Canada column for
Sunday, March 22/20
THE CANADIAN REPORT
By Jim Fox
“The time to come
home is now,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said repeatedly to Canadian
“snowbirds” and those travelling around the world the past week.
That’s because
airlines are ceasing operations due to the COVID-19 outbreak of which 1,000
people have become infected across Canada with 10 deaths.
To try to contain
the virus, Canada and the U.S. have sealed the border in both directions to “non-essential
travel.”
Canadians and
Americans are still allowed to go home, with Canada saying they have to spend
14 days in self-isolation when they get back.
The movement of
goods by truck and train, health professionals and others who live on one side
and work on the other are exempt.
In a surprise
announcement, Trudeau said illegal migrants flooding into Canada avoiding
proper crossings will be refused entry and not admitted as before.
The measures are
“temporary” but needed as the world battles the new coronavirus outbreak,
Trudeau said.
---
The federal
government announced a $1-billion fund to help Canada respond to the virus,
including money for the health-care system.
It has further set
aside $82 billion in direct spending and deferred taxes to help people cope.
The money is aimed
at ensuring people can protect their health and without fear of not being able
to feed their families or pay their rent or mortgages, Trudeau said.
There will be added
Canada Child Benefit payments for families and sales tax credits, a wage
subsidy for small businesses, student loan deferrals and immediate unemployment
insurance payments of up to $450 a week.
The deadline for
filing income taxes is moved to June 1 from April 30 with money owing not due
until Aug. 31 without penalty.
---
News in brief:
- Air Canada is
laying off 5,100 flight attendants due to service cuts over the virus outbreak.
The latest closing casualty is the iconic Fairmont Chateau Laurier hotel, an
historic property next to the Parliament buildings, in Ottawa. “This certainly
isn’t goodbye, it’s farewell for now,” the hotel said in its announcement.
- The Ontario
government has reached a tentative contract that could end a bitter
work-to-rule campaign and rotating strikes by the Elementary Teachers’
Federation. The 83,000 teachers will vote on the deal in April as will the
Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association. They were seeking a two-percent
raise and improved benefits.
---
Facts and figures:
The Canadian dollar
has fallen to 69.6 cents U.S. while the U.S. dollar returns $1.434 Canadian before
exchange fees.
The Toronto Stock Exchange
fell 1,865 points to 11,851 from a week ago while the TSX Venture index is down
to 356 points.
The average price
for gas in Canada is lower at 85 cents a liter (Canadian) or $3.23 for a U.S.
gallon.
Lotto Max: (March
17) 4, 5, 8, 15, 27, 41 and 48; bonus 37. (March 13) 7, 14, 15, 35, 36, 49 and 50;
bonus 11.
Lotto
6/49: (March 18) 7, 8, 9, 12, 14 and 36; bonus 28. (March 14) 1, 2, 23,
27, 31 and 32; bonus 43.
---
Regional briefs:
- Saskatchewan is
getting tough with people who don’t observe 14 days of self-isolation after
returning from out-of-the-country travel. They can be arrested and fined up to
$2,000, said Premier Scott Moe. “That doesn’t mean that you go to the grocery
store or go to the drug store or go fill up with gas and then you go home and
self-isolate,” he said.
- Pharmacists in
Nova Scotia are limiting prescriptions to a 30-day supply. The Pharmacy
Association said the decision to restrict prescriptions was over concern about drug
shortages caused by people stock-piling medications. “There are growing
concerns about being able to meet the demand for medications,” said association
CEO Allison Bodnar.
-30-
Jim Fox can be reached at canadareport@hotmail.com
No comments:
Post a Comment