Chretien delights in U.N. ranking

By JIM FOX

© St. Petersburg Times, published July 9, 2000

Prime Minister Jean Chretien again took delight in his Canada Day message, proclaiming that his is the "best country in the world in which to live."

Chretien was referring to Canada taking the top spot for the seventh consecutive year in the United Nations' human development index.

This is "something to savor" on the first Canada Day (July 1) of the 21st century, Chretien said.

Critics, however, noted the country dropped to 11th in the poverty ranking, down from eighth a year ago.

The overall index is an average measurement of 174 countries in terms of life expectancy, adult literacy, education and income distribution.

After Canada came Norway, the United States, Australia, Iceland, Sweden, Belgium, the Netherlands, Japan and Britain. At the bottom were Ethiopia, Burkina Faso, Niger and Sierra Leone.

U.N. officials said politicians sometimes "abuse" the findings with such boasts and they'd never say any country is "the best."

They cautioned Canadians not to be complacent as the country is falling behind in critical areas such as human rights, poverty and functional literacy.

Telecommunications market opens

The Canadian government is opening the telecommunications market to increased competition, which should lower prices that are already among the lowest in the world.

This will allow more companies to bid for licenses later this year to link mobile phones to the Internet and improve existing services, Industry Minister John Manley said.

The expansion will help meet growing demands and allow for advanced telecom services such as mobile video.

"This will open up new opportunities for existing companies and new entrants to provide the services to Canadians offering untethered Internet access anywhere, any place, anytime," Manley said.

More than 7-million Canadian residents, almost one in four, use wireless phones.

In brief

Medical authorities confirmed a bear caused the death last Sunday of biathlete Mary Beth Miller, 24, of Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, in a park near Quebec City. Wildlife officials said tracks indicated it was a black bear weighing about 200 pounds that attacked Miller as she jogged alone on a trail.

The use of wireless phones while driving should be banned, says Ontario Member of Parliament John O'Toole. The Conservative politician wants the Legislature to prohibit motorists from using cell phones, portable fax machines or computers without both hands free to steer. His proposed bill will be considered in the fall.

Canada Post is raising the price of mailing a first-class letter within Canada by one cent to 47 cents on Jan. 1. It is the first increase in two years. The cost of sending a letter to the United States will jump five cents to 60 cents and overseas postage will go up 10 cents to $1.05.

The Montreal SPCA is trying to find a home for 71 husky dogs. There is a July 15 deadline to decide the fate of the dogs seized by a credit union after a touring sled-dog business went bankrupt. Lucie Duhamel continues to feed and care for her animals while the search for a new owner continues.

Facts and figures

Canada's dollar was little changed Friday at 67.48 U.S. cents while the U.S. dollar was worth $1.4818 Canadian.

The key interest rate remains 6 percent while the prime lending rate is 7.5 percent.

The Toronto Stock Exchange is higher, with the 300 Index at 10,343 points on Friday while the Canadian Venture Exchange index is lower at 3,423 points.

Lotto 6-49: (Wednesday) 11, 15, 19, 27, 40 and 48; bonus 16. (July 1) 10, 15, 17, 20, 31 and 44; bonus 4.

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