Unkept promises could hurt Trudeau re-election bid

   Canada column for Sunday, Oct. 13/19

   THE CANADIAN REPORT

   By Jim Fox

   Promises, promises and what Prime Minister Justin Trudeau didn’t do after the last election could hurt his re-election bid on Oct. 21.

   Opposition politicians are criticizing the Liberal leader for failing to make electoral reform happen.

   Trudeau said his government would end the “first-past-the-post” or winner-takes-all voting system in electing Members of Parliament.

   This results in the candidate with the most votes in each of 338 districts being elected.

   As well, under the parliamentary system, the party winning the most districts has its leader become the prime minister without a separate vote.

  Last time, the Liberals were elected in 184 ridings but having just 39.5 percent of the popular vote.

   The “ranked-ballot system” that Trudeau said earlier he favored would have voters able to transfer their votes to runners-up in split races to determine a winner.

   In response, Trudeau said he believes voters are not interested in changing the system.

Environmental protester arrested after egg toss at prime minister

   Canada column for Sunday, Oct 6/19

   THE CANADIAN REPORT

   (c) By Jim Fox

   An environmentalist protester, upset over the Liberal government’s inaction on climate change, was arrested after tossing an egg at Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

   The incident happened during a climate march in Montreal but Trudeau was not hit.

   Police said Dexter Perera, 49, was arrested by Trudeau’s security detail.

   He faces a charge of armed assault and assaulting a Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer and obstructing a second officer.

   Meanwhile, Conservative challenger Andrew Scheer is having a mid-campaign identity crisis heading toward the Oct. 21 federal election.

   Issues include his pro-life views on abortion and questions about same-sex marriage, conflicts in his work resume and his dual Canadian/American citizenship due to having a U.S. father.

   Scheer has declined to explain his opinion of same-sex marriage and why he has refused to march in Pride parades.

Canadian leader still dogged by "blackface" revelations

   Canada column for Sunday, Sept. 29/19

   THE CANADIAN REPORT

   (c) By Jim Fox

   The controversy surrounding Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in blackface – being called “brown face” in Canada – continues to drag down his re-election campaign.

   Time magazine first carried the 18-year-old photo from a school yearbook and Trudeau has repeatedly apologized for the oversight while admitting it wasn’t the only time he did it.

   He donned the blackface look for an Arabian Nights party when he was a 29-year-old teacher at West Point Grey Academy in Vancouver.

   The photo was given to Time by Michael Adamson who said he was “motivated solely by the belief that the Canadian public had a right to see it.”

   Adamson’s family has a connection to one of the Time reporters responsible for publishing the photo.

   Some people attending the party said they did not consider Trudeau’s actions racist as it was in keeping with the theme as others dressed as belly dancers or wore saris or veils.

   Trudeau said he “had a blind spot because of his privilege and he deeply regrets behavior he now recognizes as racist.”

Temperature trend across Canada, average fall, cold winter

   Canada column for Sunday, Sept. 22/19

   THE CANADIAN REPORT

   (c) By Jim Fox

   As the fall leaves begin to change color and fall, Canadians can expect average temperatures will give way to a cold winter in central and eastern parts of the country.

   The prediction from the Weather Network calls for much of the west along with parts of Atlantic Canada having slightly warmer temperatures for fall.

   That is the result of warmer oceans and wetter coastal conditions.

   Precipitation will be about average, but when it rains, it really truly will pour,” said chief meteorologist Chris Scott.

   Get ready for a bout of cold wintry weather nationwide, he added.

   “This looks like a pretty cold winter for much of the central and eastern parts of the country,” he said.

   Extended periods of mild and cold weather are expected in Ontario and Quebec.

Canadians to vote on new government Oct. 21; Parliament "dissolved" by Prime Minister

   Canada column for Sunday, Sept. 15/19

   THE CANADIAN REPORT

   (c) By Jim Fox

   Justin Trudeau has taken Canada into a federal election campaign seeking re-election for a second term for his Liberals on Oct. 21.

   Under the parliamentary system, the Prime Minister officially sets the date for the election and asks the Governor General (Julie Payette) to “dissolve” parliament.

   This means that Trudeau is no longer Prime Minister, but known as the Leader of the Liberal Party.

   Trudeau points to his record of higher taxes for the rich and cutting their child benefits to aid families and the middle-class while creating one-million new jobs.

   “We’ve done a lot these past four years, but the truth is we’re just getting started,” he said.

   The Liberals’ slogan is “Choose forward,” while Andrew Scheer’s Conservatives are using “It’s time for you to get ahead” and the socialist New Democrats say they are “In it for you.”

   To give a boost to their campaign, the government over the summer announced $10 billion in new spending, mostly in Liberal-held areas.

   Polls show the Conservatives with 35 percent of the vote, Liberals at 32, New Democrats, 15, and the Green Party, eight.

Remnants of Hurricane Dorian blow out across Atlantic Canada

   Canada column for Sunday, Sept. 8/19

   THE CANADIAN REPORT

   (Written on Sept. 7)

   (c) By Jim Fox

   Residents of Atlantic Canada were being warned that Hurricane Dorian has Nova Scotia, in particular, in its sights after devastating the Bahamas.

   The Canadian Hurricane Center said it packs a wallop and has strengthened to a Category 2 storm with “significant destructive potential.”

   After making landfall, it will move into the Gulf of St. Lawrence and transform into a strong tropical storm.

   Dorian is on course to make a direct hit on or just east of Halifax and head off toward Newfoundland late in the weekend, said meteorologist Bob Robichaud.

   As coastal residents were urged on Saturday to leave their homes, Robichaud said heavy rain and wind have arrived in southwestern Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.

   Winds at landfall were predicted to be more than 62 mph (100 km/h), with gusts topping

87 mph (140 km/h).

   The heaviest rain at 2 inches (50 millimeters) to 6 inches (150 millimeters) was expected over western Nova Scotia as the storm turns to the left.

Former Canadian leader apologizes for wishing Hurricane Dorian on Mar-a-Lago

   Canada column for Sunday, Sept. 1/19

   THE CANADIAN REPORT

   (c) By Jim Fox

   Former Canadian Prime Minister Kim Campbell has apologized for an insensitive tweet “rooting for a direct hit by Hurricane Dorian on Mar-a-Lago,” President Donald Trump’s Florida resort.

   The tweet sparked outrage around the world until it was finally removed on Friday, two days after it appeared, with Campbell back tracking.

   Responses included calling her “disgusting” and pointed out the path of the hurricane could put it on a densely populated area of Palm Beach, while accusing her of wishing death on others.

   “I have deleted my tweet about the hurricane and Mar-a-Lago and sincerely apologize to all it offended,” Campbell tweeted.

   “It was intended as sarcasm and not a serious wish of harm,” wrote Campbell, 72, who was Canada’s leader for just four months for the Conservatives in 1993.

   She is a frequent Twitter user and often criticizes Trump on issues including his climate change denials.

   “Throwaway lines get a life of their own on Twitter. I should know better. Mea culpa,” the apology concluded.