Canada column for
Sunday, Sept. 16/18
THE CANADIAN REPORT
(c) By Jim Fox
Canadians who admit
smoking marijuana and work or invest in companies producing pot products could
be barred for life from entering the United States.
As Canada’s law
legalizing pot becomes effective Oct. 17, people need to be careful when
crossing the border, officials warn.
The U.S. is not
planning to change its rules about border crossings in light of Canada
legalizing pot sales and use, said Todd Owen of the U.S. Office of Field
Operations.
“Our officers are
not going to be asking everyone whether they have used marijuana, but if other
questions lead there or if there is a smell coming from the car, they might
ask,” Owen told the Politico website.
If asked about past
drug use, travelers should not lie because that would be “fraud and
misrepresentation, which carries a lifetime ban,” he added.
The U.S. does not
recognize those working or investing in the industry as a legal business.
Vancouver venture
capitalist Sam Znaimer who told border officers he has invested in U.S.
cannabis companies was one of the first given a lifetime entry ban.
---
Now that Mexican
officials have said they’d be willing, along with the United States, to cut
Canada out of the free trade deal, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he isn’t
worried.
As talks drag on to
rewrite the North American Free Trade Agreement, Trudeau has swept aside pressure
to come up with an agreement by the end of the month.
Canada has been
told by President Donald Trump that a deal must be reached by Oct. 1to be
submitted to Congress and be included.
“We’re going to
continue to work towards the right deal for Canadians . . . and get there as
quick as we can,” Trudeau said.
---
News in brief:
- Canada’s new
International Trade Minister Jim Carr missed attending a meeting with other G20
representatives in Argentina on Friday. Carr was at a meeting in Manitoba and
sent someone else from his office. His main goal is to diversify Canada’s
economic relations with countries other than the United States such as China,
India and Brazil.
- Ontario’s new
Conservative Premier Doug Ford has called the legislature into special session
this weekend to try to pass a bill reducing the size of Toronto’s city council.
It happens as the council election is set for Oct. 22 and there is fierce
opposition from city politicians. Ford said he promised to cut costs as he wants
to shrink the size of council to 25 from 47 members.
---
Facts and figures:
Canada’s dollar is higher
at 76.71 cents U.S. while the U.S. dollar returns $1.303 Canadian before bank exchange
fees.
The Bank of Canada’s
key interest rate is 1.5 percent while the prime-lending rate is 3.7 percent.
Stock markets are mixed, with the Toronto
exchange index lower at 16,013 points while the TSX Venture index is up at 715
points.
The average price for gas in Canada is down to $1.296
a liter or $4.92 (Canadian) for a U.S. gallon.
Lotto 6/49: (Sept. 12) 14, 21, 27, 32, 35 and 43; bonus 41.
(Sept. 8) 8, 10, 31, 41, 46 and 47; bonus 45. Lotto Max: (Sept. 7) 3, 12,
21, 34, 37, 38 and 41; bonus 22.
---
Regional briefs:
- Bilingualism has
become an issue in Sept. 24 provincial election campaign in New Brunswick.
Party leaders clashed at a debate over whether the premier of Canada’s only
officially bilingual province needs to speak both French and English. “It’s not
the only skill you need to bring to the premier’s office,” said non-fluent Conservative
Leader Blaine Higgs unlike opponent, Liberal Premier Brian Gallant.
- A late summer
snowfall has thrown a curve at Alberta farmers as the weather remains cool. Six
inches of snow covered Greg Sear’s wheat, barley and peas and froze anything
that wasn't fully mature in Grande Prairie. The crops will need to dry before
being harvested and farmers are still coping with drifting smoke from wildfires
in British Columbia slowing crop development.
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Jim Fox can be reached at canadareport@hotmail.com
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