Weather | Sports | Forums | Comics | Classifieds | Calendar | Movies
By JIM FOX
© St. Petersburg Times, published September 23, 2001
Chretien offers help to U.S.
Prime Minister Jean Chretien will outline Canada's military and peacekeeping options in the fight against terrorism when he meets Monday with President Bush. These are expected to include the possibility of deploying thousands of ground troops and undertaking a larger peacekeeping role in the former Yugoslavia to free American soldiers for other tasks.
Chretien is also looking at committing a full Canadian brigade, which would be the largest force ever deployed since the Korean War. Another possibility is to commit more Canadian CF-18 fighters to North American air defense to relieve American planes for use elsewhere.
The terrorist attacks have devastated businesses for Air Canada, which is asking the federal government for a $4-billion bailout. The airline cut flights to the United States by 20 percent as passenger loads are down by 60 percent.
Irritating to many Canadians, with some 100 missing after the terrorist attacks, was Bush not mentioning Canada on Thursday night in a list of countries he thanked for their solidarity and support. In an earlier phone call with Chretien, Bush asked the prime minister to publicly thank the Canadian people for their aid and support.
Canadian children's TV favorite Ernie Coombs, known as Mr. Dressup, has died in Toronto after a stroke. He was 73.
The Canadian Broadcasting Corp. said it has suspended Mr. Dressup reruns for a week but will bring them back with an introduction that pays tribute to his more than 30 years on television.
Michael Prue, 52, a Toronto council member, was elected to the Ontario government in a by-election Thursday. Prue, representing the socialist New Democratic Party, succeeds Francis Lankin, who now heads the United Way.
Comedian Colin Mochrie, star of Whose Line Is It Anyway? is joining the cast of CBC-TV's This Hour Has 22 Minutes. Mochrie replaces Rick Mercer, who left the show to spend more time on his comedy series Made In Canada.
Canadian stocks have lost $1-billion in value since the terrorist attacks. The Toronto Stock Exchange 300 Index was down to 6,472 points on Friday while the Canadian Venture index was 2,781 points. Canada's dollar was lower at 63.67 cents U.S. on Friday while the American greenback returned $1.5705 Canadian before bank exchange fees.
The Bank of Canada lowered its key interest rate by one-half percentage point to 3.75 percent; commercial banks followed, dropping the prime lending rate to 5.25 percent.
Lotto 6-49: (Wednesday) 10, 24, 25, 30, 40 and 48; bonus 21. (Sept. 15) 4, 22, 24, 32, 42 and 43; bonus 18.
Tropical Storm Gabrielle slammed into Newfoundland, hammering St. John's with high winds and driving rain. The capital city was flooded while lightning and high winds caused power outages throughout the island. Storm and gale warnings were issued for mariners as waves reached 36 feet.
Six bodies were found Thursday inside a burning house in Kirkland in suburban Montreal. Police said the victims of an apparent murder-suicide were members of a popular family involved in sports and community activities, and a business associate of the father. The body of the family's grandfather was found at another home. No names were released.
An Australian man was sentenced to 60 days in jail Wednesday after joking that he had a bomb while checking his luggage at Toronto's Pearson International Airport. Sinan Safet Acar, 21, was arrested as he prepared to board an Air France flight. The flight was delayed for several hours.