tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65921909072470451192024-03-05T05:24:54.227-08:00The Canadian ReportA weekly summary of news from the syndicated newspaper/web column, The Canadian Report, by Jim Fox.Jim Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01956505709669073790noreply@blogger.comBlogger586125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6592190907247045119.post-6111988167095523032022-11-26T15:44:00.000-08:002022-11-26T15:44:02.694-08:00Prime Minister Justin Trudeau testifies it was necessary to invoke special powers to handle protesters<p> <span class="x_ContentPasted0"></span>Canada column for Nov. 27/22 </p><p class="x_MsoNormal x_ContentPasted0" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"> THE CANADIAN REPORT </p><p class="x_MsoNormal x_ContentPasted0" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0"> </span>By Jim Fox </p><p class="x_MsoNormal x_ContentPasted0" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0"> </span>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. </p><p class="x_MsoNormal x_ContentPasted0" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0"> </span>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. </p><p class="x_MsoNormal x_ContentPasted0" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0"> </span>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. </p><p class="x_MsoNormal x_ContentPasted0" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0"> </span>As things progressed, Trudeau said the pressure increased for him to take action. </p><p class="x_MsoNormal x_ContentPasted0" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0"> </span>There
was also concern outside the country, especially the U.S. government,
when truckers blocked land border crossings across Canada, affecting
commerce. </p><p class="x_MsoNormal x_ContentPasted0" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0"> </span>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. </p><p class="x_MsoNormal x_ContentPasted0" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0"> </span>“It reminded me of the anger expressed during the 2021 election campaign,” Trudeau said. </p><p class="x_MsoNormal x_ContentPasted0" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0"> </span>--- </p><p class="x_MsoNormal x_ContentPasted0" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0"> </span><span class="x_ContentPasted0"> </span>Teaching
support staff members are voting on whether to accept a tentative
agreement that ended some brief strikes at Toronto and Ontario schools. </p><p class="x_MsoNormal x_ContentPasted0" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0"> </span>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. </p><p class="x_MsoNormal x_ContentPasted0" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0"> </span>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. </p><p class="x_MsoNormal x_ContentPasted0" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0"> </span>--- </p><p class="x_MsoNormal x_ContentPasted0" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">In brief: </p><p class="x_MsoNormal x_ContentPasted0" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0"> </span>- “It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas” as November has overtaken December as Canada’s busiest shopping month. T<span class="x_ContentPasted0" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">he
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. </span></p><p class="x_MsoNormal x_ContentPasted0" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0"> </span>-
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. </p><p class="x_MsoNormal x_ContentPasted0" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0"> </span><span class="x_ContentPasted0"> </span>--- </p><p class="x_MsoNormal x_ContentPasted0" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0"> </span>Facts and figures: </p><p class="x_MsoNormal x_ContentPasted0" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0"> </span>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. </p><p class="x_MsoNormal x_ContentPasted0" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0"> </span>The Bank of Canada’s key interest rate is 3.75 percent while the prime lending rate at commercial banks is 5.95 percent. </p><p class="x_MsoNormal x_ContentPasted0" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0"> </span>Canadian stock markets are higher, with the Toronto index at 20,344 points while the TSX Venture index is 581 points. </p><p class="x_MsoNormal x_ContentPasted0" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0"> </span>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. </p><p class="x_MsoNormal x_ContentPasted0" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0"> </span><span class="x_ContentPasted0"> </span>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. </p><p class="x_MsoNormal x_ContentPasted0" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0"> </span>Lotto 6/49: (Nov. 23) 3, 14, 19, 20, 28 and 47; bonus 37. (Nov. 19) 12, 16, 21, 32, 38 and 45; bonus15. </p><p class="x_MsoNormal x_ContentPasted0" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0"> </span><span class="x_ContentPasted0"> </span>--- </p><p class="x_MsoNormal x_ContentPasted0" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0"> </span><span class="x_ContentPasted0"> </span>Regional brief: </p><p class="x_MsoNormal x_ContentPasted0" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0"> </span>-
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. </p><p class="x_MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">-30- </span></p><br aria-hidden="true" /><br />Jim Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01956505709669073790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6592190907247045119.post-68194310118932115372022-09-21T18:38:00.002-07:002022-09-21T18:38:10.994-07:00Heavy demand to update and renew travel documents as pandemic eases across Canada<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Canada column for
Sunday, July 24/22</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> THE CANADIAN REPORT</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By Jim Fox</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pent-up demand by
Canadians wanting to travel as the pandemic eases has caused massive demands to
renew passports and book flights.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Expired documents
or no passports at all were identified as one of the major problems processing passengers
waiting for flights along with a shortage of airline workers and officials.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Service Canada said
that from April 1 to June 30, the agency received more than 808,000 <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>passport applications, compared with 166,000
more than it received during the same period in 2019.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The government is
working full speed to process the documents the agency expects to clear in four
to six weeks or by the end of summer, Families Minister Karina Gould said,
while “more needs to be done and quickly.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The government has
determined that part of the challenge is “that we didn’t have enough resources
to enter those applications into the system in a timely way and then “that
slowed everything down, “she said.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>---</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The driver of a
transport truck that smashed into the Humboldt Saskatchewan Broncos hockey bus
four years ago, killing 16 and injuring 13 team members, has been granted day
parole.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Parole Board of
Canada said Jaskirat Singh Sidhu could receive a full parole in six months if
he meets the conditions including no contact with victim’s families.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was sentenced to
eight years in prison after pleading guilty to dangerous driving.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sidhu, who is also
fighting extradition to his home country of India, said he was distracted by a
noisy truck flap and the sun was in his eyes before the collision.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>---</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In brief:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- Troubling
inflation will be around for some time but Canada should be able to avoid a
recession, the Bank of Canada says.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The inflation rate
will remain “painfully high” for the rest of the year, said central bank
Governor Tiff Macklem.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is resulting
in Canadians being squeezed by a higher cost of living, with record-high gas
and food prices.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Statistics Canada reported
the latest annual inflation rate rose to 8.1 percent, up from 7.7 percent for
the biggest yearly change since January 1983.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Unfortunately,”
the rate will “probably start with a seven for the rest of the year,” he said.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- Canadians who bought electronic devices
between 2004 and 2010 can claim a minimum of $20 with or without proof of
purchase as a result of as class-action lawsuit. The claim was that numerous
manufacturers and distributors conspired to fix the prices higher for products
sold in Canada.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Settlements
totaling $29.7 million were reached with BenQ, Hitachi-LG, NEC, Panasonic,
Phillips, Pioneer, Quanta, Sony, TEAC, and Toshiba Samsung. Details: <a href="https://www.oddclassaction.com">https://www.oddclassaction.com</a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>---</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Facts and figures:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Canadian dollar
is higher at 78 U.S. cents while the U.S. dollar returns $1.29 in Canadian
funds, before exchange fees.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Bank of
Canada’s key interest rate is 2.5 percent while the prime lending rate at
commercial banks is 4.7 percent.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Canadian stock
markets are higher, with the Toronto index at 19,062 points and the TSX Venture
index is 616 points.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The average price
for gas in Canada is lower at $1.84 a liter or $6.99for a U.S. gallon in
Canadian funds.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lotto Max: (July
19) 6, 9, 17. 19, 31, 34 and 46; bonus 4. (July 15) 4, 7, 12, 18, 29, 47 and
49; bonus 48.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lotto 6/49: (July
20) 1, 15, 17, 25, 26 and 40; bonus 39.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>( July 16) 8, 19, 23, 34,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>37 and
44; bonus 21.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>---</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Regional briefs:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- Alberta drivers
are continuing to get a break when filling up as the province is extending its
gas tax relief for at least another three months. Premier Jason Kenney said the
government won’t be reinstating its 13 cents a liter tax (50 cents U.S. for a
gallon) at gas stations until at least September. The oil-rich province started
the relief measure in April and is reviewing its cut rate quarterly.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> --30-</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p></p>Jim Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01956505709669073790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6592190907247045119.post-21662338402190941952022-07-25T19:22:00.003-07:002022-07-25T19:22:26.367-07:00So many Canadians traveling; so few passports renewed<p> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Canada column for
Sunday, July 24/22
</p><p class="MsoNormal"> THE CANADIAN REPORT</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By Jim Fox</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pent-up demand by
Canadians wanting to travel as the pandemic eases has caused massive demands to
renew passports and book flights.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Expired documents
or no passports at all were identified as one of the major problems processing passengers
waiting for flights along with a shortage of airline workers and officials.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Service Canada said
that from April 1 to June 30, the agency received more than 808,000 <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>passport applications, compared with 166,000
more than it received during the same period in 2019.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The government is
working full speed to process the documents the agency expects to clear in four
to six weeks or by the end of summer, Families Minister Karina Gould said,
while “more needs to be done and quickly.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The government has
determined that part of the challenge is “that we didn’t have enough resources
to enter those applications into the system in a timely way and then “that
slowed everything down, “she said.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>---</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The driver of a
transport truck that smashed into the Humboldt Saskatchewan Broncos hockey bus
four years ago, killing 16 and injuring 13 team members, has been granted day
parole.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Parole Board of
Canada said Jaskirat Singh Sidhu could receive a full parole in six months if
he meets the conditions including no contact with victim’s families.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was sentenced to
eight years in prison after pleading guilty to dangerous driving.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sidhu, who is also
fighting extradition to his home country of India, said he was distracted by a
noisy truck flap and the sun was in his eyes before the collision.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>---</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In brief:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- Troubling
inflation will be around for some time but Canada should be able to avoid a
recession, the Bank of Canada says.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The inflation rate
will remain “painfully high” for the rest of the year, said central bank
Governor Tiff Macklem.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is resulting
in Canadians being squeezed by a higher cost of living, with record-high gas
and food prices.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Statistics Canada reported
the latest annual inflation rate rose to 8.1 percent, up from 7.7 percent for
the biggest yearly change since January 1983.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Unfortunately,”
the rate will “probably start with a seven for the rest of the year,” he said.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- Canadians who bought electronic devices
between 2004 and 2010 can claim a minimum of $20 with or without proof of
purchase as a result of as class-action lawsuit. The claim was that numerous
manufacturers and distributors conspired to fix the prices higher for products
sold in Canada.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Settlements
totaling $29.7 million were reached with BenQ, Hitachi-LG, NEC, Panasonic,
Phillips, Pioneer, Quanta, Sony, TEAC, and Toshiba Samsung. Details: <a href="https://www.oddclassaction.com">https://www.oddclassaction.com</a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>---</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Facts and figures:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Canadian dollar
is higher at 78 U.S. cents while the U.S. dollar returns $1.29 in Canadian
funds, before exchange fees.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Bank of
Canada’s key interest rate is 2.5 percent while the prime lending rate at
commercial banks is 4.7 percent.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Canadian stock
markets are higher, with the Toronto index at 19,062 points and the TSX Venture
index is 616 points.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The average price
for gas in Canada is lower at $1.84 a liter or $6.99for a U.S. gallon in
Canadian funds.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lotto Max: (July
19) 6, 9, 17. 19, 31, 34 and 46; bonus 4. (July 15) 4, 7, 12, 18, 29, 47 and
49; bonus 48.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lotto 6/49: (July
20) 1, 15, 17, 25, 26 and 40; bonus 39.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>( July 16) 8, 19, 23, 34,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>37 and
44; bonus 21.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>---</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Regional briefs:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- Alberta drivers
are continuing to get a break when filling up as the province is extending its
gas tax relief for at least another three months. Premier Jason Kenney said the
government won’t be reinstating its 13 cents a liter tax (50 cents U.S. for a
gallon) at gas stations until at least September. The oil-rich province started
the relief measure in April and is reviewing its cut rate quarterly.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> -30-</p>
<p></p>Jim Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01956505709669073790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6592190907247045119.post-49997665197190438982022-07-19T20:02:00.004-07:002022-07-19T20:02:49.295-07:00Canadian government orders restart of random testing for COVID-19 for air passengers<p> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Canada column for
Sunday, July 17/22
</p><p class="MsoNormal"> THE CANADIAN REPORT</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By Jim Fox</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In a surprise move
just as major Canadian airports were finally clearing long waits, the federal
government is restarting random testing of travelers for COVID-19.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was a pause
in the random tests to enter Canada by air on June 11 for vaccinated travelers and
work began to move the tests outside of airports.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, mandatory
tests on randomly selected passengers will resume on July 19 for fully
vaccinated travelers arriving at the Vancouver, Calgary, Montreal and Toronto
airports.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All tests, for
vaccinated, unvaccinated and partially vaccinated travelers, will be done outside
airports.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Critics said the
tests were causing serious delays at customs, missed flights and hours-long
lineups.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Chief public health
officer Dr. Theresa Tam has said that airport tests act as an “early warning
system” for new virus variants.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Others said that
resuming the tests “unfairly targets Canada’s tourism sector and negatively
impacts Canadian and international travelers.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>---</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Canada’s central
bank had a surprise of its own by unexpectedly raising its trend-setting
interest rate by 1 percent – <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the biggest
jump in 40 years – in a bid to tame inflationary pressures.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Bank<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"> of
Canada also said interest rates would need to keep rising with inflation around
8 percent.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The bank rate
is now 2.5 percent compared with 0.25 percent where it had been for months.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For people
with investments and locked-in mortgages it is good news but people with open
mortgages and other debt will pay more.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Realtors
said the rate increase for house mortgages will restrain price increases to
around 5 percent more this year, far lower than before when the bank rate was
expected to rise by 0.75 percent, following that of the U.S. Federal Reserve.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>---</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In brief:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gas prices will
remain high over the summer due to demand, says a forecast f<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">rom
Deloitte Canada Resource Evaluation and Advisory Group.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is despite
the decision by OPEC countries to boost their output as investment in oil and
natural gas wanes. The company expects the price of oil to be about an average
of US$110 a barrel in this second quarter of 2022.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Demand,
however, could fall if Canadians try to save money by canceling summer travel
plans by car.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gas prices
in Canada average $</span>1.88 a liter ( $7.15for a U.S. gallon Canadian).</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>---</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Facts and figures:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Canadian dollar
fell to a 20-month low of 75.62 U.S. cents from 77.07 cents after the central
bank interest rate hike. This pushed the value of the U.S. dollar higher to
$1.31 in Canadian funds, before exchange fees.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Bank of
Canada’s new key interest rate is 2.5 percent while the prime lending rate at
commercial banks is 4.7 percent.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Canadian stock
markets are lower, with the Toronto index at 18,329 points while the TSX
Venture index is 586 points.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The average price
for gas in Canada is lower at $1.88 a liter or $7.15for a U.S. gallon in Canadian
funds.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lotto Max: (July 12) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>8, 11, 15, 16, 26,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>29, 40 and 37. (July 8) 7, 12, 14, 18, 46, 47
and 49; bonus 19.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lotto 6/49: (July
13) 13, 18, 19, 21, 35 and 40; bonus 29. (July 9) 8, 12, 21, 33, 34 and 45;
bonus 23.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>---</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> -<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Regional briefs:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- Paul Hanover
(Yanover), a radio legend and retired Canadian TV game show host, has died in
Hamilton, Ontario. He was 96 and battling cancer. Called a<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“true legend of Hamilton radio and the
popular morning man on CHML for decades,” he created a bond, with his
listeners, said Hanover’s son Ian Yanover.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- A $6 billion light-rail
network is opening in sections over the next two years in Montreal to become
North America’s second-largest public transit network. The electronic transit
system will be interconnected with Montreal’s Metro network and will connect 26
stations across Montreal Island, serving the metropolitan area and suburbs. It
will cover 42 miles (67 kilometers) to link the West Island with downtown,
South Shore, North Shore and Trudeau International Airport.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> -30-</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p></p>Jim Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01956505709669073790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6592190907247045119.post-17400631059171125482022-07-15T15:29:00.005-07:002022-07-15T15:29:34.081-07:00Recession fears cause gas prices o fall across Canada<p></p><p><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Sunday, July 10/22
</p><p class="MsoNormal"> THE CANADIAN REPORT (Current deata as of July 10\22)<br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By Jim Fox</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It took only the
threat of a recession for Canadian gas prices to fall to lows not seen in
recent weeks.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The cost to fill up
dropped by <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">12 cents a liter (46 cents a U.S. gallon Canadian) nationally this
weekend after trending lower with the price of crude taking a big drop over recessionary
fears.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The summer
getaway price fell on average to $1.79 a liter ($1.44 a U.S. gallon (Canadian)
across Canada.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Petroleum analyst Roger McKnight said further
price cuts are coming across the country including Vancouver and Montreal to
match Ontario’s cuts.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He said “market
forces” are at work, with another 10-cents drop over the weekend.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A poll
shows nearly seven in 10 drivers said they can no longer afford gas as it
reached record highs of $2 a liter ($7.60 a gallon).</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even
though Canada is oil-rich, there’s “</span>a great deal of concern about the
affordability of gas,” said Gregory Jack, and Ipsos pollster.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Canadians say they
are driving less and half can’t afford to “fill ‘err up fully.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>---</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ontario, Canada’s
most populous province, is considering expanding eligibility for fourth doses
of a COVID-19 vaccine.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Chief Medical
Officer of Health Dr. Kieran Moore said Ontario is experiencing seventh waves
of COVID-19.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Quebec public
health director Dr. Luc Boileau said the highly contagious Omicron subvariants
BA.4 and BA.5 are well established there but there are signs it will peak soon.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Officials said
that despite the current jump in COVID-19 indicators, there are no plans to
reimpose new public health orders, such as mask mandates.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead, those who are infected should follow
isolation guidelines and for those who haven’t received a vaccination booster
should get one now.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>---</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In brief:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- A Toronto woman
who was set on fire last month in what police called a “hate-motivated attack”
at a subway station has died of her injuries. The woman in her ‘20s was
approached by a man at the Kipling station who doused her in a flammable liquid
on a transit bus. She had second and third degree burns. Tenzin Norbu, 33, was arrested
for murder.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- Financial
analysts suggest the Bank of Canada is set to raise its trend-setting interest
rate by 1.5 percent in two stages this summer. They are looking or a .75
percent rise in the coming week and another next month in a bid to tackle
inflationary pressures, now at a record high of 7.7 percent. The central bank
earlier moved the rate twice to 1.5 percent.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>---</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Facts and figures:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Canada’s dollar is steady
at 77 cents U.S. while the U.S. dollar returns $1.30 in Canadian funds, before
exchange fees.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Bank of
Canada’s key interest rate is 1.5 percent while the prime lending rate at
commercial banks is 3.7 percent.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Canadian stock
markets are mixed, with the Toronto index up at 19,063 points while the TSX
Venture index is down at 614 points.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The average price
for gas in Canada on Friday was lower at $1.95 a liter or $7.41for a U.S.
gallon Canadian.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lotto Max: (July 5) 12, 29, 33, 35, 38, 41 and
46; bonus 13. (July 1) 1, 11, 13, 14, 25, 36 and 47; bonus 50.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lotto 6/49: (July 6)
25, 33, 34, 35, 37 and 46; bonus 30. (July 2) 1, 4,7, 33, 36 and 47; bonus 2.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>---</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Regional briefs:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-Patrick Brown,
Mayor of Brampton, Ontario,has been disqualified as a candidate for the
national Conservative leadership. The move came as a whistleblower said she had
proof of improper campaign financing by Brown who was seeking to succeed former
Conservative leader Erin O’Toole.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- Calgary Transit
in Alberta wants to liven up commutes with the launch of a karaoke bus. “This is
one of the ways we’re bringing some fun into your commute,” it said. Throughout
the summer, the bus will go on tour to entertain at random bus routes and special
events. “You never know when you might step onto your bus and be dazzled by the
sensational vocals of one of your co-commuters,” it said.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> -30-</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <br /></p><p></p>Jim Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01956505709669073790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6592190907247045119.post-43983865183759110842022-07-05T20:58:00.007-07:002022-07-05T20:58:45.011-07:00Canadian airlines also reducing flights, blaming lack of staff<p> Canada column for Sunday, July 3/22
</p><p class="MsoNormal"> THE CANADIAN REPORT</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By Jim Fox</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Canada’s two
largest airlines are cutting hundreds of flights over the summer as chaos
continues at airports, particularly Toronto and Montreal, blamed on staff
shortages as travel rebounded after the pandemic.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The inability to
handle thousands of passengers has led to families sleeping on the floor, lost
luggage and abrupt canceling of flights with little or no notice.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Air Canada has
canceled 154 flights a day while operating at 80-percent capacity.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That amounts to 15 percent
of its scheduled flights in July and August.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Westjet, Canada’s
second-largest airline, will have one-quarter fewer daily flights or 520 this
summer.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The move by Air
Canada will affect hundreds of thousands of passengers mainly in the flights
linked to the Toronto and Montreal hubs for its domestic and Canada-U.S. routes.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“This will result
in additional flight cancelations that will have a negative impact on some
customers,” largely affecting non-peak-hour flights, said Air Canada chief
executive Michael Rousseau.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>International
flights remain unaffected except for some timing changes to reduce flying at
peak times while facing “complex and unavoidable challenges,” he said.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>---</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Commenting on the
abortion issue, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has repeated that every woman has
the right to an abortion in Canada.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Liberal prime
minister has again promised to defend those rights.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Abortions in Canada
are legal at all stages of pregnancy, regardless of the reason,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are publicly
funded as a medical procedure under the federal Canada Health Act and
provincial health-care systems.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Access to services
and resources varies by region and abortions have been legal since 1988 through
a Supreme Court ruling sought by Dr. Henry Morgentaler that the earlier law criminalizing
abortion was unconstitutional.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> --</span>-</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In brief:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- They’re back.
Just as Canada marks its weekend of celebrations, trucker protesters started
arriving in the nation’s capital, Ottawa, for Canada Day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The national holiday on July 1 marks the
founding of the country in 1867 with celebrations across the country. Canada
Day was created in 1982 to replace Dominion Day that celebrated
Confederation and Canada’s connection to the British Empire and the imperial
project. The convoy of trucks and protesters, who first arrived last February,
are calling for an end to all rules concerning COVID and oppose vaccines.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>---</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Facts and figures:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Canada’s dollar is lower at 77 cents U.S.
while the U.S. dollar returns $1.29 in Canadian funds, before exchange fees.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Bank of
Canada’s key interest rate is 1.5 percent while the prime lending rate at commercial
banks is 3.7 percent.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Canadian stock
markets are lower, with the Toronto index at 18,861points while the TSX Venture
index is 617 points.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The average price
for gas in Canada is lower at $2.02 a liter or $7.67 for a U.S. gallon in
Canadian funds.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Lotto Max: (June 28) <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">8, 19, 22,41, 42, 46 and 47; bonus10. (June 24) 3, 9,
17, 19, 20, 44 and 50; bonus 2</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-hansi-font-family: Symbol;">8.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lotto 6/49: (June
29) 6, <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">7, 16, 26, 31 and 35; bonus </span>13. (June 25) <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">9, 14, 23, 36, 38 and 44; bonus
19.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>---</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Regional Briefs:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- Two bank robbery
suspects were shot and killed and six police officers were injured in a botched
holdup at a Bank of Montreal branch in Saanich, British Columbia. A police
tactical squad was working nearby when the robbery call came in and confronted the
would-be robbers. Witnesses said they heard dozens of gunshots in rapid
succession as the suspects exchanged gunfire with the police.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- There’s some
gas-tax relief for Ontario drivers starting this holiday weekend as the
provincial government has reduced taxes by5.7 cents a liter ($2.16 Canadian for
a U.S. gallon) for six months. Ontario Premier Doug Ford said the fuel tax,
including diesel, will drop by that amount over the same period. The cuts will
cost the province $645 million while in effect. Ford is also calling on the
Canadian government to do the same.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> -30-</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> canadareport.blogspot.com</i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p></p>Jim Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01956505709669073790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6592190907247045119.post-76060374651666442332022-06-25T13:52:00.004-07:002022-06-25T13:52:58.273-07:00Canada's central bank blasted oer 'inaction' to battle inflation and lower costs<p class="MsoNormal"> Canada column for Sunday, June 26/22</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> Photo cutline:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">A fiddler entertains on the rocks on Canada Day in Peggy’s
Cove, Nova Scotia. (Jim <span class="st">Fox photo)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>---</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> THE CANADIAN REPORT</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By Jim Fox</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Canada’s central
bank is facing severe criticism over its handling of runaway inflation and
threats of a recession.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The higher costs
for gasoline, food and many commodities are also dampening plans by Canadians
to take their traditional summer road trips.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Critics say the
Bank of Canada has misjudged inflation as household debt rises and is playing
catch-up and forced to be more aggressive with raising interest rates.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Canadian
economy may need to find a way to permanently adjust to higher oil and gas
prices, warned Stephen Poloz, former bank governor.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“This is a reality
even when the cost of other goods starts to fall,” he added.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Statistics Canada
says the country’s inflation rate is at a 40-year high of 7.7 percent.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gas prices are up
48 percent over last year as the single biggest jump affecting the inflation
rate. The average cost of food items is up 9.7 percent.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>---</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pope Francis will
be visiting a former Alberta residential school site and meet with survivors
during his visit to Canada next month.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“We pray this
pilgrimage will serve as another meaningful step in the long journey of
healing, reconciliation and hope,” said Archbishop Richard Smith of Edmonton.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hundreds of
unmarked graves of former students were found at the schools where children
were uprooted from their families to be “Canadianized.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Pope is
expected to deliver an apology for the Roman Catholic Church’s role in the schools
during the trip and follow up on feelings made earlier this year during an
Indigenous delegation to the Vatican.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then, the Pope apologized
for the conduct of church members involved in the former schools.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The papal visit will
start in Edmonton on July 24 and end in Iqaluit on July 29.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>--</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In brief:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- The biggest party
in the country will take place on July 1 to mark Canada Day, the country’s
155th birthday. Lavish street parties highlighted by fireworks displays are
held in cities and towns and some U.S. cities where Canadians congregate. On
July 1, 1867, Canada became a country with a new federation and constitution, formerly
the British North America Act. In the National Capital Region, Ottawa,
festivities take place in front of the Parliament Buildings.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>---</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> -<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Facts and figures:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Canada’s dollar is
higher at 77 cents U.S. while the U.S. dollar returns $1.29 in Canadian funds,
before exchange fees.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Bank of
Canada’s key interest rate is steady at 1.5 percent while the prime lending
rate at commercial banks is 3.7 percent.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Canadian stock markets are higher, with the
Toronto index at 19,050 points while the TSX Venture index is 641 points.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The average price
for gas in Canada is lower at $2.04 a liter or $7.75 for a U.S. gallon in
Canadian funds.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lotto Max: (June 21)
2, 4, 5, 22. 32, 40 and 50; bonus 43. (June 17) 1, 10, 12, 21, 30, 39 and 40;
bonus 38.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lotto 6/49: (June
22) 7, 10, 11, 18, 27 and 42; bonus 25. (June 18) 4, 6, 20, 21, 24 and 44;
bonus 5.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>---</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Regional briefs:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ontario Premier Doug Ford unveiled his
slightly larger cabinet on Friday, giving Sylvia Jones the busy role as
Minister of Health, taking over from Christine Elliott who did not seek
re-election. The new executive council after last month’s major victory for
Ford’s Conservatives has 30 members, up from 28 and includes seven women.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- Scientists say last year’s heat dome over
the west coast of British Columbia and Washington State are expected to have
“far-reaching effects” on the ecology of beaches, bluffs, inlets and river
deltas. This is in addition to the impact on fisheries and cultural connections
that the land, sea and sea life provide. The heat over the West Coast last
summer led to the deaths of 619 people and a billion sea creatures, a survey
found, saying such scorching heat will become more frequent.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> -30-</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">canadareport.blogspot.com</i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7cNK1iT1xJqaSGdBK9IaGOwCuSvvyz6GdZktmY5RsyOD2jiTX-B_h7lDaRKlpp0GCDoBQkY0D5Xc9PtmWvly6SP4lN_6TkrB1bbcUKDfJk5_wbeJVya97wr_zFO3fyfXhfqqMJ4GWg1NL2c5OuzlPj-yqeHkLb4t_oLdTyICOhpcu8RPxu4aPF5LY_w/s1916/Fiddler.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1916" data-original-width="1582" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7cNK1iT1xJqaSGdBK9IaGOwCuSvvyz6GdZktmY5RsyOD2jiTX-B_h7lDaRKlpp0GCDoBQkY0D5Xc9PtmWvly6SP4lN_6TkrB1bbcUKDfJk5_wbeJVya97wr_zFO3fyfXhfqqMJ4GWg1NL2c5OuzlPj-yqeHkLb4t_oLdTyICOhpcu8RPxu4aPF5LY_w/s320/Fiddler.jpg" width="264" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
Jim Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01956505709669073790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6592190907247045119.post-56023865502413858522022-06-25T13:45:00.009-07:002022-06-25T13:45:46.825-07:00Half of Canadian women say they would quit their jobs if told to stop working from home: surevey<p class="MsoNormal"> Canada column for Sunday, June 19/22</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> THE CANADIAN REPORT</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By Jim Fox</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Almost half of
working Canadian women say they are l<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">ikely to quit their jobs if asked to return to the
office full-time.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Surprisingly,
45 percent want the “flexibility offered during the pandemic to continue,” said
Andrea Spender, CEO of the Prosperity Project.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The group
was created to ensure Canadian women are not left behind in the COVID-19
recovery.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
project’s survey found fewer women are working full-time at 62 per cent,
compared with 70 per cent before the COVID-19 pandemic while 91 percent would
prefer most or at least part of their work to be done remotely in the future.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While 73
percent of respondents said that employers were more accommodating during the
pandemic, a similar proportion, 72 percent, expect employers to put the
priority on in-person office work in the future.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nearly 60 percent feel they will have to
choose between their career and their family – at a time when almost half, 46
percent, said the pandemic has increased their responsibilities at home.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“We learned important lessons about workplace flexibility
during the pandemic and we must continue to heed those lessons,” said Pamela
Jeffery, founder of the Prosperity Project.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>---</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Truckers’ Freedom
Convoy protests will continue throughout the summer in Canada’s capital city,
Ottawa, organizers say.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Events will rev up
starting on the Canada Day, July 1, holiday and for the rest of the summer to
protest remaining COVID-19 pandemic-era restrictions.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another group,
Veterans for Freedom, is planning a three-day conference in Ottawa this week.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The group is made
up of Canadian veterans seeking to “restore fundamental freedoms for all
Canadians and uphold our laws.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hundreds of
protesters and an estimated 50,000trucks took over downtown Ottawa streets for
three weeks starting in late January.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The veterans want
remaining COVID mandates repealed and workers who lost their jobs be reinstated.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>--</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In brief:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- The Canadian
government is repaying or forgiving $1.4 billion in loans it gave to Indigenous
communities, many of them in British Columbia. This will allow them to participate
in land claims negotiations and help “correct a mistake of the past” when land
was seized to build railways and other non-native projects on their traditional
lands,” said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>---</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Facts and figures:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Canada’s dollar is
lower at 76 cents U.S. while the U.S. dollar returns $1.30 in Canadian funds,
before exchange fees.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Bank of
Canada’s key interest rate is 1.5 percent while the prime lending rate at
commercial banks is 3.7 percent.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Canadian stock
markets are lower, with the Toronto index at 1,822 points while the TSX Venture
index is 635 points.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The average price
for gas in Canada is steady at $2.10 a liter or $7.98 for a U.S. gallon in
Canadian funds.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Lotto Max: (June 14) <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">11, 17, 18, 25, 36, 41 and 50; bonus 34. (June 10) 8,
14, 16, 17, 19, 22 and 24; bonus 23.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lotto 6/49: (June
15) <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">3, 5, 9, 12, 16 and 29; bonus </span>32. (June 11) <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">14, 15,
22, 25, 32 and 44; bonus </span>45.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>---</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Regional briefs:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- Canada-U.S.
border mayors are calling for the federal government to end the mandatory ArriveCan
app when entering the country. They say Canada’s stringent COVID-19 rules for
international travellers are keeping would-be U.S. visitors to spend their
tourist dollars instead at home.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ontario mayors say
they depend on cross-border tourism. Sarnia’s Mike Bradley and Jim Diodati of
Niagara Falls are urging the government to stop requiring travelers to complete
the preclearance process that many find frustrating and confusing.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- Toronto has been
named a host city for soccer’s FIFA World Cup 2026. The city is among 16 cities
that will host the much-sought-after games. Toronto events will take place at
BMO Field for this North American World Cup Soccer event.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> -30-</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">canadareport.blogspot.com</i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
Jim Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01956505709669073790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6592190907247045119.post-37854563090607781032022-06-15T20:17:00.002-07:002022-06-15T20:18:33.674-07:00New Canadian law seeks ro ease burden of working outside busness hours at home<p></p><p></p><p></p><p><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</p><p class="MsoNormal"> Canada column for Sunday, June 12/22</p><p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> THE CANADIAN REPORT</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By Jim Fox</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Taking work home by
phone and checking e-mail all evening could be a thing of the past with
Ontario’s “right to disconnect” law.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The novel law, now
in effect, requires businesses to develop policies that allow employees to
disconnect outside of regular office hours.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Enacted in Canada’s
largest province, it defines the disengagement as “not engaging in work-related
communications, including e-mails, telephone and video calls or sending or
reviewing other messages.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Allowing workers to
“be free from the performance of work,” it requires bosses to have a written
policy in place for all employees with respect to disconnecting from work.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Labor lawyers
aren’t impressed, saying it doesn’t cover much new ground and is very
bureaucratic.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It applies to
employers who have 25 or more employees and was in response to burnout and the
constraints of working from home during the pandemic.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>---</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For families
wanting to keep their in-laws and other relatives around as visitors longer,
the Canadian government now offers a “Super Visa Program.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Canadian citizens and permanent residents can
invite parents and grandparents to come to Canada as long-term visitors on a
multi-entry visa that remains valid for up to 10 years.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As well, unlike
standard visitor visas, it allows visa holders to stay in Canada for up to two
years on initial entry to the country.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Starting on July 4,
super visa holders will be able to stay in Canada for five years with an option
to extend two more years.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Previously, parents
and grandparents were only allowed to visit family in Canada for no longer than
two years at a time. This now is valid for10 years and allows multiple entries.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> -</span>--</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In brief:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-The pent-up demand
by Canadians to fly has led to chaos at major airports. It’s blamed<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>by Air Canada on a lack of staff and the
government by travelers with expired or improper documents along with COVID-19
restrictions. Travelers reported lines of several hundred<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>people at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport
and canceled flights. Transport Minister Omar Alghabra said 400 additional
screening officers will start work later this month while warning the backlogs
will continue, likely into the fall.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- Canada’s economy
added 40,000 jobs last month with a gain in full-time jobs as the labor market
continued to tighten. Statistics Canada said the jump came as the jobless rate
fell to 5.1 percent. That is the lowest since 1976, as far back as comparable
data is kept. The unemployment rate was 5.2 per cent in April. Meanwhile, the
country’s inflation rate rose to a mlti-decade high of 5.7 per cent, driven
largely by higher prices for gas and groceries.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>---</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Facts and figures:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Canada’s dollar is
lower at 79 cents U.S. while the U.S. dollar returns $1.27 in Canadian funds,
before exchange fees.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Bank of
Canada’s key interest rate is 1.5 percent while the prime lending rate at
commercial banks is 3.7 percent.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Canadian stock
markets are mixed, with the Toronto index up at 20,563 points while the TSX
Venture index is down at 700 points.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The average price
for gas in Canada is higher at $2.10 a liter or $7.98 for a U.S. gallon in
Canadian funds.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Lotto Max: (June 7) <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">6, 13, 17, 20, 28, 36, and 44; bonus 3</span>1.
(June 3) <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">2, 16, 17, 21, 38, 43 and 45; bonus 42.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lotto 6/49: (June 8)
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">6,
22, 32, 39, 40 and 46; bonus 26. (June 1) 1, 15, 16, 19 ,44 and 48;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>bonus 5.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>---</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Regional briefs:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- The growing
number of vehicle hijackings became bizarre when a man tried to drive off with
a transit bus in service in Mississauga, near Toronto. When the driver fought
him off and brought the bus to a halt, the man then stole a transit supervisor’s
van in the 1 a.m. incident. Police followed a GPS signal to locate the van and
arrested the suspect.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> -30-</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">canadareport.blogspot.com</i></b></p>
<p> </p>Jim Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01956505709669073790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6592190907247045119.post-43168387353013538332022-06-05T10:42:00.003-07:002022-06-05T10:42:30.646-07:00Sellers must keep sale records and check for a valid license in revised firearm rules for Canada<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Canada
column for Sunday, June5/22</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> THE CANADIAN REPORT</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By Jim Fox</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Canadian
government is fine-tuning its firearm regulations that ensure anyone buying a
gun has a valid license.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It will also
require sellers to keep sales and inventory records, said Public Safety
Minister Marco Mendicino.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This amounts to the
latest steps toward fully implementing Bill C-71, approved in 2019.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That requires
sellers to verify the validity of a firearms license before selling a
non-restricted firearm, such as a basic rifle or shotgun.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Businesses must now
keep records of inventory and sales related to non-restricted firearms.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Conservative
party has accused the Liberal government of reviving the national long-gun
registry created by the Liberals in the 1990s and abolished later.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Prime Minister Justin
Trudeau said he would never enact a long-gun registry and “today he is breaking
that promise to Canadians by passing off the responsibility to maintain a
registry to retailers who sell firearms to lawful and properly licensed
Canadians.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“These new rules
will ensure that those people who aren't allowed or shouldn’t have access to a
gun can’t get one and prevent guns from falling into the wrong hands,” Mendicino
said.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>---</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A devastating loss
in Thursday’s Ontario election won by Premier Doug Ford’s Conservatives
resulted in both main political rivals saying they will be quitting politics.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Liberal leader
Steven Del Duca even failed to win re-election in his own district and
socialist New Democratic Party (NDP) Andrea Horwath, who has now lost four
elections, announced they will be leaving.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Conservatives
couldn’t be caught and won their second consecutive majority government with
the major competitors losing seats and the Liberals failing to retain official
party status.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were 83
Conservatives elected, 31 for the NDP, 8 for the Liberals and 1 won by the
Green environmental party.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>---</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In brief:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- Blaming
“persistent inflation," the Bank of Canada raised its trendsetting interest rate
by 0.5 to 1.5 per cent, the second similar hike this year. Economists had
predicted the increase for the third time this year to try to calm high
inflation rates. They say in order to have much effect on inflation, the key
bank rate would have to be increased to more than 3 percent. This is the first
time the Bank of Canada has raised rates by 0.5 in back-to-back decisions in
nearly 25 years.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 112.3pt;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- <span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-no-proof: yes;">
</span>Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada have
extended federal COVID-19 restrictions at the border until at least June 30. As
well, the federal government continues to require foreign tourists to provide
proof of being fully vaccinated. Unvaccinated Canadian citizens or permanent
residents are still required to show proof of a molecular COVID-19 test taken
prior to entering Canada and quarantine for 14 days. All travelers coming to
Canada, regardless of citizenship, must also continue to submit their health
information through the Arrive CAN app before arriving.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>---</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Facts and figures:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Canada’s dollar is higher
at 79.5 cents U.S. while the U.S. dollar returns $1.26 in Canadian funds,
before exchange fees.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Bank of
Canada’s key interest rate is higher at 1.5 percent while the prime lending
rate at commercial banks is 2.45 percent or more.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Canadian stock
markets are higher, with the Toronto index at 20,843 points while the TSX
Venture index at 722 points.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The average price for
gas in Canada is higher at $2.02 a liter or $7.67 for a U.S. gallon in Canadian
funds.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lotto Max: (May 31) <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">6, 13, 23, 27, 35, 44 and 50;
bonus </span>37. (May 27) <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">4, 9, 21, 22, 27,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>31 and 34; bonus 5.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lotto 6/49:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(June 1) <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">1, 15, 16, 19, 44 and 48; bonus </span>5.
(May 28) <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">6, 13, 15, 29, 45 and 48; bonus </span>1.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>---</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Regional briefs:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- Ontario Hydro
says some customers in eastern Ontario could still be without power for more
days or weeks after last week’s massive storm and tornado. There are more than
6,000 people without power in an area from Kingston to Ottawa as lines and
poles were destroyed. “The severity of damage” means some customers in the
Bancroft region will be without power for several more days,” Ontario Hydro
said. Ten people were killed in the storm, mostly from fallen trees.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> -30-</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">canadareport.blogspot.com</i></b></p>
Jim Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01956505709669073790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6592190907247045119.post-14291555583577754082022-05-29T11:22:00.001-07:002022-05-29T11:22:10.654-07:00Tougher gun laws coming to Canada, Trudeau says<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Canada column for
Sunday, May 29/22</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> THE CANADIAN REPORT</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By Jim Fox</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>More stringent gun
controls are coming for Canadians, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said after
expressing the condolences of the country to Texans after the horrific school
murders.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The shooting deaths
of 19 students and two teachers was “an incredibly senseless, violent act,” Trudeau
said vowing to “move forward on doing even more” with updated gun laws.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the coming
weeks, the Canadian government will announce new steps related to gun control,
he said.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No details were
given or whether it would include a handgun ban across the country.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Trudeau said there
has been less pressure from some mayors and gun control advocates.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“We understand
there is a range of opinions and views,” along with unity “in wanting to see
less gun violence and fewer deaths from gun violence across the country.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The government
currently allows cities and provinces to determine their own gun laws.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During the last
election, the Liberal government planned to give $1 billion to provinces that
instituted a handgun ban.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There has also been
a ban on many assault-style rifles and stricter background checks on weapon
buyers.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As well, the owners
of some of the 1,500 gun types were given a two-year amnesty period.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>---</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A man with a rifle
in the area of several schools in east-end Toronto was shot to death by police.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The man was seen
carrying a rifle or gun and police were called to Scarborough, Ontario after
there were lockdowns of multiple schools in the area.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was shot and
killed in a confrontation with the police but few details were given.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Toronto Police
Chief James Ramer said he cannot comment while the provincial watchdog, the Special
Investigations Unit, is investigating the case.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is known that
two police officers fired their weapons at the suspect and a long barrel
firearm was recovered.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In brief:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- Environment
Canada has determined that a tornado was part of deadly Ontario storm with high
winds and a series of thunderstorms that killed eight people, mostly from
fallen trees. The twister touched down in Uxbridge, east of Toronto, as the
weather system moved through Ontario.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Known officially as a decrecho, it tore apart houses and knocked out
power to thousands as far away as Ottawa. The storm developed around Sarnia
near the U.S. border and moved northeastward over southern Ontario and into
Toronto and Ottawa.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>---</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Facts and figures:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Canada’s dollar is steady
at 78 cents U.S. while the U.S. dollar returns $1.28 in Canadian funds, before
exchange fees.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Bank of
Canada’s key interest rate is unchanged at 1 percent while the prime lending
rate at commercial banks is 3.2 percent or more.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Canadian stock
markets are down, with the Toronto index at 20,532 points while the TSX Venture
index is at 714 points.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The average price
for gas in Canada is higher at $1.96 a liter or $7.44 for a U.S. gallon in
Canadian funds.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lotto Max: (May 24) 12, 26, 30, 31, 35,39 and
45; bonus 22. (May 20) 5, 6, 20, 29,42,44 and 47; bonus 14.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lotto 6/49: (May 25)
14, 15, 22, 35, 36 and 47; bonus 19. (May 21) 4, 5, 26, 33, 35 and 44;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>bonus 30.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>---</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Regional briefs:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Voters continue to
favor Premier Doug Ford and his Conservatives to win in the June 2 Ontario elections.
A survey by Ipsos says 45 percent of respondents said they believe Ford’s
Conservatives will be re-elected. Next are Steven Del Duca and the Liberals
with 14 percent, with 10 percent for Andrea Horwath and the Ontario New
Democratic Party. One voter in three or 32 percent had no opinion.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> -30-</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">canadareport.blogspot.com</i></b></p>
Jim Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01956505709669073790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6592190907247045119.post-64294373208964862132022-05-29T11:16:00.005-07:002022-05-29T11:16:32.080-07:00Ontario leaders' campaigns slowed by COVID-19 incidents<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Canada column for
Sunday, May 22/22</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> THE CANADIAN REPORT</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By Jim Fox</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Two of Ontario’s4
political party leaders have had their election campaigns stalled after coming
down with COVID-19.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>New Democratic
Party (NDP) leader Andrea Horwath called off a northern tour in Sault Ste.
Marie and went into isolation after testing positive for the virus.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She is unable to
attend in-person campaign events for now and has switched to virtual campaigning
ahead of the June 2 Ontario election.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She said her
symptoms are mild and that she is looking forward to getting back to the
campaign once she is feeling better and has tested negative.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also switching to
virtual events is Green Party leader Mike Schreiner who said he tested positive
on a rapid test after close contact with a staff member.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He said he is
“feeling fine” and is fully vaccinated and will communicate remotely from home
“for a few days” while following public health advice.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ontario public
health rules require that people isolate for five days after COVID-19 symptoms
first appear or after a positive test result.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Polls show Premier
Doug Ford’s Conservatives remain in the lead in a Nanos poll, with 36.1 percent
support ahead of the Liberals 29.3 percent, the NDP 19.8 and the Greens, 7.3.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>---</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s another
virus to worry about as Quebec has two confirmed cases of monkeypox in the
province with 20 other suspected cases under investigation.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These are first
confirmed cases in Canada, while other countries have identified other cases of
the rare disease.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Public health Dr.
Mylene Drouin said the illness is not extremely contagious and is the milder of
two strains.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Epidemiological
investigations are continuing to determine the links in cases and identify
potentially at-risk contacts.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Health officials
are advising people to be vigilant and note that the disease is “transmissible
through prolonged and close contact with an infectious person.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>---</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>News in brief:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">- There have been numerous carjackings during daylight hours
across Toronto with armed thieves stealing high-end automobiles along with driver’s
wallets and purses. One high profile theft was that of Toronto Maple Leafs
hockey player Mitch Marner’s Range Rover in a movie theater parking lot. The brazen
surge amounts to 64 carjackings this year compared with 59 in all of last year.
One car quickly recovered by the police was a $250,000 Lamborghini taken during
a home invasion at a downtown Toronto condo.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>---</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Facts and figures:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Canada’s dollar is
higher at 78 cents U.S. while the U.S. dollar returns $1.30 in Canadian funds,
before exchange fees.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Bank of
Canada’s key interest rate is unchanged at 1 percent while the prime lending
rate at commercial banks is 3.2 percent or more.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Canadian stock
markets are higher, with the Toronto index at 20,181 points while the TSX
Venture index is 705 points.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The average price
for gas in Canada has risen to $2.01 a liter or $7.63 for a U.S. gallon in
Canadian funds.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lotto Max: (May 17)
1<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">0,
35, 38, 40 45, 47 and 48; bonus 23. (May 13) 2, 22, 37, 38, 39, 42 and 47;
bonus 30.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>Lotto
6/49: (May 18) <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">14, 22, 24, 28, 42 and 48; bonus 23. (May 14) 2, 14, 21, 27, 34 and 49;
bonus 5.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>---</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Regional briefs:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- Jason Kenney is
leaving his job as leader of Alberta’s United Conservative Party, saying the
slim majority of his leadership review was not enough to stay on. Kenney, Alberta’s
Premier Kenney, 53, who cofounded the party five years ago, received support
from 51.4 per cent of party members in the review and said it was “not enough
to hold on to power.” Kenney said he will remain leader until someone is
appointed to replace him. Critics said he broke his word by ignoring the
“grassroots” members and called for his resignation.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> -30-</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">canadareport.blogspot.com</i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i></b></p>
Jim Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01956505709669073790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6592190907247045119.post-75063473740542149892022-05-29T11:11:00.006-07:002022-05-29T11:13:03.254-07:00 Canada OKs loan guarantee for Trans Mountain pipeline expansion to west coast<p> <br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Canada column for
Sunday, May 15/22</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> THE CANADIAN REPORT</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By Jim Fox</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Canadian
government has approved a $10-billion loan guarantee for the Trans Mountain
pipeline expansion in western Canada.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An announcement
said this is common practice and does not reflect any additional public funding
for the high-profile oil pipeline.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Trans Mountain
pipeline is Canada’s only oil pipeline system from Alberta to the West Coast
and was bought by the federal government in 2018 for $4.5 billion.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Previous owner
Kinder Morgan Canada Inc. was considering scrapping the planned expansion <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>due to environmentalist opposition.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Scheduled to be
completed in 2023, the project will twin the existing pipeline and boosting daily
output to 890,000 barrels of crude oil, and <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>50-percent complete.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finance Minister
Chrystia Freeland has said there will be no additional public funding for the
pipeline but the government-owned project needs to secure third-party funding to
complete the project.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Meanwhile, the massive
Keystone XL pipeline was canceled over U.S. environmental concerns.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It would have
covered 1,210 miles from Hardisty, Alberta, to Steele City, Nebraska and moved
830,000 barrels of crude from western Canadian oil fields to U.S. Gulf Coast
refineries.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>---</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gas prices across
Canada have hit a new all-time record, closing in on $2 a liter ($7.60 for a
U.S. gallon in Canadian funds).</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Natural Resources
Canada said they are still going higher, with Vancouver at $2.23 a liter,
Toronto,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>$2 and Edmonton, $1.30.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As prices reached
$2 in Atlantic Canada and $2.50 for diesel, some governments are looking at
cutting excise sales tax on fuel.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs also said
his province will ensure revenues from the record gas prices will go back to
the public.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>---</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>News in brief:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Ryerson University in Toronto is the latest institution
being politically correct in changing its name. To be known as Toronto
Metropolitan University, the change was prompted by growing calls to <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">examine
the legacy of Egerton Ryerson. Research showed he was an architect of Canada’s
residential school system that separated 150,000 Indigenous children from their
families to “Canadianize” them. </span>A statue of Ryerson was also pulled down
by students and protesters last year.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>---</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Facts and figures:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Canada’s dollar is
lower at 77 cents U.S. while the U.S. dollar returns $1.30 in Canadian funds,
before exchange fees.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Bank of
Canada’s key interest rate is unchanged at 1 percent while the prime lending
rate at commercial banks is 3.2 percent or more.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Canadian stock
markets are down, with the Toronto index at 20,110 points while the TSX Venture
index is 700 points.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The average price
for gas in Canada is rising to a national $1.93 a liter or $7.33 for a U.S.
gallon in Canadian funds.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lotto Max: (May 10)
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">6,
15, 18, 19, 20,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>27 and 28; bonus </span>24.
(May 6) <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">3, 6, 11, 18, 19, 28 and 41; bonus </span>26.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lotto 6/49: (May 11)<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">5, 10,
12, 34, 36 and 48; bonus </span>27. (May 7) 7, 12, 21, 28, 40 and 46; bonus 34.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>---</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Regional briefs:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- Water bombers have
been sent to battle forest fires in Nova Scotia. The Canadian Interagency Forest
Fire Center said the bombers are from Newfoundland and Labrador to help ground
and air crews fight an out-of-control wildfire near Horseshoe Lake in Yarmouth
County. The fire covers about 15 square miles and continues to grow with winds
and low humidity. It has also led to air-quality alerts for the area.</p><p class="MsoNormal">- Canadians are
being urged to remove bird feeders to help combat the spread of avian flu that
has caused the deaths of 1.5-million birds. The infectious virus spread
primarily among birds, mainly chickens, turkeys and ducks and attacks internal
organs within the infected bird and usually causes death. The outbreak began
across the country last year. </p><p class="MsoNormal"> -30-</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">canadareport.blogspot.com</i></b></p>
<p> </p>Jim Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01956505709669073790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6592190907247045119.post-71432625015958546792022-05-10T17:49:00.004-07:002022-05-10T17:49:40.890-07:00Ontario medical officers want to bring back masks<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Canada column for
Sunday, May 8/22</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> THE CANADIAN REPORT</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By Jim Fox</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s a call by medical
officers of health to bring back mask-wearing mandates in schools and other
indoor public settings.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Drs. Mustafa Hirji,
Shanker Nesathurai and Thomas Piggott, all from Ontario, have made the request
in a letter to Dr. Kieran Moore, Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They note the
decision by the Ontario government to lift the mask mandate in most settings
for the province’s 15-million residents was detrimental.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Public Health
Ontario said “this contributed to the province’s sixth wave, which saw about
100,000 to 120,000 daily cases at one point.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The medical
officials are asking the government to bring back the mask wearing now mandated
still in hospitals, long-term care homes, on public transit and in other
high-risk settings.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They want it
further widened to include indoor public places, including workplaces, schools,
universities, colleges and essential service places such as pharmacies.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“We had hoped that
as masking and other protections ceased to be requirements, that we would be
able to get through this wave without much suffering or long-term disruption.
Unfortunately, this does not seem to have played out as we had hoped,” the
doctors said.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>---</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Travelers are being
confronted by long delays at Canadian airports as resurgence in travel after
the pandemic is easing but airlines and airports are having staffing issues.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Compounding the
problems are many travelers have expired passports and documents and are trying
to get new ones and security and health checks are taking time.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The number of
Canadian passports issued over the past year has tripled to 363,000, resulting
in longer wait times.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There has been a “huge
resurgence of an appetite for travel,” said Omar Alghabra, Minister of
Transport, adding there will be delays for the next few weeks.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Now we’re
learning once you turn off the economy (and reduce staff), when you turn
it back on, it comes with imbalances.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The federal
government is working to “ensure that we have the adequate resources to
respond to this surge of need for traveling,” Alghabra said.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>---</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>News in brief:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- Ontario residents
will be able to show their support or concerns about how the pandemic has been
attacked when the provincial government’s Conservative Party seeks re-election
on June 2. Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s party has a14-point lead in a Leger/Postmedia
poll and dropping a little. The Liberals and New Democrats are tied for second
and the Green Party trails.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- Montreal hockey legend
Guy Lafleur was remembered as an inspiration for generations of Quebecers at his
state funeral. Hundreds of people attended the service, including Prime
Minister Justin Trudeau. Lafleur died at age 70 after several years of health
issues. A hometown hero, he was the first player in the National Hockey League
to score 50 goals and 100 points in six consecutive seasons.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>---</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Facts and figures:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Canada’s dollar is steady
at 78 cents U.S. while the U.S. dollar returns $1.28 in Canadian funds, before
exchange fees.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Bank of
Canada’s key interest rate is unchanged at 1 percent while the prime lending
rate at commercial banks is 3.2 percent or more.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Canadian stock
markets are down, with the Toronto index at 20,696 points while the TSX Venture
index is at 783 points.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The average price
for gas in Canada is higher at $1.88 a liter or $7.15 for a U.S. gallon in
Canadian funds.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lotto Max: (May 3) <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">6, 11,
22,24, 27,29 and 33;bonus </span>31. (April 29<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-hansi-font-family: Symbol;">)</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"> 8, 9,
19, 32, 37, 46 and 48; bonus 45.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lotto 6/49: (May 4)
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">4,
21, 22, 36, 41 and 43; bonus </span>31. (April 30) <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">9, 11,14, 16, 20 and 43; bonus </span>32.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>---</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Regional briefs:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- Flooding has
forced hundreds of people from their homes across Manitoba, especially north of
Winnipeg on the Peguis First Nation. I ice jams on the Fisher River combined
with heavy rains to drive up water levels. Manitoba faces flooding threats
every spring but this year, the province has received six times the normal amount
of precipitation. The Red River Valley, including Winnipeg, is protected by
dikes and diversion channels, expanded after massive floods in 1997.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> -30-</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">canadareport.blogspot.com</i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i></b></p>Jim Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01956505709669073790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6592190907247045119.post-43368573976858883402022-05-02T18:21:00.006-07:002022-05-10T17:39:21.374-07:00Bikers roll into Ottawa for "Rolling Thunder" protest<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Canada column for
Sunday, May 1/22</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> THE CANADIAN REPORT</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By Jim Fox</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ve got ourselves
another convoy, this time with hundreds of bikers in Canada’s capital city,
Ottawa.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Earlier this year,
hundreds of trucks and thousands of truckers brought the area around Parliament
Hill and downtown to a standstill for more than a month.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, this weekend,
it’s Rolling Thunder Ottawa, called “a peaceful celebration of freedom with
hundreds of motorcycles and riders in town.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The trucker convoy took
a government order to ban such protests that cause civil disobedience and anarchy
in the cause of ending vaccine mandates.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Organizers of the
biker protest said they don’t condone blockades and harm to residents or property
damage to make their point.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>City and police
officials say they will “not tolerate another occupation” and their response
plan is to rebuild community trust.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are asking the
demonstrators to keep within a designated corridor around the Parliament
buildings, where there is a rally planned, and downtown without disrupting life
in the city.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>---</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Statistics Canada
says the number of people aged 85 and older is growing rapidly.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The government
agency’s research shows in <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">2016, there were more than three-quarters of a million
(770,780) people aged 85 and older living in Canada.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That
number represents 2.2 percent of the Canadian population overall and about 13
percent of the population aged 65 and older.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those aged
85 and older grew by 19.4 percent in the period from 2011 to 2016, nearly four
times the rate for the overall Canadian population.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The centenarian population of those 100 and
older grew even faster – by 41.3 percent – </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">to reach 8,230 people, making it the
fastest-growing age group between those years.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many municipalities with a high proportion of
people aged 85 and older are located in British Columbia, the survey said.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>---</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>News in brief:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- In its quest to
tackle ramping inflation, Canada’s central bank says Canadians should prepare
for another round of interest-rate hikes this month.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A 0.5 percent jump
is forecast by the Bank of Canada, following an increase of that amount in
April.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The bank raised its
trendsetting-rate to 1 percent and suggests another similar increase will
follow this month.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The increase has
already resulted in higher rates for loans and variable-rate mortgages at
commercial banks where the prime-lending rate is 2.7 percent.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bankers say the economy
has been surging as pandemic-related restrictions ease, suggesting the bank is
preparing to announce “another oversized rate hike” this month.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>---</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Facts and figures:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Canada’s dollar is lower
at 78 cents U.S. while the U.S. dollar returns $1.28 in Canadian funds, before
exchange fees.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Bank of
Canada’s key interest rate is unchanged at 1 percent while the prime lending
rate at commercial banks is 2.7 percent.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Canadian stock
markets are down, with the Toronto index at 20,979 points while the TSX Venture
index is 817 points.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The average price
for gas in Canada is higher at $1.80 a liter or $6.85 for a U.S. gallon in
Canadian funds.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lotto Max: (April
26) 3, 10, 15, 31, 35, 38 and 42; bonus 22. (April 22) 13, 14, 23, 30, 34</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">36 and 42; bonus 33.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lotto 6/49: (April
27)6, 26, 29, 32, 33, and 41; bonus 2. (April 23) 17, 19, 27, 39, 44 and 49;
bonus 2.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>---</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Regional briefs:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- In a pre-election
move, the Ontario Conservative Party’s budget – if re-elected in June promises to
help seniors by cutting income taxes for an average savings of about $300 a
year. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Ontario continues to take every
necessary action to stop the spread of the COVID‑19 virus while making record
investments in the health care system,” Premier Doug Ford also said. The
province will invest another <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">$650 million in long‑term care in 2021-22,
bringing the total resources invested since the beginning of the pandemic to more
than $2 billion.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"> </span>-30-</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> canadareport.blogspot.com</i></b></p>
Jim Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01956505709669073790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6592190907247045119.post-2948565413559750562022-04-26T18:15:00.010-07:002022-04-26T18:15:47.193-07:00Computer hack caused massive delays for Canadian air travelers on Sunwing flights<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Canada column for
Sunday, April 24/22</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> THE CANADIAN REPORT</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By Jim Fox</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thousands of people
have been stranded all week in sun destinations and at Canadian airports due to
a data security breach involving Sunwing Airlines.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The problem began
last weekend and is slowly improving for the Toronto-based “low-cost airline” that
connects Canadian destinations with the Caribbean, Mexico and Central America.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Would-be flyers
report chaos and confusion with a lack of information on when their planes
might leave.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a result of the
breach, the airline has to check-in passengers manually after the server
networks belonging to a third-party service provider, Airline Choice of
Illinois, were compromised.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“We apologize to
our customers for the ongoing delays and thank them for their patience and
understanding during this unfortunate situation” Sunwing said in a statement.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Passengers whose
flights have been delayed by more than three hours should be entitled to
compensation under Canadian air passenger protection regulations.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sunwing has
subcontracted aircraft from other airlines, including WestJet, AirTransat and
Nolinor Aviation, to relieve backlogs and has offered customers changes in
their departure dates with no fees for flights that were scheduled between
April 19 and 22.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“We actually
thought it was nice that we got an extra night’s stay at first in Veradero,
Cuba, but now I’m thinking this isn’t fun anymore,” said Tania Cameron, of Kemora,
Ontario.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>---</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Canadians are
paying more for goods and services as the country’s inflation rate soared to
6.7 percent last month.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was the fastest
annual increase in more than three decades, affected by world affairs that have
pushed up oil prices and the continuing pandemic-related supply chain crunch.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The latest
increase, after a 5.7 percent jump in February, puts it at the highest reading
since January 1991 when the Goods and Service Tax was introduced.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Statistics Canada noted
prices were also driven higher with the hot housing market and supply chain
constraints.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>House prices were
up 12.9 percent over last year, grocery store prices rose 8.7 percent, with
dairy products and eggs rising 8.5 percent and higher prices for pasta and
cereal, with average hourly wages up3.4 percent.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>---</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>News in brief:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Montreal Canadiens’
hockey legend Guy Lafleur has died at age 70 of lung cancer. He led the
National Hockey League to a record 24 Stanley Cups and was a member of the
team’s Ring of Honor that includes Jean Béliveau and Maurice (Rocket) Richard.
Team owner Geoff Molson described Lafleur as “one of the greatest players in
Habs’ history and an extraordinary ambassador for our sport.” He is
survived<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>by wife Lise and sons Martin
and Mark.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>--</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Facts and figures:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Canada’s dollar is
steady at 79 cents U.S. while the U.S. dollar returns $1.25 in Canadian funds,
before exchange fees.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Bank of
Canada’s key interest rate is 1 percent while the prime lending rate at
commercial banks is 2.7 percent.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Canadian stock
markets are down, with the Toronto index at 21,650 points while the TSX Venture
index is 880 points.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The average price
for gas in Canada is higher at $1.76 a liter or $6.69 for a U.S. gallon in
Canadian funds.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lotto Max: (April
19) <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">1, 6, 10, 27, 42, 45 and 50; bonus </span>43. (April 15) <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">1, 6,
18, 21, 30, 32 and 37; bonus 35.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lotto 6/49: (April
20) <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">6, 10, 13, 17, 21 and 37;</span> bonus 34. (April 16) <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">7,13,
26,35,36 and 38; bonus 40.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>---</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Regional brief:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- A Toronto woman
narrowly escaped death after being pushed by a stranger onto the subway tracks
as a train approached. The woman, 39, rolled under the platform at the Yonge
and Bloor station to avoid being hit by the train. She escaped with a broken
rib. Video helped the police make an arrest of Edith Frayne, 45, for attempted
murder when she was seen at a Toronto GO train station. Last November, a man
was pushed onto the subway tracks and injured at the same station while last
week, there was an unprovoked stabbing on the subway that left a man injured.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> -30-</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> canadareport.blogspot.com</i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i></b></p>
Jim Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01956505709669073790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6592190907247045119.post-168838569590021512022-04-19T18:50:00.001-07:002022-04-21T19:25:55.542-07:00Canada's cenral bank makes big jump in its key interest rate to fight inflation<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Canada column for
Sunday, April 17/22</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> THE CANADIAN REPORT</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By Jim Fox</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Canada’s central
bank has made its biggest key interest rate increase in 20 years in the battle
against inflation.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The jump in the key
rate of the Bank of Canada by .50 percent to 1 percent is said to be the first
of more – perhaps raising the target several times this year.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“With inflation
well above target and the economy moving in excess demand, there is a need to
normalize monetary policy relatively quickly,” said Bank Governor Tiff Macklem.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The bold move was
necessary as inflation and economic growth has passed the bank’s forecasts.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For consumers, what
it means is a bonus for those with money in the bank and higher fees for those
with variable-rate mortgages and loan payments.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The central bank
rise also prompted commercial banks to increase their prime-lending rates to</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">2.7 percent.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Originally, the
bank’s prediction early this year was an annual rate of inflation at an average
of 5 percent for the first half of the year but it is now 6 percent.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>World events pushed
inflation higher with higher prices for commodities such as gasoline and food,
budging the rate from its historic lows of 0.25 percent.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“A robust jobs
market with unemployment below pre-pandemic levels is driving demand and
consumer spending at a feverish pace,” Macklem said.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>---</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the height of
the pandemic’s sixth wave, Ontario’s top doctor couldn’t be found to comment
publicly because he was taking a vacation in the Caribbean, reporters learned.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At a news
conference last week – the first in almost five weeks for Dr. Kieran Moore –</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Premier Doug Ford said
he “never rests and works around the clock for the people of Ontario.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Health Minister
Christine Elliott and Ford mentioned that he was at a medical conference.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“While Dr. Moore
was away, we had an acting chief medical officer of health as well as five
assistant medical officers of health who were closely following the situation
in Ontario,” Elliott said.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Moore now
recommends that the provincial government extend remaining mask mandates in settings
such as hospitals, long-term care and public transit after the current end date
of April 27.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>--</p> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Facts and figures:
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Canada’s dollar is
steady at 79 cents U.S. while the U.S. dollar returns $1.25 in Canadian funds,
before exchange fees.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Bank of
Canada’s key interest rate has jumped to1 percent while the prime lending rate
at commercial banks is 2.7 percent.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Canadian stock
markets are mixed, with the Toronto index up at 21,855 points while the TSX
Venture index was down at 884 points.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The average price
for gas in Canada is lower at $1.69 a liter or $6.42 for a U.S. gallon in
Canadian funds.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lotto Max: (April
12) <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">3, 5, 7, 19, 32, 34 and 50; bonus </span>25. (April 8) <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">1, 2,
14, 15, 21, 26 and <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>29; bonus </span>4.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lotto 6/49: (April
13) <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">9, 27, 31, 33, 45 and 49; bonus </span>20. (April 9) <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">12, 28,
34, 41, 46 and 49; bonus </span>2.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>---</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Regional briefs:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- There are
reminders of winter in Winnipeg and across Southern Manitoba as a multi-day
storm dumped snow and brought high winds. Environment Canada said the storm
left behind up to 50 cm (two feet) of snow. The highest amounts of snow fell in
the south and the Interlake and Parklands regions. There were also blizzard
warnings for southeastern Saskatchewan at mid-week. Earlier rain resulted in
the province using flood controls in the Red River Floodway before the snow.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> -30-</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> canadareport.blogspot.com</i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
Jim Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01956505709669073790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6592190907247045119.post-70983799164023057422022-04-12T14:09:00.005-07:002022-04-12T14:09:59.574-07:00Foreigners prohibited from buying houses for a profit in Canada government budget<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Canada column for
Sunday, April 10/22</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> THE CANADIAN REPORT</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By Jim Fox</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The door has been
slammed shut on foreigners wanting to buy up houses in Canada for profit while
impacting the supply and cost for people living here.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Calling it an
“affordability crisis” with a limited supply of housing, the government of
Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in its budget has banned non-Canadians
from buying residential properties for two years.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Refugees,
international students wanting a permanent residence and those with work
permits are exempt.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As promised, the
government said it will continue to oversee the impact foreign money is having
on housing costs and will strengthen the ban if necessary.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The budget also
outlines plans for creating a tax-free First Home Savings Account that would
give first-time homebuyers the ability to save up to $40,000 towards a house.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It also calls on Canada
Mortgage and Housing Corp. to develop 100,000 new housing units and set aside
$1.5billion over two years to create 6,000 affordable units.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Starting on May 7, the
government will tax house flippers who buy properties to renovate and put them
back on the market less than a year later for quick gains.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>---</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Toronto area doctors
are at odds with the Ontario government over relaxed COVID public health
measures.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The number of cases
has been growing in a sixth wave of the virus since the province lifted mask
mandates and public gathering limits in March.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dr. Kieran Moore,
the province’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, is no longer giving daily
updates to guide residents.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Premier Doug Ford,
who faces an election on June 2, said the recent rise in hospitalizations is “a
little spike” while Toronto’s medical officer, Dr. Eileen de Villa, has called
for the wearing of masks in most settings, a move endorsed by Mayor John Tory.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>---</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>News in brief:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- Tributes are pouring
in for famed musical conductor Boris Brott who was killed by a hit-and-run
driver in Hamilton, Ontario. He was78 and the artistic director and conductor
of the Montreal Classic Orchestra. “He was an extraordinary ambassador of
classical music, recognized beyond our borders, a mentor to countless young
musicians and a very dear friend to many among them,” an orchestra notice said.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>---</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Facts and figures:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Canada’s dollar is lower
at 79 cents U.S. while the U.S. dollar returns $1.25 in Canadian funds, before
exchange fees.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Bank of
Canada’s key interest rate is steady at 0.5 percent while the prime lending
rate is 2.7 percent.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Canadian stock markets
are lower, with the Toronto index at 21,834 points while the TSX Venture index
is886 points.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The average price
for gas in Canada is lower at $1.70 a liter or $6.46 for a U.S. gallon in
Canadian funds.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lotto Max: (April 5)
14, 24, 34, 39, 43, 48 and 50; bonus 20. (April 1)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>7, 10, 18, 29, 38, 43 and 50; bonus 41.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lotto 6/49: (April
6) 2, 8, 9, 16, 39 and 49; bonus 21. (April 2) 5, 12, 15, 29, 42 and 44; bonus
38.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>---</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Regional briefs:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- After a two-year
hiatus due to the pandemic, hundreds of cruise ships will be again visiting
Canada, leaving residents near the cruise ship terminals in Victoria and
Vancouver concerned that the virus will spread with all of the visitors. The first
scheduled arrival of the season was canceled after several outbreaks were
reported on the Caribbean Princess. There are 358 cruise ships with 780,000
passengers expected in British Columbia this season.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- Quebec’s coveted
maple syrup harvest was too much to resist for one of the ringleaders in the
theft of $18 million of the liquid gold. The <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Supreme Court of Canada raised the
fine for Richard Vallieres, who is serving an eight-year prison term,
for the 2016 heist to the value of the stolen syrup at $9.1-million. Court was
told 9,500 barrels of syrup were stolen from a warehouse over two years
and he sold it for $10 million.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> -30-</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> canadareport.blogspot.com</i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
Jim Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01956505709669073790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6592190907247045119.post-86266443812783472542022-04-04T09:50:00.002-07:002022-04-04T09:50:44.663-07:00Canada considers urging fourth vaccine as numbers of infection grow<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Canada column for
Sunday, April 3/22</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> THE CANADIAN REPORT</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By Jim Fox</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An increase in the
number of COVID-19 cases, combined with public health indicators, is pushing
Canada to recommend second vaccine booster shots.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The National
Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) is to release guidance on more doses
of the vaccine in the next week.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many health practitioners are calling this
the sixth wave that is causing growing concerns about hospital capacity and
staff burn out, said Anna Maddison of Health Canada.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>NACI earlier
recommended that people who are “moderately to severely compromise” receive a
fourth dose of the vaccine six months after getting their third one.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The number of cases
of infection has been growing since most provinces dropped mask- wearing rules
and eased restrictions on public events.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Colin Furness, a
University of Toronto epidemiologist, said it has been a bad idea to say
“everyone take off your mask and we’ll have a hospital bed when you need it.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ontario Health Minister
Christine Elliott said the province isn’t considering bringing back any
COVID-19 measures despite rising infections and hospitalizations.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s because
there is a highly vaccinated population with increased hospital capacity and access
to antiviral medications, she said.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>---</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>New vaccine testing
requirements are now in effect for fully vaccinated travelers.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Canadian
government has eased testing requirements for international travel as demand
surges after two years of the pandemic.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gone are the
pre-entry testing requirements for fully vaccinated Canadians to enter Canada
by air, land or water but some rules remain.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Travelers must
still show proof of vaccination and still have to use the ArriveCAN ap prior to
returning including those taking a cruise or flying within 72 hours before
boarding.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are no
changes to rules for those partially vaccinated or unvaccinated to provide a
positive molecular or negative rapid antigen test.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For those cruising,
an antigen test is required to board a ship no more than one day before
departure but isn’t required to leave the ship.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The government
cautions that the virus can spread easily between people in close quarters,
such as on cause ships, and infections are still “very high even for those who
are fully vaccinated.” Government details at: <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">https://travel.gc.ca/travel-covid</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>---</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>News in brief:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A $5-billion
investment will create a large-scale electric vehicle battery plant in Windsor,
Ontario, across from Detroit. Automaker Stellantis and South Korean
battery-maker LG Energy Solution will build the plant to make the “cars of the
future from start to finish.” It will be the largest investment in Canadian
automotive manufacturing history, said Industry Minister Francois-Philippe
Champagne. The plant will employ about 2,500 people along with work at auto
parts-makers for a total impact of about 10,000 jobs. Construction is to start
this year with a goal of being operational by 2025.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>---</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Facts and figures:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Canada’s dollar is steady
at 80 cents U.S. while the U.S. dollar returns $1.25 in Canadian funds, before
exchange fees.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Bank of
Canada’s key interest rate is steady at 0.5 percent while the prime lending
rate is 2.7 percent.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Canadian stock markets
are mixed, with the Toronto index down at 21,890 while the TSX Venture index is
up at 892 points.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The average price
for gas in Canada is lower at $1.74 a liter or $6.61 for a U.S. gallon in
Canadian funds.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lotto Max: (March 29)
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">7,
17, 32, 34, 39, 45 and 47; bonus 42. (March 25) 3, 7, 16, 18, 27,32, and 37;
bonus 17.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lotto 6/49 :(March
30) <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">3, 7,15, 21, 35 and 40; bonus </span>37. (March 26) <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">5, 11,
21, 22, 38 and 45; bonus </span>44.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>---</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Regional briefs:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- Live Nation is
planning to open a new concert hall in Toronto’s Beaches neighborhood to host
about 150 events annually. Called 713 Music Hall on Queen street, representing
the area’s phone code, the opening performance will be Willie Nelson &
Family on Nov. 17.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- The Rolling
Stones’ Live at El Mocambo nightclub recordings in Toronto has been released
after 45 years. Over the years, the Stones have played at the club and others
in Toronto to prepare for their upcoming concerts. The 23 songs from the two
secret 1977 shows had the band billed as the Cockroaches to keep crowds away.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> -30-</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">canadareport.blogspot.com</i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
Jim Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01956505709669073790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6592190907247045119.post-81284871803022787482022-03-29T19:33:00.000-07:002022-03-29T19:33:04.858-07:00Canada's Liberal government forms an alliance with the socialist New Democrats<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Canada column for
Sunday, March 27/22</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> THE CANADIAN REPORT</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By Jim Fox</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a case of
strange bedfellows as Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has formed a
coalition government of sorts by an alliance with the socialist New Democratic
Party (NDP).</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The arrangement ensures
Trudeau’s minority government will stay in power for at least three more years
until the next election by being propped up by the NDP.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The two political parties will support each
other as both fell short of a majority last year.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a slap against
the Conservative party that is the official opposition as it seeks to find a
new leader.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Canada’s Parliament
has 338 members, with the Trudeau Liberals having 159 elected and the
Conservatives 119 to form another minority government.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The deal with 25NDP
members will allow the Liberals to pass bills unheeded and rule.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Otherwise should a
major bill fail to pass, the government could fall in a non-confidence motion
and an election must be held.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“They've cooked up
a backroom deal that would see Justin Trudeau get the majority power that he
tried desperately to get last fall in the last election, but he failed to get,”
said interim Conservative Leader Candice Bergen.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Voters did not vote
for a Liberal-NDP government,” she said.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was a similar deal in 2017 in British
Columbia with the NDP and Green parties.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>---</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oil-rich Alberta will stop collecting its fuel
tax on April 1and offer a $150 electricity rebate in an effort to
help Albertans deal with rapidly rising fuel and energy costs.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rebates are also to be offered in Nova
Scotia and now Quebec will also provide some help to people coping with high
gasoline and food prices.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The spring budget
includes a one-time payment of $500 to every adult earning $100,000 or less to
help offset the impact of inflationary price increases.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finance Minister
Eric Girard said it will be transferred directly into Quebecers’ bank accounts
after they file their 2021 income tax returns.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The payments are to
“help Quebecers weather significant inflation that the government expects will
reach 4.7 percent this year.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It will be paid to
6.4 million people at a cost of $3.2 billion.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>---</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>News in brief:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Unifor
national president Jerry Dias has resigned amid an investigation into $50,000
given to him by a supplier of COVID-19 rapid test kits. He then promoted the
kits to employers of union members, said secretary-treasurer Lana Payne,
calling it against the code of ethics. </span>Unifor is the largest private
sector union in Canada.<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- Toronto Mayor
John Tory said he will seek a third term in the Oct. 24 municipal
election.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tory said he is seeking
another term because the city “needs an experienced leader” who will continue
to make Toronto “a more livable and more affordable place to live, to work and
build a future.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>---</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Facts and figures:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Canada’s dollar is higher
at 80 cents U.S. while the U.S. dollar returns $1.25 in Canadian funds, before
exchange fees.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Bank of
Canada’s key interest rate is steady at 0.5 percent while the prime lending
rate is 2.7 percent.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Canadian stock
markets are higher, with the Toronto index at 21,937 while the TSX Venture
index is 883 points.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The average price
for gas in Canada is higher at $1.76 a liter or $6.68 for a U.S. gallon in
Canadian funds.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lotto Max: (March 22)
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">14,
16, 20, 26, 33, 36 and 48; </span>bonus 1. (March 18) <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">5, 7, 12, 18, 26, 29 and 46;
bonus </span>25.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lotto 6/49: (March 23)
8, <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">11, 12, 23, 29 and 36; bonus </span>49. (March 19) <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">4, 7,
26, 36, 42 and 47; bonus </span>32.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>---</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Regional briefs:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- The organizers of
the “Freedom” truck convoy that jammed Ottawa, Canada’s capital city for almost
a month, now jointly face more mischief, intimidation and obstructing charges.
They are now being heard by the courts, with those arrested out of jail on bail.
The rally with hundreds of parked trucks and thousands of demonstrators against
pandemic rules cost the city and police services $36.3 million and restitution
is being sought for the losses.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">-30-</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">canadareport.blogspot.com</i></b></p>
Jim Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01956505709669073790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6592190907247045119.post-68045413355841030442022-03-23T14:53:00.004-07:002022-03-23T14:53:35.315-07:00Canada relaxes border rules to no longer need a virus test as of April 1<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Canada column for
Sunday, March 20/22</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> THE CANADIAN REPORT</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By Jim Fox</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s good news
for travelers as those vaccinated will no longer need to show a COVID-19 test
to enter Canada as of April 1.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Health Minister Jean-Yves
Duclos said the more-lenient border policy is possible because of Canada’s high
vaccination rate and fewer cases of the virus being detected at the border.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The change comes at
the start of the tourist season and as the pandemic has declined with fewer
cases since mid-January.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The positivity rate
at airports was about 10 percent in January and has fallen to 1 percent now, Duclos
said.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Arriving tourists
still must be vaccinated and need to upload their information to the ArriveCan
app.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Travelers could
still be subject to random molecular tests when they arrive at Canadian
airports and land border crossings.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For those taking
cruises, they will still need to be tested before boarding but will not need to
take a test to get off the ship, said Transport Minister Omar Alghabra.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Canada's tourism
sector is ready to ensure the safety of travelers, employers and the
communities in which they operate,” said Tourism Minister Randy Boissonnault.
“They are ready to welcome back the world.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unvaccinated
traveler rules are unchanged with the need for a negative rapid antigen or
molecular test upon arrival and eight days later and quarantine for 14 days.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>---</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The oil-rich
province of Alberta will help drivers coping with record-high gas prices.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Premier Jason Kenney
said his government is working on a plan with rebates that would “provide immediate
relief for the growing gasoline prices.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As well, Kenney
said he wants to “ensure the Alberta treasury receives additional royalties
from these higher prices, with some passed on to consumers.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The higher prices,
with gas selling for more than $1.50 a liter ($5.70 for a U.S. gallon in
Canadian funds) in Alberta, are “eating into people’s wallets and ability to
pay the bills,” Kenney said.</p>
<p><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>---</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> News in brief:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- Two Canadian
students were the only survivors of a two-vehicle crash that killed nine people
in Texas. Dayton Price, 19, of Mississauga, Ontario and Hayden Underhill, 20,
of Amherstview, Ontario were seriously injured in the crash between a pickup
truck driven by a 13-year-old boy and a van with members of the University of
the Southwest Golf Teams. Six students and their coach and the two people in
the truck were killed in the fiery crash.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>--</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Facts and figures:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Canada’s dollar is higher
at 79 cents U.S. while the U.S. dollar returns $1.2 6in Canadian funds, before
exchange fees.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Bank of
Canada’s key interest rate is steady at 0.5 percent while the prime lending
rate is 2.7 percent.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Canadian stock
markets are mixed, with the Toronto index up at 21,771 while the TSX Venture
index is down at 851 points.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The average price
for gas in Canada is lower at $1.75 a liter or $6.65 for a U.S. gallon in
Canadian funds.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lotto Max: (March 15)
3, 7, 12, 17, 23, 38 and 40; bonus 27. (March 11) 5, 7, 12, 22, 28, 43 and 47;
bonus 1.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lotto 6/49: (March 16)<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">1, 3,8,14,
15 and16; bonus 3</span>3. (March 12) <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">3, 8, 20, 24, 37 and 47; bonus </span>31.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>---</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Regional briefs:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- Western Canadian
farmers say they will face a ““catastrophic” crisis shipping their products
should there be a strike or lockout by3, 000 CP Rail workers at midnight
tonight (Sunday).</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Negotiations have been ongoing since September by the
railway <span class="Caption8">and Teamsters Canada. Workers have voted to go on
strike and the railway said a lockout could happen “</span>to bring this
uncertainty to an end,” said CP Chief Executive Keith Creel. The main issues
are wages, pensions and work rules.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- Automotive parts
companies in Windsor, Ontario are looking to hire up to 500 Ukrainian refugees
to help address a shortage of workers in the city across from Detroit. The Automotive
Parts Manufacturers’ Association wants to open up employment opportunities,
said Larry Koscielsk of CenterLine (Windsor) Ltd. He is the son of Polish
immigrants who came to Canada during the Second World War.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> -30-</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> canadareport.blogspot.com</i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
Jim Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01956505709669073790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6592190907247045119.post-62121469756346864692022-03-12T18:51:00.005-08:002022-03-12T18:51:28.868-08:00Long-distance car trips are out for many Canadians over soaring gas prices<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Canada column for
Sunday, March 13/22</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> THE CANADIAN REPORT</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By Jim Fox</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many Canadians are scrapping long-distance highway
trips as gasoline prices reach record highs, exceeding $2 a liter ($7.50 a U.S.
gallon in Canadian funds).</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“It means vacations
postponed,” for spring road trips and this week’s March school break, said
federal politician McTeague, president of Canadians for Affordable Energy.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He puts out a daily
prediction of where gas prices are headed across Canada.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now that the pandemic
is easing, people were looking to get away but are faced with super-high pump
prices for gas.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s also
translating into a one-week national average gas price increase of 26 cents a
liter ($1 a U.S. gallon to $1.85 a liter ($7) by Sunday, McTeague said.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“As fuel prices
filter their way through the economy, it’s likely to raise the price of
everything else substantially, he added.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gas prices reached
$2 a liter in Vancouver and Montreal, $1.75 in Toronto<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and $1.67 in Halifax, said Natural Resources
Canada.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Gas prices
continue to be headed north towards record territory,” McTeague said.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>---</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Ontario government
plans to remove most mask mandates on March 21 and end remaining public health
orders in April.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Canada’s most
populous province will shift the onus of protection from COVID-19 to people,
said Premier Doug Ford.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“We’re going to
move forward cautiously and if someone wants to keep a mask on, good for them,”
he said.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The announcement
came as 1,974 new COVID-19 cases were reported in Ontario on March 9.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Improving health
indicators, such as a stable test positivity rate and declining hospitalizations,
as well as Ontario’s high vaccination rates and the availability of antiviral
treatments, allow for mask mandates to now be lifted, said Dr. Kieran Moore, Ontario
Chief Medical Officer of Health.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Up next on Monday
will be the end of the mandatory vaccinate-or-test policies for workers in
schools, child-care settings, hospitals and long-term care.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Masking requirements
in most settings will be removed – including schools and child-care settings –
except for public transit and health-care settings such as long-term care
facilities.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>---</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> News in brief:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- Former Quebec
Premier Jean Charest is expected to be among the candidates to enter the race
to succeed Erin O'Toole who resigned as leader of the Conservative Party of
Canada. Charest, 63, is also a former leader of the Quebec Liberal and federal
Progressive Conservative parties. The only declared candidate is Pierre
Poilievre, said to be known for “extreme conservative views and fiery rhetoric
in Parliament.” The candidates must declare by April 19 and the leader will be
decided on Sept. 10.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>---</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Facts and figures:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Canada’s dollar is slightly
lower at 78 cents U.S. while the U.S. dollar returns $1.27.3 in Canadian funds,
before exchange fees.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Bank of
Canada’s key interest rate is 0.5 percent while the prime lending rate is 2.7
percent.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Canadian stock
markets are higher, with the Toronto index at 21,581 while the TSX Venture
index 855 points.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The average price
for gas in Canada is at another record high of $1.87 a liter or $7.10 for a
U.S. gallon in Canadian funds.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lotto Max:
(March 8) <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">10,12, 13, 18, 25, 26 and 37; bonus 3</span>9. (March 4) <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">2, 4,
14,18, 24 ,46 and 47; bonus </span>23.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lotto 6/49: (March
9) <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">16, 25, 31, 34, 40 and 42; bonus 15. (March 5) 5, 9, 10, 32, 38 and 40;
bonus 44.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>---</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Regional brief:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- A huge container
ship, the length of two football fields, is adrift off the west coast of
Newfoundland. The Canadian Coast Guard said the half-mile-long MSC Kim reported
engine problems and is being towed 50 miles to Port au Port. There were no reported
injuries or pollution problems. The vessel is sailing under the flag of Panama
and owned by Switzerland-based Mediterranean Shipping Co.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> -30-</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">canadareport.blogspot.com</i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
Jim Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01956505709669073790noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6592190907247045119.post-33300206573338467732022-03-05T19:39:00.001-08:002022-03-07T09:14:53.511-08:00Canadian gas prices near an all-time high<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Canada column for
Sunday, March 6/22</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> THE CANADIAN REPORT</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By Jim Fox</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Drivers are paying
dearly for gasoline – nearing $2 a liter ($7.60 Canadian for a U.S. gallon).</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Canada has the third-largest oil reserves in the world and relies on
Canadian companies to refine most of its own crude oil but demand is running
higher as the pandemic wanes.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Canadians consume
tens of billions of liters of oil each year but rely on imports of crude oil
from other countries to meet demand.</p>. big setback was
the decision by U.S. President Joe Biden to scrap the under-construction Keystone
XL oil pipeline for environmental reasons.<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It would have carried
830,000 barrels a day of oil sands crude to Nebraska from Alberta.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>---</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> News in brief:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- After remaining
steady since March 2020, Canada’s central bank has raised its trend-setting
interest rate by 0.25 percent to 0.5 to contain inflation.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The record low was
among efforts against the economic fallout at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bank of Canada
Governor Tiff Macklem said this is the first of several rate hikes to “avoid a
problematic economic scenario that could be more costly to households than the
double-whammy of higher inflation and interest rates.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- Christine Elliott,
the Ontario government’s face, guiding the most-populous province through the
pandemic, has announced her resignation. This is in advance of the June 2
provincial election.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Elliott, who is also
Deputy Premier, will, however, remain as Ontario Health Minister until the
election. After which, she said: “I am looking forward to what the next chapter
will bring.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>---</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Facts and figures:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Canada’s dollar is higher
at 79 cents U.S. while the U.S. dollar returns $1.27 in Canadian funds, before
exchange fees.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Bank of
Canada’s key interest rate is up 0.25 at 0.5 percent while the prime lending
rate is 2.7 percent.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Canadian stock
markets are higher, with the Toronto index at 21,250 while the TSX Venture
index is 849 points.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The average price
for gas in Canada is at a new record high of $1.70 a liter or $6.46 for a U.S.
gallon in Canadian funds.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lotto Max: (March1)
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">5,
6, 28, 36, 40, 46 and 50; bonus </span>27. (Feb. 25) <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">2, 4, 17, 28, 35, 44 and 46;
bonus </span>5.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lotto 6/49: (March 2) 11, <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">12, 39,
41, 42 and 49; bonus 1</span>4. (Feb.26) 6,8 ,<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">12, 16, 24 and 35; bonus </span>26.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>---</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Regional briefs:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- Nova Scotia will
be easing COVID-19 restrictions and changing isolation requirements as the
Atlantic <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>province enters Phase 2 on Monday
and Phase 3 on March 21. Gathering limits, social distancing and mask
restrictions will be lifted. “We are now encouraging Nova Scotians to also use
rapid tests as a way to help protect vulnerable people in our communities as we
move toward a state of living with COVID-19,” said Dr. Robert Strang, Nova Scotia’s
chief Medical Officer of Health.</p>Jim Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01956505709669073790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6592190907247045119.post-77738332329988120532022-03-02T14:46:00.002-08:002022-03-07T09:16:45.548-08:00Canadian trucker rally finally ends in Ottawa<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Canada column for
Sunday, Feb. 27/22</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> THE CANADIAN REPORT</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By Jim Fox</p><p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The trucker
“freedom” rally that resulted in an encampment that clogged Ottawa, Canada’s capital,
with hundreds of parked big rigs and thousands of protesters for four weeks has
ended as bail hearings against those arrested has begun.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Police forces from
across Canada were able to finally end the protest with the arrests of almost
200 people and the towing of hundreds of cars and trucks.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Prime Minister
Trudeau gave the police special powers to clear the streets and end the protest
that started as anti-virus mandate rally.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The government
decided to withdraw a motion to enact the controversial Emergencies Act after a
weekend of all-night debates by Parliament as the crisis was winding down.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Similar protects closed the Ambassador Bridge
linking Windsor, Ontario with Detroit that lasted six days and other smaller
protests across the country.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>---</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> News in brief:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- Canadians having
a snack attack might have some trouble finding their favorites due to a price
dispute between Frito-Lay and Loblaws Canada, one of the country’s largest
grocers with</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">2,400 stores nationally. Loblaws refused its latest shipment
due to a higher price it said is needed to cover higher costs of expenses such
as shipping, ingredients and packaging. For now, the chip maker has stopped
shipping to Loblaws that said higher prices from suppliers will lead to
“difficult conversations” on offering some products.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">---</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Facts and figures:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Canada’s dollar is steady
at 78 cents U.S. while the U.S. dollar returns $1.28 in Canadian funds, before
exchange fees.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Bank of Canada’s
key interest rate is unchanged at 0.25 percent while the prime lending rate is
2.45 percent.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Canadian stock
markets are lower, with the Toronto index at 20,761 while the TSX Venture index
is 826 points.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The average price
for gas in Canada is still at a record high at $1.56 a liter (Canadian) or $5.92
for a U.S. gallon.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lotto Max: (Feb. 22)
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">3,
13, 26, 27, 28, 36 and 45; bonus </span>50. (Feb. 18) <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">2, 3, 8, 11, 12, 37 and 49; bonus
</span>36.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lotto 6/49: (Feb.23) <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">4, 10, 28, 31, 33 and 43;
bonus18. (Feb. 19) 4, 16, 30, 32, 37 and 44; bonus 35.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>---</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Regional briefs:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- Three months
before an Ontario election, Premier Doug Ford said he has found a way to inject
more money into the economy – by eliminating license plate renewal fees. In the
case of cars and pickup trucks, the saving each year amounts to $120 per
vehicle. Gone is the requirement to have a license plate sticker for passenger
vehicles, light-duty trucks, motorcycles and mopeds, effective March 13. All
license plate sticker fees paid between March 1, 2020 and March 12, 2022 for
vehicles owned by individuals is to be refunded.</p><br /><p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">thecanadareport.blogspot.com</i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
Jim Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01956505709669073790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6592190907247045119.post-5366069386287246642022-02-20T13:07:00.005-08:002022-02-20T13:07:41.971-08:00Canadian government to vote on whether to pass controversial Emergencies Act to deal with Ottawa protest riot<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Canada column for
Sunday, Feb. 20/22</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> THE CANADIAN REPORT</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By Jim Fox</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Canadian
government will decide on Monday whether it still needs to pass a controversial
Emergencies Act to deal with anyone still at the illegal occupation of Canada’s
Parliament grounds in Ottawa or coming back.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A massive
congregation of police officers from across Canada and the Mounties began
arresting protesters one-by-one and seizing their trucks and cars on Friday that
had occupied the capital the past three weeks.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Despite orders to
leave, hundreds of protesters in the trucker convoy were being arrested and
vehicles seized and towed.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In what started as
anti-virus mandate protest to “take back their freedom,” the participants
refused to leave until Canada’s government is replaced.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Similar protects closed
the Ambassador Bridge linking Windsor, Ontario with Detroit that lasted six
days and other smaller protests across the country.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People who have
given money in the millions of dollars to support the blockades and protests
should be concerned, including Americans who have given the majority of the cash
through social media sites, said Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Financial service
providers have started freezing bank accounts of people associated with the
trucker activities and those supporting the illegal occupation, she said.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>---</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just in time for
the mid-March Spring Break week, Canada is loosening its border virus test
rules.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As of Feb. 28,
vaccinated travelers will no longer need a molecular COVID-19 test to enter
Canada but instead can opt for the much-less expensive and easier-to-use rapid
test.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The tests need to
be managed by a laboratory, health care or telehealth provider.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some fully
vaccinated travellers might still be randomly selected for a molecular test at
the airport, but they need not quarantine while they wait for the result.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As well,
unvaccinated children younger than 12 and traveling with vaccinated adults will
no longer have to isolate from school, daycare or other public places for 14
days after they arrive in Canada.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>---</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> News in brief:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- Teen-aged violence
has police and parents concerned in Toronto. A 14-year-old boy was arrested for
murder and attempted murder in a shooting at David and Mary Thomson Collegiate.
Another boy was arrested for “aggravated assault” after a Toronto transit
driver was stabbed over a fare dispute with a group of youths. It was the
second stabbing of a transit worker in a week, with a 30-year-old man facing
charges of assault with a weapon.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- Charles
Juravinski, a businessman and philanthropist, who supported health
care across Hamilton, Ontario, has died. He was 92.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- The new Hurontario
Light Rail Transit line will be named after Mississauga, Ontario’s former Mayor
Hazel McCallion, to mark her 101st birthday.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> ---</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Facts and figures:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Canada’s dollar is steady
at 78 cents U.S. while the U.S. dollar returns $1.28 in Canadian funds, before
exchange fees.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Bank of
Canada’s key interest rate is unchanged at 0.25 percent while the prime lending
rate is 2.45 percent.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Canadian stock
markets are lower, with the Toronto index at 21,094 while the TSX Venture index
was 849 points.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The average price
for gas in Canada is at a record high at $1.56 a liter (Canadian) or $5.92 for
a U.S. gallon.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lotto Max: (Feb. 15)
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">19,
26, 28,36,40,42 and48; bonus </span>6. (Feb. 11) <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">1, 10, 12, 30, 33, 34 and 36;
bonus </span>4. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lotto 6/49: (Feb.16) <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">2, 8, 30, 31, 40 and 44; bonus </span>11.
(Feb. 12) <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">1, 25, 26, 37, 40 and 43; bonus 3.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>---</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Regional brief:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- Anti-pipeline
protesters have caused “millions of dollars” in damage at the Coastal GasLink project
in Houston, British Columbia. Mounties said about 20 people attacked security
guards where the 500-mile natural gas pipeline is under construction. They
blocked the road and damaged heavy machinery and buildings. No serious injuries
were reported.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">thecanadareport.blogspot.com</i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i></b></p>
Jim Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01956505709669073790noreply@blogger.com0