Canadians could forgo Florida trips over driver's permit law

   Canada column for Sunday, Feb. 24/13

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   THE CANADIAN REPORT

   (c) By Jim Fox

   There are indications many Canadians will forgo their March-break trips to Florida over a contentious new law that requires International Driver’s Permits (IDP).

   Even though Florida authorities say police won’t enforce the law that’s expected to be amended and requires the permits for all foreign drivers, including Canadians, that might not be enough.

   “Until the law is changed, we continue to recommend Canadians traveling to Florida should consider obtaining an IDP,” the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) advises.

   Since the law “remains in effect,” there is “some uncertainty on how insurance companies and Florida car rental agencies will interpret the law,” it said.

   “Was going to go down for a trip next month driving but not now,” someone identified as “Rugby Norm” posted on the Toronto Star website.

   “Plain and simple, Florida obviously doesn't care about Canadians,” he wrote, adding that a trip to the Toronto Blue Jays’ spring training is also “off the list of to do now.”

   CAA offices have been packed with people buying the $25 international permits that supplement a provincial driver’s license.

   Florida Tourism officials are concerned over the law’s impact as Canadians are the state’s top international market with 3.1-million visitors in 2010.

Senator expelled, three others under investigation

   Canada column for Sunday, Feb. 17/13

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   THE CANADIAN REPORT

   (c) By Jim Fox

   Canada’s youngest Senator has been expelled from the upper chamber while three others face an investigation into their residency claims and expenses.

   Patrick Brazeau was removed from the Conservative caucus in the Senate by Prime Minister Stephen Harper after being arrested for domestic and sexual assault.

   There was criticism of Harper when he appointed Brazeau to the Senate in 2008 when he was 34 as he wanted to also continue as national chief of the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples.

   Brazeau has also been put on a paid leave of absence by the Senate until the criminal case is resolved but remains an independent member and keeps his annual salary of $132,000. In Canada’s non-elected Senate, members can serve to age 75.

   He has also been under scrutiny recently over allegations he was using an address other than his own in Gatineau, Quebec in order to receive a federal government housing allowance for his service in the Senate.

   As well, an external auditor has been asked to review the residency declarations of Brazeau and three other senators to determine where they actually live and if they qualify for the added benefits.

   The others are former television news journalists Mike Duffy and Pamela Wallin as well as former Member of Parliament Mac Harb.

Tariffs adding to higher prices Canadians pay for goods

   Canada column for Sunday, Feb. 10/13

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   THE CANADIAN REPORT

   (c) By Jim Fox

   Tariffs on imports are cited as one reason Canadians are paying on average 13 percent more for goods than their American neighbors even as the dollar is about equal with the U.S. currency.

   The Senate Finance Committee said while tariffs are just one factor in prices, they are something the government can do something about.

   “Canadians consumers are feeling ripped off,” said Senator Joseph Day, who chaired the eight-month study.

   Tariffs used to protect domestic businesses brought in $3.6 billion in revenue for the government in the last year and are being reviewed, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty said in calling for the Senate study.

   Price differences drive thousands of Canadians to cross the border to shop for groceries, clothing, buy gas and car parts as well as seek out a larger selection of goods.

   Also an issue is the economy of scale with Canada’s smaller marketplace, vast distances and higher wages and benefits.

   The report noted that a Lexus made in Cambridge, Ontario sells for $44,950 in Canada but only $40,950 in the U.S., including Hawaii. Books are routinely marked up, sometimes by up to 40 percent on some titles.

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.