Canada column for
Sunday, June 7/2020
THE CANADIAN REPORT
(c) By Jim Fox
Peaceful parades to
honor George Floyd and condemn police brutality and societal racism are being
held in cities across Canada.
Black activists,
organizations and allies stood in solidarity and included Prime Minister Justin
Trudeau at a rally in Ottawa, Canada’s capital.
The rallies put
down racism and police brutality and remembered Floyd who died while in police
custody in Minneapolis.
Flanked by security
and wearing a black cloth mask, Trudeau put one knee on the ground with his
head bowed as did Toronto’s black Police Chief Mark Saunders in that city’s march.
More than 1,000
people rallied without any violence in Toronto where Saunders said “We see you
and we are listening. We have to all stay in this together to make change.”
The Ottawa march ended
up at the U.S. Embassy where the building’s lights are being dimmed for nine
nights in Floyd’s honor.
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Canada’s economy
had a surprise boost last month.
Statistics Canada
said the country reclaimed 289,600 jobs after three million were lost in March
and April due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
As well, 2.5
million people had their hours slashed then.
Canada’s unemployment
rate rose to 13.7 percent in May, the highest level in more than four decades,
as more people were looking for work.
The government is
reviewing whether to change the payments under the Canada Emergency Response
Benefit and employment insurance system so workers will have more incentive to
get back to work.
---
News in brief:
- Canadian seniors
will receive a bonus payment from the Canadian government early next month to
assist with extra costs during the pandemic. The special one-time payment
amounts to $300 for those receiving “Old-Age Security” benefits. There is also
an additional $200 for those receiving the Guaranteed Income Supplement.
- The Canadian
government is offering the provinces and territories up to $14 billion in grants
if they work on a “safe-restart agreement.” Prime Minister Trudeau said this
will help Canadians return to more normal living and include 10 days of paid
sick leave for workers and protective gear as needed. There would be money for
child care facilities and for municipal governments to help with services such
as transit.
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Facts and figures:
The Canadian dollar
is higher at 74.4 cents U.S. while the U.S. dollar returns $1.342 Canadian before
exchange fees.
The Bank of Canada’s
key interest rate was left unchanged at 0.25 percent while the prime lending
rate is 2.45 percent.
Canadian stock
markets are higher with the Toronto index at 15,854points and the TSX Venture
index 556 points.
The average price
for gas in Canada is higher at 97.1 cents a liter (Canadian) or $3.68 for a
U.S. gallon.
Lotto Max: (June
2) 8, 14, 16, 17, 29, 41 and 42; bonus 47. (May 29) 5, 12, 15, 23, 26, 38 and 41; bonus 45.
Lotto 6/49:
(June 3) 2, 15, 20, 22, 29 and 39; bonus 13. (May 30) 11, 17, 27, 28, 30 and 43;
bonus 35.
---
Regional briefs:
- Montreal based
Bombardier is cutting 2,500 jobs from its aviation division in Quebec, Ontario,
Mexico and the United States. The company is blaming the cutback on the
pandemic resulting in reduced demand for its private jets. Half of the cuts
will be completed by the end of the month and the balance throughout this year.
- Police say the
psychological profile of deceased mass killer Gabriel Wortman shows the
51-year-old Halifax-area denturist was an “injustice collector.” It says his grudges
built up over time and eventually exploded in horrific violence. Mountie Supt.
Darren Campbell said while killing 22 people in rural Nova Scotia in April, Wortman
targeted some victims for perceived slights while others were chosen at random
as he drove his fake police cruiser and wore a police uniform. A public inquiry
is planned into the incident.
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Jim Fox can be reached at canadareport@hotmail.com
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