Canada
column for Sunday, Aug. 25/13
THE CANADIAN REPORT
(c) By
Jim Fox
Canada’s government is taking a time-out as Prime Minister Stephen
Harper prepares to lead his Conservative party into the next election.
Harper
said his decision to prorogue, or suspend, the current session of Parliament until
mid-October is to prepare a new economy-focused agenda.
The action effectively ended the parliamentary session and killed
legislative bills not yet enacted to await a new direction for governing.
By
pressing the reset button, Harper is buying time to deal with stalled political
support after a recent shuffling of Cabinet positions and to prepare for his
fifth election campaign as leader.
In
the election, expected in 2015, Harper will face a reinvigorated opposition
with new leaders – Justin Trudeau for the Liberals and Thomas Mulcair of the
New Democratic Party.
The
break also comes when the government deals with the Senate expense-claim
scandal.
Former Conservative Senator Pamela Wallin, now an Independent and Harper
appointee, has been told to pay back $138,970 for ineligible travel expense
claims.
The Mounties are investigating Wallin’s claims and those of senators
Patrick Brazeau, Mike Duffy and Mac Harb.
(For more news of the week from Canada, click "Read more")
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A
Toronto police officer is free on $510,000 bail charged with second-degree
murder in the death of an 18-year-old youth.
Constable James Forcillo, 30, is to return to court on Sept. 30 in the
shooting of Sammy Yatim on a streetcar.
The Special Investigations Unit said Yatim was shot “multiple times” and
later Tasered.
Police were called after a young man exposed himself and threatened
people with a knife.
Among the investigations underway is a review by retired judge Dennis
O'Connor of police procedures in dealing with force and emotionally disturbed
people.
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News in brief:
-
Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau said he has no regrets for having occasionally
smoked marijuana including while he was a Member of Parliament. “No, it wasn't
a mistake . . . I tried it,” Trudeau said. The Conservative government said
Trudeau’s support for legalizing and regulating marijuana shows he isn’t fit to
be the prime minister.
-
Neighbors are rallying behind the Ontario family of an autistic teenager who
received a hateful letter saying he should be euthanized or move away. Someone
sent the unsigned letter to Brenda Millson, the grandmother of Max, 13, who
often visits her home in Newcastle. The note referred to Max’s “noise polluting
whaling” that is scaring “normal” children. Police are investigating but said
while the disturbing letter was “hateful,” it isn’t a hate crime.
-
About 100 people reported symptoms of gastrointestinal distress, including five
admitted to hospitals, after visiting the Canadian National Exhibition in
Toronto. A common link is they ate the popular treat, a cronut burger – a
hamburger patty served between two donuts. Epic Burger and Waffles outlets have
voluntarily closed while health officials trace the source.
---
Facts and figures:
Canada’s
dollar is down almost 2 cents at 95.07 cents U.S. while the U.S. dollar is
valued at $1.0517 in Canadian funds, before bank exchange fees.
The Bank of Canada’s key interest rate is steady at 1 percent while the
prime-lending rate is 3 percent.
Stock
markets advanced slightly, with the Toronto exchange index at 12,758 points and
the TSX Venture index 941 points on Friday.
Lotto 6-49: (Aug. 21) 4, 12, 28, 31, 39 and 46; bonus 42. (Aug. 17) 1,
6, 13, 29, 37 and 39; bonus 17. Lotto Max: (Aug. 16) 2, 6, 20, 22, 30, 34 and
49; bonus 45.
---
Regional briefs:
-
The Supreme Court has refused to consider the appeal of Guillaume Boutin of
Montreal who was banned for life by Air Canada for threatening airline
employees after he missed a flight. He was also seeking $30,000 in compensation
for “moral damages and trouble and inconvenience” and a letter of apology regarding
the flight from Cancun.
Boutin admitted he was upset and did
complain “forcefully.”
-
Toronto Mayor Rob Ford went up against his childhood hero, wrestler Hulk Hogan,
and won in a friendly arm-wrestling match. Although he seemed to be struggling
before suddenly defeating the 14-time world wrestling champion, Ford celebrated
the victory at the Fan Expo Canada event.
-30-
Jim Fox can be reached at canadareport@hotmail.com
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