Bon oyage! Cruise ships can sail in Canadian waters from November

    Canada column for Sunday, July 18/21

    THE CANADIAN REPORT

   By Jim Fox

    Anchors away!

   Cruise ships will again be allowed to sail in Canadian waters three months sooner than expected after the pandemic lockout.

   The Canadian government said the ban will be lifted as of November – too late to help this season of the popular Canada-New England and Canada-Alaska sailings.

   As well, Canada appears to be moving to open up to the world after flight and border-crossing restrictions.

   Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he is looking at a target of mid-August for when the border might reopen for fully vaccinated Americans and those from the rest of the world in early September.

   The cruise ship reopening is dependent on “if operators are able to fully comply with public health requirements,” said Transport Minister Omar Alghabra.

   “We will welcome cruise ships—an important part of our tourism sector—back in Canadian waters for the 2022 season,” he said.

    ---

    A hot, humid summer afternoon was rocked by a devastating tornado that carved a three-mile path of destruction across Barrie, Ontario.

   Eight people were injured, four seriously, but there were no fatalities in the upscale neighborhood north of Toronto on Thursday.

   Dozens of houses were damaged, many beyond repair, as the tornado touched down with a top wind speed of 130 m.p.h.

   Environment Canada said the tornado formed quickly as it approached and the last-minute warnings sent many people to seek shelter in their basements.

   Barrie Mayor Jeff Lehman said it was reminiscent of the 1985 tornado disaster that killed eight people and left damage of $1 billion in the city.

    ---

    News in brief:

   - Former top General Jonathan Vance has been arrested for obstruction of justice. Authorities say it relates to attempting to persuade a woman to make false statements about their past relationship. Military police launched an investigation in February into allegations of misconduct after his retirement.

   - Canada’s central bank has again kept its trendsetting interest rate steady at 0.25 percent. The Bank of Canada noted that the economy is improving as COVID vaccinations increase. The virus variants, however, make the recovery uncertain. The bank is also waiting until inflation settles in at around two percent from its current 3.4 percent.

    ---

     Facts and figures:

   Canada’s dollar is steady at 80 cents U.S. and a U.S. dollar returns $1.25 in Canadian funds before exchange fees.

   The Bank of Canada key interest rate remains at 0.25 percent while the prime lending rate is 2.45 percent.

   Canadian stock markets are higher, with the Toronto index at 20,183 points and the TSX Venture index 928 points.

   The average price for gas in Canada is higher at $1.38 a liter (Canadian) or $5.25 for a U.S. gallon.

   Lotto Max: (July 13) 2, 6, 12, 13, 17, 36 and 48; bonus 25. (July 9) 11, 21, 32, 33, 38, 40 and 44; bonus 19.

   Lotto 6/49: (July 14) 2, 9, 19, 23, 26 and 30; bonus 10. (July 10) 4, 5, 18, 28, 35 and 42; bonus 2.

    ---

    Regional briefs:

   - Wildfires continue to rage in British Columbia with evacuations and an investigation into the fire that destroyed most of the village of Lytton. There are more than 1,500 properties under an evacuation order with thousands more on standby. Several long-term care homes in the 100 Mile House and Ashcroft areas have been evacuated while others are preparing to leave. The investigation into the Lytton fire is looking into possible points of origin including sparks from a freight train.

- Nova Scotia has joined with British Columbia to adopt a federal program to cut daycare rates to as low as $10 a child. The program will fund thousands of subsidized daycare spots. Premier Iain Rankin said average child-care fees in by the end of next year would drop to $20 a day per child and gradually move over five years to $10 a day.

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 Jim Fox can be reached at canadareport@hotmail.com

 

Wildires in wesrern Canada wipe out town of Lytton, B.C.

    Canada column for Sunday, July 11/21

    THE CANADIAN REPORT

   By Jim Fox

    The rapidly moving wildfires that flattened the village of Lytton, British Columbia took with it two lives.

   The 1,000 or so area residents had just 15 minutes to flee from their homes as the massive fires took aim at the community and continues out of control.

   Police are working to locate those unaccounted for in the remains of the village – 90 percent of has been destroyed.

   Toxic smoke from the buildings was keeping officials and investigators out as they look for a cause.

   There was some speculation the main fire started from sparks from a passing freight train or lightning. 

   Elsewhere in the province, scorching heat in the past week topping 118F was said to be a contributing factor in 719 sudden deaths, triple the number that would normally occur, said Lisa Lapointe, chief coroner.

    ---

    Canada has taken the first step to loosen the restrictions on cross-border travel with the United States.

    Canadians and permanent residents who are fully vaccinated are now able to enter the country  without having to quarantine as long as they have proof of inoculation and have submitted a negative COVID-19 test.

   Eligible air travellers are also exempt from the quarantine requirement that they spend their first three days in Canada in a government-approved hotel at their expense.

   The government continues to advise against crossing the border for non-essential reasons.

   U.S. citizens heading to Canada by land for non-essential travel are still not allowed to enter the country.

    ---

    News in brief:

   - The body of one of four Canadians missing in the collapse of a 12-story condo building in Surfside, Florida has been found. She was identified as Ingrid Ainsworth, 68, found with her husband, Tzvi, 68, in the Champlain Towers South condominium building. She and her husband lived in Australia, where Tzvi is originally from, for nearly two decades before moving to Florida to be closer to their children. Three Canadians are still missing.

   - Inuk leader Mary Simon was appointed Canada’s first Indigenous governor general to succeed former astronaut Payette who resigned amid controversy over her treatment of staff. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made the appointment to the post that is Queen Elizabeth II’s representative in Canada. “I can confidently say that my appointment is a historic and inspirational moment for Canada and an important step forward on the long path towards reconciliation,” Simon said.

    ---

     Facts and figures:

   Canada’s dollar is lower at 80 cents U.S. and a U.S. dollar returns $1.25 in Canadian funds before exchange fees.

   The Bank of Canada key interest rate remains at 0.25 percent while the prime lending rate is 2.45 percent.

   Canadian stock markets are lower, with the Toronto index at 20,061 points and the TSX Venture index 922 points.

   The average price for gas in Canada is steady at $1.36 a liter (Canadian) or $5.16 for a U.S. gallon.

   Lotto Max: (July 6) 10, 14, 25, 26, 38, 41 and 50; bonus 49.(July 2) 6, 14,35, 37, 40, 43 and 46; bonus 19.

   Lotto 6/49: (July 7) 11, 16, 21, 26, 42 and45; bonus 22. (July 3) 4,7, 10, 31, 33 and 38; bonus 23.

    ---

    Regional briefs:

   - Dundas Street, a major roadway in and around Toronto, is closer to having a name change to reflect displeasure with Scotsman Henry Dundas’ association with the transatlantic slave trade years ago .Mayor John Tory and a city council committee are one vote away from approving the name change. It’s part of a move to take down statues named after those considered unworthy. The Dundas’ discussion came up during discussions and protests against racial injustice, inequality and anti-racism.

   - Residents of Atlantic Canada are preparing for the arrival of tropical Storm Elsa this weekend. Forecasters predict the storm’s track will bring heavy rain to much of the eastern provinces of Canada and strong wind gusts especially along the coasts of Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. There are expected to be “no significant coastal impacts” from storm surges of  six to 10 feet in height.

 Jim Fox can be reached at canadareport@hotmail.com

Canadian birthday clebrations somber over finding of children's graves at residential schools

    Canada column for Sunday, July 4/21

    THE CANADIAN REPORT

   By Jim Fox

   Canada Day celebrations on July 1 to mark the country’s 153rd birthday took on a somber note this year.

   That was as the country remembered the lives of hundreds of Indigenous children whose unmarked graves from years ago have been found around several former residential Indian schools.

   There’s a massive investigation now into Canada’s residential school system of boarding schools for Indigenous children with the goal of assimilating them into society.

   The horrors of the school became confirmed last month with the finding of the remains of 215 Indigenous children in at the Kamloops Residential School in British Columbia.

   Then another 751 graves were found on the grounds of the former Marieval Indian Residential School in Saskatchewan.

   In the past week, searching with ground-penetrating radar found 182 unmarked graves in a cemetery at the site of the former Kootenay Residential School at St. Eugene Mission in British Columbia.

   Celebrations for Canada Day were canceled in many places to honor the legacy of victims of the schools and Indigenous Peoples.

   The network of 132 schools was funded by the federal Department of Indian Affairs and administered by Christian churches, housed150, 000 children taken from their parents between 1857 and 1996.

   Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spent a quiet day with his family “remembering that others may be feeling pain and anger” over the findings.

    ---

    Extreme heat and dry conditions led to the destruction of Lytton, British Columbia by a massive wildfire.

   The fast-moving blaze burned houses and businesses to the ground, leaving the village a smoldering ruin.

   The BC Wildfire Service said the wildfire has grown to cover 25 miles and was out of control when it overtook the village.

   An evacuation order led to 1,000 people fleeing to safety.

   Almost all buildings were lost in the village of 250 people with 1,700 living in the area, including the Mountie detachment, post office, hotel, ambulance service and clinic.

    ---

    News in brief:

   - Four Canadians remain missing in the collapse of a 12-story condo building in Surfside, Florida. Canada's consul general in Miami, Susan Harper, did not provide information on their identities. She said two Canadian families were living there and someone from a third family was visiting at the time.

   - A Toronto police officer was struck and killed by a car in the parking garage at city hall what was called “an intentional and deliberate act.” Constable Jeffrey Northrup was responding to a call for assistance with his partner. A suspect has been arrested. Northrup was a police officer for 31 years and is survived by his wife, three children and mother.

    ---

     Facts and figures:

   Canada’s dollar is steady at 81 cents U.S. and a U.S. dollar returns $1.23 in Canadian funds before exchange fees.

   The Bank of Canada key interest rate remains at 0.25 percent while the prime lending rate is 2.45 percent.

   Canadian stock markets are higher, with the Toronto index at 20,216 points and the TSX Venture index 962 points.

   The average price for gas in Canada is higher at $1.36 a liter (Canadian) or $5.16 for a U.S. gallon.

   Lotto Max: (June 29) 6, 17, 22, 23, 32, 37 and 47; bonus 13. (June 25) 10, 13, 18, 33, 36, 45 and 47; bonus 22

   Lotto 6/49: (June 30) 9, 10, 13, 26, 28 and 30; bonus 36. (June 26) 15, 27, 36, 37 and 43; bonus 49.

    ---

   Regional briefs:

   - Ontario, a Canadian province with 15-million people, is the only place in North America where indoor dining still isn't allowed due to pandemic rules. The trade association Restaurants Canada is angered over the provincial government’s reopening plan. It calls it “inadequate” and is asking that restaurants be fully reopened while casinos also remain closed.

   - Traffic was heavy as Nova Scotia reopened its border. It allows fully immunized people to visit just in time for the summer tourist season. The amended rules don’t enquire those immunized to self-isolate. Visitors from away are being required to complete a safe check-in form and provide proof of vaccine.

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 Jim Fox can be reached at canadareport@hotmail.com

Canadian horrors as 750 unmarked graves from years ago found near schools

    Canada column for Sunday, June 27/21

    THE CANADIAN REPORT

   By Jim Fox

    The grim reality of Canada’s sordid past continues with the discovery of another 751 unmarked graves on the grounds of the former Marieval Indian Residential School in Saskatchewan.

   This discovery comes about a month after the finding of the remains of 215 Indigenous children in unmarked graves at Kamloops Residential School in British Columbia.

   Under investigation now is Canada’s residential school system of boarding schools for Indigenous children with the goal of assimilating them into society.

   Marieval operated from 1898 to 1996 and was run by the Roman Catholic Church until Cowessess First Nation took over in 1981.

   Chief Cadmus Delorme said the findings from ground penetrating radar could include adults in graves with the headstones removed.

   The network of 132 schools was funded by the federal Department of Indian Affairs and administered by Christian churches and housed150, 000 children taken from their parents between 1857 and 1996.

   Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called it a “shameful reminder of the systemic racism, discrimination and injustice that Indigenous peoples have faced, and continue to face, in this country.”

    ---

    Provinces across Canada are lifting pandemic rules including Ontario heading into a Stage 2 strategy several days ahead of schedule.

    People will once again be able to host indoor gatherings of up to five people, meet with up to 25 outdoors and finally book personal care services such as haircuts.

   Outdoor performances and team sports can resume and outdoor attractions such as water parks, including Canada’s Wonderland theme park, are also allowed to reopen.

   Premier Doug Ford credited the “tireless work of our health care heroes and the record-setting success of our vaccine rollout.”

   Outdoor dining and essential retail are expanded in the stage while Waterloo Region stays in the current limits due to outbreaks.

    ---

    News in brief:

   - A world-wide search is on to find a life-saving stem cell transplant for Leia Fallico, 3, of Toronto. She was diagnosed with Dyskeratosis congenita, a rare genetic form of bone marrow failure. Her mixed ethnicity of  Persian and European has made finding her a donor challenging. Eligible donors can register through Canadian Blood Services at www.blood.ca/en

    - Canada’s largest lottery jackpot of $70 million, tax free, has been split between two ticket holders in Toronto and British Columbia. The winning numbers were 7, 11, 22, 28, 33, 44, 49 and 10 (bonus). There were also six Encore prizes worth $100,000 each and 30 $1-million Maxmillion winners on a $5 ticket. The top prize for the next draw was reset at $50 million.

    ---

     Facts and figures:

   Canada’s dollar is steady at 81 cents U.S. and a U.S. dollar returns $1.23 in Canadian funds before exchange fees.

   The Bank of Canada key interest rate is steady at 0.25 percent while the prime lending rate is 2.45 percent.

   Canadian stock markets are higher, with the Toronto index at 20,215 points and the TSX Venture index 950 points.

   The average price for gas in Canada is higher at $1.34 a liter (Canadian) or $5.09 for a U.S. gallon.

   Lotto Max: (June 22) 7, 11, 22, 28, 33, 44 and 49; bonus 10. (June 18) 11, 14, 15, 24, 34, 43 and 47; bonus 36.

   Lotto 6/49: (June 23) 9, 17, 20, 22, 34 and 40; bonus 48. (June 19) 13, 15, 17, 25, 34 and 45; bonus 5.

    ---

    Regional briefs:

   - Several people were arrested by Mounties clearing a blockade of the Trans-Canada Highway near the Nova Scotia-New Brunswick border. The protest was over restrictions imposed by Nova Scotia on travelers coming from New Brunswick to self-isolate.

   - Tropical storm Claudette roared into Atlantic Canada, dumping heavy rain on parts of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. There was localized flooding as the storm was losing strength. In British Columbia, Environment Canada is warning of extreme heat reaching 38C (101F) this weekend. The agency said it will be “dangerously hot” until Tuesday with “little relief at night.”

 -30-

 Jim Fox can be reached at canadareport@hotmail.com

 

Canada receives more vaccine doses from the U.S.; won't budge on border reopening

    Canada column for Sunday, June 20/21

    THE CANADIAN REPORT

   By Jim Fox

    On the day when Canada received another one-million doses of Moderna vaccine from the United States, calls are growing to reopen the land border.

   Despite that, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he is taking a cautious approach for when more Canadians are fully vaccinated, now at 20 percent, and is keeping the border closed at least until July 21.

   Canada’s government Procurement Minister Anita Anand thanked the Biden administration and Canada’s ambassador to the U.S. Kirsten Hillman for the shipment.

   At the same time as the shipment arrived, politicians and tourism groups from the U.S. and Canada took part in a panel discussion saying it’s time to reopen the border.

   The restrictions due to the pandemic prohibit non-essential travel and have been in place since March 2020.

    New York Congressman Chris Jacobs said a reopening would require approval by both countries and  a plan.

   He said he was “heartened” to hear of the shipment of vaccines being sent to Canada and hoped it may help accelerate progress at the border.

   ---

    Air Canada is recalling 2,600 laid-off workers as travel demand increases and those whose flights were canceled are getting refunds.

   Canada’s largest airline said workers, including flight attendants, will return in stages this month and next.

   The recall is due to expected demand growing as vaccinations increase and virus cases drop while the government eases travel restrictions, said spokesman Peter Fitzpatrick.

   As part of a $5.9-billion aid package from the Canadian government, the airline was to refund flights and vacation packages that were canceled. The deadline for refund applications is July 12.

    ---

    News in brief:

   - A massive construction project to revitalize the Center Block of Canada’s Parliament buildings is expected to take until 2030 and cost up to $5 billion. Work on the complex is well underway and while it “remained beautiful to look at its facilities were critically outdated and systems were failing,” said Rob Wright, Assistant Deputy Minister. The buildings contain 20,000 heritage assets, including 400 historic windows, 250 stained glass windows and85 paintings, frescoes, and murals.

   - Canada’s largest lottery jackpot has reached its cap of $70 million along with 70 individual prizes of $1 million. A bonus with the Canada lotteries is that the winnings are paid in full and not subject to taxes. The Lotto Max is a record $140 million and has two draws a week with tickets costing $5 for three lines of seven numbers.

    ---

     Facts and figures:

   Canada’s dollar is lower at 81 cents U.S. and a U.S. dollar returns $1.23 in Canadian funds before exchange fees.

   The Bank of Canada key interest rate is steady at 0.25 percent while the prime lending rate is 2.45 percent.

   Canadian stock markets are mixed, with the Toronto index higher at 20,141 points and the TSX Venture index down to 948 points.

   The average price for gas in Canada is higher at $1.32 a liter (Canadian) or $5.01 for a U.S. gallon.

   Lotto Max: (June 15) 2, 8, 12, 13, 14, 36 and 43; bonus 29. (June 11) 20,  21, 25, 33, 38, 44 and 45; bonus 22.

   Lotto 6/49: (June 16) 16, 23, 32, 33, 37 and 45; bonus 3. (June 12) 11, 20, 22, 33, 41 and 49; bonus 34.

    ---

    Regional briefs:

   - A wealthy Vancouver couple was fined $1,150 each after spending $10,000 to fly to a remote Yukon community to jump the line for an early COVID vaccine. Rodney and Ekaterina Baker were fined for failing to self-isolate for 14 days and giving misleading statements to authorities. Chief Judge Michael Cozens said their actions in January were “cavalier” and “thoughtless,” violating the territory’s Civil Emergency Measures Act. The couple has since each donated $5,000 to the global vaccine sharing effort known as COVAX.

   - Cecile Klein is Canada’s oldest person, celebrating her 114th birthday in Montreal, her hometown. She has lived through two pandemics in her lifetime and is among the top 20 oldest people in the world. The five generations of her family celebrated at an outdoor garden party and via Zoom videoconferencing. “Don’t sweat the small things” is her secret to long life.

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 Jim Fox can be reached at canadareport@hotmail.com

Airport anti-virus measures to be relaxed in Canada

    Canada column for Sunday, June 13/21

    THE CANADIAN REPORT

   By Jim Fox

    The Canadian government is relaxing anti-virus measures imposed on people flying home.

   Fully vaccinated Canadian citizens and permanent residents who test negative for COVID-19 will soon be exempt from two weeks in quarantine on their return.

   Now incoming air travellers must spend three days at a government-approved quarantine hotel at their expense.

   They also must complete two weeks of self-isolation at their destination and take a second test on the eighth day after arrival – that will no longer be required of fully vaccinated people.

   Beginning next month, those inoculated at least 14 days before entering the country will be able to avoid staying in a hotel.

   They must still isolate until the test comes back negative but can resume activities.

   ---

    Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called it a “terrorist attack” after a young man allegedly mowed down a Muslim family, killing four in London, Ontario.

   A massive vigil at the London Muslim Mosque attracted 10,000 people including Trudeau and Ontario Premier Doug Ford who both denounced racism.

   The family of five was out for a walk on a hot Sunday evening when police said a pickup truck jumped the curb and ran into them in what they allege was a hate-motivated attack.

   Killed were Salman Afzaal, 46, his wife Madiha Salman, 44, their daughter Yumna, 15, and grandmother Talat Afzaal, 74.

   The couple’s son, Fayez, 9, was the lone survivor and remains in a hospital with serious injuries.

   Facing murder charges is Nathaniel Veltman, 20, a part-time farm worker.

   “Their lives were taken in a brutal, cowardly and brazen act of violence,” Trudeau said.

    ---

    News in brief:

   - The statue of Egerton Ryerson has been toppled and become headless by protesters upset over his role in establishing former residential schools to Canadianise native children. Demonstrators protested outside the university named after Ryerson in downtown Toronto. This followed the finding of mass graves of 215 Indigenous children at an old school site in Kamloops, British Columbia.

   - Canada’s central bank is keeping its trend-setting interest rate unchanged at 0.25 percent where it has been since the onset of the pandemic. The strategy is to keep the rate there until the economy has recovered. That rebound would likely happen in the second half of next year, it said. Inflation should stay around three percent through the summer due to higher gas prices.

   ---

     Facts and figures:

   Canada’s dollar is higher at 83 cents U.S. and a U.S. dollar returns $1.21 in Canadian funds before exchange fees.

   The Bank of Canada key interest rate is steady at 0.25 percent while the prime lending rate is 2.45 percent.

   Canadian stock markets are higher, with the Toronto index at 20,049 points and the TSX Venture index 979 points.

   The average price for gas in Canada is higher at $1.31 a liter (Canadian) or $4.97 for a U.S. gallon.

   Lotto Max: (June 8) 1, 9, 14, 24, 26, 37 and 42; bonus 29. (June 4) 2, 3, 16, 28, 31, 42 and 47; bonus 12.

   Lotto 6/49: (June 9) 1, 3, 15, 26, 28 and 39; bonus 10. (June 5) 13, 15, 22, 42, 45 and 46; bonus 14.

   ---

    Regional briefs:

   - Canada is anticipating an above-normal number of Atlantic hurricanes this season. As many as five storms are expected to be major compared to the average of three, said Bob Robichaud of the Canadian Hurricane Center. A major hurricane is one with sustained winds of at least 110 mph (178 km/h). About one-third of named storms find their way into Canadian waters, he added. This year’s first storm will be called Ana.

   - Jenica Atwin, New Brunswick Member of Parliament, has “crossed the floor” to leave the Green party and become a Liberal. She said she took the action due to strife among the Greens over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The former teacher who helped run an Indigenous education center “stands with Palestine and condemns the unthinkable airstrikes in Gaza.”

 -30-

 Jim Fox can be reached at canadareport@hotmail.com

Grim secrets revealed about the horrors oformer Aboriginal shools in Canada

    Canada column for Sunday, June 6/21

    THE CANADIAN REPORT

   By Jim Fox

    The horrible truth has come out about Canada’s former Aboriginal schools with the discovery of the mass graves of 215 children in British Columbia.

   The shocking discovery has led to demands for an apology from the Roman Catholic Church and police investigations nationally to see if there are more graves elsewhere.

   The Epekwitk Mi’kmaq Chiefs said they found the remains at the site of the former Kamloops Indian Residential School that operated between 1890 and 1978, housing as many as 500 children at a time.

   Canada’s residential school system was a network of boarding schools for Indigenous peoples with the goal of assimilating them into society.

   The network of 132 schools was funded by the federal Department of Indian Affairs and administered by Christian churches and housed150, 000 children taken from their parents between 1857 and 1996.

   A national outcry with the public display of 215 pairs of children’s shoes followed along with demands the government investigate the grounds of other schools for unmarked graves.

   ---

    The Canadian government is increasing the fines for people who ignore the mandatory quarantine hotel program when flying back to Canada.

   A violation of the Quarantine Act now has a maximum fine of $5,000, up from $3,000.

   This is for travelers who have refused to submit to the quarantine process.

   That involves taking a COVID-19 test at the airport and then staying in a designated hotel for up to three days to await the result at a cost of up to $2,000.

   The Public Health Agency of Canada said 798 fines were issued between Feb. 22 and May 7 in Ontario and British Columbia.

    ---

    News in brief:

   - A plan to offer Canadians surplus vaccine has been approved for special clinics to be set up in the auto tunnel linking Windsor, Ontario and Detroit. Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens’s idea was to hold COVID-19 vaccination clinics in the tunnel using Detroit supplies about to expire as his city awaits more from the Canadian government. This arrangement will allow Canadians to avoid crossing into the U.S. and face quarantine on their return.

   - Canada’s economy lost 68,000 jobs in May due to lockdowns to slow the spread of the pandemic. Statistics Canada said the job losses followed 207,000fewer jobs in April and left the unemployment rate relatively steady at 8.2 percent last month.

    ---

     Facts and figures:

   Canada’s dollar is lower at 82 cents U.S. and a U.S. dollar returns $1.16 in Canadian funds before exchange fees.

   The Bank of Canada key interest rate is 0.25 percent while the prime lending rate is 2.45 percent.

   Canadian stock markets are higher, with the Toronto index at 19,941 points and the TSX Venture index 969 points.

   The average price for gas in Canada is steady at $1.30 a liter (Canadian) or $4.94 for a U.S. gallon.

   Lotto Max: (June 1) 6, 20, 21, 28, 38, 43 and 47; bonus 40. (May 28) 7, 18, 22, 40, 44, 46 and 50; bonus 5.

   Lotto 6/49: (June 2) 1, 13, 22, 32, 33 and 39; bonus 48. (May 29) 11,18,19, 27, 34 and 46; bonus 42.

    ---

    Regional briefs:

   - Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, the home of Canadian Confederation from 1864, no longer has its controversial statue of Sir John A. Macdonald. The statue of Canada’s first Prime Minister was removed from a downtown intersection on orders from city council. This was in response to recent revelations about Canada’s residential school system and his endorsement of the program.

   - The cross-country rivalry continues as the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League won their first-round playoff series against the Toronto  Maple Leafs. True to their words, Toronto Mayor John Tory and Montreal’s Valerie Plante had a side bet. Toronto will fly the Canadiens’ flag outside city hall . Tory is also sending along a gift box including a back  bacon sandwich from Carousel Bakery at the St. Lawrence Market and six-pack of beer from Great Lakes Brewery.

 -30-

 Jim Fox can be reached at canadareport@hotmail.com