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Canada Report

Canada plans to enhance its security efforts

By JIM FOX
Published June 18, 2006

Increased security measures are coming to Canada's airports, rail systems and marine ports in an effort to detect potential terrorist activity.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper said the government will spend $250-million to enhance security as part of a $1.4-billion program in this year's federal budget.

The government is also reviewing its antiterrorism legislation and considering how to improve security at the border with the United States.

There will be more thorough screening of passenger luggage and passports at airports.

Security measures at marine ports will increase along with more thorough background checks of workers.

The measures follow the arrests of 17 Toronto area men in Canada's largest post-9/11 counterterrorism operation. The suspects are in jail awaiting bail hearings after police accused them of a plot to make and detonate bombs.

Targets in Toronto may have included the stock exchange, Canada's spy agency - the Canadian Security Intelligence Service - and shopping mall food areas.

A lawyer for one suspect said they also wanted to attack the Parliament Buildings in Ottawa, behead the prime minister and take hostages.

Tax Freedom Day arrives Monday, earlier than 2005

Canada's tax man will finally back off tomorrow.

Monday is the day that Canadians figuratively start working for themselves this year, according to the Fraser Institute.

The annual Tax Freedom Day, five days earlier than last year, is when Canadians have paid their share of their incomes to all levels of government for taxes and start working for themselves.

Tax cuts, in particular the 1 percent reduction on July 1 in the Goods and Services Tax to 6 percent, resulted in the earlier date.

News in brief

n Canada will spend $15-million to help rebuild the rural irrigation system in Afghanistan. Harper made the pledge as 2,200 Canadian soldiers joined an allied offensive to root out Taliban insurgents. He said half the Afghan economy depends on agriculture and if more land is used for food production, less will be planted with poppies for narcotics. Canada has also committed $1-billion over 10 years for reconstruction.

n Henri-Paul Normandin is Canada's new ambassador to the United Nations. He replaces former Cabinet minister Allan Rock, who resigned when the Liberal government was defeated in January. Normandin has spent 20 years working in the Canadian International Development Agency and moved to Foreign Affairs in 2004.

n Life in prison is the extreme penalty for street racers who cause a death under legislation the Canadian government plans to enact. The toughened penalties include mandatory driving bans. "It's not about kids having fun," Justice Minister Vic Toews said. In Ontario alone, 34 people have been killed in racing incidents in the past eight years.

Facts and figures

The Canadian dollar has taken a break from its race toward parity with the U.S. greenback. The dollar was worth 89.09 cents U.S. Friday while the U.S. dollar returned $1.1224 in Canadian funds before bank exchange fees.

The Bank of Canada's key interest rate is steady at 4.25 percent while the prime lending rate is 6 percent.

Stock markets are lower, with the Toronto composite index at 11,245 points and the Canadian Venture Exchange 2,563 points.

Lotto 6-49: Wednesday 10, 11, 36, 38, 46, 48; bonus 26. (June 10) 18, 23, 32, 34, 41, 46; bonus 49.

Regional briefs

n A former police officer is among three men arrested in Winnipeg in the slaying of eight Bandidos bikers in Shedden, Ontario, in April. Being held in jail for murder are Michael Sandham, formerly with Manitoba's East St. Paul police force, Dwight Mushey and Marcello Aravena. Seven people were arrested in Ontario after the shootings that were termed an "internal cleansing" of the gang.

n The Quebec government has implemented a "carbon tax" on oil and gas companies to help pay for cleaner air measures. As well, Premier Jean Charest said further efforts to cut toxic emissions will include another $130-million a year for six years to improve public transit. This includes bus, subway and commuter train service in Montreal and across the province.

n In the east: The New Brunswick government plans to create an agency to regulate all utility prices including gasoline and heating oil. In Mulgrave, Nova Scotia, former council member Bill Hemmings is accused of trying to kill his wife with his vehicle. And in Newfoundland and Labrador, research shows that area is too cold for the West Nile virus to spread.

Jim Fox can be reached at canadareport@hotmail.com

[Last modified June 18, 2006, 05:56:24]