Weather | Sports | Forums | Comics | Classifieds | Calendar | Movies
By JIM FOX
© St. Petersburg Times, published May 27, 2001
Mulroney wants conservatives to unify
Former Conservative Prime Minister Brian Mulroney is calling for a united effort by the right to overpower the powerful Liberal government.
The Liberals have benefited from the formation of regional parties such as the Canadian Alliance and the Bloc Quebecois, Mulroney said in Montreal as he joined Conservative Leader Joe Clark at a fundraiser.
The rise of the two parties from a base formerly linked to the Conservatives was a "self-defeating" exercise that has given Prime Minister Jean Chretien a free ride in the House of Commons, Mulroney said.
He called for a "realignment of people who think along generally similar lines" but cautioned right-wing supporters from continuing to fight among themselves.
This was a reference to the ongoing demands within the Alliance party for leader Stockwell Day to resign so someone more effective can take over.
Clark, also a former prime minister, said he was confident the Conservatives could once again form the government although they trail the Alliance, which is the official opposition party in the Commons.
A consumer lobby group wants the federal government to cut gasoline taxes to give drivers some relief from soaring prices.
Walter Robinson of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation said an average of 42 percent of the price of gas across Canada goes to taxes, including a 1.5-percent surtax imposed in 1995 as a deficit-fighting measure.
Enraged motorists are paying 80 cents a liter, about $1.94 per gallon in U.S. currency, for gasoline in the nation's capital because of rising world prices and taxes, Robinson said.
The group also wants the government to dedicate gas taxes to road construction and maintenance.
A family friend is being held in the abduction and murder of Jessica Koopmans, 5, of Lethbridge, Alberta. Harold Gallup, 31, was a regular visitor to the Koopmans' home and had been playing there with Jessica, her sister and two other children the day she disappeared. Her body was found in a farmer's field.
Quebec Premier Bernard Landry said it's his hope the mainly French-speaking province will be independent within four years. Asked when the next separation referendum will be held, Landry would only say "as soon as possible." Sovereignists lost the last two votes, in 1980 and by a narrow margin in 1995.
Air Canada will add a surcharge of $33 on round-trip domestic flights to offset the cost of fuel. The surcharge, effective Thursday, is temporary and will be adjusted according to fluctuations in fuel prices, the company said.
Mexico is poised to become the leading trading partner of the United States edging out Canada, Quebec Liberal Leader Jean Charest said. Speaking in Calgary, he predicted this will happen in "seven to eight years," resulting in a diminished standard of living for Canadians. Canada's trade position will slip because Mexico has a population of 80-million compared with 30-million Canadians, he said.
Newfoundland's 500-year-old cod fishery is showing no signs of recovery even though commercial operations were ordered stopped 10 years ago with the loss of 40,000 jobs in Atlantic Canada. The Fisheries Resource Conservation Council said there should be a further reduction this year of the low allowable catch last year of 7,000 tons. This compares with 800,000 tons caught annually in the 1960s.
Ninety-four Saskatchewan residents who allege government negligence in the outbreak of a parasite in the water supply in North Battleford have launched a multimillion-dollar lawsuit. The parasite cryptosporidium made hundreds of people sick, and a boil-water order is still in place in the city.
Toronto Mayor Mel Lastman won't be forced to pay retroactive child support to two grown men who claim to be his sons. Judge Mary Lou Benotto dismissed the action by Todd and Kim Louie and their mother Grace Louie, who sought $6-million. Lastman admitted having a 14-year affair starting in 1957 with Grace Louie and paid her $27,500 in 1974 to "remise, release and forever discharge" him of any liability.
The Canadian dollar has taken another dive to 64.70 U.S. cents Friday while the U.S greenback was $1.5457 Canadian before bank exchange fees. The Bank of Canada's key interest rate remains at 5 percent while the prime lending rate is 6.5 percent.
Stocks markets were higher, with the Toronto Stock Exchange 300 Index at 8,292 points while the Canadian Venture Exchange index was 3,288 points.
Lotto 6-49: (Wednesday) 5, 9, 15, 21, 42 and 43; bonus 32. (May 19) 7, 8, 18, 29, 34 and 44; bonus 37.