Canada column for
Sunday, Jan 25/20
THE CANADIAN REPORT
(c) By Jim Fox
Health authorities
are on high alert but say the risk of Canadians contracting the coronavirus
illness from China remains low.
There have been no
confirmed Canadian cases but public health agencies say they would not be
surprised if it makes it here.
“The system is on
alert, all the things are in place and we’re monitoring,” said Dr. David
Williams, Ontario’s chief medical officer of health.
Airports in
Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal with direct flights from China are screening
passengers.
The death toll rose
to 41 Saturday with 1,300 people infected in China where the virus was traced
to a seafood market in Wuhan.
The virus is in the
same family as the common cold but also caused the SARS (Severe Acute
Respiratory Syndrome) outbreak 17 years ago.
That led to 774
deaths worldwide, including 44 in Canada, but “we are much better prepared now,”
Williams said.
---
A warning was
issued to paparazzi and others imposing on the privacy of Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duchess of
Sussex, who are living in Canada six months of the year.
British Columbia’s
privacy commissioner said media outlets should “practise civility and
self-regulation” in respecting the couple’s rights.
Michael McEvoy said
media freedoms in Canada ensure a free press but the couple’s privacy should be
a consideration as they are living near Victoria.
Lawyers for the couple
threatened legal action in a letter to the British press after Meghan and her
young son Archie were photographed walking in a park north of the west-coast
city.
---
News in brief:
- A state of emergency
declared last weekend has been lifted in Newfoundland and Labrador after a
massive snow storm dumped about three feet of snow. The army was called in to
help dig out and get roads and stores open. St. John’s Mayor Danny Breen said with
so much snow to clear from the narrow streets, businesses closed and people
were advised to stay home.
- The Canadian
government will match money raised by a national campaign seeking $1.5 million
to help cover funeral costs for families affected by the Iranian plane shot
down this month. The government earlier provided emergency compensation of
$25,000 to each family of Canada’s 57 victims among the 176 people killed.
Canadian Transportation Safety Board investigators are assisting with the
investigation.
---
Facts and figures:
The Canadian dollar
is lower at 76.09 cents U.S. while the U.S. dollar returns $1.314 Canadian before
exchange fees.
The Bank of Canada’s
key interest rate is steady at 1.75 percent and the prime-lending rate is 3.95 percent.
Stock markets are
mixed with the Toronto Exchange index higher at 17,565 points while the TSX Venture
index is down at 581 points.
The average price
for gas in Canada is lower at $1.12 a liter or $4.25 for a U.S. gallon.
Lotto Max: (Jan.
21) 7, 11, 16, 21 31, 36 and 44; bonus 46. (Jan. 17) 5 6, 36, 39, 40, 46 and
48; bonus 34.
Lotto 6/49: (Jan.
22) 2, 10, 27, 30, 39 and 43; bonus 21.
(Jan. 18) 2, 5, 10, 18, 26 and 30; bonus 36.
---
Regional briefs:
- Blasting caused a
massive rock slide that has cut off the Western Vancouver Island communities of
Tofino and Ucluelet from the rest of the island. Workers were upgrading the
hazardous Highway 4 at Kennedy Lake when there was a “larger than anticipated
rockfall,” the B.C. Ministry of Transportation said. Crews were able to open
the road for a few hours on Friday before it was closed again to install a
portable bridge that will “involve a lengthy closure.”
- Picking up some
doughnuts for Liberal government cabinet members at a retreat in Winnipeg landed
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in another scandal. Under a photo of him, Trudeau
tweeted: “Picked
up some of Winnipeg’s best to keep us going through another full day of cabinet
meetings. Thanks for the fuel (OhDoughnuts).” Canadian loyalists say he should
have gone to Canada’s iconic Tim Hortons instead of the local bakery.
-30-
Jim Fox can be reached at canadareport@hotmail.com
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