Major-general running Canada's vaccine program leaves job over military investigation of him

    Canada column for Sunday, May 16/21

    THE CANADIAN REPORT

   By Jim Fox

    When the news broke this weekend that Major-General Dany Fortin is no longer in charge of Canada's vaccine rollout due to a “military investigation,” not much further was being said.

   Fortin was the high-profile pick of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for the assignment with the Public Health Agency of Canada.

   He headed the problem-plagued vaccine rollout that failed to deliver the supplies on time in the first phase but is now on track.

   The Department of National Defence released no further details about the nature of the investigation of Fortin.

   Defense Minister Harjit Sajjan said he is “committed to working to build a true culture of inclusion for the Canadian Armed Forces and the Department of National Defense where everyone is treated with dignity and respect.”

   The forces continue to fully support the vaccine rollout and the rest of the government’s response to COVID-19 across Canada, he added.

   Fortin has served in the military for 30 years and commanded NATO mission in Iraq and led Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan.

   It’s another setback for Canada’s military that has the fallout of sexual impropriety allegations.

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    Canada’s ethics commission has cleared Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of wrongdoing in the WE Charity scandal.

   Mario Dion was reviewing the Canadian government's decision to give the organization a $43-million contract to run a $900-million student grant program.

   It was learned that Trudeau and his then Finance Minister Bill Morneau’s families had ties with the organization.

   Dion said Morneau had broken the conflict law as he had a closer relationship with the now-canceled program’s leaders.

   Trudeau and Morneau have apologized for not recusing themselves from cabinet deliberations.

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    News in brief:

   - Greyhound Canada has pulled out of its remaining Canadian routes as of last Thursday with the loss of 400 jobs. The abrupt announcement said the company will no longer offer in-Canada service, but a U.S. affiliate will still offer cross-border routes. The iconic bus company ended its western Canadian routes in 2018. It has had its Ontario and Quebec routes “on pause” since last year due to the pandemic and has had a “full year without revenue.”

   - Canada’s dollar has been gaining strength the past seven weeks, reaching 83 cents U.S. The boost is credited to higher oil prices, a major commodity for Canada, along with economic growth and factory output highlighted by automotive and food products, Statistics Canada reported.

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     Facts and figures:

   Canada’s dollar is higher at 83 cents U.S. while the U.S. dollar returns $1.21 Canadian before exchange fees.

   The Bank of Canada key interest rate remains at 0.25 percent while the prime lending rate is 2.45 percent.

   Canadian stock markets are lower, with the Toronto index at 19,366 points and the TSX Venture index at 931 points.

   The average price for gas in Canada is lower at $1.30 a liter (Canadian) or $4.94 for a U.S. gallon.

  Lotto Max: (May 11) 14, 15, 20, 32, 35, 38 and 50; bonus 46. (May 7) 1, 8, 17, 21, 35, 39 and 46; bonus 31.

   Lotto 6/49: (May 12) 30, 35, 39, 42, 46 and 48; bonus 38. (May 8) 25, 28, 36, 38, 41 and 49; bonus 20.

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   Regional briefs:

    - It will be another summer without major entertainment of past years in Toronto due to the pandemic. The city has announced that major events including the Caribbean Carnival and Canadian National Exhibition, will once again be cancelled as happened last year.

Mayor John Tory said this applies to in-person events through the Labor Day weekend in September.  “The city is committed to working closely with event organizers to help them manage through 2021 and come back stronger in 2022,” he said.

   - It seems that the use of French in Quebec is in decline so the provincial government wants to tighten the language laws that could mean changing the Canadian Constitution. This would add clauses defining Quebec as a nation with its official and common language being French. Much of a bill is aimed at increasing the use of French in public and workplaces, said Premier François Legault.

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    Jim Fox can be reached at canadareport@hotmail.com