Canada report

By JIM FOX

© St. Petersburg Times, published April 15, 2001

Farmers upset U.S. is spurning their spuds

As Canada and the United States continue to fight over softwood lumber exports, there's now a cross-border dispute over Canadian spuds.

The latest volley in the potato war has Canadian officials accusing the U.S. government of changing conditions that would allow Prince Edward Island spuds to cross the border.

It was thought the United States would lift the ban imposed after a potato wart was found in a field last fall. The harmless fungal disease causes unsightly bumps that render potatoes unmarketable, growers say.

U.S. officials say they want to prevent the spread of the fungus, while Canadians say they are exploiting a minor outbreak to help U.S. potato growers.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture issued a set of conditions to be met before the produce would be allowed over the border.

One condition would require island farmers to wash table stock potatoes before shipment even within Canada.

Robert Carberry of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency accused the Americans of buckling to pressure from U.S. producers.

"I don't understand it. . . . It defies science and it defies logic," he said.

Canadians say Bush leaves them out of 'loop'

Canada has fallen out of the "loop" on information since George W. Bush became the U.S. president, Foreign Affairs Minister John Manley said Thursday.

Despite assurances Canada would be consulted on key international decisions, Manley says there have been a "few surprises."

He told reporters that a Canadian delegation, including Prime Minister Jean Chretien, was told during a February meeting with Bush that Canada would be kept in the loop on U.S. policy.

As an example, he said Canadians were blindsided in late March by the "very disappointing" U.S. announcement that the Americans will not implement the Kyoto protocol on global warming.

As well, comments made by U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld regarding European security "differed from those of Secretary (Colin) Powell when he met with NATO foreign ministers," he said.

There has been concern expressed that Bush is uninformed about Canadian issues, cares more about the U.S. relationship with Mexico, and is more inclined to act unilaterally than his predecessors.

In brief

Quebec's new independence-seeking premier is so popular he could win an early election, polls suggest. As a result, Bernard Landry might be tempted to hold a vote this year that will decide the immediate future of the sovereignty movement in the mainly French-speaking province. Pollster Jean-Marc Leger says he doesn't expect an election before next spring.

Residents of southern Manitoba are anxiously watching the weather as rains threaten to swell a rising Red River. At the same time, they are concerned about the provincial government's decision to expand the floodway that keeps Winnipeg dry by diverting raging river waters instead of a less expensive plan to build a dam near Ste. Agathe that could achieve the same results.

A strike over pay began Thursday by support workers at Halifax International Airport before the holiday weekend. Police said strikers would be arrested if they tried to block the highway to Atlantic Canada's busiest airport. Meanwhile, Quebec's 1,700 jail guards reached a tentative deal with the provincial government Thursday after an illegal strike. In Toronto, support workers remain on strike at public schools but classes continue, and the Calgary transit workers strike remains unresolved.

Facts and figures

After several weeks of declines, Canada's dollar was higher at 64.12 U.S. cents at week's end while the U.S dollar was worth $1.5595 in Canadian funds before bank exchange fees.

The Bank of Canada's key interest rate remains 5.25 percent while the prime lending rate is 6.75 percent.

Stock markets were higher, with the Toronto Stock Exchange 300 Index at 7,673 points while the Canadian Venture Exchange index was 2,946 points.

Lotto 6-49: (Wednesday) 2, 8, 11, 24, 30 and 36; bonus 5. (April 7) 2, 11, 25, 27, 40 and 44; bonus 28.

Regional briefs

About 1,200 workers are being laid off for two weeks at the General Motors assembly plant in Ste-Therese, Quebec. The move is to reduce production of Chevrolet Camaros and Pontiac Firebirds because of slower U.S. sales.

A Winnipeg army unit is being transferred to a base in southwestern Manitoba, which is expected to uproot more than 700 soldiers and 500 of their family members. Defense Minister Art Eggleton said the 2nd Battalion Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry is being transferred to CFB Shilo, east of Brandon to consolidate operations there.

British Columbia Premier Ujjal Dosanjh is expected to set the date in the next week for a provincial election. His New Democratic government is wrapping up the legislative session with plans to pass a pay equity law. The expected election date is May 15 or 16.

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