THE CANADIAN REPORT
(c) By Jim Fox
Security has been
tightened around the official residences of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and
Governor General Julie Payette after a gunman was arrested on the grounds.
Police say a man
smashed his pickup truck into a pedestrian gate and was walking the grounds of
Rideau Hall in Ottawa armed with several weapons early Thursday.
They say he was
loose on the property for about 13 minutes before police noticed him.
He was stopped as
he approached the front door of Trudeau’s residence. Both the prime minister
and his family and Payette were away at the time.
Police would not
discuss a possible motive as it is “part of the ongoing investigation,” said
Deputy Mountie Commissioner Mike Duheme.
Corey Hurren, 46, a
master corporal in the 4th Ranger Patrol Group of the Canadian Forces from Manitoba
was remanded in custody to July 17 for a court hearing.
He faces 22
charges, including uttering threats and gun possession for unlawful purposes.
“This is the kind
of event nobody wants to happen,” Trudeau said, adding that he was “thankful”
it was resolved without anyone being hurt.
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“We’re in a deep
hole and it’s going to be a long way out,” says Tiff Macklem, newly installed
governor of the Bank of Canada.
With recovery “still
a long way off,” the central bank’s efforts are focused on monetary stimulus
and low interest rates to support the recovery during the pandemic.
Foreign investment
in Canada remains robust even with 3 million job losses and a 13 percent
unemployment rate.
The major benefits
are wage subsidies for businesses and the Canada Emergency Response Benefit
paying $2,000 a month to those who have lost their jobs.
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News in brief:
- The Ontario
government is sending in health workers to deal with a massive outbreak of
COVID-19 among migrant farm workers. One farm in Windsor-Essex has been linked
to 175 new cases even as the number of incidents falls across the province. The
workers, largely from Mexico, are receiving increased testing, medical care and
relocation to motels.
- Toronto will
enact a bylaw on Tuesday making face coverings mandatory in indoor public
spaces and on public transit. Medical Officer Dr. Eileen de Villa said that in
order to reduce the spread of COVID-19 the city needs “as many people as
possible wearing cloth masks or face coverings.” As well, smaller lakeside
communities north of Toronto have closed or restricted beach access to
out-of-towners.
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Facts and figures:
The Canadian dollar
is higher at 73.76 cents U.S. while the U.S. dollar returns $1.355 Canadian before
exchange fees.
The Bank of Canada’s
key interest rate is unchanged at 0.25 percent while the prime lending rate is
2.45 percent.
Canadian stock
markets are higher with the Toronto index at 15,596 points and the TSX Venture
index 633 points.
The average price
for gas in Canada is steady at $1.04 a liter (Canadian) or $3.95 for a U.S. gallon.
Lotto Max: (June 30)
11,
12, 22, 33, 37, 48 and 49; bonus 41. (June 26) 8, 14, 31, 36, 39, 46 and 47;
bonus 20.
Lotto 6/49: (July
1) 1, 12, 27, 30, 34 and 49; bonus 35. (June 27) 1, 13, 14, 24, 36 and 44;
bonus 7.
---
Regional briefs:
- Heavy rain has
caused a surge in river levels across much of British Columbia. Numerous
communities are on alert as the water rises and washes away roads. Main
concerns involve areas around the upper Fraser and Quesnel rivers, including the
Prince George area. Environment Canada also has rainfall warnings for Peace
River, Fort Nelson, Muncho Lake and Stone Mountain parks.
- Huge traffic jams
formed Friday at the borders to the four Atlantic Provinces as virus closings
were lifted. This allows residents of the provinces to visit each other. The
“bubble” opened in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland/Labrador and Prince
Edward Island without having to self-isolate for 14 days.
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Jim Fox can be reached at canadareport@hotmail.com
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