Canada column for Nov. 27/22
THE CANADIAN REPORT
By Jim Fox
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said it became necessary for the government to take action to end the winter protest by hundreds of truckers as things got out of hand.
He testified at a federal inquiry into the necessity of the federal government’s decision to invoke the Emergencies Act to deal with the three-week-long occupation.
Hundreds of truckers and their rigs blocked streets in the downtown of Ottawa, Canada’s capital city, and were threatening violence, making it a “different brand" of demonstration, Trudeau said.
As things progressed, Trudeau said the pressure increased for him to take action.
There was also concern outside the country, especially the U.S. government, when truckers blocked land border crossings across Canada, affecting commerce.
The “Freedom Convoy” protesters called for an overthrow of the Canadian government and demanded a repeal of all COVID-19 mandates, which didn’t happen.
“It reminded me of the anger expressed during the 2021 election campaign,” Trudeau said.
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Teaching support staff members are voting on whether to accept a tentative agreement that ended some brief strikes at Toronto and Ontario schools.
The threat of more strikes ended as the thousands of workers vote on the agreement that will provide higher wages for the lowest-paid workers who earn a base rate of $39,000 a year and less for others.
The Ontario government passed a bill in the dispute with the union to impose a four-year contract on the workers that fueled the walkout by tens of thousands of workers on an illegal walkout that was spreading to other unions.
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In brief:
- “It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas” as November has overtaken December as Canada’s busiest shopping month. The Retail Council of Canada said November has overtaken Boxing Day (Dec. 26) that was once Canada’s busiest shopping day of the year. Judging from all the ads for Christmas shopping that started just after the Canadian Thanksgiving in early October, the news came as no surprise. The council said the popularity of Black Friday and Cyber Monday have made them top days for consumers to spend.
- Borje Salming, nicknamed “The King,” a Swedish ice hockey player who became a favorite with the Toronto Maple Leafs, has died at age 71 of Lou Gehrig’s disease. A defenseman, he played professionally for 23 seasons, for the Leafs as well as the Detroit Red Wings. He was with Toronto for 16 seasons with the Leafs who retired his number 21 in 2016.
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Facts and figures:
The Canadian dollar is steady at 75 U.S. cents while the U.S. dollar is worth $1.33 in Canadian funds, before exchange fees.
The Bank of Canada’s key interest rate is 3.75 percent while the prime lending rate at commercial banks is 5.95 percent.
Canadian stock markets are higher, with the Toronto index at 20,344 points while the TSX Venture index is 581 points.
The average price for gas in Canada is lower at $1.56 a liter or $5.93 for a U.S. gallon in Canadian funds.
Lotto Max: (Nov. 22) 2, 10, 12, 18, 19, 21 and 34; bonus 33. (Nov. 18) 3, 5, 11, 17, 26, 42 and 49; bonus 27.
Lotto 6/49: (Nov. 23) 3, 14, 19, 20, 28 and 47; bonus 37. (Nov. 19) 12, 16, 21, 32, 38 and 45; bonus15.
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Regional brief:
- A Saskatchewan man has been fined $160,000 in damages for mental anguish to a revenge porn victim. The court heard that Dylan Heidel had distributed intimate images of six former sexual partners without their consent. One victim also sued him for financial compensation in the largest revenge porn settlement in Canada. One video had 1.5 million views.
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