Canada column for
Sunday, Jan 12/20
THE CANADIAN REPORT
(c) By Jim Fox
Dozens of Canada’s
gifted researchers, university students, medical and engineering professionals and
families were among 63 of the 176 victims of the Iranian jet crash near Tehran.
Anger is growing
across Canada as memorials are held to honor those killed in what is now confirmed
to have been an act of war – the use of a missile to bring down the plane – a
claim originally denied in Iran.
On the plane were
138 passengers planning to connect to a flight to Canada.
“We want justice,”
mourners yelled as Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau laid flowers at a
makeshift memorial in Ottawa.
“This is a national
tragedy and all Canadians are mourning together,” he said.
Canada, which
severed its diplomatic ties with Iran in 2012 and expelled Iranian diplomats,
has sent its officials and members of the Transportation Safety Board to Tehran
seeking answers.
It is not known,
however, if they will be allowed near the crash site or to inspect the debris.
“Our focus remains
closure, accountability, transparency and justice for the families and loved
ones of the victims,” Trudeau said.
---
Vancouver Island
could offer the refuge Prince Harry, Meghan Markle and Royal baby Archie are
seeking.
Meghan is back in
the Victoria area after the family spent the Christmas holidays there and Harry
is to return later in the week.
The non-traditional
couple announced they would abandon their Royal role to seek a more independent
life split between North America and the United Kingdom.
Canada, a former
British colony, seemed a perfect fit as the Duke has been a frequent visitor and
Toronto was Meghan’s home for seven years.
---
News in brief:
- Diane Ford, mother
of Ontario Premier Doug Ford and the late Toronto mayor Rob Ford, has died at
home at age 85. As well, Marilyn Lastman, 84, wife of former Toronto and North
York Mayor Mel Lastman has died.
- Neil Peart, the
drummer and lyricist for the Canadian progressive rock band Rush, has died at
the age of 67. Formed in 1968, the band retired after its R40 Live tour in
2015. Peart died in his “adopted hometown” of Santa Monica, California after a
three-year battle with brain cancer.
---
Facts and figures:
The Canadian dollar
has dropped to 76.6 cents U.S. while the U.S. dollar returns $1.305 Canadian before
exchange fees.
The Bank of Canada’s
key interest rate is steady at 1.75 percent while the prime-lending rate is 3.95
percent.
Canadian stock markets are mixed with the Toronto
exchange index up at 17,234 points and the TSX Venture index down to 582
points.
The average price
for gas in Canada is steady at $1.14 a liter or $4.33 for a U.S. gallon.
Lotto Max: (Jan. 7) 3, 8, 12, 14, 17, 18
and 29; bonus 11. (Jan. 3) 8, 18, 20, 24, 31, 37 and 39; bonus 34.
Lotto 6/49: (Jan.
8) 2, 5, 19, 44, 48 and 49; bonus 24. (Jan. 4) 23, 24, 36, 42, 45 and 46; bonus
21.
---
Regional briefs:
- Hailed as a
national builder and a tireless advocate for Newfoundland and Labrador, John
Crosbie has died at age 88. The former federal cabinet minister’s biggest
challenge was the collapse of the northern cod stocks, the backbone of the
province’s economy. He is survived by his wife Jane and three children
including Ches, leader of province’s Conservative party.
- As Ontario’s high
school teachers stage one-day rotating strikes to back contract demands, more
might be joining the battle. The Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario
said they will work to rule and could begin strikes later this month,
complaining that the government “refuses to address critical issues” over class
sizes, electronic learning and wages.
-30-
Jim Fox can be reached at canadareport@hotmail.com
No comments:
Post a Comment