Canada column for Sunday, May 30/21
THE CANADIAN REPORT
By Jim Fox
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is dismissing reports that the land border between Canada and the United States will reopen soon.
He was reacting to a report quoting “anonymous sources” with U.S. Customs and Border Protection that the one-year-old closing, except for essential travel, would end by June 22 – its current cut-off date.
Nothing has changed, Trudeau said, and insisted that won’t happen until 75 percent of Canadians have been vaccinated.
“Conversations are ongoing constantly with the U.S. administration because there is much eagerness to get back to normal on all sides,” Trudeau added.
Canada is now outpacing the U.S. in the number of people who have received at least one dose at 53.5 percent while some 40 percent of Americans are fully vaccinated, compared with less than 5 percent of Canadians.
Vermont Gov. Phil Scott said it’s time to develop a plan to re-open the border including the U.S. “doing more to help Canadians get their hands on second doses of the vaccine.”
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Most Canadians believe a COVID vaccine passport should be required for travel.
An Angus Reid poll showed 76 percent of Canadians would support mandatory vaccination proof for travel to the United States.
That number jumps to 79 percent favoring vaccine proof for international travel.
The survey also found people are less interested in a vaccine passport for everyday activities at home including going to restaurants or movie theaters.
Sixty-nine percent want to see vaccine passports required at large public gatherings such as concerts or other events with more than 50 people.
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News in brief:
- An advisory panel report is calling for the Canadian government to end quarantine hotels for air travellers, saying they just aren’t working. The government has been ordering three-day quarantine stays in designated facilities for air travellers returning to Canada. Some people have avoided the inconvenience and expense of the hotel stays by paying fines of up to $3,000. Others are flying to U.S. airports near the Canadian border and ending the trip home by land without a quarantine stay.
- Restarting the Canadian economy could face struggles as an expected rise in interest rates would temper the amount of stimulus from the Liberal government budget. Budget officer Yves Giroux also said that rising price pressures and expected increases in interest rates could add to federal costs. He expects it would create 89,000 more jobs by the end of 202 and predicts the Bank of Canada will raise its trendsetting interest rate before the end of 2022 from 0.25 per cent where it has been since March 2020.
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Facts and figures:
Canada’s dollar is steady at 83 cents U.S. and returns $1.21 in Canadian funds before exchange fees.
The Bank of Canada key interest rate is 0.25 percent while the prime lending rate is 2.45 percent.
Canadian stock markets are higher, with the Toronto index at 19,786 points and the TSX Venture index 957 points.
The average price for gas in Canada is slightly lower at $1.30 a liter (Canadian) or $4.94 for a U.S. gallon.
Lotto Max: (May 25) 6, 9, 11, 19, 24, 38 and 46; bonus 18. (May 21) 5, 6, 25, 31, 32, 44 and 48; bonus 39.
Lotto 6/49: (May 26) 7, 10, 20, 38, 45 and 49; bonus 26. (May 22) 7, 13, 14, 34, 37 and 45; bonus 29.
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Regional briefs:
- Canadian homeowners can cash in with a federal government program that offers grants for energy-efficient home upgrades. The Canada Greener Homes Program offers homeowners up to $5,000 toward the installation of such energy-saving projects as improved insulation and roof panels, high-efficiency water heaters and heating equipment and solar panels. It includes up to $600 for energy audits.
- The flag of the Canadian province of Nova Scotia is flying on top of Mount Everest. It was placed on the tallest mountain in the world by dentist Kevin Walsh of Windsor. The mountaineer successfully reached the top of Everest after years of planning and preparation. He was joined by his climbing group and began the final ascent in the dark.
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Jim Fox can be reached at canadareport@hotmail.com
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