Zika virus travel warning for Canadians

   Canada column for Sunday, Jan. 31/16

   THE CANADIAN REPORT

   (c) By Jim Fox

   Canadians seeking a break from a cold winter are being advised by health authorities to “consider” postponing travel to hot climates where the mosquito-borne Zika virus is circulating.

   As well, the agency responsible for most of Canada’s blood supply will turn away donors who have traveled to countries where Zika is rampant.

   That now takes in more than 20 countries in South and Central America, the Caribbean and parts of Mexico.

   Most people infected with the virus experience no symptoms, or at the most short-lived fever, malaise, skin rash, joint pain and red eyes.

   The big worry is for pregnant women and those who plan to become pregnant as it can cause children to be born with microcephaly, a condition that causes small heads and underdeveloped brains.

   “It is recommended that pregnant women and those considering becoming pregnant discuss their travel plans with their health-care provider to assess their risk,” the Public Health Agency of Canada said.

   While the chance of Zika virus getting into the blood supply is remote, it is spreading in areas where Canadians are potentially going to be traveling, said Dr. Dana Devine of Canadian Blood Services.

   Most Canadian airlines are allowing passengers to change or cancel bookings to affected destinations.

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Drivers being "hosed" by gasoline prices in Canada, anylists say

   Canada column for Sunday, Jan. 24/16

   THE CANADIAN REPORT

   (c) By Jim Fox

   Canadian drivers are complaining they are being “hosed” or taken advantage of at the gas pump as low oil prices aren’t being reflected in the price.

   Even the central Bank of Canada in its monetary policy report pointed out that oil prices have dropped about 75 percent from their peak in 2014 but gasoline prices have not fallen “as much as the reduction in crude oil prices would suggest, based on historical experience.”

   Gas prices averaged $1.02 a liter ($3.88 Canadian for a U.S. gallon) nationally last month when crude averaged $37 U.S. a barrel.

   In 2009, when oil sold for $39, the average price for gas was 85 cents a liter.

   Gasbuddy analyst Dan McTeague said gas would cost far less if the Canadian dollar was at par with the U.S. currency, instead of at 70 cents U.S. now.

   “The weakness in the loonie (dollar) accounts for over 12 cents a liter in lost purchasing power for motorists,” he said.

   Analysts say it’s also due to higher margins by refiners along with increased taxes.

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Pepper-sprayed Syrian refugees get apology from Prime Minister

   Canada column for Sunday, Jan. 17/16

   THE CANADIAN REPORT

   (c) By Jim Fox

   Prime Minister Justin Trudeau apologized on behalf of Canadians to a group of Syrian refugees who were pepper-sprayed in Vancouver.

   Police are considering it a “hate crime” when about a dozen people were sprayed by a man on a bicycle at a Syrian welcome ceremony.

   The man rode away quickly after spraying the crowd outside the Muslim Association of Canada center and is being sought by the police.

   One of those hit in the attack was refugee Youssef Ahmad al-Suleiman who said the reaction of the prime minister and the public in condemning the incident reinforced his appreciation of Canadians and his adopted country.

   Immigration Minister John McCallum called it an “isolated” incident but suggested there’s the need to guard against an anti-refugee sentiment.

   As the government’s focus shifts to integrating the 10,000 Syrians who have arrived so far, there must be an effort to be sure the newcomers aren’t given special access over Canadian citizens to such things as social housing, he said.

   The Syrians being resettled in Canada so far have come from Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey, with about 25,000 expected to arrive by the end of next month.

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Canada will have to endure economic crisis: Bank governor

   Canada column for Sunday, Jan. 10/16

   THE CANADIAN REPORT

   (c) By Jim Fox

   Canada will have to “ride out” the economic storm that has plunged the dollar to the 70-cent US range, the central bank governor says.

   It will take time to adjust to the shock of low oil prices, said Bank of Canada Governor Stephen Poloz as it causes havoc with the economy.

   There is no simple fix but Canada’s flexible exchange rate can soften the blow for some parts of the economy, he said.

   The bank can also use “unconventional tools” to limit financial and inflationary threats including lowering the trend-setting interest rate into negative territory.

   Canada has lost more than $50 billion in national income since oil prices started their plunge in mid-2014, Poloz said.

   This has led to tens of thousands of layoffs in the oil patch, primarily in Alberta, where housing prices have fallen as well.

   The dollar’s all-time low was 61.79 cents US in January 2002.

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Canadian economy took a hit in 2015

   Canada column for Sunday, Jan. 3/16

   THE CANADIAN REPORT

   (c) By Jim Fox

   Canada’s economy was battered in 2015, with the dollar losing 16 percent of its value against the United States currency and the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSE) down 11 percent.

   With the arrival of the new year, Canadians face higher food and restaurant prices with the bite of a slumping dollar.

   There was no joy in Canada’s resource rich oil patches, primarily Alberta where 63,500 jobs were lost in the first eight months of the year while the average weekly pay fell 2.6 percent to $1,129 (Canadian).

   The drop in oil and commodity prices hit the dollar hard as it fell to 72 U.S. cents while pushing the U.S. dollar to near $1.40 Canadian.

   BMO economist Doug Porter said the “carnage” led to the third-worst year since 1992 when the buck fell by 9 percent.

   The TSE’s composite index ended the year at 13,009 points, compared with 14,632 a year ago and the worst since 2011.

   The dollar’s fall has led to higher food costs since 81 percent of all vegetables and fruit consumed in Canada are imported.

   University of Guelph’s Food Institute estimates the average Canadian household spent an additional $325 on food in 2015 and can expect to pay about $345 more this year.

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Processing of Syrian refugees to enter Canada continues

   Canada column for Sunday, Dec. 27/15

   THE CANADIAN REPORT

   (c) By Jim Fox

   The Canadian government will meet its commitment to process 10,000 Syrian refugees for entry to Canada but they won’t all be here by year’s end.

   Immigration Minister John McCallum said he now can’t guarantee the Liberal government will be able to meet its goal of bringing in that number by Dec. 31.

   They will be “verified” by that date but not all will have arrived, he said, as the government remains committed to resettle 25,000 refugees by the end of February.

   Among the factors making the earlier goal unrealistic in such a short period since the government was elected in October are circumstances including poor flying weather.

   McCallum told reporters that hundreds of Canadian government representatives are working all out to process the refugees coming from Lebanon and Jordan.

   As of Dec. 21, almost 2,000 refugees have arrived and flights are continuing through the holidays, he said.

   To assist with cities and organizations helping to resettle the newcomers, McCallum announced the federal government would allocate another $15 million.

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Canadian dollar value at 11-year low

   Canada column for Sunday, Dec. 20/15

   THE CANADIAN REPORT

   (c) By Jim Fox

   Canada’s dollar is worth less, plunging below 72 cents U.S., at an 11-year low.

   Factors causing the drop to 71.68 cents include slumping oil and commodity prices and a higher U.S. dollar due to a slight increase in interest rates there.

   That means it costs almost $1.40 Canadian for a U.S. dollar, plus bank and credit-card exchange fees.

   Economists expect the weaker dollar to continue, hitting 70 cents before rising slowly through the end of next year.

   This is making it more costly for “snowbirds” and vacationers from Canada who pay in U.S. dollars.

   So far, however, it hasn’t deterred many from their winter haunts in Florida, California, South Carolina, Arizona and other sunny spots.

   Florida attracts about 4.2-million Canadian vacationers annually and tourism officials say there’s only a slight drop this year.

   The lower dollar is also leading to higher food costs with fresh vegetables, especially lettuce and tomatoes from the U.S., rising by 10.9 percent.

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