Tornado survivors return to campsite

By JIM FOX

© St. Petersburg Times, published July 23, 2000

Families are returning to their battered trailers in Pine Lake, Alberta, where a tornado killed 11 people and caused millions of dollars in damage.

The storm, with 180-mph winds, ripped through the Green Acres resort campground a week ago.

Prime Minister Jean Chretien visited the scene Tuesday and said he was amazed that more people weren't killed by the twister. Both the federal and provincial governments have promised financial assistance for survivors.

More than 20 people remain in various Alberta hospitals with injuries.

Members of the clergy along with 60 victims services officers and volunteers from Royal Canadian Mounted Police detachments across Alberta are at the site to support those overwhelmed by the loss of life and devastation.

The first of some 500 survivors were bused from Red Deer to some of the worst-hit campsites where nothing remains but the concrete pads where their trailers had stood.

Meanwhile, a tornado touched down Monday night in the south end of Guelph, Ontario, damaging about 200 houses and causing $2-million damage. No one was injured.

Health funding promised

Health Minister Allan Rock promises there will be more money for Canada's beleaguered health care system and most of it will go to the provinces with no strings attached.

He reassured provincial health ministers at a meeting Thursday that most of the new money will be through the Canada Health and Social Transfer program that doesn't specify how it must be spent.

Rock indicated he would still like to tie some funding to specific spending, such as reforms to primary care and new information technology.

In brief

An embarrassed Royal Bank has cleaned house, with resignations from most of the corporate officers tarnished in a stock manipulation scandal at its pension management unit. The move came after the Ontario Securities Commission fined RT Capital $3-million Thursday and banned nine officers from trading stocks -- one for life. The bank then named former federal Finance Minister Michael Wilson chairman and chief executive of RT Capital.

Regulatory delays have scuttled plans for a proposed $6.2-billion U.S. merger between Canadian National Railways and Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp. Paul Tellier, chief executive of CNR, said Thursday the deal was killed when a U.S. appeals court upheld a 15-month moratorium on mergers in the industry.

Conservative Fernand Roberge resigned Thursday from the Senate, citing personal and business reasons. It's the second loss in a month for the Conservatives as Gerry St. Germain became an Independent senator after joining the Canadian Alliance party.

Facts and figures

Renewed prospects of higher U.S. interest rates pushed Canada's dollar higher to 67.97 U.S. cents Friday while the U.S. dollar was worth $1.4712 in Canadian funds.

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

Stock exchanges continue higher, with the Toronto 300 Index at 10,843 points while the Canadian Venture index is 3,378 points.

Lotto 6-49: (Wednesday) 15, 17, 32, 42, 43 and 45; bonus 9. (July 15) 4, 20, 28, 34, 42 and 49; bonus 25.

Regional briefs

Stockwell Day, who defeated former Reform leader Preston Manning to become head of the new Canadian Alliance party, will seek election to Parliament in the British Columbia district of Okanagan-Coquihalla. A by-election will be held likely in September after Alliance Member of Parliament Jim Hart agreed to quit to allow Day to run.

© St. Petersburg Times. All rights reserved.