Canada report

Fired Liberal doesn't regret what she said

Carolyn Parrish, who was dumped from the Liberal Party over her President Bush bashings, says she has no regrets.

In advance of Bush's visit to Canada, Prime Minister Paul Martin fired the outspoken Parrish, 58. She is now an independent member of Parliament.

The suburban Toronto politician gained notoriety for her anti-Americanism and calling Bush "warlike." Earlier, she stomped on a Bush doll in a segment for the comedy show This Hour Has 22 Minutes.

But her expulsion came after she took direct aim at Martin's leadership. Parrish told a reporter if Martin loses the next election and has to resign, "I wouldn't shed a tear over it. I have absolutely no loyalty to this team - none."

A day after her firing, Parrish said, "I don't regret it," adding she had been planning to resign anyway.

With her gone, the minority Liberal government is down to 134 members in the 308-seat Commons. The Conservatives have 99 members, Bloc Quebecois 54, New Democrats, 19, and there are two independents.

President Bush makes his first official visit to Canada this month.

The Nov. 30 to Dec. 1 visit will be a start to repair less-friendly relations between the countries.

Bush canceled a visit last year, citing the pressures over the Iraq war, after then-Prime Minister Jean Chretien rebuffed him by not supporting the battle and urging U.N. action first.

U.S. sources say the trip is more a matter of fence mending over the war that divided Canadian and American public opinion.

Bush is expected to discuss continental security while seeking additional Canadian military help for Afghanistan and more training and nation-building assistance in Iraq.

Prime Minister Paul Martin wants to discuss major trade irritants, including punitive duties on softwood lumber and the closing of the U.S. border to live Canadian beef over mad cow disease.

Canadian beef producers have more concerns after the investigation of a suspected case of mad cow disease in the United States. Canada's beef industry has lost more than $4-billion since one case surfaced in Alberta last year. Since then, new beef slaughtering rules and increased testing have been implemented. Canada risks losing its premier position as the largest trading partner with the United States unless it nurtures that relationship, New Brunswick Premier Bernard Lord says. "We cannot take that relationship for granted," he told the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters conference. Canada's trade with America was $391.5-billion last year, $156-billion more than second-place Mexico, followed by China at $180.8-billion and Japan at $170-billion.

Broadcast regulators have approved significant expansions for two of Canada's most powerful media-industry families, extending CHUM Ltd.'s holdings in the West and allowing Quebecor into the Toronto TV market. Approved was CHUM's takeover of Craig Media and CHUM's sale of Craig's Toronto 1 TV station to Quebecor's TVA Group and Sun Media.

Canada's dollar dropped by almost 1 U.S. cent but recovered Friday to reach 83.54 U.S. cents. The U.S. greenback is worth $1.1970 Canadian before bank exchange fees.

The Bank of Canada key interest rate is steady at 2.5 percent, while the prime lending rate is 4.25 percent.

Canadian stock markets are higher, with Toronto's composite index at 8,966 points and the Canadian Venture Exchange at 1,698 points.

Lotto 6-49: (Wednesday) 13, 24, 30, 41, 43 and 47; bonus 17. (Nov. 13) 4, 6, 7, 17, 31 and 36; bonus 27.

Nova Scotia Power restored electricity by Friday to everyone left in the dark and cold by last weekend's heavy snowfall. The last areas reconnected were the Annapolis Valley and Western Nova Scotia. High winds and heavy, wet snow knocked down 12 transmission towers, affecting 110,000 households and businesses.

There's a proposal to build an east Toronto airport in Pickering. A 30-year plan by the Greater Toronto Airport Authority said this would be a "regional reliever" to take pressure off Canada's largest airport, Pearson International.

Jim Fox can be reached at canadareport@hotmail.com

World and national headlines

© 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