Cyberattack on Canadian government websites claimed by Anonymous

   Canada column for Sunday, June 21/15

   THE CANADIAN REPORT

   (c) By Jim Fox

   Public Safety Minister Steven Blaney said no personal information was compromised by a cyberattack on several government websites.

   The Anonymous hacker group claimed responsibility for the attack on the Canadian computer servers to protest against the approval of an anti-terrorism bill.

   In a YouTube video, Anonymous said it “launched an attack against the Canadian Senate and Government of Canada websites in protest against the recent passing of bill C-51.”

   Among the sites disabled were the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, Shared Services (the super IT department), Justice, Public Works and Government Services.

   Last year, the National Research Council site was hacked with the government blaming a “Chinese state-sponsored actor,” with Beijing denying involvement.

   Incidents against Finance Department and Treasury Board computer systems in 2010 were linked to efforts likely originating in China to gather information on the potential takeover of a Canadian potash company.

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Russians shadow Canadian warship and prime minister

   Canada column for Sunday, June 14/15

   THE CANADIAN REPORT

   (c) By Jim Fox

   Two Russian military ships shadowed a Canadian warship with Prime Minister Stephen Harper aboard in the Baltic Sea.

   The incident occurred as Harper and his wife, Laureen, spent 20 hours on HMCS Fredericton, a Canadian frigate that’s part of a North Atlantic Treaty Organization mission.

   The exercise is to reassure Eastern Europe alliance members that they will be protected should Russian aggression in Ukraine spread.

   Canadian Defense Minister Jason Kenney pointed to the two Russian vessels in the distance that changed course as the Fredericton did.

   It’s not unusual for the Russians to monitor NATO exercises from a distance and they “kept a respectful distance and weren’t acting in a threatening way,” Kenney said.

   They came within seven nautical miles of the Canadian vessel and earlier a Russian helicopter flew along the port side of the ship.

   Harper told crew members that he is concerned about Russia and President Vladimir Putin.

   “Mr. Putin’s recklessness threatens global stability, regional stability and has spread fear among our Eastern allies,” he said.

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New Democrats poised to do well in federal election in Canada: pollsters

   Canada column for Sunday, June 7/15

   THE CANADIAN REPORT

   (c) By Jim Fox

   The New Democrats, Canada’s socialist political party, won the west in Alberta’s recent provincial election and could be poised to do well nationally in October.

   Five polls suggest that a tight, three-way race has developed nationally while a poll finds the New Democrats are dominating in mainly French-speaking Quebec.

   Pollsters suggest it’s a little early to define the possible outcome of the October federal election as Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his Conservatives seek to remain the majority government.

   Unsettling for Harper and the Liberals is the New Democrats stunning victory resulting in Rachel Notley becoming premier and ending 44 years of Conservative rule in Alberta’s provincial election.

   This has boosted prospects of New Democratic Party (NDP) leader Tom Mulcair in recent opinion polls.

   “For those in denial about the rise of the NDP, we would suggest that they consider abandoning that skepticism,” said pollster Frank Graves of Ekos Research.

   The Alberta election victory “created goodwill for the party,” said Nik Nanos of Nanos Research, and Canadians who would consider voting NDP is at a 12-month high, tied with the Liberals.

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Key interest rate in Canada steady while economic risks remain

   Canada column for Sunday, May 31/15

   THE CANADIAN REPORT

   (c) By Jim Fox

   Canada’s central bank has kept its key interest rate steady at 0.75 percent even as it says risks to the country's financial stability remain elevated.

   Much of Canada’s fortunes – or lack thereof – is tied to the United States’ economy.

   Bank of Canada Governor Stephen Poloz said it is “slightly puzzling” that the U.S. is experiencing a weaker-than-expected economic rebound.

   He expressed optimism it would start accelerating in the second half of this year and that could provide a major boost for Canada’s exports.

   The bank surprised economists in January when it dropped the key rate to 0.75 percent from 1 percent due to the “unambiguously negative” impacts of plunging oil prices.

   The rate remained steady now as the bank said inflation is in line with projections even with the impact of oil.

   A watch will be kept on the potential economic implications for Canada if the dollar remains higher than in recent months due to a lower U.S. dollar and slightly rising crude prices.

   The bank’s next interest rate announcement will be made on July 15.

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Dismal economic predictions for Canada's 'oil patch' cities

   Canada column for Sunday, May 24/15

   THE CANADIAN REPORT

   (c) By Jim Fox

   More doom and gloom predictions for Canada’s “oil patch” suggest there could be up to 185,000 job losses this year.

   A report by Enform’s labor market division said the potential losses would amount to a 25-percent drop in the number of jobs due to budget cuts in the oil and gas industry.

   Hardest hit would be resource-rich Alberta where the oil-price collapse darkens the economic fortunes in Calgary and Edmonton.

   The Conference Board of Canada forecasts the two biggest cities will fall into recession this year.

   “The energy sectors in both cities will decline, but other sectors will also feel the pinch from lower oil prices including construction, transportation, warehousing and wholesale and retail trade,” the board said.

   It predicted that benchmark West Texas Intermediate crude oil will average $56 U.S. a barrel this year and $69 in 2016 – down from $102 a year ago.

   Enform’s report said the industry is expected to spend $94 billion this year, down from $125 billion last year.

   The study said engineering construction firms are most vulnerable followed by exploration and development drilling.

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Soccer fan loses his $106,000 job for harassing taunts at reporter

   Canada column for Sunday, May 17/15

   THE CANADIAN REPORT

   (c) By Jim Fox

   A soccer fan who thought it was fun to shout sexually explicit taunts at a female TV reporter doing a broadcast has lost his $106,000 a year job.

    CityNews reporter Shauna Hunt said she is “fed up” with men coming up to her microphone and verbally harassing her.

   It happened again at a Toronto FC soccer match, so Hunt challenged a group of men about why they would do such a thing.

   They all laughed and repeated the obscenities that were filmed by the TV crew.

   Several of the men were identified after the TV station showed the video and posted it on social media.

   This led to a man identified as Shawn Simoes being fired by Hydro One for violating the company’s code of conduct.

   Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment said it will ban all harassers from its facilities for a year and provide more security for reporters.

   A similar “vulgar stunt,” now called a trend across North America, was caught on camera by CityNews in Calgary and led to an arrest.

   Reporter Meghan Grant was conducting an interview when someone in a passing truck shouted obscenities at her.

   They got the license number and police followed up, resulting in a $402 fine for the stunt.

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Socialist government in Alberta could shake up oil policies, pipeline plans

   Canada column for Sunday, May 10/15

   THE CANADIAN REPORT

   By Jim Fox

   The election of a socialist government in Alberta could lead to big changes in Canada’s oil patch and the future of oil pipeline projects.

   Rachel Notley will take over as Premier with her New Democratic Party after a decisive victory that ended 44 years of pro big oil and right-wing Conservative rule.

   Unlike previous Alberta premiers, Notley said she will let the political events in the United States take their course without her government’s lobbying for construction of the long-stalled $8-billion Keystone XL project.

   Instead of sending Alberta oilsands crude and thousands of jobs to Texas refineries with the building of the Keystone XL, Notley said she’d prefer to have the oil processed instead in Canada.

   On the proposed Northern Gateway pipeline to ship oil to British Columbia seaports for export, Notley said it’s so contentious with environmentalists and native opposition that she won’t spend much time worrying about it.

   Projects such as Energy East to ship oil from Alberta through existing pipelines and an extension to the east coast “might” be supported, she said.

   Notley’s election could give President Barack Obama pause to reject Keystone XL, said Nebraska pipeline-fighter Jane Kleeb.

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