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Rebukes fly to and fro across border

Somehow U.S.-Canada relations have gotten immersed in the Canadian election campaign.

Usually the countries are best of friends, butangry words have spilled over the border with the U.S. ambassador to Canada upset by Prime Minister Paul Martin's comments.

Ambassador David Wilkins said he stands by his rebuke of Martin's constant criticism of the United States and remarks about not being "bullied" by Americans.

He chided Martin for saying the U.S. government lacked a global conscience for refusing to embrace the mandatory targets of the Kyoto Protocol.

Wilkins also tried to deflate claims that half the handguns involved in crimes committed in Canada are illegally smuggled from the United States.

Martin also is incensed that the United States hasn't complied with free-trade rulings that excessive duties on Canada's softwood lumber exports are improper and about $2-billion should be repaid.

Wilkins said it isn't his intent to interfere with the Jan. 23 federal election campaign.

He said he hadn't spoken to Martin since his own controversial remarks in which he warned that Martin's negative comments could have long-term ramifications.

The Supreme Court of Canada will hear British Columbian Web master Paul Bryan's appeal of his conviction for violating Canada's Elections Act in 2000 by posting election results before all the polls were closed.

Bryan, of Coquitlam, who was fined $1,000, said he deliberately broke the ban during the 2000 federal election. He posted voting results from Atlantic Canada on his Web site while polling stations were still open in British Columbia, where there is a five-hour time difference from the east coast.

The publication ban on transmission of results before all of the country's voting is completed remains in effect for this election. The ban was enacted to avoid influencing voters in other provinces.

Francois Pepin of Laval, Quebec, is being held in custody in the slaying of Constable Valerie Gignac, the eighth police officer killed while on duty in Canada this year. The 25-year-old officer with the city force was answering a noise complaint when she was hit by a shot fired by a high-powered hunting rifle through a door.

Canadian-born former press baron Conrad Black, 61, now faces additional charges including racketeering. The U.S. Attorney's Office in Chicago also accuses him of obstruction of justice, money laundering and wire fraud, and earlier fraud counts. They are in connection with Black's time heading Chicago-based Hollinger International Inc., owner of the Chicago Sun-Times. Black called the charges "a blatant example of overreaching by the prosecutor."

The good news for "snowbirds" wintering in the United States is that Canada's dollar continues rising. The dollar topped 87 U.S. cents but fell back Friday to 86.46 cents. The U.S. dollar is worth $1.1563 Canadian, before bank exchange fees.

The Bank of Canada key interest rate is 3.25 percent, and the prime lending rate is 5 percent.

Canadian stock markets are higher, with the Toronto exchange composite index at 11,133 points and the Canadian Venture Exchange 2,145 points.

Lotto 6-49: (Wednesday) 4, 19, 24, 31, 35, 43; bonus 7. (Dec. 10) 6, 18, 23, 37, 40, 45; bonus 48.

A prewinter storm, with snow pushed north in warm air from Florida and South Carolina, moved into Toronto, southern Ontario, Montreal and the east coast. About 8,000 houses lost power in Cape Breton, while Montreal had about a foot of snow and the Toronto area received about half that.

Quebec Premier Jean Charest's Liberal government has imposed contracts for its 500,000 public-sector workers. They amount to yearly increases of 2 percent from next April to 2010 and an additional 4.6 percent salary increase for a pay-equity settlement. Alberta Premier Ralph Klein is being supported by former Premier Peter Lougheed to block attempts by U.S. states for fresh water exports. Demands for water are expected within three to five years as numerous states face water shortages. Alberta has a policy against diverting water, but Klein said he has no problem with selling processed water.

Jim Fox can be reached at canadareport@hotmail.com