Canada
column for Sunday, Aug. 3/14
THE CANADIAN REPORT
(c) By
Jim Fox
Prime
Minister Stephen Harper continues with his hard line against terrorists even as
the United States and United Nations condemned the violence in the Middle East.
“Obviously
no one likes to see the suffering and loss of life that has occurred,” Harper
said, referring to the deaths in Gaza in fighting between Israel and Hamas
militants.
Harper
believes Israel is justified in its actions and said Canada would do the same to
fight back against terrorism.
“We
hold the terrorist organization Hamas responsible for this – they have
initiated and continue this conflict and continue to seek the destruction of
the state of Israel,” he said.
As
well, Russia was involved in the shooting down of the Malaysia Airlines passenger
jet with the loss of 298 lives, Harper said.
“There
is zero doubt that those people who are responsible for violence and
destabilization in Ukraine are acting as agents of the government of Russia.”
Harper also blamed China for a recent cyberattack on the National
Research Council of Canada’s computers that was denied by the Chinese
government.
---
Work is moving ahead on plans to build a $1-billion bridge between
Windsor, Ontario and Detroit.
The
Windsor Detroit Bridge Authority, a Canadian-government agency, will manage the
project that will have six lanes and is expected to open in 2020.
A
U.S. court rejected a request for an injunction by the owner of the private
Ambassador Bridge and a final permit was issued for the new structure.
Transport Minister Lisa Raitt said the bridge is needed for “growing
trade and traffic at Canada’s busiest U.S. commercial border crossing” where
there is also a two-lane tunnel.
Canada has agreed to finance the construction of the new bridge with
assistance from the U.S. government.
---
News in brief:
-
Toronto police Chief Bill Blair, 60, who has been a target of criticism from Mayor
Rob Ford, is losing his job. The Police Services Board decided not to renew him
for a third five-year term in April. Board chair Alok Mukherjee said the police
service needs some “fundamental” changes in how it operates.
-
The British Columbia government has approved a proposed $5.3-billion mine at one
of the largest gold and copper deposits in the world. The environmental
approval will allow Toronto-headquartered Seabridge Gold’s Kerr-Sulphurets-Mitchell
project near Stewart in the north. Plans are to mine 145,000 tons of ore a day
for up to 52 years.
---
Facts and figures:
Canada’s
dollar has dropped to 91.64 cents U.S. while the U.S. dollar returns $1.0912 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 unchanged at 3 percent.
Stock
markets are lower, with the Toronto exchange index at 15,215 points and the TSX
Venture index at 999 points.
The average price of a liter of gasoline in Canada is up at $1.3107 (Canadian).
Lotto 6-49: (July 30) 13, 24, 25, 29, 43 and 45; bonus 42. (July 26) 6,
16, 18, 30, 37 and 39; bonus 7. Lotto Max: (July 25) 7, 9, 24, 30, 35, 42 and
43; bonus 36.
---
Regional briefs:
-
Justin Bourque, 24, of Moncton has been found mentally fit to stand trial for
the murders of three Mounties and wounding two others. Bourque was arrested in
the shooting deaths of Constables Fabrice Gevaudan, Douglas Larche and Dave
Ross in the New Brunswick city on June 4.
-
A police investigation into former Alberta Conservative premier Alison
Redford’s use of government aircraft is being demanded by the opposition Wildrose
party. Reports say the provincial auditor-general found Redford’s office booked
“false passengers” on some flights so she could fly alone and took her daughter
on dozens of trips. Redford resigned in June after a party revolt over her
spending.
- There’s a battle over the sale of milk in
containers as opposed to the long-standing plastic bags in Ontario. The Dairy
Farmers of Ontario is concerned over a test project in Mac’s Convenience Stores
that sells milk in three-liter jugs. The group says that could eliminate the standard
four-liter pack of milk contained in three plastic bags. The Ontario Dairy
Council wants to open up the market entirely to three-liter containers.
-30-
Jim Fox can be reached at canadareport@hotmail.com
No comments:
Post a Comment