Canada column for Sunday, Feb. 14/21
THE CANADIAN REPORT
By Jim Fox
Canadian snowbirds are fighting government rules that they must take virus tests before leaving and upon returning to Canada by air.
They’re the folks who spend their winters or own vacation homes in warmer climates, primarily Florida and Arizona.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also says those arriving in Canada by land will soon have to present recent negative COVID-19 test results or face fines of up to $3,000.
Canadian Snowbird Association president Karen Huestis has complained to the government that the costs involved in the change of regulations “poses financial hardship for many travelers.”
Those who test negative should be able to quarantine in their homes and not have to spend three days in an airport strip hotel awaiting results and paying about of $2,000 for a room and food, she said.
Those returning by land aren’t required to quarantine in a hotel.
These new airline testing and quarantine measures start Feb. 22 and planes can only land at Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto and Montreal.
Since there is no ban on travel, snowbirds don't think of themselves as vacationers with such short trips being discouraged to help prevent the spread of the virus.
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Ontario is gradually restarting the economy by opening schools and transitioning regions of the province out of lockdown.
The first of 27 regions of the province with 15-million people will move to a color-coded reopening framework Tuesday.
This will end the widespread stay-at-home order and allow a partial reopening of non-essential businesses.
“We are cautiously and gradually transitioning some regions out of shutdown but it is not a return to normal,” said Health Minister Christine Elliott.
The heavily populated regions of Toronto, York as well as North Bay and Parry Sound will keep the stay home order until at least Feb. 22.
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News in brief:
- A Canadian postal worker, among more than 250 infected with COVID-19, has died. The 61-year-old man died within days of his positive test that affected workers at a Canada Post sorting plant in Mississauga, west of Toronto.
- Work anywhere you want, suggests Spotify, a music streaming company based in Sweden with offices in Toronto. In a blog post, the company said employees can “work from anywhere” as the future of work and where continues to evolve. It noted that work is shifting to cloud-based systems and people turning to meetings online in a remote working lifestyle as vaccine inoculations could still take some time to complete.
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Facts and figures:
Canada’s dollar is higher at 78.7 cents U.S. while the U.S. dollar returns $1.269 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 18,460 points and the TSX Venture index 1,067 points.
The average price for gas in Canada is higher at $1.15 a liter (Canadian) or $4.37 for a U.S. gallon.
Lotto Max: (Feb.9) 4, 12, 16, 17, 33, 36and 44; bonus 2. (Feb. 5) 1, 2, 23, 32, 35, 36 and 45; bonus 28.
Lotto 6/49: (Feb. 10) 4, 14, 22, 26, 45 and 48; bonus 20. (Feb. 6) 6,11,12, 26, 28 and 38; bonus 47.
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Regional briefs:
- Voting was postponed on Saturday for nearly half of the Newfoundland and Labrador election districts after a surge in COVID-19 cases. Community spread largely among teenagers in the St. John’s region resulted in voting poll workers refusing to work for fear of becoming ill. Voting is proceeding by mail and the balance of the voting will be rescheduled.
- Feisty Hazel McCallion marks another milestone today as the former mayor of Mississauga, Ontario turns 100 years old. “Every part of my life has been a wonderful experience,” said the business woman-turned-politician. The outspoken politician eventually retired in 2014 at the age of 93 and after serving 36 years as mayor.
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Jim Fox can be reached at canadareport@hotmail.com
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