Canada report: Taking place of birth off passport could ease crossing

Canadians planning to head out to warmer climates are concerned about tough new screening rules at the U.S. border.

U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft said last week Canadians won't get any special treatment. While denying they would automatically be fingerprinted, photographed and interviewed based on their place of birth, Ashcroft insisted the new exit and entry system doesn't amount to ethnic profiling.

"If an individual announces a citizenship in a country that is on the list of state sponsors of terrorism, obviously that becomes a referral," Ashcroft said. The system is not based on race or ethnicity, but on intelligence, he said.

Natural Resources Minister Herb Dhaliwal says foreign-born Canadian citizens might consider having their place of birth removed from their passports as a way around U.S. border measures he fears will amount to racial profiling.

Dhaliwal, who was born in India, said it's a question of "fairness and fundamental human rights."

Candidate raises $1.1-million

Paul Martin, former finance minister and the man most likely to succeed retiring Prime Minister Jean Chretien, said he has collected $1.1-million in campaign contributions in the past two months.

Martin, however, has much more in his secret "war chest," as the figure doesn't include donations made before Chretien imposed new rules on fundraising. Chretien said he will retire in February 2004.

Others seeking Chretien's job include Deputy Prime Minister John Manley, Industry Minister Allan Rock and Heritage Minister Sheila Copps. Martin was dumped from the Cabinet in a rift with Chretien over the Liberal leadership race.

In brief

-- Prime Minister Chretien welcomes the U.N. Security Council resolution aimed at forcing Iraq to disarm. He called it "a key and constructive step" but won't commit Canadian troops to any war should the weapons inspection process fail.

-- Loto-Quebec will build its fourth casino at Mont-Tremblant in the Laurentian ski resort area north of Montreal. As well, a $470-million redevelopment is planned for the Montreal Casino with a performance hall added, along with expansions at Lac Leamy near Ottawa and Casino de Charlevoix. The government agency also said it will remove 20 percent of the video lottery terminals from bars and taverns, saying gambling has become "epidemic" in parts of the province.

-- Ontario consumers are struggling to pay electricity bills -- some of which have doubled -- after the provincial government deregulated the industry. Premier Ernie Eves said his government will give rebates of about $45 a household to help with the burden. He also slammed local utilities for taking advantage of consumers.

Facts and figures

Canada's jobless rate fell to 7.6 percent in October, down from 7.7 percent a month earlier.

The dollar is lower at 63.90 U.S. cents while a U.S. dollar returns $1.5649 Canadian before bank exchange fees.

There's no change in the Bank of Canada key interest rate of 2.75 percent or the prime lending rate of 4.5 percent.

Canadian stock markets were higher Friday, with the Toronto exchange index at 6,390 points while the Canadian Venture Exchange was 952 points.

Lotto 6-49: (Wednesday) 2, 8, 19, 31, 43 and 48; bonus 46. (Nov. 2) 4, 8, 11, 21, 27 and 48; bonus 3.

Regional briefs

-- The preliminary hearing for Robert Pickton, accused of serial killings in British Columbia, has been delayed for at least six weeks at the request of his lawyer, who is still preparing the case. Pickton, a 53-year-old Port Coquitlam hog farmer, is accused of killing at least 15 women from Vancouver's downtown eastside in the past 20 years.

-- Ontario tobacco farmers say their industry is in danger of being wiped out by falling sales and soaring taxes. They plan to ask for more government help, possibly buyouts, in an industry that employs 14,000 people. Recent steep increases in cigarette taxes have dampened demand so much the market for the crop is moving closer to collapse, tobacco board chairman Gary Godelie said.

-- It was like a scene out of Phantom of the Opera when a 1,000-pound antique chandelier crashed to the floor of New Brunswick's Legislative Assembly chamber Friday, crushing furniture and scattering broken glass and crystal. No one was injured when the fixture fell after being winched to the ceiling after cleaning. The 1882 heirloom, with 297 pieces of Waterford crystal, was badly damaged but attempts will be made to restore it.

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright