Sunday, May 8/16

   THE CANADIAN REPORT

   (c) By Jim Fox

   A wildfire of epic proportions has now driven almost all 80,000 residents from the oilfields’ capital of Fort McMurray, Alberta as much of the community has gone up in flames.

   Spawned by high winds, scorching heat and low humidity, the fire changed course and took aim at the city, causing residents to flee in a mass exodus that included huge convoys by road and some evacuations by air.

   Police and the military were escorting a procession of 1,500 vehicles carrying evacuees stranded at oilfield camps north of the city to safer ground.

   Heavy smoke was hampering their travel that was continuing this weekend to the Edmonton area, about 270 miles to the south.

   “The beast is still up, it’s surrounding the city and we’re here doing our very best for you,” regional fire chief Darby Allen said in assessing the situation.

    Thousands of houses and buildings have been destroyed and Premier Rachel Notley said she cannot speculate on when it might be safe for residents to return to the city.

   The Red Cross has raised $11 million and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said his government will match the donations to help those displaced.

   The Alberta government is also matching donations up to $2 million.

   “We will weather this storm together and together we will rebuild,” Trudeau said.

Canadian oil and gas industry still facing "dire times"

   Canada column for Sunday, May 1/16

   THE CANADIAN REPORT

   (c) By Jim Fox

   Canada, the largest supplier of oil to the United States, still faces grim predictions for a financial comeback in its hard-hit oil and gas sector.

   “These are dire times for the Canadian oilfield service, supply and manufacturing sector, with no indicators for positive change in the near future,” said Mark Salkeld, ceo of the Petroleum Services Association of Canada.

   Due to low crude oil prices, the association predicts drilling activity will be 36-percent lower than what it anticipated six months ago.

   The Conference Board of Canada said the country’s oil and gas industry should remain in the red for a second year but pre-tax losses shouldn’t be as severe with a return to profitability next year.

   The board predicts oil producers will collectively lose more than $3 billion this year compared with a record $7 billion loss last year.

   As well, the economic think tank said the natural gas extraction industry should lose $1 billion this year, down from $1.1-billion in 2015.

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Duffy found not guilty; Niagara Falls turns purple

   Canada column for Sunday, April 24/16

Niagara Falls turned purple to honor the Queen and Prince. (Parks Canada photo)

   THE CANADIAN REPORT

   By Jim Fox

   Mike Duffy is back at work as a senator after a three-year expulsion now that he was cleared of 31 charges of defrauding the Canadian government.

   Judge Charles Vaillancourt, in a four-hour verdict, had harsh words for former Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s office and its conduct over the expenses scandal involving Duffy, 69.

   The ruling after a 62-day trial took issue with the prosecution’s contention that the former TV broadcaster had deliberately defrauded taxpayers by submitting claims for disputed housing, office and travel expenses.

   Vaillancourt was extremely critical that Harper’s former chief of staff, Nigel Wright, gave Duffy $90,000 to repay his living expenses to try to defuse the controversy.

   “The political, covert, relentless, unfolding of events is mind boggling and shocking,” Vaillancourt said, acquitting Duffy of all counts of fraud, breach of trust and bribery.

   Lawyer Donald Bayne said that Duffy has been subjected to “more public humiliation than probably any Canadian in history.”

   Senator Patrick Brazeau faces a fraud and breach of trust trial this year while senator Pamela Wallin’s expenses continue to be examined by the police. Seven other senators are being asked to repay a total of $528,000 in disputed expenses.

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   Canada’s Horseshoe Falls in Niagara Falls, Ontario turned a regal purple Thursday night to honor Queen Elizabeth on her 90th birthday – and, perhaps to pay tribute to Prince.

   Many people said it also honored the “Purple Rain” singer who died at his home in Minnesota at age 57.

   Toronto played a big part in the life of Prince as in the early-to-mid 2000s, he lived in the city's Bridle Path neighborhood.

   At the time, he was married to Manuela Testolini, who was born in Toronto.

   Prince performed two of his last sold-out shows at Toronto’s Sony Center last month.

Government spending plans aiding Canadian economy

   Canada column for Sunday, April 17/16

   THE CANADIAN REPORT

   (c) By Jim Fox

   The Liberal government’s spending plans are already proving to be a boost for the Canadian economy.

   The Bank of Canada kept its trend-setting interest rate unchanged at 0.5 percent while predicting economic growth as shown by the gross domestic product to rise by 1.7 percent this year, up 0.3 percent from an earlier prediction.

   The central bank noted this was due to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government deciding to invest $25 billion in additional spending over the next two years for such things as infrastructure projects.

   The spending was included in the recent federal budget that projected a deficit of $110 billion over five years while the previous Conservative government was reducing spending to avoid going into the red.

   “The mix of policies that we have today is a more favorable one for economic growth than what we had before," bank Governor Stephen Poloz said.

   Spending by the government is helping to counter lower oil prices affecting the Canadian economy’s commodity-abundant provinces.

   The dollar dropped from a seven-month high topping 78 cents U.S. with news of the key interest rate remaining steady and lower oil and gold prices.

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Canadian dollar, stocks soar after higher oil prices, job creation numbers

   Canada column for Sunday, April 10/16

   THE CANADIAN REPORT

   (c) By Jim Fox

   Strong employment numbers and higher oil prices are giving Canada’s dollar and stock markets a boost.

   The dollar rose above 77 cents US, up more than one cent on Friday, as Statistics Canada reported 40,600 jobs were created last month.

   The job numbers showed the largest one-month increase in employment in six months.

   As the price of crude oil strengthened to almost $40, so did Canada’s fortunes as an oil-rich nation.

   Last month’s job advances were significant as 35,300 were for full-time work and pushed the unemployment rate down 0.2 percent to 7.1 percent from a month earlier.

   While Alberta’s unemployment rate fell to 7.1 percent in March from 7.9 percent, there were more people out of work in Calgary and Edmonton.

   Over the past year, Canada has added 129,600 net new jobs, an increase of 0.7 percent.

   Meanwhile, the pace of housing starts in Canada slowed in March due to drops in multi-unit construction.

   Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. said the seasonally adjusted annual rate was 204,251 units, down from 219,077 in February.

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Many Americans say they would move to Canada if Trump wins: Vox.com survey

   Canada column for Sunday, April 3/16

   THE CANADIAN REPORT

   (c) By Jim Fox

   Canadians might want to prepare to welcome millions of fleeing Americans should polls be correct that Donald Trump might win the presidency.

   A survey conducted by Vox.com of 2,000 registered voters showed 28 percent claimed they’d likely “consider moving to another country, such as Canada” with a Trump victory.

   And, they wouldn’t be hampered by a large wall at the border between the U.S. and Canada.

   Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said claims of Americans wanting to move to Canada occur after every U.S. election.

   It happened, however, when George W. Bush was elected in 2004, with immigration to Canada doubling by 34,000 Americans in a decade.

   With Trump’s campaign promises and popularity, searches online about “how to move to Canada” have surged, according to Simon Rogers of Google.

   The Canadian technology industry that has long lost talented workers to the U.S. is fighting back seeking Silicon Valley, California talent over concerns about Trump.

   Sortable, a Kitchener, Ontario tech company, has been running Facebook ads featuring a photo of Trump with the tag line: “Thinking of moving to Canada? Sortable is hiring.”  http://sortable.com/careers-at-sortable/

   Cape Breton, Nova Scotia radio host Rob Calabrese has set up a website called “CapeBretonIfDonaldTrumpWins,” offering to provide a new home for anyone seeking refuge.

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