Canada column for Sunday, Nov. 22 /20
THE CANADIAN REPORT
By Jim Fox
Canadian “snowbirds” have found creative ways to get across the still-closed Canada-U.S. land border to go to their winter haunts in the sunny south.
While the land crossings remain closed until at least Dec 21 due to the pandemic, people wanting to get away primarily to Florida are flying over the border.
Calling it a “loophole,” some are paying trucking companies to take their cars, trailers and RVs across the border since commercial traffic and flying are allowed.
A Quebec-based transporter charges $500 for a flight to Plattsburgh, N.Y., where they meet snowbirds with their vehicles.
From Toronto and other provinces, people are flying directly to their winter destinations and a hauling service takes their vehicles there and back in the spring.
A survey by travel site SnowbirdAdvisor.ca of 3,000 snowbirds found that more than 30 percent still plan to get away for some or all of the winter.
“People are going to go to Florida no matter what,” said Ron Ohayon of Snowbirds Auto Connection.
---
Lockdowns are being imposed in virus “hot spots” across Canada with severe limitations on movements and businesses while schools and big-box stores remain open.
This includes Toronto and adjacent Peel Region as of this weekend where most non-essential businesses and sit-down dining are outlawed to try to cope with a rise in infections.
“I know these past few months have been extremely difficult with COVID fatigue setting in on all of us, said Ontario Premier Doug Ford.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau pleaded with Canadians to stay home and restrict gatherings as more than 11,000 people have died of the virus in Canada.
Projections suggest there could be 10,000 infection cases daily if drastic measures aren’t taken now, he said.
---
News in brief:
- The Toronto Raptors, the National Basketball Association’s league champs last year, will be playing their home games this coming season in Tampa. The Canadian government rejected the team’s proposed plan to play in Toronto due to the pandemic border crossing restrictions and imposed quarantine measures. Team president Masai Ujiri said Tampa will be its home base for the season starting on Dec. 22.
- Higher food prices raised Canada’s inflation rate last month by 0.7 percent compared to a year ago. It was the fastest consumer price index rise in months, Statistics Canada reported. The biggest gains were for lettuce and fresh and frozen chicken largely due to supply issues.
--
Facts and figures:
The Canadian dollar is higher at 76.3 cents U.S. while the U.S. dollar returns $1.30 Canadian before exchange fees.
The Bank of Canada key interest rate is steady at 0.25 percent while the prime lending rate is 2.45 percent.
Canadian stock markets are higher with the Toronto index at 17,019 points and the TSX Venture index 740 points.
The average price for gas in Canada is lower at 99.7 cents a liter (Canadian) or $3.78 for a U.S. gallon.
Lotto Max: (Nov. 17) 6, 18, 21, 30, 31, 34 and 38; bonus 1. (Nov. 13) 3, 4, 7, 19, 44, 48 and 49; bonus 8.
Lotto 6/49: (Nov. 18) 7, 14, 21, 28, 30 and 32; bonus 22. (Nov. 14) 1, 2, 13, 30, 35 and 38; bonus 45.
---
Regional briefs:
- A veteran Ontario Provincial Police officer died after a shootout with a man while investigating a trespassing complaint. Constable Mark Hovingh, 52, was killed along with the unnamed man that neighbors said was a squatter at a trailer park near Gore Bay on Manitoulin Island. A second police officer was wounded by gunfire.
- Maritimers have a Christmas wish: “Don’t beak our (pandemic) bubble.” It’s been more than four months since the east-coast provinces formed the “Atlantic bubble” to protect them from people bringing the virus to their coasts. The bubble has been praised internationally for keeping case numbers low by keeping a lid on travel.
-30-
Jim Fox can be reached at canadareport@hotmail.com
No comments:
Post a Comment