Canada column for Sunday, Nov. 29 /20
THE CANADIAN REPORT
By Jim Fox
Canada’s COVID-19 vaccine will be distributed next year with military precision as ordered by a former NATO commander.
Major-General Dany Fortin was named by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to lead the vaccine distribution effort.
His mission: to immunize more than half of all 37-5-million Canadians by September of next year.
Priority groups should start receiving vaccine doses early next year, with the Canadian Armed Forces assisting the cold-storage requirements, data sharing and reaching Indigenous communities, Trudeau said.
Dr. Howard Njoo, deputy chief public health officer, said the government is working with five vaccine makers and is in advanced negotiations with two more.
That will amount to 194-million doses with the option to buy another 220 million.
There has been a spike in cases across Canada, with 58,974 active infections and 11,894 deaths.
Distribution efforts in Ontario are being headed by retired General Rick Hillier.
---
New rules will allow Canadians to travel to Hawaii this winter and avoid quarantine.
They must, however, show proof of a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours of departure.
Major air carriers Air Canada and WestJet made the arrangements with Hawaii that will take effect in December.
Hawaii didn’t want to miss out on hosting the Canadian snowbirds that Governor David Ige said are the second-largest international market for the islands.
Meanwhile, insurance companies are being swamped with inquiries across Canada from people wanting to ensure their extended health coverage will be in effect in Florida, Hawaii and elsewhere.
They plan to get round the land border closing between Canada and the U.S. by flying to and from their destination.
---
News in brief:
- Champion ice dancers Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir and Olympic champion swimmer Mark Tewksbury are among 114 athletes, artists, scholars and community leaders named to the honorary Order of Canada. Governor General Gen. Julie Payette announced the new honourees. Moir and Virtue had gold-medal performances at the Winter Olympics in 2018. They are being honored for their athletic excellence and for inspiring a new generation of figure skaters.
- The owner of a barbecue restaurant in Toronto has been released from jail on $50,000 bail for defying health orders to remain closed due to the virus lockdown. Adam Skelly, 33, of Adamson Barbecue restaurant battled with police and city inspectors as he remained open for three days. Police finally closed his restaurant, changed the locks and arrested him for the health violation and obstructing police as a large crowd taunted them.
---
Facts and figures:
The Canadian dollar is higher at 76.9 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 17,396 points and the TSX Venture index 749 points.
The average price for gas in Canada is higher at $1.02 a liter (Canadian) or $3.87 for a U.S. gallon.
Lotto Max:(Nov. 24) 6, 8, 13, 27, 41, 46 and 47; bonus 39. (Nov. 20) 11, 17, 29, 33, 39, 40 and 42; bonus 48.
Lotto 6/49: (Nov. 25) 13, 14, 31, 33, 37 and 46; bonus 40. (Nov. 21) 16, 19, 21, 34, 37 and 47; bonus 25.
---
Regional briefs:
- New Brunswick has pulled out of the Atlantic bubble that protected the Maritime provinces from contracting the virus – until now. As a result, all visitors to the province will have to self-isolate for 14 days. Community transmission has not been confirmed there but there’s the threat, “so taking swift action right now is important,” said Premier Blaine Higgs.
- “There’s plenty of toilet paper to go around” and no need for hoarding is the word from British Columbia-based Kruger Products. Workers are going “full tilt” to meet increased demand especially for toilet paper. “This is a product that people typically take for granted,” Kruger general manager Mark Evans said.
-30-
Jim Fox can be reached at canadareport@hotmail.com
No comments:
Post a Comment