Sears, Best Buy laying off 1,600 workers in Canada

   Canada column for Sunday, Feb. 3/13

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   THE CANADIAN REPORT

   (c) By Jim Fox

   The evolving retail marketplace with more Canadians shopping online has led to Sears and Best Buy laying off 1,600 workers.

   Sears Canada officials said the loss of 700 workers across the country is an attempt to “right-size” and restructure the business.

   The job cuts, which come just before Target is about to open the first of 135 stores across Canada, will be from its department stores, distribution centers, head office and support areas.

   Electronics retailer Best Buy cited a “transitional plan” to close eight of its Future Shop locations and seven Best Buy big box stores with the loss of 900 jobs, or about five percent of its workforce.

   The stores will be replaced with “small-concept web and mobile locations” over the next two and half years, it said.

   Retail analysts say electronics stores have been hard hit by declining sales and tough competition from online retailers with better prices.

   Sears announced earlier it was closing four of largest stores in Vancouver, Calgary and Ottawa, with those locations being taken over by U.S. retailer Nordstrom entering the Canadian marketplace.

Canada's dollar dips as interest and inflation rates remain low

   Canada column for Sunday, Jan. 27/13

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   THE CANADIAN REPORT

   (c) By Jim Fox

   The Canadian dollar has fallen to below parity with the U.S. currency after the Bank of Canada said super-low interest and inflation rates will continue.

   Canada’s central bank conceded that it misjudged the strength of the economic recovery and reduced its outlook for inflation.

   This caused the dollar to dip to a six-month low near 99 cents US as the trend-setting interest rate is likely to remain unchanged for the rest of this year.

   The central bank rate is one percent where it has been for more than two years.

   “The direction is clear – the timing has shifted,” bank governor Mark Carney said, noting a “less imminent” need to raise rates.

   The bank is “less worried” now about high levels of consumer debt and the housing market while inflation will remain around one percent.

   Prime Minister Stephen Harper said weaker growth for the global economy is “obviously a concern” and will have an impact on the pace of job creation.

More bridges, roads, rail lines blocked by native protesters

   Canada column for Sunday, Jan. 20/13

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   THE CANADIAN REPORT

   (c) By Jim Fox

   Native protesters, unhappy after a meeting with Prime Minister Stephen Harper, have again blocked bridges to the U.S., rail lines and snarled traffic.

   Groups waved banners and pounded drums in the “Idle No More” movement over what they perceive is an erosion of their treaty and environmental land rights.

   The largest mid-week protest involved hundreds at the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor, Ontario that backed up truck traffic headed into Detroit for more than a mile.

   The protest lasted several hours and was similar to others earlier at border crossings elsewhere across Canada.

   Natives again blockaded the Canadian National rail line near Belleville, Ontario that stopped Via Rail passenger and freight trains between Toronto-Montreal-Ottawa.

   The protests also moved to the highway between Calgary and Edmonton while about 100 people sang and played drums in a march in downtown Toronto.

   Five people were arrested after a group disrupted a hearing in Vancouver into the proposed Northern Gateway pipeline.

   Frank Brown of the Heiltsuk First Nation said the pipeline would result in oil tankers passing through his nation’s traditional waters.

   Other road and rail blockades happened near Victoria, Portage la Prairie, Winnipeg, Miramichi, Fredericton and in western Quebec and northern Alberta.

Native protests close borders, rail lines and block entrance to Prime Minister's office

   Canada column for Sunday, Jan. 13/13

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   THE CANADIAN REPORT

   (c) By Jim Fox

   A week of native protests that temporarily closed several Canada-U.S. border crossings and railway lines escalated with a rally on Parliament Hill.

   Hundreds of protesters marched and blocked the entrance to Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s office before his meeting Friday with First Nations’ leaders.

   The peaceful protest with singing, dancing, banging of drums and waving flags and placards was similar to rallies last weekend.

   Protesters stopped traffic for several hours at border bridges in Cornwall, Sarnia, Fort Erie and Queenston, Ontario as well as Surrey, British Columbia.

   They also blocked a Canadian National rail line in Sarnia and the main line between Toronto-Ottawa-Montreal for several hours near Belleville disrupting 1,000VIA Rail passengers and freight traffic.

   Protesters say government bills will encroach on their historic treaty rights and the environmental protection of native land.

   “We shared our lands all these years and we never got anything from it – all the benefits are going to Canadian citizens,” said Theresa Spence, chief of the Attawapiskat Reserve in northern Ontario.

   Her comments followed the release of a federal audit showing a “lack of documentation” for $104 million given to aid the reserve from 2005 to 2011.

Nickel could follow penny in revised Canadian coin collection

   Canada column for Sunday, Jan. 6/13

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   THE CANADIAN REPORT

   (c) By Jim Fox

   Now that the Royal Canadian Mint will start taking pennies out of circulation next month, the elimination of the nickel could be next.

   Finance Minister Jim Flaherty said the penny has become a nuisance and was costing more to produce than it was worth.

   Former Bank of Canada economist Jean-Pierre Aubry said the nickel is also becoming obsolete and should be next in line for retirement.

   Aubry said dumping the nickel should be part of a larger strategy to retool the Canadian currency.

   This could include creating a new coin to replace the five-dollar bill; adding a 20-cent coin and eliminating the quarter; creating a $200 bill; and reducing all coin sizes significantly to ease the burden on pockets.

   David Barnabe of Finance Canada said the government has no plans so far to eliminate the nickel.

   New Zealand eliminated its five-cent coin in 2006 after dumping its penny and two-cent piece and Australia’s government has been considering ending production of its nickel.

Canadians share a "bright hope" with others, Prime Minister Stephen Harper says

   Happy New(s) Year

   Canada column for Sunday, Dec. 30/12

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   THE CANADIAN REPORT

   (c) By Jim Fox

   Canadians can view their country as “an island of stability and a bright hope for people the world over.”

   So said Prime Minister Stephen Harper in his Christmas/New Year’s message after referring to the “global economic uncertainty all around us.”

   Heading into 2013, Harper said his Conservative government “will continue to focus on growth, jobs and prosperity for all Canadians.”

   He continued: “But for now, let us be mindful of those who are less fortunate, be grateful for the service of our men and women in uniform, and let us give thanks for Canada, the best country in the world.”

   In a year-end interview with Global TV, Harper said Canada will no longer “passively” accept immigrants as it reforms the immigration system to ensure newcomers meet the criteria to fill growing labor shortages.

   “The country faces shortages now that will only worsen as the aging population retires,” he said.

Canadian links to Connecticut school shooting ramage

   Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays/Season’s Greetings

   Canada column for Sunday, Dec. 23/12

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   THE CANADIAN REPORT

   (c) By Jim Fox

   Two of the 26 people killed in the Newtown, Conn. elementary school shooting had links to Canada.

   Ana Marquez-Greene, 6, lived most of her young life in Winnipeg while the father of teacher Lauren Rousseau, 30, was born in Quebec.

   “The thoughts and prayers of Canadians are with the students and families affected by this senseless violence,” Prime Minister Stephen Harper said.

   A candlelight vigil was held outside of the University of Winnipeg to honor Ana who moved to Connecticut last summer.

   “As much as she’s needed here and missed by her mother, brother and me, Ana beat us all to paradise,” said her father, jazz musician Jimmy Greene.

   He left his job at the Manitoba university to return to his home state to teach at Western Connecticut State University.

   Rousseau’s relatives in Quebec were grieving while denouncing U.S. gun laws.

   “It's revolting how easy it is to obtain firearms – that's what's so infuriating,” said victim's uncle, Francois Rousseau.

   Her father, Gilles Rousseau, said he was advised not to view his daughter’s body and was told the gunshots were so powerful they blasted through a wall and into her car outside.

   The incident has prompted a review of security at Canadian schools, with Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty saying his government will spend $10 million to equip schools to begin a “locked-door” policy by next September.