Trudeau skips meeting with Trump over virus concerns, work obligations

   Canada column for Sunday, July 12/20

   THE CANADIAN REPORT

   (c) By Jim Fox

   Concerned about pandemic outbreaks in the United States and the threat of more tariffs against aluminum imports, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau skipped a free-trade meeting in Washington.

   But President Donald Trump and Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador went ahead to celebrate the launch of the three-country free trade deal at the White House.

   “We'll have a separate day with Canada – they're coming down at the appropriate time,” Trump said about Trudeau’s absence at the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement gathering.

   Trudeau dismisses claims that Canada has exceeded limits on aluminum exports to the U.S., saying “it’s a little bit difficult to understand.”

   It’s all for the best that Trudeau stayed home, Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer said.

   “Usually when Justin Trudeau leaves the country, it hurts Canada’s position on the world stage,” he said.

Threat on Justin Trudeau leads to tighter security measures for Canada's leader

   THE CANADIAN REPORT

   (c) By Jim Fox

   Security has been tightened around the official residences of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Governor General Julie Payette after a gunman was arrested on the grounds.

   Police say a man smashed his pickup truck into a pedestrian gate and was walking the grounds of Rideau Hall in Ottawa armed with several weapons early Thursday.

   They say he was loose on the property for about 13 minutes before police noticed him.

   He was stopped as he approached the front door of Trudeau’s residence. Both the prime minister and his family and Payette were away at the time.

   Police would not discuss a possible motive as it is “part of the ongoing investigation,” said Deputy Mountie Commissioner Mike Duheme.

   Corey Hurren, 46, a master corporal in the 4th Ranger Patrol Group of the Canadian Forces from Manitoba was remanded in custody to July 17 for a court hearing.

   He faces 22 charges, including uttering threats and gun possession for unlawful purposes.

   “This is the kind of event nobody wants to happen,” Trudeau said, adding that he was “thankful” it was resolved without anyone being hurt.

Fines given to Americans unlawfully visiting Canadian parks during the pandemic

   Canada column for Sunday, June 28/20

   THE CANADIAN REPORT

   (c) By Jim Fox

   American tourists who are finding ways to visit the Canadian Rockies in Alberta against pandemic rules are being fined $1,200 ($876 U.S.).

   As the Canada-U.S. border remains closed to all but essential travel and Canadians returning home, some visitors are finding ways to get into around the law by saying they are driving directly to Alaska.

   Mounties say seven people were initially apprehended for violating public health rules for COVID-19.

   The fines were given to the people who stopped at Lake Louise and then taken long hikes in Banff National Park.

   Canada Border Services Agency said U.S. citizens can travel through to Alaska as long as they show they are traveling for an essential reason.

   While entering Canada, the visitors must be healthy and are given instructions on avoiding unnecessary stops and contact with others, said CBSA’s Jacqueline Callin.

   The border was closed to all non-essential travel on March 21 in response to the pandemic and has since been extended to July 21.

Protesters tear down, deface historical statues across Canada

   Canada column for Sunday, June 21/20

   THE CANADIAN REPORT

   (c) By Jim Fox

   Canadian protest groups have been defacing and removing statues and monuments of historical figures.

   The incidents are mounting across Canada against anti-black and anti-Indigenous racism.

   The latest victims are statues of Canada’s first Prime Minister Sir John A. Macdonald in Prince Edward Island and the late Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau who was black faced in a park in Vaughan, near Toronto.

   Charlottetown Mayor Philip Brown denounced the vandalism when Macdonald was doused in red paint but said consideration is being given to removing the statue.

   At issue was Macdonald’s  role in the creation of residential schools where Indigenous children were taken from their homes and parents.

   Two years ago, Victoria city council removed a statue of Macdonald that stood outside city hall and now remains in storage.

   Vaughan Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua said he is “deeply disappointed” at the vandalism.

   Pierre Trudeau was committed to fostering a fair and just society and the creation of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, he said.

   Trudeau’s son Justin, the current prime minister, said mistakes have been made with “entrenched racism in policing agencies and public institutions.”

COVIS-19 vaccine under development within months, not years: scientist says

      Canada column for Sunday, June 14/20

   THE CANADIAN REPORT

   By Jim Fox

   A vaccine for COVID-19 will be ready in months, not years, says Dr. Gary Kobinger, one of Canada’s top infectious disease experts.

   The director of the Research Center on Infectious Diseases at Laval University in Quebec previously helped develop a vaccine and treatment for the deadly Ebola virus.

   He is working now with labs in Canada, the United States, Chile, China, Europe and Africa on various vaccines of which more than 100 are in development around the world.

   Most vaccines take more than a decade to become approved for human use but work on COVID is moving much faster with so many scientists seeking a breakthrough.

   Governments and public health experts warn that physical distancing restrictions, public gathering limitations, handwashing and wearing masks should continue to help prevent the spread of the virus.

   The total number of cases in Canada is 97,943 with 8,049 deaths.

Peacefulmarches held across Canaada against police brutality and societal racism

   Canada column for Sunday, June 7/2020

   THE CANADIAN REPORT

   (c) By Jim Fox

   Peaceful parades to honor George Floyd and condemn police brutality and societal racism are being held in cities across Canada.

   Black activists, organizations and allies stood in solidarity and included Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at a rally in Ottawa, Canada’s capital.

   The rallies put down racism and police brutality and remembered Floyd who died while in police custody in Minneapolis.

   Flanked by security and wearing a black cloth mask, Trudeau put one knee on the ground with his head bowed as did Toronto’s black Police Chief Mark Saunders in that city’s march.

   More than 1,000 people rallied without any violence in Toronto where Saunders said “We see you and we are listening. We have to all stay in this together to make change.”

   The Ottawa march ended up at the U.S. Embassy where the building’s lights are being dimmed for nine nights in Floyd’s honor.

Pandemic disrupts Canadian travel plans; cruise ships banned through October

   Canada column for Sunday, May 31/2020

   THE CANADIAN REPORT

   (c) By Jim Fox

   A study shows the pandemic has disrupted Canadians’ travel plan not just for this summer but into next year.

   “Our survey shows that travelers are paying attention to government guidelines and are staying home,” said Todd Crawford of the Conference Board of Canada. 

   The not-for-profit think tank outlines the devastating impact of the virus on tourism and businesses and communities relying on it.

   Domestic travel intentions should return to “somewhat normal in April 2021” while international travel should remain at “below-normal levels until December 2021,” the survey predicts.

   In a normal year, about 80 percent of Canadians are planning a leisure trip but this year the number is almost halved to 45 percent.

   Some 58 per cent have either delayed or canceled their summer trips.

   Sixty-six percent plan to stay in Canada this year even if the border with the U.S. reopens.