Canada column for Sunday, Feb. 28/21
THE CANADIAN REPORT
By Jim Fox
An agreement to work together on bilateral issues and concerns signals the return to more neighborly relations between Canada and the United States.
The first big step took place when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met virtually with President Joe Biden and committed to “an ambitious roadmap” to revitalize and expand this historic relationship.
They vowed to work together to “end” the global COVID-19 pandemic and to help ensure everyone has access to a vaccine.
There was agreement to the “importance of avoiding measures that may constrain the critical trade and supply-chain security between the two countries.”
Canada and the United States share the longest secure border in the world with $2.7 billion in goods and services crossing daily.
Both leaders will work to rebuild hard-hit pandemic-affected businesses, create jobs, fight climate change and make effective changes to improve criminal justice and law enforcement.
Attention will also be paid to the integrated energy infrastructure, including oil and gas, defense and security issues, cybersecurity threats and firearms.
---
Canada’s pharmacies are on standby as the long-awaited bigger flow of COVID vaccines has started.
Prime Minister Trudeau said Canada received 643,000 doses in the past week.
The country’s drug stores are ready to start administering vaccines.
Shoppers Drug Mart’s more than 1,300 locations and an additional 500 Loblaw pharmacies are ready for mass inoculations, said chain president Jeff Leger.
---
News in brief:
- An Ipsos poll shows most Canadians have no sympathy for Snowbirds who face expensive measures to return from their warm winter haunts mainly in Florida and Arizona. Eighty-three percent agreed with the new tougher travel rules including “pre-testing and testing upon arrival for COVID and a mandatory hotel quarantine for air travelers to await results.
- Calgary-based WestJet Airlines is laying off 415pilots and 120 crew due to a slowdown in business. The airline had to cancel flights to many Canadian destinations as well as travel to Mexico and the Caribbean. The government said federal aid for airlines is contingent on passengers being given full refunds for canceled flights.
---
Facts and figures:
Canada’s dollar is lower at 78.5 cents U.S. while the U.S. dollar returns $1.273 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 lower, with the Toronto index at 18,060 points and the TSX Venture index 1,018points.
The average price for gas in Canada is higher at $1.21 a liter (Canadian) or $4.60 for a U.S. gallon.
Lotto Max: (Feb. 23) 3, 13, 14, 20, 30, 45 and 49; bonus 35. (Feb. 19) 1, 5, 10, 18, 20, 40 and 42; bonus 47.
Lotto 6/49: (Feb. 24) 11, 36, 37, 38, 39 and 45; bonus 10. (Feb. 20) 2, 14, 15, 21, 29 and 46; bonus 7.
---
Regional briefs:
- Someone in Ontario holds the winning ticket for Friday’s $70-million Lotto Max jackpot. It equals $55 million U.S., with winnings in Canadian lotteries and casinos paid in full and tax free. Nine Maxmillions prizes of $1 million each were also won. The jackpot drops to $24 million for the next draw on Tuesday.
- A multi-billion-dollar British Columbia energy development on the Peace River will continue, Premier John Horgan said. Soaring costs and delays now put the cost at $16 billion or $10 billion if the project is canceled, he said.
- With pandemic visiting and business openings easing across Canada, an outbreak in the popular Simcoe Muskoka district north of Toronto is causing a locking down again starting on Monday (along with Thunder Bay). The four-season Muskoka vacation area had just reopened last week. Chief Medical Officer Dr. Charles Gardner put on the “emergency brakes” due to rising pandemic cases.
Jim Fox can be reached at canadareport@hotmail.com
No comments:
Post a Comment